Senior College Application Night

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Senior College Application Night

• How to survive the college application process

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List of College Choices

• Review and finalize list
• Check on Naviance Family Connection for college
  rep visits to BHS
• Danbury College Fair (Oct. 15)
• Complete college visits
• Schedule interviews if needed
• College entrance tests (SATs/ACTs)

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Naviance Family Connection What is it?

• Family Connection is on the Web
• http//connection.naviance.com/BETHEL
• Web-based resource that supports college planning
• Specific to our school
• Linked with Counselors Office, a service that we
  use in the counseling office

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What can it do?

• Share college plans with your counselor
• Complete college searches
• Compare colleges
• Link to selected third-party resources
• Track deadlines
• Show schedule of college visits

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College Profile
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Visit Schedule
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SAT and ACT Tests

• SAT now includes a writing portion
• The ACT offers an optional essay
• Check college/university entrance requirements
  concerning essays
• Colleges/universities have access to essay on line

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The Interview

• Is it an option ?
• Opportunity to learn more about the college
• Opportunity to leave a more personal impression
• Interview pointers in Next Step Guide
• Practice interview with counselor
  (available/optional)

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Interview Pointers

• Be prompt.
• Be Neat.
• Be Prepared.
• Answer Questions.
• Volunteer information.
• RELAX!
• Send a thank you.

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-------- Attend Financial Aid Night with
your parents
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College Application Procedure

• Gather applications
• Check application requirements
• Read application and instructions carefully
  before completing any forms
• Standardized test requirements?
• Essay?
• Interview?
• Portfolio/tape/audition?
• Recommendations?
• List deadline dates on calendar

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College Applications contd.

• Make sure Counseling forms are completed
• Complete resume (1 copy to counseling secretary)
• Begin filling out applications
• Begin essays
• Request recommendations

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College Application Checklist/Transcript Request
Form

• Pick up form in school counseling office
• Complete form and submit to counselor
• After you mail application OR
• After you apply on-line OR
• With application and check if college so requires
  it
• Parent/guardian signature required if under 18
• Three transcripts are free thereafter 5.00 fee

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Transcript Request Form contd

• ALLOW 3 WEEKS TO PROCESS TRANSCRIPT REQUEST
• SCHOOL VACATIONS DO NOT COUNT AS ONE OF THOSE
  WEEKS
• STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY TO MEET DEADLINESplan
  ahead!

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The Common Application

• Accepted by approx. 300 colleges/universities
• Go to www.commonapp.org for a list of schools
  that accept the common application
• Complete once and send to many schools
• Some colleges/universities require both the
  common application and a college supplement
• Distribute Teacher Evaluation forms
• Bring School Report to counselor

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Recommendations

• Determine IF needed and HOW MANY
• (Usually 2 letters)
• Follow specific instructions of each college
• Dont confuse teacher letters and counselor forms
  (titled Student Evaluation Form)

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Recommendations contd

• Give writer your correct name
• Encourage writer to draw on personal perspective
  of you as a student
• Allow writer enough time
• Letter comes to file in school counseling office
• Write a personal thank you note

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The College Essay

• Makes facts in students folder come alive
• Provides information beyond grades, test scores
  and list of activities
• Reveals the candidates intangible qualities

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Essay contd

• Senior English classes assign essay
• Take advantage of teachers feedback
• Utilize Writing Center (in BHS Media Center)
• Have counselor review for content (optional)
• Proof essay and word process it

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Financial Aid

• Check with each school
• File CSSs Profile (if appropriate)
• File FAFSA after January 1
• Check local scholarships (www.bethel.k12.ct.us
  under School Counseling Dept.)
• Search web --start with links from our site
• Oct. 16, 700COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
• Nov. 29, 700-- EFCA FINANCIAL AID NIGHT

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CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE

• College Board product and service
• Used by over 600 colleges, universities,
  professional schools and scholarships for non
  federal aid
• Two-stage online process-- Customized application
• More comprehensive family data
• Qualitative family information allowed
• Some colleges require non-custodial data
• Non-custodial PROFILE (NCP)
• Registrations accepted starting Oct. 1

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SCHOLARSHIPS--Two groupings

• Scholarships at large
• School Counseling webpagemany links
• BHS Media Center
• Internet

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Locally Administered Scholarships

• Memos posted in School Counseling, via BHS email
  list, on School Counseling web page
• Regularly check Naviance/Family Connection also
• Applications available in School Counseling
  Officeself-serve/list name on folder
• Return applications to Ms. Boedecker BY DATE
  LISTED ON SCHOLARSHIP MEMO
• Packaged applications forwarded to organizations

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Closing

• Individual senior conferences
• TWO Financial Aid Nights Oct. 16 and Nov. 29,
  both at 700 pm, BHS Auditorium
• Accepting/declining an offer of admission
• Notify school counselor
• Registration for WCSU/NVCC spring courses