Senior Meeting Class of 2019

TAKE OUT YOUR phone Text your parents: Tonight, 6:00 PM, HS Auditorium: Senior Parent Evening Post-secondary Planning AND Financial Aid! And, the Jerry Maguire line: “Help me help you!”

To-Do List for Seniors What is your Post-secondary Plan and how can we help you get where you want to be? Follow P3: The Post-Secondary Planning Program Everyone: come in for your Senior Individual Planning Meeting

Options Other Than College What is the World-of-Work looking for? Community College Trade or Technical School The Military Apprenticeship Programs Job Corps Work

P3: Post-secondary Planning Program Four Parts to the Process: 1. Preparation 2. Information 3. Visitation 4. Application

The Transcript, Test Scores, Resume Preparation The Transcript, Test Scores, Resume

Transcript Request Form You will review your transcript & Graduation Requirement credit count in your Senior Individual Planning Meeting You need only one gold TRANSCRIPT RELEASE FORM Alert Counseling within 10 school days of your deadline Let us know exactly what needs to be sent Let us know if Letters of Recommendation are needed Try to send everything together – the fewer envelopes, the less chance of errors

SAT I, ACT, SAT Subject, ASVAB Tests Register for and take the SAT and ACT October 6 SAT …………………Deadline September 7 October 27 ACT ………………Deadline September 21 November 3 SAT……………….Deadline October 5 December 1 SAT……………….Deadline November 2 December 8 ACT…………..….Deadline November 2 Always use BVA HS CEEB CODE: 390-230 Check if you need the SAT Subject Tests See if your schools want “official” score reports (PSU!) Prep material and classes are available When a college gives an SAT score (average or minimum) the score usually includes only Critical Reading and Math (not Writing)

A word about acts Some schools actually prefer the ACT to the SAT The ACT is an achievement test, while the SAT is an aptitude test (you have lots of experience with achievement tests!) Great for concrete thinkers! The ACT actually has a SCIENCE SECTION; if you are a strong science student, you can highlight this strength Most schools super-score (taking the highest possible test scores); taking the SAT and ACT provides multiple opportunity for best scoring Highest scores might mean more scholarship $$ later!

Resume Resume – a good way to highlight activities and provide explanations about your involvement Include only Grades 9-10-11-12 (your high school years) Portfolios – for art – start working on this now Music CDs – start working on this now

Post-Secondary Representatives and Fairs information Post-Secondary Representatives and Fairs

calendar: reps Check the bulletin board outside the Counseling Office for the schedule of post- secondary representatives Lunch room visits Listen for announcements Check the announcement screen in the lobby Sign up and get a visit pass the day of the visit FACE TIME WITH REPS IS VERY IMPORTANT!

Post-secondary Fairs September 18 – 8:30-11A Washington-Fayette-Green Co. Fair at Cal U September 26 – 6P to 8P (Financial Aid at 5:30 PM) Westmoreland Co. Community College Fair

Consider the SEVEN FACTORS plus the X FACTOR! visitation Consider the SEVEN FACTORS plus the X FACTOR!

The Seven factors +X Size Location Reputation Major(s) Cost/Financial Aid (Can I afford it?) Admissions Criteria (Can I get in?) Can I be happy there? And… THE X FACTOR!

Forms, Fees, Deadlines, Supporting Documents, and the final touches application Forms, Fees, Deadlines, Supporting Documents, and the final touches

applications Paper or on-line www.commonapp.org PSU (Deadline of November 30!) Know all deadlines If you haven’t already, please turn Transcript Release Forms in ASAP! Give all other documents in to Counseling at least 10 school days before your deadline Fees: check, money order, waived by the school, or fee waiver Proofread, proofread, proofread! Go above and beyond with supplemental information…

Essays Essays – optional or required – have your English teacher proofread – put your name and birth date on every page Writing Sample – depends on college Required = do the essay! Recommended = Required = do the essay! It’s good to have go-to essays in case you come across a last-minute scholarship application!

Recommendations/references Recommendation Letters/Forms Turn in request 2-3 weeks in advance Provide letter writer with information to help him/her write a good letter (See STUDENT PROFILE/PARENT INFO SHEET) Give letter writer the names of your schools and your major field of study Waive your right to see all letters of recommendation and recommendation forms- they are stronger if they are confidential! May be given to you, to your counselor, or done on-line Say “thank you”!

Getting in Rolling Admission Regular Admission Early Decision Early Action Early Admission Binding Admission Non-binding Admission Wait List/Deferred Candidate Reply Deadlines Decision Day

NCAA, Financial Aid, Scholarships Other applications NCAA, Financial Aid, Scholarships

NCAA Athletes should apply online at the NCAA Eligibility Center Send SAT/ACT scores directly to NCAA Bring in the NCAA transcript form with your NCAA ID number on it along with… Make sure we have your signed Transcript Release Form

Financial aid help! Dates to remember: A COMBINED APPROACH: PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES – FINANCIAL AID SUPPORT November 9: Financial Aid & FAFSA Completion Workshop February 19: Financial Aid & FAFSA Completion Workshop

Scholarships & Financial Aid Look for scholarship announcements for local $$$ Register for scholarship databases Google “Scholarship Search Engine” and enter your information; the engine will do a web search for you! Career Cruising log-ins are coming– there’s a powerful scholarship search engine in CC! Look for scholarships offered by colleges & post-secondary schools – check deadlines UVA: Jefferson Scholarship (See Mrs. Wilson ASAP!) Washington U. St. Louis: The Danforth (See Mrs. Wilson ASAP!)

Remember to…

…Be a Senior! Take responsibility for your future! Next Step: Individual Senior Meeting Check Graduation Requirements & Transcript Check on testing dates and plans Check on application questions We will call you in using a GREEN SLIP; work with us to review and finalize your plans! Be courteous and respectful to everyone you deal with! You are the leaders of the school!

REMiND!! Don’t miss reminders about scholarships, deadlines, college visits, testing, etc. Sign up for Remind 101 messages from the BVAHS Counseling Office Send a text to 81010 with this message: @bvacouns

And remember we are here to help!!! Mrs. Nese Dr. McHugh Mrs. Wilson

THANK YOU! See you soon for your Individual Planning Meeting! Please stick around for more information on Financial Aid!