Dustin Stover : A-G Rosalyn Poirier: H-O Lisette Maguire: P-Z

Agenda Senior year timeline Month by month timeline to keep you on track for graduation How do I apply? Different applications How do I fill out financial aid? FAFSA, TAP, Pell,etc. Scholarships How to be successful your Freshman year Guidance website/contact info

College Timeline - Senior Year Prior to Senior year: Take ACT and/or SAT exams if planning on attending 4 year school Create a list of 4 - 8 colleges Visit these colleges Stay involved in a variety of extracurricular activities Quality vs. quantity Leadership roles Create a calendar with application fees, deadlines & test dates

College Selection Major/program Size/location Cost Selectivity Does the college you’re applying to have a major that corresponds with your future career goals? Size/location Close to home, far away, large city/small town Cost Are parents willing to take out loans, saving accounts available Have the family conversation about finances early Selectivity Are your grades, SAT/ACT scores, courses acceptable to the college Campus life Do they have study abroad, internships, clubs, sports, co-ops that you are interest in

Senior Timeline September Meet with counselor to update activity sheets, discuss post-secondary plans, understand what courses/Regents are required for you to graduate Parents welcome to attend or set up separate counselor meeting Begin college applications: Free online Community College applications-directly on college's website SUNY app Common app Private applications Things to have handy Student’s social security number Credit/Debit card

You qualify if you receive free or reduced lunch. Senior Timeline SUNY Application Use if only applying to SUNY 4 year schools Charges $50 for Community Colleges- Use community college website directly for a free application Common App Use when applying to private schools or a combination of private/SUNY Once you create an account on either site, select your counselor. This will notify us to do what we need to do on our end ( upload transcript, school profile, rank, etc.). Check with your counselor if you think you are eligible for fee waivers. You qualify if you receive free or reduced lunch.

Senior Timeline September/October Asking for letters of recommendation Ask high school teacher, counselor, administrator who knows you well Ask well in advance-sometimes it takes a while! Ask face-to-face, be polite, don’t assume they will, make sure to thank them Explain what they should expect Common App-emails link to staff person to upload recommendation SUNY App- student should bring completed recommendation to counseling office to be scanned and uploaded to student’s account

Senior Timeline October Finalize your college choices Pay attention to deadlines Complete CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE - if needed Take necessary entrance exams and have scores sent to colleges directly through ACT/SAT website. Upcoming exams SAT October 7 (Not at FA) ACT October 28 November 4

Senior Timeline October Start filling out your FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student Aid https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/ Student AND Guardian each need individual FAFSA ID’s Write down your username/password! Parents will need same username/password until last child graduates from college Use 2016 tax returns If applying to NYS school- you will also will out your TAP application Can apply directly through FAFSA website once completed OR- apply through https://www.hesc.ny.gov/

Senior Timeline November Pay attention to deadlines Early Decision/ Early Action Make sure all college applications are completely filled out Start FAFSA if you didn’t in October If applying to a school not using the Common App or SUNY App let the counseling office know so we can send your transcript. Start paying attention to scholarship board outside of Counseling Office Also found online

Questions about Applying/Financial Aid?

Take a breath, enjoy the moment. It’ll all be over soon. Senior Timeline December, January, February Keep your grades up Mid year grades are sent to the colleges you apply to Stay active in school Keep up good attendance Start filling out scholarship applications Take a breath, enjoy the moment. It’ll all be over soon.

Senior Timeline March, April, May CHECK YOUR E-MAIL Expect to receive acceptance letters and financial aid offers by mid-April Must accept or reject financial aid award by deadline Carefully read acceptance letters Sometimes you are accepted to the college but not the program you applied for Ex. Nursing vs. Pre-Nursing/Health Studies Pay college deposit by May 1 Make deposit to one college only

Senior Timeline June Check email - you will need to complete housing paperwork and other paperwork for college Counselors will meet with students to find out the college they are attending and send final transcript Once grades are complete send college transcript your school NCCC, Paul Smiths, SLU credits earned in high school- need to request directly from the colleges GRADUATE! Woohoo!

Questions?

Scholarships From November-May students should check the scholarship board outside of the Counseling Office or online. Pick up applications with Guidance secretary Carefully read each application Some you mail, some you return to guidance, some are online Scholarships are not accepted past the deadline If transcripts are need ask the Guidance secretary for a copy Scholarships are not only for top academic students. You don’t know if you win unless you apply. Last year we gave out around $150,000 on awards night!!!!

Helpful Tips Start applications early Carefully read directions in mail and e-mail Use appropriate email address Check email frequently Ask early for recommendation letters Include full name and date of birth on correspondence with colleges Resume of extracurricular activities Get organized Memorize or have social security number handy

Counseling Website www.malonecsd.org Franklin Academy Guidance Dustin Stover, A-G dstover@malonecsd.org Rosalyn Poirier, H-O rpoirier@malonecsd.org Lisette Maguire, P-Z lmaguire@malonecsd.org