Senior Parent Night September 14, 2011 Sponsored by the Hopkinton High School Counseling Department

Agenda Introductions Introductions The Nuts and Bolts of the College Application Process The Nuts and Bolts of the College Application Process Trends in College Admission Trends in College Admission Managing Stress: Some Do’s and Don’ts for Parents Managing Stress: Some Do’s and Don’ts for Parents Parent to Parent: How to Survive Senior Year Parent to Parent: How to Survive Senior Year Questions and Answers Questions and Answers

The College Application Process Recommendation Letters Recommendation Letters College Applications College Applications Getting Organized Getting Organized Common Application Common Application Supplements Supplements Transcript Request Form Transcript Request Form College Admissions Testing College Admissions Testing

Test Dates for Seniors SAT and SAT Subject Tests October 1 November 5 December 3 ACT October 22

Remember…. Students must call or go online to College Board or ACT websites to send scores to colleges!

More to know…. Score Choice Score Choice Fairtest.org Fairtest.org Parent Accounts on Naviance Family Connection Parent Accounts on Naviance Family Connection Scholarships posted on Naviance Scholarships posted on Naviance Upcoming college visits and college fairs posted on Naviance Upcoming college visits and college fairs posted on Naviance

Upcoming College Visits Univeristy of Delaware 9/22 11:30 a.m. Emory University9/26 10:50 a.m. Hobart & Wm. Smith9/30 10:50 a.m. University of San Diego10/5 10:50 a.m. MIT10/11 11:00 a.m. So. Vermont College10/11 12:00 p.m. High Point University10/25 10:50 a.m. Lehigh University11/2 11:00 a.m.

Trends in College Admission Number of high school grads peaked in Number of high school grads peaked in College enrollment will continue to rise through College enrollment will continue to rise through Public universities experienced record applications last year. Public universities experienced record applications last year. Both acceptance rates and yield rates declined slightly. Both acceptance rates and yield rates declined slightly. Some Ivies accepted as few as 7% of applicants. Some Ivies accepted as few as 7% of applicants. Requests for financial aid were up in 2010 and Requests for financial aid were up in 2010 and Financial aid packages and merit scholarships more often became the deciding factor in where to enroll. Financial aid packages and merit scholarships more often became the deciding factor in where to enroll.

Trends continued…. More colleges are using waitlists than ever before. More colleges are using waitlists than ever before. Early Decision volume seen as tapering off. Early Decision volume seen as tapering off. Early Action volume continuing to increase. Early Action volume continuing to increase. Highly selective colleges looking more closely at AP exam and SAT subject test scores. Highly selective colleges looking more closely at AP exam and SAT subject test scores. Top factors remain grades, strength of curriculum, and admission test scores. Top factors remain grades, strength of curriculum, and admission test scores. Increased use of technology with online apps and electronic transcripts. Increased use of technology with online apps and electronic transcripts.

1. Remember, this is NOT life and death! 2. Don’t judge your worth by the college your child attends! 3. Don’t believe the college your child attends determines his/her success! 4. Be careful of the “WE” word. 5. Broaden your topics of conversation with your senior this year. 6. Be observant of your child on college visits. 7. Pulling strings can backfire– go there cautiously. 8. Find ways to be supportive 9. Remember that the anticipation of loss is the emotional underpinning of this year. SOME DO’s AND DON’Ts

Class of 2011 Statistics 95% of students went on to further education. 95% of students went on to further education. 89.5% went to 4-year colleges 89.5% went to 4-year colleges Another 5.5% went on to 2 year colleges. Another 5.5% went on to 2 year colleges. We had students who opted for prep school, career education, GAP Year experiences, and employment. We had students who opted for prep school, career education, GAP Year experiences, and employment. Our goal is to have every student graduate with a plan for their future! Our goal is to have every student graduate with a plan for their future!

Ultimately….. 94% of the Class of 2011 graduates reported they were accepted to at least one of their top three preferred schools.

Upcoming Event Wednesday, November 7 p.m. Financial Aid Night presented by MEFA Guest speaker, Carla Berg, Director of Financial Aid at Bentley College

Parent to Parent Panel How To Survive The Year With Your Family Still In Tact

Questions & Answers