Welcome parents of the

1
Welcome parents of the

• CLASS OF 2007

2
Meet Your Counselors

• Jane Stapleton (A-C)

Jennifer Mayeron (D-Ha)
Mark Elias (He-La)
Lisa Mielke (Le-O)
Brian Gildemeister (P-Sl)
John Batalden (Sm-Z)
3
POST-SECONDARY SCHOOLS
THERE IS A GOOD SCHOOL OUT
THERE FOR EVERYONE!!! (and its your students jo
b to find it!)
4
Please contact your sons/daughters counselor
with your questions
5
After graduationWhat?
Most of our students will continue their
education after high school Remember More ski
lls More income
6
A note about senioritis
For most of your students, this is their last
year of free education they shouldnt waste
it!
P.S. Slacking can be costly!
7
A note about senioritis

• If your student is entering the military after
  high school, his/her options can be limited by
  poor performance senior year.
  
• Colleges are very sensitive to senior slacking
  and watch for it on applications.
  
• Colleges can withdraw an acceptance based on
  the final transcript submitted.

8
Excerpt from a real letter
(Big Ten) University June 23, 2004 Dear T
he Admissions Committee at ( ) University has
reviewed your final transcript of grades from
Wayzata High School. Your academic performance
during the senior year was not consistent with
that of your sophomore and junior years of high
school. Concern has been expressed
9
Excerpt from a real letter
As a result, the Admissions Committee has cancel
led your admission to ( ) University. Your
registration for classes and housing reservation
also have been cancelled We regret this action
is necessary however, your academic performance
during your senior year was substantially below
the performance expected of students entering the
2004 fall semester
10

• EARLY DECISION some colleges offer the option
  of early decision to students who meet all
  entrance requirements are certain of the
  college they wish to attend. EARLY DECISION IS
  BINDING!!!
• EARLY ACTION some colleges offer earlier
  deadlines earlier notification dates than the
  regular admissions process. Early Action is NOT
  binding.

11
Do they need to take (or retake) the ACTSATSAT
II???
12
TESTING

• ACT SAT I IIs
• October 28 , 2006 October 14, 2006
• Deadline Sept. 22 Deadline Sept.12
• December 9, 2006 November 4, 2006
• Deadline Nov. 3 Deadline Sept.29

13

• COLLEGE FAIR
• October 24 25
• FINANCIAL AID NIGHT January
  4th, 2007
  

14
Counselor Recommendation

• Does the application require a recommendation
  from a counselor a space on the application or a
  request for a letter?

15
Counselor Recommendation

• A counselors recommendation can be very
  important.
  
• Obtain a green student profile sheet from the
  counseling office, complete it, and meet with
  their counselor.
  
• Allow plenty of time good letters require
  considerable time and effort and you dont want
  to rush a person who is trying to help you.

16
Letters of Recommendation

• If your student needs a letter of recommendation
  from a teacher or other adult, pick up a yellow
  form in the counseling office.
  
• (In general, schools are most interested in
  seeing letters from teachers of academic
  subjects.)
  
• Have the student take the form to the teacher and
  ask if they are willing to write a letter of
  recommendation for them.
  
• (If they say yes, ask when they think they will
  have it completed.)

17
Letters of Recommendation

• Remember they are asking a busy person to do
  your student a favor. Writing letters of
  recommendation can be difficult work, and some of
  the best and busiest teachers get the most
  requests. So
• Make sure your student gives the teacher plenty
  of time!
  
• Have them write a Thank You note!

18
Letters of Recommendation

• Letters of Recommendation are confidential. The
  teacher writes the letter and we keep it in a
  confidential personal folder for your student,
  but they will not be able to read it. Your
  counselor can advise your student regarding what
  letter(s) might be helpful for their application
• Before your student turns in an application,
  check to be sure any necessary letters have been
  completed.

19
College Planning 101

• Minimum requirements for 4 year schools
• English 4 Years
• Mathematics 3 Years
• Social Studies 3 Years
• Science 3 Years
• World Language 2 Years
• Fine Arts 1 Year

20
College Planning 101

• The outcome of the application process depends
  primarily on how well the students
  preparation
  
• (coursework, activities, personal
  characteristics)
  
• matches
• the profile of the school.

21
College Planning 101

• Schools are not trying to keep students out
• They are actively seeking students that can be
  successful. From experience, they look for that
  match.

22
College Admission is primarily based on

• GPA
• High School Courses
• Test Scores

23
They are also looking for.

• School Activities
• Community Involvement
• Employment

24

• IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR DIVISION I II
  ATHLETICS, STUDENTS MUST REGISTER WITH THE NCAA
  CLEARINGHOUSE.
  
• REGISTRATION IS DONE ONLINE AT ncaaclearinghouse.o
  rg

25
POST-SECONDARY SCHOOLS

• Lots of options
• Technical Schools (Public Private)
• Community Colleges
• Vocational Schools
• Public Colleges Universities
• Private Colleges

26
POST-SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Want to keep your students life simple?
Complete applications carefully!
27
(No Transcript)
28
application says a lot about your student so
have them do it well! Three basic tips Be Neat
Be Complete Be On Time
29
APPLICATION BASICS

• Get an application paper or online
• Complete it carefully

30
Read the application carefully and be sure to
include everything that is requestedInformation
complete?Courses listed?Application fee
attached?Essay(s) attached?
31

• When they ask how many years of a subject you
  have completed
  
• count two terms of a subject as a year. For
  example, if your student completes a two-term
  communications class each year and also take a
  one-term composition class, that is a total of 9
  terms and you would respond that you completed 4
  ½ years of communications.

32

• A note about mathematics
• Applications often ask your student to record
  your mathematics classes but dont have spaces
  for Integrated Math. If they run into this we
  suggest you record it as
• Integrated 1 Algebra I
• Integrated 2 Geometry
• Integrated 3 Higher Algebra or Alg II
• Integrated 4 Precalculus
• (just ignore the line for Trigonometry)

33

• If you apply online
• Print out the page, if there is one, that says
  print this and take it to your high school. If
  there isnt such a page, your student still
  should
• Follow the same procedure as for a paper
  application.

34

• If you apply online
• The U of M Twin Cities online application does
  have a supplement sheet print it out and bring
  it in. Students often forget and it can be a
  disadvantage to not have all parts completed.

35

• Bring the COMPLETED application or online
  supplement to the Counseling Office.
  
• Complete the BLUE COVER SHEET.
• Give the secretary ALL of your application
  materials 2.00 for each transcript needed.
  
• (Make and keep a copy of important stuff like
  essays and such we dont keep a copy.)
  
• 4) If your student needs a letters of
  recommendation check to see that they have all
  arrived in the counseling office.

36

• Do not make an envelope or add postage
• We will put everything together into one neat
  package and mail it for you. Postage is included
  in your 2.00 processing fee.

37
Watch Your Deadlines!!!

• Counselors need
  10 school days to
  process applications so plan
  accordingly!!!
• Make sure that all parts of the application are
  complete before giving it to the Counseling
  secretary!!!

38
The Common Applicationwww.commonapp.org

• This is an application that is used by over 250
  colleges.
  
• There are often supplements that are required to
  complete.
  
• There are 4 parts Student Portion, School
  Report, Teacher Evaluation, and Midyear Report.
  Students need to make copies of each of these for
  each college.
• It should not be confused with other on line
  applications.
  

39
Application deadlines vary widely

• Be aware that deadlines varydepending on the
  school program to which you are applying.

40
Specific Deadlines

• University of Minnesota Twin Cities December
  15th, 2006
  
• University of Wisconsin Madison February 1,
  2007
  
• University of Wisconsin - River Falls Elementary
  Education - October 1, 2006
  
• All other programs Feb. 1, 2007

41
(No Transcript)
42
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA Twin Cities

• INDIVIDUAL REVIEW FOR ALL COLLEGES WITHIN THE
  UNIVERSITY
  
• The application booklet has lots of valuable
  information and statistics to help you predict
  your chances of admission

43
General Admission Guidelines

• NORMANDALE C.C.
• High school diploma
• MINNESOTA STATE U MANKATO
• Top 50 OR ACT score of 21

44

• NORTH DAKATO STATE UNIVERSITY
• ACT score of 21 GPA of 7.5
• UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH
• 22 on the ACT-automatically admitted
• Others considered case by case

45

• UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
• Requires one of the following
• 7.5 grade point average
  in core academic courses
  
• ACT score of 24
• Top 1/3 of your class
• UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
• 2 x ACT Class Rank Index
• Index needs to be higher than 100
• (not sure yet how they will handle unranked
  transcript)

46

• UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER
• Various combinations of ACT GPA
• UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON
• No Guaranteed Admissions
• ACT 28
• Class Rank top 10 or 11.5
• (usually accepted)

47
Scholarship Applications

• In general, follow the same procedures as you
  would for school applications watch for
  requirements such as deadlines and letters of
  recommendations.

48
SCHOLARSHIPS

• Scholarship information is available in the
  Guidance Resource Center.
  
• Some scholarship applications are available now.
• Many of our local scholarship applications are
  due in January
  
• Local scholarship recipients will be announced at
  Senior Awards Night

49
SCHOLARSHIPS

• The most important source for financial aid for
  most students is the FINANCIAL AID
  OFFICE at the school
  they attend.
• Be sure to read the materials from the school and
  be aware of all the scholarships, grants, loans,
  and work-study opportunities available through
  your school.

50
Reminder

• Make sure you are aware of deadlines plan
  accordingly. You need to allow enough time for
  processing your application
  
• 10 WORKING DAYS

51
Reminder

• Remember to try and enjoy this process. It can
  be a full year so relax and enjoy the process and
  again if you have any questions see your sons or
  daughters counselor.

52
Thank you and Questions