Senior Parent Workshop A Guide to Surviving Your Student’s College Application Process

Graduation Requirements ► 23.5 credits ► Culminating Project ► Meetings with Counselors through October as well as on going.

College Search Process ► College Board ► Naviance ► Educationplanner ► Princeton Review ► Individual College Websites ► MEETINGS WITH THE COUNSELOR

Naviance ► Introduced to all current seniors last spring ► Ability for students to compare themselves with past Methacton grads ► College and Career Search programs ► Top 20 schools for our students ► Ability to sign up for college MHS ► Track applications online

Application Process ► Online vs. Paper ► Common Application  Supplemental forms  Mid Year Report forms ► MHS Process  12 day advance request  Release form signed once by parent  Transcript requests go through Miss Fisher, not the counselor  Hand things in together, except for teacher recs, not piecemeal.  Official vs. Unofficial Transcript  BE AWARE OF DEADLINES

Admissions Terms ► Early Decision - binding ► Early Action – non binding ► Rolling Admission - ongoing

SAT/ACT Scores ► Be Aware of Individual School requirements ► SAT Subject Tests ► AP Scores ► Score Choice Process ► To Do or Not to Do ► Don’t wait for scores to apply to colleges ► Dates of tests

College Visits ► Campus visits – IMPORTANT ► Representative Visits at MHS ► College Fair Dates  Montgomery County -  Philadelphia - ► Group Meetings at area locations ► Student being the main communicator

Letters of Recommendation ► Teacher ► Counselor ► Outside people ► Forms, letters, etc. ► Give a 2 week notice and then follow up with the person to make sure letter was written and sent.

Resume ► Would like one sent with each transcript ► Upload as supplemental or bring in with transcript request form ► Educationplanner.com ► Careercruising.com

Essays ► Required vs. Optional ► English class assignment after summer reading ► Examples: Common Application ► Have someone proof read it before sending electronically!

Scholarship Information ► ► Local ones will be posted on Naviance ► Check with parents employers and other local organizations

Penn State Expectations ► Bubble chart ► Expectations for main campus ► Deadlines ► Use student example from Class of 2007

Common Mistakes ► Not taking challenging courses senior year ► Not keeping grades up senior year ► Missing deadlines ► Choosing a school because a friend is going there

Frequently Asked Questions ► Should student apply before test scores are in? ► Should I take SATs my senior year?