Agenda for this evening: Timeline College Search & Visit Common Terms & Definitions Questions

Presenters This Evening Evelyn Tolson, 11th Grade Counselor (A - Di) Sara Vance, 11th grade Counselor (Do-Ji) Colleen Creal, 11th Grade Counselor (Jo-Mc) Ron Fear, 11th Grade Counselor (Me - Se) Ellen Sapper 11th grade counselor (Sh-Z) Joyce Williams, Career Center Director

11th Grade - 1st Semester Start Junior Interviews with Counselors College Visits at Pioneer High School Research Colleges - Students & Parents- Computer Program Career - Career Cruising –Peterson’s Computer Guide –Internet & Catalogs –Career Center

11th Grade - 2nd Semester MORE Junior Interviews MORE College research Take SAT, ACT and MME exams On-Campus College Visits Attend College Night at Pioneer HS on April 16, Review College Applications for Fall 2008 as soon as available online.

Summer before 12th Grade Fill out applications for Colleges Work on college application essays Be aware of upcoming deadlines Read summer mailing from Pioneer HS –Fill out Senior Profile, if you have not already, Parent Brag Sheet, Activity List (resume) & Release of Test Scores –Turn in completed forms to Counselors at Registration –Review High School Transcript Visit Colleges Retake SAT & ACT tests (optional)

12th Grade - 1st semester Finish College applications and turn into the Main Office with application fee attached Retake SAT & ACT tests (optional) Ask teachers and other adults for letters of recommendation at least 4 weeks before you need them. Spring of junior year gives them more time. Go to College Visits at Pioneer HS Admissions Officers will be presenting and available for questions - very helpful to meet these people!

12th Grade - 2nd semester Fill out FAFSA after January 1st Check Career Center for scholarships Receive acceptance/rejection letters from colleges Continue to work hard academically: 2nd semester classes & grades often do count towards acceptance or “denial”! Contact Financial Aid offices at proposed colleges Develop a plan to finance college Make final decisions and respond with your deposit by the deadline

How to do a College Search & Visit

WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR? Environment - location, size, etc. Admission Requirements Academics College Expenses & Financial Aid Housing Facilities Activities

HOW DO WE SEARCH? EDP’s & Career Cruising Career Center at Pioneer High School College Visits at Pioneer High School On-campus college visits Online internet research - See helpful websites on next page Research - Research - Research!

HELPFUL COLLEGE SEARCH WEBSITES htm

Career Center Joyce Williams, Career Center Director Hours of Operation: 7:30 - 3:00 M-F Location: Next to the Counseling Center Students can spend lunchtime and 7th hour in the Career Center Parents are more than welcome to utilize these resources!

What is in the Career Center? Online Searches College Catalogs & DVD’s PSAT, SAT & ACT applications & practice tests Resources on other Post-secondary planning: Military, Vocational Schools, Apprenticeships, etc. Scholarship Opportunities Summer & Internship Opportunities

On-Campus College Visits Contact by telephone or the Admissions Office at prospective Colleges. Ask about procedures for a Campus Visit. Try to plan visits during vacation time. Inquire if college students will be available for questions. Try to attend a class or two & ask about eating in the dining hall. Try to spend a night in the dorm.

SCHOLARSHIP AND FINANCIAL AID WEBSITES

COLLEGE ATHLETICS Playing sports in College is a major decision which requires careful planning throughout high school. In the Spring of junior year you must apply to the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse if you plan to play sports in college. Check the website which is NCAAclearinghouse.net. Information changes yearly. Students being recruited and needing transcripts for that purpose must have a release form on file.

Steps in Applying to College from Pioneer High School

After careful research, select at least 3-5 colleges to apply to. Get applications from Career Center, online, or college admissions offices. Pioneer HS will begin accepting applications September 15, Rolling Admissions applications should be submitted as early as possible (before October 31st). Step #1

Step #2 Turn in Senior Profile before summer vacation, Parent Brag Sheet, “Release of Test Scores” form and Activity List (Resume) that will be mailed home in the summer. -Make copies of senior resumes for teachers who will be writing your letters of recommendation. The test score release form must be signed by you and your parents.

Step #3 Ask teachers before you leave for summer break or at least 4 weeks ahead, for college recommendations. Be sure to include your social security number on all college correspondence. Students should give the teachers a stamped college- addressed envelopes along with the recommendation requests.

Step #4 Attach check or money order for application fee made out to the college. Application material must be complete when turned in. Pay with a credit card online. Nothing can be added to the application after it has been turned in to the General Office at Pioneer HS. Due to the volume of applications makes it impossible to add something later.

Step # 5 Turn in application to the General Office. First application is free. $1.00 handling fee for each additional application. No need to provide an envelope.

Step #6 If you apply “online” download the counselor form from college website. You must also submit an Orange PHS form available in the general office. This enables Pioneer High School to send transcripts and test scores.

Step #7A - ON-LINE APPLICATIONS Approximately 90% of applications submitted by Pioneer students are done on-line. After you have completed the on-line process, print the “counselor” or “secondary school” page. Bring the page to the General Office, just as you would a paper application. We will process it exactly like a paper application. You will be asked to complete an on-line form; for this you will need your student number and the address of your college admissions office. DO NOT BRING A COPY OF YOUR ON-LINE APPLICATION TO US. (You should, however, print a copy for your own files). If your college does not ask for a counselor page, come to the General Office and fill out an on-line form; we will send your academic records to the college.

Step #7B for ON-SITE APPLICATIONS Some universities have begun using an on-site admissions process. (Western Michigan,Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan are those with which we have had experience; others may also do this). Student takes application materials to the university (typically on a week day in early October) and they will give student an admission decision that day. If you are interested in on-site admission call the university’s admissions office for details and listen for announcements. You will need to submit your request to Pioneer at least 10 SCHOOL DAYS in advance so that we have ample time to process your records. As with all application submissions, present your request to the General Office and be sure to let them know it is an on-site application. You will then pick up your application materials in the Records Office when they are ready. We also offer some onsite admissions interviews at PHS.

Mid year report forms You can turn in the mid year report forms when you turn in your applications. The records clerk will keep it in a file and turn it in to the college or universities after the seventh semester grades are posted

Step #8 If your college requires scores directly from ACT / SAT, you must arrange for your test scores to be sent directly from SAT, ACT to your prospective colleges. Call the college to verify.

Step # 9 Plan on 2-3 weeks to process application. Your application is routed to the records office, and counselor. Transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, school profile, and signatures are provided as needed. The records office will mail the completed application.

Step #10 Please do not call the records office. Contacting the records office slows down the process for everybody!

Step # 11 Most applications will leave Pioneer within 15 working days of receipt in the General Office. Because of the volume of applications (over 2000) received in your applications must be turned in by November 7, 2008 if you want them mailed before winter break. Plan ahead to meet application deadlines.

Helpful Hints for Processing College Applications –Turn around time is working days –Checking on the status will slow down all of the applications. –Be sure to put your name & social security number on every page of each application.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial Aid Terms Aid Package – a combination of aid (possibly including a scholarship, grant, loan, and work) determined by a college financial aid office. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – The application required for students to be considered for federal student financial aid. Obtain a FAFSA form or electronic filing information from the Pioneer Career Center (usually available in November). The FAFSA is processed free of charge. FAFSA is used by most state agencies and colleges. Plan to do your Income Taxes early during your child’s senior year. FAFSA requires information from the previous year’s income. There will be a financial aid program for parents is December 11th at 7:30pm in the Little Theater.

IMPORTANT JUNIOR YEAR TESTS A Quick Review: PSAT, SAT, ACT, MME, AP

Standardized College Admission Exams SAT I – Reasoning Test – This SAT is a three-hour, primarily multiple-choice test that measures verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities that develop over time. Many colleges require SAT scores for admission. SAT II – Subject Tests – Subject Tests are one-hour, primarily multiple-choice tests that measure your knowledge of particular subjects and your ability to apply that knowledge. Check the requirements of the colleges you are considering. More selective colleges may require or recommend one or more Subject Tests for admission or placement. ACT – Assessment Test – A group of tests administered by ACT and required or recommended by many colleges. The tests measure educational development in English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning and are given at specified test centers throughout the year.

MME Michigan Merit Exam. March only juniors required to graduate Part I is ACT PART II is ACT Work Keys PART III Michigan components

Michigan Promise Scholarship $4, 000 if students earn qualifying scores Given in installments outlined at: We will be offering an ACT online Test prep along with Saturday Practice In January

WHERE DO I TURN TO ASK QUESTIONS? COUNSELOR CAREER CENTER COLLEGE WEBSITES

Thank you for coming! We hope this makes the college application process a little easier!