1. Dartmouth High School COLLEGE PLANNING NIGHT CLASS OF 2012
Welcome/Thank You
Pres. meant to supplement info that students will be getting in the next few weeks
Goal is to provide parents/students with info that will help them begin and manage the timeline. Info about the application process will be presented next fall.
September 27, 2011

2. “Procrastination makes easy things hard, and hard things harder.”
-Mason Cooley
Professor of English
Columbia University

3. College Planning Night
Review of Junior Parent Night
Senior Year Checklist
Elements of College Applications
Making a Final Decision
Financial Aid Basics

4. Review of Junior Parent Night
Standardized Tests
SAT Reasoning Test
SAT Subject Tests
ACT
Advanced Placement (AP) Exams

5. Review of Junior Parent Night
College Search Process
Academic Program/Major
Location
Size
Environment
Cost/Financial Aid
Athletics/Extracurricular Activities
Internships/Job Placement

6. Review of Junior Parent Night
Developing Your College List
Reach
Realistic
Safety (Academic and Financial)

7. Review of Junior Parent Night
Researching Colleges
Internet searches
Talk with friends, family and teachers
College representative visits to DHS
September 28th, October 5th and 12th
- Campus tours

8. A moment of reflection…

9. So…Now What???
What should seniors be focusing on now?

10. **Registration Deadline for the November 5th
Senior Year Checklist
College Planning Night
Register and prepare for standardized tests
Complete college search process
Narrow down list of potential schools
Develop activities list/resume
**Registration Deadline for the November 5th
SAT is October 7th
One of the items seniors should add to the top of their checklists is registering for the SAT college entrance exam online (website address above). The cost of registration is $49 and students may add up to 4 colleges as score recipients at no additional charge, as long as they add the schools between now and 9 days after the exam. After that time, still possible to send scores but the cost is $9 per school. Students must request that their scores be sent directly from the collegeboard to their recipient colleges. Students may also opt to take the ACT college entrance exam. Some colleges accept either exam score and students may find out if this is an option for their colleges by visiting the admissions page on the colleges’ sites.
In guidance we have many resources to help students narrow down their list of choices. We have resources in print format and online. Refer to college matchmaker where students can search for colleges based on location, size, majors offered, student services and activities, housing, cost and financial aid.
College representatives visiting tomorrow, Oct 5th and Oct 12th. May meet with up to 4 colleges during school hours.
Develop activities list and resume for ….. Rec letters and have by your side while filling out college apps

11. **Registration Deadline for the December 3rd
Senior Year Checklist
Take tours of colleges that are on your list
Continue preparing for standardized tests
Proofread/finish personal statement
**Registration Deadline for the December 3rd
SAT is November 8th
One great avenue to find a well-fitting college is to take a tour and see it in person. Here you may ask countless questions to admissions’ representatives, see the campus classrooms, dorms and common areas, sit in on a class if allowed and get an overall feel for what life on campus is like.
Seniors are allowed (3) excused absences for college visits this fall: must obtain permission prior to event and after the event, bring proof of attendance which they may obtain at admissions’ office.
If you are unable to visit a faraway college, research if they will be holding workshops nearby. For example, Syracuse University hosts an annual admissions session at a hotel in Boston. Check the colleges’ websites to find out about nearby upcoming events.
Preparing for tests: actstudent.org; collegeboard.org/tests … free online full length practice test that can be completed all at once or in small increments. Answers can be saved and revisited later in student’s account; item by item feedback provided at its completion so that students know where they should focus their studies. Additionally the site also provides test taking tips and strategies. For those who took PSAT’s, enter code on score report and collegeboard will create an individualized study plan based on PSAT results.
Personal statements: teachers, guidance counselors, college students and family members may provide constructive criticism and editing advice prior to final drafts.

12. Senior Year Checklist
Finalize list of schools (Reach/Realistic/Safety)
Finalize activities list
Confirm letters of recommendation
Develop chart with deadlines and
requirements
Collegeboard.org’s admissions statistics for every college in addition to the individual colleges’ admissions pages. (Admissions’ standards above, inline with, and below your achievements, respectively)
Activities list, again for reference when filling out college applications and applying for scholarships
Confirm with the teachers you asked for rec letters that they are indeed working on them, and give them at least two weeks notice prior to any deadlines.
Chart with deadlines and requirements to ensure you are on track to apply on time and that you have completed all preadmission requirements and included all pieces of the application itself, including personal statement, letters of rec, etc. All requirements are cited on colleges’ admissions page. We will review specific pieces of the application in detail in just a few slides.

13. Senior Year Checklist Write final version of personal statement
Complete applications/supplements
Request transcripts and counselor recommendations ten days before
application deadline
Submit applications
All requests for transcripts and counselor recommendations are due 10 days prior to any deadline!
Transcript request: in guidance
Common app guidance counselor request: online 10 days prior to deadline
$4 flat fee for us to mail transcripts

14. What Are the Pieces to the Application Puzzle??

15. Required Elements of College Applications
Application forms
Common Application
Institutional applications
Transcript and high school profile
Standardized test scores
Add score recipients online
Application fee or fee waiver
Fee range = $10-$40 for community colleges and up to $90.00 for private schools.

16. Supplemental Elements of College Applications
Personal statement
Letters of recommendation
Supplements
Supporting documents
Mid Year Report
Secondary School Form
Portfolios/Auditions

17. A Fieldtrip to the Common Application…
The Common Application for Undergraduate Admission

18. I’m In!!
Now What???

19. Decision Making Framework
Follow-up visit to look at finer points
Research your department/professors
Check availability of special programs
Find out availability of dorm options
Accepted student events
Spend the night
Financial aid comparison
May 1 is National Candidates’ Reply Date
Fulltime faculty: adjunct faculty ratio.
Are there specialized programs you require or are interested in? Study abroad, enrichment programs. Anything you really want…sports, extracurriculars, etc. All can be found at school’s site, in person on a visit, under ‘academics’ and ‘student life’ or programs pages.
Research specific major programs under “academics” “programs” or “majors” pages on sites.
Seniors may also have 3 excused absences for accepted student events in the spring semester to help them make the decision. Visit the college before you decide!!!
Financial aid awards may also determine where you will be attending. College A may offer you loans only, College B may offer you a merit scholarship, etc. More about this on financial aid night.

20. How Can We Afford This??

21. Financial Aid FREE Scholarship Search Engines FAFSA CSS Profile- -
FAFSA
CSS Profile -
DHS Scholarship Bulletin
FAFSA4Caster -
DHS Awards Night

22. Financial Aid Night Thursday, December 1, 2011 6:30 PM
Dartmouth High School Auditorium
Guest Presenter:
Stephanie Wells
Massachusetts Educational
Financing Authority

23. DHS Guidance Phone: (508) 961-2730 Mr
DHS Guidance Phone: (508) Mr. Christopher Boyle, Dean of Students
Mr. Eric Silva, Ext. 436
Last Names A – D
Mr. David White, Ext. 433
Last Names M – P
Ms. Nicole Heath, Ext. 432
Ms. Leanne Squeglia, Ext. 435
Last Names E – L
Ms. Jodi Newbury, Ext. 434
Last Names R – S
Mr. William Ventura, Ext Last Names T – Z