1. The Wood-Ridge Jr/Sr High School Guidance Department presents: College Night for Senior Parents

2. Agenda Senior Timeline Preparing for the college search Naviance
The Common App
Scholarships
Parent Tips
Final Thoughts

3. Senior Timeline OCTOBER SEPTEMBER Attend Senior Seminar
Take your SAT and/or ACT
FAFSA OPENS 10/1
Edit and complete college essays
Check in with those writing your recommendation letters
Watch your deadlines ~ Early Decision and Early Action dates usually start in October
Attend Senior Seminar
Finalize your list of colleges
Request Recommendation letters
Register to take the SAT/ACT

4. FAFSA STARTING OCTOBER 1ST 2017
What Will You Need?
FSA ID - (FSAID.ED.GOV) For Parent + Student
2016 Tax Returns For Parent + Student
Social Security Numbers for Parent + Student
Other Income Information
Driver’s License Number

5. Senior Timeline NOVEMBER/DECEMBER JANUARY Watch your deadlines!
Continue to submit applications
Continue working on applications - Regular decision / Rolling decision deadlines

6. Senior Timeline FEBRUARY/MARCH APRIL
Read any decision letters you receive carefully. Be sure to respond when necessary.
Review admission decisions and financial aid award letters
Placed on a wait list? Contact the admission office directly if you are still interested
MAKE A FINAL DECISION

7. Senior Timeline MAY June
Mail in your enrollment form and deposit check to your chosen school
June
Graduation!
Final transcripts will be mailed out to your chosen school at the end of June

8. PREPARING FOR A COLLEGE SEARCH

9. Know Yourself Values Ambitions Achievements Academic Strengths
Interests
Your Standout
Talents

10. Types of Colleges TWO YEAR COLLEGES FOUR YEAR COLLEGES
Degree: Associates
Provides a way to ease into college and take general classes for credit. Students can transfer credits to a four year college
Opportunities for to enroll in trade and technical programs that provide a hands-on learning experience
Degrees: Bachelors and beyond
Provides a well- rounded college experience that includes an academic area of study
State vs. Private
Admissions process is more rigorous

11. Your College Priorities…
What is important to you?
Location
Academics
Size
Campus Appeal
Social Life
Total Cost (including aid)

12. What information do college admission counselors review?
Grades/GPA
Strength of high school course selections
Admission Test Score
Essay
Teacher and Counselor Recommendation
Student’s demonstrated interest
Personal accomplishments
Personality characteristics
Course progress during senior year

13. College Admission Tests
SAT
ACT
Consists of three parts: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing
Each sections is scores on a scale of
Changes to the SAT will take place in March
Consists of four parts: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Writing
Writing component is optional
Top composite score is 36

14. College Jargon
Early Decision (binding) - A binding contract between a student and ONE college or university. The deadline is usually 11/1 or 11/15. ED candidates are notified by mid-December of their senior year.
Early Action (non-binding) - Students may apply to many schools early action. Student who apply early action are notified by December.

15. College Jargon Continued
Rolling Admissions - the practice used by some colleges that the college processes a candidate's application as soon as it is complete. The school will notify the students in a timely manner. (2- 3 weeks).
Priority decision - The priority application may provide benefits in terms of financial aid and scholarship packages, housing advantages, and/or priority for course registration.

16. College Jargon Continued
Deferred - When a college does not make a decision on a student who has applied under an EA/ED program, and places their application in the regular decision pool. A college may want to wait until additional information is provided (12th grade mid year grades)
Wait List - The application has been given careful consideration but the limit of accepted students has already been reached. Students will be notified after May 1st, if space becomes available

17. How to Match your College List
Reach schools - Your academic record/test scores fall slightly below the average accepted academic record scores at a specific school.
Match schools - Your academic record/test scores meet with the average accepted student academic record/test scores.
Safety schools - Your academic record/test scores are well above the average accepted student academic record/test scores

18. Where to go to collect information?
Naviance- College search engine. The link is located on the W-RJSHS website.
Cappex.com- College search made simple.
Collegeboard.org- Information about the SAT as well as a college search engine.
– for aspiring student athletes.

19. Naviance
Make sure you know your Naviance Login information. Students and parents can access Family Connection (the link is on the W- RJSHS website)
Keep your college list updated under: “Colleges I Am Applying To”. *This is required to ensure submission of your transcript and supporting documents.
Use Naviance to answer your college questions.

20. To use the Common App or not to use the Common App....
The Common Application: may reduce some application steps.
There are now over 500 member colleges and universities accepting the Common Application.
*You must create Common App account and then sync it with your Naviance account. Remember to sign Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) at Common App.

21. Scholarships 101 MERIT SCHOLARSHIP TIPS
There is more than $11 billion in merit scholarships available to students
Not just for “A” students
Many awards emphasize leadership or school involvement
Nearly all colleges offer merit aid scholarships
The average merit scholarship award is $5,000
Many awards can be renewed year after year!
Apply to as many as you can or think you are eligible for

22. Scholarship Resources
Fastweb.com – private scholarships
Fafsa.ed.gov – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (must fill out after January 1, 2016)
Studentaid.ed.gov – The Federal Government’s website with information on how to pay for college
MeritAid.com - $11 billion in merit scholarships
Cappex.com – scholarship matching
Finaid.org – Free student resource for learning about all types of financial aid
Hesaa.org - The New Jersey higher education student assistance authority website
CSS Profile - By filling out one form, you can apply online for nonfederal financial aid from almost 400 colleges and scholarship programs
Individual college website – school based scholarships offered to incoming students

23. Parent Tips!

24. 10 Things to Remember
Help your student understand the college search process
Be realistic and non-judgmental
Be in the “back seat”, not the driver
Be open to dialogue and responsive to questions
Be aware of deadlines and fees due
Things change year to year and the process different from your college days
Don’t overemphasize your own alma maters
Don’t compare your student with others
Don’t dwell on disappointments like a rejection letter
Celebrate success!

25. Final Thoughts WORDS OF WISDOM Relax…you will get in.
It’s ok if you don’t have a major.
You don’t need to go far away.
88% of high school students go to college in their home state

26. Things To Do
Attend Open Houses at the colleges your child will most likely apply
Prepare information needed for college applications
Sign up for the October, November, or December SAT
Be sure to maintain first quarter grades

27. Applying to College is a Team Effort!
Your child’s Guidance Counselor will send:
Official Transcripts
The Wood-Ridge Jr/Sr High School Profile
A counselor recommendation
TWO teacher recommendations
Any other forms that need to accompany an application
When it is time to sent materials, you must provide:
A signed Rolling Contract or Early Action/Early Decision Contract
Any additional forms that are a part of the application

28. Reminders! WEBSITES TO REMEMBER UPCOMING EVENTS
Naviance (located at wood-ridgeschools.org under student tab)
Collegeboard.org
Commonapp.org
Fafsa.ed.gov
org
Financial Aid Night - NOV 28th 7:00 PM
W-RJSHS College Fair
October 18th 2017 from 1:00- 2:30pm

29. Contact Information
Maria Barrows
ex 5620
Dennis Rowley
ex 5621