The Mechanics of the College Application Process Brett Levine-Director of Guidance Brooke Mascia, Counselor

MHS Guidance Department  Director: Brett Levine  Counselors: Sarah Mazak, Nancy O’Brien, Brooke Mascia, and Phyllis Levy  Support Staff:, Carolyn White, Clare McAloon 2

Tonight’s Program  Minutes  Posted on MHS Guidance Web site.  Practical Information.  Reinforce information presented in summer mailing and Jr. parent night.  Students will get a very condensed version of this presentation during group guidance. September 24, 2014  Repeat of this program on 9/16 3

Agenda  Guidance Facts and Figures  In School College Visits  Admissions Cycle  Application Process  Scholarships  Key Reminders  FC Demonstration  Closing Thoughts 4

Where the Class of 2014 Applied  24 to CCM and U of Rhode Island  25 to Northeastern  26 to Montclair State  27 to U of Delaware  29 to U of Scranton  32 to Fairfield  50 to Rutgers 5 *

Top schools Where Students Matriculated: Class of 2014  4, Lehigh, Scranton, Villanova  6, Montclair State  7 Delaware, Rutgers  CCM 6

Upcoming Events ( For Seniors and/or their parents)  Senior conferences (Starting now)  Senior group guidance (TBA)  College CCM (9/21)  Financial Aid Night (1/8)  CWC: Selective College Admissions  CCM Admissions Processing Day/Field Trip (TBA)  In-School College Visits (on-going) 7

In School College Visits  Sign up on Family Connections  Student is responsible for getting permission from teacher (prior), and making up work.  Code of conduct  Person visiting is often the application reader.  (Off campus visit-Get a note from college) 8

Admissions Cycle Apply Hear Decide 9

Application types (a sample, there are many more)  Early Decision.  Early Action.  Regular Decision.  Rolling Admission. 10

Decisions  Accept  Accepted for Spring term  Reject  Deferred: (EA or ED)  Supplemental Information  Waitlisted (Notified Mid May-August)  Supplemental Information 11

Making the Final Decision  May 1 st -Deposit date  Can only deposit to one college. (exception, wait list)  Navigating the wait list.  Courtesy to notify non-attending colleges where you are going.  Let guidance know of all decisions.  Guidance will automatically send final transcript to matriculating college. 12

Nuts and Bolts  How things get done  What you send  What we send 13

14 WHAT THE STUDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SENDING … 1.Application/Application Fee 2.Essays/Personal Statements 3.Supplemental Materials (Portfolio, graded papers, letters of recommendation from non-faculty member, Early Decision Agreement, anything else the college wants that we don’t send. 4.SAT/ACT scores 5.NCAA Info

What Madison High School Sends..  Transcript w/ GPA, senior yr schedule, class rank (optional). Any change in schedule, an updated transcript will be sent.  High School profile  Secondary school report form/ counselor recommendation. Mid year grades and final transcripts. (1 st MP report card optional)  Teacher recommendations (often two). 15

HOW WILL WE (MHS) SEND MATERIALS?  Electronically 16

What do we need in order to do this?  Transcript Request form (Key Points, let’s take a look)  I have registered with common application  I have entered my common app username ( ) and DOB on FC.  Colleges I’m thinking about in FC and CA.  ICONS  Common lunch is the only time to submit this form.  Kids need to know application/delivery method. 17

Steps for teacher recommendations  Ask teacher  Submit request via family connections.  Provide teacher with any information they want.  Provide them w/ envelope if college does not receive materials electronically (rare)  Check to see if college received it.  On FC, On Common app, on college account. 18

IMPORTANT TAKE-AWAYS  ICONS  Remember to register for Common Application (Commonapp.Org)  Remember to fill out FERPA on CA  Remember on-line teacher letters of recommendation. 19

SCHOLARSHIPS  Posted on Family Connections.  Different categories: National, State, Local, College.  College merit scholarships are usually not posted on FC. (Exception: WUSL, Davidson, UVA, Emory)  Let us know of any scholarships awarded. (Including college merit awards)  Be neat, type them up.  Apply apply apply.  Similar procedure as college application (envelope, transcript request form).  Student should write thank you note.  A word about the awards ceremony. 20

Quick Family Connections Demonstration  Colleges I’m thinking about  Colleges I’m applying to  Upcoming college visits  Scholarships  Scattergrams  College Match 21

Please Keep In Mind…  Responsible for sending SAT/ACT scores. Not sent by HS.  OK for colleges to receive things in stages.  10 Day Rule  Overlap between us sending it out and colleges recording it.  Rutgers. Self reporting. (Many larger schools are)  Transcript request during common lunch only.  Check FC for status  Responsible for registering for selective service  Responsible for registering for NCAA Eligibility Center 22

How parents can support through the process  Make sure student schedules Sr. Conference  Remind: important Dates  Remind: College visits  Keep ‘em on track.  Keep us in the loop.  Honest conversations with students about $$ 23

Final Thoughts  Guidance has resources on non-college options.  Clean up digital dirt (i.e.. Facebook, Twitter)  Use Scattergrams on Family Connections.  Colleges review final transcripts and can rescind admissions decisions.  Follow me on twitter??  We are here to help! 24