1. SENIOR SEMINAR 2015 1

2. DECIDING ON A COLLEGE Characteristics to consider: location size degree programs offered extracurricular activities/campus life admission policy cost/financial aid accredidation support services 2

3. RESEARCH SCHOOLS OHIO’S PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES: www.opuac.orgwww.opuac.org OHIO’S PRIVATE COLLEGES: www.aicuo.edu/opc www.aicuo.edu/opc OHIO MEANS JOBS K12 COLLEGE NAVIGATOR: http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ NAVIANCE: http://connection.naviance.com/fairviewhs http://connection.naviance.com/fairviewhs 3

4. VISIT THE COLLEGES YOU ARE CONSIDERING meet with an admissions counselor take a tour student union sit in on a class/talk to faculty 2 excused absences from school…forms by Mrs. Lockwood in main office 4

5. COLLEGE REPS AT FHS check the website, counseling office door, Mrs. Parente’s blog for upcoming college rep visits sign up with Mrs. Merrill in the counseling office have your teacher sign the pass and bring it with you to the visit 5

6. WHAT DO COLLEGES LOOK FOR Standardized Test Scores GPA/Class Rank Rigor of Course work in high school Extracurricular Activities/volunteering/work Letters of Recommendation Essays 6

7. ACT/SAT www.actstudent.org www.collegeboard.com can re-take tests several times to better your score scores should be sent directly to college from testing agency 7

8. ACT vs. SAT ACT is an achievement test that is curriculum based SAT is an ability test that predicts how well you will do in college Colleges will accept either test (ACT plus writing) Selective colleges may want SAT Subject Tests (different than SAT reasoning test) 8

9. APPLICATION PROCESS All application packets require: Application Transcript (students must fill out a transcript request form and give it to Mrs. Merrill) Standardized Test Scores (should be sent directly from the testing agency) Many (including common app) additionally require: essay or personal statement letter(s) of recommendation school report/counselor form 9

10. APPLICATION PROCESS CONT’D. KNOW YOUR DEADLINES!!! (ALL COLLEGES HAVE DIFFERENT DEADLINES) THE COUNSELING OFFICE REQUIRES AT LEAST A WEEK TO TEN DAYS TO PROCESS ALL APPLICATIONS, SO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN APPLYING A WORD OF ADVICE: APPLY EARLY!!! 10

11. FINANCIAL AID Complete the FAFSA (after Jan. 1) www.fafsa.ed.gov www.fafsa.ed.gov Can complete the FAFSA calculator ahead of time for an estimate and also register for a PIN Some schools also accept/require the CSS Profile (fall of senior year) www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com Financial Aid night in December/January…stay tuned! 11

12. SCHOLARSHIPS Check the school website for scholarships…we post them as we find out about them Many University sponsored scholarships require no special application —watch deadlines for scholarship eligibility Local scholarships will be available spring of senior year www.schoolsoup.comwww.schoolsoup.com, https://jobseeker.k- 12.ohiomeansjobs.monster.com/FundIt/scholarship.a spxhttps://jobseeker.k- 12.ohiomeansjobs.monster.com/FundIt/scholarship.a spx 12