Class of 2015 Senior Pathways Night

HKHS Counseling Department Maryann Grimaldi, Dean of Academics Emily Baerlein, School Counselor Peter Ettlinger, School Counselor Stacey Mahoney, School Counselor Christine Smith, Secretary Gina Voytek, Secretary

Counseling Celebrations! Data for the Class of 2014 $257,058 in local/regional/state scholarships More than $2.25 Million awarded in Merit Aid 2 National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test Commended Scholars (based on junior year PSAT) 89.2% going to a four or two year college Students are attending schools as far away as California and Georgia and Canada, but mainly in New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions 46 Colleges/Institutions hosted this fall; 150 last spring at our 5th annual College Fair 86% had a post-secondary experience (internships/college course) Newsweek- One of the top 500 high schools in the United States; one of only 13 selected in Connecticut

Time Line Over the past two weeks, counselors met with all seniors in small groups during advisory to review Naviance/Common Application process and senior packet contents Over the next few weeks, students should: start their applications (Common Application or College specific) work on essays with counselor and/or current English teacher complete Candidate Biography Form (Naviance) request teacher Letter of Recommendation- relevant to future studies, should be a junior year academic teacher (in person and on Naviance). Counselors will meet one-on-one with seniors (lunch, before/after school, during elective classes), starting with Early Action/Early Decision students first to review/finalize college lists, and to review application process

Senior Packet Contents Naviance Student Powerpoint Info & procedures for submitting college applications- Pink Timeline for applications Counselor recommendation- Goldenrod Candidate biography, Senior Parent Input (Naviance)- Yellow Teacher recommendation (1)- Salmon FERPA (Paper and Common App)-Blue Transcript requests- Electric Blue Sample resume- Tan SAT & ACT information- Neon Yellow Scholarship/Financial Aid information- Green NCAA Clearinghouse information- Purple

Important Terms To Remember Early Action- Common deadlines- 11/1, 11/5, 12/1. Non-binding, receive early response without commitment Early Decision- Common deadlines- 11/1, 11/5, 12/1. Binding agreement, full commitment on the part of the student to attend specific college/university Reach Schools- Colleges a student would like to attend and their chances of admission are less than likely Schools are very competitive for this student Range Schools- Colleges a student would like to attend and they have a 50/50 chance of being accepted Safety Schools- Colleges a student would like to attend and their chances of being accepted are likely

Who takes care of what?? Students Parents HK HS Send SAT/ACT scores Pay for SAT/ACT scores Send transcript/ Q1 grades/ mid year grades Submit applications Pay for applications Send letter(s) of recommendation Draft/Edit/Revise College Essay Complete CSS Profile (maybe) Send school profile Request letter(s) of rec. Complete FAFSA Send Secondary School Report Check for work-based scholarship Request transcripts Apply for scholarships

School Reports/ Records Q: How will we know if the college/institution has received our materials? A: The student/parent can monitor in Naviance the progress of their school materials. Once the college receives the material via Edocs, the counseling department will receive a confirmation message. This can be viewed in Naviance as well through student/parent accounts. When print materials are sent out, we send a postcard with each application packet that is then signed by admissions personnel upon receipt and returned to us (in most cases) **Students can often check their application status online using the college’s website and an id number generated by the college once the application is processed.**

Weighted GPA covering grades 9-11 & Rank Current senior year classes

Testing SAT I – Reasoning- Critical Reading, Math & Writing/Essay SAT II- One Hour Subject Specific Tests- more selective colleges, check with each individual school, check on “recommended” vs. “required” ACT- English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning, “optional” writing component. Some schools may take ACT in place of SAT II subject tests. Students should take the writing section as it will be required by many schools when submitting ACT scores FairTest.org- More than 800 colleges are test optional. **Official test scores need to be sent directly to Colleges/NCAA directly from SAT/ACT.** Even though transmission is electronic, please allow 2 weeks for delivery.

Testing Registration/Reporting REMEMBER our school code is 070324 MUST BRING REGISTRATION and CURRENT Photo ID Pay attention to deadlines & register on time!! All students must send their SAT/ACT scores directly from the testing agency to their colleges/NCAA(9999) Online Registration SAT- www.collegeboard.org ACT- www.actstudent.org

DATES & DEADLINES Upcoming SATs- Upcoming ACTs- October 11, 2014 @ HK HS REGISTRATION DEADLINE: September 12 LATE REGISTRATION: September 30 November 8, 2014 @ HK HS REGISTRATION DEADLINE: October 9 LATE REGISTRATION: October 28 December 6, 2014 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: November 6 LATE REGISTRATION: November 24 Upcoming ACTs- October 25, 2014 @ HK HS REGISTRATION DEADLINE: September 19 LATE REGISTRATION: October 3 December 13, 2014 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: November 7 LATE REGISTRATION: November 21

Test Prep Options Books- sample tests, strategies, questions Online SAT/ACT prep Group Prep- i.e. Ivy Bound, College Planning Partnerships, Kaplan, Princeton, SAT 101 (HK Rec Dept) Individual Tutoring focuses on student’s deficits

(SNOW DATE: December 3rd) Financial Aid CSS/ Financial Aid Profile- check and see if your schools require this. Can be completed starting on October 15th. Boston University, Boston Ccollege, Colby, Drexel, Fairfield, Fordham, George Washington, Northeasten, Quinnipiac, Roger Williams, University of New Haven FAFSA- MUST be completed by all applicants for federal student aid every year. After January 1st with the previous year’s tax information Types of Aid Grants Loans Scholarships Work Study Financial Aid Formula : Cost of Attendance Expected Family Contribution Pell Grant Aid from other sources $$ Your Financial Aid Package $$ Every college website has a cost calculator for your convenience. REMINDER!!! FINANCIAL AID NIGHT December 2nd at 6 PM Presented by Carolyn Karno , Education Funding Strategies (SNOW DATE: December 3rd)

Up coming events October 15, 2014- December 2, 2104- January 7, 2015- Seniors will have a class picture, be measured for cap and gown ($15 check payable to University Cap and Gown) All seniors will attend a college panel presentation focusing on the application process. December 2, 2104- Financial Aid Night- 6pm Auditorium January 7, 2015- Alumni Day: Seniors will attend a Q&A in a small group with HK alums to discuss the first year college experience.

Helpful Resources Available in our offices: college and career information, Naviance College Rep Visits – DON’T FORGET TO CHECK THE SCHEDULE (available on Naviance/homerooms/counseling website) Please check out our school counseling website- a link can be found on www.rsd17.org Career Center – college visits, coach visits, interviews, etc. College Fairs – check our website for upcoming local fairs Websites: SAT Registration, College Quick Search, CSS /Financial Aid Profile (www.collegeboard.org ) ACT Registration- (www.actstudent.org) FAFSA (www.fafsa.edu.gov) NCAA Clearinghouse (www.eligibilitycenter.org)

Naviance If you need your login information contact your child’s counselor. After logging in, Click on the “About Me Tab” Complete Parent Feedback Survey found on the left hand side of the page FERPA- Must complete in Common App/Naviance and Paper Copy (Pink and Yellow Forms in Senior Packet) “Colleges I am thinking about”/ “Colleges I am applying to” Modality of application- Common App, paper, school site Letters of recommendation- Check college requirements Transcript request/status Sites: District: http://www.rsd17.org/schools1.shtml Common App: https://www.commonapp.org/Login

Keep In Touch- Communicate with your Counselor Please don’t hesitate to have your senior stop by to ask any questions and feel free to drop us an email anytime. Conferences will be held 10/29 and 10/30. Peter Ettlinger- pettlinger@rsd17.org Stacey Mahoney- smahoney@rsd17.org Emily Baerlein- ebaerlein@rsd17.org