Senior Parent College Application Night Shawnee High School September 20, 2012

Purpose of Senior Parent Night Assist you with the college application process. Discuss application procedures, transcript requests, letters of recommendation, standardized testing, Naviance and the new online process.

College Visits/Interview Visits Take campus tour Visit library, cafeteria, dorms Talk with students The Interview This is a good way for schools to know YOU and not what is on paper. Be yourself- there are no right/wrong answers. Be able to state why you are interested in that particular school. * College visits/interviews are excused with a letter from the college on school letterhead.*

College Fairs Thursday, 11/1-Atlantic City Convention Center 9 am-12 pm & 6-8:30 pm Sunday, 11/4-PA Convention Center, Philadelphia 11 am- 3 pm Over 200 colleges

How many schools should I apply to? Reach 1-2 Good Match 2-3 Safe 1-2  Think about major, location, size, setting (rural/urban/suburban), extracurricular activities.  Realistic evaluation of each college’s admission requirements (grades, standardized test scores, required high school courses).

Top Factors for College 1.Grades in Academic Core Courses – Grades in AP, honors, or level 2 courses 2. Strength of Curriculum – Both the amount of course work you complete in high school and the quality of those courses 3. Admission Test Scores – Scores on either the SAT or ACT (most schools accept both interchangeably) 4. High School Grade Point Average – Calculated by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number attempted Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling

From Rowan’s Website…. High School Preparation You must have completed a minimum of 16 college- preparatory units in high school. Your high school curriculum should include (at minimum) the following: 4 units - English 2 units - Laboratory Science* 3 units -College Prep Mathematics* (Algebra I and II, and Geometry) 2 units - Social Studies 5 units - Additional work in at least two of the following: History, Languages (minimum 2 units in one language), Mathematics, Science or English. *Engineering applicants should have 3 units of laboratory science including physics and chemistry and 4 units of college prep. math including pre-calculus. Calculus is strongly recommended.

University of Delaware recommends: The University expects all applicants to have completed strong college prep course work: Subject Years Required Years Recommended English 4 4 Math 3 4 Science 3 (2 must include lab) 4 (3 must include lab) History 4 4 Foreign Language 2 of same 4 of same Academic Electives 2 units 2 units Total

GPA/Rank All seniors will receive their Rank and GPA in homeroom in September.  Unweighted is on a 4.0 scale  Weighted is on a 6.0 scale Top 15% weighted rank = NJ Star  Transcript reflects weighted & unweighted GPA & Rank

Standardized Tests SAT’s- (SAT Reasoning Test) ACT’s- (ACT with writing) SAT Subject Tests are specific one hour content area tests used by a small percentage of colleges. Be sure to confirm if the colleges to which you are applying require these tests and plan accordingly. Send scores to Shawnee High School-CEEB & colleges of your choice NCAA contenders must send scores to NCAA Clearinghouse: 9999 You must send Standardized Test scores to colleges directly from the testing agency: College Board (SAT’s)- ACT- AP scores must be sent directly from College Board. We recommend that students take SAT’s twice junior year and once senior year.

Test Dates SAT’s- at Cherokee HS October 6, 2012January 26, 2013 November 3, 2012 (Deadline 10/4) March 9, 2013 December 1, 2012May 4, 2013 June 1, 2013 ACT’s September 8, 2012February 9, 2013 October 27, 2012 (Seneca-Deadline 9/21) April 13, 2013 December 8, 2012June 8, 2013 (Seneca )

BCC CAP COURSES If your child has taken any course as a CAP course you will need to request a transcript directly from BCC (it will not show as CAP on the HS transcript). ne)TranscriptRequestForm1209.pdf October-BCC CAP Shawnee

Shawnee is going GREEN… With the College Application Process Online applications Online teacher recommendation letters Electronic submission of transcripts and letters

Family Connection Powered by NAVIANCE Create a resume Personality/learning style inventories Explore careers/career profiler Search colleges Full length SAT practice tests Apply for scholarships Track transcripts and letters of recommendation Username: Password: StudentID#

Teacher Recommendations Ask two teachers politely in person. Give teachers at least two weeks notice. Put teacher recommendation request in Naviance 1. Click on Colleges 2. Click on Colleges I’m Applying To 3. Click Add/Cancel Requests 4. Select teacher’s name from drop down bar 5. Click Update Requests Check Naviance to see when letters have been completed. When teachers write you a letter, they will also fill out the common application teacher form electronically. **Teacher letters should be completed when you are requesting transcripts** Counselors will automatically fill out all required forms electronically. If you have any outside letters, you will need to send them on your own.

Types of College Admissions Early decision is a contract between you and the college. You can only apply to 1 school early decision. If you are accepted, you MUST attend. BINDING contract! Early action is more flexible. You do not have to commit to the college if you are accepted. You can apply to multiple schools. NON-BINDING contract! Rolling Admission-Applications are evaluated as they are received. Regular Decision- decisions are made once ALL applications have been received by deadline. Priority/VIP Applications – If the school gives you one of these apps AND they accept the common application – YOU MUST fill out the COMMON APP- you can ask the school to give you a code so that the application is free!!! Pay attention to deadlines

Ways to Apply Online o Go to the individual college website. o You will create a username and password. o Fill out the entire application online. Common Application- o You will create a username and password. o Fill out once for multiple schools o Some schools have supplemental forms as well ** If a college accepts the Common Application & also has its own online application, you MUST apply using the Common Application for us to be able to send electronic documents**

Application and Transcript Process We MUST have parental release of academic records on file or the transcript will not be sent (attached) Complete the application online using the college’s website or Common App website. Submit a Transcript Request Form (attached) to the Registrar in the Counseling Center. Please allow up to two weeks. *You need a Transcript Request Form for each college.* The Counselor will electronically submit all required documentation-transcripts, letters, etc. Students should check Naviance to ensure that teacher letters are completed.

Rutgers The Rutgers application process is unique Apply online on Rutgers website Self report your grades on Rutgers website Send your SAT/ACT scores directly from testing agency to Rutgers. Rutgers does not want a high school transcript or recommendation letters. If you plan to attend, you will send a final transcript in June.

DEADLINES Please leave at least 2 weeks for the transcript request to be processed.  Deadlines approach quickly  Check individual college websites to verify deadlines We CANNOT honor same day requests for transcripts

Mid-Year Grades We do NOT automatically send mid-year grades. Mid-year grades-Students must submit a mid year grade request form to the Registrar in the Counseling Center.

College Athletics Students who are planning to play in a Division I, II sport need to complete the following: 1. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center: 2.Send official test scores from College Board/ACT to NCAA 3.Send high school transcript to NCAA-request electronically through NCAA website.

BCC Spring Ahead Program o Fall-Attend BCC informational meeting at Shawnee & fill out free application- o January-Transcript request form due to Counseling Center o February-BCC placement tests at Shawnee. Exempt if scored 540 in Critical Reading and/or 530 in Math on SAT’s or ACT Reading-23 and/or Math-20 (Must have applied and sent transcript by January in order to take test) o May-Trip to BCC to register for classes (Must have applied, sent transcript & taken placement test in order to attend)

Military ASVAB-Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (Military entrance exam) Each branch has required entrance score ASVAB administered in December at Shawnee- sign up in Counseling Center

Things to do….NOW Submit parental release of academic records Counselor will meet with seniors to review college application process Know where you plan to apply Ask teachers for recommendation letters (2) and request through Naviance Finish standardized testing APPLY-**pay attention to deadlines** Early action/decision deadlines are October and early November Rutgers-early action deadline of November 1 st ; Regular decision deadline of December 1st Most applications should be completed by December 1 st

Scholarships Mr. Darren Welsh– Chairperson Check the Shawnee Scholarship page & Naviance : Complete local scholarship packet (available in February)

FINANCIAL AID Visit Financial Aid website- to request a password Complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online after January 1 st Check college deadlines for FAFSA NJ Stars must apply for financial aid Financial Aid Night October 25, :00 PM Shawnee HS

Shawnee News Visit the counseling center’s website: Each month the Shawnee eNewsletter is ed:

Counselor Contact Information Counselor Last NamesPhone Ms. Michelle Torrence A-B x4416 Mr. Kevin Looney C-D x4408 Mr. Gary Hill E-Ha x4419 Mrs. Mary Alice Horos He-Manx4411 Mrs. Helene Welde Mar-Pi x4451 Mr. Darren Welsh Pl-So x4451 Mrs. Erin O’Neill Sp-Zx4402 Mrs. Heidi Krihak SACx4413 Shawnee

Thanks for coming!! See you at Graduation!!!