College Planning & The Application Timeline What To Do & When Jennifer Nuechterlein, College Consultant Achieve College Consulting www.achievecollegeconsulting.com

Welcome Introduction & Background What is Achieve? Purpose of Program

Early College Planning Why plan early Early College Planning Why plan early? Knowledge, Time, Competition, Less Stress What do you need? Organization, Dialogue, Patience, Optimism Who is involved? Student, Parents/Guardians, Counselor

Freshman Year - Discovery Your School Counselor Build A Relationship Academic Planning 4-year Plan, GPA, Skills Extracurricular Involvement Discover New Opportunities, Create Resume

Freshman Year (cont’d) Brainstorming about College Prospective College List, Visits, Naviance Cost of College FAFSA4caster, Open Dialogue

Sophomore Year – Exploration Academic Planning Stay On Track, Consider Rigor Extracurricular Involvement Expand Your Resume, Time Management, Summer Career and Major Exploration College Board, Interest Assessment

Sophomore Year (cont’d) Build Your College List Visits, College Fair, Naviance Standardized Testing PSAT, ACT Practice Test, Timeline

Junior Year – Focus Academic Planning Rigor on the Rise, Upward Trend Standardized Testing PSAT, SAT, Subject Tests, ACT Extracurricular Involvement Quality over Quantity, Shadowing, Employment

Junior Year (cont’d) Define the College List Visits, College Fair, Naviance, Check Requirements Organize & Prioritize Mail, Calendar, Chart Summer Work, Shadow, Applications, Essays

Senior Year – Achieve Organization Chart, Process, College Requirements Standardized Testing Test-Optional Colleges, Sending Scores Applications Common App, College/University App

Senior Year (cont’d) Packaging the Applicant Standing Out Among Thousands Financial Aid FAFSA, CSS Profile, Prior-Prior Year (PPY) Scholarships Local, State, National

Financial Aid Packages, Merit Offers Making A Decision Fit Value Return on Investment Outcomes Financial Aid Packages, Merit Offers

Resources Counselor Naviance College Board/Big Future Achieve College Consulting

Q & A