2. College Kick Off

3. What do colleges look for in an applicant? Good grades in a rigorous curriculum Strong standardized test scores A well-written, engaging essay Evidence of involvement in activities/community Strong letters of recommendation A student who would add to the campus Good grades in a rigorous curriculum Strong standardized test scores A well-written, engaging essay Evidence of involvement in activities/community Strong letters of recommendation A student who would add to the campus

4. Some Trends to Consider “Echo Baby Boom” College enrollment increased 25% from 1990 to 2004 and is expected to increase 15% between 2004 and 2015 The Economy More students attending school closer to home More students applying to state schools, community colleges More middle-class parents in search of financial aid Fewer financial aid dollars available (college endowments are down) The New Gender Gap More women apply to college--56% of applications came from females in 2006 “Echo Baby Boom” College enrollment increased 25% from 1990 to 2004 and is expected to increase 15% between 2004 and 2015 The Economy More students attending school closer to home More students applying to state schools, community colleges More middle-class parents in search of financial aid Fewer financial aid dollars available (college endowments are down) The New Gender Gap More women apply to college--56% of applications came from females in 2006

5. Admit rate changes at sample colleges since 2000

6. NACAC Admissions Trends Survey 2007: Factors Influencing Admissions Decisions Considerable Importance Moderate Importance Limited Importance Grades76%17%3% Strength of Curriculum62%25%8% Test Scores60%28%7% Essay28%31%21% Counselor Recommendations 21%41%28% Demonstrated Interest21%31%26% Teacher Recommendations 20%41%28% Interview10%23%35% Extracurricular8%37%40%

7. Ignoring the Hype  Today, 86% of high school graduates attend college  In the fall of 2005, 16.7 million students enrolled in college, 1.2 million more than 2000  3/4 of four-year colleges reported an increase in the number of applications from the previous year  Yet … the average acceptance rate for four-year colleges in the US is 70%  Only 135/2000 four-year colleges admit fewer than 50% of their applicants; only 24 of those 2000 admit fewer than 25% of their applicants  And … 75% of students nationwide were admitted to their first choice college

8. Advice from students “Always have a safety school.” “Write your college essays early.” “Make all the college visits that you can and schedule interviews.”

9. Naviance  Naviance is the computer system used by the college office  Sign on at connection.naviance.com/wfs  You will use naviance to:  conduct college searches  track supporting materials (transcript and letters of recommendation)  view scattergrams  Request transcripts  Compare your profile to college data  Share information as a family  Investigate career possibilities  Naviance is the computer system used by the college office  Sign on at connection.naviance.com/wfs  You will use naviance to:  conduct college searches  track supporting materials (transcript and letters of recommendation)  view scattergrams  Request transcripts  Compare your profile to college data  Share information as a family  Investigate career possibilities

10. Advice from students “Don’t pass up an opportunity for help; have at least Ms. Martin or an English teacher read your essays.” “A certain amount of shamelessness is required; don’t be modest (but have people tell you if you sound ridiculous.)”

11. Letters of recommendation Who should I ask? Teachers who know you well as a student Teachers who can speak about your performance in the classroom Teachers who have taught you in the 11th or 12th grade (and maybe in the 10th grade) Core academic teachers (English, foreign language, math, science, history)

12. Letters of Recommendation “Teachers have to write only good things about me, right?” Teachers write an honest evaluation of you as a student and as a person. Many colleges ask teachers to rate your personal qualities as well as your academic qualities.

13. Letters of Recommendation Process In advisory after March break, you will be given a blue Request Letters of Recommendation form With this form, you can ask two academic teachers for a letter of recommendation After your teachers agree to write, fill out a yellow form about your experience in their class Make sure to say thank you!

14. Developing a college list Think about who you are and how you learn What areas of study interest you? Think about what part of the world appeals to you What clubs/sports/experiences/activities are most important to you? Who are “your people?” Do you want to be surrounded by people who are similar to you or very different from you?

15. Who are you? What are your talents and strengths? What would you love to learn more about? What type of student are you? Courses and grades Test scores Motivation/drive

16. When visiting a campus… Read the student newspaper Talk to students at every opportunity Hang out in the student union Speak with a professor See a residence hall room Observe! How many students are wearing gear from their college? Do students seem to be happy? Do people say hello and make eye contact?

17. While on campus… Take a campus tour. Have an interview with an admissions officer. Get business cards and names of people you meet for future contacts. Pick up financial aid forms. Participate in a group information session at the admissions office. Sit in on a class of a subject that interests you. Talk to a professor in your chosen major or in a subject that interests you. Talk to coaches of sports in which you might participate. Read for a little while in the library and see what it's like.

18. While on campus… Talk to a student or counselor in the career center. Spend the night in a dorm. Read the student newspaper. Try to find other student publications, department newsletters, alternative newspapers, literary reviews. Scan bulletin boards to see what day-to-day student life is like. Eat in the cafeteria. Ask students why they chose the college. Wander around the campus by yourself.

19. While on campus… Search for your favorite book in the library. Ask students what they hate about the college. Ask students what they love about the college. Browse in the college bookstore. Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus. Ask students what they do on weekends. Listen to the college's radio station. Try to see a dorm that you didn't see on the tour. Imagine yourself attending this college for FOUR years

20. Letters of Recommendation The College Guidance office writes a letter of support for every senior that provides an overview of the student - personally, academically and extracurricularly. To allow us to present the very best that each student offers and to make our letters richer, we ask that: 1. Parents write a parent letter of recommendation no later than June 1. Letter can be submitted via Naviance or email 2. Tell me about your child 2. Students completely and thoroughly fill out the College Questionnaire before March break

21. Advice from students “Find out the kind of college you’re looking for; it helps you narrow your choices down. Don’t forget that you know best where you want to go to school. Go where you feel is best because no one knows you better than you (not even your parents!)”

22. Essay Information Types of Essays Timeline Importance

23. Common Application Essay Questions 1.Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. 2.Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you. 3.Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence 4.Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

24. Common App. essay questions continued 5.A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you. 6.Topic of your choice.

25. Advice from students “Keep up with your work senior year…it does count!” “Don’t wait until the last minute…EVER!” “Read every question on the application; don’t make stupid errors.” “Apply early or rolling admissions at at least one college.”

26. Standardized testing SAT I (Mar 13, May 1, June 5, October, November, December) –Register at Collegeboard.com –Need help? 866-756-7346 SAT II (Subject Tests) - same dates –Register at Collegeboard.com –Need help? 866-756-7346 ACT with Writing (April 10, June 12, September, October, December) –Register at Actstudent.org –Need help? 319-337-1270

27. SAT II Exams (formerly known as subject tests) Schools that require SAT II exams: BrownHarvey Mudd Cal TechHaverford Carnegie MellonMIT Columbia U.NYU Cornell U.Princeton DartmouthRice DukeU. Pennsylvania GeorgetownWashington & Lee HarvardWilliams

28. SAT II Exams Schools that recommend SAT II exams: AmericanGeorge Washington BarnardJohns Hopkins Boston CollegeLafayette Boston U.Occidental CarletonPitzer ChapmanSmith Claremont McKennaStanford DavidsonTufts EmoryU. Georgia F&MU. Rochester U. VirginiaVanderbilt VassarWellesley

29. Test optional colleges For a complete list, go to fairtest.org More than 800 colleges in the US do not require test scores for admission, including: Pitzer College, CAWake Forest Univ., NC Connecticut College, CTDrew U., NJ Fairfield University, CTBard College, NY Rollins College, FLHamilton College, NY Lake Forest College, ILHartwick College, NY College of the Holy Cross, MAHobart & William Smith, NY Hampshire College, MANew York University, NY Mt. Holyoke College, MASt. Lawrence Univ., NY Smith College, MAUnion College, NY Stonehill College, MADickinson College, PA Wheaton College, MAFranklin & Marshall, PA Goucher College, MDGettysburg College, PA McDaniel College, MDMuhlenberg College, PA Bates College, MESusquehanna Univ., PA Bowdoin College, MEProvidence College, RI Guilford College, NCAntioch College, OH Middlebury College, VTGeorge Mason U., VA

30. Practice SAT/Test Prep Test Prep through Revolution Prep –SAT prep (1/31 through 3/10 ) –ACT prep (5/2 through 6/2 ) –Register by calling 877-REV-PREP Pratice ACT Sunday, May 2nd Registration details will come via email 9:00 - 1:00 in the cafeteria

31. Lessons from the practice SAT Bring a snack Bring water Bring your calculator Bring #2 pencils Make sure to bubble in your name! Bring extra batteries for your calculator Get a good night’s sleep Eat a good breakfast Write your full name on your paper Say “no” to “do you want information?” and save a tree!

32. FREE!! test preparation College Board official SAT question of the day (collegeboard.com) iPhone and iPod touch free SAT Vocab Challenge Lite app Princeton Review podcasts can be downloaded on iTunes (princetonreview.com/podcasts Facebook vocab apps, including Word Challenge and Scramble

33. Advice from students “Look at a wide range of schools. Don’t get hung up on a name or your knowledge of just one school. The best place may be what you least expect!” “Don’t be a numbers/ranking ‘hussy!’” “’Stalk’ admissions counselors; make sure to develop relationships with them.”

34. Quote of the day “A child’s college process is the best indication of the child’s preparedness for college.”

35. Parental “dos”  Be honest about restrictions, financial or otherwise  Listen, listen!  Keep an open mind  Don’t focus on the rankings  Act as an administrative assistant  Financial aid process  Schedule a college meeting with your junior once a week  Be honest about restrictions, financial or otherwise  Listen, listen!  Keep an open mind  Don’t focus on the rankings  Act as an administrative assistant  Financial aid process  Schedule a college meeting with your junior once a week

36. Parental “don’ts”  Don’t micromanage  Don’t nag  Don’t talk to other parents about where your child is applying/accepted  Pay attention to deadlines  Don’t add your voice to your child’s essay  Don’t get caught up in the college frenzy  Don’t try to package your child  “We” are not applying to college; your son/daughter is!  Don’t micromanage  Don’t nag  Don’t talk to other parents about where your child is applying/accepted  Pay attention to deadlines  Don’t add your voice to your child’s essay  Don’t get caught up in the college frenzy  Don’t try to package your child  “We” are not applying to college; your son/daughter is!

37. Student “To Do” List Complete the My College Questionnaire on Naviance (thoroughly and well!) before March break Begin to compile your activities resume Discuss visiting colleges this spring Think about who you would like to write letters of recommendation Plan to attend a college fair if you haven’t already Develop a “college” email address Double check your Facebook/My Space Junior grades matter…shine, shine, shine! Identify what makes you unique Meet with your parents once a week Make smart choices :-) Complete the My College Questionnaire on Naviance (thoroughly and well!) before March break Begin to compile your activities resume Discuss visiting colleges this spring Think about who you would like to write letters of recommendation Plan to attend a college fair if you haven’t already Develop a “college” email address Double check your Facebook/My Space Junior grades matter…shine, shine, shine! Identify what makes you unique Meet with your parents once a week Make smart choices :-)

38. Family to do list  Read informational college emails  Mark important dates on your calendar  Sign onto Naviance  Read informational college emails  Mark important dates on your calendar  Sign onto Naviance

39. Coming this spring… One-on-one meetings in February/March Parent(s) and student attend Review of your personal academic profile Develop together a list of prospective colleges Your appointment time is on your folder Visit colleges…maybe during March break? Develop draft essays College Panel May 6th at 7:00 p.m.

40. New for the class of 2011 CIFT (Career Insights for Teens) Two Saturdays Personality testing One-on-one and group counseling to identify your talents and strengths and how you might want to share them with the world Pamphlet in your file; register by 2/14 Application “boot camp” August Students will complete the entire Common Application, finalize Common App. Essays and an activities profile

41. Information sources »Spring college fairs (March 25 at St. Mark’s) »College visitors in the fall »Naviance »Get your profile to colleges through websites like Cappex, Zinch and Fastweb »College Guidance Office (file cabinet, books, computers, catalogs)

42. Financial aid »Finaid.com »Meritaid.com »CSS Profile (if required) can be filled out fall of senior year »FAFSA (required) can be filled out beginning 1/1 of the senior year »Financial aid program each fall for seniors and their parents

43. How much will it cost? »Colleges utilize the EFC, expected family contribution »To identify roughly what your EFC will be: »Go to finaid.org »Click on calculators »Click on EFC »Choose Institutional Methodology »Insert numbers from your most recent tax return »This will generate an EFC; use this as a guide when exploring financial aid

44. Advice from students “Don’t stress out too much! You WILL get into a good school. You WILL have a good life. Enjoy your senior year - it’s really quick.” “Always listen to Kathleen!”

45. What can we learn from ‘10? Identify your strengths Be realistic Be organized…don’t procrastinate Apply to at least one college under a rolling or EA plan Don’t overestimate your chance of admission Elite college admission is capricious and unpredictable Use available resources

46. Contacting College Guidance… Kathleen Martin, Director of College Guidance Phone: 302-576-2923 Email:kmartin@wilmingtonfriends.orgkmartin@wilmingtonfriends.org  if the door is open, you can come in!  leave a note on the bulletin board  send an email Lauryn Satterfield, Registrar/Assistant to College Guidance Phone: 302-576-2919 Email: lsatterfield@wilmingtonfriends.orglsatterfield@wilmingtonfriends.org Kathleen Martin, Director of College Guidance Phone: 302-576-2923 Email:kmartin@wilmingtonfriends.orgkmartin@wilmingtonfriends.org  if the door is open, you can come in!  leave a note on the bulletin board  send an email Lauryn Satterfield, Registrar/Assistant to College Guidance Phone: 302-576-2919 Email: lsatterfield@wilmingtonfriends.orglsatterfield@wilmingtonfriends.org