Junior Parent College Information Night 2.0 March 5th, 2019 6:30 p.m.

Topics for Tonight: Current trends Your college list Campus visits The application process Financial Aid 101 Free Resources

Trends in College Admission: Earlier Process Students applying to a greater number of schools Demonstrated interest a factor Admission to public institutions now more competitive Has become a parent-driven rather than student-driven process.

Developing a College List: (Self- Reflection) Location Campus life Cost Majors Learning Environment

Do Your Homework!!! Helpful Resources student.naviance.com/Marshfield Collegexpress.com mefapathway.org CollegeNavigator.gov Cappex.com Chegg.com CollegeScorecard.ed.gov Niche.com Bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search

Develop a final list with colleges of each type: Probable (Safety): your chances for admission are strong Likely: your chances for admission are very good (75%) Possible: your chances for admission are 50/50 Reach: your chances for admission are less than 40% Start with as many options as you’d like- by fall of Senior year should be down to 2-3 in each category.

College Visits Informal Visits Formal Visits Size Academics Setting Campus Culture Student feedback Academics Activities Housing Q & A

College Application Plans: Regular Decision (Jan.1– Mar. 15) Early Decision (Oct. 15- Nov. 15) Binding Early Action (Oct. 15- Nov. 15) Rolling Admission Open Admission Deadlines are important! Stay organized!

What do College Admissions Officers Look For? Transcript & GPA (recalculated by college) Activities outside of school SAT/ ACT Letters of Recommendation Personal Essay Special Talents / Status

Mass Transfer Program: mass.edu/masstransfer Mass State Colleges and Universities Minimum Eligibility Requirements- 3.0 GPA Attend Mass Community College in Mass Transfer program, maintain a 2.0 > guaranteed admission to any MA state college or university as a junior. Higher GPAs get additional financial incentives New England Regional Student Program

Financial Aid Basics- What you can do now Remember- no one ever pays sticker price Don’t eliminate a college because of the price; more expensive colleges have more money to give in financial aid and merit scholarships. Net Price Calculator- guides students through relevant questions to determine what a college will really cost. FAFSA4caster- calculates Expected Family Contribution (EFC); compare schools by changing factors.