1. HOW to apply, get accepted and HOW to pay for
SENIOR NIGHT
HOW to apply, get accepted and
HOW to pay for

2. aGENDA WHAT IF I DON’T KNOW WHERE I WANT TO GO?
The Application Process
The Common App
Letters of Recommendation
Early Decision vs. Early Action
The Essay
FAFSA
Scholarships
Final notes on in-state opportunities

3. WHAT IF I STILL DO NOT KNOW WHERE I WANT TO GO?
USE COLLEGES SEARCHES
College WEB.com
ACT.org
Collegeboard.com
College Search on the Guidance tab on WCSD, Under the Counseling Department.
NVCIS
ASK FOR HELP from the Counseling Department

4. THE APPLICATION PROCESS
THE COMMON APPLICATION has specific information that is given to all colleges that the student is applying for.
The student must chose the colleges and complete the application.
Colleges have specific essays that are attached.
How To Guide to the Common App. Website ( )| Tutorial
Common Application Tutorial : How to Use the Common App ...
Once completed, the student completes the recommendation request that goes to the mailbox of the recommender.

5. Things you will need
Transcript- not to upload but to fill in the required information.
ACT/SAT scores, directly from the College Board or ACT.org.
Resume
Time
Letters of recommendation
NOTE; take your time and Read through the application first. REREAD it, then READ it again.

6. Direct School Application
Not all schools; but usually you will need to create an account first.
USE: USER NAMES AND PASSCODES THAT ARE EASY TO REMEMBER*
Download the application and fill out in paper first.
Have all documents ready to go.
NEVER try and finish AT THE LAST MOMENT.
NEVER PRESS SUBMIT OR UPLOAD UNTIL YOU HAVE CHECK IT FIRST.

7. Early Decision
"Early Decision (ED) is the application process in which students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted, they definitely will enroll. While pursuing admission under an Early Decision plan, students may apply to other institutions, but may have only one Early Decision application pending at any time. Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment. The institution must notify the applicant of the decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time after the Early Decision deadline. Usually, a nonrefundable deposit must be made well in advance of May 1. The institution will respond to an application for financial aid at or near the time of an offer of admission. Institutions with Early Decision plans may restrict students from applying to other early plans. Institutions will clearly articulate their specific policies in their Early Decision agreement." If you are accepted under an Early Decision plan, you must promptly withdraw the applications submitted to other colleges and universities and make no additional applications to any other university in any country. If you are an Early Decision candidate and are seeking financial aid, you need not withdraw other applications until you have received notification about financial aid from the admitting Early Decision institution.

8. Early decision versus early action
Early decision plans are binding — a student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college. Early action plans are nonbinding — students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1
Applying to an ED or EA plan is most appropriate for a student who:
Has researched colleges extensively.
Is absolutely sure that the college is the first choice.
Has found a college that is a strong match academically, socially and geographically.
Meets or exceeds the admission profile for the college for SAT® scores, GPA and class rank.
Has an academic record that has been consistently solid over time.

9. Letters of Recommendation
Ask the Counselor, teachers or administrators ahead of time, at least a month before it is due.
Give them a copy of the resume and
The College Musing
These have been completed
in English classes.
It has been said that for certain schools these are not needed. THEY ARE REQUIRED if on the Common App, . If they are required they need to be completed.
Contrary to most best advise given by some College advisors. Essential to admittance to colleges and scholarship opportunities.

10. ESSAY FACTS
“A student’s discomfort in writing college application essays is a natural part of the application process. “
“They have rarely if ever been asked in or out of school to write first person narratives advocating for themselves. “
Our English teachers take the time to do self- exploration before assigning a college essay at the beginning of this year.

11. “Great essays take time and drafting.”
Rewrites are designed to improve clarity and definition.
College application/scholarship essays are personal narratives not the usual analytical writing presented to your students in academic classrooms.
“Essays and personal statements need to show specific ways college applicants have made a difference.”
Taken from recent articles by Rebecca Johnson, WACAC contributor
ASK your local English teacher to read your essay for conventional errors or editing.

12. ESSAY WRITING TIPS COPY on the Senior desk. Answer the question
Have an English teacher check for convention errors.
Make sure that it sounds like you.

13. fafsa Free>>>> DON’T PAY 2018-2019 OPENS OCTOBER 1
FIRST COME-FIRST SERVED
MOST COLLEGES REQUIRE FOR FINANCIAL AIDE
EFC- ESTIMATED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION
WORKSHOPS AT I.H.S.
TAKES A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
IN-STATE OPPORTUNITIES

14. SCHOLARSHIP FACTS and Types of SCHOLARSHIPS;
COLLEGES post scholarship opportunities on the financial aide portion of their website. READ this completely. If your student is committed to attend the college this is the most important site of his college choice.
It posts dates that FAFSA is required;
UNR requires that all submissions be done by March 1st.
It contains the merit aide policies. SEE handout
It will give options for specific scholarships and how to APPLY.
MERIT vs. NEED

15. National Scholarship Search
National Scholarships; Can be researched on the web under,
FAST WEB
COLLEGE BOARD.COM
COLLEGE WEEKLY
ACT.ORG
NVCIS Nevada Career Inventory Systems

16. LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Posted on the WCSD website under departments :“Counselor” ; “the Counselor Net”; “College Information”; scholarship list
This scholarship list will be posted on our website when it becomes more specific.
Many scholarship opportunities come across the counselor and administrative desks. At this point, we usually find specific students that meet the criteria and hand them the application.

17. INCLINE HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Opens the first week of January that school is in session.
Your students will receive the application instructions and given access to the ZOHO.
At that time they will begin their applications.
Due February 28 at 2:30 when it closes.
Consists of the ZOHO application printed, a transcript and permission to allow access to the application signed by the parent, ACT/SAT scores, a picture for publishing and the SARS report or confirmation that a FAFSA is completed.

18. INCLINE HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
DATE June the 12th at 5:30 PM
Celebrates all scholarships and acknowledges the school of choice.
Due on May the 15 is the student college and information sheet to the Government teachers. It is not always easy to get all the information, but the program is due to the printers three weeks before the program.
Students receiving scholarships from their colleges will need to show their proof of reception (usually the financial package) from the college and their acceptance letter.
We also ask where they received acceptance letters from their colleges to keep statistics.
LAST YEARS TOTALS, 2.5 MILLION

19. Some important timelines
UC’s NOVEMBER 30th – application due
UNR FEBRUARY 1st – application due
MAY 1st acceptance usually due
Honors programs- December first for UNR
Check the websites for due dates of honors programs, FAFSA submission, acceptance and declaration dates, as well as scholarship applications.

20. UNR visit application workshops and College info NIght
November 7 – College Info Night
UNR, SNC, LTCC and TMCC to speak on each individual college
WHY SHOULD I APPLY TO UNR?
Honors programs are tops
TIER I UNIVERSITY
UNR gives an application workshop AT INCLINE October 31rst, 1:30 until 3:00.
College Fair at UNR November 18