Staying Informed  Counseling webpage  Viking Voyage – monthly newsletter  Skyward (monitor your student’s grades, attendance, etc.)  NKHS High School Main Website  Sophomore, Junior, Senior Calendar

College Research Community and technical college search and information Explore College Websites (usually takes about 45 minutes per college) College Visitations preview days

Selecting a School L OCATION, MAJORS, COST, ADMISSION RATES, SIZE, STUDENT LIFE … YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOUR STUDENT. A student’s College List should include a broad range of colleges “S AFETY ” S CHOOLS – student well exceeds admission requirements “M ATCH ” S CHOOLS – student matches or exceeds admissions requirements “R EACH ” S CHOOLS – admission requirements are very competitive, regardless of whether the student has exceeded admission requirements (historically very low admissions rates) Application fees range anywhere from $45-$90. Applying to a large number of schools can be expensive and counterproductive.

4 year College Admission Requirements  Washington public 4-year colleges require the following: English – 4 years Social Science – 3 years Math – 3 years including algebra I, geometry, and algebra II and meaningful math in Senior year World Language – 2 years of the same language Lab Science – 2 years (biology, chemistry, or physics) Fine, Visual, or Performing Arts -.5 of a year Academic elective -.5 of a year Standardized testing to include SAT or ACT (with writing) **** REVIEW THE WEBSITES FOR THE COLLEGES TO WHICH YOU INTEND TO APPLY BEFORE YOU APPLY!

4 Year College “Need to Know”  Admissions Requirements – refer to college website for specific details  PSAT Date: October 18, 7:45am to 11:00am  Recommended for all college-bound juniors  SAT  ACT  Deadlines  Seniors: most colleges will accept up to December test results  Juniors: plan to take the SAT/ACT this spring  GPA & Rank  Transcript Request  Private vs. Public Institutions  Letter of Recommendation Procedure

College Admissions  Grades (in rigorous courses)  Recommendations  Essay(s)  Extra-curricular activities including leadership and community service  Test Scores  **Be sure to truly represent yourself and your areas of passion

How to Distinguish Your Application  Extra-Curricular Activities  Volunteer Work Hours  Paid Work Hours  Leadership  Clubs/Sports/Music  Clubs and memberships outside of school  Personal Statement  Difficulties you have overcome  Challenges you have met  Area of passion  Reasons for wanting to go to college  Edit, edit, edit

College Application See college or universities for requirements and deadlines State schools have their own on-line application Most private schools use Common Application or SendEdu ***Transcripts ***Test Scores

2 Year College “Need to Know”  Accuplacer/Placement Test  Seniors – Spring  fall registration usually occurs around early June  2 Year vs. 4 Year decision  Smaller Class Sizes  Cost Difference  Housing  Maturity  SAT/ACT not required for admissions into community college  AA/AAS Transferable Degree

Financial Aid  Financial Aid Night  Attend in December of Junior and Senior NKHS Commons  College Financial Aid Speaker  FAFSA Information  Application window begins January 1 st  Seniors: apply ASAP to maximize your eligibility for awards  What can you do now?  FAFSA4caster FAFSA4caster

Scholarships  Main Office contact Karen Lawlis  School Website:   Check out websites of colleges/university of interest to stay informed of their scholarships

Out of State Scholarship (WUE)  Out of State Exchange Programs (reduced tuition for out-of- State applicants (WUE)WUE Student must have legal residency in WUE state ○ Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah Washington, Wyoming Students can receive a discounted rate through the completion of their Bachelor’s degree ○ Over 145 public institutions are participating Some majors are not eligible Some colleges/universities have limited availability ○ May require evidence of academic performance To apply: ○ Check WUE box on your online admissions application or contact the admisions office of your prospective colleges For more information go to

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