Senior Night: 9/15/16 Brett Levine, Supervisor of School Counseling Brooke Mascia, School Counselor

MHS Guidance Department Director: Brett Levine Counselors: Sarah Mazak, Nancy O’Brien, Brooke Mascia, Phyllis Levy Support Staff: Carolyn White, Clare McAloon Brett Speaks

Tonight’s agenda Guidance/ MHS news In-School College Visits Admissions Process Nuts and Bolts Scholarships Reminders Brett Speaks

Tonight’s presentation 60-75 minutes This presentation will be posted on web site, but should also be printed out and used as a resource Practical Information Shared with you on Google Brett Speaks

Where the Class of 2016 applied The following colleges had applications from over 20 Madison High School students last year (Class of 2016): Marist, Rowan, Penn State, University of Vermont, University of Delaware, Loyola, Northeastern, Quinnipiac, Fairfield, and Rutgers Brett Speaks

Popular schools where students from the Class of 2016 matriculated The following colleges each had over 4 students matriculate from Madison High School Class of 2016: Montclair State, Rutgers, St. Joseph, University of Alabama, Bucknell, University of Richmond, FDU, Rowan, Ramapo, High Point University, University of Miami and County College of Morris Brett Speaks

Upcoming Guidance Events Senior Conferences (Starting Now, Bring your Chromebook) College Visits (Starting Now) College Fair (Sunday 9/18 at CCM, 12-3) Financial Aid Night (Thursday 12/8, 7pm) Financial Aid Form available 10/1 Common Application help sessions (Sept 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 & October 5, 7, 11, and 14) Common Lunch in the Guidance Center/or TBA room Spring 2017: CCM Field Trip, CCM Accuplacer, and CCM Instant Admissions Day Brett Speaks

In-school college visits Get permission from teacher (if missing a class) and make up assignments Sign up on Family Connection Manage your attendance - Cancel if not attending Person visiting is often the application reader so make a good impression Shows demonstrated interest Brooke SPeaks, Brett at computer..show them ryder levine

Application processing nuts and bolts: New this year Due to changes in the way students request teacher letters of recommendation, it will now be very important for students to be familiar with the “Colleges I’m Applying To” tab in Family Connection. Brooke speaks brett goes on RYder and picks RIder

Application overview: What the student sends vs Application overview: What the student sends vs. what Madison High School sends Student Sends: Application and Application fee Essays/Personal Statements Supplemental Materials (Portfolio, graded papers, Early Decision agreement, letters of recommendation from non-MHS staff, anything else the college wants SAT/ACT/AP Scores NCAA Information Brooke

What Madison High School sends Transcripts with GPA Class rank (optional) High School Profile Secondary School report form/counselor recommendation Teacher Recommendation(s) Mid-year grades and final transcripts (automatically) We need students matching their Family Connection account with their Common Application account (after they signed the FERPA on FC) Brooke

Application processing nuts and bolts: Application types Early Decision (Binding) Early Action (Non-Binding) Regular Decision Rolling Decision/Rolling Admission/Priority Deadline brooke

Application processing nuts and bolts: Types of decisions Accept Accepted for Spring term Denied Deferred (EA or ED) Supplemental Information Waitlisted (Notified Mid-May - August) brooke

Making the final decision May 1st - Deposit Day Can only deposit to one college (exception waitlist) Navigating the waitlist Courtesy to Notify non-attending colleges where you are going Let guidance know of all decisions Guidance will automatically send final transcripts to matriculating college brooke

Application processing nuts and bolts: Important things to know Please understand the difference between The Common Application and a Directly to the Institution/School-based Application. This is extremely important. You need to know how your application is being submitted. We can not submit any documents on your behalf if this is marked “Unknown”. It is also important to know admissions type, e.g., RD, EA, ED, Rolling Brett

What is the Common Application? A generic application accepted at over 600 schools, but not at all schools Fill out generic information one time, and then supplemental information pertinent to each “Common App” School you are applying to Set up an account on Common App Remember your username and password Brett

What is a “Directly to the Institution” application? An application designed, published, and delivered only to one specific school

Examples: Montclair State: Only Accepts “Directly to the Institution” (school-based) Drexel University: Only accepts Common Application Bentley University: Accepts both Common Application or Directly to the Institution (DO NOT CLICK UNKNOWN) Use this example..brooke enters in both schools.

Common Application If applying to a Common Application school, it is necessary to list that school in your Common Application account and in “Colleges I’m applying to” in FC, in order for Madison High School to send your transcript. Brett

What is the Coalition Application? Designed as an alternative to The Common Application Some different features than The Common Application Technical limitations? Please hold off using this application system this year. (Exception, University of Florida) Don’t check it off - Easy to confuse with The Common Application Brett

Steps for teacher recommendation letters Find out how many you absolutely need - 1 or 2? (No more than 2) Always confirm FC’s information on college’s website Make sure you have matched your Common Application and Family Connection account and you have waived your rights by signing the FERPA on Common Application Add colleges to “Colleges I’m applying To” in Family Connection Ask teacher(s) Submit requests via Family Connection (Must be done even if you did it last Spring) Provide teachers with any information they need Confirm that colleges have received it On FC, Common App, on college account Brett

How is a transcript sent? In order for us to send your transcript, a light blue Madison High School Transcript Request form must be filled out and submitted to Ms. White or Mrs. McAloon before school, during Common Lunch, or after school. Brooke

Important application reminders Know how your application is being submitted and note accordingly in FC Do not use the Coalition Application Be mindful of the number of teachers you are asking for letters of recommendation - No more than two teachers Enter your colleges in your Common Application and your “Colleges I’m Applying To” in Family Connection Remember to match your Common Application account with your Family Connection account brett

Scholarships Posted on Family Connection Different Categories (National, State, Local) College Merit Scholarships are usually not posted Apply, Apply, Apply Student should write thank you note Awards ceremony in June brett

Please keep in mind Student is responsible for sending SAT/ACT/AP Scores Ok for colleges to receive things in stages 10-Day rule Often a lag in colleges reporting receipt of materials Rutgers, and many of the other large state universities, use a self-reporting system - Important for you to still let us know Male students register for selective service at 18 Responsible for registering for the NCAA Eligibility Center brett

How parents can support through the process Make sure students schedule a senior conference Remind students about college visits and important deadline dates Keep us in the loop Have an honest conversation with students about money brett

Final thoughts Guidance has resources on non-college options Make sure you have a positive presence on social media Use Scattergrams on Family Connection Colleges review final transcripts and can rescind admissions decisions We are all here to help you :) brett