College Planning Application Packet

4 Steps…

1. Go to college website “prospective students” Follow directions!

2. Print necessary forms. Counselor Form, Secondary School Report, College Prep 3. Complete the application: Apply on-line. Go to college website. Some are free.

Download application to be filled out by hand. (Use ink, be neat!) 456 schools use The Common Application https://www.commonapp.org

BHS SCHOOL CODE: 360385 4. Bring to Guidance. You must have everything : Transcript Request Form completed: college, address, deadline, signature, checked items, Brag sheet, Counselor Forms

Transcript Request Form

Name______________________________________ Date submitted to Guidance___________________ This form authorizes BHS to release your transcripts and records to the named schools. Each college requires certain items for a completed application. Go to each college’s website to verify what is needed for their university. To avoid delay, include all items with this request when you submit it to Guidance.. ___________________________________________ (Student Signature) College #1 (Include complete address) _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ College deadline date ______________ _____I have already applied to the above college: (Check the one below that applies) _____On-line application from college website _____The Common Application _____Downloaded application from college website filled out by hand _____College Prep Form, Counselor Recommendation Form or Secondary School Report MUST HAVE THIS!!! _____Résumé or Activity List ( if required) _____Recommendation letters from teachers: List teachers____________________________________ _____Recommendation letter from counselor

Check your deadlines!!

1. We need 2 weeks to prepare your application.

2. Holiday deadlines: December 1: We need it by November 14 December 16: We need it by November 28 January 15: We need it by December 15

…no exceptions

“Brag Sheet”

Name _______________________ 1. What are your proudest accomplishments?

2. List five adjectives that describe you as a person. 3. How would your friends describe you?

4. What are your extracurricular activities?

5. Any volunteer experiences?

Your Counselor will…

• • • Mail to the colleges: – – Transcript, SAT and ACT scores. AP scores.

Profile of BHS if required – – List of 2011-12 classes Letters of recommendation if required –

Counselor Recommendation, College Prep,

Secondary School Report . Mail you a confirmation when all is sent.

It takes a college several weeks for a college to process your application. Patience!

Senior Timeline

September/October

September 13th – College Planning Night Begin applying to colleges. Go to college websites. Most prefer on-line. Check for scholarships on college website and on BHS Guidance page. Complete Brag Sheet and submit to Guidance.

Visit college campuses. Call university to inquire about Visitation Days. Take (retake) SAT or ACT.

October 25– Attend Financial Aid Night Ask teachers for letters of recommendation only if the college specifically requires one. Contact local recruiter if interested in the military. www.military.com

November

November (early in the month) Campus Caravan (UK and UC) November 28– deadline for transcript requests for submittal before Winter Break Submit applications for admission. Prepare documentation for the FAFSA and obtain FAFSA pin at www.pin.ed.gov December Finish college applications

College Common Application Colleges in Ohio

        Baldwin Wallace College Case Western University College of Wooster Denison College Hiram College John Carroll University Kenyon College Lake Erie College         Marietta College Miami University Oberlin College Ohio Northern University University of Dayton University of Findlay Wittenberg University Xavier University Go to:

https://www.commonapp.org

to get forms. You can download and save the application as a word document and complete the form in Word. Ohio College Deadlines for applications:

Application deadline Scholarship deadline FAFSA deadline

Baldwin Wallace Bowling Green Case Western Hiram College Indiana University Miami Ohio State University Ohio University Ohio Northern Otterbein College Sinclair University of Cincinnati University of Dayton University of Kentucky Wright State Xavier University 12/01/11 regular 01/15/12 – priority; honors 02/01/12 11/01/11 early action 12/01/11 pre-professional 01/15/12 regular 02/15/12 03/15/12 if space available 11/01/11 early decision 01/15/12 regular admission 04/01/12 space available 11/01/11 early decision 12/01/11 early action 02/01/12 regular 12/01/11 full consideration 02/01/12 regular 12/01/11 honors, 12/15/11Scripps, visual comm. 02/01/12 regular 11/01/11 pharmacy 12/01/11 max consider 01/15/12 early action Rolling Rolling 11/15/11 DAAP, Eng., Bus. 11/01/11 music 02/01/11 regular 12/15/11 priority admission 03/01/12 regular 01/15/12 honors Rolling 1/15/12 honors 2/15/12 regular 12/01/11 priority, Early app. 02/01/12 regular 12/01/11 regular 01/15/12 (with test scores) 01/15/12 Various dates 02/15/12 11/01/11 – Selective school. 01/15/12 regular admission 12/01/11 early decision 01/31/12 max choice 12/01/12 full consideration 03/01/12 (accepted by 02/01/12) Various dates 11/01/11 12/01/11 max consideration 03/01/12 priority 05/31/12 12/01/11 Cincinnatus 12/01/12 Honors 12/15/11 max consideration 01/15/12 honors 02/15/12 regular 01/15/12 honors 02/15/12 academic 12/01/11 priority 02/01/12 regular 02/15/12 03/01/12 Open – early is best 02/15/12 03/01/12 02/15/12 02/15/12 03/15/12 03/01/12 04/01/12 priority 05/01/12 02/01/12 03/31/12 04/01/12 02/15/12 - FAFSA 03/15/12 verification 02/15/12 priority

Application Do’s

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

DO:

Read applications and directions carefully. Know the deadlines for admission, scholarships, honors college, financial aid Know that BHS Guidance needs 2 weeks to process every request! Know that we need 2 weeks EVEN FOR LATE SPRING SCHOLARSHIPS.

Make sure that everything that is supposed to be included is enclosed. Fill out your own applications. You are going to college, not your parents. Start with the simple applications and then progress to the more complex ones. Make copies of applications, and practice filling one out before you complete the original. Type or neatly print your answers Proofread the applications and essays several times for accuracy before submitting. Describe how you can make a contribution to the schools you applied to if they ask. Be truthful, and do not exaggerate your accomplishments. Tailor your essays to the specific college. Research what the college is like.

Keep a copy of all the forms you submit to colleges. Be thorough and turn things in on time. Give your counselor 2 weeks…2 weeks….2 weeks….

Application Don’ts

• • • • • • • • • DON’T: Don’t use a paper application if you can apply on-line. Don’t include a teacher recommendation if you weren’t asked to submit one!

Don’t write in cursive. If you don't have access to a computer or typewriter, print neatly. Don’t leave blank spaces. Missing information may cause your application to be sent back or delayed while admission officers wait for complete information. Don’t be ambiguous or unclear. If the question calls for a specific answer, be specific.

Don’t ask your teacher at the last minute for a letter of recommendation.

Don’t forget thank you note to a teacher who wrote your recommendation Don’t ask your guidance counselor to rush your application in without 2 week notice!

Don’t forget the Counselor Form (Secondary School Report, College Prep Form)

College Entrance Tests

•

ACT: October 22

(9/16) •

SAT: November 5

(10/7)

ACT vs. SAT

ACT vs. SAT Test Length ACT

3 hours, 25 minutes (including the 30-minute optional Writing Test)

Test Structure

4 Test Sections (5 with the optional Writing Test): English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing (Optional), Experimental Test (sometimes added and clearly labeled)

Reading

Reading Comprehension—4 passages with 10 questions per passage 3 hours, 45 minutes

SAT

10 Sections: 3 Critical Reading, 3 Math, 3 Writing (including the Essay), 1 Experimental (unscored but included as a regular section) Reading Comprehension—short and long passages with questions Sentence Completion

Math Science

Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, algebra II, and trigonometry Analysis, interpretation, evaluation, basic content, and problem solving Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and algebra II Science not included

Essay Scoring Wrong Answer Penalty Sending Score History

Last thing you do (optional): 30 minutes  Not included in composite score  Topic of importance to high school students First thing you do: 25 minutes  Factored into overall score  More abstract topic (vs. ACT) Composite score of 1–36, based on average of scores from 4 tests  4 scores of 1–36 for each test  Plus optional Writing Test Score of 0–12 Total score out of 600–2400, based on adding  3 scores of 200–800 for each subject  Score of 0–12 for the Essay No penalty for wrong answers.

You decide which score is sent ¼ point subtracted for each wrong answer.

(except for Math Grid-In questions) Your entire score history will be sent automatically.

NEW—Beginning with Class of 2010, you decide which test score is sent.

Test Contact Information

ACT, Inc. 1-319-337-1000 actstudent.org

The College Board 1-866-756-7346 collegeboard.com

Scholarships, Financial Aid:

FAFSA: www.fafsa.ed.gov

Grants Loans Scholarships BHS guidance webpage Top websites for

Visiting Colleges

• • • • •

Visits are excused absences (exams) How to set up a visit.

What to do while there?

Questions to ask Interview help

BHS Resource Guide

• • • • • • • Counselor Info ACT/SAT info Improving ACT/SAT Top 10 search sites College fairs Visiting a college How to choose a major • • • • • • • Military/College ROTC CEEB: 360385 Apprenticeships BHS class of 2011 FAFSA Scholarships Scholarship websites

Campus Caravan

• • • • • • University of Cincinnati University of Kentucky November (early) Leave 7:00 a.m Return 5:00 p.m

$$ ???

Sign up and pay in Guidance

Introducing….

• • • • • • • Mrs. Tortorici “College Access Counselor” Tuesdays and Thursdays in Guidance Scholarships, Financial aid, help with FAFSA Sinclair information Career counselor Help with applications Help with SAT/ACT registration

Get started…

NOW!