SENIOR SEMINAR 2015

1

DECIDING ON A COLLEGE

Characteristics to consider:

• location

• size

• degree programs offered

• extracurricular activities/campus life

• admission policy

• cost/financial aid

• accredidation

• support services

2

RESEARCH SCHOOLS

OHIO’S PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES: www.opuac.org

OHIO’S PRIVATE COLLEGES: www.aicuo.edu/opc

OHIO MEANS JOBS K12 COLLEGE NAVIGATOR: http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

NAVIANCE: http://connection.naviance.com/fairviewhs3

VISIT THE COLLEGES YOU ARE CONSIDERING

meet with an admissions counselor

take a tour

student union

sit in on a class/talk to faculty

2 excused absences from school…forms by Mrs. Lockwood in main office

4

COLLEGE REPS AT FHS

check the website, counseling office door, Mrs. Parente’s blog for upcoming college rep visits

sign up with Mrs. Merrill in the counseling office

have your teacher sign the pass and bring it with you to the visit

5

WHAT DO COLLEGES LOOK FOR

• Standardized Test Scores

• GPA/Class Rank

• Rigor of Course work in high school

• Extracurricular Activities/volunteering/work

• Letters of Recommendation

• Essays6

ACT/SAT

www.actstudent.org

www.collegeboard.com

can re-take tests several times to better your score

scores should be sent directly to college from testing agency

7

ACT vs. SAT

ACT is an achievement test that is curriculum based

SAT is an ability test that predicts how well you will do in college

Colleges will accept either test (ACT plus writing)

Selective colleges may want SAT Subject Tests (different than SAT reasoning test)

8

APPLICATION PROCESS

All application packets require:

• Application

• Transcript (students must fill out a transcript request form and give it to Mrs. Merrill)

• Standardized Test Scores (should be sent directly from the testing agency)

Many (including common app) additionally require:

• essay or personal statement

• letter(s) of recommendation

• school report/counselor form9

APPLICATION PROCESS CONT’D.

KNOW YOUR DEADLINES!!! (ALL COLLEGES HAVE DIFFERENT DEADLINES)

THE COUNSELING OFFICE REQUIRES AT LEAST A WEEK TO TEN DAYS TO PROCESS ALL APPLICATIONS, SO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN APPLYING

A WORD OF ADVICE: APPLY EARLY!!!

10

FINANCIAL AID

Complete the FAFSA (after Jan. 1) www.fafsa.ed.gov

Can complete the FAFSA calculator ahead of time for an estimate and also register for a PIN

Some schools also accept/require the CSS Profile (fall of senior year) www.collegeboard.com

Financial Aid night in December/January…stay tuned! 11

SCHOLARSHIPS

Check the school website for scholarships…we post them as we find out about them

Many University sponsored scholarships require no special application —watch deadlines for scholarship eligibility

Local scholarships will be available spring of senior year

www.schoolsoup.com, https://jobseeker.k-12.ohiomeansjobs.monster.com/FundIt/scholarship.aspx12