1. College Information Night September 2015

2. ➔ There are over 4,000 colleges & universities nationwide ➔ Entrance requirements vary greatly and may change annually ➔ Costs will vary

3. Resources That Can Help ➔ College Rep Visits ➔ Campus Visits ➔ World Wide Web - ◆ www.st-bede-guidance.com www.st-bede-guidance.com ◆ Career Cruising & college websites ➔ IVCC College Fair in October ➔ Ms. Bernabei in the Guidance Office ➔ Digital Locker in Teacher Ease ➔ Class of 2016 Guidance Google Classroom ➔ Join using code 2bp086b

4. WHERE ARE YOU NOW? ➔ Have you selected the type of school you will apply to? ●2-year or 4-year ●Public ●Private ●Religious ●Vocational/Career

5. Narrow Down Your Choices! ➔ Apply to 6-10 colleges ● More Applications = More Paperwork and Fees ➔ 1 or 2 Safety Schools ●IVCC or another school where your qualifications match the top 25% of the incoming freshman class. ➔ 4-5 Match Schools ● Your qualifications match the top 50% ➔ 1-2 Stretch Schools ● Your qualifications match the bottom 25%

6. No Place So Close Can Take You So Far !! ➔ www.ivcc.edu www.ivcc.edu ➔ Associate degrees & certificates ➔ Transfer to a 4-year school ➔ Open enrollment ➔ Rolling admissions ➔ Accuplacer/Placement test ◆ (SAT or ACT may be accepted in lieu of placement tests) ➔ SBA students will receive specific information on IVCC registration and placement testing sign-up in January 2016. 2-year public college

7. ➔ Undergraduate & graduate degrees awarded ➔ Enrollments vary from under 1000 to over 30,000 students ➔ Must meet admission requirements ➔ Application requirements and deadlines are different for every college 4-Year Colleges & Universities

8. 4-Year Colleges & Universities ➔ SAT or ACT test required ➔ Toefl (for international students) required by most colleges ➔ Applications may require ◆ activities ◆ clubs ◆ sports ◆ awards & achievements ◆ teacher recommendations ◆ essays ➔ Not all applicants are admitted

9. The Application Process ➔ Develop an organizational system ◆ computer files & paper file folders ➔ Always keep copies of everything! ◆ applications, essays, FAFSA, etc…

10. The Application Process ➔ Where to find applications ◆ August 1st ◆ Specific college website ◆ Common Application www.commonapp.orgwww.commonapp.org

11. The Application Process ➔ Requesting a Recommendation Letter ◆ Junior year teachers or teachers who have had you more than once and can vouch for your good qualities. ◆ Ask - don’t assume! ◆ Ask 2 weeks or more before the due date. ◆ Provide specific information – ●Due date ●Your student applicant number if you have one. ●Your Full Legal Name and birthdate.  What do they do with the letter after they write it? ●Provide the teacher with an addressed, stamped envelop to mail it directly to the admissions office. ●Provide email address for the admissions office. ●Give the letter to Ms. Bernabei who will forward it to the college. ●Common App. - Remind them to look for the email with the link. ◆ Always follow up. Gently remind them of the due date if needed. ◆ Send/give the teacher a hand written Thank You note after.

12. The Application Process ➔ Requesting transcripts ◆ Official or Unofficial? ◆ To be considered official it must be sent from the high school directly to the college. ◆ Electronic or Snail Mail? ● Parchment www.parchment.com ◆ Written request to Ms. Bernabei ◆ Submit all requests as soon as possible ● at least 2 weeks before due date

13. Test Scores ACT/SAT  Required by public & private schools ◆ Required by many scholarship providers ◆ Scores will be on your SBA Transcript (eventually) ◆ Students are responsible to check their transcript to make sure scores are recorded from all test dates. Toefl scores may be required even if you’ve been in the US for 3 or more years. Every college will have a different requirement.

14. Test Scores ➔ SAT Subject Tests ◆ Required by some private & more selective colleges/universities. Find out which subject tests are required before you take them.

15. Test Scores ➔ Sending Scores to Schools ◆ Many colleges will accept test scores recorded on a high school transcript as Official some will require scores be sent directly from ACT or the College Board (SAT/AP) ◆ ACT www.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org ◆ SAT www.collegeboard.orgwww.collegeboard.org ◆ AP www.collegeboard.orgwww.collegeboard.org ◆ TOEFL https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/scoresWT.ac=toeflhome_scores_121127

16. Test Scores ➔ Send ALL Scores ◆ Some schools use Super Scoring ◆ Only the best scores will be used If any seniors are interested in retaking the ACT: Test Date is Saturday, Oct 24, 2015 This Friday, Sept. 18 is the last day to register.

17. ➔ Applications Fees ➔ Fee waivers are available if you qualify for free/reduced lunch ● ACT and SAT ● College Applications ● See me for more info Fees

18. Scholarships from the College/University ➔ Applicants are considered based on GPA and test scores ➔ Many will require a separate application ➔ College/University Scholarship & Financial Aid webpage ➔ Beware of Deadlines !

19. Private Scholarships ➔ Employers ➔ Military ➔ Scholarship List on the Financial Aid/Scholarship tab of the SBA Guidance web page www.st-bede-guidance.comwww.st-bede-guidance.com ➔ List of Recommended College, Career & Scholarship Web Sites on the College & Career tab of the Guidance website. ➔ Google Web Search

20. Resources on the Guidance web page  Scholarship list & links to the applications  FAFSA Information and Comparison Worksheet  ACT Information  Elks Teen of the Month Application and info  College, Career & Scholarship Web Guide  College Path Checklist for Juniors & Seniors  UIUC Engineering Summer Program info  Health Careers Summer Camp app. & info  Alternative Admissions Program information  Lots of articles about the college application process, Early Action & Early Decision, College interview, College Essays and more!!

21. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or to request an individual meeting. Thank you for coming! Ms. Theresa Bernabei, Director of Guidance 815-250-0351 tbernabei@st-bede.com