Transcript COLLEGE INFORMATION NIGHT - Saint Thomas More High School

Angela Penaflor
Kate Willems
Karen Wrench
Agenda
Tonight we will discuss…
…how to narrow down the college search
…the application process
…different admission decisions
…types of schools
…FAFSA
…scholarships
…upcoming events
What’s Currently Happening
with Seniors?
 Individual meetings throughout the day
 Senior Planning Day Oct. 9
 Regular email reminders regarding campus reps,
scholarships, college fairs, etc.
 College Advisor available Tuesdays and Thursdays
Narrowing Down the Search
 Types of schools
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Technical
4-year
Career college
 Size of schools
 Distance from home
 Admissions Standards
Narrowing Down the Search
 Visiting the college is the best way to determine the
school and campus that best meets the student’s needs
 Call the Admissions Office to schedule a personal tour
 UW- System virtual tours
 Visit the school’s website
 College search websites
 www.collegexpress.com
 www.collegeboard.com
Narrowing Down the Search
 Talk to Admissions reps that visit STM, alumni, parents,
advisors, teachers, etc.
 Upcoming visits:
October 1: Viterbo University at 12:00pm
October 2: St. Mary University Winona at 8:45am
October 14: UW-Parkside at 8:44am
October 17: UW-Madison at 9:40am
October 28: UW- Green Bay at 10:30
New visits are added everyday.
Narrowing Down the Search
 College Fair at UWM, Sept. 30th, parental permission
required
 Wisconsin Education Fairs (WEF)
 Franklin High School: October 6st 6:30-8:30 p.m.
 Mount Mary University: October 19th 9-11 am
 Visit www.wefs.org for other dates, locations and
directions.
Application Process
Step 1: Before starting the applications
 Finalize resume/activities list and personal essay (make
sure they are proofread)
 Register to take or re-take the ACT
(www.actstudent.org)
 Ask for at least 2 letters of recommendation
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Make sure to give that person a copy of “brag” sheet
Give the recommender at least 2 weeks notice
Ask teachers, coaches, employers, etc.
Application Process
Step 2:
 Apply online!
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UW System: apply.wisconsin.edu
Other: www.commonapp.org
Individual school application
Application Process
Step 3:
 Register with www.parchment.com
 Secure, official, electronic transcripts available 24/7
 Advisor approves transcripts and attaches letters of
recommendation, school profile, SSR (if applicable)
 $3.50 per transcript
 pay online through Parchment
 Fee waivers available (4 free transcripts)
Application Process
Step 4:
 Send official ACT scores if it hasn’t been done already
 Four free scores sent
 Additional scores $12.00.
Complete Application
1. Application filled out in its’ entirety (with fee, if
necessary). Personal essay and resume/activities list are
included in application
2. Official transcript sent from Parchment.com
3. Official ACT/SAT scores
4. 2 letters of recommendation, possibly 3 for selective
schools/scholarships
 It is recommended to apply to schools by December 1st.
Admission Decisions
 Rolling admissions
 Applications are reviewed as soon as they are received
 Pooled admissions
 Apply until deadline and then decision is made
 Admittance based off first 6 semesters, but sometimes
need 7th semester grades
Admission Decisions
 Some of the criteria considered during admission process:
 Academic record: depth, breadth, diversity, rigor
 Grades
 Class rank
 Standardized test scores
 Extracurricular
 Essays
 Letters of recommendation
UW-System
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Started processing applications on September 15, 2014
Fee is $44 for each application
Shoot for priority deadlines
Be aware of separate scholarship applications
For admission criteria or other questions visit
http://uwhelp.wisconsin.edu
UW-System
 Guarantee Transfer Program:
 Complete the first 54 credits at UW-Waukesha, maintain a
2.0 GPA or higher, and you’re guaranteed admission to any
UW-System school for your final 2 years
 Exception is UW-Madison where a 2.8 GPA is required
 Let UW-Waukesha know which school within your first 30
credits
WAICU
 www.wisconsinsprivatecolleges.org
 Don’t think “sticker” price, think net
 The net tuition at Wisconsin private colleges is 11% lower
than it was in 2006-07
 Out-of-pocket net tuition at Wisconsin’s private,
nonprofit colleges and universities is under $5,500
 Average freshman financial aid package is made up of
75% grants—money you won’t have to repay—instead of
loans
 Timely degree completion (2012-2013 statistics)
Technical Schools
 Go to http://tis.uwsa.edu to see how technical school
courses transfer into the UW-System
 MATC starts accepting applications for fall 2015 after
October 1st.
 Visit the Wisconsin Technical Schools website
FAFSA
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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The completed FAFSA form may not be signed or mailed
prior to January 8, 2015 – try to do taxes early
There will be a College Financial Aid meeting tentatively
scheduled for January 8, 2015
College Goal Wisconsin
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Complete the FAFSA form in about an hour with help
from the experts – IT’S FREE !
Visit www.collegegoalwi.org , for dates and locations.
Saturdays in February
Scholarships
 Individual college scholarships
 Some have a separate application, some use the application
for admission
 Check out the table in Student Services
 Helpful websites include:
 www.fastweb.com, www.compassguide.org,
 www.schoolsoup.com, www.collegeboard.org
 Think locally! (groups, clubs, businesses, organizations)
 Open to Milwaukee/Wisconsin residents only
 Less competitive
The ACT
 Testing dates still available
 December 13th (register by Nov 7th )
 Make sure to send official ACT scores to the colleges
Events at STM
 College Financial Aid Night
 January 8rd at 6:00 in Community Room
 Senior Planning Day on Oct. 9th from 8-11:30 a.m.
 Seniors will choose 3 sessions from the following:
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Resume writing
College apps
ASVAB (Career Exploration Program)
Scholarships
Choosing Majors
Questions?
Angela Penaflor [email protected]
Kate Willems [email protected]
Karen Wrench [email protected]