1. College Planning Night

2. Agenda Components of an Application Application Deadlines
College Search
Naviance
NCAA Registration
Financial Aid
Do NOW!

3. Components of Application
Apply on-line
Common Application
School application
Transcript
Test Scores
ACT
SAT
SAT II
Letter of Recommendation
Extra-curricular Activities
Essay

4. Transcript Most important component of application Final grades listed
Cumulative grade point average is weighted
Many colleges re-calculate GPA
Students ranked by decile
7 semester transcript with mid-year average
Final transcript sent to college of choice

5. Standardized Tests SAT ACT SAT II Test Optional Schools !!
Fairtest.org
Register and view scores through company website
Scores MUST BE submitted to colleges from company website

6. Collegeboard. Org Evidence Based Reading & Writing Math Writing
SAT
Collegeboard. Org Evidence Based Reading & Writing Math Writing
No penalty for guessing
Test prep
Daily question
On-line tools – Khan academy
Many colleges “superscore”
November December January 21
March May June 3

7. English Reading Math Science Writing
ACT
ACTStudent.org
English Reading Math Science Writing
No penalty for guessing
Test Prep
Few schools superscore
October December February 11
April June 10

8. SAT II Only required by most competitive colleges
20 Subject Tests available
2 usually required
Choose area of academic strength or interest
One hour in length – up to 3 tests per testing day
Collegeboard.org

9. Recommendations Guidance Counselor Two teachers Junior year
Academic teachers
Junior year
Approach teacher by year’s end

10. Extra-Curricular Activities
Everything counts! Sports Clubs Performing Arts Employment Community Service

11. Essay Common App requires 1 essay
Colleges may require supplemental essay
Help available in Writing Lab

12. Application Deadlines
Early Decision
Early Action
Restricted Early Action
Priority
Regular Decision
Rolling

13. College Search Goal: To identify list of colleges before summer’s end
Naviance!
College Fair
College Visits at West Essex
VISIT
2 excused absences during junior & senior year

14. Naviance Students: Counselors & teachers: Research and planning
Transmit transcripts & recommendations

19. NCAA Recruited athletes for Division I & II
Review eligibility requirements with guidance
counselor
Register on-line at
Counselor needs Transcript Request Form
Student must submit test scores from testing
service website

20. Financial Aid Must submit FAFSA
FAFSA may now be submitted in October of senior year
FAFSA workshop – Wed, Oct 26 at 7 pm
May need to submit CSS
Financial Aid Presentation – Wed, Jan 4 at 7 pm
Local Scholarships listed on West Essex website
Search for national scholarships
Net Price Calculator
Include NJ state school on list!

21. Do NOW!
Schedule standardized tests
Plan to visit colleges

22. Summer Off Summer ON! Continue to research colleges
Compile list of colleges & application requirements
Complete Brag Sheets
Write essays
Begin applications