G. Ray Bodley High School Guidance Office

1. G. Ray Bodley High SchoolGuidance Office • Senior Year Transcript Review and Orientation

2. Transcripts • Check it for accuracy including name, address, all courses and exams, summer school and exam retakes, if applicable. • If correct, keep it for your personal files as an unofficial copy • If you believe there is an error, fill out the change form detailing the error and return it together with the transcript.

3. College Entrance Exams • Register for the SAT and ACT exams early. You can link through our web site. • You must have your registration post-marked by the regular deadline date or pay an additional late fee. • Most colleges accept the scores from both the SAT and the ACT so we recommend taking both.

4. ACT and SAT Exams at GRB • Next ACTExam is Saturday, Oct 22 – only late registration until Sept 30. • Dec 10 also at GRB, register by Nov 4. • Cost is $49.50 including Writing, $34 without Writing, add $21 for late reg. • Next SAT Exam is Saturday, Dec 3 – deadline to register on time is Nov 8. • Cost is $49 (Writing included, not optional) , $75 for late registration

5. Transcripts and SATs/ACTs • When you register for either the SAT or ACT, you should indicate that G. Ray Bodley is the school you attend. • Doing this will insure that your scores will be sent to our guidance office and they will be included on your transcript. • Including them may save you money. • If you do not want them included on your transcript, you need to inform the guidance office.

6. Student Activity Record • List all of your activities, both in school and out of school, during all four years of high school. • Include all special awards and honors you have received, or offices you have held. • Be neat and precise - a copy is sent with every college application in exactly the way you provide it to our office.

7. Personal Profile/Resume • greater impact, enhances your activity record • more individualized and may include your photo. • see your counselor for examples and help. • flexible - your Personal Profile can, and should be, updated as needed.

8. Letters of Recommendation • Give plenty of advanced notice when requesting letters of recommendation from teachers and others. • Bring completed letters to the Guidance Office to place on file, copy and send with college applications or scholarships.

9. College Applications • Deadlines! Some colleges list a deadline for admissions, so please pay careful attention to the deadlines. • Rolling Admissions! Some colleges process applications as soon as they receive them, so earlier is better. • A fee will be required with most applications.

10. Applications with No Fee • Cayuga Community College • Jefferson Community College • Onondaga Community College • Herkimer Community College • Finger Lakes Community College • Mohawk Valley Community College • Tompkins-Cortland Community College (online no fee)

11. Paper Applications • All paper applications should be routed through the Guidance Office so your counselor can attach all official records - an officially sealed transcript and personal profile. • Submit paper applications well in advance of their deadlines. • Remember to provide a stamped, addressed envelope for all college applications, scholarships and transcripts.

12. Online Applications • You must inform your counselor when you apply online. • Some applications will direct you to print out a page for your counselor to complete. • Remember to provide a stamped, addressed envelope to send out your transcript and personal profile when you apply online. • You may save money by applying online.

13. Mailing Apps and Transcripts • Please provide postage-paid, addressed envelopes for your applications and transcripts as needed • Postage-paid – you can bring stamps to the guidance office to leave for your mailings; leftovers will be returned • Addressed envelopes – please address to the intended destination

14. SUNY and Private Colleges • SUNY Colleges and Universities are publicly funded by NYS taxpayers and offer lower tuition than private colleges. Room and board costs are similar to private colleges. • Private colleges charge higher tuitions but are often able to provide more financial assistance (scholarships and financial aid) to help offset the cost.

15. College Day and Rep Visits • Annual College Day event at Mexico BOCES – Thursday, October 27 • Transportation from GRB provided • Parental permission required • College representatives will visit the guidance office to meet with interested students – dates are available online

16. Scholarships… • DEADLINES! Every scholarship will have a deadline that must be met. Be sure you complete the application and request any required transcripts, references, etc in a timely fashion. • With over 250 seniors, a large volume of documents will be generated and sent out from the Guidance Office. Please do not wait until the last minute!

17. Scholarships • To view scholarships currently available, go to our web site or stop by the Guidance Office. • Check in frequently as new scholarships are received regularly throughout the year.

18. Graduation Checklist • Make an appointment with your counselor to review your academic record. • Items to look for are the type of Diploma, course and exam requirements. • Following your appointment, you will receive a copy of your individual “Graduation Checklist” for your records.

19. Career Information • You can access information about careers through our web site, using “Choices” software in the guidance Office or computer lab, or by using printed materials in the guidance Office. • Not sure what you want to do for a living? Complete an interest inventory using “Choices”, then print and review the results with your counselor.

20. Military Information • Information about all branches of the military is available in the Guidance Office. • If you are interested in the military, we recommend that you, together with your parents, make an appointment to speak to a recruiter in your home. • If you decide to enlist, you will need to arrange a time with your recruiter to take the ASVAB test. • Through the G.I. Bill you can earn money for college. See a recruiter for details.

21. Get Organized • Make copies of college applications, financial aid forms, and scholarship applications and keep them on file. • You can begin s filing system using a few folders and cardboard box. • Eventually, you can expand your system to include one folder for admissions, one for scholarships and financial aid, one for housing etc.