Fall College Information Night for Seniors and Parents

Fall College Information Night for Seniors and Parents Briar Woods High School Guidance Department

College Information Night • Counselors will review material with seniors next week • Information packet & NACAC Guide • This presentation is online • BWHS Guidance >>> “Presentations” • Many of the documents and worksheets discussed tonight are online • BWHS Guidance >>> “Forms”

Agenda • Review of the college selection process • The college application “folder” and Briar Woods High School application procedures

The College Selection Process • Ideally, students should begin their senior year with three or more colleges in mind • There are many college search tools available • Family Connection college search function – every senior has an account; accessed through the internet • CollegeBoard website • The BWHS Career Center • Your child’s counselor & career specialist

The College Selection Process • The LCPS College Fair, September 19, 4:00-5:30 & 6:30-8:00 at Stone Bridge HS • Focus on a couple schools, then… • HAVE FUN! • Helpful questions to ask college representatives

The College Selection Process • College representative visits to BWHS • There is no substitute for a campus visit as a way to assess a school • Use a worksheet to record your experiences, what you like/dislike, contacts you make, etc.

The College Selection Process • College testing • SAT Reasoning Test (admissions) • ACT (admissions) • SAT Subject Tests (typically for placement) • Register now!!! The Loudoun test sites fill up quickly

The College Selection Process - Summary • Use college search programs to help select colleges • Use available resources to further narrow your search • Visit colleges! • Take the college entrance exams (SAT and/or ACT) • If you need a more thorough review, plan to attend Junior College Night on October 18

The Application “Folder” –The Magnificent Seven • Application • Essay • Student Resume • Secondary School Report • Test Scores • Transcript • Letter of Recommendation

The Application “Folder” • Application • Essay • Student Resume • Secondary School Report • Test Scores • Transcript • Letter of Recommendation

The Application • Most applications are submitted electronically over the internet • Print and review before submitting it! • Seniors are responsible for completing and submitting their own applications (not mom & dad!) • Seniors should make copies of all applications they submit • Many colleges use the “Common Application”

The Application • Seniors are responsible for being aware of application deadlines (see NACA Guide) • Regular Admission – traditional deadline • Early Decision – binding • Early Action – non-binding • Rolling Admission – applications accepted based on space availability until the institution is “full”

The Essay • Not all colleges require an essay • Most essays are submitted electronically along with the application • Seniors should make sure they are understand the essay topic • Seniors are advised to print out and review (with help!) their essays before sending them

The Essay • English teachers are more than happy to help students with essays; some teachers incorporate this into their curriculum • Seniors should save all essays because they may be modified and reused – but be careful • Essay resources – BWHS library, BWHS Career Center, public library, book store, internet

Student Resume • Many colleges accept student resumes • Resumes are usually sent to the college electronically along with the application and essay • Resumes can highlight your accomplishment both in and outside of school • An effective resume is EASY TO READ! • Use resume templates and samples to format your own • Information on resumes must be 100% accurate • Use email, Facebook, MySpace, etc. appropriately (if you wouldn’t put it on a resume…)

Secondary School Report • Some colleges provide the student with a Secondary School Report form for the counselor to complete and send in • It is the student’s responsibility to print it out and bring it in!

Test Scores • Seniors are responsible for determining the tests needed for the colleges they are applying to • SAT Reasoning Test (typically for determining admissions) • ACT (typically for determining admissions) • SAT Subject Tests (typically used for placement) • Seniors are responsible for having their test scores sent to the colleges they are applying to • Requests are made directly through the CollegeBoard or ACT; BWHS nor LCPS send test scores • Seniors can request their scores be sent when they take the tests; or they can have their scores sent after the test date by contacting the CollegeBoard or ACT

The Transcript • Seniors must submit a Transcript Release Form signed by a parent. Forms can be obtained in guidance and are online • Seniors must submit the form in person to the counselor (along with the Secondary School Report if required) • We ask that seniors submit transcript requests a minimum of two weeks before the college application deadline (last year we sent over 1200 transcripts) • We track the process date and send date – posted on Family Connection

The Transcript • We include a school profile with transcript • Transcript requests must be made before December 1st in order to be sent before winter break • All LCPS student’s are charged $3.00 per transcript • Please only request transcripts to be sent to colleges you are actually applying to • There are no costs for mid-year and end-of-year transcripts

Letters of Recommendation • Counselor Letter • If a senior needs a letter of recommendation from the counselor, he/she can request it when he/she requests the transcript • Every senior will be provided with a Senior Information Packet to be turned into the counselor • The Senior Information Packet is posted online and contains a parent “brag” section

Letters of Recommendation • Teacher Letter: • If a letter of recommendation is requested from a teacher, the senior should make the request directly to the teacher and provide the teacher with a postage-paid envelope addressed to the college • Think about who you are asking… they may need more time!

Letters of Recommendation • Seniors should allow counselors and teachers a minimum of two weeks to write a letter • Please only request letters to be sent to schools you are actually applying to • If you send more letters than the college requests, you can’t control which ones they choose to read

The Application “Folder” - Summary • Senior submits application electronically to the college • Senior submits the essay electronically to the college (if there is one) • Senior may submit the resume electronically to the college • Senior has test scores sent directly to the college by the SAT (CollegeBoard) or the ACT • Senior meets with counselor directly to request a transcript by submitting a Transcript Release Form • Senior may submit Secondary School Report (if provided by the college) when they meet with the counselor • Senior may request letter of recommendation (if needed)

Keeping Sane!!! • Complete one college application “folder” at a time • Trying to work on several applications at once = confusion for all! • Use a checklist for each application

Interviews • Some colleges interview applicants • Process, procedures, and guidelines vary

Communication • Your child will hear everything we talked about tonight through classroom presentations • Every senior will meet with his/her counselor individually • Every senior will receive a NACAC Guide – includes rights and responsibilities in the college admissions process. This is a fantastic source of information!

Communication • Every senior will receive a planning folder: • Planning calendar • Student information packet • Sample resumes • Transcript release form • College visit worksheet • College application checklist

Communication • Students and parents can log onto Family Connection to view transcript send dates • We automatically send mid-year transcripts to the colleges our students apply to (no cost) • Final transcripts are sent to the colleges our students plan to attend (no cost) • The infamous “we didn’t get your transcript” postcard or email

Some Advice • Traditional advice – Pick three to six colleges: • “Dream” schools • “Good chance” schools • “Back-up” schools • Balancing “Going for it!” with “Being realistic” • Apply to colleges that are a “good fit” • Look at GPAs, test scores, high school courses, admission rates

Some Advice • Complete applications one at a time • One by Halloween • One by Thanksgiving • The rest by Winter Break • Use a checklist for each application • Pay attention to deadlines! • HAVE FUN!

Upcoming Dates • LCPS College Fair – September 19 at 4:00pm-5:30pm & 6:30pm-8:00pm, SBHS • Junior College Information Night – October 18 at 7:00pm • NCAA Night – November, date TBA • Financial Aid Night – December, date TBA

Have a great Senior year!!

Fall College Information Night for Seniors and Parents