SENIOR PARENT/GUARDIAN WORKSHOP Lexington High School Counseling Department September 24, 2015

COUNSELORSCOUNSELING INTERNS Melissa ButtaroSarah Morales Alicia LinseyBeth Niegelsky Chrissy SillsBrittany Reed Ebony McCoy Matt MedugnoREGISTRAR’S OFFICE Stephanie MichaelRoom 152 Emily O’NeilJane Aronson Stacy ProsowskiKaren Hurley Cynthia Tang Carrie Thibodeau HamblinCOMMUNITY SERVICE Matthew WillisRoom 705 Joanne Tringale Counseling Go-To Staff

Agenda Senior Seminars Post-Secondary Options Building a Balanced College List College Application Process Financial Aid What Students Can Do How Parents Can Help

Senior Seminars Post-Secondary Options Building a Balanced College List The College Application Process Naviance (Transcript & Teacher Recommendation Requests)

Post-Secondary Options College/University (2-year & 4-year) Employment Gap Year Military Service Post-Graduate (PG) Year Technical/Trade Training

Building a Balanced College List Use Naviance to help develop and hone the list Strong lists include: –6 to 8 carefully selected schools –A balance of Likely, Target and Reach schools

Important Factors Academic Offerings/Majors Size of Student Body Location Residential/Social Life Student Organizations Athletics/Recreational Sports Student Diversity

Types of Admission Regular Admission Rolling Admission Open Admission Early Decision (binding) Early Action (non-binding) Restricted / Single-Choice Early Action

COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS – WHO SENDS WHAT TO COLLEGES COLLEGES STUDENT  Student portion of the college application including the ED contract when indicated  Application fee  Supplements  Essay/short answers  Additional recommendation letters  Portfolios REGISTRAR  LHS profile  Official transcript  Counselor statement (‘recommendation letter’)  Secondary school report forms COLLEGEBOARD/ ACT  Official SAT, SAT Subject Test, ACT scores  AP scores TEACHER  Teacher statement (‘recommendation letter’)  Teacher Evaluation form

COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS – STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES STUDENT COUNSELOR  Counselor packet (questionnaire, parent/guardian “brag sheet” (optional)), activities resume NAVIANCE/REGIST RAR  Request transcripts  $6 per college (payable at the end of the year through MCC eSchool account)* * unless you are approved for a fee waiver COLLEGE BOARD/ ACT  Request SAT and SAT Subject Test scores  Request ACT scores NAVIANCE/TEACHER  Request teacher recommendations through Naviance  Stay in contact with teachers to provide list of colleges, as well as any other necessary documents. COLLEGE  Application  Supplements/Essay  Application Fee You should send the materials listed above to LHS personnel by posted deadlines.

Athletics and Admissions Register with NCAA Eligibility Center ASAP –Division I or II Sports Keep in contact with coaches Remember: A promise of acceptance is not an official acceptance. A student-athlete is not accepted until they have received a letter from Admissions.

Financial Aid Financial Aid Forms –FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) –CSS Profile –College-specific forms MEFA Financial Aid Night at LHS –Thursday, November 12, 6:30pm-8:30pm College Goal Sunday ( –January 2016 Local Scholarships (Naviance/Family Connection)

What Students Can Do Be Realistic with Your List The goal of the college admission office is to enroll a well-rounded class – a community of individuals who add a unique talent or characteristic to the class. The operative question in selective admissions is: “What will this student add to our college?” Make Your Case – why is this college a good match for you?

How Parents Can Help Allow Your Student To Drive Consider The Source… Look Beyond The Most Known Keep Your Sense of Humor

Online Resources Naviance –connection.naviance.com/lexington College Board – –CSS profile MEFA (MA Education Funding Authority) – Colleges that do not require SAT/ACT –Fair Test ( –LHS School Counseling (

Small Group Q & A Auditorium: Ms. Karamcheti & College Admissions Representatives Library: Ms. Thibodeau Hamblin & Ms. O’Neil Commons I: Mrs. McCoy & Mrs. Sills Commons II: Mrs. Michael & Mr. Willis Science Lecture Hall: Ms. Tang & Mr. Medugno