JOHN HANRAHAN - DEAN OF GUIDANCE

1
Fairfield College Preparatory SchoolJunior
College Planning NightJanuary 12, 2012

• JOHN HANRAHAN - DEAN OF GUIDANCE COLLEGE
  ADVISING (L-Z)
• RICK HUTCHINSON - COLLEGE ADVISOR (A-K)
• KIM BERNIER GUIDANCE ASSISTANT

2
Guidance Groups and Individual Meetings

• Fall of Junior Year
• Overview of the Junior Year
• Standardized Testing overview and strategy
• Identifying Appropriate Colleges
• Naviance
• Identifying Colleges
• My Game Plan
• My resume

3
Guidance Groups and Individual Meetings

• Spring of Junior Year
• Standardized Testing
• Key Factors in Admission
• Resume
• Campus Visits /Fairfield Regional College Fair,
  Date/Location TBD
• Junior Interview with advisor
• Senior Course Selection
• Summer Strategies
• Admission Glossary

4
Guidance Groups and Individual Meetings

• Topics for Fall Senior Year
• Check-In Meeting with College Advisor
• Finalizing Application Strategy
• Coordination of Application process application
  forms, essay (s), recommendations, sending
  testing to colleges

5
NAVIANCE

• Research and develop prospective college
  lists
• https//connection.naviance.com/fairfieldprep
• Students
• Username/email students Prep email address
• Password student created
• Parents
• Accounts established for all parents

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College Planning Resources

• www.fairfieldprep.org
• Naviance and the College Advising Page in the
  Guidance Section on the Prep website provides
  information on
• Interviewing
• Factors in College Admission
• Glossary of College Admission Terms
• Resume models
• SAT/ACT testing dates deadlines

7
Evaluating a Transcript

• Course of Study
• 5 core subjects English, Math, Science, Social
  Science, Foreign Language
• Grade Trends

• ? Most challenging course load that the student
  can manage.
• ? Limited of lighter electives.
• ? Junior year, 1st quarter senior year and 1st
  semester senior year are key.

8
Standardized Testing

• Students register themselves for all SAT and/or
  ACT exams.
• SAT (SAT I) www.collegeboard.com
• At least once in spring Junior Year (Jan., March,
  May, June)
• At least once in fall Senior Year (Oct., Nov.,
  Dec.)
• SAT Subject Tests (SAT II)
• Some colleges may require (see websites)
• Can highlight an academic strength
• ACT www.act.org
• Spring Junior year dates Feb., April, June
• Fall Senior year dates Sept., Oct., Dec.

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Tip Factors

• Teacher/Counselor Recommendations Highlight
  individual academic strengths and personal
  qualities
• Essay(s)
• Reveals self
• Show, Dont Tell
• Significant activity(ies)
• Will show depth and commitment to personal
  interests and growth.

10
Tip Factors (Continued)

• Athletic recruitment
• Special talents or attributes how to highlight?
• Interview (admission counselor, current student
  or alumni)
• Supplemental letters (use sparingly)
• Demonstrated Interest
• Essays (From Common App. Supplements)

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Application options and strategies

• Regular Decision
• Early Action
• Early Decision
• Rolling Decision
• (w/ priority dates)

12
Finding a College Fit
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Prospective College List Personal Preferences

• Size ( undergraduates)
• Geographic Location
• Campus setting (urban, suburban, rural)
• Academic focus
• Areas of study
• Facilities Library, Research Labs, etc.
• Social Atmosphere
• Campus Life, Sports, Arts
• Religious affiliation
• Support services

• Cost
• Financial Aid
• Housing 4 year guaranteed?
• Diversity (Ethnic,Geographic)
• Admission Criteria
• Graduation Retention Rates
• Outcomes employment and graduate schools
• Greek system

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Prospective College List Other Resources

• Friends and Relatives
• Guide books
• Rankings
• College Advisor
• Alumni
• Honors and accreditations
• Name Prestige

• Consider many different types of institutions.
  Do not always go with the pack. Break new ground
  in the search process.

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Search List

• Up to 15-20
• Research (beware increasing selectivity)
• Place in 5 Categories (as designated in
  Naviance) Far Reach, Reach, Possible, Likely and
  Safety
• Use Naviance Scattergrams as a guide, but not as
  an absolute.

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Final Application List

• Up to 10 (/-)
• Fairfield Prep Average 8
• Prioritize the list
• Only a safety school if you would attend.
• Contact (i.e. demonstrated interest) is more
  important with small/medium schools.

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The Campus Visit
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Campus Visit Options

• Campus Tour
• Information session
• Open House/Special Event
• Sit in on a class
• Interview
• Athletic visit
• Overnight
• Shadow student

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Why is the Campus Visit Important?

• Demonstrates YOUR interest
• Experiencing the campus to help decide if you
  want to apply.
• Find the institutions that are the right Fit.

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Preparing for the Campus Visit

• Visit college website to explore visit options.
• Do your homework before the visit
• Make reservations/appointments for campus tours,
  interviews, open houses and meetings with faculty
  or coaches.
• Stick to the Office of Admission schedule
• Avoid the Drive-Thru visit, if possible
• Always sign inSmaller colleges tend to track
  this information (i.e. Demonstrated Interest)

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What to look for while on campus

• General University/College Information
• Read a Campus Newspaper
• Campus Life
• Residence halls, cafeteria, parking, student
  center, chapel
• Student Life/Athletics
• Clubs organizations, social life, recreation
  facilities, visual/performing arts, varsity
  athletics
• Academic Life
• Classrooms, professors, course offerings,
  internships, research opportunities

22
College Planning Checklists
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College Planning Spring of Junior Year

• Initial Student/Advisor College Planning Meeting
• Research Web -based resources are best
• Contact institutions
• Visit Campuses
• Attend spring open house programs
• Standardized Testing - first/second round
• Attend local/regional college fairs
• Consider teacher recommenders
• Develop an Activities Resume (excellent document
  to present at an interview)
• Initial contact with athletic coaches etc.

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College Planning Summer before Senior Year

• Campus Visits
• Refine list
• Consider application options Regular, EA, ED,
  Rolling
• Establish Common Application Account after August
  1st.
• Determine what application and/or supplement
  forms each school requires. (i.e. common
  application)
• Start filling out applications
• Begin first draft of essay(s).
• Continue to develop an activities resume.

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College Planning Fall of Senior Year

• Check-In Meeting with College Advisor
• Meet admission representatives who visit
  Fairfield Prep
• Ask teachers to write recommendations.
• Parent/Family Recommendation to Counselor
• Attend College Fairs and Information Night
  programs
• Finalize essays and applications
• Final campus visits (tours, interviews,
  overnights, class visits, open houses)
• Standardized Testing final round
• Check merit scholarship requirements and
  deadlines.
• FAFSA/CSS Profile Financial Aid instruments

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Trends in Admission

• Test Optional Colleges
• Fast Track/Priority Applications
• Demonstrated Interest particularly in schools
  deemed safeties
• Interview (smaller colleges) re-emergence
• Authenticity
• More Writing on Common Application Supplements
• Public School interest on the rise
• Requests for Financial Aid rising

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Useful Web Sites

• www.collegeboard.com
• https//connection.naviance.com/fairfieldprep/
• www.commonapp.org
• www.fafsa.ed.gov
• www.act.org
• www.ncaa.org

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Miscellaneous Thoughts

• Encourage student to stay in contact with the
  College Advising Office. Communication is
  essential.
• Allow ample time (2 months) for essay writing.
• Discern all requirements of your list early
  (Standardized testing requirements, supplements,
  essays, deadlines, etc.).
• jhanrahan_at_fairfieldprep.org 203-254-4200 ext 2238
  (L-Z)
• rhutchinson_at_fairfieldprep.org ext. 2502 (A-K)
• kbernier_at_fairfieldprep.org ext. 2437