This Is Your Senior Year!

This Is Your Senior Year! • Congratulations seniors of 2015! • Post-Secondary Planning

Know Your Counselor • Mrs. Buchanan A-B • Mrs. Houston C-I • Mrs. Mosby J-P • Mr. Blumenthal Q-Z

Everybody Needs a Plan! • College? • Military? • Technical School? • Work?

DECIDING ON A COLLEGE What do you want in a school? • Location • Type of school (ie. Liberal arts) • Size of school • Competitiveness/selectivity • Course and major offerings • Makeup of the student body • Campus Life

DECIDING ON A COLLEGE Research colleges of interest • College representatives visiting BHS • Internet (Various web sites) • Talk to former and current students • Visit the campus • College Day—September 19, 2014

DECIDING ON A COLLEGE Campus Visits • Contact college prior to your visit to make arrangements for a tour and/or information session or interview • It is a good idea to bring a resume and/or an unofficial transcript if scheduled for a personal interview • Talk to students • Visit places of interest on the campus

DECIDING ON A COLLEGE Interviewing • Arrive early • Be prepared (resume, unofficial transcript) • Anticipate responses to frequently asked questions (rehearse by yourself) • Know your strengths and weaknesses • Ask questions of the interviewer • Make yourself stand out as a desirable candidate

APPLYING TO COLLEGEObtaining Applications • Request applications on-line • Fill out an on-line application • Pick one up on a visit if using paper • It is important to get all of your applications together now!

The Common Application • Recommended form for 456 Colleges and Universities • Complete school report form for your school counselor and submit to him/her • Photocopy of your application • Apply online • www.commonapp.org • Make sure you complete all of the supplemental forms for each college

EARLY DECISION • DEADLINE is usually NOV. 1 • Make sure you want to attend the college that you apply to-the decision is binding! • Gives the college a strong message of interest • Can save time, effort, and the stress of filling out numerous applications • Make sure you have a backup plan if you do not get offered admission • Early Action is non-binding

REGULAR DECISION • Deadline is usually Jan.1, Jan. 15, or Feb. 1 (but may range from Jan. 1 to March 1) • You can apply to more than one college • Also, Rolling Admission=on-going • You are not required to make a commitment prior to May 1 (candidate’s reply date) • If your preferences change in the spring you will have several options to choose

Credentials Colleges Focus on in Admissions • Performance in rigorous secondary school program • ACT or SAT Reasoning test (including writing) • SAT Subject tests (required or recommended by some colleges • School counselor recommendation/Secondary School Report • Extracurricular involvement and honors--quality • Writing (admissions essay) • Teacher recommendations

WHICH SCHOOLS TO SEND APPLICATIONS • Go ahead and apply to a selective school if you are interested • Apply to ‘back-up’ schools (just to be safe—colleges you would be happy to attend)

Once you have your applicationsGET ORGANIZED • READ OVER THEM CAREFULLY • MAKE SURE YOU WILL HAVE ALL OF THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS -Take the necessary SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Tests (if required or recommended) or ACT -Have these scores sent to the schools -Letters of Recommendation -Essays -Counselor forms -Transcripts

SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject Tests, & ACT; Score Choice • Know what each school requires • Sign up now if you need any of these tests • October-November is usually the latest test date for early decision • December-January is usually the latest test date for regular decision • Some schools use SAT Subject tests for placement purposes (Math, other choices)

ESSAYS • Compile all of your essay requirements from different schools to know how many you have to write • Read questions carefully and think about them • Write so your points get across quickly and easily (Writing Center) • Focus on yourself so the readers can get to know you better • Make yourself stand out-what makes you special and a good candidate for the school

Letters of Recommendation • Ask people who will give you a positive recommendation • Give info to these people at least 3 weeks in advance of deadline • It is usually easier to give them all of your requests at once (if you have more than one) • Turn in the recommendation information form to your counselor.

Letters of Recommendation(cont.) • Write down things about yourself for the person completing the letter of reference -ie. Awards/honors Volunteer work/ community service Something you are proud of Interests/hobbies (anything that you think would make you sound like a good applicant)

Transcripts • Request EARLY (at least 3 weeks ahead of time) • Must have a parent/guardian signature if under 18 • Request prior to completing college applications • Be nice to the Registrar! • January 1 deadlines are due December 1! • NCAA Eligibility Center, NAIA colleges

ONCE YOU ARE ACCEPTED • Make a decision about where you are going to attend by May 1st • Make preparations (room/board, visit the financial aid office) • Notify all other colleges where you have been accepted of your choice

VT & RU Onsite • VT Onsite— • RU Onsite— • All applications will be due for on-site review • Decisions are given THAT DAY!!

Financial Aid • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) -Complete after Jan 1, 2015 ASAP -Due by July 1, 2015….but turn it in earlier!!!! (many schools’ deadline is March) • CSS Profile • Institution specific form

Financial Aid (cont.) • Federal Pell Grants -Does not have to be paid back • Campus-Based Aid Programs -Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant -Federal Work-Study -Federal Perkins Loans • Federal Family Education Loans and Direct Loans

Scholarships • Check the BHS guidance filing cabinet • Scholarship Bulletin Board (maybe through English classes) • Look on the MCPS website • Contact the colleges you are interested in • On-line • Fast Web • Jefferson Scholars @ UVA, Davidson, etc.

For More Information • College Information Night for Parents of Seniors—August 28, 6:30 pm in auditorium • Financial Aid Workshop--TBA

THE END • MEET WITH YOUR COUNSELOR ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS FOR AFTER HIGH SCHOOL • STAY ON TOP OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS IF YOU’RE LOOKING AT SCHOOLS • ENJOY YOUR SENIOR YEAR!

College VisitsCome by Guidance to make appt. Visits by college admissions representatives will be announced.

This Is Your Senior Year!