College Admission 101

Reservoir High SchoolFebruary 19, 2015

Schedule for the Evening

7:00 – 7:25 Introductions & Opening: College Admissions Overview

7:30 – 7:55 Break-out Session 1

8:00 – 8:25 Break-out Session 2

8:30 – 9:00 Break-out Session 3 Counselors will be available in Student Services for Q&A and support

getting on Naviance throughout the evening.

Military Personnel will be available in Student Services for Q&A.

NACAC’s 2012 State of College Admissions

What Is Important?

THE TOP FIVE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA

UMCP Statistics from Class of 2015

There Are No Guarantees

Student Example:

GPA 4.55

SAT CR 570 MATH 580

Was rejected from University of Maryland

Was accepted to schools comparable to University of Delaware, Towson, Salisbury and UMBC

Student Example:

GPA 2.96

SAT CR 440 MATH 460

Was accepted to several colleges including St. Mary’s, Hood College, Stevenson University, and Bridgewater.

The student earned a 3.0 during his first semester and took a winter online class and currently has earned 18

credits.

There’s A School For Everyone

9th and 10th gradersEnroll in rigorous courses

Do well in your rigorous classes

Start preparing for your SAT’s and ACT’s now. • Read, read, read, read, read, read, read• Start looking at SAT prep books• Be ready for the PSAT in the fall (October)

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

11TH Graders (rising seniors)Work hard to identify colleges that are a good

academic match

Study for your SAT’s and ACT’s

Be realistic about creating a list of schools where you will be accepted

Visit schools to determine what criteria is important to you

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU

•Research Schools Online

•Register for SAT/ACT if you have not already taken

March

•Visit schools over spring break

•Take SAT prep class or study independently

•Continue to research schools

April

•Take AP exams and SAT’s

•Complete Naviance surveys for teacher and counselor recs

•Submit waiver of rights form to registrar

•Concentrate on having a strong finish to school year

May

RESERVOIR HIGH CLASS OF 2016 COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE

•Visit schools of interest

•Get a summer job or find a volunteer opportunity

•Start working on applications and essays

•Register for a Fall SAT and/or ACT

June-August

•Senior Meetings with Counselors

•Submit teacher recommendation request forms

•Submit transcript request form to registrar

•Attend all workshops to help with applications

September

•Complete applications and essays

•Submit all November 1 deadline applications

•Take October SAT

October

RESERVOIR HIGH CLASS OF 2016COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE

USING NAVIANCE TO SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS AND LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Complete questionnaires on Naviance for teachers and counselors in the spring

Parents complete questionnaires on Naviance

Add colleges to “Colleges I’m Thinking About” in Naviance in spring/summer

“Match” Naviance to Common App in the fall

Submit teacher recommendation request form 20 days prior to your deadline

Submit transcript request form to registrar 20 days prior to deadline

Send SAT and ACT scores directly from College Board and ACT

COUNSELOR AND TEACHER INPUT FORMS

ADDING COLLEGES TO “COLLEGES I’M THINKING ABOUT”

Transcript Request Form

• Due September 25th for the

November 1st college deadline.

• The registrar will

add all of these colleges to

“Colleges I’m Applying to” in

Naviance.

Teacher Recommendation

Form

• Due September 25th for the

November 1st college deadline.

• Teachers will

submit their letter of recs online

through Naviance.

• Teachers will use information you provide on the

“Teacher Information Form”

in Naviance to write letters of rec.

Closing Remarks▪ There is no such thing as a PERFECT school.

▪ College is not about where you go, but rather what the student makes of the experience

▪ Spend the time, and YOU WILL find a school that “fits”

▪ Don’t hesitate to seek our help!

▪ Resist attempts to turn the process into a status competition

▪ Don’t allow the cost of a college education to cut short educational pursuits

▪ Monitor your online and social media activity

▪ Create a separate email address just for college correspondence

Finding the Right Fit

▪ https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/find-colleges/how-to-find-your-college-fit/how-to-find-a-college-that-fits-you