Welcome to the College Application Process!

1. Welcome to the College Application Process! Junior Class Presentation Professional Performing Arts School

2. Self-AssessmentBrainstorm • Things to think about: • In state or out of state • Public or Private • Large or small student population • City or country • Instruction/Majors offered • Study Abroad • Clubs • How to make it affordable

3. Research Options • Go online! • Mostly everything you want to know about a school can be found on their website • www.mmm.edu(Marymount Manhattan) • www.collegeboard.com • Attend college fairs • Speak with admissions representatives • NACAC College Fair – Sunday 3/26 – Javits Center – must register, but it’s free • Visit schools • Start visiting schools whenever you can to get a sense of what you like and don’t like • Observe classes in their theatre, dance, or vocal department

4. College Basics: Types of Degrees • BACHELORS: (B.A./B.S.) • 4-year program • Includes about 50% general education requirements • BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS: (B.F.A.) • 4-year program • More focus on arts curriculum • Degree you would likely receive from a conservatory or visual arts program • Often a conservatory program – minimal academic course options • ASSOCIATES: (A.A./A.S) • 2-year program • Degree you would likely receive from a community college

5. College Basics: Types of Admissions • REGULAR (GENERAL)—set deadline • ROLLING—applications roll in/roll out • EARLY DECISION (ED)—apply early and find out early (BINDING) • EARLY ACTION (EA)—like early decision but not binding • OPEN—you pay and attend

6. College Options • CUNY: The City University of New York • 11 senior colleges and 7 community colleges • Very affordable and offer a variety of majors • A space for all New York City students who graduate • Macaulay Honors College: a great program for qualified students • SUNY: The State University of New York • 64 campuses across the state • Affordable but many are competitive • Conservatories • Specialized programs for artists (BFA degrees) • Examples: Boston Conservatory, NYU Tisch, Curtis, New England

7. Low Income Educational Opportunity & Assistant Programs • Designed to help low income students afford and succeed in college • Created to give an advantage to those who were disadvantaged with their financial standing at home. • Qualification for these programs is based on BOTH financial and academic criteria. • HEOP = Higher Education Opportunity Program • Offered at New York private schools • EOP =Educational Opportunity Program • Offered at SUNY schools • SEEK /College Discovery Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge • Offered at four year and two year CUNY schools As a general rule you are most likely eligible to apply for these programs if you receive free or reduced lunch

8. Competition to get into college

9. What does the applying process look like? • The ways you can apply are: • CommonApp • Common Black College Application • College website • (Rutgers, Michigan, Penn State, Point Park, Florida State, Julliard, CCM to name a few) • CUNY and SUNY portals • Some colleges require materials submitted through a web portal called SEND EDU (ex. St. Johns) • Be careful to avoid double applying – for example, don’t apply to SUNY Potsdam through both the Common App and SUNY site • Some schools want hardcopies and some prefer everything uploaded online- it is YOUR responsibility to know what is needed

10. 2016-2017 Common App Essay Prompts Though they typically change annually, this is an idea of the essay prompts you may be faced with

11. Take the SAT • ALL Juniors will take one SAT for free at PPAS on April 5th • Create a CollegeBoardlogin to see your scores and register for future tests • Register now for May or June test dates • May 6thtest date (registration by April 7th) • June 3rdtest date (registration by May 9th) • Use SAT registration code for free test prep • Free or reduced lunch list – receive 2 fee waivers • COLLEGES WANT TO SEE SAT SCORES • Make sure to list the colleges you know you want to apply to when you take the test • Scores will automatically be sent to those schools for FREE • OTHER than those ON SITE/DATE OF EXAM scores, you MUST pay to have official scores sent in the future. COLLEGE OFFICE DOES NOT SUBMIT SAT OR ACT SCORES FOR YOU • We can provide a list of SAT optional schools and Test Flexible schools (what does this mean? NYU is one)

12. SAT vs. ACT • SAT (as of 2016) • 4 sections • Reading, Writing and Language, Math, and Optional Essay • 1600possible points • No penalty for wrong answers • Colleges look at scores for Critical Reading & Math, and select ones look at Writing • More Trig than geometry now • SAT Subject Tests • Literature, Biology, Chemistry, US history, World history, Foreign languages, plus others. Works for test flexible • ACT • 4 sections • English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing • Composite score of 1-36 • No penalty for wrong answers • April 8th exam registration has a March 3rd deadline

13. PPAS CEEB CODE: 333847 WRITE THIS NUMBER DOWN! YOU WILL NEED IT OFTEN!

14. Start Building Your Resume • Start putting your resume together now! • Your resume should include: • Work experience • Volunteer work/Community service • School activities/clubs • Leadership experience • Awards and Honors • Use a PROFESSIONAL email address! These are the types of extracurricular activities schools look for! • BE CAREFUL WITH FACEBOOK/TWITTER ACCOUNTS • Check your voicemail, plus you and parents should have professional voicemail answer

15. Recommendation Letters Who To Ask: • Someone who knows you well and can speak highly of your character, work ethic, and strengths. Somehow who has relevant stories to tell • Most schools require 1 academic, 1 counselor • Most PA schools require 1 academic, 1 performing arts Who to Not Ask: • A teacher whose class you did not do well in or has taught you for less than 4 months • Someone who does not know you When to ask: • Early and a minimum of THREE WEEKS!!!! And follow-up, don’t simply have a teacher tell you yes and assume it’s going to happen Send a Thank You Note to anyone who writes you a Rec!

16. Know Your Current Academic Standing Senior Year • Grade trend • Are you on track to graduate? • Is your transcript accurate? Have you taken online courses or College courses with NYU/John Jay? • Have you met your Regents requirements? • Do you know your GPA? Freshman Year Senior Year Freshman Year

17. Types of High School Diplomas • Regents Diploma • 44 Credits total and 65 or higher on 5 Regents exams (English, Any Math, Global History, U.S. History, and Any Science) • Advanced Regents Diploma • 44 Credits total and 65 or higher on 9 Regents exams (English, Algebra I, Geometry, Trig/Algebra II, Global History, U.S. History, Living Environment, Chemistry/Physics/Earth Science, and Language) • Honors Regents & Advanced Regents Diploma • 44 Credits total and 90 or higher on required Regents exams

18. START COLLEGE LISTS Students SHOULD APPLY TO: SAFETY SCHOOLS (1-2)— will definitely get in LEVEL SCHOOLS (4-6)— will probably get in REACH SCHOOLS (1-3)— might not get in Student A GPA: 3.3 SAT: 1200 Student B GPA: 2.5 SAT: 980 Safety: Looking for 3.1 and 1000 Level: Looking for 3.3 and 1200 Reach: Looking for 3.5 and 1400 Safety: Looking for 2.2 and 850 Level: Looking for 2.5 and 980 Reach: Looking for 2.7 and 1150

19. Schools with specific language requirements Most colleges require the same language credits as is required to graduate high school (2 semesters), but FIND OUT if they desire more. Ivy Leagues rarely consider less than 3 years. Here is a sample list of schools that must see at least 3 years of credit in a foreign language in order to apply: Bard (NY) Brown (RI) Colby College (ME) – and must be in same language Stanford (CA) - and must be in same language Wesleyan = 4 years! Emerson (MA) Providence College (RI) Syracuse (NY) Trinity College (CT) Williams (MA) Other schools that would PREFER 3 years include: Amherst College, Boston College, Central Connecticut State Univ, Columbia, Mount Holyoke, University of Michigan &UCLA

20. Research Scholarships and Summer Programs • Scholarships • FREE MONEY! • Worth the time and effort. Research over the summer • Search using: fastweb.com, scholarships.com • Summer Programs • Look on specific school websites to see what they are offering. We also have a list on our website • Check the 4th floor bulletin board and PPAS college website!

21. Transcripts and Letters of Rec BUT NOT SAT or ACT scores

22. PPAS College Website • http://www.edline.net/pages/ppas/College_Website

23. Setting Up An Appointment • You are encouraged to make a college appointment during lunch or a free period • There is a list of the counselors each junior has been assigned to outside of the college office • Sign up for a college counselor’s time slot on their sign-up sheets in the college office • SIGNING UP MEANS YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO SHOW UP, IF YOU CAN’T COME LET YOUR COUNSELOR KNOW AHEAD OF TIME Visitthe website, www.careerzone.ny.gov to assess your strengths, talents, and possible job pursuits

24. Contact the College Office • Email: ppascollege@gmail.com • this is the ONLY email you should use for ALL COLLEGE NEEDS • College Advisors • Ms. Pourghasemi • College Co-counselors • Casey Singer & Robin Wallace • Thank You!!!