Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School

 Family Connection  College Applications  Financial Aid

  Sign-in requires address and password  Be sure all info is current and complete  Please add parent information

First step: Decide what you want to do next year  4-Year College  2-Year College  Tech or Trade School  Military

Develop a list of schools to which you plan to apply by Oct. 31  Usually 6-8 total schools  2 or more “Likely” schools, 3-4 “Possible” schools and 1-2 “Reach” schools

Next, go to your Family Connection account and add the schools to the “Colleges I’m Applying To” list The first time you go to that page, you must complete the FERPA waiver  Check the box that says you waive your right to view recommendations  Check the box that says you give permission for us to send your records to colleges

Go to the admissions websites of the colleges and look at their application procedures and requirements  Online or paper application? If you need a paper application, download one from the college’s website or ask the college to send you one ASAP.  Deadline? Rolling or fixed?  Application fee or waiver? How is it submitted?

 Testing – SAT/ACT required or not?  Essay(s)?  Recommendations? Counselor, teacher, or both?

 In general, apply to rolling admission schools by December 1  If you need higher SAT scores or a higher GPA, though, you may want to wait a little longer. Please talk to me about the best strategy for YOU.  Certain specific programs at a university may have earlier deadlines than others.

A word or two about those so-called “VIP” “Fast-Track” applications you may be receiving in the mail and in your …

Step 1: By Oct. 1, ask 2 teachers to write letters of recommendation for you. The teachers: 1. Should be teachers you had for academic classes: English, history, math, science or Latin 2. Should have taught you in 11 th or 12 th grade 3. Should know you well and have reason to write you a positive letter

Exception: If you are applying as an art, music or theater major, one of your letters should be written by a teacher in that area. Otherwise, if you want a letter from a music, art or theater teacher, it should be a third letter.

Step 2: In your Family Connection account, enter an official request for your letters by clicking on “Add Request” under “Teacher Recommendations” on the “Colleges I’m Applying To” page. Select the appropriate teachers from the “Teacher Recommendations” drop box and click on “Update Requests”.

 If you are applying with a paper application, and there is a paper recommendation form the teacher needs to complete, you must give it to the teacher. The teacher will complete it, give it to me, and I will mail it.

Secondary School Report/Counselor Recommendation  If a college requires a Secondary School Report or Counselor Recommendation, I will complete it for you.  Be sure to give me any paper forms I need to fill out.

Nota Bene: Before I will write a letter for you: 1) You must meet with me one-on-one this fall. Schedule an appointment to see me no later than November 1. 2) You must complete the Recommendation Questionnaire and return it to me. 3) You must complete a resume of your activities on Family Connection.

 Go to the“About Me” tab on Family Connection.  Click on “resume”.  Begin creating a resume by selecting a category from the dropbox at the bottom of the page.  Include: extracurricular activities, athletics, job experience, volunteer service, awards and leadership positions

 SAT/Subject Tests  October 6, 2012 (at BL)  November 3, 2012 (at BL)  Deadline to register is October 4  December 1, 2012  Deadline to register is November 1

 ACT October 27, 2012 Deadline to register late is October 5th December 8, 2012 Deadline to register is November 2

 Register for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests at Use the user name and password you created last spring. Do not create a new account.  I have fee waivers for those who qualify. You can have up to 2 for SAT, 2 for Subject Tests and 2 for ACT.  Only sign up for the Subject Tests if one (or more) of the schools you’re applying to requires them.  Be sure to use your 4 free score reports by requesting them in your CB account before test day.

Boys’ Latin has made available to every student online prep courses for both the SAT and the ACT. The courses may be accessed through your Family Connection account: Click on “Method Test Prep”

 Accepted by over 400 colleges  You complete one application and it is submitted to multiple colleges  Some colleges require a supplement in addition to the Common App  Please apply using the Common Application if the college accepts it  The first step is to create an account at  Be sure to enter your username and password in Family Connection.

 IMPORTANT: I should review every application before you submit it, including your essay(s).  See me for application fee waivers.  Once you have submitted an app online or given a paper app to me to mail, request a transcript on Family Connection.

 Once I have received your transcript request, I will send your transcript, your counselor recommendation (if required), your teacher recs (if required), and our school profile to the college.  I do not routinely send SAT scores.  You should have your scores sent directly from College Board to each college.

 If you have run out of free SAT score reports, I will send a copy of your scores to a college, if the college will accept them from me. It’s your responsibility to check their policy.  If you want me to send your scores, you must have:  Signed the form giving me permission  Requested that I send the scores on Family Connection

 Check Family Connection to verify that your transcript, my rec and the teacher recs were sent.  Check your daily for messages from the colleges.  If you receive a message saying something is missing from your file, let me know immediately.

 If a college requests more information from you, such as additional grades, financial information, etc., let me know immediately.  If you haven’t received a decision on your application within 6 weeks (for rolling admission schools) or by March 31 (for deadline schools), let me know.

 Representatives from many colleges are visiting BL this fall. The list is on Family Connection and will be updated regularly. You can sign up on FC.  Your grades this trimester are extremely important. Try hard to make this your best grading period ever.  Don’t get suspended.

A college education is expensive, but it is an investment in your future. If you attend a 4-year college, you will almost certainly have to take out loans to afford the cost of tuition, room and board. Ideally, you want to limit those to no more than $10,000 per year.

The college with the most expensive price tag may not be the most expensive one for you. If you complete all of your financial aid paperwork on time, you are likely to receive aid. Often the most expensive colleges provide the most aid.

 Merit Aid/Institutional Scholarships Merit aid is awarded based on academic, athletic or other talent. Your financial need is not considered. Sometimes you must fill out a separate application, but often you are considered automatically when you apply for admission.

 Need-Based Grants Grants are funds you do not have to pay back. You may receive grants from the college itself and/or Federal grants such as the Pell Grant. These grants are determined by your financial need, and you must complete paperwork to see if you qualify.

 Student Loans: You may qualify for loans under the Federal Direct Student Loan program. Your eligibility for these loans is based on your financial need. These loans must be paid back, beginning 6 months after you leave school. This year the maximum amount for freshmen is $5500.

 PLUS loans: Parents may qualify for Federal PLUS loans to help meet college costs. Payment on these loans also may be deferred until after you leave school. Parents do not have to meet income requirements to obtain PLUS loans, but their credit history is considered.

 Private loans: In addition to Federal loans, parents and students may apply for private education loans through a bank. Students seeking a private loan will need a co-signer.

 Outside scholarships Students may seek outside scholarships through various organizations to help pay for college. There are links to scholarship search sites on the college advising website and on Family Connection.

 As soon as possible after January 1, complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid). Some colleges have deadlines as early as Feb. 1.  You’ll need a copy of your 2012 tax forms and your 2012 W-2 forms. If you haven’t done your taxes yet when you’re completing the FAFSA, you can estimate, then update the numbers later.  It’s best to complete the FAFSA online at

 Some colleges require an additional form, called the CSS Profile. It will be available in mid-October on College Board’s website,  The Profile should be completed by February 15. You may complete it using 2011 tax information and update it later.  College Board charges a fee for the Profile, but waives the fee for families under a certain income level.

 If you want to get a rough idea of how much aid you will receive at a particular college, go to the Financial Aid office’s website and complete its Net Price Calculator. All colleges are required to offer them.

 Application fees: If you do not qualify for a fee waiver, you will have to pay the fee yourself. Fees are generally between $25 and $75 per college. Some schools waive the fee if you apply online.  SAT reports: SAT charges $10 per score report after you have used your free reports.  Deposits: A deposit is required to hold a student’s place at a college. Most schools must receive the deposit by May 1, or you risk losing your admission. $250-$750

 Your chances of being admitted to colleges is usually better the earlier you apply. Aim to have all of your applications completed by Christmas.  I can’t process an application in one day. Give your apps to me to review at least 3 weeks before they are due.  Get all financial aid paperwork in on time, or there may not be any money left.

(215) ext. 255 school (215) school cell (610) personal cell (610) home

1. Register for the SAT and/or ACT 2. Study for the SAT and/or ACT 3. Decide where you’re applying and check application requirements 4. Ask 2 teachers for recommendations 5. Sign the records release form 6. Start filling out applications 7. Make an appointment with me