1. COLLEGE PLANNING SEMINAR Class of 2018
Tuesday, November 16, 2016
Presented by the Tolland High School
Counseling Staff

2. AGENDA
Session I: College Admissions Panel Session II: The College Search Process What’s New in College Planning Junior Year and Summer 2017

3. ADMISSIONS PANEL
We welcome: Raena Beetham –Eastern Connecticut Michael Plourd – College of the Holy Cross Samantha Plourd – Manchester CC Caroline Gaudet – Quinnipiac University Jayson Hodge – UCONN

4. Winter, Junior Year
Review PSAT scores (on-line in early December). Use results to determine how to best prepare for the SAT in the spring.
Think carefully about course selections for senior year. Colleges expect that you will continue to challenge yourself.
Register for the SAT or ACT (or both). All registrations for these tests are done on-line, and have strict deadlines.
Begin to think about what type of college is best for you. Consider factors such as academic programs, size, location, activities, cost.

5. SAT – March 2017
The State of Connecticut has replaced the SBAC for grade 11 students with the SAT. The test date will be Wednesday, April 5, 2017, during the school day. This SAT will NOT include the Writing component. FOR THIS TEST DATE ONLY – students will be mass registered by THS. Students will also have the opportunity to send their scores from this test date to up to four colleges at no cost.

6. Overview of Content on the SAT
Words in Context – no more “obscure” vocabulary
Command of Evidence
Math that “Matters” - including a section with calculator and one without
Problems Grounded in “Real World” Contexts
Analysis in Science & Social Studies
Passages from U.S. Founding Documents or Global Conversations (freedom, human dignity, etc.)
Essay will be OPTIONAL
NO PENALTY FOR GUESSING!!!!!!

7. Standardized Test Scores
Tolland High does NOT include SAT or ACT scores on official transcripts.
Students must have their standardized test scores sent directly from the testing agency (College Board, ACT) to the colleges they are applying to as well as other organizations as needed (NCAA, scholarships, etc.)
Juniors will have the option to send their April scores to up to 4 colleges for free.
THS SCHOOL CODE:

8. KHAN ACADEMY
The College Board is partnering with Khan Academy to provide free, personalized, focused practice resources for all students. Students who took the PSAT will be directed to Khan Academy when they receive their score reports. Visit the Khan Academy website at

9. Students must create their own accounts for many of the sites that they will use in the college application process, including:
The Common Application
The College Board (SAT)
The ACT (a different, but widely accepted test)
Khan Academy
Students must remember their own user names and passwords --- school counselors do not have access to this information, so cannot assist students who do not know how to log-in.
A suggestion - students can write this information in their agendas or keep in the notes screen on their phones.

10. Spring, 2017 Begin your college search.
Use search engines in Family Connection
VISIT colleges – April break is a great time, as college students are in class
College Fairs – Hartford, CT – 4/6/2017 – CT Convention Center
Springfield, MA – 4/3/2017- Big E
Complete your RESUME in Family Connection.
Pursuing Division I or II athletics? Become familiar with the requirements by going to the NCAA Eligibility Center web site.
Investigate requirements for SAT Subject Tests or AP tests

11. Summer 2017 Register for the fall SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests.
Continue to research and visit schools.
Update your resume.
Begin to brainstorm and draft your college essays.

12. Types of College Applications
In general, students will use one of three types of applications:
The Common Application
An Institution’s Application
The Coalition for Access, Affordability & Success Application
All of these are ON-LINE applications.
Very, very few institutions still use paper applications.

13. Coalition for Access, Affordability & Success
The Coalition represents more than 80 American higher education institutions that share a commitment to providing students with the best possible college experience, beginning with the college application process.
Formed with goal of improving application process for all students by designing a set of online tools.
Tools will include an online “virtual locker”, a collaboration platform and an application portal.
Seeks to have students start thinking about college earlier, and store documents that can be useful later in the college application process.
More information:

14. “Prior-Prior Year” FAFSA
Beginning this year, the timelines for filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), the primary application used to determine a family’s eligibility for financial aid, changed.
The FAFSA now uses “prior-prior year” (PPY) tax data, which means students and parents of the Class of 2018 will use tax data from the 2016 calendar year on the PPY FAFSA.
This is a change from the previous practice of filing the FAFSA in early winter (January-February) based on “prior year” tax data.
Be sure to attend our Financial Aid Seminar next fall for more information on the financial aid process.

15. THS Counseling Web Page
“Quick Links” on right – School Counseling
Contains links to :
Family Connection
College Board (SAT) and ACT
Common Application
Presentations to students
Updated weekly with current news & information
FOR MORE on FAMILY CONNECTION
SEE THE HANDOUT IN YOUR FOLDER

16. Resources in Folder
A variety of informational handouts are included in your folders, including:
Planning Calendar for Junior-Senior Year
SAT & ACT Test Dates & Registration Information
Family Connection
New England Regional Tuition Break Program
Tips for Parents
NCAA Eligibility

17. COUNSELOR ASSIGNMENTS Class of 2018
Student Counselor Last Name A-F Caitlin Foran G- L James Shea M-Se Michelle Grady Sh – Z Corinne Lorenzet

18. Working as a Team
Students, Parents and Counselors all have a role to play in the college search and application process!!!! Communication is the key!