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Approaching theCollege ApplicationProcessGaithersburg High SchoolCounseling OfficeCollege/Career Information Center

1Topics CoveredResearching Colleges / Making Your List

Application Process

Paperwork and Deadlines

2QuestionsAttend school near home or move away?In Maryland or out-of-state?State college or private?State = less expensive, fewer scholarshipsPrivate = more expensive, more financial aidType of campus?City, suburban, rural

Researching Colleges / Making Your ListAdditional questions: How far away from home do you want to be? How far away will your family allow you to go?City schools: not sure what the building next door is. Suburban: no more than 45 min. from a major metropolitan area with public transportation available to the city. Rural: somewhat isolated, rely totally on the campus for things to do.3More QuestionsSize of CampusSmall = 10,000Other preferences / interests?Climate, shopping, entertainment, spiritual, community, athletics

Researching Colleges / Making Your ListAnother question: Does the college or university have all of the major disciplines you are interested in.What do you need to make you happy at school? Movies? Jazz Clubs? Rock climbing? Skiing? The beach?4More To ConsiderCommunity CollegeApply EARLY to Montgomery CollegeFlexible, save money, transfer credits2-year associate degrees availableAthletesNCAA Clearinghousewww.eligibilitycenter.org

Researching Colleges / Making Your ListIn the past, application fees to MC have been waived if students apply by March 1. All students should consider completing an application to MC as the admission to MC is good for summer school courses after you begin college. Any student attending MC should complete an associates degree in the first two years if you are contemplating transfer to a four-year college or university. The colleges and universities must accept all of your credits from MC is you have a degree.NCAA Clearinghouse applications should be made during the junior year. It is online and can be accessed from the GHS website.5More To ConsiderUS Service AcademiesSAT in Spring Junior YearPre-candidate QuestionnaireApplication Packets from Congressional Reps & Senators

Researching Colleges / Making Your ListCongressman Van Hollen holds an information session in the spring. This year it will be held April 11, 2012 from 7:00-8:30pm in Rockville. During the summer prior to senior year it is a good idea to consider attending a summer seminar.6ASVABCareer Interest SurveyWhat Are You Good At?Looks Like a TestExplore OccupationsFigure Out What You Want to Study in College or Do With Your Life!!Researching Colleges / Making Your ListGHS offers the ASVAB exam twice each year. It is being offered March 27 at 7:30am. Permission slips and information sheets are available in the College Career Center. This test does not allow for accommodations.7Gathering InformationLook at Schools OnlineWill They Be Visiting the Area?Are They Visiting GHS?Speak with Counselor, CCIC, Teachers, ParentsCollege Fairs April 24 AT FAIRGROUNDSResearching Colleges / Making Your ListPermission slips for the College Fair are available.The cost is $5.00 per student. All students should make an effort to attend the College Fair. Buses from GHS will be provided.8College FairBus Service from GHS200+ Colleges RepresentedRegister on-line and print ticketHave a Plan Know Which SchoolsFocus on Financial Assistance OptionsU of Md, Other Local Schools PopularDetails: Handouts, Website, AnnouncementsResearching Colleges / Making Your ListU of MD long lines, go there first right off the bus. Try to get something done (not a social event!)Pre-registration is required and available on line. https://www.gotomyncf.com Complete required information. Submit. Print ticket with barcode and bring to the fair! Obtain their business cards for a contact person. Send thank you notes after you return from the fair letting them know how interested you are in the college or university.9

REGISTER ONLINE for the COLLEGE FAIR IN ADVANCE!!!

Go to: https://www.gotomyncf.com/Click on: Montgomery CountyComplete the required information and hit SUBMIT.PRINT your ticket with the barcode.BRING THE TICKET with the barcode TO THE FAIR!No more interest cards to fill out by pen or pencil! College reps will be able to scan your barcode and save your contact information to their prospective students list.Get ready to receive lots of college information by email and/or postal mail!

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NACAC National College FairsStudent Registration

When you register for NACAC College Fair services through Technology Resource Corp.(TRC), you are providing personal information. This information will be provided exclusively to NACAC and those colleges and/or universities that you choose at the College Fair. By allowing a college or university to record the electronic bar code on your Barcode, the registrant agrees and gives permission that all personal information will be shared with those colleges or universitiesFirst Name* Last Name* Home Address 1* Home Address 2 City*, State* Zip * ,

11Other ResourcesFamily Connection/Naviance (link on GHS home page)www.Collegeboard.org

www.PrincetonReview.com

We Are Here To Help!

College/Career Center Your Counselor

Researching Colleges / Making Your ListFamily Connection has resources for past admissions history of GHS students, ability to conduct a college search based on your specific needs and identify target and reach schools, complete a career interest inventory, scholarship searches, submit on-line e-documents (recommendations, transcripts) and much more.12Consider What Colleges Are Looking ForQuality/Rigor of Academic Program Grade Point Average SAT or ACT Scores Extra Curricular/Leadership Activities Volunteer / Community Service / Employment Letters of Recommendation

Researching Colleges / Making Your ListYou must take a full academic load your senior year. Try to take a leadership position if possible in your extra curricular activities or volunteer/community service. Letters of recommendation/teacher evaluations (commonapp) are different from teacher feedback forms.13SAT Highestscore2400Math:Geometry,AlgebraII,andPrecalculusReadingMultipleChoiceEssayPenaltyforwronganswersFee$49.00www.CollegeBoard.org

The Tests Are Not Created EqualCost subject to change. Next SAT is May 5, 2012 and is offered at GHS. Regular registration deadline is April 6.June 2, 2012 test date with regular registration deadline of May 8.14ACTHighest Score 36 Math:Geometry,AlgebraII,andPrecalculusScienceReadingEnglishMultiplechoiceonly$34.00Optionalwritingexam$49.50Nopenaltyforwronganswerswww.actstudent.org

The Tests Are Not Created EqualCost is subject to change.Next test date is April 14, 2012 but requires late registration at this time by March 23.June 9, 2012 test date has a regular registration deadline of May 4, 2012. Sept. 8, 2012 with a regular deadline of August 17, 2012.Late registration fee is $21.0015The Tests Are Not Created Equal Accuplacer freeESL Accuplacer - free

TOEFL - $175*

* price subject to changeAccuplacer is given daily at Montgomery College.The ESL Accuplacer, for students with less than 10 years in MCPS, is given only at MC by appointment. Students attending Montgomery College who score less than 550 on both the Critical Reading and Math sections of the SAT or less than a 24 on the English and Math sections of the ACT MUST take the Accuplacer.TOEFL exam is for any student applying to a four year college or university who has been in the US less than 10 years. Sometimes students are required to take the TOEFL if English was not their first language.16Make Your ListPick 6-9 Schools Target Schools Safety Schools Reach SchoolsResearching Colleges / Making Your ListNo more than 2 reach schools is recommended. Remember there is more than one right school for each student.Dont forget to make certain the schools have the major you are thinking about.17Setting up the Applicationswww.CommonApp.org after August 1Identify schools who participateLog in to Family Connection/Naviance account, go to the College tab, click on Colleges Im applying to. Sign the privacy notice.It is highly recommended that you check off YES and waive your right to access recommendations. Next, check off the box authorizing the release of your records. You will then need to enter the commonapp username and password and Submit.Application Process18Access applications for non-participating schools directlyRegister online (write down your login info (and save in a safe place), requirements and deadlines!!)Set up login and password for eachVerify what documents are neededNon Commonapp ApplicationsWe will send everything through snail mail for non-Commonapp schools. They will accept our documents without any problems.

19Do The ApplicationsBegin completing the applications onlineDouble check applications for:AccuracyCompletenessSpellingGrammarPrint/Copy all pages prior to submitting for your records

Application ProcessAnswer all questions on every application. If you have no answer, write not applicable. Unfortunately things happen. Papers go missing once they arrive at the colleges or university. You should always be able to provide a copy of documents if needed. 20Application RemindersAccurate email address that you check!Update Your CounselorCheck for errors!!Spel checque iz knot enufProofreadSign and date forms (best handwriting!)Express Your Voice, Not Someone Elses

Application ProcessLet your counselor know where you are applying. Talk with teachers and counselors about your choices. They may have valuable insight into the colleges and universities or technical programs you are considering.Schools know when your essay is not your own!21Essays and ResumeActivity Statement - ~100 wordsOptional/or NOT!!1 2 Personal EssaysChoose Topic WiselyEnglish Teacher FeedbackActivities/ResumeOrganize by most important to youInclude Important Characteristic ofSchool, if Possible

Application ProcessTopicsTake the word OPTIONAL out of your vocabulary until the application process is over. If an application says the extra essay is optional, they know if you do not complete it, you really do not care about attending that school.Please have someone else proof your essay family member, friend, school staff. It is very easy to miss common mistakes!Activities: please do not list things were you came in 9th out of 12. List items really important to you. Be able to explain an activity in 1-2 sentences.In your essay be specific! If the name of another school can be substituted into your essay and the essay still works, it is a bad essay. Find specific programs, places, professors, projects to talk about in the Why This College essay.22Letters of RecommendationRules sealed documents may not be opened by anyone except the college you are applying to.

TeacherResume and/or Brag Sheet

Counselor Brag Sheets, Extra Curricular ChecklistTeacher Feedback Forms

Application ProcessTeachers need information about you to write a good personal letter of recommendation. Counselors use teacher feedback forms to write their recommendations. Teacher evaluations (commonapp) are letters of recommendation.23Senior PacketPaperwork Now ONLINE!Preferred MethodGHS Website, College & Career PageSelect: College-Bound Student ChecklistDue to Counseling by June 13, 2012Paperwork and DeadlinesThis is where I walk them through the web page.24Deadlines!!!Chart or List of Deadlines and RequirementsSpreadsheet?Sticky Notes?Find a System That Works For YouTranscript Requests Allow At Least 15 School Days Paperwork and DeadlinesExplain why 10 days for the first one (counselor letter)25More Deadlines!!!October 15 DeadlineAll Paperwork in By September 23

Apply by Priority Deadline if Possible

Scholarships Plan Ahead if Possible YOU Know Your Requirements Envelopes and Stamps Website Good Resource

Paperwork and DeadlinesUNC-CH due October 15. UMD-College Park priority deadline is Nov. 1. Explain percentage acceptance at CP and UMBC.More than 95% of acceptances at UMD-CP and UMBC come from the priority/early action deadlines.26

Please use standard 9X12 envelopes. Properly address in the center of the envelope, to the college, university or scholarship. Place at least 3 first class or forever stamps on the top right corner after addressing. Place your name either in the top left or on the inside flap of the envelope. Do NOT add a return address. We will stamp the GHS address under your name!27Time to Get Busy!Start NowSchedule TestsLook at Schools

Summer Fun Visit Schools Make Your List Finish Brag Sheets/Resumes Start Applications

Conclusion

Please turn in your authorization to release records, brag sheets, parent brag sheets, and provide feedback forms to teachers before final exam week!!!28