Montgomery High School Guidance

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Montgomery High School Guidance
presents . . .
Senior Year... The College Application Process
May 21, 2009
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MHS Guidance Department

• Mrs. Backes ext 6168
• Mr. Glock ext 6164
• Ms. Ritson ext 6172
• Ms. Hampton ext 6165
• Mrs. McMahon ext 6167
• Ms. Musial ext 6166
• Ms. Watson ext 6163

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Get Organized!

• Use Family Connection
• Make a list of things to do with due dates
• Look at the list regularly
• Know deadlines
• Guidance deadlines
• Application deadlines
• SAT registration and score reporting deadlines
• Financial aid deadlines

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Finalizing the List of Prospective Colleges

• Continue to gather info
• Know college admissions requirements
• College Visits whenever possible
• College Representatives will be visiting guidance
• Review transcript (Does everything look
  accurate?)
• Self-assess Do I meet college requirements?
• List should contain a balanced range of
  reaches, targets and likelies

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Finish upAdmissions Testing

• Know what tests you need to takeSAT , Subject
  Tests, ACT
• Applying early?
• Finish required testing follow college
  guidelines
• Subject Tests required?
• Send SAT and ACT scores to the colleges you will
  apply to after all testing is completed.
• Directly from Collegeboard or ACT

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Gather Materials

• College admission or scholarship applications
• Consider applying online
• Download and print a copy for your records/Mail
  hard copy
• Common Application?
• Forms required by Guidance Office
• Transcript release signed for every application
• Brag sheets and Parent Point of View so your
  counselor can write your recommendation.
• Get an unofficial copy of your transcript for
  reference

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Review Application Materials

• Look at the apps!
• Know what each app requires you to send
• Separate forms and give to the appropriate person
  to complete
• Teacher forms Teacher Recommendation
• Counselor forms
• Secondary School Report
• Transcript Request Form

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Complete your Applications

• Online or by mail
• Neatly and legibly
• Essays are critical!
• Keep a copy
• At least three weeks before deadline

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Submit Requests for Transcripts and
Recommendations

• At least 15 SCHOOL days before application
  deadline.
• Deliver requests and materials directly to your
  counselor. Review with counselor.
• Ask teachers to send teacher recommendations well
  in advance of deadlines. Teachers usually send
  materials separately from guidance materials.
• This past year, all counselor forms and
  transcripts with Jan.1st deadlines were due to
  Guidance on
• Dec. 3rd.

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Check the status of your application

• Check on-line Naviance Family Connection
• Have your child contact individual college
• Check with Mrs. Gebhart postcards
  returned?

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Find Financial Aid

• Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after
  Jan.1st to qualify for need-based aid
  (www.fafsa.ed.gov)
• Attend MTSD Financial Aid Workshop in December
• Investigate merit aid programs at your colleges
• Complete college financial aid forms
• Watch for the Montgomery Township
• United Scholarship Applications
• Obtain merit-based scholarship applications in
  guidance file cabinet

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• MORE FINANCIAL AID WEBSITES
• The financial aid on the Internet
• www.finaid.org
• Federal Student Aid Homepage
• www.studentaid.ed.gov
• Education tax incentives (IRS)
• www.irs.gov/publications/p970
• NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority
• www.hesaa.org

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Have a Great Senior Year!

• Stick with your academic program!
• Get your best grades.
• Have your midyear grades sent to colleges.
• Let your counselor know about awards or honors
  you receive..to share with your prospective
  colleges!
• Keep guidance informed about the outcome of your
  application process.
• Thank those who helped you reach your goals!

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The College ScoopWhat Parents Should Know

• Key pointers from your guidance department on
  surviving during an often trying time in the
  process...

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Stay Calm

• Teenagers can sometimes sense a parents
  anxieties
• Teenagers can often sense a parents favorite
  school
• Teenagers can also sense whether or not this is
  their choice

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Acing the EssayThe Art of Selling Yourself
through your essay

• Make sure your authentic voice comes through
  loudly and persuasively.
• There is really no trick Its digging deep and
  trying to figure out what makes you interesting.
• Colleges are looking for thoughtful, earnest
  presentations that shows solid interests and
  critical thinking.

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Acing the EssayThe Art of Selling Yourself
through your essay

• Brainstorm with family/friends on what to write
  about.
• - What matters to you?
• - How do you spend your free time?
• Show, dont tell. Use examples and anecdotes.
• Be polite (but not too humble).
• Ask someone to read your essay, and say, Does it
  sound like me?
• It should!!!
• Encourage your child to not wait to the last
  minute to do the essay. Mastering the art of
  selling yourself takes practice and time.

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Extracurricular Activities a few thoughts . . .

• What motivated you to get involved and what did
  you learn?
• Put your activities in context by providing a few
  details.
• example President of the Key Club? How many
  members did the club have and what you did?
• Doing less, but doing it well.attitude.
  Anything youre passionate about has merit,
  including an afterschool job.

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The InterviewThe Art of Selling Yourself through
your interview

• Informational vs. evaluative
• Some schools encourage them, others dont give
  them at all.
• Advice Take any face time offered
• One-on-ones A way to underscore your desire to
  attend
• Before you go Polish with Practice
• Rehearse Questions and talking points with an
  adult
• - Communicate your strengths and your
  enthusiasm
• - Say clearly, This is what I have achieved
  and I am proud of it.
• - Visit the campus first, interview second (at
  the end of your visit)

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Jekyll and Hyde?????

• Appropriate email address and voicemail greeting?
• Great summer pictures on Facebook?
• Posting on Myspace?
• Will your child show photos to mom and dad?
• Advice Many admissions staffers (fairly recent
  graduates themselves) sometimes check out
  social networking sites. Keep it clean and
  professional.

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Love your SchoolThe Art of Selling Yourself
through your application

• Showing a genuine enthusiasm for ALL schools
  which your child applies is a MUST.
• Tailor each application individually with
  concrete examples of why the school is the right
  fit.
• Presentation of the package is crucial.
• Make a genuine connection to the college citing
  major examples.

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Know where to find information

• On the Family Connection website!
• In the high school guidance office
• Your childs counselor (e-mail is quick)
• E-Guidance Blast every two to three weeks
• From asking your son/daughter about what is
  announced in Advisory

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Know What Is Due and When!

• Deadlines for testing
• Deadlines for requesting materials
• Deadlines for sending college applications and
  midyear reports
• Deadlines for submitting crucial guidance
  paperwork

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Assist with college visitations

• Most young people need a little push to get them
  started on visits to campuses. If they seem
  reluctant, encourage them just to take a drive.

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Spell out your guidelines

• Cost
• Location (distance and cost of travel)
• Atmosphere (party school?)
• Stress/difficulty level

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Last, but not least...
You WILL Survive!
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Thanks for joining us!