College NightMarch 6, 2013

Francis Howell North High School

Susan Deppe – Millikin UniversityJennifer Wynkoop - Maryville University

Agenda for Tonight

Factors to Consider when Choosing a CollegeApplying for Admission Applying for ScholarshipsFinancial AidTimelinesCollege Visits and FairsQ & A

Finding the Right “Fit”

• Individual Decision•What is a good “fit” for

me, might not be a good “fit”

for you•Visit a Variety of Schools

Factors to Consider when Selecting a College/University

Location Size Academic Programs/

Reputation Campus Culture Extracurricular Activities/

Athletics Safety Admission Criteria Cost

Location, Location, Location Proximity from

Home In-State vs. Out-of-

State Urban/Suburban/

Rural Availability of

Internships, Practicums and Clinicals

Travel Expenses

BENEFIT OF STAYING IN MO

1. In-State Tuition2. Bright Flight*3. Access Missouri Grant*4. A + Program/Community Colleges5. Quality, Accredited Programs of

Study6. Excellent Facilities

* Not guaranteed

Size of Campus Does size really

matter? Average Freshman Class

Size Student-to-Faculty Ratio Lecture Halls—most

larger campuses will have freshmen and sophomore lecture halls (200+ students)

Who is Teaching my Classes?

Small campuses may not offer the variety of courses as the larger Universities

Academic Programs How many Majors? (Do you have what I’m

interested in studying?) Undeclared Students? Pre-Professional Programs Assessing Academic Reputation

Program Accreditations Faculty Credentials Facilities and Classroom Technology First to Second Year Retention Rate Six-Year Graduation Rate Academic and Career Advising Programs Job Placement Rates within six to 12 months of

graduation Average Starting Salaries

Academic Support Services—tutoring, career placement offices, Accommodations

Campus Culture

Public vs. Private 2 year vs. 4 year Religious vs.

Independent Commuter Campus

vs. Residential Campus

Diversity of Student Body

What type of campus culture are you looking for?

Becoming a Student-Athlete If you intend to be a Student-Athlete

at a NCAA I, II or III School, check out: www.NCAA.org

NCAA Div. I and II need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center If you intend to be a Student-Athlete

at a NAIA school, check out: www.NAIA.org to register

Extracurricular Activities

What does the Institution Offer Outside of the Classroom? Student Organizations and Clubs Greek Life Athletics/Athletic Events Intramural Sports Spiritual/Religious Organizations Internship & Study Abroad Opportunities

Safety Clery Act -The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of

Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) is a federal mandate requiring all institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in the federal student financial aid program to disclose information about crime on their campuses and in the surrounding communities. (ed.gov)

Campus Security Emergency/Disaster Plans

How to Apply for Admission

Take the ACT and/or SAT Submit the Application for

Admission and Processing Fee.

Ask your High School Counselor to Submit Your Official Transcripts Showing Class rank, Cumulative Grade Point Average and ACT/SAT score(s)

Submit Supporting Documents: Essay, Resume, Letters of Recommendation

Core Curriculum Requirements University of Missouri – Columbia: Required Core

Curriculum:

English: Four units, one of which may be in speech or debate; two units emphasizing composition or writing skills

Mathematics: Four units, Algebra 1 or higher Science: Three units (not including general science), one

of which must be a lab Social Studies: Three units Foreign Language: Two units of the same language Fine Arts: One unit

www.admissions.missouri.edu/apply/freshmen/requirements/high-school-coursework.php

*Core Curriculum Requirements vary by College/University*

Application FAQ’s Is there an Application Fee? What are your Application

Requirements? Do you require the Writing

Portion of the ACT or SAT? When is your Application

Deadline? Are you a Common

ApplicationMember? www.commonapp.org

Sample Application Essay TopicsCommon Application Essay Questions (choose one):

Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?

Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?

Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

ResumeSHOULD INCLUDE… One Page Significance

Order/Chronological Order

Intended Major Activities,

Community Service, and Work Experience

Unique Facts

Earning College Credit while in High School

Advanced Placement (AP)Course taken at H.S. with Examination

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)Examination Only

Early College Credit (ECC)Course taken on a College Campus

Dual EnrollmentCourse taken at H.S.

How to Apply for Scholarships

Submit Scholarship Application

Send Letters of Recommendation

Write Essay Summarizing Your Personal Accomplishments

Interview Process Know the Deadlines

Types of Scholarships Merit

ACT/SAT Scores High School Cumulative GPA

and/or Class Rank Involvement

High School Extracurricular Activities

Performance/Talent-Based College Extracurricular Activities

Athletic Need-Based Career-Based Competitive/Automatic Outside Scholarships ROTC

Financial Aid Complete the Free Application for Federal

Student Aid: www.fafsa.gov(Beginning January 1 – Senior Year)

Can Send it to up to 10 Schools Pay Attention to Deadlines (aim for Feb. 15) Taxes Verification/Tax transcript Student Loans, Federal and State

Aid/Grants, Work Study Net Price Calculator

Cost• Tuition• Room and Board• Fees• Text Books• Additional Course Fees

Most students should complete 30 credit hours a year

OTHER COSTS

Before Attending

•Application Fees•Housing Deposits•Enrollment Deposits•Travel Expenses

While Attending

•Clothing•Supplies•Transportation•Entertainment•Laundry•Parking

Admissions Timeline: Junior Year ACT/SAT!!! ACT prep course Pick college prep courses/core requirements for

senior year College visits at Francis Howell North College Fairs Career Assessment/Research Research 12-15 Colleges (programs, scholarships,

admission criteria) Join a Club/Community Service Visit Colleges FINISH JUNIOR YEAR STRONG!

Upcoming ACT Dates

April 13, 2013 (registration deadline: 3/8/13) June 8, 2013 September 21,

2013 October 26,

2013 December 14,

2013

Research shows that of the students who took the ACT more than once:

55% increased their Composite score on the retest

22% had no change in their Composite score on the retest

23% decreased their Composite score on the retest

http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/more.html

Summer (after Junior Year)

Continue On-Campus Visits Application Essays/Resumes ACT prep course/study Apply – many applications become

available on August 1st. Job shadow/Career Explorations

Fall (Senior Year)

Submit applications (monitor admission and scholarship deadlines)

Retake ACT/SAT Letters of recommendation (plenty of

warning!) College visits at Francis Howell

North/on campus Narrow Choices to a few schools –

but always have more than one choice

Spring: Senior Year Complete the FAFSA (beginning Jan 1) – pay attention to

deadlines and submit any other necessary paperwork to schools

“Seal the Deal Visit” Competitive Scholarship Competitions Review Financial Aid packages (apples to apples) Make Final Decision and Submit Deposit

National Decision Date is May 1st. Apply for Housing Notify Colleges/Universities that you are not Attending Continue to do well in classes! Request Final FHN Transcript and any Advanced College

Credit Transcripts to be Sent to College you Selected

Before you get started, you should know:

• Cumulative GPA • ACT or SAT Composite score• Class rank and size • Core curriculum completed and planned to complete• Create an email to use specifically for this process

Bring this information with you to college visits

If possible, visit campuses during the week – this offers the best view of student life, and an opportunity to meet with faculty or

observe a class.

College Fairs

I-70 Series College Fair – *Automated FairMaryville UniversitySunday, April 28, 1-3 pm

St. Louis Preforming and Visual Arts Fair - *Automated FairWebster UniversityMonday, October, 7, 2013, 7-9 pm

NACAC College Fair – *Automated FairSaint Louis UniversitySunday, October 20, 2013, 12-4 pm

Bring Labels with Student Information:Name, Address, Phone Number, Email Address,

DOB, High School, Graduation Year, Major

If possible, ask for the card of the admission’s counselor that you will be working with so you have a direct phone number/email address.

Questions to Ask at a College Fair What type of student organizations and clubs are there for students? When are the enrollment deadlines and do you require a certain ACT score? Can I get a list of majors to take with me? Will you be reviewing admission applications, if so what do you look for? Can the enrollment fees be waived? What does your school consider for admissions? (i.e. activities, grades, ACT scores, experience,

interests, etc.) Can you tell me about the safety history of the college and the community it is in? What percentage of your students go on to graduate school? What is the placement rate for those seeking employment? What accommodations do you offer for students with physical disabilities or learning differences? What are the retention rates of incoming students at your school? Is tutoring available for all students, if so, is it free? What is the biggest student complaint you hear currently? What is your typical class size look like? Can I have a business card with your direct phone number? (in case you have further questions) What is the parking situation like? Do you offer student housing, if so, for how long? What kind of financial aid does your school offer? What is the cost of going to school there annually? (i.e. tuition, room and board, etc.) Does your school allow double majors or a change of major? Is the campus wireless? Can I work on campus? Does your school offer scholarships or grants for incoming students?  How can I be considered? What percentage of students return for their second year?

http://www.collegetocareers.com/questions-to-ask-college-fair/

Types of Campus Visits

Individual Visits Group Visits Overnight Visits

To Schedule a Visit or to see what is Offered: Visit Websites, Contact your Admission Counselor or Call

Questions to ask on a Campus Visit What activities and services are available to help students get settled

(academically and socially) during their first year? How big are the classes? (Ask students) How easy is it to meet with faculty? (Ask students) Are you able to register for the classes you want? What is the total cost of attending the college? What types of financial aid does the college offer and how do I apply? Are all freshmen assigned to an academic advisor? Where do most freshmen live? Can I take a tour? What activities are available for students? Who teaches the courses for first-year students? How successful are the college's graduates in finding jobs? What services (such as transportation and shopping) are available

locally? What is there to do on weekends? Do most students stay or leave

campus on weekends? http://www.actstudent.org/college/visit.html

Internet Resources

Mo Dept of Higher Ed: www.dhe.mo.gov Financial Aid: www.finaid.org

www.fafsa.gov Scholarships: www.fastweb.com ACT: www.act.org College Board (SAT and AP):

www.collegeboard.com NACAC (fair automation): www.nacacnet.org

We are here to Help!

Jennifer WynkoopAssociate Director, Office of AdmissionsMaryville University314-529-9604 (office)314-686-1311(cell)jennifer.wynkoop@maryville.eduwww.maryville.edu

Susan DeppeAssociate Director of Admission, St. Louis RegionMillikin University636-395-7245 (office)217-521-7903(cell)sdeppe@millikin.eduwww.millikin.edu