Welcome to Pittsford Sutherland High School Senior College night Tuesday, September 12th 2017

Application Basics Regular, Rolling, Early Action, Early Decision Application methods: Common App., SUNY, Individual College, Coalition, Universal Things to check: standardized testing requirements, deadline dates, letters of rec. requirements, financial aid dates and requirements(forms, CSS, FAFSA)

Email Create a new email address for the College App Process (First name.Last name@provider.com) CHECK YOUR EMAIL WEEKLY (colleges will communicate with you about application status, missing application items, deadline dates and next steps).

Senior Conference Make an appointment for your Senior Conference. For Early Decision and Early Action Applications senior conferences are held between September 14 and October 15. Please complete the Parent Information Form and your resume and the SHS Rising Senior Information Survey on Naviance. Most should have been completed last spring.

College Application Student Application Teacher Letter of Recommendation Secondary School Report, Transcript, School Profile, Counselor Recommendation, Mid-year Report, Final Transcript Standardized Testing

Student Application Use legal name (same format) on all documents related to the college process (transcript, apps., etc). This includes personal, educational, family, and self-reported standardized testing information. You will also be asked to include information on extra-curricular activities, work experience, short response questions, and a personal essay. Students will also be asked a question regarding any disciplinary violation or conviction of a misdemeanor, felony or other crime.

Student Application (continued) Additional Supplemental information may be required which could include additional essays or questions. This is done on a school-by-school basis. For some colleges, a resume can be uploaded here if a student has one. Students self-report standardized tests, GPA, and current courses. The transcript that was sent home this summer can be used to fill out this information.

Teacher Recommendations Consider asking 1 or 2 teachers who can speak about your performance in their classroom. Additional/Optional recommendations can speak to leadership, service, character, or experiences. Students need to ask teachers in person for letters of recommendation. Follow up with pink Letter of Recommendation Request Form. Requirements from teachers vary with regards to what information they may request from the student: an interview, a list of activities, etc.

Teacher Recommendations (continued) Be considerate of deadlines; give teachers and counselors one month prior to a deadline to write a letter of recommendation. The more organized you are, the more efficient a teacher can be on your behalf. Provide a complete list of schools applying to, with deadline dates and necessary forms. Be sure to thank people who write a letter of recommendation for you. Teachers are doing this on their own time. Let them know the outcome of your applications. They want to hear!

Secondary School Report Counseling Office provides an Official High School Transcript, Secondary School Report, Counselor Letter of Recommendation, Teacher Letters of Recommendation, and the School Profile for each college application. Blue Transcript Release Form gives us permission to submit this information to a college. That document helps us track what information is sent and the date it left our office. A Blue Transcript Release Form must be completed for each college you are applying to. The Blue Transcript Release Form includes the college name, application method used, deadline, and the names of teachers providing letters for that application.

Secondary School Report (continued) Deadlines for Applications: Nov. 1 in the office by October 1; Nov 15 in the office by October 15; January 1 in the office by November 15 (Thanksgiving and winter recess impact this deadline); Jan 15 in the office by Dec 4. Mid-Year Reports are automatically sent electronically to Common Application schools during February recess. Final transcripts will automatically be sent in July, to the college you attend, once the transcript is verified by District office.

Official Test Scores SAT or ACT test scores must be sent directly from College Board or ACT to each individual college at the request of the student. It is your responsibility to send all test scores, allowing you to have control over what scores are viewed by the college. Your application will be incomplete and not reviewed if you neglect to send ACT or SAT scores. When you take the SAT or ACT, you can have 4 test scores sent with your registration fee, additional scores can be sent for a fee.

What Do Admissions Offices Look At? Transcript and the rigor of your curriculum Standardized Test Scores – Optional? Application Essay – Authentic and High Quality Extra Curricular Activities Interviews (if Required) Special Talent

Safety, Target, Stretch (Naviance)

NCAA Eligibility Center Needed for Division I and II colleges only Register on the website. http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA_EMS.html Check and make sure your courses are on the approved list. This is YOUR responsibility. Division I and II worksheets are available to assist you. Have initial transcript sent from the Counseling Office. For student athletes, a final transcript will be sent to the NCAA in July.

Social Media Suggestions Colleges are using social media to communicate information. Student use can be a way to demonstrate interest. On an individual level stay away from the 3 P’s: Profanity, Pornography, and Personal Attack. Admissions Offices could search for you online, so be aware of what you post, favorite and tag!

College Representative Visits Each year over 140 colleges visit our school The schedule can be viewed from the Events Calendar on the SHS Counseling website. www.pittsfordschools.org/webpages/shscounseling To attend a visit: Have your teacher sign the pass Get a yellow pass from one of the secretaries No pass is needed if you have a free period

Events Calendar

Finding the Right Fit College Utilize college search books in the SHS College/Career Center Attend open houses at colleges (see our website and posters outside of counseling office for information). Accepted Student Days

Finding the Right Fit College College Fairs: September 18, SUNY College Fair, MCC Campus Center, 6:00 – 8:00 PM September 19:  Eastview Mall, 7:00 - 9:00 PM September 27:  Marketplace Mall, 6:30 - 8:00 PM September 28:  Greece Ridge Mall, 6:30 - 8:00 PM

Next Steps Sign up for your Senior Conference in the Counseling Office. Request letters of recommendation from teachers. Students complete the Rising Senior Survey in Naviance. Parents complete Senior Parent Information Form. Keep working on those applications! Sign up for standardized tests (SAT, ACT, and/or SAT Subject Tests) Submit Blue Transcript Release Forms

Financial Aid Information Tough conversation to have…but have it now! Discuss how much you can or are willing to contribute Look at individual colleges for potential scholarship opportunities. Many have application deadlines of Dec. 1st for merit consideration. Use the Net Price Calculator on each individual college website

Financial Aid (con’t) FAFSA Form vs. C.S.S. Profile - After October 1 -Before Jan. 1 - All schools use - Some require - Federal Methodology -Institutional methodology Both assume contribution from the student Pay attention to each college’s requirements and deadlines If you have questions about financial aid, contact the college’s financial aid office directly. Renee Dann, Associate Director Financial Aid Nazareth College

Associate Director Financial Aid Renee Dann Associate Director Financial Aid Nazareth College