Transcript Can You Believe you are Seniors? Life after Niagara

Senior
Orientation
Class of 2015
Subject
Regents
Regents with A.D.
English
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4
Social Studies
4
4
Math
3
3
Science
3
3
Art/Music
1
1
Health
.5
.5
PE
2
2
LOTE**can do 5 credits in Business,
1
3
Electives
3.5
1.5
Total
22 Credits
22 credits
Tech, Art, Music or BOCES
Subject
Regents
Regents w/ A.D.
English
1- ELA 11
1- ELA 11
Social Studies
2- Global & US
2- Global and US
Math
1-Math
3- Algebra, Geometry
and Trig
Science
1-any science
2- Living Env. &
Chemistry or Earth
Science, or Physics
LOTE
0
1
Total
5 exams
9 Exams
An AVERAGE of 90% or Higher on the
following Regents exams
1. ELA
2. US History
3. Algebra
4. Geometry
5. Algebra II/Trig
6. Top 2 Science Regents Exams
7. LOTE (If student earned a LOTE sequence)
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2 year college
4 year college
Vocational or technical training
Employment
Military/ Armed Services
“Gap Year” (tutoring, volunteering, travel,
AmeriCorps, PeaceCorps, adventure
programs…
“I don’t have a clue!” (see your school
counselor or Mrs. Reed ASAP )
Begins Now!!!
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Visit schools (over nights)
See Admission Representatives that visit NW
Internet
Talk to Alumni
Find out about programs and majors
Does your list contain Reach, Realistic and
Safe Schools?
Always remember…your school counselor
and Mrs. Reed in the Career Center are here
to help!
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Reach Schools
–College may be a stretch from your
current academic profile
Target Schools
–Colleges in which the characteristics and
academic history match the student’s
academic profile
Safe Schools
–Colleges in which your academic profile
places the student in the top third.
Factors
Percentage
Grades in College Prep Courses
80%
Strength of Curriculum
64%
Standardized Tests
58%
Grades in All Courses
52%
Essay/Writing Sample
26%
Demonstrated Interest
22%
Counselor Recommendation
21%
Teacher Recommendation
20%
Interview
11%
Student Activities
7%
Subject Tests (AP, etc)
7%
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Early Decision- Generally applications are due by 11/1, 11/15 or 12/1.
– Students are LEGALLY BOUND to attend that college and must retract all
other applications to schools once accepted.
– Make sure:
• Have I talked to a financial aid advisor to get an estimate of college costs
to find out how Early Decision could affect my aid package?
• Have ruled out other schools at first choice
– Visited all
– Extensive research and conversation
– Hopefully multiple visits
• Do not look at it as the easiest way to get in
Early Action- Similar to Early Decision, although students are not obligated to
attend that college
Rolling Admissions- No deadline or cut off date. Decisions are based on a
rolling date. First in- first out.
Regular Admissions- Deadlines run from 1/1, thru 3/15 and sometimes later.
The admission letter will often not come out until March or April.
– One Deadline Date
Open Admissions- Open acceptance of students
– For example, NCCC or ECC
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Call the admissions office in advance
Meet with an admissions counselor
Bring an unofficial high school transcript
Read up on the college and think about
questions to ask
Get the facts: college cost, financial aid
opportunities, academic programs available
Take a campus tour (yes… even local schools)
Talk to students and faculty
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Again… BE AWARE OF DEADLINES to both
colleges and to the counseling office!
Follow directions carefully! Read applications
THOROUGHLY
Role of NW counseling office:
– Transcript request forms
– Standardized tests
– When completing your application online, you MUST
print out ANY forms your high school must complete
such as: Secondary School Reports, Mid-Year Reports,
Counselor Recommendation Forms, Final Transcript
– Let counselor know EVERY school you have applied to so
we know to send in your transcripts.
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Three ways:
◦ Common Application: www.commonapp.org
 Make your life easier!!
◦ SUNY Applications: www.suny.edu/student
◦ Individual college websites
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Good way for college to know you
Do not reiterate information that is already on the
application
Follow directions and guidelines
Demonstrate good writing skills
Share more in depth information, how or why
something has impacted you.
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Own work
Be yourself
Unique
Passionate
Work with English teacher/ have it proof-read
Spend the time… colleges look at them very seriously
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Check to see how many the school requires
Student’s responsibility to ask teacher (ask
early)
Teacher has the option to:
◦ send into school by envelopes provided by the
student or;
◦ Teacher gives to counseling office
**Don’t forget to fill out the “Background
Sheet” for Letter of Recommendation!!**
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Supplemental Applications
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Schools want more info
Additional essay(s)
Writing Sample
SAT subject test?
Midyear Reports
Final/End of Year Reports
Senior year is hectic, but don't let that affect the
quality of your college applications. Take your
time, pay attention to detail and plan ahead so
you can meet the deadlines.
The most common mistakes on college
applications that counselors and admissions
staff see are:
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Misspellings and grammatical errors—This is a big pet
peeve of admissions people. Misspellings on something
as important as the application shows that either you
don't care or you aren't good at spelling. Some
students even misspell their intended major. But don't
stop with a spell check. Proofread for grammatical
errors, too.
Applying online, but the application isn't actually
submitted—If you apply online, you should receive
confirmation that the college or university received it.
Confirmation could be an email message, a Web page
response or a credit card receipt. Follow through and
make sure that your application has been received
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Forgotten signatures—Make sure you sign
and date the form. Often students overlook
that part of the form if it's on the back.
Check that all spaces are completed.
Not reading carefully—For example, if the
form asks what County you live in, don't
misread it as Country and write United States
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Listing extracurricular activities that aren't—Those
that make the list include sports, the arts, formal
organizations and volunteer work. Talking on the
phone and hanging out with friends don't make
the cut. Make sure your activity information is
accurate. Colleges may check with your high
school.
Not telling your school counselor where you've
applied—Let your counselor know which colleges
you're applying to, and ask him or her to review
your high school transcript before sending it to
colleges. Sometimes transcripts have errors.
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Writing illegibly—First impressions count,
so take your time and use your best
handwriting. It will make a better
impression.
Using an email address that friends might
laugh about, but colleges won't—Select a
professional email address. Keep your fun
address for friends, but select an address
using your name for college admissions.
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Not checking your email regularly—If you've given
an email address, the college will use it. You don't
want to miss out on anything because you didn't
read your email.
Letting Mom or Dad help you fill out your
application—Admissions people know if your
parents help, whether you have two different
styles of handwriting or your admissions essay
sounds more like a 45-year-old than a 17-yearold. It's fine to get advice, but do the work
yourself.
Senior Year is all about DEADLINES– for college
apps, financial aid & scholarships, changing
courses, ordering your announcements, and
completing all your requirements to
GRADUATE!
ACT
SAT, Scholastic Assessment Test
$38.00, $54.50 with writing
$51.00
Measures academic achievement in Designed to measure academic
English, Math, Reading and Science aptitude in critical reading, math
Reasoning
and writing
Each part 25% of score
CR 1/3, Math 1/3, Writing 1/3
Scored based on number of correct ACT Assessment
answers. No penalty for guessing
Scoring scale 1-36
Scoring scale for each section
200-800, sum up of all three areas
Test
Date
Registration
Deadline
SAT
Oct 11*
Sept 12th
ACT
Oct 25th*
Sept 19th
SAT
Nov 2nd*
Oct 3rd
SAT
Dec 7th*
Nov 8th
ACT
Dec 14th*
Nov 8th
* SAT and Subject Tests and ACT exams that are located at Niagara Wheatfield High School
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Check to see if schools need them officially
reported
◦ Use six digit school code (335028)
 www.Collegeboard.org
 www.Act.org
◦ Compare ACT and SAT scores
◦ Check to see if SAT subject test is required for
some colleges and universities.
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September 22
September 23
September 24
September 25
September 25
September 30
October 1
October 8
October 8
October 10
October 23
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Onondaga CC
SUNY Potsdam
RIT
Cazenovia
Houghton
Alfred University
WNY Consortium (LMC)
Gannon University
Keuka College
Clarkson University
D’Youville
12:00
10:15
10:00
10:30
12:30
1:00
11:00
11:00
11:30
9:30
8:30
OCT 29
ST JOHN FISHER
HILBERT COLLEGE
8:30am
11:45am
NOV 4
ALFRED UNIV
12:30pm
NOV 5
ST BONAVENTURE UNIV
11:00am
NOV 6
VILLA MARIA
10:00am
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October 23
October 23
October 27
October 30
November 5
November 12
St. John Fisher
Medaille College
SUNY Geneseo
Mercyhurst College
St. Bonaventure
U of Pitt- Bradford
9:30
10:30
10:30
11:00
12:30
9:00
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Students interested in applying to NCCC or
ECC must apply ONLINE! There is no longer a
paper application.
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Search for colleges:
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www.collegeboard.org
www.petersons.com
www.collegeview.com
www.usnews.com
www.bridges.com
Financial Aid and Scholarships
– www.fafsa.gov
– www.finaid.org
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Choices program available in the Career Center
NW Counseling and Career Center
– www.nwcsd.k12.ny.us
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Listen to the morning announcements
Read the counseling website
◦ It is a great place to find Scholarships!
Check NW counseling website regularly,
new scholarship opportunities are added
weekly!
Visit the Career Center 
Talk with:
Teachers/family/friends/counselor
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Counseling Office Due Dates
◦ Applications due in counseling office by October
31st.
◦ We process over 1,500 applications!
◦ Keep in mind, we need at least ONE WEEK advance
notice to process transcripts
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Division 1 & 2 must meet eligibility
NCAA: www.eligibilitycenter.org
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When do I register?
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How do I qualify to participate in sports at a D I or II
school?
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– Fee
– Request your transcript
– You can register anytime after you compete 6 semesters of high
school. Most students will register at the beginning of their senior
year
Complete minimum of 16 core courses
Take your SAT or ACT
Eligibility is determined by sliding scale
You MUST have your SAT or ACT scores sent to NCAA directly
from collegeboard or ACT. Scores on a high school transcript will
NOT be accepted
– NCAA code is 9999
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Log on to www.replayit.com to post pictures
for Yearbook staff
Senior Pictures Due to Mrs. Halleen or Mrs.
Lindamer no later than October 31st
Remind Parents to send in their Parent Ad
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Relax… you’re almost there!
Work Hard-don’t catch Senioritis
Enjoy the journey!
Be Balanced
It’s your senior year…
Make Memories!!!
and remember….
Once a falcon, always a falcon!