Senior Parent NightSenior Parent Night

September 14, 2011September 14, 2011

Sponsored by the Hopkinton High Sponsored by the Hopkinton High School Counseling DepartmentSchool Counseling Department

AgendaAgenda

IntroductionsIntroductions The Nuts and Bolts of the College Application The Nuts and Bolts of the College Application

ProcessProcess Trends in College AdmissionTrends in College Admission Managing Stress: Some Do’s and Don’ts for Managing Stress: Some Do’s and Don’ts for

ParentsParents Parent to Parent: How to Survive Senior Year Parent to Parent: How to Survive Senior Year Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers

The College Application ProcessThe College Application Process

Recommendation LettersRecommendation Letters

College ApplicationsCollege Applications Getting OrganizedGetting Organized Common ApplicationCommon Application SupplementsSupplements

Transcript Request FormTranscript Request Form

College Admissions TestingCollege Admissions Testing

Test Dates for SeniorsTest Dates for Seniors

SAT and SAT Subject TestsSAT and SAT Subject TestsOctober 1 October 1

November 5 November 5

December 3December 3

ACTACTOctober 22October 22

Remember….Remember….

Students must call or go online to Students must call or go online to College Board or ACT websites to College Board or ACT websites to

send scores to colleges!send scores to colleges!

www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com

www.act.orgwww.act.org

More to know….More to know….

Score ChoiceScore Choice Fairtest.orgFairtest.org Parent Accounts on Naviance Family Parent Accounts on Naviance Family

ConnectionConnection Scholarships posted on NavianceScholarships posted on Naviance Upcoming college visits and college Upcoming college visits and college

fairs posted on Naviancefairs posted on Naviance

Upcoming College Visits

Univeristy of Delaware 9/22 11:30 a.m. Emory University 9/26 10:50 a.m. Hobart & Wm. Smith 9/30 10:50 a.m. University of San Diego 10/5 10:50 a.m. MIT 10/11 11:00 a.m. So. Vermont College 10/11 12:00 p.m. High Point University 10/25 10:50 a.m. Lehigh University 11/2 11:00 a.m.

Trends in College AdmissionTrends in College Admission

Number of high school grads peaked in 2009.Number of high school grads peaked in 2009. College enrollment will continue to rise through 2017.College enrollment will continue to rise through 2017. Public universities experienced record applications last Public universities experienced record applications last

year.year. Both acceptance rates and yield rates declined slightly.Both acceptance rates and yield rates declined slightly. Some Ivies accepted as few as 7% of applicants.Some Ivies accepted as few as 7% of applicants. Requests for financial aid were up in 2010 and 2011.Requests for financial aid were up in 2010 and 2011. Financial aid packages and merit scholarships more Financial aid packages and merit scholarships more

often became the deciding factor in where to enroll.often became the deciding factor in where to enroll.

Trends continued….Trends continued….

More colleges are using waitlists than ever before.More colleges are using waitlists than ever before. Early Decision volume seen as tapering off.Early Decision volume seen as tapering off. Early Action volume continuing to increase.Early Action volume continuing to increase. Highly selective colleges looking more closely at Highly selective colleges looking more closely at

AP exam and SAT subject test scores.AP exam and SAT subject test scores. Top factors remain grades, strength of Top factors remain grades, strength of

curriculum, and admission test scores.curriculum, and admission test scores. Increased use of technology with online apps and Increased use of technology with online apps and

electronic transcripts.electronic transcripts.

1.1. Remember, this is NOT life and death!Remember, this is NOT life and death!2.2. Don’t judge your worth by the college your child Don’t judge your worth by the college your child

attends!attends!3.3. Don’t believe the college your child attends determines Don’t believe the college your child attends determines

his/her success!his/her success!4.4. Be careful of the “WE” word.Be careful of the “WE” word.5.5. Broaden your topics of conversation with your senior Broaden your topics of conversation with your senior

this year.this year.6.6. Be observant of your child on college visits.Be observant of your child on college visits.7.7. Pulling strings can backfire– go there cautiously.Pulling strings can backfire– go there cautiously.8.8. Find ways to be supportiveFind ways to be supportive9.9. Remember that the anticipation of loss is the emotional Remember that the anticipation of loss is the emotional

underpinning of this year.underpinning of this year.

SOME DO’s AND DON’Ts

Class of 2011 StatisticsClass of 2011 Statistics

95% of students went on to further 95% of students went on to further education.education.

89.5% went to 4-year colleges89.5% went to 4-year colleges Another 5.5% went on to 2 year colleges.Another 5.5% went on to 2 year colleges. We had students who opted for prep school, We had students who opted for prep school,

career education, GAP Year experiences, career education, GAP Year experiences, and employment.and employment.

Our goal is to have every student graduate Our goal is to have every student graduate with a plan for their future!with a plan for their future!

Ultimately…..Ultimately…..

94%94%of the Class of 2011 graduatesof the Class of 2011 graduatesreported they were accepted reported they were accepted

to at least oneto at least oneof their top three preferred schools.of their top three preferred schools.

Upcoming EventUpcoming Event

Wednesday, November 16 @ 7 p.m.Wednesday, November 16 @ 7 p.m.

Financial Aid Night presented by Financial Aid Night presented by MEFAMEFA

Guest speaker, Carla Berg, Director of Financial Aid Guest speaker, Carla Berg, Director of Financial Aid at Bentley Collegeat Bentley College

Parent to Parent PanelParent to Parent Panel

How To Survive The Year How To Survive The Year

With Your Family Still In TactWith Your Family Still In Tact

Questions & AnswersQuestions & Answers