junior student/parent night bishop o’connell high school january 29, 2015 1
TRANSCRIPT
JUNIOR STUDENT/PARENT NIGHT Bishop O’Connell High School
January 29, 2015
1
TIMELINEClass of 2016
Spring ’15 (Junior Year)
• Make getting excellent grades through your senior year a top priority!
• Meet with your counselor to discuss• senior course selections to enhance your college admissions success• discuss college and career plans
• Set up a personal calendar/checklist for taking tests, deadline reminders, visiting schools, and applying using Naviance.
• Make a list of schools, attend college fairs register for Open Houses/Tours, and VISIT.
2
• Register for SAT/ACT for spring testing. Try both tests!
• Have your transcript sent to the NCAA Clearinghouse if you are an athlete applying to a school that awards athletic scholarships.
• Listen to announcements and read the Counselor’s Corner newsletters and Weekly Updates for information.
• Apply for summer jobs/special programs.
TIMELINEClass of 2016
3
TIMELINEClass of 2016
Summer ’15 Rising Seniors
• Visit colleges and narrow choices of schools for application.
• Practice writing college essays and continue practicing for the SAT/ACT.
• Do productive work over the summer, either employment or summer program.
• Research scholarships and financial aid.
• Enroll in an SAT/ACT prep course if desired.
4
TIMELINEClass of 2016
Fall ’15
• Meet with your counselor in September and October to discuss college applications and review academic progress.
• Sign up to take the SAT/ACT and SAT Subject tests if needed. (Note: you cannot take the SAT I and SAT II Subject tests on the same day)
• Attend Senior Student/Parent College Night at Bishop O’Connell
• Attend College Fairs.
• Meet with college representatives who visit Bishop O’Connell.
• Search for and apply to Colleges/Universities. Note deadlines.
• Decide if applying Early Decision/Early Action to a particular school.
5
Fall ’15
• Request transcripts sent to colleges via Naviance.
• Listen to announcements and read the Counselor’s Corner newsletters and Weekly Updates for information.
• Make sure you have completed a resume on Naviance and request recommendations from teachers if you have not already done so.
• Attend the Financial Aid Night at Bishop O’Connell.
TIMELINEClass of 2016
6
Spring ’16• Apply for financial aid and file all forms. Complete the FAFSA, CSS
Profile, College Financial Aid applications, do taxes etc. in January/February.
• Research scholarships on line and at school.
• Take SAT/ACT again or SAT II Subject tests early Spring if desired.
• Contact colleges to make sure all materials were received.
• Decide on a college after acceptances/financial aid offers come in, usually by May1st at the latest.
• If you haven’t already, visit your final choice before accepting.
TIMELINEClass of 2016
7
Spring ’16
• Notify every college of acceptance or rejection and send deposit to the college of your choice.
• Wait-listed? If you would enroll if accepted, tell the Admissions
Director your intent and ask how to strengthen your application.
• Need financial aid? Ask if funds will be available if you’re accepted.
Relax and enjoy. You did it!!!
TIMELINEClass of 2016
8
Preparing for the Next Exciting Phase of Your Life!
9
What is the Ultimate Goal?
The College Search
10
What is Important to You? This exercise asks you to make some
distinctions about what might be important to you in the future. It is a list of things that are important when making career decisions. Using initials, rank each item on the list below in terms of your own priorities as Very Important
(VI), Somewhat Important (SI), or Relatively Important (RI)
Know Yourself!
11
12
________ Making a lot of money________ Surpassing the expectations of family and friends ________ Exploring new subjects________ Playing on a prestigious team________ Gaining self confidence________ Getting a well paying job upon graduation________ Becoming more understanding of others________ Becoming more sophisticated and worldly________ Being able to be creative and try new things________ Being recognized as exceptional in some way
13
________ Becoming an expert in something________ Encountering a real challenge________ Getting away from home________ Learning more about who I am________ Making a contribution to society________ Making new friends________ Learning and gaining knowledge________ Meeting different people________ Making contacts for future employment
14
YOUR TOP FIVE VALUESNow, identify the five most important statements on the list for you. Then, rank them from one to five. Your absolute topshould be number one.1._____________________________________________2. _____________________________________________3. _____________________________________________4._____________________________________________5._____________________________________________
15
Remember the three keys things that are necessary for a great college fit:
1. Academic fit.2. Campus culture fit.3. Financial fit.
College Admissions Trifecta
16
www.cappex.com
17
In priority order:
• The Transcript - school achievement and rigor of courses
• Test Scores• Recommendations• Essay• Interview• Activities
Evaluating an Applicant
18
Types of Admissions Decisions
19
• Early Decision is BindingOutcome: Accepted, Deferred, Denied
• Early Action is Non-Binding Outcome: Accepted, Deferred, Denied
• Single Choice Early Action is Non-Binding(but cannot apply early to any other
private university)Outcome: Accepted, Deferred, Denied
20
• Regular Decision is Non-Binding Outcome: Accepted, Wait Listed, Denied
• Rolling Admissions: Apply anytime (Notification of acceptance or denial is usually within a few weeks)
21
CAMPUS VISITS OR… IF IT’S TUESDAY THIS MUST BE YALE!
22
Villanova University (Suburban Campus)
23
Columbia University (Urban Campus)
24
Kenyon College(Rural Campus)
25
Find the Perfect Campus Fit!
26
Sit in on a class. Eat in the cafeteria. Check out bulletin boards. Talk to students not giving a tour. Read student publications. Browse in the college bookstore. Plan an overnight visit if you are
planning to apply to the college. Check out the dorms.
Campus Visit Musts
27
28
Dorm Life
29
Residence Halls atVirginia Tech
30
Never assume private colleges are out of reach: they offer the most aid!
Always apply for aid even if you think you won’t get any. Utilize the online financial aid calculators to get an idea
of how much aid you might receive. Fill out the FAFSA (and CSS Profile if applicable) Start early: the FAFSA for 2016 graduates will be
available in January 2016. Apply for merit aid and scholarships if you are qualified.
Key Financial Aid Reminders
32
Here are a few common courtesies which many students have found can help the journey go as smoothly as possible for all involved:
Respect people’s privacy. Not everyone wants to share their test scores, where they are applying, or their admission decisions. Some students need a couple of days to deal privately with bad news before they’re ready to share with others.
Do not denigrate colleges. The college you wouldn’t dream of considering may be someone else’s “reach.” Similarly, the college you visited and didn’t like may be a perfect fit for someone else.
Courtesies for Students
33
34
Be sensitive. The day you get into your dream college may be the day that one of your classmates has just been denied by his. Or the day you’re ecstatic about your SAT scores may be the same day that a classmate is devastated by hers.
Please note: Our policy is not to share with others where you’ve applied or your admission decisions, other than stating at the end of the process where you’ve decided to matriculate. This also means we can’t tell you who has applied to a given college, or the outcome.
Do learn about the process. Do discuss restrictions up front. Do remind your child of deadlines. Help your children prepare, but let them perform. Support and encouragement are more appropriate
than pressure and unsolicited advice. Prepare your child for disappointment.
College Admissions Tips for Parents
35
Do not compare your children to others. Guide your child in choosing colleges that would
be a great fit, but don’t force your child to apply to a school that only you like.
Do not let stereotypes, outdated information, or rankings steer your child away from schools in which they would otherwise have an interest.
Make appointments with your child to discuss the college admissions process, (discussions over dinner is not an appropriate time)
36
Remember, one milestone is reached…
37
…and the Start of a New One Begins!
38
Useful websites• www.fastweb.com – Set up a student profile
for college and scholarship search.• www.number2.com – Vocabulary builder,
SAT/ACT practice tests• www.testprepreview.com - SAT/ACT practice• www.act.org – Register for ACT• www.actstudent.org – ACT info• www.collegeboard.com – Register for SAT • www.studentaid.ed.gov – Financial aid info• www.fafsa.ed.gov – FAFSA• www.pin.ed.gov – Register for our PIN for
FAFSA• www.students.gov – Financial aid• www.collegeprowler.com
39
Such a lot of information!
40
Mrs. Kristina Herbst Director of College Counseling
Juniors : A through [email protected]
Ms. Emily Usle College CounselorJuniors: C through H [email protected]
Mr. Tom Giska College CounselorJuniors: I through Paz
Dr. Daniel Stabile College CounselorJuniors: Pe through Z
We’re Here to Help!
41