Seniors: Planning for Life After High School!

Agenda Options for Life After High School - Review The College Application & Briar Woods High School Procedures Advice & Information

Materials NACAC Guide An “Electronic-Index” will be ed to you – Links to forms and resources BWHS Website – “College & Career Guidance” Page Let your counselor know if you need hard-copies

Options for Life After High School Trade-schools/Apprenticeships Military Community College 4-Year College or University

College Degrees – Associates Degree: 2-year degree (typically earned at a community college or a junior college) – Bachelor’s Degree: 4-year degree – Master’s Degree: Typically 2 additional years after earning a bachelors – Doctoral Degrees & Professional Degrees: PHD, JD, MD, DC

Community College – Certificate programs – 2-Year Associates Degree – First year or two of a 4-Year Bachelors degree

Community College Benefits of community college – NOVA is one of the best community colleges in the country – Relatively inexpensive – Close to home – A “small step” into higher education – Usually “open” admissions

Community College NOVA’s Guaranteed Admissions (incomplete list) – Christopher Newport University – George Mason University – George Washington University – Georgetown University – James Madison University – Liberty University – Longwood University

Community College NOVA’s Guaranteed Admissions (incomplete list) – Marymount University – Norfolk State University – Old Dominion University – Radford University – University of Mary Washington – University of Virginia – Virginia Tech

Community College Pathways Program – Apply in November – Start at NOVA – Transition to a 4-year university – Individual meetings with NOVA Pathways counselors – Assistance applying for financial aid – Early placement testing and priority course registration – No minimum GPA required to apply

College Visits at BWHS College representative visits to BWHS – Sign-up in the Career Center or electronically using Family Connection – Limit visits to 5 – Avoid missing the same class twice – Your teacher is not obligated to release you from class There is no substitute for a campus visit as a way to assess a school

College Admissions Testing College testing – SAT Reasoning Test (admissions) – ACT (admissions) – SAT Subject Tests (typically for placement) Register now!!! The Loudoun test sites fill up quickly CollegeBoard SAT Course Online

The Application “Folder” –The Magnificent Seven 1. Application 2. Essay 3. Student Resume 4. Secondary School Report 5. Test Scores 6. Transcript 7. Letter/s of Recommendation

The Application Most applications are submitted electronically over the internet Print and review before submitting it! Seniors are responsible for completing and submitting their own applications (not mom & dad!) Seniors should make copies of all applications they submit Many colleges use the “Common Application”

The Application Seniors are responsible for being aware of application deadlines (see NACAC Guide) – Regular Admission – traditional deadline – Early Decision – binding – Early Action – non-binding – Rolling Admission – applications accepted based on space availability until the institution is “full”

The Application “Folder” 1. Application 2. Essay 3. Student Resume 4. Secondary School Report 5. Test Scores 6. Transcript 7. Letter/s of Recommendation

The Essay Not all colleges require an essay Most essays are submitted electronically along with the application Seniors should make sure they are understand the essay topic Seniors are advised to print out and review (with help!) their essays before sending them

The Essay English teachers are more than happy to help students with essays; some teachers incorporate this into their curriculum Seniors should save all essays because they may be modified and reused – but be careful Essay resources – BWHS library, BWHS Career Center, public library, book store, internet

The Application “Folder” 1. Application 2. Essay 3. Student Resume 4. Secondary School Report 5. Test Scores 6. Transcript 7. Letter/s of Recommendation

Student Resume Many colleges accept student resumes Resumes are usually sent to the college electronically along with the application and essay Resumes can highlight your accomplishment both in and outside of school An effective resume is EASY TO READ!

Student Resume Use resume templates and samples to format your own Information on resumes must be 100% accurate Use , Facebook, MySpace, etc. appropriately (if you wouldn’t put it on a resume…)

The Application “Folder” 1. Application 2. Essay 3. Student Resume 4. Secondary School Report 5. Test Scores 6. Transcript 7. Letter/s of Recommendation

Secondary School Report Some colleges provide the student with a Secondary School Report form for the counselor to complete and send in We will send a comprehensive “universal” Secondary School Report for all students

The Application “Folder” 1. Application 2. Essay 3. Student Resume 4. Secondary School Report 5. Test Scores 6. Transcript 7. Letter/s of Recommendation

Test Scores Seniors are responsible for determining the tests needed for the colleges they are applying to – SAT Reasoning Test (typically for determining admissions) – ACT (typically for determining admissions) – SAT Subject Tests (typically used for placement)

Test Scores Seniors are responsible for having their test scores sent to the colleges they are applying to Requests are made directly through the CollegeBoard or ACT; BWHS nor LCPS send test scores Seniors can request their scores be sent when they take the tests; or they can have their scores sent after the test date by contacting the CollegeBoard or ACT (for a fee)

The Application “Folder” 1. Application 2. Essay 3. Student Resume 4. Secondary School Report 5. Test Scores 6. Transcript 7. Letter/s of Recommendation

The Transcript Seniors must submit a Transcript Release Form signed by a parent. Forms can be obtained in guidance and are online Seniors must submit the form in person to the counselor (along with the Secondary School Report if required)

The Transcript We ask that seniors submit transcript requests a minimum of two weeks before the college application deadline (last year we sent over 3000 transcripts) We track the process date and send date – posted on Family Connection

The Transcript We include a school profile with transcript Transcript requests must be made before December 1 st in order to be sent before winter break All LCPS student’s are charged $3.00 per transcript

The Transcript Please only request transcripts to be sent to colleges you are actually applying to There are no costs for mid-year and end-of- year transcripts

The Transcript In November, LCPS plans to move from mailing hard-copy transcripts, profiles, and counselor letters of recommendation to using a service called National Transcript Center No cost to student and parents Faster for colleges Increased “tracking” abilities for high schools

The Application “Folder” 1. Application 2. Essay 3. Student Resume 4. Secondary School Report 5. Test Scores 6. Transcript 7. Letter/s of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation Counselor Letter – If a senior needs a letter of recommendation from the counselor, he/she can request it when he/she requests the transcript – Every senior will be provided with a Senior Information Packet to be turned into the counselor – The Senior Information Packet is posted online and contains a parent “brag” section – The counselor will “send” the letter with the transcript

Letters of Recommendation Teacher Letter: – If a letter of recommendation is requested from a teacher, the senior should make the request directly to the teacher and provide the teacher with a postage-paid envelope addressed to the college – Think about who you are asking… they may need more time!

Letters of Recommendation Seniors should allow counselors and teachers a minimum of two weeks to write a letter Please only request letters to be sent to schools you are actually applying to If you send more letters than the college requests, you can’t control which ones they choose to read

The Application “Folder” - Summary 1. Senior submits application electronically to the college 2. Senior submits the essay electronically to the college (if there is one) 3. Senior may submit the resume electronically to the college 4. Senior has test scores sent directly to the college by the SAT (CollegeBoard) or the ACT 5. Senior meets with counselor directly to request a transcript by submitting a Transcript Release Form 6. Senior may submit Secondary School Report (if provided by the college) when they meet with the counselor 7. Senior may request letter of recommendation (if needed) from their counselor and/or teachers

Keeping Sane!!! Complete one college application “folder” at a time Trying to work on several applications at once = confusion for all! Use a checklist for each application

Keeping Sane!!! Complete applications one at a time – One by Halloween – One by Thanksgiving – The rest by Winter Break Pay attention to deadlines!

Interviews Some colleges interview applicants Process, procedures, and guidelines vary

Communication/Follow-Up Students and parents can log onto Family Connection to view transcript send dates We automatically send mid-year transcripts to the colleges our students apply to (no cost) Final transcripts are sent to the colleges our students plan to attend (no cost) The infamous “we didn’t get your transcript” postcard or

Some Advice HAVE FUN!

Upcoming Dates Senior presentations – This week Senior/counselor meetings begin next week LCPS College Fair – September 25 at 4:00pm- 5:30pm & 6:30pm-8:00pm, SBHS Junior College Information Night – October 18 at 7:00pm Financial Aid Night – December, date TBA

HAVE A GREAT SENIOR YEAR!!