The Wood-Ridge Jr/Sr High School Guidance Department presents: College Night for Senior Parents

Agenda Senior Timeline Preparing for the college search Naviance The Common App Scholarships Parent Tips Final Thoughts

Senior Timeline OCTOBER SEPTEMBER Attend Senior Seminar Take your SAT and/or ACT FAFSA OPENS 10/1 Edit and complete college essays Check in with those writing your recommendation letters Watch your deadlines ~ Early Decision and Early Action dates usually start in October Attend Senior Seminar Finalize your list of colleges Request Recommendation letters Register to take the SAT/ACT

FAFSA STARTING OCTOBER 1ST 2017 What Will You Need? FSA ID - (FSAID.ED.GOV) For Parent + Student 2016 Tax Returns For Parent + Student Social Security Numbers for Parent + Student Other Income Information Driver’s License Number

Senior Timeline NOVEMBER/DECEMBER JANUARY Watch your deadlines! Continue to submit applications Continue working on applications - Regular decision / Rolling decision deadlines

Senior Timeline FEBRUARY/MARCH APRIL Read any decision letters you receive carefully. Be sure to respond when necessary. Review admission decisions and financial aid award letters Placed on a wait list? Contact the admission office directly if you are still interested MAKE A FINAL DECISION

Senior Timeline MAY June Mail in your enrollment form and deposit check to your chosen school June Graduation! Final transcripts will be mailed out to your chosen school at the end of June

PREPARING FOR A COLLEGE SEARCH

Know Yourself Values Ambitions Achievements Academic Strengths Interests Your Standout Talents

Types of Colleges TWO YEAR COLLEGES FOUR YEAR COLLEGES Degree: Associates Provides a way to ease into college and take general classes for credit. Students can transfer credits to a four year college Opportunities for to enroll in trade and technical programs that provide a hands-on learning experience Degrees: Bachelors and beyond Provides a well- rounded college experience that includes an academic area of study State vs. Private Admissions process is more rigorous

Your College Priorities… What is important to you? Location Academics Size Campus Appeal Social Life Total Cost (including aid)

What information do college admission counselors review? Grades/GPA Strength of high school course selections Admission Test Score Essay Teacher and Counselor Recommendation Student’s demonstrated interest Personal accomplishments Personality characteristics Course progress during senior year

College Admission Tests SAT ACT Consists of three parts: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing Each sections is scores on a scale of 200-800 Changes to the SAT will take place in March 2016 Consists of four parts: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Writing Writing component is optional Top composite score is 36

College Jargon Early Decision (binding) - A binding contract between a student and ONE college or university. The deadline is usually 11/1 or 11/15. ED candidates are notified by mid-December of their senior year. Early Action (non-binding) - Students may apply to many schools early action. Student who apply early action are notified by December.

College Jargon Continued Rolling Admissions - the practice used by some colleges that the college processes a candidate's application as soon as it is complete. The school will notify the students in a timely manner. (2- 3 weeks). Priority decision - The priority application may provide benefits in terms of financial aid and scholarship packages, housing advantages, and/or priority for course registration.

College Jargon Continued Deferred - When a college does not make a decision on a student who has applied under an EA/ED program, and places their application in the regular decision pool. A college may want to wait until additional information is provided (12th grade mid year grades) Wait List - The application has been given careful consideration but the limit of accepted students has already been reached. Students will be notified after May 1st, if space becomes available

How to Match your College List Reach schools - Your academic record/test scores fall slightly below the average accepted academic record scores at a specific school. Match schools - Your academic record/test scores meet with the average accepted student academic record/test scores. Safety schools - Your academic record/test scores are well above the average accepted student academic record/test scores

Where to go to collect information? Naviance- College search engine. The link is located on the W-RJSHS website. Cappex.com- College search made simple. Collegeboard.org- Information about the SAT as well as a college search engine. www.eligibilitycenter.org – for aspiring student athletes.

Naviance Make sure you know your Naviance Login information. Students and parents can access Family Connection (the link is on the W- RJSHS website) Keep your college list updated under: “Colleges I Am Applying To”. *This is required to ensure submission of your transcript and supporting documents. Use Naviance to answer your college questions.

To use the Common App or not to use the Common App.... The Common Application: www.commonapp.org may reduce some application steps. There are now over 500 member colleges and universities accepting the Common Application. *You must create Common App account and then sync it with your Naviance account. Remember to sign Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) at Common App.

Scholarships 101 MERIT SCHOLARSHIP TIPS There is more than $11 billion in merit scholarships available to students Not just for “A” students Many awards emphasize leadership or school involvement Nearly all colleges offer merit aid scholarships The average merit scholarship award is $5,000 Many awards can be renewed year after year! Apply to as many as you can or think you are eligible for

Scholarship Resources Fastweb.com – private scholarships Fafsa.ed.gov – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (must fill out after January 1, 2016) Studentaid.ed.gov – The Federal Government’s website with information on how to pay for college MeritAid.com - $11 billion in merit scholarships Cappex.com – scholarship matching Finaid.org – Free student resource for learning about all types of financial aid Hesaa.org - The New Jersey higher education student assistance authority website CSS Profile - By filling out one form, you can apply online for nonfederal financial aid from almost 400 colleges and scholarship programs Individual college website – school based scholarships offered to incoming students

Parent Tips!

10 Things to Remember Help your student understand the college search process Be realistic and non-judgmental Be in the “back seat”, not the driver Be open to dialogue and responsive to questions Be aware of deadlines and fees due Things change year to year and the process different from your college days Don’t overemphasize your own alma maters Don’t compare your student with others Don’t dwell on disappointments like a rejection letter Celebrate success!

Final Thoughts WORDS OF WISDOM Relax…you will get in. It’s ok if you don’t have a major. You don’t need to go far away. 88% of high school students go to college in their home state

Things To Do Attend Open Houses at the colleges your child will most likely apply Prepare information needed for college applications Sign up for the October, November, or December SAT Be sure to maintain first quarter grades

Applying to College is a Team Effort! Your child’s Guidance Counselor will send: Official Transcripts The Wood-Ridge Jr/Sr High School Profile A counselor recommendation TWO teacher recommendations Any other forms that need to accompany an application When it is time to sent materials, you must provide: A signed Rolling Contract or Early Action/Early Decision Contract Any additional forms that are a part of the application

Reminders! WEBSITES TO REMEMBER UPCOMING EVENTS Naviance (located at wood-ridgeschools.org under student tab) Collegeboard.org Commonapp.org Fafsa.ed.gov www.eligibilitycenter. org Financial Aid Night - NOV 28th 7:00 PM W-RJSHS College Fair October 18th 2017 from 1:00- 2:30pm

Contact Information Maria Barrows 201-933-6777 ex 5620 mbarrows@wood-ridgeschools.org Dennis Rowley 201-933-6777 ex 5621 drowley@wood-ridgeschools.org