CLASS OF 2016

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE

Mrs. M. LoBue, Mrs. C. Nolan, Ms. L. Vacca SCHOOL COUNSELORS

The Role of the School Counselor

Monitor Academic Progress

Individual Counseling

College and Career Guidance/Exploration

Educate students to use Naviance as a tool in the exploration process

Assist families with questions/concerns

Provide resources

Naviance

Provides students with college planning and career assessment

tools

Parents: Go to PCTI website

Click on Parents

Click the link to log in and register

Students: Go to PCTI website

click on Students

Log in with ID number and PCTI password

Testing for College

PSAT – October

Sophomore and/or Junior Year

Identify areas of strength and weakness

SAT

At PCTI: October, December, January, May and June

Date should be contingent upon place in Math sequence

Recommended: May and/or June of junior year

Take 3 times maximum

Fee waivers – 2 (if eligible)

College app fee waivers – 4 (if eligible)

ACT

At PCTI: October and June

Scores must be sent by the student from College Board/ACT to the schools they are applying to

Test Prep

www.collegeboard.org

SAT question of the day

PSAT results

Sample tests

Khan Academy

partners with College Board to provide free SAT prep

Full SAT tests

Practice tutorials

Naviance – PrepMe

Diagnoses individual strengths

and weaknesses; creates a personalized study plan

Prep Me

Finding the Right College

Research

Naviance – SuperMatch college search

Visit college websites

Attend College Fairs

September – PCTI and William Paterson

April – National College Fair

Meadowlands Expo Center

Create a list in Naviance

Add schools to “colleges I’m thinking about”

Assessing Your College List

Geographical Preference

Size

Academic Interests

Costs

Diversity

Retention & Graduation Rates

High school course requirements

Admission Requirements – SAT, GPA, activities, community

service, etc.

Identify Reach, Target, and Safety schools

Admission Buzz Words

Early Action

Early Decision

Regular Decision

Rolling Admissions

Waitlist

Conditional Acceptance

Reply Date Agreement

DEADLINES

Courtesy

10 Days

Deadlines are not

Discussable, not

Debatable and not

Negotiable!

An emergency on your

part does not constitute

an emergency on mine!

Planning ahead

Common App

Begin application

Choose essay question

Limit number of colleges

Choose colleges that are appropriate based on their criteria and yours

Transcript release form

Found on Naviance – must be signed by parent and returned to counselor

Activity sheet

Must have coaches/advisors sign off on all sports and activities

Letters of recommendation

Choose teachers wisely

Ask them in person

Write a follow up thank you in Naviance

Fill out counselor recommendation form

Financial Aid

www.fafsa.ed.gov

Submit FAFSA online after

December 1st

Complete 2016 income tax as

soon as possible

Money is available on a first-

come, first-serve basis

Scholarship Sources

Naviance

The Internet (www.fastweb.com)

Workplace

Community/Religious Organizations

Extra Curricular Activities

Post-Secondary Schools

Local, State & Federal Agencies

PCTI – Ed Foundation, PCTVEA, PTSO

Reminders

Naviance, Naviance, Naviance!

Testing (PSAT, SAT, ACT)

Planning Ahead

Responsibility of the student

Deadlines

Questions