1. FINDING THE FIT
Sue Biemeret
Bob Foltin
SHS College Counselors

2. Six Things You’ll Learn Tonight…
1. TONIGHT you begin to plan your future
2. ALL the important action comes from the STUDENT!!
3. There are 8 factors important in your college search
4. You should begin your college research now.
5. There is not only ONE school that’s right for you!
6. You create your own success - college doesn’t make you successful!

3. FINDING THE FIT Fit between student and college Academically Socially
Emotionally
Financially

4. How You Choose A College
Academic Challenge

5. How You Choose A College
Requirements for
Admission

6. How You Choose A College
Size

7. How You Choose A College
Distance from
Home

8. How You Choose A College
Location

9. How You Choose A College
Fields Of
Study

10. How You Choose a College
Personal Factors
Special Talents
Special Needs

11. How You Choose a College
Cost

12. Net Price Calculator

13. What to Do Next…

14. SHS Website

15. CCC Website

16. Left Rail

17. Countdown to College Guide

18. Center Section

19. Right Rail (

20. How To Do Your Research More on the Net
NAVIANCE
college search
look-up colleges
compare colleges
acceptance history
scattergrams
or log onto CCC page from

21. Naviance portal

22. Naviance portal

23. Student log-on first initial six letters of last name
last digit of grad year (2013)
@students.d125.org
8-digit SHS network password

24. student view

25. colleges tab

26. general info page

27. general info page

28. general info page cont’d

29. Scattergram i.e. graph

30. document library U of I graphs by college

31. careers tab

32. about me

33. Where to Go From Here… UTILIZE YOUR RESOURCES!!
College Fairs – CLC 10/20 or 3/13, Allstate 4/12
Drop-In Tuesdays – through 1st semester
Financial Aid Workshop – 1/4
Junior Parent Seminar – 2/1
“Narrowing Your Options” - Feb through June
Internet –
VISIT! VISIT! VISIT! VISIT! VISIT!!!!!!!

34. Future Dates and Deadlines
Spring 2012: Visit colleges, research websites, take tests, do well in school
August 2012: Narrow list of college applications to 5-10, check each college website for applications
October 15th: Complete all applications for 4-year public universities!
December 1st: ALL 4-year private applications must be filed!!

35. Application Process May 1st Universal Candidate Reply Date
Three basic application calendars:
Rolling - Most common; decisions made 2-6 weeks after receipt of application
Early Plans
Early Notification [U of I, ISU]: apply early in fall to guarantee best chance of admission
Early Action [Notre Dame, U Michigan, U Chicago]: Apply by early November, receive decision early December, don’t decide til May 1st
Early Decision – Binding commitment to attend if admitted in December/January

36. To Test…or Not to Test…
ACT: 2/11, 4/14, 6/09 [plus Prairie State on 4/24 that does not include writing!]
SAT: 3/10, 5/5, 6/2
Reporting Scores?
Test Prep
YOU ARE NOT YOUR TEST SCORE!!

37. SENIOR YEAR…. …is not a “vacation” …is important in college admissions
…needs to be most challenging year academically [or at least as challenging as junior year]
…should include 3-4 academic units …should challenge you, but not overwhelm you!! …

38. How To Do Your Research
Visit!

39. Where to Go From Here…www.d125.org/college

40. Fit-Fighters Focus on the known Focus on prestige
Focus on the not-so-important
Focus on cost
Focus on everything/anything other than YOU [or YOUR CHILD]!!

41. KNOW YOUR CHILD! Abilities Interests Strengths Weaknesses Passions
Dreams
Fears
Goals

42. Peculiarly Parental Issues
Campus safety
Class size
Accessibility to faculty
Advising opps
Counseling opps
Communication flow
Grades
Activities
Money

43. BEING A PARENT Set limits This really isn’t all about you!
Let your child be responsible
How does failure co-exist with self-esteem?

44. COMMUNICATE!! With high school teachers and your counselor
With college admission and financial aid offices
With your CHILD
Focus on your child’s needs/wants/fears/dreams

45. KEEP YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR!