BRONX SCIENCE COLLEGE ADMISSION PROCESS

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BRONX SCIENCECOLLEGE ADMISSION PROCESS

• 99 of students graduated and attended four year
  colleges

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APPLICATION OPTIONS

• Early Decision
• deadline by November 1st or 15th.
• This is a binding decision. This is a
  desirable option for students who have strong
  academic credentials and a preference for one
  particular college.
• If a student is offered admission then she/he
  must withdraw all other applications.
• If money is an issue, then ED is not a wise
  decision. Student will hear a decision by mid
  December.

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EARLY ACTION

• EA (Early Action) is not binding and follows the
  same application and notification timetable as
  ED, but it allows students to make his/her
  decision by May 1st.

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ROLLING ADMISSION

• The colleges admissions office reviews
  applicants files after all parts of the
  application are received. Decisions are mailed
  shortly after they are made and are not binding.
• Most state schools are rolling.
• SUNY CUNY are rolling.

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Regular Admission

• Most private college/university applications are
  due on January 1st or January 15th

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WHAT COLLEGES LOOK FOR IN AN APPLICANT

• Colleges are interested in the academic rigor of
  the courses the student has taken (AP,Honors).
• Students cumulative high school grade point
  average (GPA).

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What College Look For

• 3)Standardized test scores
• SAT I- reasoning test, tests students
  critical thinking and problem solving ability.
• This is a four hour test, including math,
  critical reading and writing.
• The highest score for each section is 800.
  The highest combined score is 2400.
• Students should take the SAT I test before the
  end of his/her junior year. We dont advise
  students to take the SAT I more than twice.

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SAT

• SAT II- subject tests are one hour multiple
  choice tests.
• Subject tests fall into five subject areas
  English, history, math, science and language.
• Bronx Science recommends students take at
  least two SAT II tests (some schools require 3
  SAT II). Students should take them after he/she
  completes the course.
• SAT score reports are cumulative. All the
  students test results are on the same report and
  will be forward to the colleges all together.

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ACTAmerican College Testing Assessment

• Now an increasing number of students are taking
  ACT. Most schools accept both SAT and ACT.
• ACT is a content-based test which tests the
  curriculum taught in high school.
• ACT includes a science reasoning test
• ACT test lasts about three hours
• The highest score is 36 for each section
• ACT has a score option

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What Colleges Look For

• The student essay
• The essay is a students chance to express how
  he/she thinks and what makes him/her different.
• Some colleges provide students with a list of
  topics.
• Helpful Website www.collegeessay.com.
• Reference books College Essays that made a
  difference 2nd Edition, The Princeton Review
• On Writing the College Application Essay,
  Harry Bauld, Collins Reference

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What Colleges Look For (Cont.)

• The college interview
• Some colleges require an interview with either
  an admissions officer or an alumnus.
• Tips for students interview practice
  interview with your counselor, dress properly,
  show an interest in the college, ask thoughtful
  questions, arrive on time, be polite and send a
  thank you note to the interviewer after your
  interview.

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What Colleges Look For

• Recommendation Letters
• Most schools require one or more teacher
  recommendations.
• Students should ask teachers who they have had
  a good relationship with and with whom they did
  well.
• It is preferable to get recommendations from
  junior year teachers.
• Letters are submitted by teachers directly to
  the colleges.

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What Colleges Look For

• RAVES are brief descriptive statements written by
  teachers about the students academic performance
  in class. Students may ask any level teacher to
  write a rave for him/her. They should come from
  major subject teachers whenever possible.
• Students Counselor letter will include quotes
  from these RAVES in his/her Secondary School
  Report (SSR) letter.

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What Colleges Look For

• Extracurricular Activities clubs, teams,
  internships, volunteer service and other
  activities
• Your extra-curricular activities should show a
  consistent pattern of your interests, leadership
  abilities, talents and concern for others.

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Where to Get Information About College

• Naviance a web-based research and planning tool
  
• Counselor advise students on course selection,
  college list, and filling out their college
  applications
• College advisors provide in depth college
  advice
• College representatives visit Bronx Science in
  the fall

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Where to Get Information about College

• Junior Assembly Beginning of February in the
  junior year
• Senior Assembly Beginning of September in the
  senior year
• College Trips
• Visit College, Visual tours
• Junior College Night All parents and students
  from sophomore and juniors classes are welcomed.
  It is scheduled in February.

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Where to Get Information about College

• Senior College Night All seniors and Juniors
  and their parents are invited. It is always
  scheduled in September.
• Financial Aid Night All the students and
  parents are invited. It is always scheduled in
  December. It is extremely important to attend
  this event.
• Junior Parent to Parent Night Hosted by a panel
  of senior parents, it is scheduled in March.

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Where to Get Information about College

• College Fair All students and parents are
  invited, it is scheduled on the last Wednesday of
  April or the first Wednesday of May. It is an
  important event for all Juniors.
• College Office News Releases
• Help Desk Provides students and their parents
  with additional after school hours to get
  information about the college admission process.
• Mock Interviews Students learn how to prepare
  for college interviews.

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Where to Get Information about College

• www.collegeboard.com/quickstart
• U.S. News 2008 Edition, Americas Best Colleges
• A Is For Admission, Michele A. Hernandez
• Acing The College Application, Michele A.
  Hernandez
• Bronx Science College Handbook
• Guidance Department web page

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College List

• Student College Choices should include Two
  Safety schools
• Two Target School
• Two Reach school
• Student must submit an application to
• CUNY if students do not wish to apply to CUNY
  they must have their parents fill out an Opt-Out
  Of CUNY form.

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College List

• Safety School schools that a student is
  relatively certain he/she will be accepted to and
  can afford
• Target School schools that a student are likely
  to be accepted to - but are not definite
• Dream/Reach School - schools that are not likely
  to accept student based on his/her academic
  profile

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Factors to Consider in Searching for the Best
Match Schools

• Academics programs available, percentage of
  graduation in four years
• Location urban vs. rural
• Size and Student Population
• Facilities- library, network system, recreational
  facilities
• Living Conditions/Safety
• Financial Factors tuition, room and board,
• availability of financial aid

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College ExpensesFinancial Aid

• Estimate cost for year 2007
• Private college/university - 50,000
• In-State University (SUNY) - 25,000
• Out-State University - 35,000
• CUNY (City University of New York)- 7,000

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Factors to determine a Expected Family
Contribution (EFC)

• Income and Assets (real estate, savings)
• Living Costs, Medical Cost, Taxes, Other Sibling
  College s Tuition
• Students Own Savings and Earnings
• (students are expected to contribute a
  significantly higher percentage of their assets)

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Types of Financial Aid

• 90 percent of financial aid is need-based
• There is more than 125 billion in financial aid
  awarded each year.
• Grants are awarded on the basis of need.
  Grants do not have to be paid back.
• Federal Pell Grant ranges from 400- 4000
• Federal Supplemental Educational Grant
• (FSEOG)- ranges from 1000-4000

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Types of Financial Aid

• TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) - only available
  to students attending colleges in New York State
  ranges from 275-5000
• ACG (Academic Competitive Grant) awarded to
  students who graduate with an advanced regents
  diploma and are eligible for Pell
• 750 freshmen year, 1400 sophomore
• EOP (Education Opportunity Program) a SUNY
  program for students who, due to economic
  disadvantage, have not been able to meet their
  academic potential. HEOP is the New York State
  private school version of the EOP program.
• All Grant recipients must be U.S. citizens or
  Green Card holders.

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LOANS

• Money that must be repaid student loans have the
  advantage of lower interest rates.
• Federal Perkins Loan
• The amount varies up to 4,000 per year.
• This need-based loans is administered by the
  colleges financial aid office.
• Current rate of interest is about 5.
• The loan is repaid by the student over a ten
  year period and starts after graduation from
  college. This is not guaranteed.

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LOANS

• Stafford Loan
• Freshman may receive loans up to 2,625
• subsidized need based, no interest while in
  school
• unsubsidized open to all, interest charged
  while in college, current rate is about 6.8

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LOANS

• Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students
• (PLUS)
• The interest rate is variable but is currently
  capped at 9, repayment of the loan begins within
  60 days of the receipt of the loan.
• Private Student Loan
• Borrow from private lending source, student
  has10 years from the date of graduation to repay
  it.

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Institutional Aid

• Intuitional Aid
• Programs funded by endowments, alumni, other
  college groups, need based, not repaid.
• Work Study
• Students are given an award which they must
  earn by working at a designated job on the
  campus.
• Cooperative Education combine academic study
  with paid employment to the students major
  study

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Merit Scholarship

• Based on students achievement, it is very
  competitive (ex. National Merit Scholarship
  8,200 students out of 1.4 millions students who
  take the PSAT receive it each year)
• Selected without consideration of family
  financial circumstance.
• Apply directly to colleges, community agencies,
  corporations, unions, foundations, religious,
  cultural groups.

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Scholarship Scams Tip

• Scholarships should not require any fee
• Never give credit card or bank account
  information
• Be wary of high success rate
• Beware if there is no work involved
• Be suspicious if you are called to receive an
  award which you never applied
• An official sounding name doesnt mean legitimacy
• Sounds too good to be true - it
  probably is!

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Financial Application Process

• FAFSA ( Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
  the federal government, all schools and
  programs uses this form to determine your
  eligibility for financial aid.
• www.fafsa.ed.gov You fill out the FAFSA form
  on-line immediately after January 1st of your
  childs senior year.
• The Personal Identification Number (PIN)- the
  code that the U.S. Department of Education uses
  to identify you online, it allows you to check
  the status of FAFSA and renew your forms.
• You should get your PIN after January 1st of
  junior year. Your PIN number will be valid for
  ten years.
• www.pin.ed.gov

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Financial Application Process

• CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service Profile)
  many colleges require it to determine if
  student is eligible for private money
• Students can fill out the CSS Profile online
  beginning October 1st of senior year.
• http//profileonline.collegeboard.com
• Reference book Paying for College, 2008 Edition,
  The Princeton Review
• Helpful Website/News Article from US News
  http//www.usnews.com/sections/business/paying-for
  -college/index.html

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Can Parents Help their Children in the College
Admission Process?

• Become familiar with the college admission
  process (Bronx Science College Handbook,
  Naviance, College Fairs, College Nights,
  Financial Aid Night )
• Help your child to make his/her college list (a
  realistic list)
• Start to prepare your tax information for the
  FAFSA in your childs junior year

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Can Parents Help their Children?

• Be honest to your child about your family
  financial strength
• Purchasing stamps and envelopes for your child
• Take your child to visit colleges
• Reference book Guide to College Visits, The
  Princeton Review
• Complete your parent RAVE on Naviance before June
  in your childs junior year
• The most important thing you can do is to be
  there and to support them

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College Planning Calendar

• Junior Year
• Summer of the sophomores year study for PSAT
• October students will take the PSAT, a
  qualifying test for National Merit
  Scholarship and a excellent
• practice for SAT
• January SAT tutoring class
• Attend college trips
• February talk to your counselor about
• senior years course selection,
  ask
• teachers to write your RAVE and
  
• recommendation, attend Junior
• College Night
  

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Junior Year Calendar

• March take SATI, attend Parent to Parent Night,
  work on student questionnaire and parent rave on
  Naviance and make your course selections for
  senior year on Naviance.
• April Take ACT, attend college trips,
• register for summer high school
  pre-college
• programs, apply for summer
  internships

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Junior Year Calendar

• May take SAT tests, AP tests, attend Bronx
  Science College Fair
• June all teachers RAVES, parent and student
  questionnaires are due to your counselor, take
  SAT tests, take ACT test, review your college
  list with the counselor, follow up with teachers
  who are writing your recommendations.

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Junior Year Calendar

• Summer of Junior year
• Visit colleges. Request interviews. Work on
  your college essay. Study for the SAT tests.
  Enrich your extracurricular activities. Remind
  your parents to prepare tax information. Search
  for financial aid and scholarship information.
  Request college application forms.

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Senior Year Calendar

• September Register with NCAA if you are an
  athlete. Check your transcript with your
  counselor. Check your course schedule to make
  sure you are on track to graduate. Attend
  in-school meetings with college representatives,
  inform your counselors immediately if you are
  planning to apply EA/ED. Make sure all teacher
  RAVES are submitted. Complete the CSS Profile.
  Update information on Naviance, attend senior
  assembly and senior college night

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Senior year Calendar

• October take SAT/ACT, attend Big Apple College
  Fair, EA/ED and CUNY honors SSRs are due,
  attend in-school meetings with college
  representatives, CSS Profile due for ED/EA
• November regular admission SSRs are due by
  mid-November, deadline for ED/EA is November 1st
  or 15th, attend college trips, attend in-school
  meetings,

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Senior Year Calendar

• November Work on college essays and college
  applications. Remind teachers to send
  recommendation letters. Send SAT/ACT scores to
  colleges. Get a PIN for FAFSA. Prepare for your
  college interviews.
• December Send applications out for regular
  admission. Prepare the family financial papers.
  EA/ED students will hear from the colleges in
  mid-December.

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Senior Year Calendar

• January File FAFSA right after January 1st.
  Mid-Year reports are due the second week of
  January. Make sure your teacher recommendation
  letters have been sent and that all the
  supplemental materials are sent to the colleges
• February- Visit colleges. Make sure all financial
  aid information is complete.

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Senior Year Calendar

• March Visit colleges.
• April Most colleges will mail their regular
  admission decisions this month.
• May Notify colleges of your decisions. Send a
  deposit to the college whose offer you have
  accepted (a student can only accept admission to
  one college). Inform the college office about
  your decisions. Update Naviance, take AP tests.

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Senior Year Calendar

• June Complete the Naviance scholarship survey.
  Hand in the final transcript request form to
  college office. Males must register with the
  Selective Services at the age of 18 to be
  eligible to receive financial aid.

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