Welcome to your Junior Conference! HALF HOLLOW HILLS HIGH SCHOOL West Counseling Center

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Welcome to your Junior Conference!HALF HOLLOW
HILLS HIGH SCHOOL West Counseling Center
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High School Record

• Review of
• GPA
• Core (English, History, Math, Science Foreign
  Language), Unweighted, Weighted
• Graduation Requirements
• Senior Year Program

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Standardized Testing

• Students must send official score reports from
  testing center directly to College/University
• SAT I Reasoning Test (Critical Reading, Math
  Writing)
• Score choice is NOT available
• ACT (plus writing)
• Score choice IS available
• SAT Subject Tests
• Included in SAT score report
• Only required by some schools. You are
  responsible for requirements of
  College/University
• AP Scores
• Register at collegeboard.com and ACT.org
• All important websites and numbers at www.
  hhh.k12.ny.us

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What are you Looking for in a school?

• Size (personal or anonymous learning)
• Location (where in country and setting)
• Programs of study major/minor
• Private or public
• Cost/Financial Merit Aid
• Religious affiliation
• Athletics (DI, DII, DIII)
• Special programs (Greek life, Organizations,
  Music, etc.)

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How colleges choose you

• High school academic record (GPA Courses)
• Improvement from year to year
• Standardized test scores (ACT SAT)
• Letters of recommendation
• Extracurricular activities
• School/Community service
• Special talent
• Personal interview/Essay
• The colleges agenda

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Things to consider

• When choosing colleges to apply to
• make sure you have
• Safety, Target and Reach schools
• Utilize the college acceptance report as
• one of many resources

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Research! Where to begin?

• Visit the College Career Resources Center
• Mrs. Robak
• Internet
• Hills West Guidance Website (www.hhh.k12.ny.us),
  Internet and Naviance
• Books College Guides
• Ruggs, Petersons, Fiske, etc.
• Applications on file
• SUNY, Suffolk/Nassau, CUNY and Common
• College Representative Visit Days
• COLLEGE NIGHT (May 2nd, 2007)
• Read College Catalogs
• Visit College Campuses

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Make the most of a college visit!

• Take a tour of the campus (call ahead for an
  appointment)
• Go to information sessions
• Talk with students on campus
• Look at the classrooms
• Eat in the cafeterias
• Look at the dorms and housing facilities (try to
  arrange an overnight visit)
• Visit the library
• Check out bulletin boards and College/University
  newspaper
• Look at the surrounding town
• Take photographs and notes during visit
• Meet with the coach (if applicable and possible)
• Ask a lot of questions!

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Documents Students are Responsible for

• The following must be on file in the Counseling
  Center before submitting your college
  applications to us. Save yourself some time and
  start now!
• Two teacher recommendations
• Must be from an academic teacher
• Activity Sheet (available on our Counseling
  Center website)
• List of extracurricular, awards, honors,
  athletics etc. during High School
• Were positive youve been involved in something!

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Obtaining applications

• College websites (download)
• Call or write to the colleges
• College Career Resources Center
• Common Application www.commonapp.org
• (check for supplement)
• SUNY Application www.suny.edu
• Apply online (please have your school counselor,
  parent/guardian review application before you
  submit it)

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The Application Process

• The Counseling Center packages and mails your
  application, transcript, activity sheet, and
  letters of recommendation
• When submitting an application (online or paper
  copy) a Yellow Processing Form must accompany it
• It is the students responsibility to be aware of
  college application deadlines
• Applications MUST be submitted to the Counseling
  Center at a minimum of two weeks prior to the
  college deadline

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Details, Details, and Details.

• Make copies of your application for your own
  records
• Make sure a check is attached to your application
  
• Your application should be neat and complete
  before submitting to the Counseling Center
• You will have questions so please see your school
  counselor to review with you prior to submitting

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Types of ApplicationsREMEMBER WE NEED TWO WEEKS
TO PROCESS YOUR APPLICATION!All applications
must be in two weeks before college deadline!

• Early Decision (ED) is binding
• (College deadline usually 11/1 or 11/15)
• Early Decision II (ED II) is binding
• (College deadline usually 1/1 or 1/15)
• Early Action (EA)
• (College deadline usually 11/1 or 11/15)
• Restrictive Early Action is restricted to one EA
  application
• (College deadline usually 11/1)
• Rolling
• Processed as it is received (earlier you apply
  the better)
• Regular
• (College deadline usually 1/1)
• To ensure your application is sent out before
  winter break please submit to Counseling Center
  no later than the 1st week in December
• Students are responsible for deadlines!

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Release Test Scores from SAT ACT!

• You MUST release official scores directly to
  College/University from testing companies
• There is a charge per school
• You may release your score at any time, but the
  sooner the better because it can take 4-6 weeks
  to process
• If you retake a test, remember to resend your new
  scores
• You may release scores online or via phone
• Collegeboard.com ACT.org

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The College Essay

• Answer the question
• Monitor the length
• Follow the directions
• Grammar and spelling count!
• Get feedback from teachers, counselor, parents
  and friends
• Make it personal who are you?
• Be original
• Use examples

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SCHOLARSHIPS

• For more resources check out our Counseling
  Center website
• Scholarship Bulletin sent home
• Announcements
• College Career Resources Center
• Individual Schools

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FINANCIAL AID

• CSS/Profile (www.collegeboard.com)
• FAFSA is available beginning January of your
  senior year and is due by February 15th to
  colleges (www.fafsa.ed.gov)
• Individual colleges may have an additional
  financial application (Check colleges website)
• Financial Aid Night (Parents invited). Please
  check school calendar for date in January
• If you do not think you will be eligible, still
  apply. Financial aid encompasses grants,
• loans and scholarships

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NCAA

• All Division I and II athletes must register with
  the NCAA Clearinghouse
• www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
• Speak to your coach now
• Its important you communicate interests in
  athletics to your school counselor to work
  together with the NCAA Clearinghouse
• Complete your athletic resume
• You may be able to complete your profile online

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Thank you!Please make sure to contact Your
School Counselor with questions/concerns.