East Granby High School Junior Planning Night February 13, 2018

Tonight’s Focus Timeline: What should we be doing now through the end of summer? Researching Colleges Standardized Testing EGHS Application Process Other Post-Secondary Options

Timeline February - June Schedule Individual Junior Planning Meeting with your school counselor (Starting in February) Register / Prepare for AP exams Register / Prepare for SAT, Subject Tests and ACT Schedule College Visits

Timeline . . . continued May/June Resume (if not already completed through school counseling lesson) Begin College Essay Continue to Research and Visit Colleges Preliminary college list Ask two teachers to write a letter of recommendation for you in the fall

Timeline . . . continued Over the Summer… Continue to research and visit colleges Make all necessary revisions to your main essay Register on the commonapp website Begin filling out college applications Fine tune the list of schools you will be applying to in the Fall.

A Good Decision Requires Information Gather information about yourself (Naviance) strengths, weaknesses, abilities, interests Gather information about colleges Admission statistics Location Size Majors/ Programs Financial Aid Retention, Graduation Rate & Employment Rate

How to finalize your college list? Video Clip How to finalize your college list? https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/applying-101/how-to-finalize-your-college-list-admissions-college-application Stephanie Balmer, Dean of Admissions Dickinson College

Reach, Realistic and Safety How many is too many?

What Resources Are Available here at EGHS? School Counselor/School Counseling website https://www.eastgranby.k12.ct.us/high/parents/guidance/ Collegeboard Naviance “The Guide” Open House visits College Rep. visits at EGHS

Standardized Testing SAT SAT II: Subject Tests ACT All students should set a goal to have all of their standardized testing completed by November of their senior year.

Remaining SAT and Subject Test Dates Test Date Test Offered Registration Late Fee Deadline March 10th SAT Only Feb 9th February 28th May 5th SAT & Subject Tests April 6th April 25th June 2nd SAT & Subject Tests May 3rd May 23rd It is the student’s responsibility to know which tests are required by each college

Remaining ACT Dates Test Date Registration Late Fee Deadline April 14th March 9th March 23rd June 9th May 4th May 18th July 14th June 15th, 2018 June 22nd

Sending SAT and ACT Score Students must contact the testing agency to request scores to be sent to each college. EGHS does not report SAT or ACT scores on the transcript. SAT - www.collegeboard.org ACT – www.ACT.org

EGHS College Application Process Expectations (timely manner, be responsible and always ask) How to Apply (commonapp vs. individual college website) Components of the Application (application, resume, recommendations, essay, transcript, transcript request form)

Resume – Things to Include STUDENT GOVERNMENT PERFORMING ARTS ACTIVITIES YEARBOOK SPORTS: Varsity/JV and any out-of-school clubs or experiences COMMUNITY SERVICE OUTSIDE of SCHOOL LEARNING EXPERIENCES OTHER ACTIVITES (i.e. religious activities, hobbies, clubs, etc.) SUMMER or SPECIAL TRAVEL EXPERIENCES EMPLOYMENT HONORS and AWARDS

Teacher Recommendations School Counselor recommendation Two Teacher Recommendations Ask your teachers, in person, prior to leaving in June. Follow-up…thank you notes

Getting Started on the Essay Brainstorm essay ideas with parents, teachers and friends. Read the six essay prompts on the Common Application. www.commonapp.org (*new prompts will be released in March) Think of an interesting story to tell that answers one of the prompt and reveals something about you not already shared in your application. Work on your story over the summer. Good essays evolve and take many edits. Be concise, honest , and creative. Make sure your essay answers the prompt. Check supplemental writing questions for each individual college – do not short change these!

Transcript Request Form

When to Apply Early Decision I & II Early Action Restrictive Early Action Regular Decision Rolling Admission

Expectations Students are expected to: Complete college applications Complete all processing forms (transcript request form) in a timely manner –two weeks processing time Check email regularly Communicate with their school counselor and teachers for support, questions or requests

What Will the Counselor Send? Transcript School Profile Secondary School Report Form Counselor Recommendation Teacher Recommendations (only for non-commonapp schools)

What is Federal Student Aid? Financial Aid What is Federal Student Aid? Federal student aid comes from the federal government— specifically, the U.S. Department of Education. It’s money that helps a student pay for education expenses at a postsecondary school (e.g., college, vocational school, graduate school). The four categories of federal student aid are: • Grant—Grant money usually doesn’t have to be repaid. Most U.S. Department of Education grants are based on the student’s financial need. • Scholarship—U.S. Department of Education scholarship money is awarded based on a student’s academic achievement and does not have to be repaid. • Work-study—Work-study money is earned by a student through a job on or near campus while attending school and does not have to be repaid. • Loan—Loan money must be repaid with interest.  Rising Seniors and Parents: mark your calendars. College Goal Sunday is a free onsite program that helps students and families complete the free application for Federal Student Aid. The form that is required to apply for financial assistance for higher education. 

Financial Aid Collegeboard.com https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search CollegeNET www.collegenet.com/mach25/app Horatio Alger Association https://scholars.horatioalger.org/scholarships/about-our-scholarship-programs/ BestColleges.com College Scholarship Database www.bestcolleges.com/financial-aid/ Fastweb www.fastweb.com Hartford Foundation for Public Giving http://www.hfpgscholarships.org/ Scholarships for Minority Students http://www.onlineschools.org/financial-aid/minority/ http://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/college-scholarships-for-minority-students/ African-American Affairs Commission Scholarship Information

Options? Military Community College Vocational/Trade School Cosmetology School Employment Gap Year

Lastly……. Keep the process in perspective Work together as a family Students must take ownership Discuss finances openly Start early and meet all deadlines