College Planning - An Overview Presented by GVHS Counselors: Mr. Chip Harvey Ms. Anna Saracino

11th Grade Milestones Fall/Spring Register Online for Entrance Exams (SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests) Familiarize Yourself with Naviance and College Websites Search for Colleges & Research GOOD FIT Schools Develop Preliminary List of Schools Build Your Resume Visit Colleges (Great time- Spring Break!) Attend College Fairs (NACAC National College Fair – November 12, 2017 and Main Line College Fair at Villanova- April 9, 2018). The NACAC College Fair requires pre-registration. Carefully Select Senior Year Courses Request Letters of Recommendation from Teachers (spring) DI/DII Potential Athletes- Register with NCAA Clearinghouse

Summer Between Junior & Senior Year Spring/Summer Investigate/Enroll in summer programs (late winter/early spring) Review list of summer programs in NAVIANCE under “colleges tab” Finalize list of colleges/universities (6-10) Summer/Fall Locate and complete applications online at the individual college admissions website or on Common Application (www.commonapp.org) or Coalition Application (www.mycoalition.org) Look at essay topic requirements and work on essays (April-Aug 2018) Begin working on school-specific applications (after August 1 2018) Prepare for any additional standardized tests and sign up online Over 800 colleges and universities accept the common application

12th Grade Milestones Fall Attend Senior Student & Parent Night (early September) Meet with your Counselor for senior meeting Scheduled by the counseling office 2nd week of September thru mid-October Request that your school packet and transcript be sent to each college where you will apply online thru a link in NAVIANCE School Packet includes Transcript, Secondary School Report (data sheet), Counselor Letter of Rec, School Profile, Teacher(s) Letters’ of Rec Must be requested 15 calendar days before materials need to be at college PENN STATE EXAMPLE

12th Grade Milestones Continued Fall Follow up with teachers writing on your behalf by using the teacher letter of recommendation follow up form (in counseling and on Naviance) Take any additional SAT/ACT/SAT Subject tests (by October) Send test scores to each college where you will apply www.collegeboard.org, www.actstudent.org Submit applications well before deadline date (by end of November for Rolling Admission deadlines) a few southern state school have 10/15 deadlines if you would like to be considered for scholarship money Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, Rolling, Priority

Important Factors in Admission Decision High School Transcript (Academic Record)!!! Grades and Rigor are the most important factors Senior year courses should reflect ability and interests Senior year grades are shared with colleges in the Mid-Year report Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests) Review requirements on Naviance or on school’s webpage YOU- Who Are You As a Person!? Essay(s), Interviews (if required/recommended), Letters of Rec, Resume Application Completed and submitted online

Taking Entrance Exams (SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests) When? Recommended first test dates - SAT March ACT - Feb or April Refer to NAVIANCE or test websites for full list of test dates and locations Register for exams online SAT & Subject Test Registration: www.collegeboard.org ACT Registration: www.actstudent.org Does my school require Subject Tests? View link to determine the answer: http://www.compassprep.com/subject-test-requirements-and-recommendations/ Some Schools do NOT require test scores Test optional schools: http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional

The College Search Goal – Develop Preliminary List of Schools This Year Identify Good Fit Characteristics size, location, major, activities, strength of program, learning env., etc. Use College Search Sites to Narrow List CollegeBoard, Naviance, Petersons, Cappex, Princeton Review, etc. VISIT Colleges (small, big, city, rural, etc.) Attend College Fairs Selection Process (foundational, target, reach) Narrow List! (subjective and objective research)

VISIT COLLEGES Great time to visit- SPRING BREAK! See school when students are on campus- ask questions~ Sign up for a tour with the admissions office by calling the school in advance or some schools offer online registration. Bring a Notebook! Jot down your likes and dislikes as SOON as you leave campus Your impressions of a school are important and will help you to determine good fit and factors of importance. Your notes may help in making a decision about where to apply and enroll

Build Your Resume Include activities, jobs and volunteer hours that you have been involved with since the beginning of 9th grade Use appropriate grammar (you are not texting!!!) Take on leadership roles and stay involved Consider a summer program that is related to your career goals or that is on a college campus of interest Example resumes available in NAVIANCE Resume tab available to document experiences in NAVIANCE

Letters of Recommendation Ask 2 teachers to write you a letter of recommendation When to ask!? Right after Spring Break ! Use “GVHS Request for Letter of Recommendation” form Ask Major Subject Teachers Math, English, Science, Social Studies, World Language Consider the major you might pursue in college Follow up with recommenders during the first 2 weeks of senior year Use “Recommendation Letter Follow-Up” form! All forms are available in the counseling office or they may be printed from Naviance (in the document library, junior or senior folder) Remember to say “THANK YOU” to your recommenders after receiving your college decisions spring of senior year!

Potential DI/DII Athletes REGISTER with NCAA at: https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/ Request that your transcript be sent to NCAA the summer after junior year & after graduation using the GVHS transcript request form Review NCAA core-course requirements to ensure you are on track to meet academic NCAA requirements Send your test scores (SAT &/or ACT) to the NCAA Enter the code 9999 each time you register to take the exam

Acceptances and Decisions When!? Rolling Schools- response within 2-3 weeks or more Early Action/Early Decision- response before winter break usually Regular Decision- response before April 1st How Most schools post application decisions online Many schools mail a decision in the mail National Decision Day! Students must commit to a school no later than May 1st of senior year Some colleges do not guarantee housing if you wait until 5/1 Consider your financial aid package with decisions (next slide)

Financial Aid FAFSA CSS Profile Local Scholarships Fastweb Database Free Application for Federal Student Aid Apply for a FSA ID in September of senior year or earlier Complete FASFA in October of senior year Complete online: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ CSS Profile Required by many private colleges and universities to determine your eligibility for non-government financial aid, such as the institution's own grants, loans and scholarships Can be completed in the fall of senior year Completed online: https://profileonline.collegeboard.org/prf/index.jsp Local Scholarships late winter of senior year Fastweb Database

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