The Mechanics of the College Application Process Brett Levine-Director of Guidance Sarah Mazak, Counselor

2 MHS Guidance Department Director: Brett Levine Director: Brett Levine Counselors: Sarah Mazak, Nancy O’Brien, Joe Giugliano, and Phyllis Levy Counselors: Sarah Mazak, Nancy O’Brien, Joe Giugliano, and Phyllis Levy Support Staff:, Carolyn White Support Staff:, Carolyn White Intern: Misty Lynes Intern: Misty Lynes

3 Tonight’s Program Minutes Minutes Posted on MHS Guidance Web site. Posted on MHS Guidance Web site. Practical Information. Practical Information. Reinforce information presented in summer mailing and Jr. parent night. Reinforce information presented in summer mailing and Jr. parent night. Students will get a condensed version of this presentation next week. (Sr. group guidance during common lunch) Students will get a condensed version of this presentation next week. (Sr. group guidance during common lunch)

4 Agenda Guidance Facts and Figures Guidance Facts and Figures In School College Visits In School College Visits Admissions Cycle Admissions Cycle Application Process Application Process Scholarships Scholarships Key Reminders Key Reminders FC Demonstration FC Demonstration Closing Thoughts Closing Thoughts

5 Where the Class of 2012 Applied 15 Rowan, Scranton, Vermont 15 Rowan, Scranton, Vermont 17 Loyola 17 Loyola 26 Delaware 26 Delaware 29 Rutgers 29 Rutgers 32 CCM 32 CCM *

6 Top schools Where Students Matriculated: Class of 2012 Drew, Lafayette, Ramapo, Fairfield, Suffolk, Loyola, U of MD, VPI Drew, Lafayette, Ramapo, Fairfield, Suffolk, Loyola, U of MD, VPI Colgate, University of Delaware Colgate, University of Delaware Kean, Rutgers Kean, Rutgers CCM CCM

7 Upcoming Events ( For Seniors and/or their parents) Senior conferences (Starting next week) Senior conferences (Starting next week) Senior group guidance (9/20, 9/21) Senior group guidance (9/20, 9/21) College CCM (9/23) College CCM (9/23) Financial Aid Night (1/9) Financial Aid Night (1/9) CCM Admissions Processing Day/Field Trip (2 days in April) CCM Admissions Processing Day/Field Trip (2 days in April) In School College Visits (on-going) In School College Visits (on-going)

8 In School College Visits Sign up on Family Connections Sign up on Family Connections Student is responsible for getting permission from teacher (prior), and making up work. (30 minutes) Student is responsible for getting permission from teacher (prior), and making up work. (30 minutes) Code of conduct Code of conduct Person visiting is often the application reader. Person visiting is often the application reader. (Off campus visit-Get a note from college) (Off campus visit-Get a note from college)

9 Admissions Cycle Apply Hear Decide

10 Application types (a sample, there are many more) Early Decision. Early Decision. Early Action. Early Action. Regular Decision. Regular Decision. Rolling Admission. Rolling Admission.

11 Decisions Accept Accept Accepted for Spring term Accepted for Spring term Reject Reject Deferred: (EA or ED) Deferred: (EA or ED) –Supplemental Information Waitlisted (Notified Mid May-August) Waitlisted (Notified Mid May-August) –Supplemental Information

12 Making the Final Decision May 1 st -Deposit date May 1 st -Deposit date Can only deposit to one college. (exception, wait list) Can only deposit to one college. (exception, wait list) Navigating the wait list. Navigating the wait list. Courtesy to notify non-attending colleges where you are going. Courtesy to notify non-attending colleges where you are going. Let guidance know of all decisions. Let guidance know of all decisions. Guidance will automatically send final transcript to matriculating college. Guidance will automatically send final transcript to matriculating college.

13 How parents can support through the process Make sure student schedules Sr. Conference Make sure student schedules Sr. Conference Remind: important Dates Remind: important Dates Remind: College visits Remind: College visits Keep ‘em on track. Keep ‘em on track. Keep us in the loop. Keep us in the loop. Honest conversations with students Honest conversations with students about $$

14 Nuts and Bolts Nuts and Bolts How things get done How things get done –What students send –What we (guidance/teachers send)

15 WHAT THE STUDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SENDING … 1.Application/Application Fee 2.Essays/Personal Statements 3.Supplemental Materials (Portfolio, graded papers, letters of recommendation from non-faculty member, Early Decision Agreement, anything else the college wants that we don’t send. 4.SAT/ACT scores 5.NCAA Info

16 What Madison High School Sends.. Transcript w/ GPA, senior yr schedule, class rank (optional). Any change in schedule, an updated transcript will be sent. Transcript w/ GPA, senior yr schedule, class rank (optional). Any change in schedule, an updated transcript will be sent. High School profile High School profile Secondary school report form/ counselor recommendation. Secondary school report form/ counselor recommendation. Mid year grades and final transcripts. (1 st MP report card optional) Mid year grades and final transcripts. (1 st MP report card optional) Teacher recommendations (often two). (Demonstration) Teacher recommendations (often two). (Demonstration)

17 HOW WILL WE (MHS) SEND MATERIALS? HOW WILL WE (MHS) SEND MATERIALS? Electronically (EDOCS) Electronically (EDOCS)

18 What we need to do this? Transcript Request form (Key Points, let’s take a look) Transcript Request form (Key Points, let’s take a look) –I have registered with common application –I have completed the FERPA consent on Family Connection. –Colleges I’m thinking about in FC and CA. –ICONS –Common lunch is the only time to submit this form. –Kids need to know application method.

19 Steps for teacher recommendations Ask teacher Ask teacher Submit request via family connections. Submit request via family connections. Provide teacher with any information they want. Provide teacher with any information they want. Provide them w/ envelope if college does not receive materials electronically (rare) Provide them w/ envelope if college does not receive materials electronically (rare) Check to see if college received it. Check to see if college received it. –On FC, On Common app, on college account.

20 IMPORTANT TAKE AWAYS IMPORTANT TAKE AWAYS ICONS ICONS Remember to register for Common Application (Commonapp.Org) Remember to register for Common Application (Commonapp.Org) Remember to fill out FERPA on FC Remember to fill out FERPA on FC Remember on-line teacher letters of recommendation. Remember on-line teacher letters of recommendation.

21 Prepare a manila envelope for each college your child is applying to:THAT DOES NOT ACCEPT ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS (RARE) Put three stamps on each envelope Write Madison High School’s return address On a manila envelope, write the name and address of the college Madison High School 170 Ridgedale Avenue Madison, NJ 07940

22 SCHOLARSHIPS Posted on Family Connections. Posted on Family Connections. Different categories: National, State, Local, College. Different categories: National, State, Local, College. College merit scholarships are usually not posted on FC. (Exception: WUSL, Davidson, UVA, Emory) College merit scholarships are usually not posted on FC. (Exception: WUSL, Davidson, UVA, Emory) Let us know of any scholarships awarded. (Including college merit awards) Let us know of any scholarships awarded. (Including college merit awards) Be neat, type them up. Be neat, type them up. Apply apply apply. Apply apply apply. Similar procedure as college application (envelope, transcript request form). Similar procedure as college application (envelope, transcript request form). Student should write thank you note. Student should write thank you note.

23 Quick Family Connections Demonstration

24 Please Keep In Mind… Responsible for sending SAT/ACT scores. Not sent by HS. Responsible for sending SAT/ACT scores. Not sent by HS. OK for colleges to receive things in stages. OK for colleges to receive things in stages. 10 Day Rule 10 Day Rule Overlap between us sending it out and colleges recording it. Overlap between us sending it out and colleges recording it. Rutgers. Self reporting Rutgers. Self reporting Transcript request during common lunch only. Transcript request during common lunch only. Check FC for status Check FC for status Responsible for registering for selective service Responsible for registering for selective service Responsible for registering for NCAA Eligibility Center Responsible for registering for NCAA Eligibility Center

25 Final Thoughts Guidance has resources on non-college options. Guidance has resources on non-college options. Clean up digital dirt (i.e.. Face book, My Space) Clean up digital dirt (i.e.. Face book, My Space) Use Scattergrams on Family Connections. Use Scattergrams on Family Connections. Colleges review final transcripts and can rescind admissions decisions. Colleges review final transcripts and can rescind admissions decisions. We are here to help! We are here to help!