Transcript PowerPoint Presentation - “Nuts & Bolts” of College Planning

Agenda for this
evening:
• Timeline
• College Search & Visit
• Common Terms & Definitions
• Questions
Presenters This Evening
• Evelyn Tolson, 11th Grade Counselor (A - Di)
994-2149
• Sara Vance, 11th grade Counselor (Do-Ji)
• 994-2131
• Colleen Creal, 11th Grade Counselor (Jo-Mc)
997-1944
• Ron Fear, 11th Grade Counselor (Me - Se)
994-2146
Ellen Sapper 11th grade counselor (Sh-Z)
994-8229
• Joyce Williams, Career Center Director 994-2116
11th Grade - 1st Semester
• Start Junior Interviews with Counselors
• College Visits at Pioneer High School
• Research Colleges - Students & ParentsComputer Program Career
• - Career Cruising
– Peterson’s Computer Guide
– Internet & Catalogs
– Career Center
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11th Grade - 2nd Semester
MORE Junior Interviews
MORE College research
Take SAT, ACT and MME exams
On-Campus College Visits
Attend College Night at Pioneer HS on
April 16, 2008.
Review College Applications for Fall 2008
as soon as available online.
Summer before 12th Grade
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Fill out applications for Colleges
Work on college application essays
Be aware of upcoming deadlines
Read summer mailing from Pioneer HS
– Fill out Senior Profile, if you have not already, Parent
Brag Sheet, Activity List (resume) & Release of Test
Scores
– Turn in completed forms to Counselors at
Registration
– Review High School Transcript
• Visit Colleges
• Retake SAT & ACT tests (optional)
12th Grade - 1st semester
• Finish College applications and turn into the Main Office
with application fee attached
• Retake SAT & ACT tests (optional)
• Ask teachers and other adults for letters of
recommendation at least 4 weeks before you need them.
Spring of junior year gives them more time.
• Go to College Visits at Pioneer HS
• Admissions Officers will be presenting and available for questions very helpful to meet these people!
12th Grade - 2nd semester
• Fill out FAFSA after January 1st
• Check Career Center for scholarships
• Receive acceptance/rejection letters from
colleges
• Continue to work hard academically: 2nd
semester classes & grades often do count
towards acceptance or “denial”!
• Contact Financial Aid offices at proposed
colleges
• Develop a plan to finance college
• Make final decisions and respond with your
deposit by the deadline
How to do a College
Search & Visit
WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR?
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Environment - location, size, etc.
Admission Requirements
Academics
College Expenses & Financial Aid
Housing
Facilities
Activities
HOW DO WE SEARCH?
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EDP’s & Career Cruising
Career Center at Pioneer High School
College Visits at Pioneer High School
On-campus college visits
Online internet research - See helpful
websites on next page
• Research - Research - Research!
HELPFUL COLLEGE SEARCH
WEBSITES
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www.gocollege.com
www.petersons.com
www.smart.net/-pope/hbcu/hbculist.htm
www.campustours.com
www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/cosearch.
htm
• www.collegeboard.com
• www.act.org
Career Center
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Joyce Williams, Career Center Director
Hours of Operation: 7:30 - 3:00 M-F
Location: Next to the Counseling Center
Students can spend lunchtime and 7th hour
in the Career Center
• Parents are more than welcome to utilize
these resources!
What is in the Career Center?
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Online Searches
College Catalogs & DVD’s
PSAT, SAT & ACT applications & practice tests
Resources on other Post-secondary planning:
Military, Vocational Schools, Apprenticeships,
etc.
• Scholarship Opportunities
• Summer & Internship Opportunities
On-Campus College Visits
• Contact by telephone or e-mail the Admissions
Office at prospective Colleges.
• Ask about procedures for a Campus Visit.
• Try to plan visits during vacation time.
• Inquire if college students will be available for
questions.
• Try to attend a class or two & ask about eating
in the dining hall.
• Try to spend a night in the dorm.
SCHOLARSHIP AND
FINANCIAL AID WEBSITES
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www.MI-StudentAid.org
www.salliemae.com
www.fastweb.com
www.fafsa.ed.gov
COLLEGE ATHLETICS
• Playing sports in College is a major decision
which requires careful planning throughout high
school. In the Spring of junior year you must
apply to the NCAA Initial Eligibility
Clearinghouse if you plan to play sports in
college. Check the website which is
NCAAclearinghouse.net. Information changes
yearly. Students being recruited and needing
transcripts for that purpose must have a release
form on file.
Steps in Applying to
College from Pioneer
High School
Step #1
• After careful research, select at least 3-5
colleges to apply to. Get applications from
Career Center, online, or college
admissions offices.
• Pioneer HS will begin accepting
applications September 15, 2008.
• Rolling Admissions applications should be
submitted as early as possible (before
October 31st).
Step #2
• Turn in Senior Profile before summer
vacation, Parent Brag Sheet, “Release of
Test Scores” form and Activity List
(Resume) that will be mailed home in the
summer.
- Make copies of senior resumes for teachers who
will be writing your letters of recommendation.
• The test score release form must be signed
by you and your parents.
Step #3
• Ask teachers before you leave for summer break
or at least 4 weeks ahead, for college
recommendations. Be sure to include your
social security number on all college
correspondence. Students should give the
teachers a stamped college- addressed envelopes
along with the recommendation requests.
Step #4
• Attach check or money order for application fee
made out to the college. Application material
must be complete when turned in. Pay with a
credit card online.
• Nothing can be added to the application after it
has been turned in to the General Office at
Pioneer HS. Due to the volume of applications
makes it impossible to add something later.
Step # 5
• Turn in application to the General Office.
First application is free. $1.00 handling
fee for each additional application. No
need to provide an envelope.
Step #6
• If you apply “online” download the
counselor form from college website. You
must also submit an Orange PHS form
available in the general office. This
enables Pioneer High School to send
transcripts and test scores.
Step #7A - ON-LINE APPLICATIONS
Approximately 90% of applications submitted by Pioneer
students are done on-line. After you have completed the
on-line process, print the “counselor” or “secondary
school” page. Bring the page to the General Office, just as
you would a paper application. We will process it exactly
like a paper application. You will be asked to complete an
on-line form; for this you will need your student number
and the address of your college admissions office.
DO NOT BRING A COPY OF YOUR ON-LINE
APPLICATION TO US. (You should, however, print a copy
for your own files). If your college does not ask for a
counselor page, come to the General Office and fill out an
on-line form; we will send your academic records to the
college.
Step #7B for ON-SITE APPLICATIONS
Some universities have begun using an on-site admissions
process. (Western Michigan,Central Michigan and Eastern
Michigan are those with which we have had experience;
others may also do this). Student takes application
materials to the university (typically on a week day in early
October) and they will give student an admission decision
that day. If you are interested in on-site admission call the
university’s admissions office for details and listen for
announcements. You will need to submit your request to
Pioneer at least 10 SCHOOL DAYS in advance so that we
have ample time to process your records. As with all
application submissions, present your request to the
General Office and be sure to let them know it is an on-site
application. You will then pick up your application materials
in the Records Office when they are ready. We also offer
some onsite admissions interviews at PHS.
Mid year report forms
You can turn in the mid year report forms when
you turn in your applications. The records
clerk will keep it in a file and turn it in to
the college or universities after the seventh
semester grades
are posted
Step #8
• If your college requires scores directly
from ACT / SAT, you must arrange for
your test scores to be sent directly from
SAT, ACT to your prospective colleges.
Call the college to verify.
Step # 9
• Plan on 2-3 weeks to process application.
Your application is routed to the records
office, and counselor. Transcripts, test
scores, letters of recommendation, school
profile, and signatures are provided as
needed. The records office will mail the
completed application.
Step #10
• Please do not call the records office.
Contacting the records office slows down
the process for everybody!
Step # 11
• Most applications will leave Pioneer within
15 working days of receipt in the General
Office.
• Because of the volume of applications (over
2000) received in your applications must be
turned in by November 7, 2008 if you
want them mailed before winter break. Plan
ahead to meet application deadlines.
Helpful Hints for Processing
College Applications
– Turn around time is 10-15 working days
– Checking on the status will slow down all of the
applications.
– Be sure to put your name & social security
number on every page of each application.
FINANCIAL AID
Financial Aid Terms
• Aid Package – a combination of aid (possibly including a scholarship, grant, loan, and
work) determined by a college financial aid office.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) –
The application required for students to be considered for federal student financial aid. Obtain a
FAFSA form or electronic filing information from the Pioneer Career Center (usually available in
November). The FAFSA is processed free of charge. FAFSA is used by most state agencies and
colleges.
• Plan to do your Income Taxes early during your child’s senior year.
FAFSA requires information from the previous year’s income.
• There will be a financial aid program for parents is December 11th
at 7:30pm in the Little Theater.
IMPORTANT JUNIOR
YEAR TESTS
A Quick Review:
PSAT, SAT, ACT, MME, AP
Standardized College Admission
Exams
• SAT I – Reasoning Test – This SAT is a three-hour, primarily
multiple-choice test that measures verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities that
develop over time. Many colleges require SAT scores for admission.
• SAT II – Subject Tests – Subject Tests are one-hour, primarily
multiple-choice tests that measure your knowledge of particular subjects and your
ability to apply that knowledge. Check the requirements of the colleges you are
considering. More selective colleges may require or recommend one or more Subject
Tests for admission or placement.
• ACT – Assessment Test – A group of tests administered by
ACT and required or recommended by many colleges. The tests measure educational
development in English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning and are given at
specified test centers throughout the year.
MME
Michigan Merit Exam
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March 11-13 only juniors required to graduate
Part I is ACT
PART II is ACT Work Keys
PART III Michigan components
Michigan Promise Scholarship
$4, 000
if students earn qualifying scores
Given in installments outlined at:
www.Michigan.gov/promise
We will be offering an ACT online
Test prep along with Saturday Practice
In January
WHERE DO I TURN TO ASK
QUESTIONS?
• COUNSELOR
• CAREER CENTER
• COLLEGE WEBSITES
Thank you for coming!
We hope this makes the college
application process a little easier!