Junior Parent Night

Seneca High SchoolMay 14, 2014

Purpose of Presentation

• To review the college process.

• Discuss Naviance, standardized testing, college visits, applications, transcripts, and letters or recommendation.

• Review trade schools and military

options.

How many schools should I apply to? • Reach 1-2

• Good Match 2-3

• Safe 1-2Think about major, location, size, setting

(rural/urban/suburban), extracurricular activities.Realistic evaluation of each college’s admission

requirements (grades, standardized test scores, required high school courses).

Types of College Admissions• Early decision is a contract between you and the college.

You can only apply to 1 school early decision. If you are accepted, you MUST attend. BINDING contract!

• Early action is more flexible. You do not have to commit to the college if you are accepted. You can apply to multiple schools. NON-BINDING contract!

• Rolling Admission-Applications are evaluated as they are received.

• Regular Decision- decisions are made once ALL applications have been received by deadline.

**Pay attention to deadlines**

Top Factors for College

1. Grades in College Prep Courses – Grades in AP, honors, or Accelerated courses

2. Strength of Curriculum – Both the amount of course work you complete in high school and the quality of those courses

3. Admission Test Scores – Scores on either the SAT or ACT (most schools accept both interchangeably)

4. High School GPA

Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling

From Rowan’s Website….

• High School PreparationYou must have completed a minimum of 16 college-preparatory units in high school. Your high school curriculum should include (at minimum) the following:4 units - English2 units - Laboratory Science*3 units -College Prep Mathematics* (Algebra I and II, and Geometry)2 units - Social Studies5 units - Additional work in at least two of the following: History, Languages (minimum 2 units in one language), Mathematics, Science or English.

• *Engineering applicants should have 3 units of laboratory science including physics and chemistry and 4 units of college prep. math including pre-calculus. Calculus is strongly recommended.

University of Delaware recommends:The University expects all applicants to have

completed strong college prep course work:

Subject Years Required Years Recommended

English 4 4

Math 3 4

Science 3 (2 must include lab) 4 (3 must include lab)

History 4 4

Foreign Language 2 of same 4 of same

Academic Electives 2 units 2 units

Total 18 20-22

GPA/Rank

• All seniors will receive their Rank and GPA in homeroom in September.Unweighted is on a 4.0 scaleWeighted is on a 6.0 scale

• Top 15% weighted rank = NJ Star

Transcript reflects weighted & unweighted GPA & Rank

Standardized Tests• SAT’s-www.collegeboard.com (SAT Reasoning Test)• ACT’s-www.actstudent.org • SAT Subject Tests are specific one hour content area tests used by

a small percentage of colleges. Be sure to confirm if the colleges to which you are applying require these tests and plan accordingly.

• Send scores to Seneca High School-311474 & colleges of your choice –Free when you register, but fee later

• NCAA contenders must send scores to NCAA Eligibility Ctr: 9999 • Colleges want official scores which are sent directly from College

Board. • AP scores must be sent directly from College Board.• We recommend that students take SAT’s twice junior year and

once senior year.

Test Dates SAT’s- at Cherokee HSJune 7, 2014 January 24, 2015

October 11,2014 March14, 2015

November 8,2014 May 2, 2015

June 6, 2015

ACT’sJune 14th , 2014 (Seneca) December 13, 2014

September13, 2014 February 7, 2015

October 25, 2014(Seneca) April 18, 2015

June 13, 2015

Teacher Recommendations

Ask 2 teachers.Ask early and politely in person.Give at least 2 weeks notice.Follow up through Naviance (available in the Fall)Teachers will submit letters directly to the counselor through Naviance. Students will not see the letter. Students should write thank you notes-the teachers do the letters on their own time!

College Visits/InterviewVisits• Take campus tour

• Visit library, cafeteria, dorms

• Talk with students

The Interview• This is a good way for schools to know YOU and not what

is on paper.

• Be yourself- there are no right/wrong answers.

• Be able to state why you are interested in that particular school.

* College visits/interviews are excused with a letter from the college on school letterhead.*

Ways to Apply• Online

o Go to the individual college website to begin the application. You will create a username and password.

o Fill out the online application. Seniors will be given their class rank and GPA in homeroom.

o Gather additional required items-letters, essays, personal statement, etc. Upload appropriate items.

o Print out a copy of the application and make copies of all supporting materials-just in case!

• Common Application- www.commonapp.orgo Fill out once for multiple schoolso Complete secondary school report, teacher recommendation form through

Navianceo Some schools have supplemental forms as well

BCCSpring Ahead Programo December-Attend BCC informational meeting at Seneca & fill out

free application- https://www.bcc.edu/forms/adm

o January-Transcript request form due to registrar

o February-BCC placement tests at Seneca. Exempt if scored 540 in Critical Reading and/or 530 in Math on SAT; 23 Reading and/or 20 in Math on the ACT

(Must have applied and sent transcript by January in order to take test)

o May-Trip to BCC to register for classes (Must have completed application & placement test in order to attend)

Trade Schools

Schools that recent Seneca graduates have attended:

Universal Technical Institute (UTI)

Lincoln Tech

BCIT

Rizzieri

PB Cosmetology

Military

Branches

• Marines- www.marines.com

• Army- www.army.mil

• Navy- www.navy.com

• Air Force- www.af.mil

ASVAB-Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (Military entrance exam)

• Each branch has required entrance score

• ASVAB administered in November at Seneca

College Athletics

Students who are planning to play in a Division I, II, sport need to complete the following:

1. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center: http://eligbilitycenter.org

2. Send official test scores from College Board/ACT to NCAA

3. Send high school transcript to NCAA at end of junior year

Family Connection Powered by NAVIANCE

• Create a resume• Personality/learning style inventories• Explore careers/career profiler• Search colleges/scattergrams• Full length SAT practice tests• Apply for scholarships• Track applications and transcripts

http://connection.naviance.com/senecahsUsername: StudentID#@lrstudents.orgPassword: Student ID#

College Essay Writing Workshophosted by Kaplan

• June 2nd @ 6 pm

• Seneca Media Center

• Online registration available at:

http://tinyurl.com/k9asu7q

This is a perfect time to get a jumpstart on your college essay writing for applications due in the fall.

Things to do….NOW!!

• Visit colleges

• Take standardized testing

• Naviance-research colleges/resume builder/personality inventory/career search

• Sign up for Essay Writing Workshop

• Register with NCAA

Things to do….in September• Counselor will meet with you to review college application

process

• Know where you plan to apply

• Fill out required Naviance information for college applications

• Ask teachers for recommendation letters (2)

• Finish standardized testing

• APPLY-**pay attention to deadlines**

• Early action/decision deadlines are October and early November

• Rutgers-early action deadline of November 1st; Regular decision deadline of December 1st

• Most applications should be completed by December 1st

Senior Parent College Application Night

September 2014

Seneca Auditorium

Counselor Last Names Phone EmailMr. Sam Maira A-Dek x6687 smaira@lrhsd.orgMrs. Mary Sabo Del-Hof x6679 msabo@lrhsd.orgMr. Dave Lafferty Hog-Mc x6686 dlafferty@lrhsd.orgMrs. Erica Maira Me-Se x6685 emaira@lrhsd.orgMs. Sue Johnson Sh-Z x6656 sjohnson@lrhsd.org