High School Senior College Application Guide Class of 2017

Do Now Where do you sign-up for college visits the day-of? What does “GPA” stand for? Which is legally binding? Early Action –or- Early Decision Students receiving free/reduced lunch are also eligible for: A. SAT waiver B. College application waiver C. ACT waiver D. All of the above What date should you apply to college by?

Agenda: College search review Next steps College application procedures Understanding your transcript Financing your education Questions

College Search Talk to your school counselor Go to www.rbrhs.org Click on Naviance and log in Set up college visits at RBR or at the campus (MCGDA College Fair at Brookdale 10/16/16: 1 pm-4 pm; HBCU College Fair trip 11/14/2016) Add colleges of interest to your “colleges I’m thinking about” page

Early decision/Early action Do you know what this means? You must STILL give the office two weeks to process your application for early action or early decision-see your counselor about this option!

Next Steps Register for and take the SATs (collegeboard.com), ACTs (act.org) and/or Subject tests Upcoming test dates: SAT: October 1st (late registration deadline - 9/20) November 5th, December 3rd ACT: October 22nd, December 10th **Remember to have your test scores sent to colleges directly from College Board and ACT Athletes: If you have not already done so, register with the NCAA at eligibilitycenter.org; request transcript through the NCAA site

You are ready to apply! Complete online and paper applications IMPORTANT: For Common App. schools, you MUST complete the FERPA waiver through www.commonapp.org Make sure your list of “Colleges I’m applying to” is up to date Request recommendations; You must assign each teacher to each college! Submit College Application Processing Forms to Guidance allowing 2 weeks prior to deadline Submit resume and self-assessment to counselor

Applications (continued) Deadlines: All required materials must be submitted to Guidance TWO weeks before the college’s deadline (although you may bring them earlier) To have your applications and support materials submitted by Thanksgiving recess, you must bring all required materials to Guidance by November 9, 2016; applications to be sent by the winter break must be submitted to Guidance by December 9, 2016. When you are ready to submit application requests, it is mandatory that you make an appointment with your counselor.

Rank reporting request form

For paper recommendations: Red Bank Regional H.S. 101 Ridge Road Little Silver, NJ 07739 STAMP Office of Admissions University/College Name University College Address and Zip Your Name Your Address/Zip The following teacher’s recommendation was received on the date indicated below: Teacher’s name _______________ Date Rec’d ___________ STAMP Your name Your street Your city, state Zip

Application Checklist College Name Application Type (Regular, Early Decision/ Early Action, Rolling) Deadline/Date Submitted RBR Application Processing Request form Resume and Self-Assessment (1 of each) Request Teacher Rec. Stamps

Financing your Education: Scholarships/Financial Aid: Check Naviance, www.fastweb.com, www.scholarships.com, www.finaid.org for scholarships and other funding opportunities Attend Financial Aid Night – October 6th, 7:00 p.m. Create your FSA ID (parents and students) at https://fsaid.ed.gov/After October 1, 2016 apply for financial aid at www.fafsa.ed.gov Complete college/university financial aid forms and/or CSS profile

Review Process Apply online—complete FERPA waiver, essays, EOF questionnaires, etc. Request recommendations; remember to assign teachers to each college every time you add a school Submit application processing form, rank option, transcript release form, resume, self-assessment and stamps (if necessary) to your school counselor Have SAT and/or ACT scores sent directly to your colleges from the testing websites Parents—start gathering paperwork for financial aid applications; Financial Aid Night on Tuesday, 10/6

Questions?????

QUESTION 1 Where do you sign-up for college visits the day-of? GUIDANCE

QUESTION 2 What does “GPA” stand for? GRADE POINT AVERAGE

QUESTION 3 Which is legally binding? Early Action –or- Early Decision

QUESTION 4 Students receiving free/reduced lunch are also eligible for: A. SAT waiver B. College application waiver C. ACT waiver D. All of the above ALL OF THE ABOVE

QUESTION 5 What date should you apply to college by? THEY’RE ALL DIFFERENT. CHECK EVERY COLLEGE AND MAKE NOTE OF EACH APPLICATION DEADLINE. SOME ARE AS EARLY AS NOVEMBER AND OTHERS AS LATE AS APRIL.

To do: Update list of colleges you are applying to under the “College” tab on Naviance Update resume and complete Self-Assessment under the “About Me” tab on Naviance Create account online at www.commonapp.org and with any other colleges that are NOT Common App Complete FERPA waiver on your Common App so we can assist with matching it to your Naviance account Work on filling out online applications