Seniors: Planning for Life After High School!

Seniors:Planning for Life After High School!

Agenda

Options for Life After High School – Quick Review

The College Application & Briar Woods High School Procedures

Advice & Information

Materials

An “Electronic-Index” will be emailed to you, includes– NACAC Guide– Transcript release form– Senior Information Packet– Additional forms & resources

BWHS Website– “College & Career Guidance” Page

Let your counselor know if you need hard-copies

BWHS COLLEGE INFORMATION ELECTRONIC INDEX - SENIORS GENERAL INFORMATION Profile: This document lists data including, but not limited to, LCPS grading scales, BWHS contact information, course level descriptions, and AP program overview. Information for College Applications: This document lists several important pieces of information that you will probably need for your college applications. REQUIRED FORMS Transcript Release Form: Use this form to have your transcript sent to colleges, universities, and scholarship programs. Students are charged $3.00 per request. Senior Information Packet: Complete this packet and provide to your guidance counselor. It will help them write your letter of recommendation. HELPFUL WORKSHEETS & RESOURCES College Application Checklist : Use a checklist for each college you apply to. This will help you keep track of all the different pieces of your application. College Visit Worksheet: Use this worksheet to keep track of what you like and dislike about every college you visit. If you don't use a worksheet like this, you will get details about each of the colleges you visit mixed up. Trust us! College Essay: Use this resource to help you write your essays. College Interviews: Use this resource to help prepare for interviews. Sample Resume: Use these templates to help you create a resume to highlight your accomplishments. College Application Calendar: Use this CollegeBoard resource to help stay on track during your senior year. Questions to ask College Representatives: Going to the college fair or visiting a college? Don't know what to ask college reps? Use these questions to help you get the most out of your visit. Financial Aid Primer: Basic overview of financial aid. What it is and where to get it. Virginia Colleges & Universities: Helpful lists, links, and maps of Virginia Colleges and Universities. TESTING INFORMATION SAT and ACT information and dates. SAT and ACT Concordance Table: Compare the scores between these two tests. SAT Last Minute Tips: Review these tips to help you perform at your best on test day!

Options for Life After High School

Trade-schools/Apprenticeships

Military

Community College

4-Year College or University

College Degrees

College Degrees– Associates Degree: 2-year degree (typically

earned at a community college or a junior college)– Bachelor’s Degree: 4-year degree– Master’s Degree: Typically 2 additional years after

earning a bachelors– Doctoral Degrees & Professional Degrees: PHD,

JD, MD, DC

Community College

Community College– Certificate programs– 2-Year Associates Degree– First year or two of a 4-Year Bachelors degree

Community College

Benefits of community college– NOVA is one of the best community colleges in

the country– Relatively inexpensive– Close to home– A “small step” into higher education– “Open” admissions

Community College

NOVA’s Guaranteed Admissions (incomplete list)– Christopher Newport University– George Mason University– George Washington University– Georgetown University– James Madison University– Liberty University– Longwood University

Community College

NOVA’s Guaranteed Admissions (incomplete list)– Marymount University– Norfolk State University– Old Dominion University– Radford University– University of Mary Washington– University of Virginia– Virginia Tech

Community College

Pathways Program – Apply in November– Start at NOVA– Transition to a 4-year university– Individual meetings with NOVA Pathways

counselors– Assistance applying for financial aid– Early placement testing and priority course

registration– No minimum GPA required to apply

College Visits at BWHS

College representative visits to BWHS– Sign-up in the Career Center– Limit visits to 5– Avoid missing the same class twice– Your teacher is not obligated to release you from

class

There is no substitute for a campus visit as a way to assess a school

The Application “Folder”

Each college application requires seven pieces of information (more or less!)

The Application “Folder”

1. Application

2. Essay

3. Student Resume

4. Secondary School Report

5. Test Scores

6. Transcript

7. Letter/s of Recommendation

The Application

Applications are submitted electronically over the internet

Print and review before submitting it! You are responsible for completing and

submitting their own applications (not mom & dad!)

You should make copies of all applications they submit for your records

Many colleges use the “Common Application”

The Application

You are responsible for being aware of application deadlines (see NACAC Guide)– Regular Admission – traditional deadline– Early Decision – binding– Early Action – non-binding– Rolling Admission – applications accepted based

on space availability until the institution is “full”

The Application

Early Decision & Early Action– Is it binding?– Dates?– Can I get out of it?– Is the competition tougher or easier? (+ 2-3%)– If I am not accepted, will I be considered for

regular admissions?– Can I afford it without financial aid?

The Application “Folder”

1. Application

2. Essay

3. Student Resume

4. Secondary School Report

5. Test Scores

6. Transcript

7. Letter/s of Recommendation

The Essay

Not all colleges require an essay Essays are submitted electronically along

with the application You should make sure they you understand

the essay topic You should print out and review (with help!)

their essays before submitting them

The Essay

English teachers are more than happy to help students with essays; teachers incorporate this into their curriculum

You should save all essays because they may be modified and reused – but be careful!

Essay resources – BWHS library, BWHS Career Center, public library, book store, internet resources

The Application “Folder”

1. Application

2. Essay

3. Student Resume

4. Secondary School Report

5. Test Scores

6. Transcript

7. Letter/s of Recommendation

Student Resume

Many colleges accept student resumes

Resumes can highlight your accomplishment both in and outside of school

Resumes can be sent to the college electronically along with the application and essay

An effective resume is EASY TO READ!

Student Resume

Use resume templates and samples to format your own

Information on resumes must be 100% accurate

Use email, Facebook, YouTube, etc. appropriately (if you wouldn’t put it on a resume…)

The Application “Folder”

1. Application

2. Essay

3. Student Resume

4. Secondary School Report

5. Test Scores

6. Transcript

7. Letter/s of Recommendation

Secondary School Report

Some colleges provide the student with a Secondary School Report form for the counselor to complete and send in

We will automatically send a comprehensive “universal” Secondary School Report for all seniors with their transcripts. This is now common practice

The Application “Folder”

1. Application

2. Essay

3. Student Resume

4. Secondary School Report

5. Test Scores

6. Transcript

7. Letter/s of Recommendation

Test Scores

Seniors are responsible for having their test scores sent to the colleges they are applying to. LCPS does not send scores!

Seniors can request their scores be sent when they take the tests; or they can have their scores sent after the test date by contacting the CollegeBoard ( for SAT) or ACT

If you haven’t taken the SAT or ACT yet… do so NOW!

SAT Reasoning Test (“aptitude” test – designed to predict success the freshman year in college)

– Critical Reading– Math– Writing

ACT (“achievement” test – designed to test “what you have learned”)

– English– Math– Science– Optional Writing section

Plan & Prepare for the Admissions Tests

SAT Subject Tests (your parents might remember these as “SAT Two’s”)– Usually used for placement purposes only– Not used for admissions– Subject test requirements vary greatly among

different colleges

2013-2014 SAT Dates

October 5 November 2 December 7 January 25 March 8 - BWHS May 3 June 7

2013-2014 ACT Dates

September 21 October 26 December 14 - BWHS February 8 April 12 June 14

Plan and Prepare for theAdmissions Tests

Hard copy registrations materials are available in the Career Center, or

Register for the SAT at www.collegeboard.com

Register for the ACT at www.act.org

Register early!

See the BWHS Guidance website for details

Preparing for the Tests

Long-term v. Short-term preparation

Get free practice tests for the SAT & ACT in the Career Center – Don’t just take it… have a “dress rehearsal”

Free online CollegeBoard SAT course

BWHS SAT course - .5 credit, pass/fail

Free SAT Prep at CollegeBoard.Com

Official SAT Question of the Day SAT Skills Insight My SAT Study Plan SAT Essay strategies Math and Writing reviews

SAT/ACT Prep – Private Sources

Books & Manuals – look for materials created by the testing companies themselves

Private courses (PTSO)

Other outside private courses

The Application “Folder”

1. Application

2. Essay

3. Student Resume

4. Secondary School Report

5. Test Scores

6. Transcript

7. Letter/s of Recommendation

The Transcript

You must submit a Transcript Release Form signed by a parent. Forms can be obtained in guidance and are online

Seniors must submit the form in person to the counselor

BRIAR WOODS HIGH SCHOOL

REQUEST FOR TRANSCRIPTS TO BE SENT TO A COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY OR PROGRAM

I hereby request that a transcript of the scholastic records of

Student’s Name

be sent to the following college/university or program:

College/University or Program Address Deadline Date of

Request Date

Processed

Type of Admissions (please check one):

____Regular Decision ____Early Decision ____Early Action ____Rolling

Have you submitted an application to this college/university or program? ___ Yes ___ No Does this college/university require a counselor Letter of Recommendation? ___ Yes ___ No If so, have you completed a Senior Information Packet? ___ Yes ___ No Have you attached $3.00 for this request? ___ Yes ___ No

Scores on the SAT, ACT, and Advanced Placement Exams are sent directly from the College

Board or ACT at the request of the student. Briar Woods does not send test scores.

Please allow 2 weeks to process your transcript request.

Student’s Name — PRINT or TYPE Student’s Signature Parent’s Name — PRINT or TYPE Parent’s Signature

The Transcript

We ask that seniors submit transcript requests a minimum of two weeks before the college application deadline (last year we sent over 3000 transcripts)

We now use the National Transcript Center to “send” transcripts

We track the process date and send date – posted on Family Connection

The Transcript

We include a school profile with transcript

Transcript requests must be made before December 2nd in order to be sent before winter break

All LCPS students are charged $3.00 per transcript

The Transcript

Please only request transcripts to be sent to colleges you are actually applying to

Mid-year and end-of-year transcripts are sent automatically

There are no costs for mid-year and end-of-year transcripts

The Application “Folder”

1. Application

2. Essay

3. Student Resume

4. Secondary School Report

5. Test Scores

6. Transcript

7. Letter/s of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation

Counselor Letter– If a you need a letter of recommendation from the

counselor, you can request it when you request the transcript

– Every senior will be provided with a Senior Information Packet to be turned into the counselor

– The Senior Information Packet is posted online and contains a parent “brag” section

– The counselor will “send” the letter with the transcript

Letters of Recommendation

Teacher Letter:– If a letter of recommendation is requested from a

teacher, you should make the request directly to the teacher and provide the teacher with a postage-paid envelope addressed to the college

– Think about who you are asking… they may need more time!

Letters of Recommendation

Seniors should allow counselors and teachers a minimum of two weeks to write a letter

Please only request letters to be sent to schools you are actually applying to

If you send more letters than the college requests, you can’t control which ones they choose to read

The Application “Folder” - Summary

1. Senior submits application electronically to the college2. Senior submits the essay electronically to the college (if there is one)3. Senior may submit a resume electronically to the college

4. Senior has test scores sent directly to the college by the CollegeBoard (for SAT) or the ACT

5. Senior meets with counselor directly to request a transcript by submitting a Transcript Release Form

6. BWHS will automatically send a universal Secondary School Report to the college with the transcript

7. Senior may request letter of recommendation (if needed) from their counselor and/or teachers

Keeping Sane!!!

Complete one college application “folder” at a time

Trying to work on several applications at once = confusion for all!

Use a checklist for each application!!!

Check When Complete

Task Date Completed

  I have completed the online application 

  I have completed the essay online (if necessary) 

  I have submitted a resume online (if necessary) 

  I have requested that the testing company send my SAT and/or ACT scores to the college 

  I have completed and turned in a transcript release form to my counselor – in person 

  My counselor will automatically send a Secondary School Report 

n/a

  I have requested a letter of recommendation from: 

Keeping Sane!!!

Complete applications one at a time– One by Halloween– One by Thanksgiving– The rest by Winter Break

Pay attention to deadlines!

Interviews

Some colleges interview applicants

Process, procedures, and guidelines vary

Resources can be found on the E-Index

E-Index

Every senior will receive an e-index:– NACAC Guide– Planning calendar– Student information packet– Sample resumes– Transcript release form– College visit worksheet– College application checklist– and more…

Communication/Follow-Up

Students and parents can log onto Family Connection to view transcript send dates

We automatically send mid-year transcripts to the colleges our students apply to (no cost)

Final transcripts are sent to the colleges our students plan to attend (no cost)

Upcoming Dates

Senior presentations – Next week

Senior Interviews – Late September

LCPS College Fair – September 29 at 4:00pm-5:30pm & 6:30pm-8:00pm, SBHS

Junior College Information Night – October 30 at 7:00pm

Financial Aid Night – November 20 at 7:00pm

HAVE A GREAT SENIOR YEAR!!