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Deer Park High School Parent Presentation 2013-2014. Navigating College Admissions. Deer Park High School Guidance Counselors. Corrie Madden-Grades 10, 11, and 12 Jason Spelic -Grades 7, 8, and 9. Student Responsibilities. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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NAVIGATING COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
Deer Park High SchoolParent Presentation
2013-2014
Deer Park High School Guidance Counselors
Corrie Madden-Grades 10, 11, and 12
Jason Spelic-Grades 7, 8, and 9
Student Responsibilities
To research and to be personally knowledgeable about all of the colleges to which you will apply.
You must complete all application materials on or before deadlines and be the sole author of your application.
You should seek the assistance of your counselor!
Perform well in college!
A Note to Parents and Students
Be Realistic About Your Profile
GPA Test results Curricular choices Your special talents and
needs
“Lay all your cards on the table” about:
College cost vs. Family income
Student achievement and progress at college
Expected student financial contributions
Final choices-A family decision
Post-Secondary Institutions Liberal Arts College
Wilmington, Xavier, College of Mt. St. Joseph University
O.S.U., Miami U, U.C., Xavier Technical/Community College
Cincinnati State, Sinclair, Raymond Walters Engineering or Technical Institute
Cincinnati State, ITT, DeVry Nursing School
Good Samaritan, U.C., Cincinnati State, N.K.U., Xavier Music, Drama, and Art
Cincinnati Art Academy, Cincinnati Art Institute, U.C. (CCM, DAAP)
What Admission Committees ReviewThe Objective
Curriculum choices Standardized testing Grade point average Class rank
The Subjective Involvement in
extracurriculars Time commitments
outside of class Essays Letters of
recommendation Special talent,
legacy, diversity (of ALL sorts)
A Good Application Rigorous curriculum Broad range of extracurricular activities,
inside the high school and out Strong GPA Test Scores Essays Recommendations Interest
Building the College List
Size of student body Geography Social Life Residential Reputation Major Athletics Facilities M/F Ratio Study Abroad Cost
Class sizes Student Activities % of students returning Selectivity Campus setting Greek Life Graduation rate Who Teaches? Dorm Life Diversity
Admission Plans•Regular Decision•Early Decision•Early Action•Rolling Admission•Wait List
Early Decision (ED) You apply early and make a contract with the
college that if accepted you WILL attend their school.
Deadlines are usually October 15-December 1st. If accepted ED you must withdraw your other
applications. Be 100% SURE before you apply ED. Colleges improve their yield by accepting students
ED, and thus your chances of acceptance are higher at most ED schools.
Early DecisionPositive Features
Early response from admission committee
Smaller applicant pool Demonstrates strong
interest Greater chance of
gaining admission? Less stress!
Negative Features Eliminates options BINDING Tentative financial aid
offer Limits scholarship/aid
opportunities What high school
senior is sure of anything?
Early Action (EA) Similar to Early Decision, but not
binding. Deadlines tend to be from Oct. 15th to
December 1st. You should find your status between
December 1st and February 1st. Less of an admission advantage than
ED.
Early Action Gives students the benefits of early
notification without the obligations of early decision
Students are free to apply to other schools and to compare financial aid offers
SINGLE CHOICE EARLY ACTION requires students not to make other EA applications to schools
Rolling AdmissionsWhen you apply, your application is reviewedsoon and you will generally be notified of the
admission decision in 3-8 weeks. Apply early! October/November Your chances are improved early in the
admission cycle year with Rolling Admissions.
Most (but not ALL) state schools use Rolling Admissions.
Late Decision or the Wait List
You have not been accepted or denied. There may be room if they need you.
Students respond to stay or not on the List
If the student is still very interested, he/she should express very clearly that they will attend if offered a spot from the wait list.
Unfortunately, the odds are stacked against wait list students.
• Complete a Financial Need Estimate IF you look like you WILL qualify for aid, don’t rule out private schools!
• IF you WILL NOT qualify for aid, but want to attend a smaller, private school apply to safe schools for scholarship money.
• Some out-of-state, State schools are as affordable as in-state, State schools!
• Consider State schools. Ohio has many different options.
Cost and Value
College Goal Sunday• Locations throughout Ohio• College Goal Sunday offers the opportunity to have
expert help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Financial aid professionals from Ohio colleges & universities will be available to walk you and your family through the financial aid process
• College Goal Sunday is brought to you by the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
Need Information for College Goal Sunday?Call Ohio’s College Access Information Hotline
1-877-I-ATTAIN (428-8246)Mon.-Fri. 10am-6pm
A Final Word about Cost
Please discuss cost as a family now, notlater!
If cost is a major factor, design your list to maximize your money.
College ApplicationsWhen applying on-line ALWAYS: Have someone you trust review your
application before you submit it. Print out the counselor form for Mrs. Shafer
or Ms. McNulty and bring to the counseling office
Remember to tell the counselors that you applied, the colleges do not.
Call the admission office to verify that your application was received.
The ApplicationThe application will include: On-line application form Essay? Teacher recommendation? Counselor Form and Transcript Test Scores (you may need to have these sent) Interview? Audition? Portfolio? Additional Materials?
Application Tips Watch out for Deadlines, including scholarship
Deadlines. Complete an Inventory of the application START EARLY and make a schedule for
completion. Don’t add too much extra information, but some
may be OK. Be sure the application is 100% accurate
The Common ApplicationThe Common Application is a single college
application good at over 450 colleges. Students may complete on-line or type in to web
site and print out whenever you need it.www.commonapp.org
Many schools still need an additional supplement completed as well.
Some schools which accept the Common Application: Miami U (OH), Denison, Wittenberg, University of Dayton, UK, University of Findlay, Xavier University, etc.
A Word about DEADLINES
• Applications must be turned in at least two weeks prior to any deadline.
• Work backwards from the due date to determine your timeline.
• Plan to complete and turn in all applications one month before deadline and definitely by Christmas.
• 95% of all deadlines are absolute! Colleges and definitely scholarships will not modify their deadline for you no matter how good your reason.
Recommendation Letters
Recommendation letters can help your application.
Some general guidelines about recommendations:
Ask someone who will write positively about you! Ask someone to write about you who knows you
well! Ask at least TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE for your
letter. Forms are available in the counseling office. Put it all together neatly and ask nicely. In most cases you can include an extra
recommendation letter, but do not include too many.
Recommendation Letters are confidential between the writer and the college
Testing… ACT vs. SATACT
Score of 36 is perfect (National average is 21)
4 sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science) + OPTIONAL writing section
More common in the Mid-West and South
Ohio State requires the writing portion!
Free ACT prep at www.ACTstudent.org
SAT Score of 2400 is
perfect (National average is 1500)
3 Sections (Math, Critical Reading {formerly verbal}, and Writing
More common on East and West Coast
Free SAT prep at www.collegeboard.com
SAT Subject Tests/SAT 2’s
Three tests at one sitting, usually one Math, and two others of your choice
Few schools require, BUT these are generally the more SELECTIVE schools in the country
Often used for placement
ACT/SAT Continued…
ATTENTION SENIORS:If you have NOT yet completed an ACT or
an SAT, please do so ASAP!!
ATTENTION JUNIORS:We recommend you take your first ACT/SAT in April of your junior year
Sign up for the PSAT test given on Oct. 13th
ACT/SAT Continued… Most colleges will only accept scores directly from the testing
company If you coded in colleges on your original exam, they have
already been sent by the testing agency If you forgot to code colleges on your original exam, you
must contact the testing company to have your scores sent to the colleges
Deer Park High School’s testing code: 360-975 Scores will be sent to the high school if you code it (we need verification for some awards/scholarships)
PSAT PSAT (Practice SAT) Wednesday Oct. 16,
2013 Registration fee is $14.00 (may change)
-Make checks payable to Deer Park High School Open to sophomores in honors English and
to ALL juniors Students register with in the main office Space is limited to the first 50 students who
sign up Upon registration, students will receive a
practice PSAT
Essays A good essay allows the reader to see who
you are and understand what you are! How do you write one?
-Good essays contain certain qualities:1. They are well developed in thought and theme.2. They are grammatically correct.3. They display good vocabulary skills.4. They hold your attention and are read easily.5. They reveal your personality, position, passion,
and ideals.
Essay Tips There are no right and wrong answers!! Answer the question which is asked. Be well organized in the essay. Is there a beginning, middle, end? Support your main ideas with examples. Avoid cliché topics: confessions, shock topics, vulgarity,
girlfriend/boyfriend, “the injury”, Iraq Is it coherent? Does it flow and make sense? Don’t try to cover too much, rather focus in on a specific
idea. Proofread three times!! Get a second and third opinion. Make it your voice. Do you have a story to tell? Use wit and humor (just not too much). When in doubt, keep it simple. Show, don’t tell.
College-bound Student Athletes
Do you want to play sports in college? Be realistic. Seniors: Register NOW for the NCAA
Clearinghouse for Division I & II prospects.www.eligibilitycenter.org
ACT/SAT scores must be sent directly to the Clearinghouse (code 9999)
Have strong grades your senior year. Get promises in writing.
College VisitsSimply the best way to learn about a college and its potential match.Tips: Make an appointment online or by phone with the individual college
-schedule a meeting with a college admissions counselor- request meetings for any special needs you may have
Notify Mrs. Miskimens prior to the visit & pick up college visit form-obtain signature from the college admissions counselor-returned the sign form to Mrs. Miskimens
During the visit:-Talk to students-Visit the program(s) of interest-Sit in on a class-Eat in the cafeteria-Read the student newspaper-Take a journal to record notes and your impressions of the school
Do an overnight visit at a couple of schools you are very serious about
Send a thank you note
Senior Timeline September – Review, research your college list.
Begin your applications. October/November- Finish testing. APPLY to
those colleges! Pay close attention to deadlines. October-April-Apply for scholarships. Pay close
attention to deadlines. January- Apply for Financial Aid through FAFSA April 1-15- You should receive your decisions and
financial information MAY 1ST! You must make YOUR final decision.
Admission Myths I need to know my academic major before I
can apply for admission. The ACT or SAT results represent the most
heavily weighted factor in selective admission.
Prospective students and parents have little control over the college selection process.
It’s better to have a highly developed, special talent than to be the ‘well rounded’ applicant.
College Fairs Go as a team with your son/daughter
Ask questions!
Be open-minded and look at a large variety of colleges
Thank You for attending tonight’s presentation.
Please contact Mrs. Madden or Mr. Spelic with any additional questions