SENIOR YEAR Countdown to College September 2016

What you need to know…..  Where should I be right now in the application process?  Admissions categories  Requesting a transcript  Requesting a recommendation  The Common App and other online applications  University of Maryland application  Financial Aid

SeptIdentify schools of high interest Organize and begin applications/Common App Submit Transcript Request forms Request LOR from Teachers/Counselor OctBegin essays Begin investigating financial aid FAFSA opens October 1 st Nov-JanMeet deadlines Continue pursuing financial aid Jan-MarCollect and organize acceptances Make your decision Apr-MayPay deposit Jun-AugAttend open house; pack your bags! SeptBegin college

By NOW, you should have:  Signed-up for an online application account for each school to which you will be applying  Made plans to conduct final visits  Registered for the October ACT or SAT, if necessary. Take advantage of sending 3 score reports to schools when you sign up!  Filled out the Senior Recommendation form & ed to Mrs. McKeiver  Selected additional teachers/community leaders to write recommendations, notified them and sent them a completed copy of the Senior Recommendation Form

This month and next:  Refine your list of colleges and organize yourself by identifying deadlines, compiling your academic resume, reviewing essays topics, noting application check-lists, many of which vary by school!  Request transcripts from Mrs. McKeiver at least 10 school days prior to the date they are due  Identify financial aid options and their deadlines: Federal, state, local, college-based and lending institutions. Keep checking the CHS newsletter and your online resources  Fill out appropriate college financial aid forms

Moving into fall, winter & spring…  Consider attending the College Fair on Monday, October 10 t h at Carroll Community College, particularly if you are undecided  Consider attending the “ College 101 ” night at CHS on Tuesday, April 4th  Parents should review the FAFSA now, organize their financial info and COMPLETE the online FAFSA form beginning October 1st  Regional Financial Aid night Wednesday, October 5 th – CHS Parent Workshop  Continue exploring financial aid options and keep your grades UP

Admissions terms and benefits:  ROLLING - Find out early  Generally utilized at smaller, less-selective schools  Applications are reviewed and decided upon in order of receipt  Acceptances begin now and run well into next spring, space permitting.  EARLY DECISION - Some admissions advantage, statistically, but financially risky  LEGALLY binding  Only permitted to submit one  Often due by November 1 st  If a student is admitted to the college, the student must cancel all other applications

Admissions terms (cont.) EARLY ACTION: Some statistical advantage, find out sooner, have time to reconsider options  Usually due November 1 st  Applicant will receive an answer by early January  Can apply Early Action to as many schools as you wish  Denials often rolled over to regular admissions window  REGULAR DECISION:  Usually due between Dec and February  Students receive an answer by mid to late March  Commitment deadline usually May 1

Requesting a transcript  Visit the School Counseling Office and fill out a Transcript Request Form or print one from our website  The first three transcripts are FREE. After that, the cost is $2.00 per transcript  Minimum of 10 SCHOOL DAYS to process a transcript  If a Secondary School Report is required by your school, and if it must be completed by hand, please attach it to your transcript request  Many secondary school reports are part of schools’ online process and DO NOT have to be attached

The Secondary School Report  An important part of your application that is completed by the high school  It includes critical information: GPA, rank, character & academic scales, a general recommendation and more.  If a PAPER secondary school report is your only option, turn it in with the transcript request form  If your are doing an online application, or the Common App, be sure YOU understand how the Secondary School Report is submitted to Century HS: Is it printed out, auto- ed, or do counselors have to log-on to access it

Recommendation letters  If a counselor recommendation letter is needed:  Visit the school website (  Click on the “School Counseling” Tab  Then click “Frequently Used Forms”  Open the Senior Recommendation Request Form  Complete the Senior Recommendation Request form  After completing the forms, the complete document to Mrs. McKeiver at and to any adult you have spoken to about a recommendation

99.99% of applications will be online. Your piece: Personal information, academic resume, essay, SAT/ACT/AP scores ( must be ordered by student ), application fee, and more Our piece:Secondary school report, counselor recommendation, transcript, character/academic scales, etc. We do not provide standardized test scores Teacher piece: Recommendation, character/academic rating scales Key things to remember: 1. Log-in and note your name and password (you can log on with your counselor if you need help) 2. Be sure you know how to get the Secondary School report to CHS 3. Feel comfortable following-up with Ms. McKeiver or your counselor with questions 4. Keep track of the status of your application and deadlines 5. Pay attention to check-lists and KNOW what each school requires

The Common Application  Determine which of your schools accept the Common App  Complete all relevant sections asap – it will help you get organized for other applications, too  Invite your Counselor and teacher(s) of choice – they are called Recommenders. This auto-generates an that will allow them to complete their portion of the application  Minimum of 15 School Days to complete these forms  Complete a Transcript Request Form – found on the CHS website or in guidance. List all Common App schools on one page

University of Maryland  DO NOT click the opt-out box. Read the instructions carefully. Students definitely want to complete this application online, so follow directions carefully  Minimum of 15 school days notice required for counselors to complete the online reports  Must apply by November 1 st – their Priority Application

Primary sources of financial aid  Federal and state programs (usually need- based)  Colleges and universities (both merit and need-based)  Scholarships from local, state and national organizations  Lending institutions: banks, credit unions  Businesses and professional organizations (Am. Society of Engineers, Nike, Am. Physical Society)

Financial Aid  Read the School Counseling Newsletter for scholarship opportunities  Join one or two financial websites only; monitor them weekly  Regional Financial Aid Workshop – October 5 (CHS)  Complete the FAFSA Form after October 1. THIS IS A NEW, earlier deadline.  Approach your college to see what aid opportunities are available  Meet with a rep from your family’s bank to discuss options

CHOOSE YOUR SCHOOL OPEN THE APPLICATION I.D. DOCUMENTS KNOW DEADLINES START THE WORK FOLLOW-UP

Questions ?????