Senior Parent College Information Seminar

Agenda Welcome/Overview The List The Application Process Nuts and Bolts Financial Aid Questions and discussion

Words of Advice Objectives: good fit & realistic list Early Decision (ED) is binding – Early Action is confusing Over 3,500 undergraduate colleges and universities in USA. There is a right fit for every student. Enjoy your child’s senior year. Parents can set the tone and reduce stress. Don’t compare your student to siblings or peers. Don’t make colleges the only topic of conversation! Not a prize to be won, but a match to be made.

Understanding Your Choices Developing and refining “the list” Resources Types of applications

Naviance: “Reach” School

Naviance: “Target” School

Naviance: “Likely” School

Resources Naviance Online resources College Board / ACT College website  very important! Every college’s requirements are different Fiske Guide books in the guidance office College visits/College fairs: TEC Fair, 10/3 Waltham HS NEACAC Fairs – various locations, see neacac.org for dates College Confidential, Princeton Review Add dates for Performing Arts, Canadian college fairs in 2018 Stress the College website, over 4000 colleges in the US, we don’t have everything memorized

Terminology Early Decision (ED) Early Decision 2 Early Action (EA) Early Action Single Choice/Restricted EA Rolling Regular Decision Decisions from Colleges (Defer, Waitlist) ED 2, usually in January. (You can apply to one Early Decision, and any other schools, unless it’s restrictive early action) But if you get accepted, you need to pull your applications from those other schools Can change from year to year. Read the fine print Accepted/Deferred/Rejected Deferred to the regular decision/ can still get waitlisted

Nuts and Bolts Types of applications: Common Application, Coalition, institution-specific Activating the student’s application at WHS The counselor’s packet Teacher letters of recommendations Standardized test scores

Activating Applications In order to document and track the application process for our students, the Guidance department uses the following forms. Most are available on Guidance's Forms & Publications page on the high school website, under Academics. The Application Checklist is a helpful tool to help your student stay on track. Transcript Request Form (with the student transcript on the reverse) Transcript Addendum Guidance Letter Option IEP & 504 Information Release Form These forms are completed only once; students add to the transcript request form held by the counselor. Counselors move applications from “prospective” to “active” in Naviance.

Naviance: Colleges I’m Thinking About

Link to Common App

Naviance: Active Applications

The Application Packet Transcript GPA Distribution Chart Counselor Statement Secondary School Report (Common App) School Profile Curriculum Notes

Sample Transcript

GPA Distribution Charts These histograms represent the most recent distribution of grade point averages which includes all semester and year courses taken through the end of junior year. (See note below for detail.) The individual student’s weighted and unweighted GPAs are printed on the transcript. Only courses taken at Weston High School factor into the GPA. Weston High School does not rank students. Profile for Class of 2017 at the end of grade 11. Number in Class: 186 Number included in Chart: 180

Counselor Statement Based on the counselor’s personal relationship with the student, as well as: Introspective Survey Resume/Activity list (important to be current!) Parent Brag Sheet Discuss concerns with counselor Letter is holistic

Other Pieces Common Application SSR (or paper college form) School Profile Curriculum Notes

Teacher Recommendations Generally one to two academic teachers from junior or senior year (check the college website/Common App) Balanced: 1 humanities, 1 math/science Engineering: 1 math and/or 1 science Additional only if different “take” such as coach, theater, job Letter is subject/academic or activity specific Importance of advance notice Protocol, including thank you and notification of decisions Most teachers submitting electronically, some need to mail Students are responsible for managing who sends where; they need to update teachers about additional schools

Financial Aid Net price calculators are required on all college websites, which are useful for planning now MEFA Financial Aid Night, Thursday 10/12, 7:00pm FAFSA – now available to start in October using complete 2016 tax returns CSS Profile Financial aid “package” Scholarships

Thank you… Keep lines of communication open With your student With the counselor With teachers Encourage your student to “stay the course” academically Have fun!