Comprehensive Guide to College Applications for the Class of 2012

1. Class of 2012 College Presentation

2. Counselors • A - B Linda Packman • C-Gl Craig Alessio • Go-K Paul Linkins • L-O Lindsay Beil • P-Si Jill Snyder • Sl-Z & ESOL Veronica Valentine

3. Student Services (Cont) Registrar: Emily Mandile Registrar: Robin Procida Data Clerk: Marian Boring Secretary: Ms. Charlie Engelkemier

4. Assessing where you are now? • What have you done? • What do you need to do? • Check off where you are in the process. • Visited Schools. • Solidified my list of schools. • Taken the SAT’s or ACT’s. • Handed in my green and red folders to teachers and Student Services. • Started my applications. • Started writing my essays.

5. College Selection Criteria • Apply to about 5-7 schools • TYPES--Likely—Probable—Reach • 1-2 Reach: The criteria for admission is higher than your academic profile. • 3-4 Probable: The criteria for admission is consistent with your academic profile. • 1-2 Likely: The criteria for admission is below your academic profile. • Be sure to add safe financial schools on your list as well. • Be aware of HCC deadlines for scholarships and special programs.

6. Types of Schools • Highly Competitive • Ivy League Schools and Top Schools in country • Average SAT above 2100 and GPA 3.8 • Most Competitive • Second Tier Schools; still very competitive • Average SAT scores above 1950 and GPA above a 3.5 • Competitive • Average SAT scores above 1650 and GPA above 3.2 • Less Competitive • Average SAT scores around 1400 and GPA 2.7-3.0

7. College Applications • Common Application • School specific applications Types of Application Deadlines: • Regular-date specified • Priority Deadline • Rolling-throughout the year • Early Decision-limited to 1, binding • Early Action (REA)-early date, non-binding

8. University of Maryland, College Park 25,500 applications for a class of 3,975 Average SAT: 1250-1400 (CR and Math) GPA: 4.05 weighted Priority Deadline for Admission: November 1 Towson University 15704 applicants and 8900 students were admitted Average SAT: 1560-1770 on all three parts (middle 50%) Average GPA: 3.53 Application and Scholarship Deadline: December 2 Stevenson University Average SAT: 1380-1710 (middle 50%) ACT average: 22 GPA: 3.3 unweighted Admission: Rolling LOCALCOLLEGE PROFILESAS REPORTED FOR CLASS OF 2011

9. LOCAL COLLEGE PROFILES • Salisbury University • Approximately 8,000 applications received and 4,000 students were admitted • Average GPA: 3.7 • Average SAT: 1720 • Admission Deadline: December 1- Early Action • Frostburg University • 5,000 applicants with a 58% admission rate • Average SAT: 1010 on verbal and math (SAT preferred school) • Average GPA: 3.2 • Admission: Rolling Admission • UMBC • 8,000 applicants received in 2011 and anticipate admitting 60% of applicants • Average SAT: 1200 (CR and math) or 1800 on all three parts • Average GPA: 3.6 • Admission: Early Action November 1

10. Types of Admission Decisions • Admit: You are admitted to the school for the fall semester. • Wait Listed: You are put on a waiting list and notified after May 1st of a decision based on the schools enrollment. • Deferral: You are not accepted or rejected, rather deferred to a later time for a decision. This often occurs during early action or early decision deadlines. • Spring Admit: You are admitted for the spring. Often students are permitted to take restricted courses at the University during the fall semester. • Conditional Admit: You attend a summer program or a local junior college and show success and then are admitted to the school. More and more schools are opting for this. • Rejection: You are not admitted to the University.

11. Process in RHS Counseling Office • Transcripts and letter of recommendation • Complete waiver of rights to receive red and green folders In Red folders: • Complete transcript release form listing all colleges to which you are applying • Complete counselor input form • Include $4 dollars for each transcript and an envelope addressed to each of your colleges • Include a resume • Be AWARE of DEADLINES!

12. Transcript Process cont. • Transcripts and school profile are sent by students • All other material is sent by Student Services • Letter of recommendation • Counselor Rating Form • Any secondary school report forms

13. TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS In Green folders: • Write the teacher a letter requesting recommendation • Complete teacher input form listing all the colleges to which you are applying • Answer the four questions on the teacher form • Include a stamped addressed envelope for each college you are applying • Be AWARE of DEADLINES! • WRITE A THANK YOU NOTE! WRITE A THANK YOU NOTE! WRITE A THANK YOU NOTE!

14. College Testing • ACT & SAT Reasoning(formerly SAT I) • Subject Test(formerly SAT II) • Writing Portions of ACT (optional)& SAT

15. Begin the Essay Writing Process • PROCESS!!!!!!!! • Be Strategic • Needs to provide additional information about you that appears nowhere else • Use your resources • Several drafts – seek out feedback • Save everything you write • College Essay Workshop will be held on September 21st after school.

16. College Representatives • College Fairs • Visits to RHS • Sign up notebook is in the counseling office • Students may sign up for a maximum of five visits • Posted on Counseling website

17. College Visits • What To Do & Expect • Visit when students are there--Call 2 weeks ahead • Ask for a class visit/meet with a professor • Check out their newspaper/bulletin boards/etc. • Take notes/pictures • PSAT day, October 12: Students are encouraged to visit local colleges. This will count as an excused absence • If you are interested in visiting HCC, see Ms. Charlie for a permission slip. This is a field trip

18. Scholarship Searches • College Websites • Most of money comes directly from college so check college websites. • Use the Internet • Watch out for scams! • Scholarship Page on Student Services webpage • Senatorial, Delegate, and Local Scholarships

19. Financial Aid • FAFSA- www.fafsa.ed.gov • Online • Student and parent request PIN #s in Dec. • Submit Jan. 1 through approximately Feb. 20 • NOT www.fafsa.com – watch for scam sites • Types of Aid: http://studentaid.ed.gov • Federal: Stafford, Perkins, Work Study, Pell Grants, Need-based Merit Scholarship • Private Sources: Loans, Scholarships, Jobs • CSS Profile-Private schools • Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED) • Financial Aid Night • College Goal Sunday – February 2011

20. Ethical and Personal Responsibilities • Deposit to one college only • Authentic applications, essays, and resumes • Personal conduct and reporting to colleges • MySpace and Facebook • Maintain high academic performance

21. CLOSING THOUGHTS • There is no such thing as the “perfect” college. • Colleges are not “better or worse” rather different. • Be realistic. • Make decisions based on what you want, not your friends, parents, teachers. • Ask questions! • Visit! Visit! Visit! • Meet all deadlines. • Inform RHS and your college of your final decision!

22. STAYING ON TRACK • Use the calendar to record all deadlines • Work backwards to determine when you need to work on applications • Include deadlines for recommendations • Include deadlines for scholarships