1. Can You Believe you are Seniors? Life after NW…
Senior Orientation
Class of 2018

2. Credits Required for Graduation: Are you on track?
Subject
Regents
Regents with A.D.
English 4
Social Studies
Math 3
Science
Art/Music 1
Health .5 PE 2
LOTE**can do 5 credits in Business, Tech, Art, Music or BOCES
Electives
3.5
1.5
Total
22 Credits
22 credits

3. Regents Exams Required for Graduation
Subject
Regents
Regents w/ A.D.
English
1- ELA 11
Social Studies
*2- Global & US
2- Global& US
Math
1-Math
3- Algebra, Geometry and Trig
Science
1-any science
2- Living Env. & Chemistry or Earth Science, or Physics
LOTE 1
Total
* Students can pass either Global OR US if they have passed one other additional regents exam.
5 exams
9 Exams

5. Post High School Options… What are your plans?
2 year college
4 year college
Vocational or technical training
Employment
Military/ Armed Services
“Gap Year” (tutoring, volunteering, travel, AmeriCorps, PeaceCorps, adventure programs…
“I don’t have a clue!” (see your school counselor or Career Mentor ASAP )

6. Options for the Military
ROTC
Reserve Officers Training Corps
Program offered at many colleges and universities
Visit for information
Military Academies – Service Academy Information Night
Prepare for a career in the armed forces
Army, Navy Air Force, Marines
Entering the Military after graduation
Discuss options with your family
Contact a recruiter for more information
Attend NW Military Fair

7. Completing Your List of Schools
Visit schools (over nights)
See Admission Representatives that visit NW
Internet
Talk to Alumni
Find out about programs and majors
Does your list contain Reach, Realistic and Safe Schools?
Always remember…your school counselor and Ms. Szegda in the Career Center are here to help!

8. ASVAB Testing (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)
All Juniors will be taking the ASVAB on Wednesday, October 18th
This is an opportunity for students to explore their career aptitudes and interests and will help identify possible college majors and future careers
The ASVAB will take place periods 1-4 in the D-wing

9. Top Factors in College Admissions Decisions (National Association of College Admissions Counseling, 2008)
Factors
Percentage
Grades in College Prep Courses
80%
Strength of Curriculum
64%
Standardized Tests
58%
Grades in All Courses
52%
Essay/Writing Sample
26%
Demonstrated Interest
22%
Counselor Recommendation
21%
Teacher Recommendation
20%
Interview
11%
Student Activities 7%
Subject Tests (AP, etc)

10. Admissions Plans
Early Decision- Generally applications are due by 11/1, 11/15 or 12/1.
Students are LEGALLY BOUND to attend that college and must retract all other applications to schools once accepted.
Make sure:
Have I talked to a financial aid advisor to get an estimate of college costs to find out how Early Decision could affect my aid package?
Have ruled out other schools at first choice
Visited all
Extensive research and conversation
Hopefully multiple visits
Do not look at it as the easiest way to get in
Early Action- Similar to Early Decision, although students are not obligated to attend that college
Rolling Admissions- No deadline or cut off date. Decisions are based on a rolling date. First in- first out.
Regular Admissions- Deadlines run from 1/1, thru 3/15 and sometimes later. The admission letter will often not come out until March or April.
One Deadline Date
Open Admissions- Open acceptance of students
For example, NCCC or ECC

11. Completing and Submitting Applications
Again… BE AWARE OF DEADLINES to both colleges and to the counseling office!
Follow directions carefully! Read applications THOROUGHLY
Role of NW counseling office:
Submit transcripts online or by mail
Standardized tests posted to transcript
Do letters of Recommendation upon request
Let counselor know EVERY school you have applied to so we know to send in your transcripts, complete the Transcript Request Form

12. Applications Three ways: Common Application: www.commonapp.org
Make your life easier!!
SUNY Applications:
Individual college websites

13. Essay Writing Good way for college to know you
Do not reiterate information that is already on the application
Follow directions and guidelines
Demonstrate good writing skills
Share more in depth information, how or why something has impacted you.
Own work
Be yourself
Unique
Passionate
Work with English teacher/ have it proof-read
Spend the time… colleges look at them very seriously

14. Letters of Recommendation
Check to see how many the school requires
Student’s responsibility to ask teacher (ask early) and find out how they will submit letter
Student will input teacher’s address in the CommonApp or SUNY APP and teacher will receive an e- mail request to submit a letter.
Teacher has the option to:
Submit online (highly recommended)
Teacher can “opt out” of submitting electronically and mail it.
**Don’t forget to fill out the “Background Sheet” or Resume for Letter of Recommendation to give to teacher/counselor!!**

15. Other Information for Application
Supplemental Applications
Schools want more info
Additional essay(s)
Writing Sample
SAT subject test?
Portfilios?
Midyear Reports
Final/End of Year Reports

16. Top 8 College Application Mistakes
Senior year is hectic, but don't let that affect the quality of your college applications. Take your time, pay attention to detail and plan ahead so you can meet the deadlines. The most common mistakes on college applications that counselors and admissions staff see are:

17. Top 8 College Application Mistakes
1. Misspellings and grammatical errors—This is a big pet peeve of admissions people. Misspellings on something as important as the application shows that either you don't care or you aren't good at spelling. Some students even misspell their intended major. But don't stop with a spell check. Proofread for grammatical errors, too.
2. Applying online, but the application isn't actually submitted—If you apply online, you should receive confirmation that the college or university received it. Confirmation could be an message, a Web page response or a credit card receipt. Follow through and make sure that your application has been received

18. Top 8 College Application Mistakes
3. Not submitting ALL of the required documents –Complete the transcript request form and turn in to the Counseling Center.
4. Listing extracurricular activities that aren't—Those that make the list include sports, the arts, formal organizations and volunteer work. Talking on the phone and hanging out with friends don't make the cut. Make sure your activity information is accurate. Colleges may check with your high school.
5. Not telling your school counselor where you've applied—Let your counselor know which colleges you're applying to, and ask him or her to review your high school transcript before sending it to colleges. Sometimes transcripts have errors.

19. Top 8 College Application Mistakes
6. Using an address that friends might laugh about, but colleges won't—Select a professional address. Keep your fun address for friends, but select an address using your name for college admissions.

20. Top 8 College Application Mistakes
7. Not checking your regularly—If you've given an address, the college will use it. You don't want to miss out on anything because you didn't read your .
8. Letting Mom or Dad help you fill out your application—Admissions people know if your parents help, whether you have two different styles of handwriting or your admissions essay sounds more like a 45-year-old than a 17-year-old. It's fine to get advice, but do the work yourself.

21. BE AWARE OF DEADLINES
Senior Year is all about DEADLINES– for college apps, financial aid & scholarships, changing courses, ordering your announcements, and completing all your requirements to GRADUATE!

22. Social Media
Take down any inappropriate Social Media Posts ASAP!!!!

23. Comparison Chart ACT SAT $46, $62.50 with writing SAT - $46
SAT w/Essay $60
Measures academic achievement in English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning
Designed to measure academic aptitude in critical reading, math and writing
Each part 25% of score
EBRW 1/2, Math 1/2, Writing Optional
Scored based on number of correct answers. No penalty for guessing
No penalty for guessing.
Scoring scale 1-36
Scoring scale for each section , sum up of all three areas

24. SAT/ACT Dates in the Fall of 2017
* SAT and Subject Tests and ACT exams that are located at Niagara Wheatfield High School
Test
Date
Registration Deadline
SAT
ACT
Oct 7*
Oct 28*
Sept 8
Sept 22
Nov 4*
Oct 5
Dec 2*
Nov 2
Dec 9
Nov 3

25. SAT and ACT reporting/SAT Prep
Check to see if schools need them officially reported
Use six digit school code (335028)
Compare ACT and SAT scores
Check to see if SAT subject test is required for some colleges and universities.
Free SAT Prep
SAT Daily Practice Mobile App

26. Financial Aid/Scholarships
Seniors can apply for Financial Aid starting October 1st
Go to
Scholarships are posted to the NW Counseling Center website
Other websites:
college/scholarships-grants
YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO PAY TO APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP!!

27. EXCELSIOR Scholarship
Household Adjusted Gross Income for taxes $110,000 or lower
Attend a SUNY or CUNY 2yr or 4 yr school
Take 30 credits per year towards graduation
Maintain good academic standing
$5,500/Year
Students must live full time in NYS for the number of years in which they received the scholarship

28. Enhanced Tuition Award
Students going to a NYS Private School
Eligiblity same as Excelsior
NYS gives college up to $6,000 (TAP and ETA Combined) and college matches the amount
Local schools participating
Alfred U
Canisius
Hilbert
Houghton
Keuka
Niagara
Cornell

29. Upcoming Events
SUNY College Fairs – Various Locations in New York State
Buffalo, NY Location – University at Buffalo, September 17, 2017 – 4:00 pm
Daemen College Fair – Daemen College
September 18, :30 – 8:00 pm
NOCA College Fair- NCCC
September 21, 2017 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
NCCC Instant Admissions- Career Center
US Service Academy Information Night –Clarence High School
October 2, 2017 – 6:30 pm
WNY Colleges at NW - ALC
October 3, 2017 – 11:00 – 11:40 am

30. Additional College Programs
Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn, Stanford Program – Buffalo Niagara Marriott September 24, :00 pm Emory, Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame, University of Virginia, Washington U of St Louis Program – Canisius High School September 27, :00 pm Brown, U of Chicago, Columbia, Cornell, Rice Information Sessions – various locations – SUNY Fall, 2017 Open Houses –

31. College Visits Career Center
University of Buffalo September 18th 11:45 Clarkson University September 20th 10:15 Culinary Institute September 20th 11:00 SUNY Oswego September 21st 8:45 SUNY Polytechnic September 21st 10:15 SUNY Canton September 22nd 8:45 SUNY Brockport September 25th 12:30 WNY Colleges October 3rd 11:00

32. College Visits Cont’d
Keuka College October 10th 9:30 St. John Fisher October 11th 10:15 SUNY Potsdam October 11th 11:00 SUNY Geneseo October 16th 10:15 Canisius College October 24th 1:15 D’Youville College October 26th 11:00 Mercyhurst October 27th 10:15 University of Tampa October 31st 8:45

33. WNY Colleges Visit to NW
Tuesday, October 3, :00 – 11:40 am ALC Colleges Attending: Alfred State Hilbert College Alfred U Houghton College Bryant and Stratton Jamestown Community College Buffalo State Medaille College Canisius NCCC Daemen Niagara University D’Youville St. Bonaventure Erie Community College Trocaire College SUNY Fredonia University at Buffalo Genesee Community College Villa Maria College

34. You have many resources!
Search for colleges:
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Choices program available in the Career Center
As are Guidebooks, College Catalogs, etc.
NW Counseling and Career Center

35. Due Dates OCTOBER 1st 2017 www.fafsa.gov Counseling Office Due Dates
Applications due in counseling office by October 31st.
We process over 1,500 applications!
Keep in mind, we need at least ONE WEEK advance notice to process transcripts
Financial Aid Application:
OCTOBER 1st 2017

36. NCAA Initial Eligibility
Division 1 & 2 must meet eligibility
NCAA:
Fee
Request your transcript
When do I register?
You can register anytime after you compete 6 semesters of high school. Most students will register at the beginning of their senior year
How do I qualify to participate in sports at a D I or II school?
Complete minimum of 16 core courses
10 or more must be completed before you start 7th semester
Take your SAT or ACT
Eligibility is determined by sliding scale
You MUST have your SAT or ACT scores sent to NCAA directly from collegeboard or ACT. Scores on a high school transcript will NOT be accepted
NCAA code is 9999

37. Once a falcon, always a falcon!
Final Thoughts
Relax… you’re almost there!
Work Hard-don’t catch Senioritis
Enjoy the journey!
Be Balanced
It’s your senior year…
Make Memories!!!
and remember….
Once a falcon, always a falcon!