1. College Jump Start Night Shawnee High School May 9, 2013

2. Purpose of Presentation Review the college process. Discuss college visits, standardized testing, Naviance, letters of recommendation, and transcripts. Learn about the college admission process from college admissions representatives.

3. College Visits/Interview Visits Take campus tour Visit library, cafeteria, dorms Talk with students The Interview This is a good way for schools to know YOU and not what is on paper. Be yourself- there are no right/wrong answers. Be able to state why you are interested in that particular school. * College visits/interviews are excused with a letter from the college on school letterhead.*

4. How many schools should I apply to? Reach 1-2 Good Match 2-3 Safe 1-2  Think about major, location, size, setting (rural/urban/suburban), extracurricular activities.  Realistic evaluation of each college’s admission requirements (grades, standardized test scores, required high school courses).

5. Top Factors for College 1.Grades in Academic Core Courses 2. Strength of Curriculum – Both the amount of course work you complete in high school and the quality of those courses 3. Admission Test Scores – Scores on either the SAT or ACT (most schools accept both interchangeably) 4. High School Grade Point Average Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling

6. From Rowan’s Website…. High School Preparation You must have completed a minimum of 16 college- preparatory units in high school. Your high school curriculum should include (at minimum) the following: 4 units - English 2 units - Laboratory Science* 3 units -College Prep Mathematics* (Algebra I and II, and Geometry) 2 units - Social Studies 5 units - Additional work in at least two of the following: History, Languages (minimum 2 units in one language), Mathematics, Science or English. *Engineering applicants should have 3 units of laboratory science including physics and chemistry and 4 units of college prep. math including pre-calculus. Calculus is strongly recommended.

7. University of Delaware recommends: The University expects all applicants to have completed strong college prep course work: Subject Years Required Years Recommended English 4 4 Math 3 4 Science 3 (2 must include lab) 4 (3 must include lab) History 4 4 Foreign Language 2 of same 4 of same Academic Electives 2 units 2 units Total 18 20-22

8. GPA/Rank Students will receive their Rank and GPA in homeroom in September.  Unweighted is on a 4.0 scale  Weighted is on a 6.0 scale Top 15% weighted rank = NJ Star  Transcript reflects weighted & unweighted GPA & Rank

10. Standardized Tests SAT’s-www.collegeboard.org (SAT Reasoning Test) ACT’s-www.actstudent.org (ACT with writing) SAT Subject Tests are specific one hour content area tests used by a small percentage of colleges. Be sure to confirm if the colleges to which you are applying require these tests and plan accordingly. Send scores to Shawnee High School-CEEB-310763 & colleges of your choice- Free when you register, but fee later NCAA contenders must send scores to NCAA Clearinghouse: 9999 You must send Standardized Test scores to colleges directly from the testing agency: College Board (SAT’s)- www.collegeboard.org ACT- www.actstudent.org AP scores must be sent directly from College Board.

11. Test Dates SAT’s- at Cherokee HS June 1, 2013 (Late deadline 5/22) January 2014 October 2013March 2014 December 2013May 2014 June 2014 ACT’s June 8, 2013 (Seneca-Late deadline 5/17) February 8, 2014 September 21, 2013April 12, 2014 October 26, 2013 (Seneca) June 14, 2014 December 14, 2013

12. BCC CAP COURSES If your child has taken any course as a CAP course you will need to request a transcript directly from BCC (it will not show as CAP on the HS transcript). http://www.bcc.edu/PDFFiles/Forms/(onli ne)TranscriptRequestForm1209.pdf Fall-BCC CAP registration @ Shawnee for 2013-2014 CAP eligible courses

13. Shawnee is going GREEN… With the College Application Process Online applications Online teacher recommendation letters Electronic submission of transcripts and letters

14. Family Connection Powered by NAVIANCE Create a resume Personality/learning style inventories Explore careers/career profiler Search colleges Full length SAT practice tests Apply for scholarships Track transcripts and letters of recommendation http://connection.naviance.com/shawneehs Username: StudentID#@lrstudents.org Password: StudentID#

15. Teacher Recommendations Ask two teachers politely in person. Give teachers at least two weeks notice. Put teacher recommendation request in Naviance 1. Click on Colleges 2. Click on Colleges I’m Applying To 3. Click Add/Cancel Requests 4. Select teacher’s name from drop down bar 5. Click Update Requests Check Naviance to see when letters have been completed. When teachers write you a letter, they will also fill out the common application teacher form electronically. **Teacher letters should be completed when you are requesting transcripts** Counselors will automatically fill out all required forms electronically. If you have any outside letters, you will need to send them on your own.

16. Types of College Admissions Early decision is a contract between you and the college. You can only apply to 1 school early decision. If you are accepted, you MUST attend. BINDING contract! Early action is more flexible. You do not have to commit to the college if you are accepted. You can apply to multiple schools. NON-BINDING contract! Rolling Admission-Applications are evaluated as they are received. Regular Decision- decisions are made once ALL applications have been received by deadline. Priority/VIP Applications – If the school gives you one of these apps AND they accept the common application – YOU MUST fill out the COMMON APP for us to send your documents electronically- you can ask the school to give you a code so that the application is free!!! Pay attention to deadlines

17. Ways to Apply Online o Go to the individual college website. o You will create a username and password. o Fill out the entire application online. Common Application- www.commonapp.org o You will create a username and password. o Fill out once for multiple schools o Some schools have supplemental forms as well ** If a college accepts the Common Application & also has its own online application, you MUST apply using the Common Application for us to be able to send electronic documents**

18. BCC Spring Ahead Program o Fall-Attend BCC informational meeting at Shawnee & fill out free application- https://www.bcc.edu/forms/adm o January-Transcript request form due to Counseling Center o February-BCC placement tests at Shawnee. Exempt if scored 540 in Critical Reading and/or 530 in Math on SAT’s or ACT Reading-23 and/or Math-20 (Must have applied and sent transcript by January in order to take test) o May-Trip to BCC to register for classes (Must have applied, sent transcript & taken placement test in order to attend)

19. College Athletics Students who are planning to play in a Division I, II sport need to complete the following: 1. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center: http://eligbilitycenter.org 2.Send official test scores from College Board/ACT to NCAA 3.Send high school transcript to NCAA-request electronically through Eligibility Center website.

20. College Fair BCC –Mount Laurel Campus Thursday, May 16 th 6-8:30 pm Financial Aid Workshops at 6:30 and 7:45 Special Accommodations Workshop at 7

21. Summer Programs College Essay Writing July 8-11 @ Seneca July 15-18 @ Seneca July 22-25 @ Cherokee July 29-August 1 @Cherokee Time- 9 am-12 pm Tuition-$85 SAT Prep July 15-18 @ Seneca August 5-8 @ Cherokee Time: 8:30 am-12:30 pm Tuition-$110 Register online: www.lrhsd.org/Domain/657

22. Things to do...NOW!! Research & visit colleges Take standardized testing Naviance-research colleges/SAT practice tests/career search Register with NCAA Eligibility Center Ask teachers for recommendation letters (2) and request through Naviance

23. Things to do...in September Counselor will meet with seniors to review college application process Know where you plan to apply Submit parental release of academic records Fill out required Naviance information for college applications Ask teachers for recommendation letters (2) and request through Naviance Finish standardized testing APPLY-**pay attention to deadlines** Early action/decision deadlines are October and early November Rutgers-early action deadline of November 1 st ; Regular decision deadline of December 1st

24. Counseling Center Events Senior Parent College Application Night September 2013 Shawnee Auditorium Financial Aid Night October 2013 Shawnee Auditorium

25. Shawnee News Visit the counseling center’s website: http://www.lrhsd.org/shacounseling Each month the Shawnee eNewsletter is emailed: www.lrhsd.org/enewssubscribe

26. Counselor Contact Information Counselor Last NamesPhone Email Ms. Michelle Torrence A-B x4416 mtorrence@lrhsd.org Mr. Kevin Looney C-D x4408 klooney@lrhsd.org Mr. Gary Hill E-Ha x4419 ghill@lrhsd.org Mrs. Mary Alice Horos He-Manx4411 mhoros@lrhsd.org Mrs. Helene Welde Mar-Pi x4451 hwelde@lrhsd.org Mr. Darren Welsh Pl-So x4451 dwelsh@lrhsd.org Mrs. Erin O’Neill Sp-Zx4402 erinoneill@lrhsd.org Mrs. Heidi Krihak SACx4413 hkrihak@lrhsd.org Shawnee-609-654-7544

27. College Panel Arcadia University-Brittany McCall BCC-Jessica Rose The College of New Jersey-Matt Middleton Dickinson College-Alan Paynter Drexel University-Caitlin Issen Saint Joseph’s University-Samantha Pitcher Richard Stockton College-Steve Phillips Rowan University-David Naphy