So you want to go to college

1
So you want to go to college?

• How do you choose from the over 5000 schools that
  are out there?

2
What kind of college meets your needs?

• A community college that offers an Associate
  degree.
• An art school
• A Culinary Arts School
• A trade school, for example Automotive School
• A four year public or private school

3
Community Colleges

• New Hampshire has a community technical college
  system that has campuses in Concord, Manchester,
  Laconia, Nashua, Claremont,
• Berlin, Stratham
• They offer hands on applied courses that will
  lead to an associates degree and prepare you for
  a job.
• These colleges are relatively inexpensive and
  will accept most students who have a high school
  diploma.

4
New Hampshires Community Colleges

• Go to www.ccsnh.edu/ for complete access to all
  the courses offered at all the community colleges
  in New Hampshire. Examples of courses include
• Early Childhood
• Physical Therapy Assistant
• Accounting
• Nursing Computer Science
• Criminal Justice
• Respiratory Therapy
• Occupational Therapy Assistant. There are many
  more.

5
Thompson School of Applied Sciences at UNH

• www.thompsonschool.unh.edu/
• Provides two year Associate Degree programs in
• Animal Science, Civil technology, Business
  Management, Community Leadership, Forest
  Technology, Food Service Management, Horticulture
  Technology.

6
Thompson School of Applied Sciences at UNH

• Some students after completing an Associate
  Degree at Thompson transfer to a four year
  program at UNH. Not all Thompson credits though
  are transferable.

7
Fine Arts Schools

• If you enjoy the fine arts consider an Art
  College. There are many. Some art schools
  include NH Institute of Art, Savannah College of
  Art, Rhode Island School of Design, Art Institute
  of Boston, Art Institute in Manchester, Maine
  College of Art in Portland.
• Talk to Ms Ellis about your options and your need
  to build an Art Portfolio.

8
Culinary Art Schools

• There is a wide selection. Go to this site for a
  comprehensive list of culinary arts programs
  www.cookingschools.com.
• Talk to Chef Brooks

9
Four year colleges

• There are the New Hampshire State schools like
  UNH, Plymouth, Keene and then there are many
  private schools in New Hampshire and New England.
• For a comprehensive list, use one of the college
  search engines available such as
• www.princetonreview.com
• www.Collegeboard.com
• www.careercruising.com
• www.campustours.com

10
Difference between private and public

• Public schools are funded by the state
  government. They have little money to give in
  scholarships. Some classes can be large.
• Private colleges normally look more expensive but
  many have big endowments and are able to give
  good financial aid packages to deserving
  students.
• It sometimes works out that a private school and
  a state school cost about the same.

11
How do you select the right school for you?

• Here are some key things to think about
• How far away from home do you want to be?
• If you know what you want to study check which
  colleges offer that major.(Check the Ruggs Book
  in guidance) to see how strong the major is
  rated.
• What size college do you want to go to?
• Does location matter. Could you handle being in
  the center of a city like Boston or New York and
  attend BU or NYU?.
• Would you prefer a smaller campus setting such as
  Wheaton, St Lawrence, Franklin Pierce?

12
How do you select the right college for you ?

• Do you want to go to a college where acceptance
  is very competitive or one that is less
  competitive.
• Very competitive schools will look at things
  like did you take rigorous high school courses,
  do you have a high GPA and rank, high SAT scores,
  have you been active in extra curricular
  activities. Is your college essay and teacher and
  guidance recommendations strong.
• Most four year schools will look at these things
  but at different levels.

13
Choosing colleges

• Are there other things that are important to you
  at a college. Do you want to play a sport? In
  what division is the college? Division I and II
  are very competitive. Division III less so.
• Are you interested in college radio or TV or some
  other activity.

14
Colleges that dont require SATs

• Some schools dont look at SATs. If you do badly
  at standardized tests check these schools out at
  www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id2540225
• www.fairtest.org/optinit.htm

15
SATs

• If you plan to take SATs in your Senior year
  enroll at www.collegeboard.com. You will need a
  credit card.
• Make sure you fill in the codes of your top six
  schools so that your scores will be sent
  electronically. It costs money to do it later.
• Colleges will accept the ACT instead of the SAT.
  It is a test that includes questions on science
  and social studies. If these are your strong
  areas you may do better taking the ACT.
  www.actstudent.org
• Most colleges will accept either SAT or ACT

16
SAT IIs

• Some more competitive schools require SAT II
  subject tests. Check your colleges requirements.
  SAT IIs can be taken on the dates the SAT I is
  offered. You cant take the SAT I and Sat IIs on
  the same date.

17
Developing your list

• By the beginning of your senior you should be
  putting together a list of six to ten schools
  that meet your needs. In that list there should
  be1) a couple or reach schools, where the
  average GPA/Rank/SAT scores of last years
  incoming freshmen class were higher than yours.
  You can find this information on the colleges
  website or in the College Board Handbook
• 2) Schools where your GPA/Rank/Scores
• match those of last years incoming freshmen
  class.
• 3) One or two safety schools that would be
  easy for you to obtain admission.
• 4) One or more financially safe schools that
  you know your family will be able to afford.

18
Next Step?

• It is important to visit the colleges that you
  are interested in applying to. Only then will you
  know that it will be a good fit for you.
• Call or e-mail the Admissions office and ask to
  book a college tour and have an interview ( at
  schools where they are offered).
• The guidance office will be organizing bus tours
  to UNH, NEC, Colby Sawyer, Plymouth, Keene, NHTI.

19
Application Process

• Check the deadline for applications to be
  received at the colleges you are choosing. Find
  this either on the college website or use the
  College Board hand book available in guidance.
• Most schools will require, in addition to an
  application, recommendations from one or two
  teachers and your Guidance Counselor.

20
APPLICATION PROCESS

• Many colleges will accept the Common Application
  that can be found at www.commonapp.org.\ Check to
  see if your college requires a Common Application
  Supplement. Choose if you want to apply online.
• Make sure you download the Common Application
  Forms for your teacher and Guidance
  Recommendations. Send in the necessary
  application fee.

21
Application Process

• Fill out the Brag sheet available in guidance.
  Have it photocopied. Give a copy to the teacher
  who is writing your application together with
  stamped envelopes addressed to the colleges you
  wish the application to be sent and the form from
  the Common Application that you can download.Give
  the teacher at least two weeks notice before your
  letter is due.

22
Application Process

• Fill out the two forms in Guidance( pink and
  gold) officially asking for a Guidance
  recommendation and your official transcript to be
  sent to the colleges to which you are applying.
  Make sure when you submit these forms you attach
  your Brag sheet. Once again make sure you give
  the guidance office at least two weeks notice.

23
EARLY ACTION/EARLY DECISION

• Many colleges offer either/or an Early
  Application Program or an Early Decision Program.
• Early action means that you can apply early and
  hear back early but dont need to commit till May
  1st.
• With early decision if you get accepted you are
  normally bound to attend that school.
• Early decision can be a good strategy if you know
  one college really stands out for you and you
  know you really want to go there.

24
Common Mistakes

• Missing deadlines
• Not doing Common Application Supplements
• Some schools ( like UNH) need your SAT scores
  sent electronically from the college board.

25
Finances

• Register with www.FastWeb.com to get a
  comprehensive list of national scholarships.
• After January 1 you can begin to fill out your
  FAFSA,. (www.fafsa.ed.gov/).
• Some of the more competitive colleges ask you to
  fill out the Profile. Go to www.collegeboard.com.
• A list of local scholarships will be given to all
  seniors in March.