The College aDmissions

Process

How Many Schools To Apply To•No “right” number

•“Diversify” you applications

•“Safe” schools

•“Match” schools

•“Reach” schools

•Be sure to adhere to deadlines

•When requesting transcripts allow at least 10 working days before the due date

Decision Factors

• Size of school • Location • Distance from home • Activities/Athletics • Public/Private • Coed/Single sex • Entrance requirements

• Entrance difficulty • Reputation of School • Majors available • Commitment to major

by school • Cost • Campus personality

Benefits to Going on a Campus Tour or Interview

• Indicates your level of interest• Allows you to get beyond the statistics• Puts a “face” onto the college• Gives the college an opportunity to get to know you on a

more personal level• Use days off this fall (Sept. 29th or week of Nov. 7th) to

make visits. Be sure to “sign-in” when you visit so the college knows of your interest.

How Colleges Evaluate Candidates:• Course selection (difficulty, extended languages, extended math

& science, honors & AP courses)• Grades/GPA/Rank in Class• Sat scores

– Take the SAT in the spring of your junior year and the fall of your senior year

– Check schools for SAT Subject Test requirements – Review for the SAT or take an SAT prep course. Scores will

improve with practice ( SAT Prep Course available at BTHS at a great rate!)

• ACT Option• Activities- quality rather than quantity• Essay• Letters of Recommendation- ask early and provide a resume

Simplifying the Application Process

• Use the Common Application-used by 460 colleges and universities-www.commonapp.org

• Apply online- preferred by virtually every college. Be sure to request that your transcript and any letters of recommendation be sent from the Counseling Office

• Applying to Rutgers? You must apply online and self-report your graded. No official transcript accepted until after HS graduation

TRANSCRIPT REQUEST

NAME:_________________________ DATE REQUESTED: ______________

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST TWO (2 WEEKS PRIOR TO DEADLINE 1. NAME AND ADDRESS OF COLLEGE OR SCHOLARSHIP: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

DATE APPLICATION DUE: If submitted online, check here: ___________

Essay Required: YES____ NO:____ If Essay was submitted on-line, check here: ___________ List all Teacher Recommendations to be included: ____________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ List all other forms to be included with your transcript: ________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

2. NAME AND ADDRESS OF COLLEGE OR SCHOLARSHIP: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Etc. Etc.

Students are responsible for requesting letters of recommendation from teachers. Be sure to give teachers sufficient time to return their letters of recommendation to the counseling office

*APPLICATIONS WILL BE RETURNED IF ANY ITEMS ARE MISSING*THERE IS A $3.00 CHARGE FOR ALL TRANSCRIPTS SENT OUT CERTIFIED MAIL

Hearing From the Colleges• Regular Decision (April 1)

• Rolling Admission (reviewed as received)

• Early Decision (early application & commitment)

• Early Action (early application & no commitment)

Where To Go From Here

• College Open Houses

• Career/ College/ Financial Aid Web Sites

• Check out the BTHS Scholarship Bulletin under “Scholarship Information”

• Check out links for “College Information”, Application Essay Guide” & Tips for Applying to College

www.burltwpsch.org Go to schools – click on the High School then click on Guidance

On the counseling page, scroll down to find the following

Seniors Need to Complete By December 2011

• Complete applications on the schools to which you plan to apply

• Check to see if the schools you are applying to accept the Common Application www.commonapp.org

• Take the SAT or ACT by December• Take the SAT Subject Test if required by college• Check the Scholarship Bulletin regularly and apply

for any scholarships that you are eligible for• Register for a scholarship search on a web engine

such as Fastweb www.fastweb.com

FAFSA

Get started on applying for financial aid by:

• Going to www.fafsa.ed.gov

• You and your parent/ guardian apply for a pin number

• Download the 2012-13 FAFSA on the web worksheet

Students who wish to compete inCollege Athletics (Division I or II)

• Register with NCAA Eligibility Center (www.eligibilitycenter.org)

• The eligibility center is responsible for certifying all college-bound student-athletes wanting to compete in NCAA college athletics. This is done in two ways:

•Academic Certification & Amateurism Certification•Do you meet the eligibility requirements•Have you kept your amateur status?

JUNIORS – Things to Do

• Take the PSAT in October (October 15th) Register in the Counseling Office- $20 fee

• Take the SAT or ACT one or two times between December and June

• Check the Scholarship and Open House information

• Register for a scholarship search on a web engine such as Fastweb (www.fastweb.com)

• Meet with your Counselor often

SOPHOMORES & FRESHMEN Things to do

• Take a challenging curriculum and excel in your coursework

• Begin to familiarize yourself with colleges, careers and scholarship opportunities through the various websites

• Consider taking the PSAT on October 15th• Meet with your Counselor often

UPCOMING EVENTS

• October 15th – PSAT @ BTHS – 8:00 AM• November 6th – National College Fair in

Philadelphia• December 3rd- SAT and SAT Subject Test at

BTHS• December 8th – “Ultimate Money Skills-College

Funding” presentation at BTHS – 6:30 PM in the HS Cafe

• January – FAFSA Workshop – Date TBD

Are You – Or Would You Like to be an NJ STAR?

• Students in the top 15% of their class at the beginning of Senior year may qualify you as an NJ STAR!!

• Qualifies you to attend BCC tuition-free for up to five semesters, depending on state funding

• NJSTARS students who earn an associates degree with a 3.25 GPA and meet other eligibility requirements may qualify for an NJSTARS II award which can be used to supplement tuition costs at a NJ public college or university

• Go to www.hesaa.org, click on the Students/Parents link, then click on the Scholarship link

• Welcome to Ms. Kati Spurrier

• Senior Recruiting Specialist, Burlington County College