Senior College Night

1. Senior College Night WHAT EVERY LAKE PARK SENIOR PARENT/GUARDIAN NEEDS TO KNOW!

2. Resources for Seniors • Counselors • Career Center Director – Mrs. Frank • Registrar – Ms. Buchweitz • College Admission and Financial Aid Representatives

3. Counselors • Assist with college research and applications • Resource for information on essays, personal statements, scholarships, and financial aid • Write recommendations as needed • Act as a sounding board for students and parents • Counselors do NOT send transcripts. Students use Parchment (www.parchment.com) to send transcripts electronically

4. Counseling Office VIP’s College and Career Center – Mrs. Frank • Distributes scholarship information and applications • Coordinates College Representative visits • Updates Scholarship bulletin • Provides college books and materials to view Registrar – Ms. Buchweitz • Maintains student records - Updates transcripts, test scores, class rank, GPA, etc. • Approves transcript requests (Parchment) for college applications and scholarships

5. College Admission Representatives • Provide information on just about everything related to that college - majors, housing, costs, student life, and much more • Admission requirements/scholarship opportunities • College visit information • Advocate for potential students if good match – can be very helpful if a student is on the admissions “bubble”

6. Important Web Resources Lake Park Counseling Department website • http://www.lphs.org/guidance_counseling_dept/ Career Cruising • College, Career, and Scholarship Information • Schedule of College Representative visits • Resume and Portfolio Tools • Log-in: • (user name) LP-student ID • (password) Computer log-in password

7. Types of Admission • Rolling Admission • Apply in the fall/early winter and receive a decision 4-8 weeks after application is submitted • Priority Admission • Apply in fall (or sometimes early winter) and receive a decision in winter • Applying by a priority deadline can often give a student an advantage when space and scholarships are limited • Regular Admission • Apply in fall/early winter and receive a decision on a specific date in the spring

8. Types of Admission • Early Action • Apply in the fall, receive decision in early winter, student has until May 1 to commit • Early Decision I and II • Admission programs that are a binding commitment between the student and college – student is required to attend if accepted and financial aid offer is feasible • Restrictive Early Action • Non-binding, can only apply to one college as part of this program

9. Applications • Apply early, apply online • Apply early, apply online • Apply early, apply online • Apply early, apply online • Apply early, apply online • Apply early, apply online • Apply early, apply online • Apply early, apply online

10. Online Applications • You can print a paper copy for practice but complete/send it online • Use personal PIN number • Follow progress of application • Easier to complete and read, more accurate • Application Fee (credit card, check, or fee wavier request) • Make a copy of application before sending • Submitting the application should always be the first step in the process

11. Main Application Sections All applications • Personal Details: Name/address, family information, areas of academic interest, activities, work experience, etc. • School Record: Transcript which includes the following: course work, grades ,GPA, class rank, test scores (some schools now have students self-report their transcript). Applications will also ask for a listing of senior year courses • Graduation Date

12. Special Application Sections Personal Statement • Chance for colleges to get to know students and their experiences, interests, etc. • Chance for students to explain any inconsistencies on their transcript Essays and/or short answer questions • Follow directions • Stick to the topic/prompt • Check for grammar and spelling errors • Proofread! Proofread! Proofread! • What sets you apart from other applicants? • Way to assess communication and writing skills

13. Common Application Common Application used by 500+ colleges and universities • Students create an account at www.commonapp.org • May apply to 20 schools using the Common Application (that doesn’t mean that you have to, $$) • Large FAQ section website and video tutorials – there is no telephone customer service • Requires more detailed personal and academic records, multiple essays, counselor and teacher evaluations/recommendations, and possible supplemental information

14. College of DuPage COD offers students many wonderful opportunities: • Students can take a flexible schedule of classes that are part of their long-term plan (e.g., associate degree, bachelor degree, advanced degrees) • Certification programs for a number of fields, including: Automotive Service Technology, Cosmetology, Nursing Assistant, Welding, etc. • 3 + 1 Program partners with other universities such as Benedictine, Concordia, Governor State, Lewis and Roosevelt to offer high caliber degree programs at greatly reduced cost (Nursing, Healthcare Management, Computer Science and more!)

15. College of DuPage Pathways to Engineering Program • Students can earn a guaranteed seat in the UIUC Engineering program • Students need to complete two separate applications and COD COMPASS exams • Students must maintain a 3.3 GPA in program specific courses and 3.2 cumulative for all COD courses As with all colleges, it is recommended that students apply early to COD: • Generates a student account which will allow students to register for classes, etc. • Students may need to complete placement exams • Complete other necessary admission/enrollment items

16. Recommendations Not Accepted • Do not submit recommendations to schools that say they will not accept them – they are telling the truth! Optional • Could enhance chances of admission and explain special circumstances Required • Essential part of evaluating candidates for admission and scholarships • Provide the requested number of recommendations, no more or less

17. Teacher Recommendations • Use previous teachers who know you the best (junior year) and give them 2-3 weeks to complete the letter • Follow application guidelines – are there specific recommenders that are required? • Offer logistical details (e.g. due date), resume, student information sheet, and so forth to assist the teachers when making the request • Provide envelope with stamp for mailing • Send a thank you note

18. Counselor Recommendations • Complete a student information sheet and then meet with your counselor to discuss details of the recommendation(s) • Provide your counselor with a resume or any other special credentials • Allow 2-3 weeks for recommendation to be completed, never too early to contact your counselor

19. ACT:To Retake or Not Retake • Retake the ACT for the following reasons: • To improve your chances for admission • To increase scholarship opportunities • To meet NCAA requirements • Do NOT wait for new test scores to apply to colleges, can lead to missed deadlines • Score range 1-36, Lake Park H.S. average is 23 • Register by visiting www.actstudent.org

20. Importance of Deadlines • Prioritize your applications by due dates • Note: scholarship deadlines may be different from application deadlines • Watch postmarked by vs. received by • Apply early: Some programs may fill up before deadlines, get the most consideration • Meeting deadlines may make a difference for admissions and scholarships • Stay organized with folders, check lists, post-its, applicant account

21. College Visits • Plan to visit colleges; especially any on a student’s final list • Call ahead and try to schedule an overnight stay, classroom visits, appointments with majors/programs • Attend open-house programs on school holidays • PACK A CAMERA and TAKE LOTS OF NOTES.

22. Financial Aid Information • All schools that accept and award federal aid require the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) • File the FAFSA as soon as possible on/after January 1 at www.fafsa.gov (can use estimated information if necessary) • NOT www.fafsa.com or any other site that may charge fees • Families can complete an estimator now to determine eligibility for federal aid at www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov • Some colleges may require the CSS Profile which is part of The College Board website (fee of $25 for the 1st college/scholarship, then $16)

23. Financial Aid Information Paying for College Night Wednesday, November 12 at 7:00 PM West Campus Auditorium • Presentation by expert financial aid officer • Updates on financial aid process • Tips for identifying and applying for financial aid

24. Scholarship Information Check scholarship bulletin on Lake Park’s website:http://www.lphs.org/ Home > Guidance – Counseling Dept. > College Resources College and Career Center • Scholarship books and bulletin are available Web Resources (should always be free): • www.fastweb.com • www.collegeanswer.com • www.collegezone.com • www.scholarships.com • http://www.isac.org/ Always inquire about potential scholarships at individual colleges

25. Applying for Housing Procedures vary per school • Some housing applications are included with general application • Others are sent out with acceptance letters • Most schools require freshmen to live on campus Apply Early • Limited spots; some housing fills up/not always guaranteed to freshmen • You have more choices early on

26. Universal Reply Date • MAY 1st is the date by which a student must tell the admissions office that she/he is planning on attending that school • Students should NOT accept admission to more than one school because it can jeopardize their admission offer and it creates issues for both the college and wait-listed students

27. Senioritis: The Signs • Loss of motivation to study • Interest in removing classes from senior schedule • Exhaustion from workload • Loss of sleep trying to juggle school, activities/work, home, friends, etc. • Part-time job taking precedence • Non-participation in sports/activities • Stressed relationships with friends and/or family

28. Senioritis:Survival Techniques • Remember, colleges anticipate that students will maintain their level of performance and rigor • Set goals and work towards them • Encourage your student to maintain their college prep course load; ask about schedule changes • Help students stay involved in school and community • Assist your students with balancing school, work, home, and social life

29. Common College Application Mistakes • Misspellings and grammatical errors (or listing the wrong college name) • Applying online, but forgetting to hit submit • Forgetting signatures, overlooking details • Listing inaccurate information: Example - extra-curricular activities that really aren’t (video games are not) or listing activities that you haven’t done

30. Common College Application Mistakes • Writing illegibly • Inappropriate email address like partygirl@gmail.com, partyboy@gmail.com • Not checking your email regularly for updates • Letting family members complete the application or other materials • Not submitting required materials by stated deadlines

31. Counselor Assignments: • Joe Ziemba, Seniors A-De • jziemba@lphs.org 630-295-5346 • Patrice Lovelace, Seniors Di-Ja • plovelace@lphs.org 630-295-5343 • Mike Mucha, Seniors Je-Mr • mmucha@lphs.org 630-295-5344 • Melisa Williams-Rivera, Seniors Ms-Se • mwilliamsrivera@lphs.org 630-295-5349 • Mike Sakiewicz, Seniors Sg-Z • msakiewicz@lphs.org 630-295-5345

32. Important Dates Saturday, September 27th – IACAC National College Fair at Navy Pier, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Thursday, October 9th - Advising the College Bound Athlete, 6:30 PM West Campus Auditorium Tuesday, October 21nd - College Fair at COD 6:00-8:30 PM Tuesday, October 21nd - CHOICES College Fair – 6:00 – 9:00 PM at Vernon Hills High School Saturday, Oct 25th ACT at LPHS, registration deadline 9/19 Wednesday, November 12th - Paying for College Night, 7:00 PM West Campus Auditorium

33. Questions