1. This Is Your Senior Year! Congratulations seniors of 2015! Congratulations seniors of 2015! Post-Secondary Planning Post-Secondary Planning

2. Know Your Counselor Mrs. Buchanan A-B Mrs. Buchanan A-B Mrs. Houston C-I Mrs. Houston C-I Mrs. Mosby J-P Mrs. Mosby J-P Mr. Blumenthal Q-Z Mr. Blumenthal Q-Z

3. Everybody Needs a Plan! College? College? Military? Military? Technical School? Technical School? Work? Work?

4. DECIDING ON A COLLEGE What do you want in a school? Location Location Type of school (ie. Liberal arts) Type of school (ie. Liberal arts) Size of school Size of school Competitiveness/selectivity Competitiveness/selectivity Course and major offerings Course and major offerings Makeup of the student body Makeup of the student body Campus Life Campus Life

5. DECIDING ON A COLLEGE Research colleges of interest College representatives visiting BHS College representatives visiting BHS Internet (Various web sites) Internet (Various web sites) Talk to former and current students Talk to former and current students Visit the campus Visit the campus College Day—September 19, 2014 College Day—September 19, 2014

6. DECIDING ON A COLLEGE Campus Visits DECIDING ON A COLLEGE Campus Visits Contact college prior to your visit to make arrangements for a tour and/or information session or interview Contact college prior to your visit to make arrangements for a tour and/or information session or interview It is a good idea to bring a resume and/or an unofficial transcript if scheduled for a personal interview It is a good idea to bring a resume and/or an unofficial transcript if scheduled for a personal interview Talk to students Talk to students Visit places of interest on the campus Visit places of interest on the campus

7. DECIDING ON A COLLEGE Interviewing Arrive early Arrive early Be prepared (resume, unofficial transcript) Be prepared (resume, unofficial transcript) Anticipate responses to frequently asked questions (rehearse by yourself) Anticipate responses to frequently asked questions (rehearse by yourself) Know your strengths and weaknesses Know your strengths and weaknesses Ask questions of the interviewer Ask questions of the interviewer Make yourself stand out as a Make yourself stand out as a desirable candidate

8. APPLYING TO COLLEGE Obtaining Applications Request applications on-line Request applications on-line Fill out an on-line application Fill out an on-line application Pick one up on a visit if using paper Pick one up on a visit if using paper It is important to get all of your applications together now! It is important to get all of your applications together now!

9. The Common Application Recommended form for 456 Colleges and Universities Recommended form for 456 Colleges and Universities Complete school report form for your school counselor and submit to him/her Complete school report form for your school counselor and submit to him/her Photocopy of your application Photocopy of your application Apply online Apply online www.commonapp.org www.commonapp.org www.commonapp.org Make sure you complete all of the supplemental forms for each college Make sure you complete all of the supplemental forms for each college

10. EARLY DECISION DEADLINE is usually NOV. 1 DEADLINE is usually NOV. 1 Make sure you want to attend the college that you apply to-the decision is binding! Make sure you want to attend the college that you apply to-the decision is binding! Gives the college a strong message of interest Gives the college a strong message of interest Can save time, effort, and the stress of filling out numerous applications Can save time, effort, and the stress of filling out numerous applications Make sure you have a backup plan if you do not get offered admission Make sure you have a backup plan if you do not get offered admission Early Action is non-binding Early Action is non-binding

11. REGULAR DECISION Deadline is usually Jan.1, Jan. 15, or Feb. 1 (but may range from Jan. 1 to March 1) Deadline is usually Jan.1, Jan. 15, or Feb. 1 (but may range from Jan. 1 to March 1) You can apply to more than one college You can apply to more than one college Also, Rolling Admission=on-going Also, Rolling Admission=on-going You are not required to make a commitment prior to May 1 (candidate’s reply date) You are not required to make a commitment prior to May 1 (candidate’s reply date) If your preferences change in the spring you will have several options to choose If your preferences change in the spring you will have several options to choose

12. Credentials Colleges Focus on in Admissions Performance in rigorous secondary school program Performance in rigorous secondary school program ACT or SAT Reasoning test (including writing) ACT or SAT Reasoning test (including writing) SAT Subject tests (required or recommended by some colleges SAT Subject tests (required or recommended by some colleges School counselor recommendation/Secondary School Report School counselor recommendation/Secondary School Report Extracurricular involvement and honors--quality Extracurricular involvement and honors--quality Writing (admissions essay) Writing (admissions essay) Teacher recommendations Teacher recommendations

13. WHICH SCHOOLS TO SEND APPLICATIONS WHICH SCHOOLS TO SEND APPLICATIONS Go ahead and apply to a selective school if you are interested Go ahead and apply to a selective school if you are interested Apply to ‘back-up’ schools (just to be safe—colleges you would be happy to attend) Apply to ‘back-up’ schools (just to be safe—colleges you would be happy to attend)

14. Once you have your applications GET ORGANIZED READ OVER THEM CAREFULLY READ OVER THEM CAREFULLY MAKE SURE YOU WILL HAVE ALL OF THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS MAKE SURE YOU WILL HAVE ALL OF THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS -Take the necessary SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Tests (if required or recommended) or ACT -Have these scores sent to the schools -Have these scores sent to the schools -Letters of Recommendation -Letters of Recommendation -Essays -Essays -Counselor forms -Counselor forms -Transcripts -Transcripts

15. SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject Tests, & ACT; Score Choice Know what each school requires Know what each school requires Sign up now if you need any of these tests Sign up now if you need any of these tests October-November is usually the latest test date for early decision October-November is usually the latest test date for early decision December-January is usually the latest test date for regular decision December-January is usually the latest test date for regular decision Some schools use SAT Subject tests for placement purposes (Math, other choices) Some schools use SAT Subject tests for placement purposes (Math, other choices)

16. ESSAYS Compile all of your essay requirements from different schools to know how many you have to write Compile all of your essay requirements from different schools to know how many you have to write Read questions carefully and think about them Read questions carefully and think about them Write so your points get across quickly and easily (Writing Center) Write so your points get across quickly and easily (Writing Center) Focus on yourself so the readers can get to know you better Focus on yourself so the readers can get to know you better Make yourself stand out-what makes you special and a good candidate for the school Make yourself stand out-what makes you special and a good candidate for the school

17. Letters of Recommendation Letters of Recommendation Ask people who will give you a positive recommendation Ask people who will give you a positive recommendation Give info to these people at least 3 weeks in advance of deadline Give info to these people at least 3 weeks in advance of deadline It is usually easier to give them all of your requests at once (if you have more than one) It is usually easier to give them all of your requests at once (if you have more than one) Turn in the recommendation information form to your counselor. Turn in the recommendation information form to your counselor.

18. Letters of Recommendation (cont.) Letters of Recommendation (cont.) Write down things about yourself for the person completing the letter of reference Write down things about yourself for the person completing the letter of reference -ie. Awards/honors Volunteer work/ community service Volunteer work/ community service Something you are proud of Something you are proud of Interests/hobbies Interests/hobbies (anything that you think would make you sound like a good applicant) (anything that you think would make you sound like a good applicant)

19. Transcripts Request EARLY (at least 3 weeks ahead of time) Request EARLY (at least 3 weeks ahead of time) Must have a parent/guardian signature if under 18 Must have a parent/guardian signature if under 18 Request prior to completing college applications Request prior to completing college applications Be nice to the Registrar! Be nice to the Registrar! January 1 deadlines are due December 1! January 1 deadlines are due December 1! NCAA Eligibility Center, NAIA colleges NCAA Eligibility Center, NAIA colleges

20. ONCE YOU ARE ACCEPTED ONCE YOU ARE ACCEPTED Make a decision about where you are going to attend by May 1st Make a decision about where you are going to attend by May 1st Make preparations (room/board, visit the financial aid office) Make preparations (room/board, visit the financial aid office) Notify all other colleges where you have been accepted of your choice Notify all other colleges where you have been accepted of your choice

21. VT & RU Onsite VT Onsite— VT Onsite— RU Onsite— RU Onsite— All applications will be due for on- site review All applications will be due for on- site review Decisions are given THAT DAY!! Decisions are given THAT DAY!!

22. Financial Aid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) -Complete after Jan 1, 2015 ASAP -Complete after Jan 1, 2015 ASAP -Due by July 1, 2015….but turn it in earlier!!!! (many schools’ deadline is March) -Due by July 1, 2015….but turn it in earlier!!!! (many schools’ deadline is March) CSS Profile CSS Profile Institution specific form Institution specific form

23. Financial Aid (cont.) Federal Pell Grants Federal Pell Grants -Does not have to be paid back -Does not have to be paid back Campus-Based Aid Programs Campus-Based Aid Programs -Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant -Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant -Federal Work-Study -Federal Work-Study -Federal Perkins Loans -Federal Perkins Loans Federal Family Education Loans and Direct Loans Federal Family Education Loans and Direct Loans

24. Scholarships Check the BHS guidance filing cabinet Check the BHS guidance filing cabinet Scholarship Bulletin Board (maybe through English classes) Scholarship Bulletin Board (maybe through English classes) Look on the MCPS website Look on the MCPS website Contact the colleges you are interested in Contact the colleges you are interested in On-line On-line Fast Web Fast Web Jefferson Scholars @ UVA, Davidson, etc. Jefferson Scholars @ UVA, Davidson, etc.

25. For More Information College Information Night for Parents of Seniors—August 28, 6:30 pm in auditorium College Information Night for Parents of Seniors—August 28, 6:30 pm in auditorium Financial Aid Workshop--TBA Financial Aid Workshop--TBA

26. THE END MEET WITH YOUR COUNSELOR ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS FOR AFTER HIGH SCHOOL MEET WITH YOUR COUNSELOR ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS FOR AFTER HIGH SCHOOL STAY ON TOP OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS IF YOU’RE LOOKING AT SCHOOLS STAY ON TOP OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS IF YOU’RE LOOKING AT SCHOOLS ENJOY YOUR SENIOR YEAR! ENJOY YOUR SENIOR YEAR!

27. College Visits Come by Guidance to make appt. Visits by college admissions representatives will be announced.