…create a roadmap that

directs what you CAN

do NOT what you

SHOULD do after

SPCPA.

How will this planning for next steps work?

Over the coming weeks, I’ll pull

your from GSH to meet in small

groups and complete your It’s

All About Me form. Come

prepared to ask questions!

College

Essays

Round #2. or 3 or ?

It’s all about the

possibilities!!!!

“Strive for 5” Applications Completed before Winter Break

Testing Completed before Halloween

National Decision Day - May 1st

College Applications become Available August 1st

Priority Deadlines (including U of MN) 11/1

Final Transcript Due July 1st

FAFSA opens October 1st

Unified Auditions (February Chicago)

Oct

Mar

Application and Payment (unless it’s free )

– completed online. Applications become

available in August. Links are found on the

college admission page websites!

Fee Waivers – are available to students who submit

an approved educational benefits form (available in back to school packet).

Transcript – submitted electronically (Common Application, Slate, SendEDU,

Common Black College Application, Coalition Application), mailed or self-reported.

Note: mailed and/or electronic transcripts do NOT replace self-reported transcripts.

FAFSA (and potentially CSS Profile) – available October 1st.

May or may not be required*…4. Essays

5. Teacher recommendations

6. Counselor recommendations

7. ACT

8. Mid-Year Transcripts

*The more selective the school the

more likely they are to require some

or all of these.

Steps you can take

NOW to make

senior year easier…

Test/retest (ACT or

SAT) in June

Develop your

list of “possible”

schools

Request teacher

recommendations

Create essays/

activities resume

Understand your

financial needs

Later…

can help answer the “finer” questions (Now that know what I want, how well does this school

help me achieve my goals?)

Sooner….

can help answer the “big” questions (How big is too big, how small is too small, how far is

too far, how close is too close, etc.)

• Have What You Want….

✓Majors (ones you know you’re interested in & ones you might be interested in)

✓Size & Location (School, Classes, Community)

✓Opportunities for engagement (clubs & organizations, study abroad

research, number & types of auditions/performing groups)

✓Access (artistic roles, internships, mentors, leadership development)

✓Availability of Housing, Counseling/Tutoring Services, Work Study

✓Graduation Rates & Student Success (grad school, jobs, career

connections)

✓Affordability(Do they offer merit aid? If so, what kind/what criteria?

Do they meet demonstrated financial need?)

• Want What You Have….✓Grades

✓Test Scores

✓Resume/Essays (leadership, engagement, diversity, focus)

✓Demonstrated Interest

✓Academic Interest

✓Artistic Talents

Unofficial

Transcripts can

be found on

Infinite Campus

student home

screen (4th option

under “Reports” from

left column list of

options)

If you had junior year AP classes,

your grades are weighted.

College Ready ACT (21)

Community CollegeCollege Ready GPA

Apply to 1 school in MN

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College Application Expenses

SPCPA Transcripts -- $5/s/r* (CA $10 -15)

Application Fees -- varies (free - $150)

Audition Fees -- varies (free - $75)

PSEO Transcripts -- $5 - $25/s/r

ACT Score Report -- $13/s/r

ACT Test -- $50.50 – $67

Enrollment Deposit -- $100 & up

Housing Deposit -- $100 & up

Audition Travel -- varies

*per school per report

High school GPA is a

5x better predictor of

college success

(graduation) than ACT

scores….

According to research on over 55,000 high school subjects

published in the journal Educational Researcher.

Minnesota Test Optional 2- and 4-year Colleges

•At least

93% will

take the

ACT once

•42% will

retake it

2%

Senior year will be easier if you create your web

account as soon as you receive your score report

from the SPCPA test!

40

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Math - 22Science -23

English - 18

Reading - 22

34

2440

26

60

40

75

40

College Ready ACT

College Algebra

• Not every college or university requires a teacher recommendation

• Selective schools are more likely to require at least 1 teacher recommendation

• The most selective schools require 2 academic teacher recommendations

• Arts teacher recommendations may be required for BFA programs, optional/encouraged for

other degrees

• Teacher recommendation requests are due to your faculty by May 1st

• The best recommendation is the one you’ve given the most thought to!!!

Other common

essay prompts…

• Describe a

person/book

you admire

• Why do you

want to attend

this school

• Describe an

extracurricular

activity that is

meaningful to

you

650 words max

Nearly 60% will apply to

colleges using

- or -

The Power of YOU is a

program that covers

the cost of tuition

and fees for two

years or up to 72 credits

for families with an

adjusted gross income

less than $75,000. The

application takes less

than 20 minutes.

Admission depends

on your high school

diploma (not your ACT

score or your GPA)!

A well-respected 4-year

degree at an extremely

affordable (2 year) price!!!