Class of 2011…
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Transcript Class of 2011…
Junior Parent Night
College Planning Overview
Alvirne School Counselors
Mrs. Mary Carper
• A - Co
Mr. James Brown
• Cr – Goss
Mrs. Caroline Carbee
• Got - Ll
Mr. Dan Wells
• Lo - Pem
Mrs. Kate Marcotte
Penn - S
Mr. Bill Hughen
• T-Z
Agenda
Roadmap to College
College Search Process
What’s in an Application?
Standardized Testing
Naviance
Financial Aid Overview
Iamcollegebound.org
Roadmap to College
Be proactive!
Plan your route to college now!
Work a bit each month to help prepare for
a smooth senior year
April
Attend a local college fair
– April 16th- Pinkerton Academy-6:00-8:30pm
– April 9th- Boston National Spring College Fair- 6-8:30pm*
Register for SAT or ACT
Develop a preliminary list of colleges
Visit college campuses
Meet with school counselor
If considering Div. I or II athletics, register with NCAA
Eligibility Center (www.eligibilitycenter.org)
May
Ask teachers for letters of recommendation
Don’t let grades slip! This is the last full year of
grades that colleges will see!!!
Continue visiting college campuses
June
Take SAT/ACT or SAT Subject Tests
Study for finals
Continue to research/visit colleges
Search for meaningful summer job or volunteer
opportunities
Summer Months
Analyze SAT/ACT scores and plan for future
testing
Create a list of schools with varying admissions
competiveness as well as financially safe options
Continue to visit schools
Develop a resume
Create Common App account
Apply for FAFSA PIN
Work on college essay
Fall Timeline
Sign up to meet with college reps
Meet with school counselor to review final college list
and plan for deadlines
Attend SNHU college fair
Attend Senior Parent Planning Night
Follow up with teachers writing your letters of
recommendation
Complete college essays and review them with an
English teacher
Complete and submit applications
The College Search
Process
Begin at the Beginning…
There is a path for everyone. Know your
options!
Do your research- don’t rush the process
Do some self-reflection- what are strengths,
weaknesses, values, interests?
Develop specific criteria for colleges
Utilize an online college search tool to help
create that preliminary list of colleges
– College Board- www.collegeboard.org
– Naviance- http://connection.naviance.com/alvirne
Big Future (CollegeBoard)/College Search (Naviance)
What are the options
for college?
How much training & education am I willing
to get to achieve my career & life goals?
2-year
Technical School or
Community College
4-year University or College
2-Year Technical & Community
Colleges
Affordable
Transfer Options / Connections Program
Licensure/Certification
2-Year Admissions Requirements
High School Diploma
Completion of the Accu-placer exam
Community Colleges of NH
•Provide well-rounded college
experience
•Smaller class sizes
•Campuses offer many of the same
clubs and activities as 4-yr colleges
•Many colleges have intercollegiate
or club athletic teams
•On campus housing available at
NHTI in Concord
4-Year Colleges and
Universities
There are over 2,000 4-year colleges and universities
in the country.
Decide the factors that are important to you to help
narrow down a list of schools that are a good
match.
Location
Far away or close to home?
Urban vs. suburban vs. rural
Be sure to factor in the cost of travel if you plan
to go far away
Size/Enrollment
Weigh the pros & cons of a small school vs. large
university
Do you want to be a big fish in a small pond?
Do you want to blend in with the crowd in a lecture
hall of 250+ students?
Programs of Study
Not all schools have every academic major
Undecided? Be sure to look at schools that have
all of your potential areas of interest!
Selectivity/Admission
Requirements
Be realistic
Where do you stack up in comparison to admission
requirements at a particular school?
What factors are important for admission?
What percentage of students are accepted each year?
Make sure your schools fall into one of three categories:
– Reach
– 50/50
– Probable
Cost
The investment of college is expensive. When finalizing
your list of colleges; be sure to include schools which
are “financially safe”.
What’s In an
Application?
Parts of the Application
Application
Essay
SAT/ACT scores
High school transcript
Letters of recommendation
Interview (depends on the school)
Application fee
What are Colleges Looking For?
Classes taken & quality of courses
GPA
Involvement
Standardized test scores
Essay/Letters of recommendation
College Applications
2
main types of applications
– Common Application
– College-specific Application
Common Application
www.commonapp.org
Accepted by over 300 colleges and universities
One general application & essay
Helps student organize all aspects of their applications
Many schools require a supplemental form- know what
your school’s requirements are!
Letters of recommendation and transcripts are sent by
School Counselors through Naviance
College-Specific Applications
Can apply online or via paper application
Most colleges have copies of application
available on their website
The Essay
Choose
topic wisely
Keep focus on you
New Common Application writing
prompts- start planning before senior year!
Letters of
Recommendation
Ask
teacher by May
What to consider:
– Core academic subject
– Teacher who can speak to your strengths
as a student
– Areas of weakness
Sending Your Materials
Indicates to us to upload
your current transcript to
Naviance and send to
your schools.
You must fill out 1 per
school.
Students must send
SATs/ACTs scores
Tracking forms can be
found on edline or in the
Counseling Office
Types of Deadlines
Early
Action
Early Decision
Regular Decision
Rolling Admission
Open Enrollment
Selective Programs
Certain majors are more selective than others
– Nursing, fine/performing arts, music
Additional materials may be required for admission
– Portfolio
– Auditions
Early admission deadlines
Know your requirements!!!
Standardized Testing
Standardized Tests
SAT
Reasoning Test
SAT
Subject Tests
ACT
Upcoming SAT Dates
Test Date
Registration Deadline
May 2, 2015
April 6, 2015
June 6, 2015*
May 8, 2015
*June SAT is offered at Alvirne!*
$52.50- SAT Reasoning
$26- SAT Subject Tests
SAT is also available in October, November, and
December.
Visit www.collegeboard.com
for updated information!
http://sat.collegeboard.com
Upcoming ACT Dates
Test Date
Registration Deadline
June 13, 2015
May 8, 2015
September 12, 2015
TBA
October 24, 2015
TBA
$54.50 with writing section
Visit www.actstudent.org for updated
information!
www.actstudent.org
Naviance
Manage and track all aspects of the admissions process.
Delivers all of the supporting documents for college applications
Provides valuable insight into the college admissions process with college
search, scatter grams, scholarship information and college application
statistics
Perform a College Search
Choose the criteria you are looking for in your ideal college
Research Schools
How do you Stack Up?
Keep Track of Schools You Are
Considering
Financial Aid
The financial aid process may seem overwhelming,
but you are not alone!!!
Two Types of Financial Aid
Merit-Based
Aid
– Awarded for academic, athletic, artistic
talents
Need-Based Aid
– Based upon financial need
– Determined by standard methodology
Sources of Aid
Federal
State
College/University
Scholarships
awards
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student
Aid)
– Required by all colleges
CSS PROFILE
– Required by some colleges
– Fee associated with application
Institutional Forms
– Specific to some colleges in lieu of PROFILE
FAFSA
www.fafsa.ed.gov
FAFSA PIN
www.pin.ed.gov
FAFSA
FAFSA4caster can help estimate eligibility for
federal student aid!!!
Financial Aid Resources
New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance
Foundation (NHHEAF)
– www.nhheaf.com
FinAid
– www.finaid.org
FAFSA
– www.fafsa.ed.gov
Fast Web
– www.fastweb.com
Iamcollegebound.org
Through NHHEAF
Learn about NH
schools, scholarships,
financial aid, and
more
Win cool
prizes…REALLY!!!
Q&A
One who asks a question is a fool for five
minutes; one who does not ask a question remains
a fool forever.
--Chinese Proverb
Naviance Family Connection
Sign Up
If you would like us to activate your Parent
Account, please list the following in the notes on
the clipboard:
Student
Name
Parent Name
Parent Email