Medford High SchoolGuidance Department

Our goal today is to make the stressful college search & application process easier by highlighting many of the key elements students & parents will need to know

We understand that every student’s needs are different, and as a department we feel it is our job to help ALL STUDENTS develop a plan for life after high school

Student’s Responsibilities Involve parents in the conversation about post high school/

college/career plansResearch colleges using Collegeboard, Naviance, or any of the

other web or printed resources availableRegister and take (or retake) any standardized tests required

for admissionMake an appointment to speak with counselor about post high

school plansVisit potential schools of interest to see if they might be a

good fitKnow each school’s deadline and turn in all transcript request

at least 2 weeks prior! (Brag sheets need to be submitted at least 1 month prior)

Maintain a rigorous senior year schedule & put forth your best academic effort (all year long)

Student’s ResponsibilitiesUse allall the online resources available to you

Collegeboard’s college comparison is a great tool!

Student’s ResponsibilitiesUse all the online resources available to you

Consider student-faculty ratio & freshman year retention rate

Student’s ResponsibilitiesKnow your DEADLINES and whether or not the colleges

on your list accept the Common App.

Student’s ResponsibilitiesUse Naviance to compare yourself to other Medford high students

who have previously applied to a particular college!

Student’s ResponsibilitiesUse key features under the college tab in Naviance

“Colleges I’m Thinking About / Colleges I’m Applying To”

Student’s ResponsibilitiesUse key features under the career tab in Naviance

“Career interest profiler, Personality type, Cluster finder”

Student’s ResponsibilitiesVisit the Medford high guidance website for news, tips & advice

www.medfordhighguidance.com

Counselor’s ResponsibilitiesWhat to expect from your counselor:An individual meeting with or without parents present Interest, support and encouragement Suggestions for schools to look at (assistance fine-tuning your

“list”)Ongoing FeedbackGuidance through the college application process Sharing of knowledge and resources with youSuggestions for further independent college exploration

What not to expect from your counselor: Ability to read your mind/Know your thoughts Keep track of deadlines and appointments for you Apply to schools or scholarships for you Write recommendations without notice or your completed Senior Brag

Sheet Financial aid consultation/advise (we ask that you seek outside experts

or this)

Parent’s ResponsibilitiesWhat parents can do to help: Foster an open and ongoing dialog with your child about what

they envision for their future Be honest and realistic with your child about any financial

concerns that may affect their college search or application process

As much as possible, try to let your child take the lead Pick a time and place to bring up the “college” topic, (maybe

once per week over coffee @ Starbucks, or at Sunday dinner, etc…)

Realize that for many teens, every day may feel too often to be talking about college or their “future”

What parents should not be doing: Applying to colleges ON BEHALF of your son or daughter Writing application essays FOR your child Visiting potential colleges solo, without your child present Calling up admission offices to “explain” away a poor grade your

child recently received

Class of 2014 Graduation Requirements

112 credits minimumRequired courses: 4 English, 3 Math, 3 Social Studies, 3 Science, 4 Wellness, 1

Fine ArtMCAS (English, Math, and Science)60 Hours of Community Service (or 15

hours for each year enrolled at MHS)

4 Year College Requirements4 years of English3-4 years of Math (through at least Algebra II)

3-4 years of Social Studies 3-4 years of Science (2 years of lab sciences) 2-4 years of the same foreign languageMCAS (ELA, Math, & Science)

As you can see the MHS graduation requirements are closely aligned with most 4 year college requirements.

Post High School Options

4 year colleges or universities2 year colleges2 + 2 collegesTechnical collegesMilitary Academy Military Service (www.military.com)

Post Grad YearGap or Service YearEmployment

Community CollegeThe price is rightStudents often take the same courses as they

would at a 4 year collegeDo not require SAT/ACTDo not usually require letters of

recommendationStudents are able to transfer to 4 year colleges

after 1 or 2 yearsSome community colleges have agreements

with the state colleges (MassTransfer Program)No housing on campus

Mass Transfer ProgramMassTransfer has two main purposes:

Provide community college students who complete associate degrees (consisting of at least 60 college-level credits) and enroll in linked MassTransfer programs with the full transfer of credit, guaranteed admission, and a tuition discount (each based on final GPA)

Provide any student in the Massachusetts public higher education system who completes the MassTransfer Block (consisting of 34 college-level credits) with the benefit of satisfying the general education/distribution/core requirements at any other public higher education institution (with the receiving institution able to add no more than six additional credits or two courses).

For more information please visit: http://www.mass.edu/masstransfer/

UMass System & MA State CollegesUMass AmherstUMass BostonUMass DartmouthUmass Lowell

Bridgewater StateFitchburg StateFramingham StateSalem StateWestfield State Worcester StateMass ArtMass College of

Liberal Arts (MCLA)Mass Maritime

Academy

Massachusetts State SchoolsMinimum Admission Standards/ Sliding Scale

UMass System State Colleges

GPA SAT / ACT

2.51-2.99 950/ 202.41-2.50 990/ 212.31-2.40 1030/222.21-2.30 1070/232.11-2.20 1110/242.00-2.10 1150/25

GPA SAT / ACT

2.51-2.99 920 / 192.41-2.50 960 / 202.31-2.40 1000 / 212.21-2.30 1040 / 222.11-2.20 1080 / 232.00-2.10 1120 / 24

This is simply the sliding scale. However, with college admissions getting more competitive every year, most of public 4 year school in the Massachusetts system are looking for around a 3.0 GPA and around a 1000-1100 combined SAT (math & verbal). Umass Amherst rarely takes a student with a GPA below a 3.5 (regardless of SAT scores).

College Admissions ExamsSAT: @ collegeboard.com Duration: 3 hrs. 35 mins. Cost: $51.00 Three sections: Critical Reading, Math and Writing (total possible score-2400) Lose ¼ of a point for any incorrect answers (random guessing will likely lower your

score!)

SAT Subject Area Tests: @ collegeboard.com Duration: 1 hr. Cost: $24.50 (basic registration fee), $13.00 (per test fee), $24.00 (per language test

w/ listening) Subjects include: English Lit., Bio., Chem., Math, History, Foreign Langs. (full list on

website)

ACT: @ actstudent.org Duration: 3 hrs. 30 mins. Cost: $36.50 or $52.50 with writing Four sections: English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning (total possible score-

36) No points deducted for incorrect answers (So go ahead and answer ALL questions!)

TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language): @ ets.org/toefl - $183*Any student who has taken an ELL class in 9-12th grade, please see guidance counselor for TOEFL info packet

Scores MUST be sent to colleges directly from testing agency (www.collegeboard.com or www.act.org)

Some schools no longer require admissions tests, see list @ www.fairtest.org/university/optional

Admission Factors Colleges ConsiderGPA and Class RankSAT/ACT scoresRigor of secondary school record (transcript)Senior year academic performanceExtracurricular activities/ Community ServiceCollege essayRecommendationsInterview (if applicable)“Demonstrated Interest”

Admission CategoriesREACH – The student’s GPA and SAT / ACT

scores fall below the historical averages for the college and / or past MHS students

MATCH– The student’s GPA and SAT / ACT scores fall within the historical averages for the college and / or past MHS students

HIGHLY LIKELY – The student’s GPA and SAT / ACT scores fall above the historical averages for the college and / or past MHS students

Everyone’s Reach Almost Everyone’s Reach

The 8 IVY League schools: Harvard, Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Columbia, UPenn, Cornell,

+ MIT, Stanford, John Hopkins, Georgetown, Swarthmore, Duke, UC Berkeley, Olin, Amherst

(not a complete list)

Boston College, Williams, Middlebury,

Brandeis, Colby, Hamilton, Tufts, Vassar,

Connecticut College, Wesleyan, NYU, Northwestern, Rice, Vanderbilt, Colgate

(not a complete list)

Reach Schools

There are many more qualified applicants than there are spaces. Being an average to above-average candidate is no guarantee!

Admissions Options Regular Decision: This is the most common admission option. It

means that you turn in your application by the college’s deadline, and it lets you know by a specified date if you have been admitted or not.

Early Action: With Early Action, you send in your application earlier, and the college sends you its decision earlier. Make sure you read the instructions from each college carefully because some colleges have additional restrictions on their early action programs. Academically strong students will often apply to one Early Action school.

Early Decision: You can apply Early Decision to only one college. You are committing yourself to going to a particular school if you decide to apply Early Decision and are accepted (the bind can only be broken for proven financial hardship). You should only apply Early Decision if you have a clear idea of your first-choice college. If you are looking at several colleges and don't want to limit your choices yet, Early Decision is not for you.

Rolling Admissions: There is no deadline for this option. Schools review and make decisions on applications as they receive them.

Application DeadlinesEarly Decision / Early Action - Usually Nov 1 or Nov 15Regular Admission - Often Jan 1st, but can be as early as Nov 30 or Dec

1stRolling Admission - Anytime - The earlier, the better

Application materials must be received by guidance department 2 weeks prior to application deadline

Admissions officers look for students who…Think globally, and act locallyChallenged themselves academically during

high schoolCan handle the academic workload of collegeWill contribute to college life (in a positive

way)Demonstrate the qualities of a well-rounded

studentThink clearly, logically, creatively, and/or

abstractly

New guidelines for the common application essay

Same as before: You must submit only one essay

New this year: 1)Essay must be no more than 650 words. The word limit

was just 500 words last year, but it wasn’t strictly enforced. This year if your essay is OVER 650 words, you will not be allowed to submit it.

2)There is now a 250 word limit. The system won’t accept anything shorter than that.

3)The writing prompts have changed, “topic of your choice” is no longer an option.

Essay Writing TipsAdmissions officers read 50 essays a day. Make yours

stand out!!!Avoid clichésBe honestWatch your tone (tell your story, in your voice)Write about something familiar to you / something you

are passionate aboutPersonalize your essayWrite AuthenticallyRead. Re-read. Ask an English teacher or your

counselor to proofread and give constructive criticism.

UMass/State Colleges permit submitting IEP/Testing in

lieu of SAT/ACT

Search for colleges that provide a Learning/Support

Center or Tutoring in addition to accommodations

Community Colleges have special programs

MHS Guidance only submits IEP/Testing information

when requested by the students due to confidentiality

Considerations for Special Education Students

Financial AidFinancial Aid Night – Wednesday, Nov. 20th @

7:00pm ~Presented by MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority) Website: www.mefa.org

FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid Available January 1st @ http://www.fafsa.ed.govCSS Profile - College Scholarship Service Profile-

Some private schools require thisFunding Your Education – See the list of

websites in your packet

ScholarshipsStart at MHS

Community scholarship applications are available starting in January

All scholarships will be posted in Naviance and updated frequently

Hard copies will also be available in the guidance office

Look Local- place of employment, community organization/affiliation, church, etc.

Check with your collegesSee websites in your packet

John & Abigail Adams Scholarship Provides a tuition waiver for up to eight semesters of undergraduate

education at a Massachusetts state college or university. The scholarship covers tuition only; fees and room and board are not included.

Students will receive this letter by mail in the fall of their senior year. This letter will need to be presented to college after you are accepted.

In order to use the scholarship, a student must: be accepted at a Massachusetts public college or university; complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); send the Adams Scholarship award letter to the financial aid or bursars office at

the college or university that he or she plans to attend; and enroll as a full-time student.

To continue receiving the Adams Scholarship, a student must

continue to enroll full-time at a public higher education institution; maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on all college work; and annually complete the FAFSA.

Student Athletes – NCAA (Division I & II)

Must complete NCAA Clearinghouse Eligibility Form

Must send NCAA your SAT or ACT scores and a $20 fee

Must add NCAA to your Transcript Request Form (to guarantee they receive an official transcript)

Minimum 2.0 GPA requiredShould be in contact with coaches

1) Read Through Entire PacketImportant to know MHS ProcessWe help you simplify applying to

college!

2) Create Two Accounts!

Naviance just created a great new video tutorial of this process!

Link: https://vimeo.com/73384070

Create AccountRemember Your Username & Password! Write them

down in your folder.Most colleges use the CommonApp, but if one doesn’t,

make sure you apply on that college’s individual website

NAVIANCE

Add ALL your colleges to this list, even if they don’t accept the CommonApp. This is your way of informing us where you are applying

Add your teachers writing your letters of recommendation

3) Request Supplemental Information

Request Letters of Recommendation Give your brag sheet to teachers & counselors Please allow at least 4 WEEKS Ask teachers if they will do this electronically or if

they need stamped envelopes & CommonApp formsRequest online that your SAT/ACT scores be

sent directly to your colleges. Please note: This can take 6-8 weeks!

4) Meet With Your CounselorMake an appointment with your

counselorSeptember/October appointments for

Early Action/Early DecisionNovember/December for Regular Decision

Plan on bringing your parents if possibleCome Prepared- Bring a list of colleges,

your college folder and all other materials you have

5) Turn in your Transcript Request Form

Fill out your transcript request form completely with all your colleges

Have your counselor sign the finished formTurn in the form to Ms. Sousa with your $15

feeForms must be turned in 2 weeks before

deadline

6) Submit Your ApplicationThrough the CommonApp or the

college’s website, submit your applications

Be careful of deadlines!Review your application checklistDouble check that your schools have

received all materialsCELEBRATE!!!

REVIEW1) Read the college packet2) Create both the CommonApp & Naviance

Accounts, and complete needed steps (as explained in packet)

3) Request letters of recommendation & SAT/ACT scores through Collegeboard

4) Meet with your counselor5) Turn in your transcript request form6) Submit your application

Thank you!Questions?

Review the step-by-step instructions in your packet! It’s fool proof

Would you like more information?Come Tuesday, Sept. 17th to the Senior Parent

College Presentation held in the Caron Theater at 7pm

Forms, presentations, announcements, college resources & links will be available at www.medfordhighguidance.com

This presentation will also soon be available online