1. JUNIOR COLLEGE PREP 2/12/16

2. TESTING PLAN  Try the SAT and the ACT to determine which test you prefer.  Then you should take your preferred test at least two or three times. Taking tests senior year is an option, but I recommend taking your preferred test twice during your junior year.  There are three SAT dates (March 5, May 7, and June 4) and two ACT dates (April 9 and June 11) left in your junior year.

3. SAT DATES Regular Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline, Paper Late Registration Deadline, Online and Phone Test Date February 5, 2016February 19, 2016February 23, 2016March 5, 2016 April 8, 2016April 22, 2016April 26, 2016May 7, 2016 May 5, 2016May 20, 2016May 25, 2016June 4, 2016

4. ACT DATES Registration DeadlineLate Fee RequiredTest Date March 4, 2016March 5–18, 2016 April 9, 2016 May 6, 2016May 7–20, 2016June 11, 2016

5. CONSIDERATIONS  May 7 (SAT) is in the middle of AP exams  June 4 (SAT) is the beginning of Experiential Week  June 11 (ACT) is at the end of Experiential Week  If you are not able to take the SAT on May 7 or June 4, you may want to take the March 5 test, depending on how many times you have taken the SAT already and if it is your preferred test.

6. STUDENT SEARCH SERVICE  Student Search Service  When taking the SAT, you have the option to sign up for the student search service.  College Board shares your personal information to colleges for recruitment.  Optional pre-test questions  Social Security number, grade point average, religious affiliation, ethnicity, family income, interests, citizenship, disabilities and more.  You do not have to answer these questions!  Only answer what you are comfortable with.  Do not ever give your social security number.

7. COMMON APPLICATION  600+ colleges are members  Allows you to apply to several schools with one online application  Easy to use and convenient  Mrs. Ruark is able to upload documents (transcript, school report, letter of recommendation, mid year grades, etc.) electronically  Mrs. Ruark can also track when you have submitted your applications  Teachers are able to upload their letters of recommendation electronically  http://www.commonapp.org/ http://www.commonapp.org/

8. INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION  When a school is not a member of the Common Application, this means that you need to apply through that school’s specific application  Mrs. Ruark will either mail or email your documents  Some applications give teachers the option to submit letters of recommendation electronically. Otherwise, they can email or mail them in  http://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/apply/ http://www.salisbury.edu/admissions/apply/

9. COALITION FOR ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, AND SUCCESS  90+ colleges are members  Members are affordable state schools or private schools that provide sufficient financial aid  Schools graduate at least 70 percent of their students within six years  Provides a single platform of online tools to assist in the experience of applying to college, similar to the Common App  Allows student to track high school experiences and accomplishments over four years  Only some schools will accept applications in the summer of 2016, while others are still deciding when and how to use it  http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/students.html http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/students.html

10. DEADLINES  Early Decision I – Binding, Gives you best chance for admission, School should be your top choice, Make sure you can afford it, Must withdraw all other applications if accepted  Apply around November, Receive decision around December  Restrictive Early Action – Nonbinding, Applicants agree not to apply to any other private college/university under an Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, Early Decision or Early Notification program. Applicants may apply to other colleges and universities under their Regular Decision option, Mostly offered at elite schools  Apply around November, Receive decision around December  Early Action – Non binding, Good way to show interest without committing  Apply around December, Receive decision around January

11. DEADLINES CONTINUED  Early Decision II - Binding, Gives you best chance for admission, School should be your top choice, Make sure you can afford it, Must withdraw all other applications if accepted, Just like Early Decision I, just later in the year  Apply around January, Receive decision around February  Regular Decision – Usually the last possible deadline  Apply around January, Receive decision around March  Rolling – Admissions accepts applications until they reach their enrollment goal, You should apply early to avoid missing a spot

12. TEST OPTIONAL  Some schools offer test optional policies where you do not have to submit your standardized test scores for admissions purposes  Some schools only let you apply as test optional if you have a certain GPA  If you want to be considered for merit based scholarships, you should still submit your test scores, even if apply as test optional  If your scores are below the school’s ranges, you should consider applying as test optional  If your scores are within the school’s ranges, you should not apply as test optional

13. TIPS ON APPLYING TO COLLEGES  I recommend that you apply to 5 - 8 schools  You should have at least one safety school  Safety – You are above GPA and SAT/ACT ranges  You should have at least one match school  Match – You are within GPA and SAT/ACT ranges  You should have at least one dream school  Dream – You are below GPA and SAT/ACT ranges  It would be best to have a couple of each  The goal is that you would be happy going to any of the schools that you apply to  It is important to do your homework now so that you know where you will apply senior year.

14. JUNIOR COLLEGE MEETING  If you haven’t scheduled an appointment with Mrs. Ruark, please do so soon  A parent/guardian should be in attendance  We can meet during academic support, study hall, or after school  We will discuss  Colleges that the student is interested in so far  College preferences (type, distance, location, size, academics, activities, housing & cost)  Grades  PSAT results  Plan for standardized testing (SAT, ACT, SAT subject tests)  Graduation requirements  What we have learned in college prep so far  What we plan to cover in college prep  After the meetings, I will create a preliminary college list