Welcome, Seniors!2019-2020

Post Secondary Planning:College Application Process

Career Planning

The Counseling Staff:*Assigned by student’s last name:

● Mrs. Shari Smith: A-D○ ssmith@portageps.org 323-5527

● Mrs. Krista Hovestadt: E-K○ khovestadt@portageps.org 323-5420

● Ms. Amy DiMaggio: L-Ri Director○ adimaggio@portageps.org 323-5472

● Mrs. Cindy Figueroa: Rj-Z○ cfigueroa@portageps.org 323-5424

The Counseling Staff:Administrative Assistants:

● Ms. Stacey Hunter: enrollment, appointments, transcripts, registrar, more...○ shunter@portageps.org 323-5475

● Ms. Kim Loiselle: college visits, scholarships, immunizations, academic awards, more…○ kloiselle@portageps.org 323-5464

Your Transcript and PPS Grad Credits:● You should have a minimum of 19 credits towards

your required 26.○ Any credits earned in middle school do not count towards the 26

required. They were pre-requisites to take other courses.○ You must subtract middle school credits from your total credits

earned. ○ Middle School credits are indicated by ^ (WL, Alg or Earth

Science).○ Students must pass core, required classes.

Michigan Merit Curriculum● English 4 credits● Math 4 credits

○ Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Senior year math or math-related

● Science 3 credits○ Chemistry / Physics, Biology, Chemistry or Physics 2, Earth Science

● Social Studies 3 credits○ Modern American History, Government/Economics, World History

● Health .5 credit○ Health: one semester course = .5 credit / required○ Health/Freshman Focus: year long course = 1 credit/recommended

● World Language 2 credits of same language○ 2 years in middle school count as the 2 year requirement○ 3-4 years strongly recommended for competitive colleges

● PE 1.5 credits○ Can be “waived”. See your counselor.

● Fine Arts 1 credit

GPA:● Your GPA is essentially “established” at

this point. You’ll apply to colleges this fall/now with the current GPA listed on your transcript.

● When you apply to colleges now, you’ll report your current GPA (9th grade through junior year).

● If you’re dreaming of college sports in your future, the NCAA requires high school student athletes to have a 2.3 minimum GPA in core classes to be eligible to play in college.

Plans After High School (Post-Secondary)● Almost 90% of PN seniors report that they will attend a 2 or 4 year college /

university after high school.● Other options:

○ Trade School: school for a specific skill / job.○ Skilled Trades: apprenticeships, “on the job” training

available, union work, skilled work (these jobs are in EXTREMELY HIGH DEMAND right now!)

○ Military / Armed Forces: more resources in your folder■ More info regarding required testing at www.asvabprogram.com

○ Mission Work / Travel○ Work Force

Additional Resources for Post-Secondary Options/Planning:● Your junior year interview / folder last year had several printed resources for

other post-secondary options.● Alternatives to a traditional 2 or 4 year college:

○ Skilled trades, technical schools, apprenticeships, misc jobs / careers.

● For more information on the above options, more handouts are located in your folder today. Start your research here, then follow up with your counselor.

● Take this folder home!!

College Planning Checklist:● Counselors met with you 1:1 last spring to give you detailed action steps. They

provided a timeline for college planning. Remember your black folder??● Have you…

○ Reviewed your school of choice application and requirements online?○ Decided to where you want to apply?

■ ~should have 2-3 schools in mind now.○ Familiarized yourself with the admissions process of your schools of

choice?○ Attended a college visit or tour?○ Attended (or signed up to attend) a college rep visit here at PN?○ Started any college applications online?

College Rep Visits @ PNHS:● Listen to announcements and have them emailed to your phone. Check PN

social media. ● Current list available in folder today.● Sign up in Counseling Office one day prior to the college visit.● Bring a list of questions. Compare colleges in terms of programs, campus size,

scholarship offers.● Use this opportunity wisely. It’s a great chance to know more about the

college and have the representative meet you… put a face to a name.● These are the reps that will make an admissions decision about YOU. Start by

giving a great first impression.

College Applications: 3 partsI. The online application for each school*.

II. Transcript from Parchment.

III. Test Scores from testing agency.

I. The Online Application*● Google the school in which you are interested.● Search for “apply/admissions”. You are an undergraduate.● Create an online account. DOCUMENT/SAVE login info & password!!

○ Return and check that account often for important admissions information from the school.

● Complete all required sections of the online application.○ Is an essay required? Are letters of recommendation required?

● Pay application fee online with a credit card or request a fee waiver from your counselor, if applicable.

● Submit your application.

II. Transcript ● www.parchment.com.

○ Create an account. Save/document login info & password.○ Parchment instructions are on an additional handout in your folder.○ Parchment is FREE. It’s the third-party electronic service that PN uses to

send your high school transcript anywhere you need it sent.● All colleges want your transcript sent electronically.

○ You’ll send it now (initially, when you apply) and you’ll request a “final transcript” in the spring to the college you plan to attend.

● You MUST use Parchment.

III. Test Scores● All colleges require that your SAT test scores be sent to them directly from the

testing agency (not PNHS and not a paper copy).● If you are unsure as to where you sent your SAT score(s) last year, log on to

your College Board account to verify.○ If not, go into your account and “send your scores” to your interested schools. A fee will apply.○ Each time you re-take the SAT, send your scores to your schools of interest.

● Colleges do not receive test scores immediately after request. Plan in advance- at least 1-2 weeks.

● We do not have your College Board account info (login or password), nor can we get it.

● Do NOT create another College Board account if you forgot your info. You must complete the steps in “forgot my password” or contact College Board.○ 1-866-756-7346.

College Board Account: SAT scores

The Common Application*● www.commonapp.org● One online application used by many schools. Not every college uses the

Common App. For a list, go to their website or google your college of interest.○ See slide provided here today, too.

● All teacher and counselor recommendations are also submitted online via a link that will be sent to them after you invite the recommender on your account.○ Please verify with your counselor/recommenders that they received the CA link.

● Create an account. SAVE/DOCUMENT login info and password. Document your Common App ID#. You’ll need it!!

The Common Application: “How To”● Detailed instructions are listed under “Apply” tab on their site. Take the time to

read the directions so that you don’t miss an important part.● Under the directions, you’ll learn how to “invite a recommender” (teacher and

counselor) to provide your letters of recommendation.○ Enter their email addresses carefully and follow up with your teacher

and counselor to verify that they’ve received the link. ○ NOTE: A counselor recommendation is required for the application to

be complete for all colleges.● Under the directions, you’ll learn how to “add a school”.

○ Some colleges have supplemental application requirements.

The Common Application: Details PN Common App Deadlines: OCT. 10

● Deadline to request a recommendation (“invite recommender”).● Deadline to LINK your Common App & Parchment accounts.● Deadline to turn in a brag sheet for a letter of recommendation.

Common App: After you Submit:● After you submit your application for a school on the Common App, you need

to check your email account.● Individual colleges will ask you to create another/separate account with them

and will communicate with you regarding your admissions status via that account.

Michigan Common Application Schools:As of June 2019:

❏ Albion College❏ Alma College❏ Calvin College❏ Hillsdale College❏ Hope College❏ Kalamazoo College❏ Kettering University❏ Lawrence Technological

University❏ Michigan State University❏ Northwood University

❏ Olivet College❏ Spring Arbor University ❏ University of Detroit Mercy❏ University of Michigan❏ University of Michigan-Flint❏ Wayne State University❏ Western Michigan University

LINK Parchment and the Common App: ● See additional handout in your folder.● You’ll link these two accounts so that Parchment sends your transcript to the

Common App (which will send to each school).● You’ll need to enter your Common App ID# in the Parchment request.● Follow directions carefully. It is your responsibility to connect both accounts so

that the Common App has your transcript via Parchment.● Do not request an additional transcript through Parchment to the school(s) that

you listed on the Common App. Only request your transcript to be sent to the Common App.

Application: Letters of Recommendation● If a letter of recommendation is required by your school’s application, you must

politely ask your teacher (and counselor) to write a letter for you. Give them at least a two week notice and follow up with them closer to the deadline.

● Submit a “brag sheet” to both the teacher and counselor. PN deadline: Oct 10.○ Use Google Docs or submit via email.○ Sample Brag Sheet in your folder.○ Get the Brag Sheet to your teacher(s) and counselor ASAP. Don’t wait!

● Do NOT submit a letter of recommendation unless the application clearly requests or requires one.

Prioritize!● You can request your transcript through Parchment now. You don’t have to

‘wait’ until you’ve applied to the college. This step is one of the easiest… so do this one first if you have your colleges in mind.

● Prioritize deadlines! First work on / complete the application that has the earliest deadline. Work to complete one college app at a time… before you move on to a second application.

Help with College Apps:

KVCC:● You can earn an Associates Degree, certificate or other training / credential.● Students can also attend KVCC (or other community college) for 2 years first

and transfer to a different 4 year college or university.○ If that is your plan, only focus on applying to KVCC now. You will not apply to the other college

until after your completed years at KVCC or other CC.

● Once you’re attending KVCC, meet with an academic counselor there to plan your transfer (classes/credits) to your next school.

● Many community colleges have a ‘transfer tab’ on their websites to help you plan ahead as to what the transfer of credits might look like. You can do your research now, but meet with an official adviser when you are enrolled.

● When applying to KVCC, you will need your Social Security Number for their application. It is required on their application.

College Admissions:

● Rolling Admissions: the sooner you apply, the sooner you receive a decision. Some common examples are: MSU, WMU, GVSU, CMU, EMU.

● After application is complete and fees are paid, you usually hear back from the college within 6-8 weeks. If you have questions, contact the school directly.

● Other types of admissions to research:○ Early Decision: legal and binding decision; documents & signatures required○ Early Action: non-binding○ Early Response: if you apply by a certain date, you’ll receive notice by a certain date

Factors in College Admissions...● Overall GPA● Test scores● Class rank● Rigor of high school curriculum (honors/IB/core classes senior year)● School activities● Community activities● Personal statement/essay (if applicable)● Letters of recommendation (if applicable)● Awards / recognitions

Career Planning:Alternatives to a Traditional 2- or 4- Year College Path:

Several printed resources and additional information will be included in your senior 1:1 folder when you meet with your counselor.

➢ Skilled Trades➢ Technical Schools➢ Apprenticeships➢ On the Job Training➢ Misc jobs / Careers➢ Military Options

Financial Aid Night:● Attend the PNHS FINANCIAL AID NIGHT: October 7, 2019.

○ PNHS Auditorium. 6:30 pm.○ Financial Aid experts from local colleges will present detailed info on the

FAFSA.○ The FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid becomes available

October 1, 2019.○ https://fafsa.ed.gov

● More detailed info in English 12 classes to follow in October.

Senior Check-In:➔ Counselors will meet with each senior individually to check on post-secondary

plans (College ? Career ? Trade ?) from now through January.➔ Please adhere to all previously posted deadlines to help expedite your 1:1

meeting. ➔ 1:1 counselor / senior meeting will include:

◆ Check in on your status for future plans. ● Ensure that you have completed the necessary steps for your application process.

◆ Help with anything online (college apps, transcripts, test scores, career planning) and work through any glitches or bumps in the road that you may have encountered.

◆ If you’re applying on the Common App, be sure that you have created an account and reviewed the “how to” prior to your counselor meeting.

➔ This meeting is your chance to ask any and all questions and to seek resources for additional help. Please talk with parents/guardians prior to meeting with counselor so that you can use the time effectively.

What’s Next?➔ Prioritize your college application list or your top career plans / career paths.➔ Create “to do” lists of what each application or career path requires.➔ Start 1 college application first. Finish that 1 app. Continue.➔ Use your resources:

◆ Help with College Apps in the Media Center.◆ Templates / Instructions / Handouts in your folder.◆ Resources for Career Planning in your folder.

➔ Your counselor will send you a pass for your “Senior Check-In” in the next few weeks. Be patient. We will spend the same quality time with all 330 of you!

➔ Do your homework and research now...before your counseling meeting!