FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOLSenior Post Graduate Planning Unit

Three Seasons of College Admissions 1. Exploration Season

2. Application Season

3. Scholarship Season

What is important to YOU in searching for a college?

EXPLORATION SEASON

Family Connection College Search & Tools

https://connection.naviance.com/fc/signin.php?hsid=fhs

Where to apply? How many?REACH

SCHOOLS 1 - 2

TARGET SCHOOL

S3 - 4

SAFETY SCHOOLS 1-2

Do you know your college mascots???

Bonus Round…

Every college and university has different application requirements

It is the student’s responsibility to know the requirements, and meet all deadlines

Application Season

Types of Applications

Early Action - is NOT BINDING. The decision is received earlier than April

Early Decision – if accepted, a BINDING contract (think $, commitment, & other possible opportunities) **You can apply to only

ONE Early Decision School*

Regular Decision – Standard application deadline. Decision is usually received in April

Rolling Admission - Decision made once complete application is received and processed as the year ROLLS on

Application SamplesGMU

http://admissions.gmu.edu/documents/appUndergraduate.pdf

JMUhttp://www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/pdf/JMU_2011_Application.pdf

VThttp://www.admiss.vt.edu/forms/VTFreshApp.pdf

REMEMBER: The STUDENT is

responsible for sending &/OR requesting all required application materials to be sent to all colleges & universities in order to complete their application package BEFORE the DEADLINE.

What is included in the application package?

The STUDENT sends to each College…

Application (general & demographic information)

Financial Aid Information ~ University Specific

Essay (if required OR recommended) Application Fees

What is included in the application package?

The STUDENT requests FHS to send…..

Official Transcripts ($3 per) Secondary School Reports or other

supplemental forms (IF school has one)

Counselor Recommendation* Teacher Recommendation*

What is included in the application package?

The STUDENT requests CollegeBoard &/or ACT to send…

Official Test Scores (sent directly from www.collegeboard.com and/or

www.actstudent.org

The ESSAY

WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT YOU?

What did you learn?

TIMELINES TO CONSIDERHow early do I request materials to be sent??

Transcript & Counselor Recommendation –

10 SCHOOL DAYS Teacher Recommendation –

15 SCHOOL DAYS SATs/ACTs –

14 DAYS

TIME = GOOD RECRUSH = RUSHED REC

COMMUNITY COLLEGE & PATHWAYS

Northern Virginia Community College

Articulation Agreement with VA Schools

http://www.nvcc.edu/about-nova/directories--offices/administrative-offices/academic/guaranteed-adm/index.html

PATHWAYS Deadline Nov. 18th

Military Options

Do you know Mrs. Ong???!!!???Have you received an email from her lately?? If not…

SCHOLARSHIP SEASONAfter Winter Break for most opportunities

FINANCIAL AID

FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (www.fafsa.ed.gov/) You can apply for a PIN (electronic

signature required to apply) www.pin.ed.gov

NOT www.fafsa.com – SCAM CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE –

Some schools require https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp

UPCOMING EVENING PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS & PARENTS

College Planning ProgramThurs, Sept. 15th @ 7pm (Auditorium)

Financial Aid NightDecember 7th @ 7pm (Auditorium)

LCPS College FairSun, Sept 25th 4-5:30 pm & 6:30-8pm

Family Connection Workshops College SearchSeptember 21 October 19November 16Financial Aid/ScholarshipsJanuary 18February 22March 14

* Sessions 6-7pm in Career Center. RSVP REQUIRED 1 WEEK

PRIOR TO RESERVE A SPOT*

College Entrance Exams and Subject Tests (last suggested dates):

SAT: (www.collegeboard.com) October 1 (Reg. Deadline: 9/9) * At FHS * November 5 (Reg. Deadline 10/7) December 3 (Reg. Deadline 11/8) ACT: (www.actstudent.org) October 22 (Reg. Deadline 9/16) December 10 (Reg. Deadline 11/4)

IMPORTANT DATES FOR SENIOR YEAR! • Week of September 12th ~

School Counselors meeting with Seniors for Senior Unit

• Thursday, September 15th ~ 7-8pm Senior Parent Night

• Sunday, September 25th ~ LCPS College Fair @ SBHS from 4-5:30pm & 6:30-8pm

• Tuesday, October 25 and Wednesday, October 26 Senior Sack Lunches ~ The College Essay

• Wednesday, December 7th ~ Financial Aid Night from 7-8:30pm

• Transcript Request Deadlines: 2 weeks before college application due date

• Graduation: Sunday, June 10th @ GMU!

DON’T FORGET…we are here to help