Parish Hill High School Junior College Night

1. Parish Hill High SchoolJunior College Night

2. Write down one question or concern you have about the college selection process

3. Junior Calendar • September • Register for PSAT • October • Take PSAT • December • PSAT score report arrives • Read and understand your scores • Consider SAT prep course or study from SAT Prep book or website • March • Register for SAT I exam • College Search/Interest Inventory on CHOICES

4. Junior Calendar Continued • April • Attend college fair • Narrow down list of colleges and plan visits • Fill out recommendation questionnaire • May • Take the SAT I • June • Take the SAT I (if not in May) • Plan college visits for summer

5. Senior Calendar • August • Narrow college list down to no more than five schools • Request catalogs & applications • September • Check test dates for SAT I & SAT II exams and register • Make list of deadline dates for SATs, college apps and financial aid • Begin asking teachers for letters of recommendation

6. Senior Calendar Continued • October • Take SAT I exam • Come to PHHS Senior College Night • Work on admissions essays • Visit colleges/attend open houses • Attend college fair • Submit CSS/PROFILE if required • November • Take SAT I or II exam • Check on Financial Aid/Scholarship applications and deadlines • Begin preparation of college applications and check deadlines

7. Senior Calendar Continued • December • Come to PHHS Financial Aid Night • Pick up FAFSA Form (DO NOT SUBMIT BEFORE JANUARY 1) • Watch for Scholarship Bulletins • January • Submit FAFSA form ASAP • Keep copies of FAFSA & tax returns

8. Senior Calendar Continued • February • Check to see if midyear grades have been sent • Rank final list of colleges • Finish applications • March • Look for Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail containing federal financial aid information • Submit tax forms to financial aid office if requested

9. Senior Calendar Continued • April • Look for college acceptance and financial aid award letters • Make your final decision and send in deposit by deadline • Notify schools you will not be attending • Watch for important deadlines (housing, financial aid, etc.) • May/June • Relax and enjoy the summer!

10. The College Search • Two essential questions that you should ask yourself • What does it take to get into the school  • Do I want to be there even if your friends are not going to be there. Research is needed by you.  YOU NEED TO VISIT AND LEARN BY CONTRASTING SCHOOLS.  Speak to students there • The College – Location, size, type, student body, housing, facilities • Admission – Requirements, selection criteria, percent accepted, deadlines • Application – It looks much nicer to type your application on the computer, even if you don’t send it online • Costs and financial aid – Tuition, housing, meals, fees, books, other, forms required, deadlines • Academics/program – Range of courses in major, student-faculty ratio, AP Policy, special academic programs (study abroad, Co-op, honors, double major, etc) • Student life and services – Counseling, health, job placement, athletics, clubs, sororities/fraternities • Alumni information – Graduate info, email addresses • Online applications • Email directory

11. Types of Colleges to Apply to: at least one of each of below • Reach – a school that you may not get into based on SATs and grades, but would go to if accepted • Match – a school that matches your academic profile and you will “most likely” be accepted • Safety – A school that you are “guaranteed” to be accepted to – this may not be your first choice, but at least you will have a college to go to in the Fall

12. Senior Year Courses • Choose a challenging courseload • Colleges will look for: • 4 yrs English & literature • 3-4 years of mathematics • 3-4 years of sciences, including biology, chemistry and physics, • 3-4 years of the same foreign language • 3-4 years of history & social science • 2-3 years of music and arts. • Supplement the ideal curriculum by taking courses at community college, Eastern Whips Program, etc. • Check with guidance about course selection • Watch out for senior slump • Colleges do get midterm grades and final grades • They have the right to deny or rescind admission

13. Class Rank & Grade Point Average • Calculated at the end of each year • Calculated at end of 3rd quarter senior year for Valedictorian & Salutatorian • Class rank and GPA are weighted • Advanced classes add weight • Class rank • Not overly important for small school

14. Extracurricular Activities • Colleges will look for involvement in sports, activities, volunteer work, community service (in and out of school), church activities, etc. • Consistency, commitment and leadership are important factors • Be a good person • People will be needed to write recommendations based on your personality • Colleges want well-rounded, responsible, students • Don’t spread yourself too thin • keep up your grades and attendance

15. SAT I Test • Juniors usually take in May or June • Seniors take in the Fall • Cost is $45.00 • Payable to the College Board • School Code is 070093 • Know your Social Security Number

16. SAT Subject Tests • Usually taken in Fall of senior year • Individual achievement test usually relating to area of interest • Usually three taken at one sitting • Each about 1 hour in length • Check with colleges to see if necessary and what tests are required • Writing usually required and two others • Preparation is mainly through high school classes, but additional prep available in booklets, books and on the web

17. Admission Plans • Regular Admissions • Dec. 1 and May 1 • Early Decision • Have to commit to that school if you are accepted • Rolling Admissions • Students are accepted as they apply • Early Action – • Will get early decision, but do not have to commit to that school until May 1st • These options are good for students who know for sure where they want to go

18. Open Houses/Campus Visits • Visit colleges during the summer • Most colleges have Open House/Campus Days in Sept – Nov – usually on weekends • Call before visiting • Tours are available • Ask questions • Talk to students (not your tour guide) • “Why did you choose this school?” • “What do you like about it?” • DO NOT ACCEPT TO A SCHOOL YOU HAVE NOT VISITED!

19. College Applications • Available at College Fairs, call, email, write • Many will be sent through SAT Test & College Fair signups • Many are available on the web • Type on computer • Don’t forget your Social Security Number • PROOF READ

20. College Essays • One will be written in senior English classes • Be creative • This is not a resume • What do you want to say to a college not what you think they want to hear?  Must be honest and present yourself in the best light.  • Once again a family affair so you need to help them but do not take over the process and write it for them or put your ideas in their essay.  The student should be writing and it should be in their words.  • PARENTS DON’T TAKE OVER THE PROCESS • IF YOUR STUDENT IS NOT WRITING THE ESSAY, YOU AS A PARENT NEED TO ACT AS A BOOSTER AND AID THEM IN THE PROCESS BUT IT SHOULD BE THEIR WORK AND ONLY THEIR WORK. • Guidance has info available on writing essays • Write, Rewrite, Rewrite, PROOF READ!

21. Recommendations • Students should fill out recommendation questionnaires from guidance • Make copies for counselor and teachers • Ask at least two weeks before needing it • List on questionnaire • Schools applying to and date needed • Follow-up with teachers at deadline

22. NCAA Clearinghouse • Divisions 1 & 2 must register for NCAA Clearinghouse at end of junior year/beginning of senior year • Division 3 does not need to register, but should talk to coach • There are many rules/regulations

23. ROTC Deadline in Early Dec. Available at many colleges Requires commitment after college College usually free National Guard Tuition reimbursement available Regular military Must serve after high school graduation Tuition reimbursement available during and after service Military Academies Process starts early Very competitive admissions Requires commitment after graduation from academy Remember that a recruiter’s job is to sign you up Investigate/Read carefully This is your life Military

24. www.bestschoolusa.com www.campustours.com www.collegeboard.com www.collegenet.com www.collegelink.com www.collegeprofiles.com www.petersons.com www.princetonreview.com www.allaboutcollege.com www.campustours.com www.commonapp.org– Common Application www.usnews.com/usnews/edu www.ctmentor.org – for CT Colleges & Universities www.massmentor.edu – for MA Colleges & Universities www.wiredscholar.com www.xap.com www.embark.com www.collegeview.com www.collegexpress.com College information websites

25. Financial Aid/Scholarships • PHHS will have Financial Aid Night in December to help with FAFSA Form and information • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the main form, which is sent to all colleges and is primary source of financial aid • CSS PROFILE • An additional financial aid for required by some colleges • Available in September of Senior Year • Need to pay for each college and must send for applications

26. Financial Aid/Scholarships Cont. • Some colleges have their own financial aid form • Scholarship Bulletins will be published and distributed to all seniors 4-5 times throughout senior year – Also available on the PHHS website at www.parishhill.org • Scholarship searches available through CHOICES at PHHS and on the web. • DO NOT PAY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH • Plan your finances now - a) start saving now, costs continue to rise – b) cost should not limit your college search.  Many of the most expensive colleges offer financial packages that may cost less than other colleges       Parents and students need to form a financial union.  – communicate how much you as a family can afford. 

27. Financial Aid websites • www.collegeboard.com • www.collegeview.com • www.edgov/finaid.html • www.educaid.com • www.fastweb.com • www.freschinfo.com • www.finaid.org • www.salliemae.org