Welcome toWelcome toCinnaminson High Cinnaminson High

SchoolSchool

Junior Parent NightJunior Parent Night

February 2012February 2012

The College Admission The College Admission ProcessProcess

can be complicated and can be complicated and complex! ! !complex! ! !

We are here to support your efforts in We are here to support your efforts in navigating through the process . . .navigating through the process . . .

Which college is right Which college is right for you?for you?

Things to think about . . . Things to think about . . . • Size of school Size of school

• Location Location

• Distance from Distance from home home

• Activities/Athletics Activities/Athletics

• Public/Private Public/Private

• Coed/Single sex Coed/Single sex

• Entrance Entrance requirementsrequirements

• Entrance difficulty Entrance difficulty

• Reputation of Reputation of School School

• Majors available Majors available

• Commitment to Commitment to major by school major by school

• Cost Cost

• Campus Campus personalitypersonality

There are over 4,000 colleges There are over 4,000 colleges in the U.Sin the U.S

What are the options?What are the options?

• Community Colleges Community Colleges (Associates Degree) (Associates Degree)

• Two Year PrivateTwo Year Private Colleges (Associates Colleges (Associates Degree) Degree)

• Public Public Colleges/UniversitiesColleges/Universities

• Private Private Colleges/UniversitiesColleges/Universities

• Liberal Arts Liberal Arts SchoolsSchools

• Ivy League Ivy League SchoolsSchools

• Specialized Specialized InstitutionsInstitutions(art, music, (art, music, culinary arts, etc.)culinary arts, etc.)

• Technical SchoolsTechnical Schools

How to search for the right How to search for the right college?college?

• www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com• www.collegeboard.com/quickstartwww.collegeboard.com/quickstart• Visit Career Resource CenterVisit Career Resource Center• College rep visits during lunches College rep visits during lunches

in Fallin Fall• Attend campus toursAttend campus tours• Recommendations from former Recommendations from former

seniors, parents, relatives, etc. seniors, parents, relatives, etc. who attendedwho attended

• Attend College FairsAttend College Fairs• Counselor conferencesCounselor conferences• Internet searchesInternet searches

Understanding Admission Understanding Admission FactorsFactors

How Colleges Evaluate How Colleges Evaluate Candidates?Candidates?

• Quality & rigor of academic coursesQuality & rigor of academic courses• Academic performance/gradesAcademic performance/grades• Test scores (SAT/ACT)Test scores (SAT/ACT)• Class rank & G.P.A.Class rank & G.P.A.• Admission essays Admission essays • Recommendation letters (teachers & Recommendation letters (teachers &

counselors)counselors)• Extra-curricular activitiesExtra-curricular activities• Community/volunteer servicesCommunity/volunteer services• Leadership experiencesLeadership experiences• College interviewCollege interview

Applying to college:Applying to college:Where to begin?Where to begin?

Please refer to the Please refer to the Junior Planning CalendarJunior Planning Calendar

Juniors will receive their “Juniors will receive their “Senior PacketSenior Packet” in June” in June

Prepare to take SAT or ACT this spring and next fallPrepare to take SAT or ACT this spring and next fall

Think about which two teachers your son/daughter will Think about which two teachers your son/daughter will ask to write recommendation letters (English & Math or ask to write recommendation letters (English & Math or specialized subject)specialized subject)

Begin researching colleges and plan summer visits to Begin researching colleges and plan summer visits to colleges (refer to colleges (refer to College Visit ChecklistCollege Visit Checklist) )

Every student will be scheduled to meet with his/her Every student will be scheduled to meet with his/her school counselor to discuss post-secondary plans school counselor to discuss post-secondary plans beginning in October (Parents are encouraged to attend.)beginning in October (Parents are encouraged to attend.)

Refer to the Refer to the Senior Parent Tip SheetSenior Parent Tip Sheet for ideas on how to for ideas on how to support your child through the college admission process support your child through the college admission process

Get Organized & ApplyGet Organized & ApplySo now what?So now what?

• There is no magic number, but narrowing your college There is no magic number, but narrowing your college search to five will simplify the processsearch to five will simplify the process

• Categorize your choices: “Categorize your choices: “ReachReach”, “”, “RealisticRealistic”, & “”, & “SafetySafety” ” schoolsschools

• Review scholarship & financial aid requirementsReview scholarship & financial aid requirements• Visit Visit www.fafsa4caster.ed.govwww.fafsa4caster.ed.gov for an estimate of your for an estimate of your

federal financial aid eligibilityfederal financial aid eligibility• Share draft essays with teachers and/or family to editShare draft essays with teachers and/or family to edit• Ask teachers (Ask teachers (no more than twono more than two) to write ) to write

recommendation lettersrecommendation letters• Set firm dates for completion of recommendations (Set firm dates for completion of recommendations (allow allow

three weeksthree weeks))• Submit Transcript Request Form (Submit Transcript Request Form (Blue FormBlue Form) to Mrs. Alven ) to Mrs. Alven

in the Guidance Office after student completes applicationin the Guidance Office after student completes application

Application ProcessApplication Process• Review Senior Packet information with childReview Senior Packet information with child• Complete the following: Complete the following:

1.1. Family Letter of Recommendation form Family Letter of Recommendation form 2.2. Release of Records formRelease of Records form3.3. Teacher Letter of Recommendation formTeacher Letter of Recommendation form

• Turn in all forms to the Guidance DepartmentTurn in all forms to the Guidance Department• Copy Teacher Letter of Recommendation form and give Copy Teacher Letter of Recommendation form and give

to each teacherto each teacher• Complete applications onlineComplete applications online• After student hits “send” button fill out BLUE FORMAfter student hits “send” button fill out BLUE FORM• Include 5 stamps per college attached to BLUE FORMInclude 5 stamps per college attached to BLUE FORM• Attach a copy of Secondary School Report form to BLUE Attach a copy of Secondary School Report form to BLUE

FORMFORM• Attach a copy of Resume including job experience & Attach a copy of Resume including job experience &

activities outside of CHSactivities outside of CHS

Common ApplicationCommon Application• When using the When using the Common ApplicationCommon Application

please be mindful of the correct please be mindful of the correct spelling of teachers and counselor’s spelling of teachers and counselor’s email addresses (misspellings will email addresses (misspellings will delay the application process).delay the application process).

• All All Common ApplicationsCommon Applications are are submitted online submitted online

• Students must fill out the BLUE FORM Students must fill out the BLUE FORM once they hit the “send” button once they hit the “send” button

•Stamps are not requiredStamps are not required

•Report forms will be completed onlineReport forms will be completed online

College responses:College responses:What are the decision options?What are the decision options?

• Regular Decision Regular Decision Check each college for deadline Check each college for deadline

• Rolling Admission Rolling Admission Will be reviewed as received Will be reviewed as received

• Early Decision Early Decision Requires early application, commitment & Requires early application, commitment &

contract contract

• Early Action Early Action Requires early application & no commitmentRequires early application & no commitment

Making a decision . . .Making a decision . . .How do I decide where to go?How do I decide where to go?

• Visit, visit, visit!Visit, visit, visit!

• Compare financial aid packagesCompare financial aid packages

• Ultimately a personal decision . . . Ultimately a personal decision . . . Encourage your child to seek advice from Encourage your child to seek advice from

thosethose

who know him/her wellwho know him/her well

Consider location, size, academics, Consider location, size, academics, activities,activities,

& facilities& facilities

College Planning College Planning SummarySummary

• College opportunities exist for College opportunities exist for everyone!everyone!

• Simplify the planning processSimplify the planning process

Understand admission factorsUnderstand admission factors

Explore your options earlyExplore your options early

Develop a financial planDevelop a financial plan

Visit, visit, visit!Visit, visit, visit!

Questions & Questions & CommentsCommentsAlexis MancinelliAlexis Mancinelli

A-GoA-Gomancinellia@cinnaminson.commancinellia@cinnaminson.com

Crystal WidmannCrystal WidmannGr-OGr-O

widmannc@cinnaminson.comwidmannc@cinnaminson.com

Donna LobascioDonna LobascioP-ZP-Z

lobasciod@cinnaminson.comlobasciod@cinnaminson.com