1. SAA Junior College Night
Presented By
Anne Weisel
February 14, 2017

2. Welcome & Introduction
What We Will Cover
The Search Process
The Application Process
Questions and Discussion
I’ve had a great conversation here in years past, I encourage you to ask questions – it gives others ideas and can start a great dialogue!
Welcome & Introduction

3. The College Search Process
Begin with Self Assessment
What is important to you?
Who is important to you?
Paint the picture – then match!
Use software that connects the dots.
Begin thinking about what things are important to YOU: Sports, clubs, a particular major, location (big city, small town?) religious affiliation, fraternities & sororities, prestige, study abroad?
Talk with the people who support you: Parents, teachers, counselor, coach, etc. What do they see as your strengths, realistic academic & athletic ability level, etc. Do they have any suggestions?
Pool your info and take a realistic look at yourself. How do your interests, SAT/ACT Scores, transcript, and financial need come together? Paint a picture.
This will give you the outline for a school that is the right fit for you! - Check out , or use the College Board’s My Road software. These computer generated searches are so helpful!!
This will create lists to start from.
Draw YOUR school, then find it!
The College Search Process

4. The College Search Process
College Fairs
PROBE & NACAC
Prepare in advance – think buffet!
Online resources & preregistration
Window shopping vs. demonstrated interest
An excellent way to get an overview of many potential schools in one place.
– PROBE in both spring and fall here in Savannah. –
Visit for a listing of National College Fairs, where you can see hundreds of schools from all over the world.
Prepare ahead of time by researching the list of participating schools and knowing who your priorities are. Don’t waste time wandering up and down the isles! *Buffet*
PreRegistration with QR Code!! Load your info in electronically then scan your phone at the Rep’s table. If all else fails - Make address labels that include detailed contact information and any extras you are looking for (majors, sports, clubs, support services, etc). Instead of standing there filling out the card, you can be talking to the college representative.
Demonstrated Interest is a documented contact – you have to complete a card, QR Code, etc for the conversation to count!
The College Search Process

5. The College Search Process
Visit, Visit, VISIT!!!
See all the schools on your list, and some that aren’t!
Individualize your experience.
Stay organized and keep track with a notebook.
Don’t forget to say thanks!
Visit schools you have no intention of attending (YES! I’m serious!) to get a no-pressure exposure to the visitation process. *1st time you see your dream school…
Visit ALL the schools you apply to – arrange an alumni interview if you cannot visit the campus.
Individualize your visit to your interests: Meet teachers, coaches, students, see facilities, sit in on a class, determine if this school is a good fit for you, use your self-assessment as your guide. –
Know your basics!! Check out the college’s website, read the Peterson’s Guide description, and have questions prepared so you know as much as you can at your visit and are prepared for questions.
YOU should ask the questions!! It is very important that you take ownership of your visit. *Parents are involved & should talk in advance
If you are touring the campus WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES!! Most campus tours last at least 1 hour. Also remember that many admissions offices look out over the parking lot. You are being watched when you arrive!
Remember to write a thank you note after your visit to EACH person you met with, including your tour guide. This is especially important if you met with an athletic coach or professor regarding a particular major.
Start a college notebook. After visiting a number of campuses, especially on an out-of-town trip, your memory of the details of each one will get fuzzy. Make a page for each school you visit. In the few minutes after your visit, write your immediate thoughts on the page. When you are trying to remember months later which school it was that had the student center you loved, this will come in very handy!
The College Search Process

6. The College Search Process
Getting to Know Your List
Social Media – 96% provide links
48% have student blogs
30% have online message boards
24% have admission officer blogs
20% have podcasts
Read, attend, peel back the layers!
Many admissions offices now have Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as student blogs that are geared specifically to prospective students.
Explore the websites, read the college newspaper, and check the coming events on the campus.
Attend athletic events or performances if the school is within driving distance.
All of these things will help give you a feel for the campus environment, and eventually help you to know if this feels like a place you could call home for the next four years.
Remember – You are buying a product!
The College Search Process

7. The Application Process
NACAC
National Association for College Admission
Counseling
State of College Admission
Admission & Counseling Trends survey
College Board Survey of Colleges
American School Counselor Association
US Dept. of Education
US Census Bureau
We’ve pulled together helpful information from this resource to help guide you in the application process.
The Application Process

8. The Application Process
Did You Know?
81% of Seniors applied to 3 or more colleges
A full One Third (1/3) of applicants submitted 7 or more applications!
Reach vs. Safety – like them ALL.
When developing your list LIKE ALL YOUR OPTIONS!
Have a reach, a middle, and a safety that considers both academic AND financial.
The Application Process

9. The Application Process
Selectivity
Defined as the proportion of applicants offered admission.
Ranges from below 10% to more than 90% of a school’s applicant pool.
Average acceptance rate is 64.7 – almost two-thirds.
Private colleges average lower acceptance rates than public.
How many students who applied were selected?
This is a public statistic you can get for all schools.
The Application Process

10. The Application Process
Start with your School Counselor!
Be familiar with timelines and site- based processes.
Participate in a Junior meeting this Spring.
Create a calendar system to keep track of deadlines.
This process is manageable if you use your resources and start NOW!
This year’s juniors have a number of processes and products that have only just rolled out in the past year or two. SAT, FAFSA dates, application lockers, etc.
School Counselor will guide you through all of this!
The Application Process

11. The Application Process
Important Definitions
Non-Restrictive Application Plans
Regular Decision
Rolling Admission
Early Action (EA)
Restrictive Application Plans
Early Decision (ED)
Restrictive Early Action (REA)
*When in doubt – is it RESTRICTIVE?
REGULAR DECISION – Submit by deadline, answer by specific date.
ROLLING – As applied, is processed
EARLY ACTION - Before Reg. Dec date with early answer
_____________________________________________________________
ED – commitment – if excepted you WILL enroll
REA – only Early Action you take part in.
The Application Process

12. The Application Process
Factors in the Admission Decision
Grades in college prep courses (80%)
Strength of curriculum (64%)
Admission test scores (58%)
Common others – essay, demonstrated interest, recommendations, extracurricular activities
SAT II, portfolios, interviews supplement in course placement, scholarship review
Grades in college prep courses – this is NOT overall GPA
Admission Test Scores – only 58% but 88% stated considerable to moderate!
SAA has an advantage – widely recognized “strength of curriculum. “
“Participation in college Prep Curriculum and performance in the course indicates to Admissions officers both:
- Motivation to succeed
AND
- Ability to succeed in college
IN FACT!
Research shows students who complete a rigorous high school curriculum are MUCH more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree than those who complete a less rigorous curriculum.
The Application Process

13. The Application Process
Don’t….
Procrastinate
Send more items than needed/requested
Overlook important deadlines
Use slang
Name the wrong school in your admission essay!
Use Slang – think about what this means to adults!
Wrong School – Cut and paste error, can use the same essay but BE CAREFUL!
*Also send more items than asked for: computer system, rubric, more than one letter – they will pick!
The Application Process

14. The Application Process
Do…
Start early
Read and follow ALL directions, proofread
Pay attention to deadlines
ASK when you are in doubt!
Authenticity is valued
Sell yourself – this is your chance to brag and shine!
Create a calendar – color code!
The Application Process

15. Questions? Let’s Discuss!
Place value on the Search Process as well as the Application Process
Remain active and authentic throughout the process
Use your School Counselors!
Questions? Let’s Discuss!
In Closing