1. Countdown to College September 2018
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
Countdown to College
September 2018

2. What you should know….. The general application timeline
Common admissions categories and their benefits
How students request transcripts
How students request recommendations
How online applications work
Why the Common App and The Coalition are huge time-savers
Sources of Financial Aid

3. BENCHMARKS – JUNIOR YEAR
ID several TARGET schools, one REACH school, one SAFETY school. To do so, look at search engines or school information and note 50th percentile ranges for GPA and SAT/ACT scores.
Begin college visits – consider local schools first.
Work to establish meaningful and relevant criteria with which to compare schools.
Take SAT/ACT for the first time no later than Spring of 11th grade.

4. Middle 50th at Va Tech: Math 570 – 680 Where do you stand (620 mean)?
TARGET
Reach
Safe

5. Students should know if they fall above, in or below these ranges
Students should know if they fall above, in or below these ranges. Check school websites for stats. This also doesn’t take into account other criteria used to select students.
Harvard:
Towson:
Salisbury:
Georgetown:
VA Tech:

6. TIMELINE – Senior year August - September:
Finalize the list of schools of high interest.
Establish application accounts to access applications.
Register for the Common App and/or The Coalition.
Submit Transcript Requests ONLINE
Request LOR from teachers/counselor.
October:
Begin essays in earnest.
Solicit financial aid information from schools.
Register for FAFSA beginning on October 1st.

7. TIMELINE – Senior year November to January:
Monitor college deadlines closely
Continue pursuing financial aid
January to March:
Collect and organize acceptances
Discuss financial costs and make final decision
April to May:
Pay deposit and select roommate
Consider any summer programs for new students
June to August:
Attend open house and begin college

8. Fall benchmarks for Seniors:
Help your student refine their list of colleges.
Consider final visits, if possible. Students should have visited several representative colleges (big, small, state, private).
Establish application accounts with each school of interest and organize deadlines & application requirements.
Students should request transcripts ONLINE (please give at least 10 school days to process).
This is the last chance to take a fall ACT or SAT, if necessary. TIP- Take advantage of sending 3 score reports to schools when registering!
Students should complete the Counselor Recommendation Letter Packet and it to their school counselor.

9. Fall benchmarks for Seniors:
Students should notify any teacher or community leader who will be writing a recommendation; send them a completed copy of the Teacher Recommendation Letter Packet
Complete college financial aid forms, some of which may have different deadlines than the admissions application.
Register with and monitor at least two financial aid websites. Avoid fee-based services.
Check the School Counseling newsletter regularly for scholarship and workshop information.

10. Dates and programs for seniors and their families:
Parents may review the FAFSA website now. Next, organize financial information and COMPLETE the online FAFSA form beginning OCTOBER 1st.
College Fair on Monday, OCTOBER 8th at Carroll Community College from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Smart for undecided students or those with questions about a particular school.
College 101 night at CHS on Wednesday, APRIL 17th (more relevant for current juniors).

11. Common admissions terms:
Early Decision-
Greatest statistical advantage (although still very modest).
Financially risky – Are you prepared to pay full tuition?
LEGALLY binding.
Students may only submit one Early Decision application.
Often due by NOVEMBER 1ST, well before financial aid offers.
If a student is admitted to the college, the student must rescind all other applications.
Early Action:
Some statistical advantage over regular admissions.
Find out earlier and have time to reconsider options.
Usually due NOVEMBER 1st.
Applicant will receive an answer by early January (varies).
May apply Early Action as often as one wishes.
Denials often rolled over to regular the admissions window.

12. Admissions terms (cont.)
Regular Decision:
Due between DECEMBER and FEBRUARY.
Students receive an answer by mid- to late-March.
Commitment deadline usually May 1.
Rolling Decision:
Find out early and find out quickly
Generally utilized at smaller, less-selective schools
Applications are reviewed and decided upon in order of receipt
Acceptances begin now and run well into next spring, space permitting.

13. College Search Engines

14. College comparison worksheets
Sample can be found on our website. Others exist.
Organizing college information can help families make an informed decision using concrete criteria and data.
Narrowing down and eliminating schools can be emotional for everyone. Some eliminations can be made early, others only after the financial aid picture becomes more clear (February and March).
Be a good listener.
Consider the student’s current educational, family and community environment. Schools that are the best match will often be similar in several important ways.

16. Request a transcript
Student should visit the School Counseling Website and fill out the online Transcript Request Form.
The first three transcripts are FREE. After that, the cost is $2.00 per transcript.
Minimum of 10 SCHOOL DAYS to process a transcript.

17. The Secondary School Report
An important part of most college applications.
Completed by the School Counselor.
Includes information such as GPA, rank, coursework and character & academic scales.
If a PAPER Secondary School Report is the only option, your student must turn it in to your school counselor.
If completing an online application, the Secondary School Report link to your school counselor.

19. Counselor Recommendation Letters
If a counselor recommendation letter is needed:
Visit the school website (
Click on the “School Counseling” Tab
Then click “Forms”
Open the Counselor Recommendation Letter Packet
After completing the forms, the complete document to your school

22. Teacher Recommendation Letters
If a teacher recommendation letter is needed:
Visit the school website (
Click on the “School Counseling” Tab
Then click “Forms”
Open the Teacher Recommendation Letter Packet
Be sure to ask your teacher(s) if they would be willing to write you a letter!
After completing the forms and speaking with your teacher, the completed packet to your teacher

23. Recommendation letters
Teachers and community leaders should be given a self-addressed and stamped envelop and very specific instructions about where and when to send their letter.
For Common App, The Coalition and many online applications, ‘recommenders’ must be INVITED.
For online applications, students must fill-in name, title of the recommender and address to initiate the invitation – be sure all information is a.c.c.u.r.a.t.e.
Students are advised to follow-up with recommenders to be sure they received the recommendation link.

26. Online application process:
Student should:
Create an account.
Note all log-ins and passwords. Students can log on with Counselors if they need to problem-solve.
Pay attention to check-lists and KNOW what each school requires – many variables.
Note any Secondary School Report and how to send it to CHS.
Invite Recommenders.
Follow-up with School Counseling Department with questions.
Monitor the status of their applications and ALL deadlines.

27. ONLINE application responsibilities:
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY:
Application: personal info, essay, resume, etc.
SAT/ACT/AP scores must be ordered by student
Invite recommenders
Meet CHS and College deadlines
Pay any applicable fees
SCHOOL COUNSELING OFFICE RESPONSIBILITY:
Secondary School Report
School Counselor recommendation
Transcript (no test scores can be sent)
Character/academic rating scales, if required
TEACHER RESPONSIBILITY:
Recommendation

28. The Common Application/ The Coalition
Determine which schools accept The Common App or The Coalition App.
Complete ALL student portions - take note of any supplemental sections required by the school.
Invite Recommenders – enter names and s very carefully.
Please give a minimum of 15 School Days for the School Counseling Office to complete the Common App or the Coalition.
Complete a Transcript Request Form – found on the CHS website.

29. University of Maryland
Must apply by November 1st – their Priority Application.
University of Maryland is now using The Coalition online application.

30. Financial Aid
Read the School Counseling Newsletter for scholarship opportunities.
Parents may review the FAFSA now. Then, organize financial info and COMPLETE the online FAFSA form beginning OCTOBER 1st.
Approach all colleges to see what aid opportunities are available. Complete any necessary forms.
Meet with a rep from your family’s bank to discuss options.

31. Link to the FAFSA is located on Century High School’s Website under School Counseling, then Scholarship Information

35. Questions?