COLLEGE ADMISSIONS 101

JUNIOR PARENTS 2013

CRAZINESS OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

• The goal of tonight’s workshop is to share planning and organizational information to lessen the stress and anxiety often associated with junior year college searches.

• Juniors will be applying to colleges less than one year from tonight. Ex: UC apps will open August 1, 2014 for the graduating class of 2015!

• It can be and should be an exciting experience. One month at a time!

6 MUST KNOW FACTS ABOUT ADMISSIONS

Forget the rankings- “The Best” school may not be the best schoolfor your child.

“College is a match to be made not a prize to be won.” Sachs

No correlation between “best schools” and success in later life.

Fact 1: Every kid will get in

Community College Option

• Community college may be the perfect route to the college of your choice.

• http://adegreewithaguarantee.com/• TAG Sierra College with the UC system• This year UC/CSU’s will take more transfers and less freshmen.• 122 community colleges in the state of CA. • Financial Aid, scholarships, BOG, etc.• Student Success Scorecard Plan implemented at Sierra

College– mandatory college and career counseling. http://scorecard.cccco.edu/scorecard.aspx

Fact 2: Free resources available

bigfuture.collegeboard.org

californiacolleges.edu

Collegeweeklive.com

Colleges looking for well rounded student body not necessarily the well rounded student. Have your student do what they lovenot what you think looks good on a college application.

Take initiative in pursuing passions and interests.

The junior year includes this summer! Seek enrichment.i.e. Sierra College academic enrichment, UC Cosmos, volunteer,

A-G Admission Requirements

UC Doorways – search by school for A-G list ucopdoorways

A. History and Social Science

B. English (4 years of college preparatory English composition and literature)

C. Math (3 years/4 years recommended) including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and beyond

D. Laboratory Science (2 years/3 recommended including 1 biological and 1 physical)

E. Language Other than English (2 years/3 recommended of the same language

F. Visual and Performing Arts (dance, drama or theater, music, or visual art)

G. College Preparatory Elective (additional year chosen from the University of California A-G list)

Fact 3:SAT Scores Count; Grades Matter More

Students should take the most rigorous schedule they can be successful at. These are the final 2 semesters the universities will be able to evaluate.

UC’s use Holistic Comprehensive Review – 14 criteriahttp://admissions.ucsc.edu/apply/freshman.html

Top colleges want to see a broad, rigorous academic schedule right through the senior year. There should be a minimum of 4 A-G courses should be taken senior year.

Fact 4: College Essays Can Be Pivotal

Personal statement prompts are typically released in May for the Common Application and the UC.

Personal Statement -- You Tube video from the UC office of admissionsPersonal statement tips from UC Berkley

Sign up for the UC Readers Fall 2014.

P.S. Do not write your student’s personal essay!

Fact 4: College Essays Can Be Pivotal

Fact 5: There is more financial aid available than you might realize.

Most financial Aid is based on parents’ income, but also Merit based.

District Scholarships over $800,000 last year – Barbara Ross will host a “rising senior” workshop June 2014.

File FAFSA in January 2015 fafsa4caster

Cal Grants are stable – Cal Grant A and B

Free or reduced lunch waivers (see H.S. counselor)

Middle class scholarships added to UC and CSU.

Be upfront about finances

Students need to know if their school choices are realistic.

Only custodial parent must declare income.

Beware of scams- should not have to pay for financial aid information!

District Financial Aid night Dec 2013 and Dec 2014.

Barbara Ross – attend a scholarship workshop tonight! If you cannot, please go to njuhsd.com you’ll find the scholarship page under academics.

Visit Campuses

Important to do before senior year.

CSU Spring 2014 CSU Spring 2014 Open HouseUC Spring 2014 (vary by campus)UC Davis Open House 2014Private schools – see web sites

Revisit October break senior year.

Fact 6: Out of state tuition may not be as high as you think

WUE- Western Undergraduate Exchange- gives tuitiondiscounts to neighboring states.

Some states with WUE: Nevada, Oregon, Hawaii, Alaska

A LOT of scholarships available for out of state students.

Use The Common Application!

This application is used by almost all privatecolleges including Harvard and Stanford – over 540 Universities.

Commonapp.org

Communication with recommenders is critical.

Types of Admissions

Rolling- opens early, may let you know in a few weeks. Often large, non-impacted institutions.

Early Action- non-binding. Will let you know by end of November. Financial Aid information will not be available upon initial notification.

Early Decision- binding. Look at small print. Onlyapply to one Early Decision.

Regular- must meet deadlines.

Test Prep

Big business- don’t have to spend a lot of money!

PSAT – October 19 (Sat of Oct break) You can still sign up! $15 cash, pencil, student ID, NU 7:30 AM-Noon

www.collegeboard.com- free test prep questions, question of the day, on-line courseACT.org- free test prep

January 2014 Californiacolleges.edu additional free test prep

NJUHSD- great school/great test scores

Pick one email and check it

All admissions now electronic andnotify the student by email

3 semesters of annoying yet helpful e-mails – learn to love it then

unsubscribe spring of senior year!

Important Timelines

Testing: Most colleges will take either the SAT or the ACT

PSAT- October 19, 2013SAT/ACT- Spring 2014SAT II- Spring 2014

UC’s no longer requireSAT/ACT- Fall 2014 before Dec

Important Timelines

Financial Aid: FAFSA January 2015Cal Grant- GPA Verification

District Scholarships: January 2015

Important Timelines

Admissions:

CSU/UC’s must be completed by November 30th of Senior Year

National Acceptance Day is May 1st!

NCAA ClearingHouse

All student athletes must register with the clearinghousebefore recruiters can contact them.

Best done during junior year – the NCAA is no joke and they are VERY strict!

ACT/SAT scores must be sent to NCAA Clearinghouse

Transcripts www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

There is Lots of Help!

College Rep visitsCollege workshops by HS counselorsCollege Week LiveGuidance CounselorOur Community! ( Where did you go to college? If you were my age, what would you have done differently?)

Don't let anxiety and fights over

college admissions tax your relationship

and mar your child's last 2 years at home.

Pick a time to talk about admissions and

let it go the rest of the time.

It’s all good

Beware of Senioritis

Remind students that colleges review final transcripts and can rescind offers. Transcripts expected by July 2015.

Rigor in Senior year important! At least 4 A-G courses or be prepared to explain.

If drop a second semester class must notify colleges.

Review

Start Early

Be Organized

Help with planning- timelines

Have the money talk

Remember you act as the travel agent- butIt is your child’s journey