senior parent workshop a guide to surviving your student’s college application process

Senior Parent Senior Parent WorkshopWorkshop

A Guide to Surviving Your A Guide to Surviving Your Student’s College Application Student’s College Application

ProcessProcess

Graduation RequirementsGraduation Requirements

►23.5 credits23.5 credits►Culminating ProjectCulminating Project►Meetings with Counselors through Meetings with Counselors through

October as well as on going.October as well as on going.

College Search ProcessCollege Search Process

►College BoardCollege Board►NavianceNaviance►EducationplannerEducationplanner►Princeton ReviewPrinceton Review► Individual College WebsitesIndividual College Websites►MEETINGS WITH THE COUNSELORMEETINGS WITH THE COUNSELOR

NavianceNaviance

► Introduced to all current seniors last Introduced to all current seniors last springspring

►Ability for students to compare Ability for students to compare themselves with past Methacton gradsthemselves with past Methacton grads

►College and Career Search programsCollege and Career Search programs►Top 20 schools for our studentsTop 20 schools for our students►Ability to sign up for college reps @ MHSAbility to sign up for college reps @ MHS►Track applications onlineTrack applications online

Application ProcessApplication Process

► Online vs. PaperOnline vs. Paper► Common ApplicationCommon Application

Supplemental formsSupplemental forms Mid Year Report formsMid Year Report forms

► MHS ProcessMHS Process 12 day advance request12 day advance request Release form signed once by parentRelease form signed once by parent Transcript requests go through Miss Fisher, not the Transcript requests go through Miss Fisher, not the

counselorcounselor Hand things in together, except for teacher recs, not Hand things in together, except for teacher recs, not

piecemeal.piecemeal. Official vs. Unofficial TranscriptOfficial vs. Unofficial Transcript BE AWARE OF DEADLINES BE AWARE OF DEADLINES

Admissions TermsAdmissions Terms

►Early Decision - bindingEarly Decision - binding►Early Action – non bindingEarly Action – non binding►Rolling Admission - ongoingRolling Admission - ongoing

SAT/ACT ScoresSAT/ACT Scores

►Be Aware of Individual School Be Aware of Individual School requirementsrequirements

►SAT Subject TestsSAT Subject Tests►AP ScoresAP Scores►Score Choice ProcessScore Choice Process►To Do or Not to DoTo Do or Not to Do►Don’t wait for scores to apply to collegesDon’t wait for scores to apply to colleges►Dates of testsDates of tests

College VisitsCollege Visits

►Campus visits – IMPORTANTCampus visits – IMPORTANT►Representative Visits at MHSRepresentative Visits at MHS►College Fair DatesCollege Fair Dates

Montgomery County -Montgomery County - Philadelphia - Philadelphia -

►Group Meetings at area locationsGroup Meetings at area locations►Student being the main communicatorStudent being the main communicator

Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation

► TeacherTeacher► CounselorCounselor►Outside peopleOutside people

► Forms, letters, etc.Forms, letters, etc.

►Give a 2 week notice and then follow up Give a 2 week notice and then follow up with the person to make sure letter was with the person to make sure letter was written and sent.written and sent.

ResumeResume

►Would like one sent with each Would like one sent with each transcripttranscript

►Upload as supplemental or bring in Upload as supplemental or bring in with transcript request form with transcript request form

►Educationplanner.comEducationplanner.com►Careercruising.comCareercruising.com

EssaysEssays

►Required vs. OptionalRequired vs. Optional►English class assignment after summer English class assignment after summer

readingreading►Examples: Common ApplicationExamples: Common Application►Have someone proof read it before Have someone proof read it before

sending electronically!sending electronically!

Scholarship InformationScholarship Information

►www.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.com►Local ones will be posted on NavianceLocal ones will be posted on Naviance►Check with parents employers and Check with parents employers and

other local organizationsother local organizations

Penn State Expectations Penn State Expectations

►Bubble chart Bubble chart ►Expectations for main campusExpectations for main campus►DeadlinesDeadlines►Use student example from Class of Use student example from Class of

20072007

Common MistakesCommon Mistakes

►Not taking challenging courses senior Not taking challenging courses senior yearyear

►Not keeping grades up senior yearNot keeping grades up senior year►Missing deadlinesMissing deadlines►Choosing a school because a friend is Choosing a school because a friend is

going theregoing there

Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions

►Should student apply before test Should student apply before test scores are in?scores are in?

►Should I take SATs my senior year?Should I take SATs my senior year?