Senior Parent Night

Options after high school. Work/apprenticeships/

internships Military 2 year colleges—community or

residential 4 year colleges and

universities

Not sure?….. Visit the Career Center

College Fairs Oct 18th - Visual & Performing Arts

Fair1:00 – 3:00 pmWalter E. Washington Convention Center

Oct 18th - FCPS College Fair 7:30 pm Fair Oaks Mall

Oct 19th - FCPS College Night – 7:00 pm Hayfield Secondary School

Oct 13th - Alcanza – 9 am- 1:00 pm George Mason University

Read the Career Center Newsletter for more

Woodson College Visits

Over 150 colleges and universities visit Woodson every year. The reps who come are often the very ones who read the applications from Woodson. MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN.

Advertised in WTW Main Page Calendar Family Connection Career Center Newsletter Lunch Room / Announcements

College Fit and Match

Myth: There is one perfect college for me. Fact: There are over 3,000 U.S. colleges. Factors to consider: studies/majors

available, campus environment, student support services, faculty accessibility, graduation rate, number of students on campus during the weekends, clubs and activities.

Disability Support Services Don’t be swayed: “my best friend is going

there.”

College Fit and Match

Keep in mind that “profiles” for the admitted student to a college includes ALL groups in the incoming class across ALL demographics.

Remember: Colleges list minimum requirements for admission. Minimum does not make a student competitive for admission.

College Admission by the Numbers

3,600 # of 2 and 4 year colleges in the US. 2,000 # of 4 year colleges in the US. 135 # of 4 year colleges that admit fewer

than 50% of the applicants. 50 # of 4 year colleges that admit fewer

than 50% of the applicants AND with an SAT average of 1250 (out of 1600).

24 # of colleges that admit fewer than 25% of the applicants with a 1250 or higher score.

Know What Matters to the Admission Offices

NACAC Findings (2014)

1. Grades in College Prep Courses81.5%

2. Strength of program

63.7% 3. Admission Test scores (SAT/ACT)

58.3% 4. Grades in all courses

51.5% 5. Essay

22.2% 6. Demonstrated interest

20.1% 7. Counselor Recommendation

15.9% 8. Class Rank

15.2% 9. Teacher Recommendation

14.1% 10. Activities

9.6% 11. Interview

7.8% 12. AP/IB scores

7.5%

How Colleges Read Files

“Data Driven” Reads This is a focus on the more quantitative pieces of the application number of

Honors/AP courses, overall GPA, core GPA, SAT/ACT scores.

“Wholistic” Read This includes a focus on qualitiative pieces of information within the application- recommendations, essay, activities and

awards as well as the numbers.

www.fcps.edu/is/instructionaltechnology/247help/parents.shtml

2009-10

John Doe

Jane Doe

Welcome Message

document library

Compare your GPA and Test Scores to those who graduated last year from your

school.

If no scattergram displays for

the institution selected,

please contact

your counselor or

career center

specialist for more

information.

Radford University

James Madison University

National Centerfor Education Statisticshttp://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

• Retention Rates• Graduation Rates• Campus Safety• Financial Information

– Total Costs – Financial Aid– Net Costs

Ownership

Responsibility

Colleges want to hear from the Student

Supporting your student?

Navigating the

Application Process

Fall ~ Senior Year short list of college and universities online application accounts

(write down password!) visits essays / personal statements Letters of recommendation resume in progress SAT I, SAT Subject tests, ACT, TOEFL

taken or registered for where appropriate

Navigating the

Application Process

ApplicationPreparation

Collect student-focused information Recommender email addresses GPA Class size

Application Deadlines

Notify your school counselor of all applications

Admission Types?Deadlines?

Early Decision ~ binding ~ only ONE ~ if you are accepted you commit to attend and withdraw all other applications. Be aware of all deadlines.

Early Notification (Action) and single choice~ upon submission of all materials college will notify student of decision – student has until May 1st to commit.

Regular Decision ~ application submitted by college deadline, notification by April 1st, commit by May 1st.

Rolling Decision ~ within 2-4 weeks of submission of application, student is notified of decision. Ask when/if programs close early!! Commit by May 1st.

Applications Have Three Parts.

Part 1 ~ Student information and data.

Part 2 ~ Teacher recommendations.

Part 3 ~ Counselor recommendation which includes your transcript and the WTW Secondary School Report form.

Student Info/Data

Personal and Family information. Academic information including

test scores. Honors and Awards. Activities - both in and out of

school. Essay or personal statement.

Test ScoresIt is your responsibility to have test scores sent from the test company to colleges and universities when appropriate. SAT 1/Subject tests

www.collegeboard.org ACT www.actstudent.org AP scores

https://apscores.collegeboard.org

TOEFL

Essay or Personal Statement

“Show” who you are, not the “stuff” you have done.

Admission officials want to “see” you when they read your essay ~ your personality and distinctive traits ~ what makes “you” you. Show your character as you answer the question.

Essay support: English teachers/Writing Center

Teacher Recommendations

Ask at least 3 weeks prior to due date. Give teacher all required forms. Give teacher envelopes with proper postage

unless the teacher agrees to recommend online.

Put forms and envelopes in large brown envelope with cover letter. This letter can help remind your teacher of a paper or project for which you are particularly proud and wish the colleges to know about.

Be sure to write a thank you note!

Teacher NameWT Woodson High School9525 Main STFairfax, VA 22031

College NameOffice of AdmissionStreet AddressCity, State zip

Envelopes for Teachers

WT Woodson High School9525 Main STFairfax, VA 22031

Envelopes for Counselor/Transcript Secretary

Counselor At least three weeks prior to deadlines give your

counselor: Transcript release form. First three are free and after that

there is a $5.00 charge which is required at time of request. Release forms are available in Family Connections under Document Library and in the Student Services Office.

College Planning packet- which was given to you in your English classes last spring and is also available on Family Connections in the Document Library and also in Student Services.

We will include the WTW Secondary School Report with the

transcript mail semester grades to all colleges to which you applied at

the end of first semester.

Plan to meet with your counselor as needed to review your applications.

Transcript ReleaseForm

Posted Online From the WTW Home Page, Point to Student Services Point To Transcript Release Click on Seniors

In Family Connection Click colleges Look-up your college

Scroll Down

Common Application We are NOT able to send electronically at this time. – choose “M” for mail

“Your school may submit transcripts and recommendations electronically”

“This college does not accept transcripts and recommendations electronically through our system.”

Possible submission icons and options under Application Deadline

Transcript ReleaseForm Tips

Be thorough Be complete Be accurate Type directly into this form,

print, sign/date it,and it will be easy to read.

Application Processing Summary

Completed application consists of: application fee essay or personal

statement other attachments

required by the college

recommendations

Safeguards Print or photo-copy

the application prior to any submission.

Write down any application passwords

Check with the admission office to be sure they received your application.

Student Responsibility

Application and fee.

Transcript request and fees.

Essay/ personal statements.

Recommendation requests.

NCAA registration.

Portfolio/work samples when applicable and supplements.

Test score reports.

School’s Responsibility

Process transcript request

Process counselor recommendation request

Include school profile Mail the above Mail semester grades

Paying for College

Financial Aid Info Night

Tuesday, October 6at 7:00pmAuditorium

Financial Aid Deadlines

Research financial aid filing deadlines for each school

MUST file by the earliest of those deadlines

Watch for electronic notifications/ communications. Respond appropriately. (Student receives not parent!)

Scholarships Understand all application deadlines

Priority deadline is usually a scholarship deadline

Does the school have another scholarship deadline

Does the school have Scholarships that require separate

application? Nominated scholarships?

Check scholarship lists

Georgia Tech’s Presidential Scholarship Tuition/fees, room & board 15 October application deadline

Washington University in St. Louis’s Danforth Scholars Program Full or partial tuition scholarships 15 October nomination

deadline…

The BIGGER the ScholarshipThe Earlier the Deadline

University of South CarolinaLikelihood of Admitted Freshmen Receiving USC Merit Scholarships

Test Scores

GPA

1100-119024-26

1200-129027-28

1300-139029-31

1400-149032-33

1500-160034-36

2.0-2.49

2.5-2.99

3.0-3.49

3.5-3.99

4.0-4.49

4.5+

Green- Highly likely Blue- Likely Black- Less likely Gray- UnlikelyBased on fall 2012 freshmen class stats

University of VermontScholarship Test Scores Other Amount

Presidential 1800 or 26 Top 20% Up to $11,000/yr

Trustees 1650 Top 25% Up to $7,000/yr

Cooper Union

Curtis Institute of Music NO tuition for ALL

students

50% tuition scholarship for ALL students

Study specified number of semesters

Intern/Work full-time under the college umbrella without study

Full-time work provides $$ for college and resume experience

May take longer than 4 years to graduate

Cooperative Learning Options

Career Center Resources

Listen for announcements about college visits to Woodson and get a pass.

Check the Career Center Newsletter and Family Connections for scholarships, college visits, and career information.

The Career Center Newsletter also contains a information on internships, special programs/opportunities, colleges, and important happenings.

Keep Your Grades Up!! Senior Year is like the On Ramp to I-95 ~ DON’T SLOW DOWN!

Colleges often send letters and call counselors when

grades slip!All grades count, all year!

Help Us, Please

Complete the survey found at:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/WTW_Sr_Parent_Ngt

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