Welcome To College

Planning Night

Presented by the Kennett High

School Counseling Staff

Molly Topp (Cassandra Allen, May 1)Students with

last names A-D

Colleen Allen- Students with last names E-K

Heather Morihara- Students with last names L-Q

Francis Ryan- Students with last names R-Z

Tonight’s Program Parental roles in the college process

Overview of the college counseling program at KHS

Introduction to the Naviance: Family Connection

program

Components of the application

Factors colleges consider in making admissions

decisions

Finding the right colleges for your child

How to get started

Q & A

Parental Roles

Coach

Consultant

Executive Secretary

Coach

Encourage

preparation

Express belief

in your child

Allow your child

to own the

process

Consultant

Pose questions

Offer advice

Provide information regarding

finances

Remember it is up to the individual to

accept advice offered

Executive Secretary

Assist with developing preliminary college list

Arrange college visits

Assist with setting up electronic and hard copy files for each

college

Help develop a system for the safe and efficient management

of passwords

Monitor deadlines

Complete the FAFSA in a timely fashion

Submit fee payments in a timely fashion (SAT, Housing, etc.)

Be Mindful

Remember that you

are interacting with

an adolescent

Adolescents think

differently than

adults

This can be a very

emotional process

The College Counseling Program

at KHSGrade 11-

1. Classroom visitations

2. Individual student/parent meetings

3. PSAT Interpretation & SAT prep classroom

presentations

4. College rep visits

What to expect at the college

planning meeting

Academic progress review

Course request review

Graduation project progress review

Discussion of potential careers

Discussion of potential college major

Preliminary college search

Review of the application process

Financial aid and scholarship search advice

The Graduation Project

Present during final exams week this school year

Components include:

Documentation of 40 hours of community service

Documentation of attendance at graduation project meetings

Printout of Career Interest Profiler

Printout of Career Interest Profiler Survey (Questionnaire)

Essay describing project (minimum 500-words)

Oral presentation lasting at least 10-minutes, using technology,

and describing community service, career considerations, and

post-secondary plans

The Brag Sheet (Very important- often not done well)

List activities in and out of school. Describe what you have learned from your participation

Describe that academic experience that most strongly influenced you in high school

Describe your greatest strength as a person. Give examples.

Describe that best advice you ever received

List any awards or honors you have received. Describe why was important

Describe a situation in which you served as a leader

Describe a school assignment that really captured your interest

Describe your learning style

What do you hope to accomplish in college and beyond

Student

Components

Application Form (required)

Application Fee

Essay

Letters of Recommendation

Admission Test Scores- SAT/ACT

High School Transcript

Application Form

Method

On-line - available through the college’s admissions website

College Specific Application

Common Application- used by 700+ colleges

Coalition Application- relatively new- 132 colleges in 18/19

Sections

• Applicant Section (demographic, academic, activities)

• Secondary/High School Section

School info- (course offerings, grading policy)

Student info- (scholastic, character, discipline)

These application platforms have been developed by a group of colleges and universities.

They accept this application in place of their own without any penalty.

You fill it out once and then submit the application to any school that utilizes that application platform.

Some schools also require supplemental information.

Keep track of usernames and passwords for each application account!

Common Application: Student Section

Common Application: School Report

EssayOpportunity to show personality

Chance to explain things about record

Can show you’ve researched the college

Way to demonstrate your writing skills

Often submitted with online application

Essay not always required

Sample Essay Questions

Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn

What are your personal goals and professional plans upon completion of college?

Write about yourself and how will you help the university to carry out its

mission.

Essay Dos & DON’Ts DOs

• Stay focused, specific, and personal

• Prove it

DON’Ts

• Say what you think they want to hear

• Write a resume

• Use 50 words when 5 will do

• Forget to proofread

Additional Resources

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays

Letters of Recommendation

Who to ask - check app. requirements

When - at least one month prior

What to provide

• Brag sheet / resume

• Teacher rec. forms (ex. Common App)

• Envelopes (addressed with stamps) IF the

the letter cannot go electronically

Thank you note

Teacher Evaluation Form

College Admissions Tests Colleges use students’ scores to help make admission

decisions.

Students typically take 2 times- spring junior year and fall

senior year

Register online soon for spring test dates.

SAT

ACT

Additional Requirements-SAT Subject Test

SAT

2 Sections:

Mathematics

Evidence-Based Reading & Writing

Score: 200 to 800 on each section

No penalty for guessing

Optional Essay

Register for test on www.collegeboard.org

SAT Subject Tests

One-hour tests that measure knowledge of particular subjects

and how well they can apply knowledge

Subject Tests required by some colleges

Taken after completing course in that area

- (usually at end of 11th or beginning of 12th grade)

World History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics

Scores listed on SAT Score Report

Compassprep.com – who requires the subject test

Sending SAT Scores

SAT scores are not reported on transcript; students

are responsible for sending

All test scores are listed on report unless utilizing the

Score Choice option

Some colleges may require the Optional Essay

section; we recommend registering for Essay once

Four free reports included with registration

Need to indicate schools w/in 10 days of test day

Additional reports can be ordered at collegeboard.org

Tests : ACT

Measures knowledge in different subject areas

Curriculum- and standard-based assessments

Consists of 4 multiple choice tests of English,

mathematics, reading, science, and an optional

writing section

Offered 6 times a year

Test locations and registration info available at

www.act.org

Students responsible to send scores from ACT

SAT vs. ACT

• Now more alike with the development of the

Redesigned SAT

• Refer to handout

• Still curious about what to take? Talk to your

counselor.

Transcript Summary of high school courses, grades, and

credits earned.

School Profile

Sent directly from Guidance Office

Release Form is required to send transcript

• one release for each institution

Allow 15 school days to process

Deadlines: College Admissions Rolling

apply and receive notification in about 6 weeks

Standard Deadline

midwinter, notification in April

Early Decision

binding, Nov. deadline, Jan. notification

Early Action

nonbinding, Nov. deadline, Jan. notification

Deadlines: Guidance Office

Guidance- submit materials at least 15 school days to

one month before the deadline.

What to hand in to guidance?

• Transcript Release/Application Sub Form

• Follow directions on the back

• Brag sheet?

• School report form?

Managing Stress:

Getting the Process Started

• After narrowing the list of schools down

• Look at each college’s application requirements

• These can vary greatly!

Use College Planning Calendar to stay on track

Counselors will meet with students to explain College Selection & Application Process

College

Planning

Calendar

KENNETT HIGH SCHOOL

College Planning Calendar

0BUWINTER, JUNIOR YEAR ____ Register to take the SAT or ACT in the spring. KHS hosts the SAT in March. Also, consider registering to take SAT subject tests if you plan to apply to selective colleges which may require them. It is recommended you take subject tests for courses you are currently taking, like Chemistry or US History at the end of junior year rather than waiting until senior year. Subject tests cannot be taken on the same day as the SAT Reasoning Test (the regular SAT). _____ Complete the PrepMe SAT prep program in Family Connection. This will help you to do your best on the SAT. 1BSPRING, JUNIOR YEAR _____ Take the SAT, or the ACT and any SAT subject tests that you decide to take. _____ Meet with your school counselor to discuss your senior year courses, your college plans, and your academic progress. ____ Complete and review your results from the UDo What You Are U and the UCareer Interest Profiler U assessments in HUFamily Connection UH. Use the results to help focus your future career and major choices. _____ Complete the college Super Match and College SearchU programs in HUFamily Connection UH. You can also use the College Match program to identify additional colleges. _____ Research the colleges on your preliminary list by visiting college websites, consulting College Internet Resources on the guidance webpage and by speaking with current college students and graduates. _____ Use the results of your research to begin to narrow the size of your list of colleges. Use the UCompare Colleges U section of HUFamily Connection UH to help you compare schools. _____ Discuss your college plans with your parents. Make sure to include a frank discussion about finances in your talks. Check out HUhttp://www.finaid.orgUHfor information about college expenses and financial aid. _____ Visit colleges that interest you. You can arrange visits and tours by contacting college admissions departments. _____ Identify two academic teachers that you would like to write letters of recommendation to colleges for you. Ask the teachers if they will write recommendations for you in the summer or fall if required by the colleges. _____ Plan additional college visits for the summer. _____ Finish your graduation project if you have not already done so! You will lose privileges if you do not complete the project. 2BUSUMMER, AFTER JUNIOR YEAR _____ Begin viewing the application requirements for each of your colleges and start filling out the online applications. Find out which of the colleges you would like to apply to accept the Common Application. Begin completing the Common Application at HUhttp://www.commonapp.org UH for those schools that accept it. _______ Begin working on your college application essays. For tips on writing good college application essays check out the College Board resources at HUhttp://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skillsUH/. _____ Schedule campus visits and interviews for any college you’re interested in that you did not visit in the spring. Schedule second visits to colleges that you want to see again. You should try to arrange an overnight stay for second or third visits.

Application ChecklistCollege 1 College 2 College 3 College 4 College 5 College 6 College 7

Applications

Application deadline

Essay required? (Write and Proof essay)

Include application fee/ sign application

*Common App. only (completed FERPA on

CA & entered CA email on FC)

Application completed/sent (online/mail)

Test Scores

Sent SAT/ACT Scores

SAT Subject Test required? (#/type)

Guidance Office

Transcript form completed & submitted

Transcript delivery type? CA, Electronic, Stamp

Addressed envelope/postage needed?

School Report needed? printed & submited

Midyear grades required? Requested?

Letters of Recommendation

Recommendations required? Requested?

Provide addressed envelopes & postage

Sent Thank You note

Financial Aid

FAFSA submitted? (after 01/01)

Supplemental items? (CSS, institution forms)

Supplemental items deadline

Notification

Brought acceptance/scholarship letter to guidance

Three Tips for Students

1. Be Responsible

• Take charge of the process, know deadlines, perform all leg

work

2. Be Organized

• Use checklist- helps to complete all steps

3. Be Early / Be Aware of Deadlines

• Submit materials well in advance

4000 accredited colleges and universities …

Which schools are the best matches for YOUR

student?

●Most Selective (<25% admitted)

●Very Selective (25-50% admitted)

● Somewhat Selective (50-75% admitted)

● Less Selective (>75% admitted)

●Open Enrollment (all or most admitted)

What are the factors that colleges evaluate

when making admission decisions?

Percentages of US colleges considering various

admission factors (very) important

● School Achievement 83%***

Grades in college prep courses

Strength of curriculum

●Test scores (SAT or ACT) 86%

●Recommendations 47%

●Essay 46%

●Extracurricular activities 31%

● Interview* 29%

High School Achievement

●Courses taken and grades earned

● Students should take the most challenging classes in

which they can be successful

●Language course requirements

●Maintained and improved

achievement is noticed

● Importance of junior year GPA

How do colleges compare high school records?

●27,000 High Schools

●GPA recalculation

●Rank in Class

How do colleges look at

Test Scores?

●Are SAT or ACT optional? Test optional schools

●Different scores for different programs within a university

●“Common Core” and the new SAT/ACT

●Larger universities may rely more on tests scores than smaller schools

Test Scores/Superscoring

●Most common policies:

● 52% public and 61% private use highest reading and math scores across multiple test administrations(superscore)

● 41% public and 25% private use highest reading and math scores in a single test administration.

● Some colleges required all scores to be sent

What do colleges look for in

Essays and Recommendations?

●The opportunity to make the student “come alive”● Beyond what the application says

●Help us help you – Brag Sheets

What are the “Other Factors” that colleges

consider?

Institutional Needs =

●Alumni relationship (legacy)

●Athletics

●Ethnicity

●Geographic region

●Major / college applied to

●Activities

●Type of Admission

●Early Decision (binding)

●Early Action (non-binding)

When should a student apply through Early

Decision?

If the student:

• has researched colleges extensively

• is absolutely sure that the college s/he is applying to is a first choice

• has found a school that is a strong match academically, socially, geographically and financially

• meets or exceeds the admission profile for the school for SAT scores, GPA, class rank

• The student will attend NO MATTER WHAT *

Benefits and Drawbacks to

Early Decision or Early Action

• Saves students the time and expense of submitting multiple applications

• Reduces stress by cutting the time a student spends waiting for a decision

• Gives students more time, once accepted, to prepare for college

• Does it improve my chances of getting in?

• Increases the pressure to make an early decision

• May reduce financial aid opportunities

• Time crunch for other applications if the student is rejected by the early decision college

• Senioritis

Best College Fit

●Which college is best for you and why?

●A college that “best fits” should…

●Offer the course of study you want to pursue

●Provide instruction and learning opportunities that

are compatible with how you like to learn

●Be a good match for your level of ability and academic preparation

●Provide a community that feels like home

Factors to Consider

Offers the course of study you want to

pursue:

● strongest programs

● guarantee of major, process for switching

majors

● course selection process

● opportunities for those who are undecided

Provides instruction and learning

opportunities that are compatible with

how you like to learn:

● class size/format

● faculty:student ratio

● who teaches undergrads

● general education requirements, liberal

arts

Is a good match for your level of ability

and academic preparation:

● level of difficulty

● student services: academic

support/student advising/career services

● retention & graduation rates

● AP policies

Provides a community that feels like

home:

● location – distance from home

● environment – suburban vs. urban

● diversity

● campus size

● extracurricular opportunities

Other Factors to Consider

•Honors Programs•Application? Advantages? Scholarships? Other opportunities/requirements?

•Accelerated Programs•Certain programs requiring graduate degrees

•Co-ops•Hands-on learning experiences

•Study Abroad•Process? Locations? Cost?

•Athletics•Varsity vs. club vs. intramurals

•Military Academies•Must start NOW

•Guide is available upon request

Financial Aid/Cost Considerations

●Public vs. private schools – be wary of the

“sticker price”

●If you are seeking aid, you must apply

●What you can do now:

●Familiarize yourself with the financial aid

application process (deadlines, forms, etc.)

●Understand types of aid (handout)

●Get estimates of what aid might be available to

you

Financial Aid Resources

●KHS Financial Aid Night – September

●FAFSA completion nights (local colleges)

●Financial aid information and resources

●Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), pheaa.org

●Net Price Calculator – specific to the college

●For cost estimates

●Every college is required to have this tool

●FAFSA4caster – EFC prediction

●College Scorecard – collegescorecard.ed.gov

•Start a conversation - Ask “big picture” questions & get on the “same page”

• Explore & get educated on “the basics”

•College visits – first-hand experience

•College search – Family Connection & bigfuture.collegeboard.org

•Include Reach, Target, & Safety Schools (find a “safety” school that you love!)

•This is an INDIVDUALIZED process – every student has their own considerations

Tips for Getting Started

Generating a List of Colleges

Embracing Change

https://vimeo.com/39290950

Comment Forms

Your feedback is an important way for us address your

questions and provide you with the information and

guidance that will assist you and your student throughout

the college selection and application process.

Please drop off your gold comment form at the table in the rear.