2. SENIOR YEAR Hurry Up and WAIT!

3. Application Time Make your list of schools – Reach schools – Target Schools – Safety Schools Consider what is important to you – Location urban/ rural – Program of study – Size – Distance from home – Cost (this should wait until spring to be a factor)

4. Components of the Application Ways to Apply – Early Decision – Binding decision with a school – you make a contract that says if you are accepted you will attend – CANNOT compare financial aid packages – Early Action – apply early and receive notice early – non-binding – Regular Decision – Apply by stated deadline and receive notice by stated deadline – Rolling Admissions – No deadline – once all parts of the application are received, an admissions decision will be made Components of the Application – The Application Itself – Biographical information, activities, family information, many colleges use “Common App” – Transcript – A request must be made for a transcript to be sent from MAST to the colleges – – Test Scores – go directly from Collegeboard and ACT to the colleges based on your request – Essays – Variety of topics – should be interesting, should follow directions, should tell about the student – Recommendations – Usually one from the Guidance Counselor (Mrs. Posse) and 1 or 2 from an upper level core class teacher

5. How do I apply? Common App.org – See which of your schools subscribe to Commonapp – Determine which schools need a supplement Additional essay, teacher recommendation, short answer question Visit the colleges “Admissions Pages” on their web-sites for their preferred form of application Facts.org – Access the online applications to all of the state universities

6. Be ORGANIZED! Take note of your deadlines and plan to be EARLY – not just on time Give your teachers and counselors at least 2 weeks notice of your deadlines EVERY college will have a different deadline Make a spreadsheet, checklist, notebook, binder, file system or whatever works for you to organize everything Use NAVIANCE…… Go to Gomakos.com and look under CAP and Naviance for the online tutorial

7. Sending your Academic Information Transcripts Official transcripts come directly from MAST Requests are made via a transcript request form which you can pick up in the main office Transcripts are sent electronically to all state schools and to UM Transcripts are sent by snail mail in sealed envelopes to all private and out-of-state schools Allow 2 weeks for transcripts to arrive! Test Scores SAT and ACT scores MUST come directly from the Collegeboard and ACT You MUST request for these scores to be sent Colleges WILL superscore which means they will take your HIGHEST from each test (reading, math & writing) for the SAT There is NOT a penalty for taking the test too many times It does however look like you’re not trying to improve if you only take your tests once and do not score in the range of the school to which you are applying Take them again, it is NOT too late, schools WILL wait for test scores to make a decision even past the deadline

8. Essay Do’s and Don’ts Do Sound like YOU Teach the reader about YOU – this may be your only time to show your personality Be interesting – and re-read it, would you find this interesting if you read it about someone else Use your own voice and choose something that is personally meaningful to you Get your essay proofread….. By a teacher, a family member, a friend Don’t Get on a soapbox on a particularly HOT topic – your reader might not have the same stance as you Be sloppy – typos, putting the wrong school name (i.e. UF instead of FSU), show lack of care Be fancy – just be yourself Spend so much time describing someone else or something else that the reader doesn’t learn about YOU Re-write your resume – they already have a copy of that – write something experiential or meaningful

9. While you wait…… you do the money part………

10. How to pay for College Merit Based – Scholarships based on academics, athletics, leadership, essay contests, community service, and more – Some offered by the institutions directly – Others are by individual entities – businesses, not- for-profits, etc. – Bright Futures – WE WILL REGISTER TOGETHER AS A CLASS! Need Based – FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid Fafsa.ed.gov – NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL January 1 www.fafsa.ed.gov – CSS Profile – Can be found on Collegeboard.com – required by some private schools – available in October – Grants, Loans, Work Study

11. Springtime You will have all of your acceptance letters You will have all of your financial aid packages You will have all of your scholarship offers You and your parents will NOW be able to make an informed decision on where to go to college

12. APRIL 30, 2012 It’s Decision Time………… What sweatshirt will you be wearing?