COLLEGE APPLICATION NIGHT CLASS OF 2014 Presented By North Penn High School Guidance

Step One Complete your application (online) That’s how a college really knows you are interested and when they create your file Check to see if there are any other forms to print (such as Counselor, School Report or Teacher Recommendation forms) that might need to be completed by a school official

Step Two Obtain and sign an NPHS Records Release form – available in the Transcript Office, College & Career Center or Guidance Website A parent signature is required for students who are not 18 years of age Records Release forms are returned to the Transcript Office

Step Three Bring to the Transcript Office: A signed Records Release form that indicates the colleges you are applying to Any additional forms that a “school official” must complete An addressed envelope for each college/transcript A $2.00 processing fee for each college/transcript ALLOW 3 WEEKS FOR PROCESSING!!!!

Your Envelope Should…. NO STAMP! NO RETURN ADDRESS

Step Four Sending SATs and/or ACTs Most colleges will only accept “official” scores sent directly from the testing agency—it is the preferred, fastest and most reliable way Colleges will accept either SATs or ACTs and the “rule” seems to be that they will use your best scores

Step Five Mid-year Reports—No Forms Needed The Transcript Office will ” automatically” send a Mid-year grade report (two marking periods of grades) to each college you have applied to. This occurs two weeks after the end of the first semester

Step Six Collect your admissions decisions Weigh offers and make a final decision before May 1 Inform colleges that you do NOT plan to attend of your decision Complete a Post-High School Plans survey in May

Step Seven Final Grade Report A copy of your final transcript will be sent to the college you plan to attend—as indicated by you on the Post-High School Plans Survey form

Dates to Remember Oct. 9 – Financial Aid Night Oct. 10 – Montgomery County Regional College Fair Nov. 4 – National College Fair in Philadelphia Oct., Nov., Dec. and Jan. SAT/ACT test dates Application deadlines

The Common Application Accepted at more than 450 colleges and universities Print the Secondary School Report Schools often have their own specialized supplemental page If you are applying to several schools that accept the CA, it is designed to save you time and energy

Essays Unless there is a specific question to respond to, write about what you know—YOU! Admissions officers read “a lot” of essays—so five paragraphs and one page sounds about right Yes, you can use essentially the same essay at multiple colleges

Teacher Recommendations Two letters—at least one from a core academic classroom teacher Most schools do not have their own forms— use them if they do. Our teachers typically write in a letter format or use a template the guidance department has created Be sure to give teachers ample time to complete their recommendations

Resources North Penn HS Guidance webpage College Board and ACT College Admissions Offices and website College and Career Center College representatives/College Fairs Your guidance counselor

Related Topics Admissions factors—what are colleges looking at… Standardized testing… Financial Aid…

Your agenda General questions?????