Senior College Night

1
Senior College Night

• Hammond High School
• Student Services
• Class of 2010

2
The Guidance Office

• Senior Counselors
• Jane Mooney A-De
• Margaret Shomali Df-K
• Thomas Bowen L-P
• Lisa Sivell Q-Z
• College Applications Registrars
• Lisa Clearfield ( lunchtime)
• Vicky de Cheubel (mornings and lunchtime)

3
Program Topics

• Introduction of Counselors
• College Resources-Where to begin
• The College Application
• SAT and ACT
• How to Obtain a Transcript
• How to obtain a Recommendation
• Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Choosing a college
• Please hold all questions until the end of the
  program. Thank you

4
College Resources for Researching Schools

• Howard County School System College Information
  Guide
• On-line Services
• On-line applications and websites
• Choices Computer Program
• www.access.bridges.com
• College Representative Visits to Hammond
• Howard County College Fair
• October 18th 1-4pm. Atholton High School
• College Visits and Interviews
• College Handbooks
• Book stores

5
Where to Begin

• GPA, SAT ACT scores, course selection,
  extracurricular activities and personal resume
  are where you begin.
• The school that is the best for you is the one
  that suits your talents and work style.
• You are not looking for a cool decal for the back
  of the family mini van, but a place with the
  supports you need, where you can learn and grow.
• Be honest with the schools, as you expect them to
  be honest with you.

6
Your Profile Guides the Search

• Student needs are based on the student profile
• Quality of schedule and academic courses
• Grade point average (GPA)
• SATI / ACT scores
• SAT II scores
• Student Credentials
• Teacher Recommendations
• Counselor Recommendations
• Student Essay

7
Student Needs

• Schools that offer acceptance to students with a
  similar profile.
• Majors in areas of interest or a variety of
  majors for the undecided student.
• Family needs and personal needs.
• Geographic considerations.
• Financial Aid needs.

8
Applications

• Go to the website of the school and find the
  application online.
• Apply online. (preferred)
• There are computers available in the Student
  Services Office and in media.
• Choices

9
Applications

• Apply to two schools which will probably accept
  you based on last years freshman profile.
• Apply to a school which you will be happy to
  attend and that has a fairly early notification
  date or rolling admission.
• Apply to your dream school even if it is a reach.
• Apply to schools which fit your profile.
• Proper research and decision making will lead you
  to 6-8 schools.

10
How to read the Applications

• Read all of your applications
• Note that the personal information can be filled
  out using the Student Credential Form.
• Read to find out if you need to take an SAT II in
  order to be admitted to this college. (How many?)
• Look for teacher recommendation requirements. How
  many? Form?
• Look for counselor recommendation requirements. (
  Secondary School Report)
• Is an essay required? How many?

11
What do colleges look for?

• Admission Officers consider these factors in the
  following order of importance
• Difficulty of curriculum
• GPA
• Test Scores
• Class Rank-is lessening but still requested
• Application Essay
• Extracurricular activities
• Recommendations
• Interviews
• Intangibles

12
Remember

• Colleges dont exist for the purposes of
  educating already perfect people.
• Colleges look for credibility and genuineness.
• Colleges look for learning styles that are
  compatible with the schools way of teaching.
• One size does not fit all
• Colleges use your data and their intuition.
• This is the academic and social environment that
  will begin to shape the rest of your childs
  life.

13
Types of Admission Decisions

• Early Decision-Dropped by Harvard Yale
• Early notification of admission
• Requirement to attend
• Early Action
• Early notification and No commitment
• Single Application Deadline
• Single Choice Early Action
• One School early with Springtime decision
• Rolling Admission - in order received and not
  binding
• Immediate Decision Plan after interview

14
If Wait listed at your favorite School?

• This means that you are qualified to attend, but
  they do not have room for you.
• This gives the school a pool to draw from if they
  have accepted students who go elsewhere. The
  number of students admitted is increasing.
• Write a letter reinforcing your interest in the
  school and what you like about the school.
• Send any new grades and accomplishments.
• Possibly send another teacher recommendation.
• Let the school know that you are ecstatic about
  the opportunity to attend.
• Do not demand an interview or say that they made
  a mistake.

15
Teacher and Counselor Recommendations

• Start early. Your teachers and counselors are
  busy, so give them plenty of time. (20days)
• Give the teachers and counselors all of the
  necessary materials to write the recommendations.
• Waive your confidentiality rights.
• Choose your recommenders wisely, someone who
  knows you personally.
• Give them a stamped envelope addressed to the
  admissions offices of your college. Include your
  SS for identification.

16
All Recommendations

• All recommendations will be mailed by the teacher
  or counselor.
• Give a stamped envelope addressed to the college
  admissions office to each teacher and counselor
  who writes a recommendation for you. Do not pick
  up the recommendation from the recommender.
• You have signed a waiver for release of
  information.

17
Recommendation Forms

• Request for Teacher Recommendation
• Request for Counselor Recommendation
• Parent Questionnaire for the counselor
  recommendation

18
Student Credential Form

• Lists all of the students activities, with year
  of school and dates. Include all jobs and awards.
• A copy goes to the counselor and is placed in the
  students senior folder.
• A copy should be given to each teacher who is
  providing a recommendation, along with the
  Request for Teacher Recommendation Form.
• The student is responsible for updating the
  Credential Form.
• This is different from the students resume

19
SAT and ACT

• ACT is three and a half hours - English,
  Mathematics, Science and Reading
• There is an optional writing test which some
  schools require.
• SAT is three hours and 45 minutes -Reading
  Comprehension, Mathematics and Writing scores.
• College Board announced that of the three scores,
  the writing test score most closely predicts a
  students freshman year GPA. More elite schools
  tend to give this equal weight.

20
SAT / ACT

• How are SAT and ACT scores used by colleges?
• Colleges accept these scores equally.
• Test preparation courses prepare students for
  both tests and help students decide which test to
  take.
• Required for admission to most US colleges and
  also used for scholarships and grants. Wake
  Forest has a new test-option policy allowing
  students to decide whether to submit scores.
• There are no clear widely accepted rules to
  determine which test is best for which student.
• Seniors in the Class of 2010 can take the SAT
  repeatedly and choose the scores from their best
  day to be sent to colleges.
• The ACT allows student to choose the score sent
  to colleges.
• How late can seniors take an SAT or ACT and have
  it accepted by the college?
• Know your college application deadlines and how
  late you may take an SAT and still have the
  school accept the score.

21
SAT II or SAT Subject test

• What is an SAT II test?
• The SAT II is a one hour subject test. Most
  selective colleges require 2-3 SAT Subject tests.
  Most want a math subject test plus one or two
  subjects of your choosing.
• Take a math SAT Subject test in the junior year
  or the fall of senior year. Take all other
  subject tests right after you finish taking the
  related subject in school during your sophomore
  or junior year.
• It is given six times a year on all SAT dates
  except March and April.
• There are twenty one hour subject tests to choose
  from.

22
Advanced Placement Tests

• These tests are given at the end of an AP class.
  The teacher prepares students to take this test
  and it is given in May at a location out of the
  school building.
• There are also study guides for these tests that
  may be purchased online or at a book store.
• Colleges accept the scores from these tests for
  credit in the appropriate subject.
• Have the scores submitted to the college where
  you are admitted. AP test score requirements for
  college credit varies at each school.

23
SAT Scores

• SAT scores are not included in your transcript.
• You must contact the college board to send your
  SAT scores to colleges.
• collegeboard.com
• Most schools say that they count your highest
  scores in each area.

24
Obtaining Just a Transcript

• Transcript requests must be made two school days
  in advance.
• There is a 4.00 charge for each transcript
• Forms that need to be on file
• Transcript Request Form.
• Parent Release of Information Form
• Parent Waiver Form

25
Possibly Three Transcripts

• Initial transcript with application.
• Transcript with mid term grades for college mid
  year report.
• Final transcript proving completion of courses
  mailed after graduation.

26
Counselor Recommendation

• Give the required forms to the registrar for a
  transcript request but this time include the
  secondary school report. (This is the part of the
  application that the counselor has to complete.)
• Usually the school report requires a
  recommendation. Writing a recommendation and
  filling out this form will take at least two
  weeks for the counselor to complete. Then it will
  be mailed. Please submit a stamped envelope or a
  dollar so that this form can be mailed.

27
Important Dates

• November 5th- Last date to request a transcript
  before the Thanksgiving break if a secondary
  school report or counselor recommendation is
  required.
• December 1st- Last date to request a transcript
  before the Winter Holiday if a secondary school
  report or a recommendation is required.

28
Transcript Envelope will Include

• The students academic record from grades 9-11
• Weighted and unweighted GPA at the end of the
  junior year.
• Weighted and unweighted class rank
• Senior class schedule
• Hammond High Schools Profile
• PSAT scores are not included
• AP scores are not included

29
Students Must Stay Organized

• Take SAT / ACT
• Request Teacher recommendation
• Request counselor recommendation
• Fill out applications
• Request transcripts
• Pick up transcripts
• Mail applications

30
Mid Year and End of Year Reports

• Provide mid-year report form to the registrar for
  your counselor to complete.
• Give the Registrar a stamped envelope addressed
  to your college and the mid year report will be
  mailed.
• Remember for the final transcript, provide a
  stamped envelope addressed to the school you are
  attending.

31
Recommendations

• Teacher Recommendation
• Request for Teacher Recommendation Form
• Student Credential Form
• Envelope stamped and addressed to the school
  admissions office
• Counselor Recommendation
• Request for Counselor Recommendation
• Student Credential Form
• Parent Questionnaire
• Envelope stamped and addressed to the school
  admissions office

32
Financial Aid

• 1. Fact find early Find out how much aid a
  school gives out and how it is distributed.
• 2. Look at all possible sources for money.
• 3. Apply early to colleges.
• 4. Complete the FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov.
• For private colleges, the College Scholarship
  Service Profile Form at profileonline.collegeboard
  .com.
• 5. Talk to your financial advisor about your
  personal distribution of money.
• 6. Use the expected family contribution
  calculator at finaid.org for an estimate.

33
Sources of Financial Aid

• Federal Government
• State Government
• Colleges
• Private Loans colleges can provide a list of
  lenders
• Local Scholarships
• School
• County
• Organizations

34
Scholarships

• Hammond High School
• Scholarship Bulletin
• Scholarship application forms
• Awards Assembly
• Howard County Scholarships
• www.hcpss.org

35
Types of Financial Assistance

• Loans have to be paid back. Federal loans have
  the lowest interest rates for educational loans.
• Grants are awards that may be based on financial
  need or have other eligible criteria.
• Scholarships are usually based on something you
  do now or did in the past such as an academic
  performance, or activity. It may require
  continued participation in that activity.
• Work Study is a federal program that provides
  funds to students through jobs arranged by the
  college. Students work and earn money. This
  money does not count on next years FAFSA.

36
Hammond Financial Aid Night

• December 2, 2009
• 700 pm
• Speaker MHEC
• The speaker will show you how to complete the
  Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
• www.fafsa.ed.gov
• 1-800-4-FED-AID

37
Howard County College Fair

• Atholton High School cafeteria and Gymnasium
• 1pm
• October 18th
• Come and speak to representatives from the many
  colleges where our students apply.

38
NCAA Night

• Long Reach High School
• November 18th
• 7pm.
• Come and learn the rules and regulations for
  college athletes.
• Speak with college coaches of varying sports.

39
Choosing a College

• Student Needs It is best if a college matches a
  students needs. The student should feel
  comfortable the academic and social environment.
• Scholarships and budget Finances are important.
  The full financial picture is not clear until you
  receive a financial aid package with the
  acceptance letter. This usually arrives in April.

40
Two vs. Four Year Schools

• Two year colleges are great schools and may act
  as starter schools for some students who later
  transfer to more competitive schools.
• Two year schools give students a chance to save
  money and take advantage of our tax dollars.
• Two year schools provide the opportunity to
  select a major for those who are undecided.
• Two year schools offer degrees that are
  marketable in the world of work.

41
Choosing a College

• Geographic location How far away from home is
  good for you and your child? Does your student
  want mild warm or cold weather? Do they want a
  large city or a small town?
• Small Liberal Arts College vs. a Large University
  - What type of student environment makes your
  child feel comfortable? Classroom size is
  important. What amenities does your child require
  and what academic challenges do they need? What
  majors and facilities are available?

42
Choosing a College

• State funded School vs. a Private school
  Finances and scholarships play and important part
  in this decision.
• There is an enhanced ability to participate in
  certain activities at a smaller college, where
  there may be more competition at a larger
  college.
• Larger schools offer more majors and make it
  easier to change course of studies.

43
Choosing a College

• Diversity of majors and depth of course
  curriculum in areas of interest is crucial in
  picking a school.
• Read the college catalog!
• Look at the table of contents
• Look at the majors
• Look at the courses required for everyone
• Look at the mathematics required for your
  possible majors

44
Questions and Answers

• We will entertain a question if you feel that it
  pertains to the entire audience.
• We would like to give you an opportunity to ask
  questions of your childs counselor. Each
  counselor will be available at a separate table.
• All seniors will have an individual conference
  with their counselor.
• Thank you for your interest this evening.