Approaching the College Application Process Gaithersburg High School Counseling Office College/Career Information Center

Topics Covered Researching Colleges / Making Your List Researching Colleges / Making Your List Application Process Application Process Paperwork and Deadlines Paperwork and Deadlines

Questions… Attend school near home or move away? Attend school near home or move away? In Maryland or out-of-state? In Maryland or out-of-state? State college or private? State college or private? – State = less expensive, fewer scholarships – Private = more expensive, more financial aid Type of campus? Type of campus? – City, suburban, rural Researching Colleges / Making Your List

More Questions… Size of Campus Size of Campus – Small = <3000 students – Medium = between 3000 and 10,000 students – Large = >10,000 Other preferences / interests? Other preferences / interests? – Climate, shopping, entertainment, spiritual, community, athletics Researching Colleges / Making Your List

More To Consider… Community College Community College – Apply EARLY to Montgomery College – Flexible, save money, transfer credits – 2-year associate degrees available Athletes Athletes – NCAA Clearinghouse – Researching Colleges / Making Your List

More To Consider… US Service Academies US Service Academies – SAT in Spring Junior Year – Pre-candidate Questionnaire – Application Packets from Congressional Reps & Senators Researching Colleges / Making Your List

ASVAB Career Interest Survey Career Interest Survey What Are You Good At? What Are You Good At? Looks Like a Test Looks Like a Test Explore Occupations Explore Occupations Figure Out What You Want to Study in College or … Figure Out What You Want to Study in College or … Do With Your Life!! Do With Your Life!! Researching Colleges / Making Your L Researching Colleges / Making Your List

Gathering Information Look at Schools Online Look at Schools Online Will They Be Visiting the Area? Will They Be Visiting the Area? Are They Visiting GHS? Are They Visiting GHS? Speak with Counselor, CCIC, Teachers, Parents Speak with Counselor, CCIC, Teachers, Parents College Fairs – April 24 – AT FAIRGROUNDS College Fairs – April 24 – AT FAIRGROUNDS Researching Colleges / Making Your List

College Fair Bus Service from GHS Bus Service from GHS 200+ Colleges Represented 200+ Colleges Represented Register on-line and print ticket Register on-line and print ticket Have a Plan – Know Which Schools Have a Plan – Know Which Schools Focus on Financial Assistance Options Focus on Financial Assistance Options U of Md, Other Local Schools Popular U of Md, Other Local Schools Popular Details: Handouts, Website, Announcements Details: Handouts, Website, Announcements Researching Colleges / Making Your List

REGISTER ONLINE for the COLLEGE FAIR IN ADVANCE!!! Go to: Click on: Montgomery County Complete the required information and hit “ SUBMIT. ” PRINT your ticket with the barcode. BRING THE TICKET with the barcode TO THE FAIR! No more interest cards to fill out by pen or pencil! College reps will be able to scan your barcode and save your contact information to their “ prospective students ” list. Get ready to receive lots of college information by and/or postal mail!

NACAC National College Fairs Student Registration When you register for NACAC College Fair services through Technology Resource Corp.(TRC), you are providing personal information. This information will be provided exclusively to NACAC and those colleges and/or universities that you choose at the College Fair. By allowing a college or university to record the electronic bar code on your Barcode, the registrant agrees and gives permission that all personal information will be shared with those colleges or universities First Name* Last Name* Home Address 1* Home Address 2 City*, State* Zip *,

Other Resources Family Connection/Naviance (link on GHS home page) Family Connection/Naviance (link on GHS home page) We Are Here To Help! We Are Here To Help! College/Career Center College/Career Center Your Counselor Your Counselor Researching Colleges / Making Your List

Consider What Colleges Are Looking For Quality/Rigor of Academic Program Quality/Rigor of Academic Program Grade Point Average Grade Point Average SAT or ACT Scores SAT or ACT Scores Extra Curricular/Leadership Activities Extra Curricular/Leadership Activities Volunteer / Community Service / Employment Volunteer / Community Service / Employment Letters of Recommendation Letters of Recommendation Researching Colleges / Making Your List

SAT Highest score 2400 Highest score 2400 Math: Geometry, Algebra II, and Precalculus Math: Geometry, Algebra II, and Precalculus Reading Reading Multiple Choice Multiple Choice Essay Essay Penalty for wrong answers Penalty for wrong answers Fee $49.00 Fee $ The Tests Are Not Created Equal…

ACT Highest Score 36 Highest Score 36 Math: Geometry, Algebra II, and Precalculus Math: Geometry, Algebra II, and Precalculus Science Science Reading Reading English English Multiple choice only $34.00 Multiple choice only $34.00 Optional writing exam $49.50 Optional writing exam $49.50 No penalty for wrong answers No penalty for wrong answers The Tests Are Not Created Equal…

Accuplacer – free ESL Accuplacer - free ESL Accuplacer - free TOEFL - $175* TOEFL - $175* * price subject to change

Make Your List Pick 6-9 Schools Pick 6-9 Schools – Target Schools – Safety Schools – Reach Schools Researching Colleges / Making Your List

Setting up the Applications after August 1 after August 1 Identify schools who participate Identify schools who participate Log in to Family Connection/Naviance account, go to the “College” tab, click on “Colleges I’m applying to. Sign the privacy notice. Log in to Family Connection/Naviance account, go to the “College” tab, click on “Colleges I’m applying to. Sign the privacy notice. It is highly recommended that you check off YES and waive your right to access recommendations. It is highly recommended that you check off YES and waive your right to access recommendations. Next, check off the box authorizing the release of your records. You will then need to enter the commonapp username and password and “Submit”. Next, check off the box authorizing the release of your records. You will then need to enter the commonapp username and password and “Submit”. Application Process

Access applications for non-participating schools directly Access applications for non-participating schools directly Register online (write down your login info (and save in a safe place), requirements and deadlines!!) Register online (write down your login info (and save in a safe place), requirements and deadlines!!) – Set up login and password for each – Verify what documents are needed Non – Commonapp Applications

Do The Applications Begin completing the applications online Begin completing the applications online Double check applications for: Double check applications for: – Accuracy – Completeness – Spelling – Grammar Print/Copy all pages prior to submitting for your records Print/Copy all pages prior to submitting for your records Application Process

Application Reminders Accurate address that you check! Accurate address that you check! Update Your Counselor Update Your Counselor Check for errors!! Check for errors!! – Spel checque iz knot enuf – Proofread Sign and date forms (best handwriting!) Sign and date forms (best handwriting!) Express Your Voice, Not Someone Else’s Express Your Voice, Not Someone Else’s Application Process

Essays and Resume Activity Statement - ~100 words Activity Statement - ~100 words Optional/or NOT!! Optional/or NOT!! 1 – 2 Personal Essays 1 – 2 Personal Essays – Choose Topic Wisely – English Teacher Feedback Activities/Resume Activities/Resume – Organize by most important to you Include Important Characteristic of Include Important Characteristic of School, if Possible Application Process

Letters of Recommendation Rules – sealed documents may not be opened by anyone except the college you are applying to.Rules – sealed documents may not be opened by anyone except the college you are applying to. TeacherTeacher – Resume and/or Brag Sheet CounselorCounselor – Brag Sheets, Extra Curricular Checklist – Teacher Feedback Forms Application Process

“Senior Packet” Paperwork Now ONLINE! Paperwork Now ONLINE! –Preferred Method GHS Website, College & Career Page GHS Website, College & Career Page Select: Select: –College-Bound Student Checklist –Due to Counseling by June 13, 2012 Paperwork and Deadlines

Deadlines!!! Chart or List of Deadlines and Requirements Chart or List of Deadlines and Requirements – Spreadsheet? – Sticky Notes? – Find a System That Works For You Transcript Requests Transcript Requests – Allow At Least 15 School Days Paperwork and Deadlines

More Deadlines!!! October 15 Deadline October 15 Deadline – All Paperwork in By September 23 Apply by Priority Deadline if Possible Apply by Priority Deadline if Possible Scholarships Scholarships – Plan Ahead if Possible – YOU Know Your Requirements – Envelopes and Stamps – Website Good Resource Paperwork and Deadlines

Time to Get Busy! Start Now Start Now – Schedule Tests – Look at Schools Summer Fun Summer Fun – Visit Schools – Make Your List – Finish Brag Sheets/Resumes – Start Applications Conclusion