Class of 2020 September 2012 College Admissions Overview

Class of 2020 September 2012 College Admissions Overview Marlborough High School Guidance September 2019

College Admissions Topics ● Admissions requirements ● College visits ● College application process ● Transcripts and school forms ● Resumes ● Letters of Recommendation ● Timelines ● Paying for college

Applying to College: Finding the Right Fit What do you want to do after graduating from high school? Does the college offer the majors you might be interested in? Do you meet the admissions standards?

Apply to: Range of Selectivity: ● Safety Schools ● Probable/Target Schools ● Reach Schools Range of Price Public (in-state or out-of-state) and private Major Make sure major is offered 4 to 8

Do you meet the admission requirements? ●Every college sets their own requirements ●Rigor of transcript ●Grade Point Average (GPA) ●Standardized tests ●SAT Subject tests ●ACT

Standardized Admission Tests ● ACT www. actstudent. org ● SAT Subject tests (if required) www. collegeboard. org ● TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) www. ets. org/toefl Fee waivers available for eligible students for SAT & ACT

Fall Testing Dates – 2019 SAT 2018 -19 SAT Test Date Registration Date Scores Back Date** Saturday October 5, 2019 September 6, 2018 October 18, 2019 Wednesday October 16, 2019 MHS September 19, 2019 October 29, 2019 Saturday November 2, 2019 October 3, 2019 November 15, 2019 Saturday December 7, 2019 November 8, 2019 December 20, 2019 ACT Test Date Deadline Score Release* October 26, 2019 September 20, 2019 November 13, 2019 December 14, 2019 November 8, 2019 December 18, 2019 February 8, 2019 January 10, 2019 February 25, 2019

College Visits ●On campus visits ●Virtual tours ●Attend college rep visits at MHS

How to find visits on Naviance

College Applications Institutional versus Common Application Definitions: ●Institutional Application is the collegespecific application ●Common Application is one application that can be used for many (but NOT all) colleges if they participate. www. commonapp. org

Application Options ● Rolling Admission ● Early Action ● Early Decision (binding)* ● Deferred Admission ● Regular Decision Whatever option you choose, you MUST submit the application by the deadline. *For Early Decision you must complete financial aid forms as well by the deadline

FERPA: Why do we recommend that you waive your rights? College representatives tell us that most students (90% +) waive their rights. It’s unusual for a student to not waive their rights and right or not, raises a question in their mind. 1. When the student does not waive their right, the accompanying recommendations may have been influenced by this and thus they may not truly be representative of the student’s abilities and talents. 1. You should choose your references carefully so that you know they are going to give you a good recommendation. If you have done this, there is no need to see the recommendation once you are admitted. 1. If you don’t waive your right, schools may not take the letters of recommendation seriously, because it may look like you have something to hide. If you can’t trust the people you asked to write you a letter of recommendation, maybe you asked the wrong people!

Common Mistakes #1 – Student does not complete FERPA form. #2 – Student enters an incorrect Common Application email address on Naviance #3 – Student does not list all colleges they are applying to in their Common Application account. #4 - Student does not match Common Application account with Naviance

Application Tips for Success ● Start now ● Complete application and supplements ● Proofread ● Pay for the application ● Tell your counselor once you’ve applied so we can send your transcripts & other docs! ● Check the submission status ● Check your email frequently

What does a transcript look like?

Letters of Recommendation ● Not all colleges require them ● Some colleges: ● Require 1 teacher recommendation only ● Require 2 teacher recommendations and a guidance counselor recommendation

Senior Year Timeline What do you need to do and when do you need to do it?

For Seniors: October ● Finalize your list of colleges where you plan to apply ● Complete the college applications ● Some deadlines may be as early as mid. October ● Send standardized tests scores (if required) in time to make the application deadline ● ACT or SAT ● SAT Subject Tests if required ● Request letters of recommendation if required

Paying for College ● FAFSA (available October 1 at 12: 01 a. m. ) www. fafsa. ed. gov ● CSS Profile at www. collegeboard. com ● College financial aid forms ● Make sure you meet the Financial Aid Priority Deadline set by the college

Need help filing for Financial Aid? Attend our MEFA College Financing Seminar on October 16 th at 6 pm in the Little Theater

Scholarships ● www. fastweb. com ● www. finaid. org ● Scholarships are all available on Naviance beginning in February ● MHS website ● Check with your employer, clubs and organizations you belong to – do they offer scholarships?

Questions? House Orange Mrs. Erika Johnson ejohnson@mps-edu. org x 7385 Ms. Amy Wayman awayman@mps-edu. org x 7510 Ms. Joanne Hanson jhanson@mps-edu. org x 7386 Mr. Carrick Rogers crogers@mps-edu. org x 7384 House Black Early College High School Counselor Mrs. Elizabeth De. Horatius edehoratius@mps-edu. org x 7110 (508) 460 -3500 Stay connected: @MHSPanther. Guide Marlborough. High Guidance