1. Senior Parent Night Presented by: Manasquan High School Guidance Department September 21, 2017

2. College Listing Narrowing your list for “Best Fit”
1. Ensure there are Safety, Target, and Reach schools on the college list
2. Ensure the listing has intended major/majors or areas of interest
3. Demonstrate Interest
Search options: Naviance, Big Future (College Board), Individual College Websites, Ruggs Recommendations
Naviance provides a comparison and scattergram of GPA and SAT scores for the student vs. students who were admitted/waitlisted/denied to each college
Go the college website and review academic programs to ensure they have what you are looking for
Attend the campus, go on a campus tour, the admissions rep, speak to an admissions rep and ask a question, or go to a college fair and introduce yourself to the admissions representative

3. Colleges: A good fit for YOU
Factors to consider
1. Location
2. Size
3. Academic Programs
4. Tuition
5. Campus Life and Community
6. Campus Clubs/Groups/Athletics

4. College Deadlines
Early Decision, Early Decision II, Early Action, Regular Decision, and Rolling Admissions
1. What do these all mean? (Most schools have multiple deadlines)
2. What is binding? – ED and ED2
3. Early Action – applicant advantage
Early Decision 1 and 2 are binding and if student is accepted then you are obligated to go
Early Action is not binding, the pros are you find out early if you are admitted
Regular Decision is not binding
Rolling Admissions – the admissions team makes decisions as the applications come (roll) in

5. Responsibilities – You vs. Your high school
1. College Application
2. Sending standardized test scores
3. Requesting teacher and/or counselor recommendation
4. Creating a resume
High School
1. Sending transcript
2. Sending teacher/counselor recommendations

6. College Application Sections of Common Application
1. Profile and Family
2. Education and Testing
3. Activities
4. Common Application essay- “Tell YOUR story.”
5. College specific questions and/or supplemental college writing
Activities:
Colleges aren’t too picky about how students spend non-class time, as long as it is meaningful
Not necessary to have a long list of activities (although some activities stand out more than others)
Commitment, some level of accomplishment, initiative, and leadership are more important
Essay:
Needs to tell the admissions team something about the student beyond the transcript
What qualities did the student reveal and did the admissions team hear the students voice?
Did they do an effective job of telling their story?
Tips for the Essay:
Be honest and write about something small in scale
Let your voice be heard
If there is something strange about your academic record, explain it
Discuss unique talents
Interesting or unique insights about a particular topic are welcome
Don’t borrow someone else’ phrases
ANSWER THE QUESTION

7. What is Important to Colleges
Highest to lowest importance
1. Grades and strength of courses (transcript)
2. Testing (if required)
3. Essay
4. Demonstrated Interest
5. Counselor/Teacher recommendations

8. Application Process Common Application
Single, comprehensive application
Used at over +500 schools
Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success Application
Institutional Online Applications
Traditional paper applications

9. NAVIANCE Family Connection- How doe this help?
Complete a Career Search
Complete a College Search
Compare Colleges
Develop a Prospective College List
Develop a Resume
Complete Graduation Survey

10. NAVIANCE Completing the Application Process in Naviance
1. Match your Common Application account with your Naviance account
2. Add the colleges to which you are applying (both Common App & Non Common App colleges)
3. Request transcripts in Naviance
4. Add teacher recommendation request along with a thank you note
5. Monitor and update the status of applications

13. www.collegeboard.org SAT TEST DATES October 7, 2017 November 4, 2017
December 2, 2017
March 10, 2018
May 5, 2018
June 2, 2018
REGISTER ONLINE NOW

14. ACT testing dates www.actstudent.org
TEST DATES
October 28, 2017
December 9, 2017
February 10, 2018
April 14, 2018
June 9, 2018
July 14, 2018
REGISTER ONLINE NOW

15. OUTSIDE SITES FOR SCHOLARSHIPS (NATIONAL):
APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!!
Go to “HIGH SCHOOL”
Go to “STUDENT SERVICES-GUIDANCE”
Click on “SCHOLARSHIPS”
OUTSIDE SITES FOR SCHOLARSHIPS (NATIONAL):
NAVIANCE account

16. COLLEGE NIGHT Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017 6:30pm – 8:30pm MHS Gymnasium
Over 100 Colleges and Universities
Trade Schools
Military/Service Academies
List of Attendees will be updated on the Guidance website

17. FINANCIAL AID NIGHT FAFSA.ed.gov October 19 or 26, 2017 (TBD)
7pm in the Auditorium
FAFSA.ed.gov
October 1st