1. Reservoir High School February 19, 2015
College Admission 101
Reservoir High School
February 19, 2015

2. Schedule for the Evening
7:00 – 7:25 Introductions & Opening:
College Admissions Overview
7:30 – 7:55 Break-out Session 1
8:00 – 8:25 Break-out Session 2
8:30 – 9:00 Break-out Session 3
Counselors will be available in Student Services for Q&A and support getting on Naviance throughout the evening.
Military Personnel will be available in Student Services for Q&A.

3. NACAC’s 2012 State of College Admissions What Is Important?
NACAC’s 2012 State of College Admission report is based on ten years of surveys of school counselors and colleges and universities nationwide. The report presents information on a variety of topics related to the transition to college and the counseling and admission professions, including:
High school graduation and college enrollment
Applications to college
Early Decision, Early Action, and wait lists
Factors in the admission decision
School counselors and college counseling in high schools
The college admission office 

4. THE TOP FIVE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA

5. UMCP Statistics from Class of 2015

6. There Are No Guarantees
Student Example:
GPA 4.55
SAT CR MATH 580
Was rejected from University of Maryland
Was accepted to schools comparable to University of Delaware, Towson, Salisbury and UMBC

7. There’s A School For Everyone
Student Example:
GPA
SAT CR MATH 460
Was accepted to several colleges including St. Mary’s, Hood College, Stevenson University, and Bridgewater.
The student earned a 3.0 during his first semester and took a winter online class and currently has earned 18 credits.

8. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?
9th and 10th graders
Enroll in rigorous courses
Do well in your rigorous classes
Start preparing for your SAT’s and ACT’s now.
Read, read, read, read, read, read, read
Start looking at SAT prep books
Be ready for the PSAT in the fall (October)

9. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU
11TH Graders (rising seniors)
Work hard to identify colleges that are a good academic match
Study for your SAT’s and ACT’s
Be realistic about creating a list of schools where you will be accepted
Visit schools to determine what criteria is important to you

10. RESERVOIR HIGH CLASS OF 2016 COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE
March
Research Schools Online
Register for SAT/ACT if you have not already taken
April
Visit schools over spring break
Take SAT prep class or study independently
Continue to research schools
May
Take AP exams and SAT’s
Complete Naviance surveys for teacher and counselor recs
Submit waiver of rights form to registrar
Concentrate on having a strong finish to school year

11. RESERVOIR HIGH CLASS OF 2016 COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE
June-August
Visit schools of interest
Get a summer job or find a volunteer opportunity
Start working on applications and essays
Register for a Fall SAT and/or ACT
September
Senior Meetings with Counselors
Submit teacher recommendation request forms
Submit transcript request form to registrar
Attend all workshops to help with applications
October
Complete applications and essays
Submit all November 1 deadline applications
Take October SAT

12. USING NAVIANCE TO SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS AND LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Complete questionnaires on Naviance for teachers and counselors in the spring
Parents complete questionnaires on Naviance
Add colleges to “Colleges I’m Thinking About” in Naviance in spring/summer
“Match” Naviance to Common App in the fall
Submit teacher recommendation request form 20 days prior to your deadline
Submit transcript request form to registrar 20 days prior to deadline
Send SAT and ACT scores directly from College Board and ACT

13. COUNSELOR AND TEACHER INPUT FORMS

14. ADDING COLLEGES TO “COLLEGES I’M THINKING ABOUT”

15. Transcript Request Form
Due September 25th for the November 1st college deadline.
The registrar will add all of these colleges to “Colleges I’m Applying to” in Naviance.

16. Teacher Recommendation Form
Due September 25th for the November 1st college deadline.
Teachers will submit their letter of recs online through Naviance.
Teachers will use information you provide on the “Teacher Information Form” in Naviance to write letters of rec.

17. Closing Remarks There is no such thing as a PERFECT school.
College is not about where you go, but rather what the student makes of the experience
Spend the time, and YOU WILL find a school that “fits”
Don’t hesitate to seek our help!
Resist attempts to turn the process into a status competition
Don’t allow the cost of a college education to cut short educational pursuits
Monitor your online and social media activity
Create a separate address just for college correspondence

18. Finding the Right Fit
college-fit/how-to-find-a-college-that-fits-you