Senior Parent Breakfast

1
Senior Parent Breakfast

• College Application
• Procedures and Information
• September 10th 11th, 2008
• Staples Cafeteria

2
Welcome

• The purpose of todays meeting is to present you
  with the nuts and bolts of the college
  application process.

3
Parent Tips

• DO
• Keep your childs college process private
• Avoid social gatherings where the focus is
  college admissions
• Check out rumors about college admissions with
  your childs counselor
• Consider taking up yoga or meditation.

• DO NOT
• Become fixated on one perfect college for your
  child
• Define your child by his/her GPA or SAT/ACT
  scores
• Forget they are still in high school
• Lose your sense of humor

4
Parent Credo

• The right college is the one where your child
  will fit in scholastically and socially. Be
  realistic in your aspirations and support his/her
  choice.
• Author Unknown

5
Naviance Family Connection and CHOICES Planner

• See Naviance flyer
• See CHOICES flyer
• CHOICES passwords are included in the flyer
• Information regarding Naviance Family Connection
  was sent home in January 2008
• http//connection.naviance.com/Staples
• Please contact the College Career Center at
  341-1424 if you lost your password for Naviance

6
College Career Center

• Located in Room 571 adjacent to Guidance Office
• Available to students and parents
• Numerous resources available to aid in the search
  for the right fit
• Open the following Thursday night in October to
  both students and parents October 23rd from 6
  8pm. Please call 341-1886 to schedule an
  appointment. Other nights to be announced.
• Walk In Hours are available for students to meet
  with a counselor to answer questions Mon.,
  Tues., Thurs., Fri. during lunch periods.

7
College Representatives Visit Staples

• Each year over 170 admissions representatives
  from various institutions visit Staples during
  September, October and early November
• Visits are for students only
• Students need to obtain a pass from the College
  and Career Center BEFORE they can attend a
  session
• View Naviance Family Connection for frequent
  updates
• http//connection.naviance.com/Staples

8
SAT vs. ACT

• ACT
• Structure is English, Reading, Math and Science
  Reasoning
• (Optional writing)
• There is no penalty for wrong answers
• Test is scored 1-36 per section and 36 is the
  highest possible composite score
• Students can choose which composite score to send
  to colleges

• SAT
• Structure is Critical Reading, Math and Writing
• There is a penalty for wrong answers
• Test is scored
• 200-800 per section and 2400 is the highest
  possible combined score
• All scores are sent to colleges

9
SAT /ACT Registration Dates

• SAT Test Date Reg. Date Late Reg.
• Oct. 4 Sept. 9 Sept. 16
• Nov. 1 Sept. 26 Oct. 10
• Dec. 6 Nov. 5 Nov. 18
• ACT Test Date Reg. Date Late Reg.
• Oct. 25 Sept. 19 Oct. 3
• Dec. 13 Nov. 7 Nov. 20
• www.collegeboard.com
• www.actstudent.org

10
SAT/ACT Scores

• We do not list any scores on the
• transcript
• Be sure to send your official scores
• to each college directly through
• SAT or ACT
• www.collegeboard.com
• www.actstudent.org
• Be sure to check individual college websites
• for specific information regarding testing
• requirements
• SAT and ACT score comparison chart can be found
  at the following link
• http//professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload
  /act-sat-concordance-tables.pdf

11
SAT/ACT Scorescontinued

• SAT ALL test administration scores are sent to
  colleges via the score report you request
• ACT YOU choose which test administration dates
  are sent to colleges when requesting score report
• Colleges use the composite score in admissions
  decisions
• We recommend most students taking the ACT include
  the optional writing component
• Many more schools are becoming SAT/ACT optional.
  Please view www.fairtest.org for an updated list.

12
Types of Admission

• ED Early Decision binding contract and
  commitment to one school only. No chance to view
  financial aid package beforehand. Applications
  are due in November. Decisions rendered by
  December 15th
• EA Early Action non-binding. Can apply to
  more than one school. Many applications are due
  in November.
• Single Choice Early Action non binding contract
  to one school only
• Rolling Admission decision rendered upon
  receipt of application first come, first served
• Regular Decision decisions rendered after
  application due date. Students may hear as late
  as April 15th

13
Common ApplicationQuick Facts

• It is a single application that students can use
  to apply to over 300 colleges.
• The participating colleges have signed an
  agreement that they will NOT differentiate
  between the use of their individual college
  application and the Common Application.
• Many schools require supplements to the Common
  Application
• See www.commonapp.org for useful information as
  well as our informative packet.

14
Essay/Personal Statement

• Needs to be the voice of a 17 or 18 year old
• Counselors are happy to read for content
• English teacher is an excellent resource please
  choose only ONE teacher
• Students should write
• thank you notes

Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the soup
15
Interview

• Check with each school to determine if interviews
  are available
• There are two kinds
• Informative
• Evaluative
• If a school recommends an interview, we suggest
  you arrange one.
• Be prepared with appropriate questions
• See page 21 in Jr. Planning Guide
• Be yourself at all times
• Dress neatly
• Follow up with a thank you note or e-mail

16
Letters of Recommendation from Teachers

• Most colleges require one or two letters of
  recommendation from academic teachers.
• Student must approach teacher and request a
  letter of recommendation at least 4 weeks prior
  to
• first application deadline date.
• Student Must
• Give teacher a stamped, business size envelope,
  addressed to each college
• Write their name and the application deadline
  date on the inside flap of the envelope
• Use teachers name and SHS address as return
  address
• If the college requires a teacher recommendation
  form, please attach to the appropriate addressed
  envelope
• If the college utilizes the Common Application
  teacher evaluation form, the student should give
  the teacher only one form

17
Teacher Recs continued

• Colleges prefer that students waive their rights
  to view any recommendations
• Letters of recommendation are confidential and
  are not shared with students and parents. The
  less access allowed to recommendation letters,
  the more credibility they are given.
• Students should write a hand written thank you
  note to each teacher who took the time to write
  them a recommendation letter

18
NCAA Clearinghouse

• Only for Div I or Div II schools
• Register online with NCAA Clearinghouse
• www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
• College and Career Center has specific reference
  materials for high school athletes
• See page 12 of the Post Secondary Planning Guide
  for samples of an Athletic resume
• Can apply in November, but final eligibility by
  the NCAA is granted after graduation
• Be sure to print the NCAA Student Release Form
  and return to Mrs. Ketley
• Please direct specific questions to Athletic
  Director, Marty Lisevick at 341-1263

19
Division III Athletics

• No need to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse
• Contact college coach to let him/her know you are
  interested
• Take direction from the college coach

20
Musician/Artist/Actor

• Check with each individual school for specific
  instructions
• Auditions/CD
• Portfolio

21
Transcript Request Procedures

• Students should see Mrs. Ketley in Guidance
  between the hours of
• 730 830 am or 1100 -1230 pm
• to make requests
• Initial transcript requests should be made 4
  weeks in advance of the first application
  deadline
• Cost per transcript is 5.00
• Requests will be accepted on or after September
  12th

22
Transcript Request Procedures continued

• Mrs. Ketley in Guidance will provide envelopes
  for transcripts
• If possible, bring in labels with college
  addresses, otherwise students will address all
  envelopes
• Be sure to have your son/daughter fill out an
  Activity Sheet so his/her counselor can write a
  letter of recommendation.
• Parents are encouraged to complete Parent Brag
  Sheet to assist counselor in writing
  recommendation

23
Transcript Request Procedures continued

• Transcript Release Form needs to be filled out
  only ONE time
• SHS Secondary School Report Form needs to be
  filled out only ONE time. Individual colleges
  secondary school report forms are no longer
  necessary

24
Transcript Request Procedures continued

• ALL forms going to Mrs. Ketley need to be turned
  in together
• Transcript Release Form
• SHS Secondary School Report Form
• Colleges Im applying to page
• College Name and Address Labels
• 5.00 per transcript
• Student Activity Sheet
• The Parent Brag Sheet is optional
• See College Application Procedures Packet for
  specific details.

25
How Does Everything Get There?
Transcript, SHS Secondary School Report Form,
School Profile Counselor Rec Requested by
student from Mrs. Ketley mailed from Staples
Test Scores Requested by student from
SAT/ACT CEEB Code is 070920
Application Essay To be completed sent by
student
Teacher Recs Requested by student rec is mailed
directly to college by Teacher
COLLEGE ADMISSION FOLDER at the COLLEGE
26
It does not matter which piece arrives at the
college first.
Test Scores
Application
COLLEGE ADMISSION FOLDER at the COLLEGE
Transcript
Teacher Recs
27
How Can I Help My Child?

• Be the voice of reason and offer support during
  this process
• Help your child to be organized
• -arrange college visits
• -keep track of deadlines
• -send test scores to colleges
• Have your child check online to see if
  application is complete or follow up with a phone
  call to be sure the college received all
  materials sent
• Complete Parent Brag Sheet for your childs
  counselor

28
Please complete and hand in the Evaluation Form.

• Thank you for coming.

29
Breathe deeply and always remember that a year
from now your children will very likely be
attending some truly excellent college where they
will get a first rate education and have a
wonderful experience. And dont forget that the
quality of their educational experience is far
more up to them than it is up to the institution
that they attend.