NAVIGATI

NG THE

COLLEG

E

APPLICATI

ON PROCES

S

A M

EE

TI N

G F

OR

PA

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S O

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THE GOAL OF THE COLLEGE SEARCH

TO FIND THE FIT BETWEEN THE STUDENT’S

INTEREST, STRENGTHS AND ASPIRATIONS,

AND COLLEGES THAT MEET THOSE CRITERIA

“A COLLEGE IS A FIT, NOT A TROPHY.”

.....TIM BRUNHOLD, Dean of Admission

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

FACTO

RS TO C

ONSIDER

FOUR YEAR vs. TWO YEAR

PUBLIC vs. PRIVATE

SIZE

SETTING

URBAN

SUBURBAN

RURAL

COST

RESOURCES F

OR

DECIS

ION M

AKING

• WEB TOOLS• CAMPUS VISITS &

LOCAL INFORMATION MEETINGS

• COLLEGE MARKETING

• ADVISING APPOINTMENTS

WEB TOOLS

• SPECIFIC COLLEGE WEBSITES

• COLLEGEBOARD.COM

• NAVIANCE

SCATTERGRAMS

SCATTERGRAM FOR UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION GATHERING

C A M P U S V I S I T S

• Schedule through college website

• If possible, visit when students on campus

• Take advantage of open house days

• Attend a class

• Check out food services

• Read the bulletin boards and newspapers

L O C A L O P P O R T U N I T I E S

• Over 200 colleges visit the WCHS College/Career Center September until early November

• Maryland College Night at WCHS October 4, 2011

• Tufts University Program October 17, 7:00 p.m. at WCHS “Behind Closed Doors: How Admissions Decisions Are Made”

• College-sponsored information sessions at local hotels and schools

PROCESS FOR OBTAINING EXCUSED ABSENCE

C A M P U S V I S I T S

• Seniors are allowed a total of 5 days for college visits during the year.

• A note from a parent or guardian must be submitted to the attendance office at least 48 hours prior to the visit.

• The note is to be signed by each teacher and the class administrator. Students are responsible for making up missed work.

I N S C H O O L V I S I T S

• Sign up in the College/Career Center at least a day in advance

• Pick up a pass

• On the day of the meeting, check in with the class period teacher to confirm that class can be missed

• Students are responsible for all work missed.

BEWARE OF MARKETING PRACTICES

RANKINGS - KEEP THEM IN PERSPECTIVE

Who is defining the BEST? What criteria are they using?

How are they accounting for the needs of my child?

Where is the evidence that rankings make a difference in the ultimate outcome?

SLICK EMAIL AND MAIL MATERIALS

Colleges buy names and addresses from SAT, PSAT and ACT.

Positive, encouraging literature does not guarantee admission.

BLOGS AND PRINT MATERIALS

Who is the author?

What is their experience and or perspective?

How are they accounting for the strengths and needs of my child?

COLLEGE ADVISING

COUNSELORS AND THE COLLEGE INFORMATION COORDINATOR (CCIC)

ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU AND YOUR STUDENT. THEY CAN

• EXPLAIN/CLARIFY THE PROCESS

• HELP IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE COLLEGES

• SUGGEST WAYS TO MINIMIZE STRESS

• REASSURE STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND KEEP THEM ON TRACK

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR APPLICATION REVIEW

APPLICATION Sent by student, online preferred

No preference for the form of application (Common Application, College Specific) Include application fee paid by credit card (counseling can assist in obtaining

fee waivers for need-based situations)Includes essaysMUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE DEADLINE

STANDARDIZED TEST RESULTSStudent requests testing agency to send scores directly to collegesACT or SAT ? Either accepted by collegesMust submit writing portion for SAT or ACTSAT subject tests are required only by the most selective colleges (sometimes ACT can be substituted)Score Choice- which score to sendTest optional- a listing of test optional colleges can be found at fairtest.org

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR APPLICATION REVIEWRECOMMENDATIONS

Sent to college directly by the recommender

Follow the specific college’s application instructions

Letters from academic teachers vs. letters for community members

One to two letters should be sufficient

Make requests at least 30 days in advance

Provide stamped addressed envelopes (self-sealing)

Make sure to thank your recommender!

TRANSCRIPT/SCHOOL PROFILE/ COUNSELOR LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION

Sent by Churchill directly to college

Request must be made at least 20 working days in advance of the deadline

Stamped addressed envelopes must be provided

Fess may apply

CURRENTLY, WE DO NOT SEND ANY INFORMATION ELECTRONICALLY

POSSIBLE ADDITIONS TO APPLICATIONS

INTERVIEWS

Rarely given by the admissions office, usually given by alumni volunteers

Informative, not evaluative

PORTFOLIOS, ARTWORK, WRITING SAMPLES

Check the requirements of each college to which application is made

Some colleges will not want or permit additional submissions

APPLIC

ATIO

N

TERMS/D

EADLINES

Early Action/Priority• (UMDCP Priority Deadline Nov. 1)

Rolling Admissions

Regular Decision

Early Decision• Student can apply to only one

• Acceptance is binding

• Upon acceptance ALL OTHER APPLICATIONS MUST BE WITHDRAWN

• Financial aid awards are generally not made

at this time

APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESSWHO ARE YOU? WHAT ARE YOUR VALUES?WHAT DO YOU BRING TO A COMMUNITY OF

LEARNERS?

Q U A N T I F I A B L E F A C T O R S

Academic Performance

Grades

Rigor of Curriculum

Standardized Test Results

U N Q U A N T I F I A B L E F A C T O R S

Special talents

Leadership

Community Involvement

Interests/Activities

Work

Athletics

Goals/Aspirations/Attitudes

PROOFREAD THE APPLICATION!SPELL CHECK DOES NOT CATCH EVERYTHING!

“I will be a terrific, additive to your freshman class.”

“ Type of U.S. Visa: Citibank”

“This past spring I was abducted by the National Honor Society.”

“Community Service: Candy Stripper”

“Family background: My brother is an only child.”

In answer to the application question on sex: “Once in Orlando”

COMPETITIVE COLLEGE ADMISSION STATISTICS- COLLEGE CLASS OF 2014 & 15

---- Class of Class of Class of Class of Class of Class of

---- 2015 2015 2015 2014 2014 2014

---- Applied Accepted Percent Applied Accepted Percent

Barnard 5,154 1,284 25% 4,618 1,285 27.80%

Brown 30,946 2,692 8.70% 30,135 2,804 9.30%

Columbia 34,929 2,419 6.90% 26,178 2,397 9.20%

Cornell 36,392 6,534 17.95% 36,338 6,673 18.40%

Dartmouth 22,385 2,178 9.73% 18,778 2,165 11.50%

Duke 29,689 3,739 12.60% 26,770 3,372 12.60%

Harvard 34,950 2,158 6.20% 30,489 2,184 7.20%

Johns Hopkins 19,388 3,550 18.30% 18,459 3,787 20.50%

MIT 17,909 1,715 9.60% 16,632 1,676 10%

Northwestern 30,975 5,575 18.00% 27,615 6,379 23.10%

Notre Dame 16,543 3,995 24.20% 14,510 4,009 27.60%

Princeton 27,189 2,282 8.40% 26,247 2,311 8.80%

Stanford 34,348 2,427 7.10% 32,022 2,340 7.31%

Swarthmore 6,547 977 15% 6,041 967 16%

Tufts 17,130 3,735 22% 15,433 3,757 24.30%

UCLA 61,513 15,551 25% 57,670 13,088 22.70%

U of Chicago 21,773 3,446 15.83% 19,340 3,639 18.80%

UNC ChapHill 23,726 6,965 29.36% 23,271 7,559 32.48%

U of Penn 31,659 3,880 12.26% 26,940 3,840 14.25%

U of Virginia 24,010 7,750 32.30% 22,512 7,212 32.00%

Wash Univ. 28,826 4,440 15.40% 24,939 5,285 21.20%

Yale 27,282 2,006 7.35% 25,869 2,039 7.88%

ADMISSIO

NS DECIS

IONS

• ADMIT• 80% ARE ADMITTED BY THEIR

FIRST CHOICE

• NOT ADMIT• DEFER• REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION

• WAIT-LIST

APPLICANT DECISION DEADLINE

EARLY DECISION Deposit due immediately upon acceptance

Withdraw all other applications before decision

REGULAR DECISION/EARLY ACTION/PRIORITY/ROLLING Deposit due by May 1

Only one deposit made

Churchill will send only one final transcript

Advise colleges you will not be attending by May 1

FINANCIAL AIDM E R I T- B A S E D A I D

• Awarded on academic achievement or other accomplishments

• Grant money (free, no payback)

• Check individual college website

• Use links and websites provided

on Naviance and CHS website

• Use Google

N E E D - B A S E D A I D

• Awarded based on demonstrated need

• Must file the FAFSA

Online filing at www.fafsa.org

Beginning January 1, 2012

• Check college for filing deadline

• Awards are made on firs- come, first- served basis

• Awards may include

Grants (free money)

Loans (must be paid back)

Work/study• G

REMEMBER

YOU, AS PARENTS,

ARE THE GREATEST RESOURCE FOR YOUR STUDENT.

Despite what they may tell you to the contrary, your advice, logistical assistance, encouragement and support will help steer them through what can be a challenging “right of passage.” Empower your student to take responsibility for the process.

Now is the time to “back off” without “bowing out.”

Keep an open-mind and a good sense of humor.

Don’t make the total focus of waking hours the college selection/application process.

This time next year you will be the parent of a college

freshman!