College Prep Info.College Prep Info.

FOR THE CLASS OFFOR THE CLASS OF20122012

College ApplicationsCollege Applications Apply before October 31Apply before October 31 Apply online – faster/more accurateApply online – faster/more accurate Go to college website, for example:Go to college website, for example:

www.wmich.eduwww.wmich.edu www.loyola.eduwww.loyola.edu

Look for “Prospective or Future Look for “Prospective or Future Students”, “Admissions” or something Students”, “Admissions” or something similar to find applicationsimilar to find application

Components of the Components of the ApplicationApplication

Personal informationPersonal information Classes taken/gradesClasses taken/grades Activities/honorsActivities/honors Leadership Leadership Community service/employmentCommunity service/employment Essay / Personal Statement, if requiredEssay / Personal Statement, if required

examples for topics can be found at: examples for topics can be found at:

http://www.msu.edu http://www.umich.eduhttp://www.msu.edu http://www.umich.eduSuggestion: Have someone you trust proofread your essay!Suggestion: Have someone you trust proofread your essay!

Resume recommended: www.studentresume.comResume recommended: www.studentresume.com

Components of the Application (cont.)Components of the Application (cont.)

Senior schedule – both semestersSenior schedule – both semesters Intended major – “undecided” is a choiceIntended major – “undecided” is a choice High school transcript: Regina may be High school transcript: Regina may be

converting to electronic transcripts. You converting to electronic transcripts. You will receive information on this when you will receive information on this when you return to school. Paper copies can be return to school. Paper copies can be requested from our office the week after requested from our office the week after Labor DayLabor Day

ACT / SAT Scores: send all from the ACT / SAT Scores: send all from the agency:agency:

MSU, U of M, etc. MSU, U of M, etc. requirerequire “official” scores “official” scores

(Four reported scores are free with each ACT)(Four reported scores are free with each ACT)

Components of the Application Components of the Application (cont.)(cont.)

Counselor Recommendation *Counselor Recommendation *– Sometimes called the Secondary School Report or Counselor Sometimes called the Secondary School Report or Counselor

Certification (print off page from on-line application). Invite Certification (print off page from on-line application). Invite electronically, if that is an optionelectronically, if that is an option

Teacher Recommendation *Teacher Recommendation *

Request 3 – 4 weeks in advanceRequest 3 – 4 weeks in advance Follow up with teacher to ensure letter was sent Follow up with teacher to ensure letter was sent

electronically or delivered to counselingelectronically or delivered to counseling Check status online Check status online

* Not required by all colleges / universities* Not required by all colleges / universities

College ApplicationsCollege Applications

The Common Application – 400+ The Common Application – 400+ schools use schools use

www.commonapp.orgwww.commonapp.org

For some schools, ( U of M) this is the For some schools, ( U of M) this is the only way to applyonly way to apply

What’s Most Important to What’s Most Important to Colleges?Colleges?

Rigor of High School CurriculumRigor of High School Curriculum– Did you challenge yourself?Did you challenge yourself?– Most schools look at all four years, not recalculatedMost schools look at all four years, not recalculated– Senior year counts!Senior year counts!

Test ScoresTest Scores– www.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org / / www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com

(SAT)(SAT)

Grade Point Average (Recalculated)Grade Point Average (Recalculated)– English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language – Is there a trend in grades…..updward or downward?Is there a trend in grades…..updward or downward?

Recalculating Your GPA Recalculating Your GPA Include only academic courses:Include only academic courses:

– English, math, social studies, science and English, math, social studies, science and foreign languageforeign language

Grade equals:Grade equals:– A = 4 A = 4 pointspoints– B = 3 pointsB = 3 points– C = 2 pointsC = 2 points– D = 1 pointD = 1 point

Add point values for each class and divide Add point values for each class and divide by number of classes to obtain by number of classes to obtain recalculated GPArecalculated GPA

What Else Is Important to What Else Is Important to Colleges?Colleges?

Personal Statement / Essay (if part of application)Personal Statement / Essay (if part of application)

High School Honors and AwardsHigh School Honors and Awards

Involvement in Extracurricular ActivitiesInvolvement in Extracurricular Activities– School and CommunitySchool and Community– Leadership Leadership – Work ExperienceWork Experience

Unique Background / ExperiencesUnique Background / Experiences

– Successful in spite of major obstaclesSuccessful in spite of major obstacles Recommendations (if required)Recommendations (if required)

MI CollegesMI CollegesWhat They Look ForWhat They Look For

Wayne StateWayne State– 21 ACT and 2.75 GPA21 ACT and 2.75 GPA– 87% admit rate87% admit rate

Oakland UniversityOakland University– 2.5 recalculated GPA2.5 recalculated GPA– 81% admit rate 81% admit rate

Western MichiganWestern Michigan– 22 ACT and 3.25 GPA22 ACT and 3.25 GPA– 86% admit rate 86% admit rate

Central MichiganCentral Michigan– 22 ACT and 3.3 GPA 22 ACT and 3.3 GPA

recalculatedrecalculated– 70% admit rate70% admit rate

Grand Valley State Grand Valley State – 3.5 GPA (3.1 GPA 3.5 GPA (3.1 GPA

recalculated) and 24 ACTrecalculated) and 24 ACT– 78% admit rate 78% admit rate

Michigan StateMichigan State– 3.4 GPA recalculated and 3.4 GPA recalculated and

25 ACT25 ACT– 70% admit rate70% admit rate

University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan– 3.9 GPA for all four years 3.9 GPA for all four years

and 28 ACT and 28 ACT – 41% admit rate41% admit rate

www.umich.eduwww.umich.edu U of M Early Response DeadlineU of M Early Response Deadline

– Postmarked by 11/1/11Postmarked by 11/1/11– Admission decision by 12/24/11Admission decision by 12/24/11

Admit, Deny, DeferAdmit, Deny, Defer

2011-12 Application 2011-12 Application – Available online 1Available online 1stst week of August 2011 week of August 2011

2011-12 Short Answer Questions2011-12 Short Answer Questions– Available online by early August 2011 ?Available online by early August 2011 ?

2010-11 Teacher Recommendation2010-11 Teacher Recommendation– Available online by early August 2011?Available online by early August 2011?

CCS Financial Aid ProfileCCS Financial Aid Profile

www.msu.eduwww.msu.edu

MSU Early Notification (by invitation only)MSU Early Notification (by invitation only)

– Based on GPA and ACT scoreBased on GPA and ACT score– To become eligible, send ACT score when taking the testTo become eligible, send ACT score when taking the test– Application Deadline - mid October for early notificationApplication Deadline - mid October for early notification– Admission decision in December 2011Admission decision in December 2011

Admit, Deny, Hold for 7Admit, Deny, Hold for 7thth Semester Grades Semester Grades

2011-12 Application2011-12 Application

Available online 1Available online 1stst week of August week of August

           

Private SchoolsPrivate Schools

Don’t rule out based on cost!Don’t rule out based on cost!

Typically have more aid to give than Typically have more aid to give than public schoolspublic schools

– More grants and scholarships More grants and scholarships – Some will meet 100% of need based aid Some will meet 100% of need based aid

Community College…A good Community College…A good option?option?

Yes, if……..Yes, if……..– You are not quite ready to leave homeYou are not quite ready to leave home– You have below a 2.5 grade point averageYou have below a 2.5 grade point average– You want to save moneyYou want to save money– Your career choice requires a certificate or associates Your career choice requires a certificate or associates

degreedegree

Macomb Community College………Macomb Community College………– Open-admission institutionOpen-admission institution– More than 120 programsMore than 120 programs– Largest feeder school to MI colleges / universitiesLargest feeder school to MI colleges / universities

– Transfer EquivalenciesTransfer Equivalencies

Random (Important) Random (Important) Thoughts……..Thoughts……..

You (the student) are responsible for completing You (the student) are responsible for completing college applications and knowing the deadlines….not college applications and knowing the deadlines….not your parentsyour parents

Create a professional email addressCreate a professional email address

Facebook and MySpace-be very careful what is postedFacebook and MySpace-be very careful what is posted

Schedule changes 2Schedule changes 2ndnd semester could have adversely semester could have adversely affect your acceptance: no changes after the first two affect your acceptance: no changes after the first two weeks of the class-$30 fee for ANY scheduling weeks of the class-$30 fee for ANY scheduling changeschanges

NCAA EligibilityNCAA Eligibilitywww.eligibilitycenter.orgwww.eligibilitycenter.org

Thinking of Playing Sports in Thinking of Playing Sports in College?College?

Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse at the end of Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse at the end of junior year: junior year: www.eligibilitycenter.orgwww.eligibilitycenter.org

Submit transcript requests to counselor Submit transcript requests to counselor

Talk to your coach Talk to your coach

Keep track of your statistics throughout the year Keep track of your statistics throughout the year (swimming, track, cross country, etc.(swimming, track, cross country, etc.

Let college coaches know you are interested in Let college coaches know you are interested in playing sports (college website)playing sports (college website)

Financial AidFinancial Aid

Types of Financial AidTypes of Financial Aid

Grants (do not have to be repaid)Grants (do not have to be repaid) Loans (must be repaid)Loans (must be repaid)

– SubsidizedSubsidized– UnsubsidizedUnsubsidized

Scholarships (do not have to be Scholarships (do not have to be repaid)repaid)

Work-StudyWork-Study

How do I Apply for Financial How do I Apply for Financial Aid?Aid?

In January 2012:In January 2012:– Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Complete the Free Application for Federal Student

Aid (FAFSA) Aid (FAFSA) – www.fafsa.ed.govwww.fafsa.ed.gov

Student Aid Report (SAR) indicates Expected Family Student Aid Report (SAR) indicates Expected Family Contribution (EFC)Contribution (EFC)

Colleges send Financial Aid Packages (March 2012) Colleges send Financial Aid Packages (March 2012) – Each school will be differentEach school will be different

Regina Financial Aid Night in Fall 2011: we co-sponsor Regina Financial Aid Night in Fall 2011: we co-sponsor with DLSwith DLS

ScholarshipsScholarships

The “Skinny” on The “Skinny” on Scholarships Scholarships

College Application = Scholarship ApplicationCollege Application = Scholarship Application Most student aid comes from grants and loansMost student aid comes from grants and loans

Looking for scholarships takes time and patience Looking for scholarships takes time and patience

Prepare early: most scholarships are based on Prepare early: most scholarships are based on grades, community service, financial needgrades, community service, financial need

Regina has some “local” scholarships – refer to Regina has some “local” scholarships – refer to “Counselors’ Notes”“Counselors’ Notes”

Develop a Scholarship Develop a Scholarship Strategy Strategy

Check membership organizations and Check membership organizations and employers employers

Use a FREE scholarship search service:Use a FREE scholarship search service:– www.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.com– www.collegeanswer.comwww.collegeanswer.com– www.meritaid.comwww.meritaid.com– www.scholarships.comwww.scholarships.com

Check out Regina’s Counselors’ Notes Check out Regina’s Counselors’ Notes bi-weeklybi-weekly

Senior Year Timeline Senior Year Timeline Sept – Oct. 2011 Sept – Oct. 2011 apply to colleges apply to colleges

apply for scholarshipsapply for scholarships Oct - Jan 2012 Oct - Jan 2012 receive college decisions receive college decisions

apply for scholarshipsapply for scholarships Jan. 2012Jan. 2012 complete the FAFSA at complete the FAFSA at

www.fafsa.ed.gov www.fafsa.ed.gov Feb - April 2012Feb - April 2012 receive college decisions receive college decisions

financial aid packages financial aid packages apply for scholarshipsapply for scholarships

April - May 2012April - May 2012 review college decisionsreview college decisionsreview financial aid packages review financial aid packages make decisionmake decision

May 1, 2012 May 1, 2012 universal college acceptance universal college acceptance deadline deadline

Summer BreakSummer Break20112011

What can you do over the What can you do over the summer? summer?

Research colleges online Research colleges online Visit campusesVisit campuses

Begin / complete applicationsBegin / complete applications– Create a folder for each college for deadlines, Create a folder for each college for deadlines,

rough drafts, notes, important dates, etc. rough drafts, notes, important dates, etc. – Complete rough draft before completing online Complete rough draft before completing online

applicationapplication

Work on essay / short answer responsesWork on essay / short answer responses Search for scholarshipsSearch for scholarships Create a student resumeCreate a student resume

Helpful Resources Helpful Resources Rugg’s Recommendations on the CollegesRugg’s Recommendations on the Colleges

– Frederick E. RuggFrederick E. Rugg Colleges That Change LivesColleges That Change Lives

– Loren Pope Loren Pope Peterson’s Best College Admissions EssaysPeterson’s Best College Admissions Essays

– Stewart and MuchnickStewart and Muchnick College Board BooksCollege Board Books

– College HandbookCollege Handbook– Book of MajorsBook of Majors– Scholarship HandbookScholarship Handbook– Getting Financial AidGetting Financial Aid

Helpful Resources Helpful Resources www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com www.petersons.comwww.petersons.com www.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.com www.meritaid.comwww.meritaid.com www.collegeanswer.comwww.collegeanswer.com www.scholarships.comwww.scholarships.com www.schoolsoup.comwww.schoolsoup.com College NavigatorCollege Navigator

– http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/