1. Student Services Department Riverside Brookfield High School

2. Application Filing Process Completing the college application Essays & personal statements Letters of recommendation from counselors/teachers Requesting ACT, SAT, & AP scores Transcript requests Putting the pieces together

3. Completing the Application Online applications vs. paper applications Resume of extra-curricular activities Sports Clubs/organizations Leadership positions Volunteer hours/service projects Honors/awards Check application deadlines Early Decision (Binding Agreement) Early Action Priority Filing

4. College Essays Start essays now Ask a counselor for direction and ideas Ask an English teacher for help Essay Writing Workshop on Sept 14 th during 4 th hour Be sure to answer the essay question asked Avoid writing a “laundry list” of achievements Focus more on one or two experiences Proofread, proofread, proofread!

5. Letters of Recommendations Counselor recommendations Students must complete the 2 page double-sided “Senior Questionnaire” form Please give your counselor at least 2 weeks notice Teacher recommendations Give teachers at least 2 weeks notice Ask teachers early – many of the same teachers get asked Provide teachers with a college list Remember to write a “thank you” note Junior year teachers are a good choice

6. Requesting ACT, SAT & AP Scores Request all tests scores directly from ACT or College Board No test scores are indicated on the transcripts Request tests scores as soon as possible Find out if they need SAT Subject Tests ACT scores www.actstudent.org $12.00 per score per school, $16.00 per score for priority SAT & AP scores www.collegeboard.com $15.00 per score per school

7. Requesting a Transcript All transcripts are processed by Ms. Englehart, not the counselors A $5.oo fee was included on students’ fee statements Complete a request form for every college Forms are available in Student Services and on the Student Services webpage http://www.rbhs208.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?type=d &uREC_ID=248958&pREC_ID=572770 http://www.rbhs208.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?type=d &uREC_ID=248958&pREC_ID=572770 Parents must sign the request if you are under 18 Allow 10 school days for requests to be processed

8. Putting the Pieces Together Setup an appointment with your counselor after applications have been submitted Counselors will go through the transcript release forms with you Most transcripts will be sent electronically to colleges through Naviance (e-Docs)

9. View Status on Naviance

10. Still College Searching? Future Focus College Fair at Triton College September 29, 2015 at 7:00 – 9:00 NACAC College Fair at Navy Pier, Chicago September 26, 2015 at 11:00 – 3:00 Visit college campuses (Helpful Tips on RB Website) Parent/Student Evening programs at various locations Use Naviance for college searches Continue to talk with your counselor

11. College Rep Visits at RBHS

12. Signing Up For College Reps

13. Financing Your Education Must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) starting January 1, 2016 FAFSA is used by the U.S Department of Education to determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) FAFSA is used by nearly all colleges to determine eligibility for federal, state, and college sponsored financial aid including grants, loans and work-study programs CSS (College Scholarship Service Profile) Net Price Calculator

14. Net Price Calculator Example of Duke University *The above example assumes a parental income of $85,000, savings of $40,000, and home equity of $100,000.

15. Financing Your Education Help Financial Aid Planning Night at RBHS November 11, 2015 at 7:00-8:30 (Auditorium) FAFSA Workshop at RBHS February TBD(Library & Computer Labs)

16. National Scholarship Opportunities National Scholarships Located under College and Career Information on the Student Services homepage http://www.rbhs208.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?type=d&uREC_ ID=248958&pREC_ID=572783 Each scholarship varies in qualifications and application deadlines Updated weekly as scholarship information is received from the organizations offering the scholarship Other resources for National Scholarships FastWeb – www.fastweb.com Student Scholarships– www.studentscholarships.org Both sites allow the students to: Search for local, state and national scholarships and grants Identify scholarships based on your academics, community service activities, talents and interests

17. Local Scholarship Opportunities Local Scholarships Located under Local Scholarships on the Student Services homepage http://www.rbhs208.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?type=d&u REC_ID=248958&pREC_ID=572782 Available to Riverside Brookfield students only Includes academic, athletic, and community service scholarships Scholarship awards range from $500 to $7500 Students can apply for and receive multiple scholarships Last year, 30 seniors received over $80,000 in Local Scholarship money Applications will be posted on the Student Services homepage in mid-February 2016 Deadline for applications will be in mid-March 2015

18. University Scholarships Each college or university offers scholarships and grants directly to its admitted students Scholarships and grants do not need to be repaid Some scholarships are automatically awarded to the students based on their application information To receive most merit-based scholarships, the Undergraduate Application is all you need to complete to be considered Other university scholarships require an additional application that can be found on its website Each college/university will have different scholarship deadlines

19. Handouts Important Dates for Seniors Common Questions Handout Senior Recommendation Questionnaire and Parent Questionnaire Senior Data Update Stay updated with the latest information by liking our page on Facebook and following on Twitter and getting text reminders through Remind 101

20. Best of luck on your college admissions journey! Questions?