1. NORTHWEST SENIOR PARENT MEETING

2.  Cap & Gown Fee - $ 50 (Due by March 28 th )  Senior Banquet - Thursday, April 25 th (Tickets sold beginning April 22 rd )  Prom – Friday, May 17 th at the Gaithersburg Hilton (Tickets sold beginning May 3 rd )

3.  Senior Class Activities During the PSAT  7:30 am – Breakfast in the Cafeteria  8:15 am – Group Photograph in the Stadium  9:00am – Balfour Representative to ▪ Distribute Graduation Announcement information ▪ Cap & Gown Forms  9:30am – Class Meeting  10:15am – Guest Speaker  10:55am – Dismissal to Lunch

4. College Process Presented by: Theresa Dethlefsen, Resource Counselor

5. American University* Art Institute of Washington* Berklee College of Music* Boise State University* Boston University* Brown University* Bucknell University* Clemson University * Colgate University * Coppin State University * Cornell University * Dartmouth College * Dickinson University * Duke University * Elizabethtown College * Elon University* Fordham University* Frostburg State University * George Mason University * Georgetown University * Grove City College * Hampton University * Harrisburg University of Science & Technology * High Point University* Hood College * Indiana University at Bloomington * Indiana University of Pennsylvania * Ithaca College *James Madison University * Johns Hopkins University* Johnson & Wales University* University of Kentucky* LIU, CW Post* Loyola University* Marist College *University of Maryland* McDaniel College * Montgomery College, Germantown * MIT*Mount Saint Mary's University * New York University* NC State University* Ohio State University* Pacific Union College * Pennsylvania State University * Pratt Institute * Purdue University * Rice University * RIT* University of Rochester* Rutgers* Salisbury University * Stevenson University * Syracuse University* Towson University * Tulane University* Utah State * Vanderbilt University * Virginia Commonwealth University * Virginia Polytechnic Institute * Wake Forest University * West Virginia University *Yale University

6.  SSL Hours  SAT, ACT and Accuplacer Information  College Application Process  Transcript Request Process  Essay Writing

7. Ms. McCarthy-Redd (SSL Coordinator)  75 SSL hours  Students should have all hours completed by the end of first semester of their senior year  Summer hours are due by Sept. 28 th  SSL Opportunities:  Review bulletin board outside counseling office  http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/ssl/ http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/ssl/

8. Register online for the ACT @ www.actstudent.org www.actstudent.org ACT Plus Writing $50.50 Upcoming test dates: Oct. 27 register by Sept. 21 Dec. 8 register by Nov. 2 Register online @ www.satcollegeboard.org www.satcollegeboard.org SAT $50 Late registration add $22 Upcoming test dates: Oct. 6 late registration ends Sept. 21 Nov. 3 register by Oct. 4 Remember the Northwest High School Code when registering: 210-589 Seniors should have had a conversation with their counselors about which is the ‘best fit’ test!

9. … for college level placement at Montgomery College Accuplacer Exemptions: SAT Scores of 550 on the CR / 550 on the Math and /or score of 24 on the ACT math and/or English Test Dates: Nov. 8: MCPS Accuplacer Feb. 5: MC Accuplacer Diagnostic Feb. 6: MC Accuplacer Online Practice April 17: MC Accuplacer See your counselor before registration!

10.  2-Year vs. 4-Year Colleges  Research using Family Connections ▪ Look at scattergrams ▪ Identify 2 reach, 2 target, 2 safe schools ▪ Be aware of application deadlines for college.  Military  Recruiters and the ASVAB  Work/Apprenticeships/Vocational training

11.  All seniors and parents should have met with their counselor over the summer to discuss graduation requirements and post-secondary plans.  Ms. Davis (College and Career Information Coordinator) is also available to help with Family Connection registration and college searches.

12. 1. Obtain college applications 2. Review/create accounts for Family Connections and the Common Application 3. Set up Family Connection FERPA waiver and Common Application match. 4. Request transcripts through registrar by completing the Electronic processing form  Submit the materials to the registrar at least 15 school days before the postmark due date of your application. 5. Send SAT/ACT scores through Collegeboard and ACT. 6. Complete and return self-evaluation to Counselor and Teacher 7. Mail or electronically submit student portion of the application directly to the college. 1.Send SAT/ACT Scores 2.Request Letters of Recommendations

14.  Fees for Official Transcripts: 1 – 3 FREE  4+ $3.00 per official transcript  NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE needs a transcript if student plans to play sports in college.  No envelope is needed.  After registered with NCAA on-line, bring pages 1 and 2 of the NCAA Release Authorization to the Registrar.

15.  Self-Evaluation Form  Form available on NW Website.  Students should speak to their counselor about writing a letter of recommendation. ▪ It will be sent along with your transcript unless otherwise indicated.  If teacher recommendation is required, students MUST request letter of recommendation from their teacher in PERSON before selecting their name on Family Connections!!!!!! ▪ Provide teachers with a copy of your self-evaluation and a note about what schools you are asking them to write for and their deadlines.

16.  FAFSA is the most critical piece for receiving $ for college.  Financial Aid Seminar (December 4 @ 6:30pm)  FAFSA should be completed between Jan. 1 and March 1, 2013.  Scholarship can be found via Family Connections, Fastweb.com, and Career Center page of the NWHS website.  Scholarship Bulletin sent via Family Connections to registered students & parents.  Students are usually asked to complete an essay for every scholarship application. Some scholarships also require letters of recommendation.  Ms. Davis seeks out students who qualify for various scholarship opportunities.  It is important that students follow through with these applications as deadlines usually have a quick turn around time.

17.  The topic should be meaningful and the one that the student will enjoy writing about.  Be descriptive!!  Don’t be afraid to brag about accomplishments.  Be creative, especially if it fits your personality.  Don’t try to impress schools by using “big” words.  Relax-writing the essay is not as tough as it seems.