The College Application Process For State College High School Class of 2012

1. The College Application Process For State College High School Class of 2012 MrsDevecka- MrsLyke – MrsWolanski September 2011

2. Where are you now? • Have you taken the SAT or ACT? • Do you have a list of schools? • Have you visited some of the schools? • Have you looked at the websites & researched application procedures? • Have you registered with NCAA Clearinghouse if you plan to play sports? • If you are completely overwhelmed by these questions, then read your College Planning Booklet and start with 1 application.

3. Goal For This Meeting How to Apply to College Three main types of applications • Penn State/Schreyer Honors College • Common Application • Other applications (on-line and paper)

4. Points to Remember for the Regular PSU Application • Complete on-line application • Bring in the School Report form---Mrs. Wolanski • Sign a Transcript Request form--- Mrs. Wolanski • Must choose a school and a major or DUS • Fall admission vs. summer admissions • Campus Choice • College Prep Math 1-3= (Alg. 1, Alg. 2, & Geometry) • Trig. / Business, Engineering, Science, IST • Foreign Language requirement • Complete application by Oct. 31stto be safe. • SAT & ACT scores: YOU NEED to have them sent directly from College Board. It takes 2-3 weeks. PSU will not process your application without SAT scores.

5. Schreyer Honors College • Complete regular PSU application on-line • Indicate that you want to complete the Schreyer on-line application. • Complete Transcript Request form w/ Mrs. Dodsonin the Counseling Office. • Reminder: Have your counselor’s and teachers’ emails handy for requesting recommendations. • Recommendations need to be requested 3 working weeks before due date—Green Sheet must be complete at that time for recommendation to be written by counselor.

6. Points to Remember - Common Application • Go to each College Website before applying and check for supplements. The info is on the Common Application website as well. • Read all directions regarding Common Application. • Get teachers’ permission before submitting their names as recommenders. • Waiving your right-to-privacy is strongly recommended. • Print out a hard copy for your records. • Complete a Transcript Request for each Common Application School – See MrsWolanski. • Complete Green Sheet information for counselors—must be into Counseling office 3 working weeks before due.

7. Other Applications • Can be on-line or paper. If there is a choice we recommend the on-line version. • Make sure you print out all forms for teachers and counselors and give them to the appropriate people. • Each application is a bit different, follow the directions and take your time. • If you bring in your entire application to be mailed you need to bring in a large envelope with 4 stamps and addressed. • Sign a Transcript Request form for each college.

8. Application Essay • Many colleges require an essay. • Seek help from your English teacher. • Read the College Planning Book about the essay on pages 15-19 or go to educationplanner.org or collegeboard.com or use resources in counseling office. • Schreyer Honors College of PSU requires three essays - begin them now! • Have at least one person proof your essay. Make sure that you are coming across the way you intended.

9. Recommendations • PSU does not require recommendations, with the exception of Schreyer Honors College. • Teacher recommendation—any 9th through 12th grade teacher may write a recommendation. • Some colleges will require specific subject teachers. • Counselor recommendation –MrsDevecka/MrsLyke/Mrs. Campbell/ Mrs. Donovan/Ms Herrmann, or any counselor you have been working with. • If you need a letter of recommendation you will need to fill out the Green Sheet packet and have 4 teachers fill out white evaluation sheets.

10. Recommendations continued….. • Some colleges want to receive all recommendations and transcripts together. If this is what the college requires, then all documents must be sent from the counseling office. • Other colleges that require recommendations state that teachers and counselors may mail recommendations separately. • Waiveyour right to read the recommendation.

11. Recommendation Packet (Pick these up in Counseling) If you need a counselor recommendation for any college you are applying to, make sure that you have completed these forms at least 3 weeks before the recommendation is due College Application To-Do List In – House Evaluation Forms (4) Information For Letter Of Recommendation

12. Application Process • Apply online if possible. • Apply to at least one “safety” school that is both academically and financially safe. • Try to limit your applications to 5 or 6 colleges. The average application fee is $50 per application. • Apply as early as possible to get maximum consideration. • Make a detailed checklist for each college application.

13. Wonderful People * Treat them well * Mrs. Wolanski & Mrs. Dodson

14. Transcript Request Form

15. Transcript Request Form • You must complete a transcript request form for each college with Mrs. Wolanski in the North Counseling Office in order to have your transcript submitted. • Make sure your request is in at least 3weeks before it is due.

16. Additional Forms • Early Decision Agreement • Mid Year Report • College Specific Financial Aid Forms • FAFSA—January 1st, 2012 • Athletic Supplement • Arts Supplement • Final Report/Transcript

17. Envelopes and Stamps • Paper Applications 9x12 envelope, addressed with 4 stamps • Transcript only/Mid Year Report Regular legal size envelope, addressed with 1 stamp

18. Application Deadlines • Rolling admission • Early decision • Early action • Regular decision • Note: For both transcript and recommendations, make sure that you give the counseling office and your counselor at least 3 weeks notice. Example, if the deadline is December 1st have all your requests in by November 9th. Look at the bottom of your purple sheet to see our deadlines.

19. Financial Aid • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student AID (FAFSA) soon after Jan 1st, 2012. • Fill Out CSS Financial Aid Profile if required by the college. • Become familiar with the financial aid process. • Read the financial aid section in the College Planning Book - pages 23-31. • Visit http://www.finaid.org/ for a preliminary financial aid estimate. • Attend financial aid nights: • PHEAA – December 7th, 2011 - Penn State Financial Aid – January 4th, 2012

20. Scholarship Search • Comprehensive Scholarship Information - www.fastweb.com • Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency - www.pheaa.org • State High Senior Scholarship Book – late Feb 2012 • Resources in North Counseling Office • Employment/religious affiliations/military • Many colleges give out hefty merit financial aid

21. Searching Colleges • www.collegeboard.com • www.educationplanner.org • High school counseling office – Admissions Rep’s visits to school. • Individual college websites

22. How Colleges Evaluate You • Grades in college prep courses • Standardized test scores • Grades in all courses • Essay • Counselor recommendation • Teacher recommendation • Special talents and abilities • Work/extracurricular activities • Interview • Alumni relations • Subject tests • Demonstrated interest • Ethnicity • Ability to pay • State of residence

23. Common Mistakes On College Applications • You apply to a college and never come to the counseling office to request your transcript to be sent from our HS to the college. • You apply to a college and forget to send your SAT/ACT scores to the college. • You apply to college and forget to download all the necessary forms. • You miss a deadline. • You forget to ask for teacher and counselor recommendations. • You forget to hit the submit button.

24. QUESTIONS ????