2014 Junior Family College Planning Night

Agenda  Introductions  College Search Philosophy  Admissions 101  Financial Aid 101  Developing Your List  Applying  College Application Timeline  A Final Thought  Questions!

People to Know!  Counselors Works With  Loretta Collins A-B  Herb CrowellC-I  Amy WebsterJ-P  Teresa SavageQ-Z  CCC Coordinator  Kevin SalkasAll Students

The College Search Philosophy “College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.” – Frank Sachs Finding a good fit requires time and thoughtfulness.

What do colleges want? How do I get in? ADMISSIONS 101

Admissions 101  4 year vs. 2 year  Small, Medium, Large  Public vs. Private  Urban, Suburban, Rural  Teaching vs. Research  HBCU  Open  Selective  Highly Selective Types of CollegesTypes of Admissions Selectivity

Admissions 101

 Think of them as buckets!  Each school pulls from each bucket to make their mix. i.e. A 4 year, urban, private college with a selective, rolling admissions policy. i.e. A 2-year, urban, public technical college with an open, rolling admissions policy. CAN YOU NAME ONE OF EACH? College! Admissions 101

 WHAT DO THEY WANT?  Academic record (transcript) GPA Rigor  Standardized tests (ACT/SAT/SAT II)  Essays  Letters of recommendation  Activities/Resume Remember schools look to build a diverse and talented class that fits their needs. Admissions 101

 WHAT DO THEY WANT?  Interviews  Personal qualities  Interest shown in the school Visits Contact by student  “Hooks” Athletics/Fine Arts Legacy Gender Geography Local National Religion Remember schools look to build a diverse and talented class that fits their needs. Admissions 101

How do we pay for it? Financial Aid 101

While Financial Aid can make college more affordable, most colleges will assume students and parents will assume the primary responsibility for paying for college.  So…start the conversation early about your expectations for college finances. Financial Aid 101

 Ways to Pay for College  Savings  Current Income  Grants  Scholarships  Work Study  Loans  Community or Military Service Colleges will consider these items financial aid! Financial Aid 101

BASED ON YOUR NEED.  Grants  Student Work  Loans BASED ON MERIT/ELIGIBILITY  Institutional  Local Community  National Scholarships Need-Based AidScholarships Cost of Attendance – EFC = Need FAFSA and CSS Profile used to determine your need. Financial Aid 101

 Need-Based Aid Forms  FAFSA Income Driven  CSS Profile Asset Driven  Grants  Federal  State  School  Student Work  Pays for tuition, given by school Not sure if you qualify? Try an EFC calculator! Financial Aid 101: Need Based

 Scholarships  Institutional  Local  National  Stacked vs. Unstacked  At Institutions  Independent Scholarships  Resources  Naviance  Fastweb.com  Finaid.org  Zinch.com  CCC  Counselors Financial Aid 101: Scholarships

 MN, WI, ND, SD, Manitoba reciprocity   Midwest Student Exchange Program (IL, IN, KS, MI, MO,NE)   Net Price Calculators  All colleges must have them!  Financial Aid 101: Other Notes

But there are so many! How do I narrow it down? Developing Your List

Initial College Search  Start broad, then funnel down  Not eliminating options based on cost  Be aware, but consider all options  FAFSA estimators, Net Price Calculators  No “right/wrong,” just different priorities  Rank priorities Remember that parents and students likely have different priorities…  Visit different types of institutions

 Determine your priorities—use checklist  2 year vs. 4 year  Cost  Size  Majors  Academic Profile  Location  Public/private Developing Your List

 Other things to look for…  Religious affiliation  Social life Extra-curriculars Character of campus Fraternities and sororities Residential vs. commuter campus  Student Supports  Graduation Rate  Even more to look for…  Diversity of student body  Research/Internship Opportunities/Unique Programs  Study Abroad  Co-ed or not?  Scholarship opportunities from colleges Merit-based Need-based Developing Your List

 Make sure you have:  Safety (60%-90% chance of admission/affordability)  Possible (30%- 60% chance of admission/affordability  Reach (<30% chance of admission/affordability)  Ideal: apply to 5-7 schools (at least one in each category)  Are you a good fit? (Educational, personal, social, financial) Developing Your List

 Spring Break  Summer  School Year  Spring of Senior Year  Get past the pretty pictures!  See it in person!  Visit Days vs. Individual  Classes  Tours  Talk with Students  Eat on campus  Meet with Coaches  Take a lesson  Overnights  See the local area  ASK QUESITONS! WHEN?WHAT TO DO? WHY? Developing Your List: Visit

I’ve got my list. How do I actually apply? Applying

 Follow step-by-step instructions for each college.  State Apps  MNSCU system  Common App  One application used by 450 colleges  Common essay; supplements  School Specific Apps  Offer alternative electronic or paper applications  U of MN, TC

Applying: Naviance WHAT IT IS  College Research  Scholarship Research  Prep Me! ACT course  Transmission of documents by WHS  Tracking of documents by family HOW IT WORKS  Student as the Project Manager  Parent and Counselor as the support team  NAVIANCE as tool to facilitate the process

Applying: Naviance  Washburn Home Page:

Applying: Naviance Naviance Family Connection

Applying: Naviance

What you should be doing. When you should be doing it. College Application Timeline

Applying: Washburn Events These events happen at Washburn and are run by the counseling staff. Grades 9-11:  MLP ActivitiesVarious  April 21-23: College Search Presentation  May 28th: Post-Secondary Planning Day Seniors Year  Sept-Dec:Weekly Presentations  Jan-Feb: Financial Aid Workshops

March  Start developing your list of colleges  Use Naviance and other resources Spring Break  Visit Colleges! April and June:  Take standardized tests (ACT, SAT, SAT II)  Scholarship Search  Consider teacher recommendations  Division I and II Athletes register for NCAA clearinghouse Application Timeline: This Year

 Continue working on your college list, start to narrow it down. Online Tools Naviance ACT College Board Colleges That Change Lives  Work on Essays  Visit Colleges…Interview.  Try an EFC Calculator. Application Timeline: Summer Paper Tools Fiske Guide Insiders Guide To Colleges Ruggs Recommendations Princeton Review

2014 Common App Essays The essay prompts are as follows:  Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.  Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?  Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?  Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?  Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

September- December  Meet with your counselor! Finalize your list  Know your deadlines! Early Decision? Regular Scholarship Priority  Work on and complete applications.  Visit Colleges Interview if desired  Meet with reps visiting Washburn  Attend College Fairs  Re-take ACT/SAT if needed. Application Timeline: Senior Year

January  Most applications are due!  Ensure your applications are complete!  Start Financial Aid Forms February  Complete the FAFSA!  Check Scholarships! March  Decisions start to be mailed  Financial Aid Packages arrive April  All information in, Weigh Your Options  Spring Break college visits?  College Open Houses Application Timeline: Senior Year

 May 1, 2015: Final decision made!  Summer 2015  College Forms, Orientation, etc. Application Timeline: Senior Year

The next year…simplified.  Search!  Build Your List  Visit a variety  Find Scholarships  Finalize List  Apply!  Visit schools of interest Spring/SummerFallWinter/Spring  Apply  Financial Aid  Visit schools of acceptance!  Find Scholarships

Final Thought  Remember… Where you go Matters less than what you do once you are there.

QUESTIONS?