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Acknowledgement of Sources
Fiske Guide to Getting Into the Right CollegeEdward B. Fiske and Bruce G. Hammond
Published by Sourcebooks, Inc. The Truth About Getting In: If You’re Getting
Ready for the College Admissions Process, Get the FactsKatherine Cohen, Ph.D.Published by Hyperion Books
I Got In!Mary Anna DennardPublished by Mary Anna Austin Dennard, Inc.
College Preparatory Curriculum Graduation Requirements 4 years of English (English 1,2,3,4) 4 years of Math (Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, or more advanced) 3 years of Science (life, physical, earth/space, include at least
one laboratory class) 3 years of Social Studies (World Civilizations, US History, plus
one of economics, government, geography, civics, or survey of social sciences)
.5 years of Health .5 years of Physical Education (or 1 year of Fundamentals of
Dance) Dance Majors do not have to take PE 1 year of Humanities (or 4 years of specialization in the arts) 2-3 years of the same Foreign Language 21st Century Technology Proficiency, IC3 Certification, or
Computer Applications 4-5 credits of Electives (your YPAS classes are electives)
Additional JCPS Diploma RequirementsStudents must meet the minimum
requirements of the Kentucky Department of Education program of studies which is 22 -23 credits
Students must still complete a WRITING PORTFOLIO
The ILP (Individual Learning Plan) must be 100% complete EACH YEAR you are in high school
Graduation Requirements for the Advanced Program For those students that have tested into the Advanced Program
– 12 credits must be earned in Advanced Program classes in at least 3 of the following areas: English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language
Advanced Humanities is also required (or specialization) Students are also required to take 3 years of the same Foreign
Language A Cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to stay in the Advanced
Program The Advanced Program is unique to Jefferson County Public
Schools – most out of state colleges are unaware of this program – Honors is the highest level at most high schools across the nation other than Advanced Placement Courses.
Commonwealth Diploma
Please see your counselor if you are working toward the Commonwealth Diploma
We must add your name to the list to order your Commonwealth Diploma in addition to your Manual Diploma
Required Coursework for the Commonwealth Diploma Includes:1 AP English credit1 AP Math or AP Science Credit1 AP Foreign Language Credit1 Elective AP Credit
Students must take the AP Exams for these courses and pass at least 3 with a score of 3 or higher
The Class of 2012 will be the last class to be able to earn a Commonwealth Diploma. The program will end at the conclusion of the 2011-2012 school year
NCAA Clearinghouse
16 Core Credits 4 Years of English 4 Years of Math – Algebra 1 or higher 2 Years of Physical/Natural Science 1 Year of Social Science 1 Additional Math, English, or Natural/Physical
Science 4 Years of any of the above or Foreign Language Mrs. Marti Johnston is our NCAA Clearinghouse
Expert located in the Manual Counseling Suite
NCAA Clearinghouse – cont.
Make sure you have taken the ACT or SAT and reported your scores to the Clearinghouse
Register online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
The fee is $50.00Apply at the end of your junior year –
Mrs. Johnston will send your transcript
Academic Status Report
Student’s name, counselor, grade level
Magnet ProgramRequired CreditsCredits EarnedCredits NeededGPAStandardized Test Scores
What is a Transcript???
The transcript is the report sent to colleges that reflects every semester of high school that you have completed
Courses you have taken and credits you have earned each semester are on the transcript
The level of rigor of each class is included on the transcript (AP, advanced, honors, etc.)
Your total cumulative weighted and un-weighted GPA is on the transcript
Your attendance record is on the transcript Grades, including all pluses and minuses, A’s, B’s, C’s, D’s, and
U’s!!! Your name, address, phone, birth date, and student ID numbers
are also on the transcript, as well as the name and address of Manual High School
Transcript Review
Check to determine that all courses are reported accurately (name, grade, credit)
Make sure you have all required courses for graduation or you are taking those courses your senior year
Look for Summer School, eSchool, and Ind. Study grades
Write in any corrections and see your counselor immediately for edits
Notice the GPA – weighted and un-weighted Notice your attendance record Check for correct name, address, birth date, phone
number, etc.
Why College?
Amount of EducationEarnings Unemployment Rate High School – no diploma $17,077 11.4% High School Graduate $25,288 6.3% Some College $28,625 5.4% Associate’s Degree $30,047 3.4% Bachelor’s Degree $40,925 2.1% Master’s Degree $48,642 1.8% Doctoral Degree $66,032 1.5% Professional Degree $83,649 1.3%
2008 median earnings of people in Kentucky over age 25, both sexes, with a full time job – U.S. Census Bureau
Top Occupations in the U.S.A. Based on Growth Rate to 2014 Home Health Aides Network Systems & Data
Communications Analysts Medical Assistants Physician Assistants Computer Software
Engineers/Applications Physical Therapist Assistants Dental Hygienists Dental Assistants Personal and Home Care Aides Network and Computer Systems
Administrators Database Administrators Physical Therapists Forensic Science Technicians Veterinary Technologists and
Technicians
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Occupational Therapist Assistants Medical Scientists Occupational Therapists Preschool Teachers Cardiovascular Technologists and
Technicians Postsecondary Teachers Hydrologists Computer Systems Analysts Hazardous Materials Removal
Workers Biomedical Engineers Employment Recruitment and
Placement Specialists Paralegals and Legal Assistants
College Admissions Criteria by Importance Academic Rigor, Talent,
and/or Mastery of Skills Cumulative GPA Grades in Advanced
Placement Courses Grades in College Prep
Courses Grades in All Subjects ACT & SAT Test Scores Class Rank (JCPS does
not rank)
Essay or Writing Samples
Honors, Awards, etc. Counselor
Recommendations Teacher
Recommendations Interviews (if required) Community Service Work and Extra
Curricular Activities
The ACT Test
The ACT consists of four multiple choice tests in English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science
The English Test measures standard written English and Rhetorical Skills
The Math Test measures mathematical skills students have typically acquired in courses taken up to the beginning of Grade 12
The Reading Test measures Reading Comprehension
The Science Test measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the Natural Sciences
The Optional Writing Test measures writing skills emphasized in high school English classes and in entry level composition courses
All together, the test predicts college readiness in the areas evaluated and sets benchmark scores for college success
ACT College Readiness Benchmark Scores A benchmark score is the minimum score needed on an ACT subject
area test to indicate a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher, or, a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit bearing college course
College English Composition 18 on ACT English Test
College Algebra 22 on ACT Math Test College Social Sciences 21 on ACT Reading Test College Biology 24 on ACT Science Test Overall College Readiness 21 on ACT Composite
Score
These are the minimum scores you need to indicate to the average college you are ready for postsecondary work – More competitive colleges will require higher benchmark scores
ACT vs. SAT – What’s the Difference?
ACT Content based – core
curriculum knowledge Includes science reasoning Math includes trigonometry No guessing penalty Tests grammar Scored on a scale of 1-36 1 composite score and 4
subject scores, plus 7 subscores
SAT Tests critical thinking and
problem solving skills Tests vocabulary much more Not entirely multiple choice Includes a guessing penalty Does not test grammar Scored on a scale of 200-
800 and has seven sections – 3 math, 3 verbal, plus an experimental section
ACT & SAT Test Dates 2010-11
ACT National Dates September 10, 2011 October 22, 2011 December 10, 2011 February 11, 2012 April 14, 2012 June 9, 2012
SAT National Dates October 1, 2011 November 5, 2011 December 3, 2011 January 28, 2012 March 10, 2012 May 5, 2012 June 2, 2012
ACT/SAT Contact Information
To Register for the ACT or to send your score reports to a college go to:
www.actstudent.org
To register for the SAT or to send your score reports to a college go to:
www.sat.collegeboard.com
Manual’s School Code: 181525
Are You Ready to Apply?
Have you decided what your college major will be? Are you happy with the lifestyle and eventual pay scale you will be
earning upon graduation? Are you satisfied with your employability upon graduation? Will you be happy doing this for the rest of your life? Have you researched to find the schools that are strong in that area? Have you found a Kentucky College you would happy attending? Have you visited the college campuses, experienced the culture on
campus, satisfied with safety concerns, checked out the dormitory and food services, explored the town or city, met with admissions counselors, and talked with your prospective primary teacher?
Do you know the entry requirements, audition repertoire you will be expected to perform, and have a good grasp of that material so it will be prepared by audition day?
If you have answered yes to all of these questions – you are ready to begin the college application process!!!
2011-2012 College Application Deadlines
College Deadline October 1, 2011 October 15, 2011 November 1, 2011 November 15, 2011 December 1, 2011 December 15, 2011 January 1, 2012 January 15, 2012
Due Date to Counselor September 17, 2011 September 24, 2011 October 15, 2011 October 29, 2011 November 12, 2011 November 23, 2011 December 1, 2011 December 17, 2011
What Will Be Your First Impression???The appearance of your college application is
very important: If you are completing your application on-line, make
sure all the blanks are filled in and your application is complete
If submitting a hard copy – type the application or print VERY NEATLY in black ink.
Make sure all the components of the application are in the correct order
If you are mailing the application – address the envelope in a very professional way – typed address labels are great
Facebook, MySpace, Email Address, and College Applications Consider that the information posted on these sites is
basically public domain. In as few as 10 minutes after you have posted
something on these sites they are archived forever in over 20 locations throughout the world.
Your personal sites can be viewed by college admission counselors, college professors, employers, stalkers, that creepy kid obsessing over you, as well as campus and local police
Make sure your email address is a professional or generic name and not something that causes one to pause and doubt your integrity or character
Time To Do Some Cleanup???
Remove photos showing you doing anything that could be interpreted as inappropriate
Remove rude gestures, inappropriate comments, questionable photos, etc.
Unsubscribe to questionable groups Remove contact information Choose attractive/professional looking photos to post Un-tag any unflattering photos your friends may have
posted Perhaps let your grandmother approve of what you
have posted!!!
How Many Colleges Should I Apply To??? For most it will be a list of about six schools Aim for one or more “reach” colleges that are highly desired and highly
selective. If you don’t, you’ll always wonder, “what if?” It is wise to include one or two schools where the odds are 50/50 that
you will be accepted. Include at least one or two colleges where admission is highly likely and
a college where you can afford to attend if you receive very little financial aid
The easy part is finding your dream and reach schools The hard part is finding your safety schools that are also a really good
match – keep an open mind about the many fine colleges that are not intensely competitive in admission
Two safety schools are preferable to guarantee a choice between two offers
The potential for heartache in April can be drastically reduced by a few good decisions in October and November
The Academic Common Market
If the program you are interested in studying is not offered at a college in Kentucky, you may be able to pay in-state tuition at an out-of-state school through the Academic Common Market
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia participate at the undergraduate and graduate levels
Florida, North Carolina, and Texas participate at the graduate level
To use your KEES money for an out-of-state school they must both offer a major not offered in Kentucky and be a member of the Academic Common Market
Applications Via Download
Application software that comes via download from a website that allows students to generate applications on their own computer
Students generally print and send the application via the post office
Applications Through the Web
To use these, students access a website that houses the software rather than downloading
Generally, a username and password will be provided that will allow you to save your work from multiple sessions
The final copy is either transmitted through the Web or printed and sent via snail mail
Take Precautions!!!
Online applications can have a timed out feature – save your work often so as not to loose all your hard work
Resist the temptation to impulsively hit the “send” button until you have thoroughly proofread your application – have at least one other person also check for typos
It is advised that you compose essays and short answer questions offline and transfer them to your application after you have refined those responses
Review a printed copy of your work whenever possible before sending and keep it for your records
Take Precautions!!! - continued
Electronic filers should receive an acknowledgement via return mail
Don’t forget you may need to print and mail a signature page with a check for the application fee
Other parts of the application (recommendation page, counselor page, secondary school report, etc.) must be printed and given to your teacher or guidance counselor
If you print your application, make sure you sign it and enclose your check
The Old Fashioned Way
If you plan to stick with paper applications, make at least two photocopies of the original
Practice on them and get all the typos and coffee or pizza stains out of your system
A sloppy application is the quickest way to get a rejection letter
Proofread for spelling, spacing, word choice, and anything else you can think of
Type the final copy yourself – don’t worry about a “few” neatly corrected errors, but avoid a sloppy appearance
If you print instead of type (less professional looking), make sure your penmanship is neat and easily readable
The Common Application
Available online at www.commonapp.org Approximately 300 schools, including the
most selective liberal arts colleges, accept the Common Application
You can either download the software or transmit through the web
Use the college’s own application form if they have one – but many have adopted the common application as their own
Cultivating Colleges
Many colleges are reluctant to accept an applicant unless they have reason to believe that he/she is seriously interested.
Many colleges track every contact the applicant initiates and are more likely to accept students who have made multiple contacts
A few ways to communicate interest include: Visit the college – if you do not have a personal interview stop by the
admissions office and let them know you came If the college sends a rep to Manual or YPAS, go to their session and
communicate your interest Attend a college fair in your local area and speak to the representative Get a business card from any college representative you meet and
write or email that person to thank them and emphasize your interest Note in your application that a particular college is your first choice
school or one of your top choices Make sure your email address stays the same throughout the college
search process – if it changes tell the colleges
Listing Activities
Always list activities from most important to least important The ones that are significant, as evidenced by leadership and
time commitment, will be obvious Marginal activities like membership in the Monogram Club
should be de-emphasized Don’t make a big production out of honors from companies that
put your picture in a book and then ask you to buy it Follow the college’s preferred format for listing activities If the space is too small, attach extra sheets where necessary
as supplemental material, especially when activities of in-depth involvement need further explanation – however, submit one of these in addition to filling out the college’s activities form
Explain Everything
If one of your activities was chairing the Founder’s Day Committee, it won’t mean anything to the admissions office unless you explain what you did and why the committee was important
If it was an honor bestowed on only one senior, say so If it involved presentations to alumni and coordination of twenty
volunteers for six months, spell that out You could also have the sponsor, counselor, or principal write a
letter outlining the significance The same goes for a weak spot in your record like a suspension
or failing grade – any reasonable explanation you can give without sounding bitter or whiny would be helpful
Even more impressive would be an account of how the experience helped you to mature as an individual
Emphasize Your Strengths!!!
Strong Academic Program Directed the Gospel Choir at
your Church Your Major is going to be
Greek!!! You’re a Legacy Application Your wrote the essay of the
year and your teacher passed it around the class for all to read
First in your family to attend college
You participated in a significant community project
You are an Eagle Scout or earned a Gold Key Award
You’re a Varsity Athlete All-Count or All-State
Ensemble Member You come from a single
parent household and must work part time to help with expenses
Your last name is the same as the college library to which you are applying and that is no coincidence!
Things That Can Hurt Your Chances
Your major will be Psychology or Biology You do not know any teacher well enough to
ask for a recommendation You are using the same essay for every
college and word processed it and forgot to change the name of the college
Your essay topic is “Sports As A Metaphor for Life”
You plagiarized a US History Paper and got caught
Things That Can Hurt Your Chances
You did not participate in any extracurricular activities
You received a D in an academic course junior year 2nd semester
If you wrote a letter to the college admissions officer explaining the extenuating circumstances for the D you can help yourself
You decided to protect your GPA by not taking any AP courses
Avoid Gimmicks
Do not send cookies, flowers, or letters with creative ways of saying “Please Accept Me”
According to one famous admissions counselor: “I don’t need a chocolate layer cake, your kindergarten report card, or all the poems you wrote in the ninth grade. I am very interested in seeing the results of whatever you consider your finest accomplishment, whether that be photographs of your set designs, your concerto performance, you solo dance routine, or your best theatrical monologue”
Get It In Early
Keep on top of deadlines - there will be different ones for each college and for each part of the application process
Some deadlines are as early as Oct. 1st
If the college offers rolling admissions they admit the first good applicants that come along leaving fewer slots for later applicants
If the college evaluates in one big pool, applying early shows you are interested and they know that stronger applicants tend to file early – waiting later risks getting less consideration because of the flood of applications pouring in all at once
Early Decision vs. Early Action
Both require students to apply by an early deadline - usually between October 15th and December 1st
Decisions are usually rendered between December 15 and February 1
Borderline students are usually deferred and considered with the regular applicant pool at a later date
Early Decision
Early decision involves a BINDING DECISION to enroll if accepted - you have to attend that school regardless of other offers and without knowing any financial aid package that may or may not be offered
You may only apply to one school through Early Decision and if accepted, you must withdraw your applications to all other schools
Early Decision offers a slight advantage of acceptance - colleges usually accept a higher percentage of applicants than those that apply for regular decision - colleges desire students that really want to attend their school
Early Decision is a good option for borderline students with LOW financial need who have a clear first choice school - others should be very CAUTIOUS!!!!
Early Action
Entails no commitment to enroll and therefore offers little advantage for admission
Early Action students, however, are often first in line for merit scholarships and housing
Competition in Early Action pools at highly selective schools is generally tougher than in the regular pool
Some Early Action colleges now ask that students apply early only to their institution, however, you may still apply regular decision to any other institution
Early Applications
It is difficult to give definitive advice regarding early decision and early action
Only students that have thoroughly investigated colleges and completed most standardized testing by the end of the eleventh grade with high test scores will be in a strong position to consider early application
Surviving the Audition
Step One - Prepare Your Resume! You should have a resume to present at the audition Tell your story on paper with a quick summary of the basic facts
needed to understand your experiences and strengths Limit your resume to the most signification information - be brief
and to the point Use outline form with highly visible headlines Use high quality paper and printing for the most professional
look (the quality of your resume directly reflects your attitude and professionalism)
Have a professional Photo or Head Shot to include with your resume
Include your resume with your application and audition request forms
Bring additional copies to each audition
Surviving the Audition:Resume - What to Include Name and Contact Information - address,
phone number, email address Objective - career goals and college major School Information - GPS, AP Courses/AP
Scores, Magnet, ACT/SAT Scores Awards/Honors Extracurricular Activities and Leadership
Positions Community Service and Volunteer Work Employment
Surviving the Audition
Step Two - Set Up The Audition Every college has it’s own audition protocol regarding applying for and
scheduling an admissions audition Audition repertoire may be different at each school - find out about each
program’s audition requirements Most colleges will require several specific works to be performed, often
from specific periods in history as well as specific genre of the type of composition (scales, arpeggios, etudes, concertos, sonatas, etc)
Most colleges will not schedule an audition until all application forms are filed and in order
Many of the top performing arts colleges will have pre-screening auditions in certain areas where there are hundreds of applicants
You may have to get through a prescreening in order to be invited to perform on site
Prescreening requires the submission of a high quality CD or DVD Some schools may require on-site auditions, but may not provide an
accompanist or even expect an accompanist - FIND OUT!!!
Surviving the Audition
Step Two - continued Most colleges have specific dates and time slots that fill up on a
first come first served basis Remember that scholarship money goes quickly during the
audition season - the later you audition the less money that will be available
As soon as you apply, find out when and how to schedule your audition
Set up arrangements in advance and fulfill all of the college’s requirements so that you can arrive completely prepared and think about your performance
You should already know the repertoire each school requires and be well on your way to having the audition prepared
Surviving the Audition
Step Three - Show Your Stuff!!! College auditions begin the minute you present yourself (even in
the parking lot) Your professional attitude and appearance do make a difference Faculty look not just for talent, skill, and style, but for those
students who apply themselves seriously and work cooperatively with others
Be courteous to EVERYONE - an enthusiastic attitude is contagious
Dress appropriately - a professional appearance with conservative jewelry
Arrive early and warm up in the location provided Bring your music and anything else you need for a successful
audition (extra reeds, strings, etc.)
Surviving the Audition
Step Three - Show Your Stuff!!! Some colleges require the audition to me memorized If asked, be prepared to let the committee know who is your 1st,
2nd, and 3rd choice of applied teachers Bring extra copies of your resume Be focused but flexible - interact well with others Get into the performance - this is your one shot to gain
admittance and to prove you are deserving of a merit scholarship
No excuses - the faculty has heard them all Answer and ask questions (based on your research) which are
appropriate to the particular institution where you are auditioning Do not present yourself as a “scholarship shopper” Always thank the faculty after the audition
The National Unified Auditions for Theatre and Musical Theatre Twenty Five Universities that convene in the same city on the
same dates in the same hotel Auditions are separate and private for each school Unified auditions begin in late January and go until Mid
February Auditions are held in New York City, Chicago. Los Angeles, and
Las Vegas A large number of non-member schools also hold their regional
auditions in the same city on the same dates at the same hotel Some schools will accept walk-in auditions You will have to schedule your audition with each individual
school The audition fee for each school varies from $25 to $100 each
so bring your checkbook!!!!!
National Unified Audition Member Schools University of the Arts Ball State University Boston Conservatory University of Cincinnati Cornish College of the Arts Emerson College University of Evansville The Hartt School Ithaca College University of Miami University of Michigan Montclair State University
Northern Illinois University University of Oklahoma Otterbein College Pennsylvania State Univ. Point Park University Roosevelt University College of Santa Fe Southern Methodist Univ. Texas Christian University University of Utah Viterbo University Webster University
Interviews
Try to relax Dress nicely Be on time Be prepared to discuss 2 or 3 topics at length
(your school, favorite subject, extracurriculars, current events, favorite book)
Do not misrepresent yourself - don’t tell them you like current events and then go blank when they ask you about the Supreme Court’s latest decision
Keep your cool and be yourself
Expect Probing Questions
What books have you read lately?Why do you want to enroll here?What are your most important activities
and why are they valuable?What would you add to the life at this
college?What other colleges are you
considering?
Good Questions to Ask an InterviewerWhat is distinctive about your school?What sets students here apart from
those at similar schools?What percentage of entering students
graduate within five years?What are the most common career
paths for your graduates?What is the average time a student
gains employment after graduation?
Your College Essay Can Make the Difference!!! Admissions officers are looking for spark, vitality, wit,
sensitivity, originality, and signs of a lively mind They want to know how well you can express yourself
in writing Try to be as concise and specific as possible Don’t waste words that aren’t essential to your point Reread the essay several times for word choice and
typos If you have time - put your essay aside for a few
weeks and reread again to see if it still makes sense When talent, GPA, and test scores are equal - the
essay will often determine who is chosen for admittance
Five Fundamentals of a Successful Essay Show, don’t tell - a skillful writer lets evidence show that a
proposition is true; a clumsy one tells because his writing is not powerful enough to show
Use your own experiences - put yourself in the starring role and use your own real life thoughts and feelings. Give the reader a piece of your mind
Use the first person - the better the reader gets to know you as a person the more likely you will be admitted
Begin with a flourish - the most important sentence in your essay is the first one; hook the reader with a first sentence that surprises and piques interest to read further
Proofread - nothing is more damaging than an essay sull of typoes, speling misteaks, and grammar that ain’t no good
Best Essay Approaches
Openly discuss a personal problem or obstacle you have overcome
Share something real even though baring your soul to a complete stranger may seem uncomfortable
Write about a life changing experience dominated by the facts that happened and tell the story straight from your heart
Essay Turnoffs
Trite phrases - don’t write about wanting to help people - think of something unique about you
Slickness - an essay that reads like it has been turned out by a public relations firm never works - let the real you shine through
Cynicism - a positive approach to life will score points Life histories - don’t put the reader to sleep - make sure your
essay has a point Essay that goes on forever - more is not better - no sequels to
War and Peace please - do not exceed the amount of space allotted for each essay
The Thesaurus Syndrome - don’t over utilize ostentatiously pretentious language to delineate the thematic observations you are endeavoring to articulate.
Recommendations
Letters of recommendation matter because of substance, not because of who is writing them
They should tell the committee something about you as a person that comes out nowhere else in your application
Find people who are familiar with your goals and aspirations and can write about you in vivid detail
You will not be able to see the recommendation before it is sent, so choose carefully
Most selective colleges require one recommendation from a teacher - pick one who has taught you in your junior or senior year, who respects you as a person, and who can testify to some of your deeper and less obvious qualities
In general, do not send more recommendations than the application calls for
October 1st is the deadline to ask teachers and counselors to write a letter of recommendation
Teacher Recommendations
Most applications only request one teacher recommendation
Ask teachers early - the deadline to ask teachers is also October 1st
Some teachers limit the number of letters they write Make a folder for each teacher - exactly like your red
counselor folder Teachers should mail their recommendations
separately - do not give those to the counselor to mail Remember to give teachers at least 10 school days
notice when you need a letter of recommendation
How To Use Your Red Folder
During your senior class meeting, each student will receive a red folder with a cover sheet and additional information inside
You will use this folder all year to request recommendations, transcripts, and secondary school reports that are to be sent to the colleges you will be applying to
Please write on the cover sheet the date that you turn the folder into your counselor
You must submit this folder to your counselor at least 10 school days in advance of your first application deadline in order to give us time to process your applications
The earlier you turn in the folder the better - it gives us more time to produce meaningful and high quality letters and reports
Send the actual application and fees separately (online or through the mail). Do not submit money or checks to the guidance office
The Red Folder - Front Cover
Complete all information requested on the front cover
When listing what is inside your folder, only list what is actually being turned in that day and not all of the colleges you are applying to for the whole year
The order colleges are listed on front cover needs to be the order they are inside the folder from earliest due date to the latest
The Red Folder - Inside Contents
LEFT SIDE OF FOLDER Letter to your counselor
stating information about you we may not be aware of and is not on your resume
An up to date resume Any information that will help
us write a rich and substantial letter of recommendation
If you wish, you can even write your own letter of recommendation and we will refine it and add our own thoughts about you
RIGHT SIDE OF FOLDER Secondary School Report,
Counselor Form, or Curriculum Verification Form, Scholarship Applications
Manila Envelope with Stamps for PostageLarge - 4-5 stamps
Paper-clip forms to envelope Do not place stamps on
envelope - just include them Place forms and envelopes
in the order they are listed on the front cover page
Red Folder - Letter to Your Counselor Include additional information that is not on your
resume You should include more personal information Explain what is unique about you Describe your strengths and weaknesses Describe any hardships you have overcome Describe how the university would benefit from
accepting you - what special traits do you have that will benefit the school
Who has been your greatest influence in life and how have they have helped shape the kind of person you are
What are you passionate about and why?
The Red Folder - Common Applications If you are submitting the Common Application
to several schools, only one copy of the secondary school report is needed for your red folder - we will photocopy for each school
Make sure you indicate which schools need the common application
The common application usually requests counselors to submit on line - take note that we are not processing any online applications - please provide us with a hard copy we can fill out and send in
Mid-Year Reports and Final Transcripts Some colleges (and all that use the common
application) require a mid-year report and all colleges require a final transcript
Mid-year reports are not sent automatically - you must remind your counselor during the 2nd week in January to send a mid-year report if your college requires it
Fill out the mid-year report of the common application and give it to your counselor
We will send final transcripts two weeks after school is out in June to the one school you tell us you will be attending for 2012-2013
Stamps, Official Transcripts, School Profile Make sure you bring in stamps for anything that has
to be mailed to a college you are applying to or to corporations that sponsor scholarships
All transcripts sent to colleges are OFFICIAL - inside a sealed envelope with the principal’s signature and official school seal
In addition to the above, we are required to send a school profile with your transcript
The school profile highlights the school’s grading scale and important statistics about our academic curriculum, test scores, and student body
Financial Aid - Sobering Facts
The cost of attending the most prestigious private colleges is about $200,000 over four years
Tuition at public universities has risen more than 50% in inflation-adjusted dollars over the past ten years
As college costs go through the roof, government aid has failed to keep pace
Grant programs have withered and student debt has ballooned - make sure your chosen profession allows you the financial resources to repay these loans
Unless your last name is Gates or Rockefeller, money will ultimately influence the college search at every step
What Will College Cost?
Tuition - payment for required courses, study abroad, exchange programs
Fees - registration, parking, activities, health, laboratory, many others
Books and Materials - computer, required texts and supplies Room - cost of dorm or apartment plus utilities and telephone Food - meal plans, eating out, groceries Transportation - two to three trips home or, if you keep an auto
on campus, your gas expenses, insurance, parking fees, etc. Personal - clothes, laundry, recreation, medical and dental,
insurance Miscellaneous - catchall for anything that doesn’t fit in another
category - think about adding 10% of the total amount of above
Types of Financial Aid
Merit Based Aid Awarded solely on the basis of academic record or outstanding
ability in many areas (such as the arts) Usually merit aid starts with GPA’s around 3.8 and ACT scores
around 28 or is based entirely on your college audition The amount of aid increases with higher scores Each college sets it’s own criteria for granting merit based aid -
search the scholarship section of their websites Usually there is a separate application for Merit Aid, but some
colleges are now automatically granting this aid based on examining your transcript and academic record you list on your general application for admission - make sure you know which method the college you are applying to uses for merit aid
Types of Financial Aid
Need Based Aid Need is the difference between what it costs to attend
a school and what you and your family are expected to pay
You might think of this as a formula:Cost of Education
- Expected Family ContributionNeed
The Expected Family Contribution is calculated through use of the FAFSA
In order to receive any need based financial aid you must fill out the FAFSA
The FAFSA
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid
The form requests financial information for the 2011 calendar year
Colleges use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for financial aid
The State and Federal government will use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for grants
Information Needed When Filling Out the FAFSA Form U.S. Income Tax Return for 2011 State (Local) Income Tax Return W-2 Forms for money earned the past year Current Bank Statements Records of untaxed income Current mortgage information Business and farm records if applicable Records of stock, bonds, and other
investments Student’s driver’s license and Social Security
Card
Other FAFSA Information
The FAFSA can be found online at www.fafsa.ed.gov Applications open January 1, 2012 Deadline to apply is set by the colleges themselves, but in
general Kentucky deadlines are February 15, 2012 File your income tax return as early as possible so you can
submit the FAFSA and be eligible for as much aid as possible Remember that aid is given out to those who request it - waiting
means there is less to distribute There will be a FAFSA and Financial Aid Workshop at Manual
on December 1, 2011 in the Manual Auditorium - plan to attend Attend College Goal Sunday in February if you are having
trouble with the FAFSA - there will be counselors available that will actually sit down with you and help you fill out the form
The CSS Profile
CSS stands for College Scholarship Service The CSS Profile is an application distributed by the
College Board It is primarily designed to give private member
institutions of the College Board a closer look into the finances of a student and family
It is much more detailed than the FAFSA Generally, colleges with early acceptance programs
use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA because the FAFSA is not available until after January 1st
For the 2010-2011 form the application fee was $9.00 and an additional $16.00 per college submitted
Popular Performing Arts Schools that Request the CSS Profile Bard College Boston University Butler University Carnegie Mellon
University Cleveland Institute of
Music DePauw University Emerson College
Ithaca College Manhattan School of
Music Northwestern University Oberlin Conservatory University of Michigan Yale University Plus all the Most
Competitive Academic Colleges and Universities
Composition of a Financial Aid Package An offer of financial aid from a college
may include all or some of the following:State Grants (if attending in Kentucky)Federal GrantsWork-Study ProgramsLoans – subsidized & unsubsidized
(must be repaid)Scholarships and/or tuition remission
vouchers
Scholarships
95% of all scholarship money is available through the colleges themselves - search their financial aid site
Alumni Groups, National Corporations, Associations, your local high school, local businesses, community service organizations, fraternities and sororities, banks, and churches all offer scholarships
When scholarships become available that we know about you will receive an email announcing the specifics on eligibility requirements
www.dupontmanual.com - click on counselors, then click on scholarships
Check out Manual’s College Career Room for Scholarship Applications
Scholarship Scams
Warning signs of scholarship scams:Application feesOther feesGuaranteed WinningsUnsolicited OpportunitiesMail Drop Box Number or Residence for
a return address
Internet Searches for Financial Aid and Scholarships Financial Aid: http://www.finaid.org
Includes a top-quality homepage of links to many financial aid and related sites. The expected family contribution estimator is a highlight of this site
FastWeb: http://www.monster.com
Free scholarship search database that saves your profile and emails new sources of private merit aid to your mailbox online
Loan Repayment Estimator: http://www.student-loans.com/Repay.htmlEstimates monthly payments for various college loan programs
Sallie Mae: http://www.salliemae.org Nellie Mae: http://www.nelliemae.org
Information on Sallie Mae and Nellie Mae college loans
Some Thoughts for Parents
Communicate - be available to talk Set Financial Parameters - as a family, set an understanding
early on about how much you can pay out of pocket Be Realistic - know the college’s standards and expectations
and your own qualifications Think Broadly - some of the best colleges may be ones neither
of you has ever heard of Let the Student Take Center Stage - don’t try to manipulate the
system - let them stand on their own merits Don’t Live Through Your Child - allow them to follow his or her
own dreams instead of your own dreams Be Supportive - remind them they will be accepted to a good
school - one where they will make friends, have fun, be challenged, and get the education they deserve
Redouble your efforts - when the rejection (thin envelope) and acceptance letters (thick envelope) arrive, be there for them
For Specific Information Regarding: National Merit Finalists; Governor’s Scholars
Program, Graduation Program - contact Amy Medley [email protected]
ILP; NCAA Clearinghouse - contact Marti Johnston [email protected]
Advanced Placement - contact Christy Teague at [email protected]
Scholarships; Governor’s School for the Arts; Junior and Senior Awards Programs, YPAS Senior Night - contact Dennis Robinson at [email protected]