Form XII College Program for Parents and Guardians

Thursday, September 12, 2013

7-9 p.m.

What’s New This Yearat CSG and beyond?

College Counseling Office

OSU Deadlines

Common App – Essay Prompts, Entire Layout – “Smart App”

College Board’s “Big Future”

Naviance – “roadtrip nation”

Tips from the CSG College Counseling Office

• Remember that each student/child is different• Consider keeping her process private• Let your daughter drive the process (but you

need to be in the car!)• Schedule time to talk about college• Outline expectations early• Keep open communication with the College

Counseling office• Help with organization• Listen and support

College Counseling Office Expectations of Students

• First priority: attend to academic work• Take ownership of process• Research and understand admission requirements at each

college • Keep open communication with college counselors and

teachers• Check CSG email daily and Naviance at least once a week• Meet all deadlines (CSG and college)• Communication with parents/guardians is essential! Set

up a communication plan and commit to keeping parents/guardians involved and updated in process

• Formally thank teachers who write recommendations

Narrowing the List

• Every case is individual, but your daughter’s application list may look like the following:

Likely options (2-3)Possibilities (2-3)Reaches (2)

• Work with Ms. Schultz in individual meetings to discuss the list, as well as any early application options

• Demonstrated interest (visits, interviews, meeting with college reps visiting CSG)

Non-restrictive Application Plans

Regular Decision Students submit an application by a specified date and receive a decision in a clearly stated period of time.

Rolling AdmissionInstitutions review applications as they are submitted and render admission decisions throughout the admission cycle.

Early Action (EA)Students apply early and receive a decision well in advance of the institution’s regular response date.

Restrictive Action Plans

Early Decision (ED)Students make a binding commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted, they commit to enroll and withdraw all other applications. The application deadline and decision deadline occur early. A small number of schools offer a second round of Early Decision, which typically occurs in January.

Restrictive Early Action (REA)Students apply to an institution of preference and receive a decision early. They may be restricted from applying ED or EA or REA to other institutions. If offered enrollment, they have until May 1 to accept or decline. REA applications have a non-binding commitment.

Admission Decisions

• Accept• Waitlist• Deny• Conditional Acceptance

Different programDifferent start dateRemedial work

• Deferred Enrollment (Gap Year)• Scholarship and Financial Aid Offers

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), founded in 1937, is an

organization of more than 11,000 professionals from around the world dedicated to serving

students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education.

http://www.nacacnet.org/

NACACRights, Responsibilities and Expectations

Students Have Rights

Before Applying:• Students have the right to receive factual and comprehensive

information from colleges and universities. • Students have the right to be free from high-pressure sales.

When Offered Admission:• Students have the right to wait until May 1 to respond to an offer of

admission and/or financial aid. Candidates admitted under early decision programs are a recognized exception to the May 1 deadline.

If Placed on a Wait List:• The letter that notifies of that placement should provide a history of

the number of students on the wait list and offered admission, and the availability of financial aid and housing.

• Colleges may require neither a deposit nor a written commitment as a condition of remaining on a wait list.

Students Have Responsibilities

Before Applying:• Students have a responsibility to research, understand and

comply with the policies and procedures of each college or university regarding application fees, financial aid, scholarships, and housing.

While Applying:• Students must complete all required materials and submit

their applications on or before the published deadlines. Each student should be the sole author of her applications.

• Students should follow the process and timeline recommended by the high school for filing college applications.

Students Have Responsibilities

After Receiving Admission Decisions:• Students must notify each college whether they are

accepting or rejecting the offer no later than May 1.

• Students must confirm intention to enroll and, if required, submit a deposit to only one university.

• Under an early decision plan, students must promptly withdraw applications submitted to other colleges. If seeking financial aid, students need not withdraw other applications until they have received notification about financial aid.

NavianceThe “Moodle” for College Counseling

https://connection.naviance.com/fc/signin.php?hsid=csg

• College visitor schedule• Scholarship search• School material submission portal• Career and interest inventories• Document Library• “My Checklist”

Individual Appointments and Group Meetings

Individual Appointments• 40 minute appointments• schedule 1st or 2nd half of period• try to meet individually with Ms. Schultz

every 4-5 weeks or provide email updates on a regular basis

Senior Workshop Class• I will be dropping by class to provide

important group messages and reminders about college counseling

Organizing Application Materials

Teacher Recommendations

Transcript Requests

Testing

* The Three T’s are the responsibility of the student

Organizing Application MaterialsTeacher Recommendations

• Discuss recommendations with college counselor prior to asking

• Request recommendations from 2 academic teachers

• Completed Teacher Recommendation Request Form due to Ms. Newland no later than September 16

• Complete the Class Assessment Form for each teacher (can be found in Naviance Document Library)

• Provide each teacher with a folder, including a résumé, class assessment, and list of colleges and deadlines within one week of requesting a recommendation, and no later than September 23

Organizing Application MaterialsTranscript Request Forms (“salmon forms”)

Application Deadline Request Due to College Counseling

Oct. 15 Friday, September 13

Nov. 1 and 15 Friday, September 27

Dec. 1 Monday, October 28

Dec.15 – Jan. 15 Friday, November 15

• Blank forms can be found in the wall file outside Ms. Schultz’s old office. Completed forms can be dropped off in the bottom slot of the wall file marked “Completed Transcript Request Forms.” Also, a form can be found online on the College Counseling webpage.

• For students applying through rolling decision plans OR to schools with deadlines after January 15, transcript requests may be submitted to the College Counseling office at any time (the earlier the better); however, you must allow 4 weeks for processing of school forms.

Organizing Application MaterialsSecondary School Report, SSR

(Ms. Schultz completes this)

We create our own Secondary School Report (SSR), therefore, school forms do not need to be submitted.

Our Secondary School Report (sent online) includes:

1. Secondary School Report cover sheet2. Counselor Letter of Recommendation3. Official Transcript4. School Profile

Organizing Application Materials

Additional items

• Reporting Fall grade progress

• Midyear and final reports

• Disciplinary action reporting

• Supplemental materials

• Special program requirements

• Scholarship applications

Organizing Application Materials

Testing Reminders• Students are responsible for sending SAT and/or ACT

scores to colleges. It can take up to 3-4 weeks for scores to be received, so plan ahead! 

• Fall test dates – SAT: October 5 & November 2 ACT: September 21 & October 26

Keep in mind that you may not be able to view your Fall test scores prior to sending them to colleges with early deadlines.

• Most, (but not all), colleges with November and December deadlines WILL accept scores from the October ACT and November SAT.

Organizing Application Materials

Testing Reminders• Access a list of SAT “Score Choice” testing policies at

www.collegeboard.com

• www.compassprep.com - list of colleges and universities requiring and/or recommending SAT Subject Tests

• www.fairtest.org - schools that do not require standardized tests or have “alternate” testing policies

• AP scores may be self-reported on college applications. It is unnecessary to send official AP scores in the admission process.

• Common App allows students to self-report their highest individual sub-scores on the SAT and ACT.

Incomplete Application Notices

• Colleges and universities receive thousands of pieces of mail and online documents.

• While online submission of applications and school forms simplifies the process, processing these materials still takes time—at some colleges as much as 4 weeks.

• Students need to check email and online status often.

• Make sure name and address are correct in the application

• What should I do if a college notifies me of a missing item?1. Don’t panic, but don’t ignore!2. Know that the college is likely behind in processing.3. Notify Ms. Schultz if a school form is missing.

Essays

Essays

• College Counseling encourages students to share first drafts of essays.

• Early Application main essay 1st drafts due September 13

• Regular Decision application main essay 1st drafts due October 4

• Students should work with ONE academic teacher to revise and edit essays.

• Student is responsible for planning ahead. Teachers and counselor need advanced notice to review and offer suggestions on essays.

Paying For College

Financial Aid

• FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov)

• CSS Profile (College Board)

• Just like there are deadlines for admission applications, there are individual college deadlines for the FAFSA and the CSS Profile.

• College Financing Calculators: 1. FinAid.org - (http://www.finaid.org/calculators/)

2. Net Price Calculators on every college website

• Financing College Night with Columbus Academy

Scholarship

1. College/University scholarships

2. Naviance scholarship search and listing

3. Scholarship Searches on the web:• Fastweb.com• Collegeboard.com• MeritAid.com• Scholarships.com• Petersons.com

Important Events & Dates

Senior Year Events

Suburban College Fair (Otterbein University; 9/15, 1-3:30 p.m.)

Kiwanis Fair (Vets Memorial; 9/16, 6-8:00 p.m.)

College App work day (during the PSAT at CSG)

Financing College Workshop (Columbus Academy)

Check Naviance for area College Info Sessions

Spring Events

Dates to Remember

August 30 - Updated résumé emailed to Ms. Schultz

September 6 - Registration deadline for October 5 SAT

September 13 - Transcript Request Forms due for applications with October 15 deadlines and early (ED, EA, rolling) application main essay 1st drafts due (email to Ms. Schultz)

September 16 - Signed Teacher Recommendation Request Form due to Ms. Newland

September 23 - Folder with résumé, class assessment and college list (with earliest deadline) to recommending teachers

Dates to Remember

September 27 - Transcript Request Forms due for applications with deadlines between November 1 and 15 AND registration deadline for the ACT on October 26

October 3 - Registration deadline for November 2 SAT

October 4 - Regular Decision application main essay 1st draft due

October 28 - Transcript Request Forms due for applications with December 1 deadlines

November 15 —Transcript Request Forms due for applications with deadlines between December 15 and January 15

* It is the student’s responsibility to have test scores sent 3-4 weeks before application deadlines

Dates to Remember

November 15 - Transcript Request Forms due for applications with deadlines between December 15 and January 15

January 1 through March 1 - Most college financial aid deadlinesfall during this time.

April 1 – Most colleges will release regular round admission decisions and financial aid offers by this date.

May 1 - National Candidates Reply Date – Students are required to make a college decision (and submit enrollment intent to one college) by this date.

Our Contact Information:

Cari SchultzDirector of College Counselingcschultz@columbusschoolforgirls.org614-252-0781 x117

Kate NewlandAdministrative Assistant, College Counseling Officeknewland@columbusschoolforgirls.org614-252-0781 x297