NOTE: To change the image on this slide, select the picture and delete it. Then click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. CLASS OF 2015 Getting Prepared for a Successful Senior Year and Beyond

Take Campus Visits  Contact the college admissions office to arrange a meeting. -When you visit, make sure you: -Take your parents with you -Talk with someone in admissions -Talk with someone in financial aid/find out what is available -Talk with students and faculty -Sit in on a class -Take a campus tour -Stay overnight, if possible -Check out dorms, library, student activity center, etc. -Have a meal on campus -Find out about campus activities, sports and organizations

Applying to College Narrow Down Your College Choices Apply to 3- 4 Colleges Meet Application Deadlines Retake ACT/SAT Narrow your list to 3-4 colleges. Make sure you have one “safe” school. Check with admissions office and website for information on what you need to apply. A lot of colleges are accepting the common application. If you set up your account this summer, you can practice the essay questions. Make sure when you ask for letters of recommendation, you are asking at least two weeks in advance. After you complete an application, fill out a transcript request form to your counselor and $1. Turn in your request no later than one week before the deadline! Contact the college to make sure they have received all of your application materials, or check your application status online.

Meet Application Deadlines  Fill out each application by Thanksgiving, no later than Christmas.  pdf (Public Ohio Colleges/Universities) pdf  s%20Guide%20with%20Cover% %2014.pdf (Private Ohio Colleges/Universities) s%20Guide%20with%20Cover% %2014.pdf  Remind 101 account:  to

Retake the ACT/SAT Apply Online: ACT SAT **If you are on Free/Reduced Lunch, you can have your fees waived. See your counselor. Make sure you send your test scores to four colleges. Otherwise, you have to pay a fee to have them sent.**

What Scores Are Colleges Looking For? Highly SelectiveTop 10% of ClassACT=27-36SAT= SelectiveTop 25% of ClassACT=22-27SAT= TraditionalTop 50% of ClassACT=20-23SAT= LiberalMany accepted from lower half ACT=18-21SAT= OpenAll accepted to limit of capacity ACT=17-20SAT=

Search and Apply for Scholarships Scholarships are free money, so apply for as many as you can! Check the high school website for the latest scholarship listings. Contact financial aid offices for school- specific scholarships. Watch deadlines! Be aware of scams. You don’t have to pay to find money.

Apply to the NCAA Clearinghouse or the NAIA Clearinghouse  If you didn’t apply at the end of your junior year, you need to register with the Clearinghouse if you plan to paly NCAA Division I, II or NAIA sports in college.  Provide your counselor with a preliminary transcript request and a dollar.  When you take the ACT, have your scores sent directly to the Clearinghouse by filling in their code under the colleges/scholarship box. The code for NCAA is The NAIA is  S/NCAA.jsp S/NCAA.jsp 

Complete the FAFSA  Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1,  The FAFSA is the federal form the U.S. Department of Ed. Uses to determine how much federal student aid you qualify for.  Even if your parents make too much money, completing the FAFSA gives you the opportunity to borrow federal loans, which may be at a reduced interest rate than private loans.  Easy Steps to Filling Out the FAFSA:

Review your Student Aid Report (SAR)  After you complete the FAFSA, you will receive your SAR. This will tell you your expected family contribution (EFC). This is how much the federal government says your parents should contribute to your schooling.  However, you will not know how much you will have to pay until you receive your award letter from your college.  If you provided an , you will receive your SAR in about a week of submitting the FAFSA.  Check and make sure the information is correct.  Submit any changes.

Compare Financial Aid Award Letters  If you applied for financial aid and completed all of the steps, you will receive award letters from the colleges that accepted you.  Your award letter shows how much financial aid is offered to you. The awards may be in the form of grants, loans, work-study, and/or scholarships.  You do not have to accept all or any of your awards.

Pick Your College You should receive acceptance letters by mid- April. Accept your college’s admission and financial aid offers by the deadlines noted. Send deposits and sign all paperwork. Contact and decline the award offers from the colleges you do not plan to attend.

Request Final Transcripts Final transcripts must be sent to your college and to the NCAA or NAIA Clearinghouse if you are planning on playing sports. Complete a transcript release form and provide your counselor $1.