Senior Post Graduate Planning Unit FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL

Senior Post Graduate Planning Unit FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL

Three Seasons of College Admissions 1. Exploration Season 2. Application Season 3. Scholarship Season

EXPLORATION SEASON What is important to YOU in searching for a college?

Family Connection College Search & Tools https: //connection. naviance. com/fc/signin. ph p? hsid=fhs

Where to apply? How many? REACH SCHOOLS 1 - 2 TARGET SCHOOLS 3 4 SAFETY SCHOOLS 1 -2

Do you know your college mascots? ? ?

Bonus Round…

Application Season q. Every college and university has different application requirements q. It is the student’s responsibility to know the requirements, and meet all deadlines

Types of Applications Early Action - is NOT BINDING. The decision is received earlier than April Early Decision – if accepted, a BINDING contract (think $, commitment, & other possible opportunities) * Regular Decision – Standard application deadline. Decision is usually received in April Rolling Admission - Decision made once complete application is received and processed as the year ROLLS on *You can apply to only ONE Early Decision School*

Application Samples GMU http: //admissions. gmu. edu/documents/app. Un dergraduate. pdf JMU http: //www. jmu. edu/ad missions/apply/pdf/JMU _2011_Application. pdf VT http: //www. admiss. vt. e du/forms/VTFresh. App. p df REMEMBER: The STUDENT is responsible for sending &/OR requesting all required application materials to be sent to all colleges & universities in order to complete their application package BEFORE the DEADLINE.

What is included in the application package? The STUDENT sends to each College… Application (general & demographic information) Financial Aid Information ~ University Specific Essay (if required OR recommended) Application Fees

What is included in the application package? The STUDENT requests FHS to send…. . Official Transcripts ($3 per) Secondary School Reports or other supplemental forms (IF school has one) Counselor Recommendation* Teacher Recommendation*

What is included in the application package? The STUDENT requests College. Board &/or ACT to send… Official Test Scores (sent directly from www. collegeboard. com and/or www. actstudent. org

The ESSAY What did you learn?

TIMELINES TO CONSIDER How early do I request materials to be sent? ? Transcript & Counselor Recommendation – 10 SCHOOL DAYS Teacher Recommendation – 15 SCHOOL DAYS SATs/ACTs – 14 DAYS TIME = GOOD REC RUSH = RUSHED REC

COMMUNITY COLLEGE & PATHWAYS Northern Virginia Community College Articulation Agreement with VA Schools http: //www. nvcc. edu/about-nova/directories-offices/administrativeoffices/academic/guaranteed-adm/index. html PATHWAYS Deadline Nov. 18 th Military Options

SCHOLARSHIP SEASON After Winter Break for most opportunities Do you know Mrs. Ong? ? ? !!!? ? ? Have you received an email from her lately? ? If not…

FINANCIAL AID FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (www. fafsa. ed. gov/) You can apply for a PIN (electronic signature required to apply) www. pin. ed. gov NOT www. fafsa. com – SCAM CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE – Some schools require https: //profileonline. collegeboard. com/prf/index. jsp

UPCOMING EVENING PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS & PARENTS College Planning Program Thurs, Sept. 15 th @ 7 pm (Auditorium) LCPS College Fair Sun, Sept 25 th 4 -5: 30 pm & 6: 30 -8 pm Financial Aid Night December 7 th @ 7 pm (Auditorium)

IMPORTANT DATES FOR SENIOR YEAR! • • College Entrance Exams and Subject Tests (last suggested dates): Week of September 12 th ~ School Counselors meeting with Seniors for Senior Unit Thursday, September 15 th ~ 7 -8 pm Senior Parent Night Sunday, September 25 th ~ LCPS College Fair @ SBHS from 4 -5: 30 pm & 6: 30 -8 pm Tuesday, October 25 and Wednesday, October 26 Senior Sack Lunches ~ The College Essay Wednesday, December 7 th ~ Financial Aid Night from 7 -8: 30 pm Transcript Request Deadlines: 2 weeks before college application due date Graduation: Sunday, June GMU! 10 th @ SAT: (www. collegeboard. com) October 1 (Reg. Deadline: 9/9) * At FHS * November 5 (Reg. Deadline 10/7) December 3 (Reg. Deadline 11/8) ACT: (www. actstudent. org) October 22 (Reg. Deadline 9/16) December 10 (Reg. Deadline 11/4) Family Connection Workshops College Search September 21 October 19 November 16 Financial Aid/Scholarships January 18 February 22 March 14 * Sessions 6 -7 pm in Career Center. RSVP REQUIRED 1 WEEK PRIOR TO RESERVE A SPOT*

DON’T FORGET…we are here to help