1. Senior English Class Visit
Mrs. Burkey
School Counselor

2. Graduation Requirements
Minimum Requirements
Honors Diploma
(all but 1 criteria)
4 English
4 Math
3 Science
3 Social Studies
½ PE (two semesters)
½ Health
½ Technology
5 ½ Electives
21 Total Credits
4 English
4 Math
4 Social Studies
4 Science (must include Physics and Chemistry)
3 units of one foreign language or 2 of 2 foreign languages
1 Fine Arts
27 ACT
3.5 GPA

3. Senior Audits Spent 10-15 minutes meeting with Mrs. Burkey
Review your transcript
Ask questions
colleges and/or graduation
Scholarships
Financial Aid
Credit Recovery
Timeline

4. FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Application will be active October 1st
(CHANGE from the previous January 1st)
Many universities in Ohio have “upped” their priority deadline date to accommodate the new application timeline.
Handout

5. Sending Transcripts
SENDEdu (this is sent automatically to Mrs. Burkey when you hit “submit” on your application)
University of Dayton
College of Wooster
Wittenberg University
Kent State
Wilmington College
Cedarville University
Central State University
Notre Dame College
University of Akron
Ursuline College
Youngstown State
Cleveland State

6. Sending Transcripts Parchment
you must submit request online AFTER you complete the application

7. The College Application (education planner.org)
Know Your Deadlines
Start your applications early enough to complete them by deadlines. Many deadlines can be from November 1 to February 15 (or rolling admissions)
Read the instructions
Most of the mistakes are the result of not following instructions. Don’t let this happen!
Proofread, Proofread, Proofread
And after you proofread, let somebody else proofread! Typos on your application are sloppy!
Be Honest
Admissions staff will verify the info you provide, so keep it on the up and up! Don’t exaggerate your accomplishments. Honesty is always the best policy!

8. The College Application
Choose Recommendations Wisely
Use teachers, counselors, and others who know you well, both inside and outside the classroom. Give them enough time to write thoughtful and considerate recommendations, and BE SURE TO THANK THEM!
Make sure your essays represent who you are
The essay is the only opportunity you have to explain why you are different from other applicants. Be original and make it personal.
Request copies of your high school transcript (DONE!)
Keep copies of everything
You never know if something gets lost in transit!
Confirm that your application materials arrived
Contact each of the schools to make sure they have received the application materials. If anything is missing supply it immediately.

9. What’s Important in Admissions?!
While grades and test scores are important, there is also a holistic review of a student that focuses on the “soft factors” of his/her admissions
The personal essay is the most important “soft factor” colleges consider:
Reveal something new about yourself (don’t be redundant)
Don’t include something about yourself in the essay that you already included in your application
Don’t always go with the obvious
Be mindful of word choice, tone, and voice
Don’t procrastinate
Admissions counselor can spot a 5-minute write-up from a mile away!

10. Ways to Annoy Admission Counselors
Send unexpected extras with your application
Put the name of another college in your essay
Be unaware of your GPA
Let your parents complete your application
Call or everyone in the office
Call the admissions office every week
Let your parents ask all the questions
Talk to an admissions counselor before researching the college

11. Here’s what you should do…
Send in your application by the deadline
Make it easy to read
Put your full name on each part of it
Add your ZIP code in case you’re one of “Joshua Smiths” to apply to Dream University
If you have a question, try to find the answer on your own
Look at the school’s website before you call with question!

12. Admission Standards Open (ACT 16-21) Liberal (ACT 17-22)
All HS grads are accepted until the school’s enrollment capacity is reached
Liberal (ACT 17-22)
Some freshmen who are accepted are in the lower half of their high school graduating class
Traditional (ACT 18-24)
The majority of freshmen accepted are in the top 50 percent of their HS graduating class
Selective (ACT 21-26)
The majority of freshmen accepted are in the top 25% of their HS graduating class
Highly Selective (ACT 25-30)
The majority of freshmen accepted are in the top 10% of their HS graduating class

13. Senior Timeline August-December September-December October-February
Visit Colleges of serious consideration
Look for scheduled campus visits geared toward seniors (Mrs. Burkey)
Compare the Colleges on your List
Have you weighed pros and cons carefully? Which colleges will meet your needs?
September-December
Apply to your “choice” college
Do you have all the necessary forms? Are you sure of the application deadline?
October-February
Apply for Financial Aid (application available October 1st!!!)
November-May
(May 1st is the national deadline that will guarantee hold!)
Make some final decisions

14. Recommendation Letters…
Please use the following when asking Mrs. Burkey or a teacher to write a letter of recommendation

15. Important Terms Credit hour Deferred Admission
A unit of academic credit that often represent one hour of class time per week for a period of study (semester)
Deferred Admission
Practice of some colleges of allowing an accepted student to postpone enrollment for one year

16. Important Terms, con’t. Early Action Early Admission
Application process in which students apply to an institution of preference and receive a decision well in advance of the institution’s regular response date.
Students admitted under Early Action are not obligated to accept the institution’s offer of admission or to submit a deposit until the regular date (not prior to May 1)
Early Admission
Admitting students of superior ability into college courses and programs before they have completed the standard high school program

17. Important Terms, con’t. Early Decision
The application process in which students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted, they definitely will enroll.
Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment

18. Important Terms, con’t. Major Open Admission
The subject of study in which the student chooses to specialize; a series of related courses, taken primarily in the junior and senior years of college
Open Admission
The policy of some colleges of admitting virtually all high school graduates, regardless of academic qualifications such as high school grades and admission test scores
Rolling Admission
Application process in which an institution reviews applications as they are completed and renders admission decisions to students throughout the admission cycle

19. Important Terms, con’t. Wait List
An admission decision option utilized by institutions to protect against shortfalls in enrollment.
Sometimes made necessary because of the uncertainty of the admission process, as students submit applications for admission to multiple institutions and may receive several offers of admissions.
By placing a student on the wait list, an institution does not initially offer or deny admission, but extends the possibility of admission in the future, before its admission cycle is concluded