The College Application Process

For State College High School

Class of 2014

9/2013

Mr. Brigman, Ms. Brindle, Mr. Lintal, Mrs Wolanski & Mrs. Dodson

YOU MUST CHECK YOUR SCASD EMAIL

FREQUENTLY !!!!THIS IS THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO CONTACT

YOU AND SHARE INFORMATION WITH YOU ABOUT COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES, GRADUATION

INFORMATION, ETC.

CHECK YOUR EMAIL

Are ultimately in charge of your college applications and making sure that you meet all

of the requirements and due dates for each one.

Communication, research, and following directions will be the key to success.

GOOD LUCK!

YOU (and your family)

Have you taken the SAT or ACT? (over 850 schools that allow alternative SAT/ACT options for acceptance like graded work) www.fairtest.org

Do you have a list of schools?Have you visited some of the schools?Have you looked at their websites & researched

their application procedures and deadlines? (are SAT Subject tests required, etc?)

Have you registered with NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER and requested your transcript to be sent if you plan to play sports at the collegiate level?

If you are completely overwhelmed by these questions, then read your College Planning Booklet and start with 1 application.

Where are you now?

How to Apply to College (Three basic types of applications)

Penn State/Schreyer Honors College Common Application Other applications (on-line and paper)

Goal For This Meeting

Complete on-line application – a short personal statement is required.

Bring in the Web Application Counselor Form---Mrs. Wolanski Sign a Transcript Request form--- Mrs. Wolanski Must choose a school and a major or DUS Fall admission vs. summer admissions Campus Choice College Prep Math 1-4= (Alg. 1, Alg. 2, & Geometry) Trig. Is required for Business, Engineering, Science, IST Advanced courses are equivalent to honors Foreign Language requirement - 2 yrs. to graduate from PSU Complete application by Oct. 31st to be safe. SAT & ACT scores: YOU NEED to have them sent directly from

College Board. It takes 2-3 weeks. PSU will not process your application without SAT scores.

Points to Remember for the Regular PSU Application

Complete regular PSU application on-lineIndicate that you want to complete the Schreyer on-

line application. Complete Transcript Request form w/ Mrs. Dodson in

the Counseling Office.Reminder: Have your counselor’s and teachers’ emails

handy for requesting recommendations.Recommendations need to be requested 3 working

weeks before due date—Green Sheet must be complete at that time for recommendation to be written by counselor.

This application is a tremendous amount of work.Here are the stats from last year: 83 applied, 21 were accepted and 15 are attending.

Schreyer Honors College

Go to each College Website before applying and check for supplements. The info is on the Common Application website as well.

Read all directions regarding Common Application.Get teachers’ permission before submitting their names as

recommenders. Invite your recommenders online (usually 1-2 teachers and a

counselor)Waiving your right-to-privacy is strongly recommended.Print out a hard copy for your records.Complete a Transcript Request for each Common Application

School – See Mrs Wolanski.Complete Green Sheet information for counselors—must be

into Counseling office 3 working weeks before due.We do not rankThere are 602 students in the class of 2014 and we have a 4.0

grading scale and always give your weighted GPA

Points to Remember – Common Application

Most apps are on-line.Make sure you print out all forms for teachers and

counselors and give them to the appropriate people.(Usually found under a “secondary forms” section on the

application)Each application is a bit different, follow the directions

and take your time.If you bring in your entire application to be mailed you

need to bring in a large envelope with 4 stamps and addressed.

Sign a Transcript Request form for each college!Flow charts available for each different “kind” of

application.

Other Applications

If you receive free or reduced lunch, please see your counselor (or Mrs. Wolanski) for fee waivers for college applications, SAT’s, etc.

Fee Waivers

Many colleges require essay(s).You may want to seek help from your English

teacher.Read the College Planning Book about the

essay on pages 16-20 or go to educationplanner.org or collegeboard.com or use resources in counseling office.

Schreyer Honors College of PSU requires three essays - begin them now!

Have at least one person proof your essay. Make sure that you are coming across the way you intended.

Application Essay

Recommendation Packet a.k.a. Green

Sheets (Pick these up in Counseling)

If you need a counselor recommendation for any college you are applying to, make sure that you have completed these forms at least 3 weeks before the recommendation is due

CollegeApplication

To-DoList Information

ForLetter

Of Recommendation

In – HouseEvaluationForms (4)

PSU does not require recommendations, with the exception of Schreyer Honors College.

Teacher recommendation—any 9th through 12th grade teacher may write a recommendation. Teachers write about you in their classroom, counselors write a composite recommendation about you.

Some colleges will require specific subject teachers. Counselor recommendation –Ms. Brindle,Mr. Brigman,

Mr. Lintal or Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Donovan or Ms Herrmann. (or any counselor you have been working with).

If you need a letter of recommendation you will need to fill out the Green Sheet packet and have 3- 4 teachers fill out white in-house evaluation sheets (returned to us).

Recommendations

Some colleges want to receive recommendations and transcripts together. If this is what the college requires, then all documents must be sent from the counseling office (you provide the 9x12 self-addressed stamped envelope with 4 stamps).

Other colleges that require recommendations state that teachers and counselors may mail/email recommendations separately.

Waive your right to read the recommendation.

Recommendations continued…..

Apply online if possible.Apply to at least one “safety” school that

is both academically and financially safe.Try to limit your applications to 4 - 6

colleges. The average application fee is $50 per application.

Apply as early as possible to get maximum consideration.

Make a detailed checklist for each college application.

Application Process

Mrs. Wolanski & Mrs. Dodson

Counseling Office Team

* Treat them well *

Transcript Request FormWhen you come in to request your transcript, please have the following: your due dates, names of recommenders and envelopes if necessary.

You must complete a transcript request form for each college/institution that needs your transcript with Mrs. Wolanski in the North Counseling Office in order to have your transcript submitted.

Make sure your request is in at least 3 weeks before it is due.

Transcript Request Form

School Report Forms (Counselor fills out)

Early Decision AgreementMid Year ReportCollege Specific Financial Aid FormsAthletic SupplementArts SupplementFinal Report/Transcript

Additional Forms

Paper Applications 9x12 envelope, addressed with 4

stamps

Transcript/Mid Year ReportA regular legal size envelope, addressed with 1 stamp is

required to send all transcripts unless it is being sent to PSU, for the Common App, or through SENDedu

Envelopes and Stamps

Rolling admissionEarly decisionEarly actionRegular decision

Note: For both transcript and recommendations, make sure that you give the counseling office and your counselor at least 3 weeks notice. Example, if the deadline is December 1st have all your requests in by November 9th.

Application Deadlines

PSU App should be submitted by Oct. 31st to be safe

Early Decision and Early Action applications that are due November 1st must be submitted to us by Oct. 6th to be on time

December 31st or January 1st due dates must be submitted to us by December 2nd due to the holiday break.

Jan. 15th due dates must be submitted to us before the holiday break.

Feb. 1st due dates must be submitted by Jan. 10th to our office.

More DEADLINES:

You apply to a college and never come to the counseling office to request your transcript to be sent from our HS to the college.

You apply to a college and forget to send your SAT/ACT scores to the college.

You apply to college and forget to download all the necessary forms.

You miss a deadline.

You forget to ask for teacher and/or counselor recommendations.

You forget to hit the submit button.

Common Mistakes On College Applications

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student AID (FAFSA) soon after Jan 1st, 2014. A FAFSA is also needed for the parent/student loan process.

Fill Out CSS Financial Aid Profile if required by the college (usually private colleges require this).

PSU students should complete their FAFSA on the web by March 1st for maximum financial aid consideration.

Become familiar with the financial aid process.Read the financial aid section in the College Planning Book -

pages 24-32.Visit http://www.finaid.org/ for a preliminary financial aid

estimate.Attend financial aid nights:

- PHEAA – webinar on Oct. 28th, 2013 @ 7pm- Penn State Financial Aid – December 3rd, 2013 @ 7pm South Aud.

Financial Aid

Comprehensive Scholarship Information - www.fastweb.com

Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency - www.pheaa.org

State High Senior Scholarship Book –will be distributed early March , 2014 in your English classes

Resources in North Counseling OfficeEmployment/religious affiliations/militaryMany colleges give out hefty merit financial aidCollege specific scholarships can be found on the

college websites sometime mid-fall/early winter

Scholarship Search

Go to www.scasd.orgGo to the high school main pageUnder the Welcome section in the middle of

the page (in maroon), click on Headlines Click on College Visits and/or Scholarship

Opportunities

College Visits & additional Scholarship Information

You will receive a copy of your unofficial transcript in English class later this week.

Please check this document to make sure that it is accurate and that it meets high school graduation requirements:

22.5 credits needed to graduate:

- 4 credits in English and History - 3 credits in Science and Math - 1.8 credits in Phys. Ed. - 1.0 credits in Health -.20 credits in Driver’s Ed. - 5.5 credits in Electives - Graduation Project - 20 Community Service Hours

TRANSCRIPTS

Transitioning from High School to College

VIDEO

QUESTIONS ????