The College Application Process For State College High School Class of /2013 Mr. Brigman, Ms. Brindle, Mr. Lintal, Mrs Wolanski & Mrs. Dodson

YOU MUST CHECK YOUR SCASD FREQUENTLY !!!! THIS IS THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO CONTACT YOU AND SHARE INFORMATION WITH YOU ABOUT COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES, GRADUATION INFORMATION, ETC.

Are ultimately in charge of your college applications and making sure that you meet all of the requirements and due dates for each one. Communication, research, and following directions will be the key to success. GOOD LUCK!

Have you taken the SAT or ACT? ( over 850 schools that allow alternative SAT/ACT options for acceptance like graded work) Do you have a list of schools? Have you visited some of the schools? Have you looked at their websites & researched their application procedures and deadlines? (are SAT Subject tests required, etc?) Have you registered with NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER and requested your transcript to be sent if you plan to play sports at the collegiate level? If you are completely overwhelmed by these questions, then read your College Planning Booklet and start with 1 application.

How to Apply to College (Three basic types of applications) Penn State/Schreyer Honors College Common Application Other applications (on-line and paper)

Complete on-line application – a short personal statement is required. Bring in the Web Application Counselor Form---Mrs. Wolanski Sign a Transcript Request form--- Mrs. Wolanski Must choose a school and a major or DUS Fall admission vs. summer admissions Campus Choice College Prep Math 1-4= (Alg. 1, Alg. 2, & Geometry) Trig. Is required for Business, Engineering, Science, IST Advanced courses are equivalent to honors Foreign Language requirement - 2 yrs. to graduate from PSU Complete application by Oct. 31 st to be safe. SAT & ACT scores: YOU NEED to have them sent directly from College Board. It takes 2-3 weeks. PSU will not process your application without SAT scores.

Complete regular PSU application on-line Indicate that you want to complete the Schreyer on- line application. Complete Transcript Request form w/ Mrs. Dodson in the Counseling Office. Reminder: Have your counselor’s and teachers’ s handy for requesting recommendations. Recommendations need to be requested 3 working weeks before due date—Green Sheet must be complete at that time for recommendation to be written by counselor. This application is a tremendous amount of work. Here are the stats from last year: 83 applied, 21 were accepted and 15 are attending.

Go to each College Website before applying and check for supplements. The info is on the Common Application website as well. Read all directions regarding Common Application. Get teachers’ permission before submitting their names as recommenders. Invite your recommenders online (usually 1-2 teachers and a counselor) Waiving your right-to-privacy is strongly recommended. Print out a hard copy for your records. Complete a Transcript Request for each Common Application School – See Mrs Wolanski. Complete Green Sheet information for counselors—must be into Counseling office 3 working weeks before due. We do not rank There are 602 students in the class of 2014 and we have a 4.0 grading scale and always give your weighted GPA

Most apps are on-line. Make sure you print out all forms for teachers and counselors and give them to the appropriate people. (Usually found under a “secondary forms” section on the application) Each application is a bit different, follow the directions and take your time. If you bring in your entire application to be mailed you need to bring in a large envelope with 4 stamps and addressed. Sign a Transcript Request form for each college! Flow charts available for each different “kind” of application.

If you receive free or reduced lunch, please see your counselor (or Mrs. Wolanski) for fee waivers for college applications, SAT’s, etc.

Many colleges require essay(s). You may want to seek help from your English teacher. Read the College Planning Book about the essay on pages or go to educationplanner.org or collegeboard.com or use resources in counseling office. Schreyer Honors College of PSU requires three essays - begin them now! Have at least one person proof your essay. Make sure that you are coming across the way you intended.

If you need a counselor recommendation for any college you are applying to, make sure that you have completed these forms at least 3 weeks before the recommendation is due College Application To-Do List Information For Letter Of Recommendation In – House Evaluation Forms (4)

PSU does not require recommendations, with the exception of Schreyer Honors College. Teacher recommendation—any 9 th through 12 th grade teacher may write a recommendation. Teachers write about you in their classroom, counselors write a composite recommendation about you. Some colleges will require specific subject teachers. Counselor recommendation –Ms. Brindle,Mr. Brigman, Mr. Lintal or Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Donovan or Ms Herrmann. (or any counselor you have been working with). If you need a letter of recommendation you will need to fill out the Green Sheet packet and have 3- 4 teachers fill out white in- house evaluation sheets (returned to us).

Some colleges want to receive recommendations and transcripts together. If this is what the college requires, then all documents must be sent from the counseling office (you provide the 9x12 self-addressed stamped envelope with 4 stamps). Other colleges that require recommendations state that teachers and counselors may mail/ recommendations separately. Waive your right to read the recommendation.

Apply online if possible. Apply to at least one “safety” school that is both academically and financially safe. Try to limit your applications to colleges. The average application fee is $50 per application. Apply as early as possible to get maximum consideration. Make a detailed checklist for each college application.

Counseling Office Team * Treat them well *

You must complete a transcript request form for each college/institution that needs your transcript with Mrs. Wolanski in the North Counseling Office in order to have your transcript submitted. Make sure your request is in at least 3 weeks before it is due.

School Report Forms (Counselor fills out) Early Decision Agreement Mid Year Report College Specific Financial Aid Forms Athletic Supplement Arts Supplement Final Report/Transcript

Paper Applications 9x12 envelope, addressed with 4 stamps Transcript/Mid Year Report A regular legal size envelope, addressed with 1 stamp is required to send all transcripts unless it is being sent to PSU, for the Common App, or through SENDedu

Rolling admission Early decision Early action Regular decision Note: For both transcript and recommendations, make sure that you give the counseling office and your counselor at least 3 weeks notice. Example, if the deadline is December 1 st have all your requests in by November 9 th.

PSU App should be submitted by Oct. 31 st to be safe Early Decision and Early Action applications that are due November 1 st must be submitted to us by Oct. 6 th to be on time December 31 st or January 1 st due dates must be submitted to us by December 2 nd due to the holiday break. Jan. 15 th due dates must be submitted to us before the holiday break. Feb. 1 st due dates must be submitted by Jan. 10 th to our office.

You apply to a college and never come to the counseling office to request your transcript to be sent from our HS to the college. You apply to a college and forget to send your SAT/ACT scores to the college. You apply to college and forget to download all the necessary forms. You miss a deadline. You forget to ask for teacher and/or counselor recommendations. You forget to hit the submit button.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student AID (FAFSA) soon after Jan 1st, A FAFSA is also needed for the parent/student loan process. Fill Out CSS Financial Aid Profile if required by the college (usually private colleges require this). PSU students should complete their FAFSA on the web by March 1 st for maximum financial aid consideration. Become familiar with the financial aid process. Read the financial aid section in the College Planning Book - pages Visit for a preliminary financial aid estimate. Attend financial aid nights: - PHEAA – webinar on Oct. 28 th, 7pm -Penn State Financial Aid – December 3 rd, 7pm South Aud.

Comprehensive Scholarship Information Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency State High Senior Scholarship Book –will be distributed early March, 2014 in your English classes Resources in North Counseling Office Employment/religious affiliations/military Many colleges give out hefty merit financial aid College specific scholarships can be found on the college websites sometime mid-fall/early winter

Go to Go to the high school main page Under the Welcome section in the middle of the page (in maroon), click on Headlines Click on College Visits and/or Scholarship Opportunities

You will receive a copy of your unofficial transcript in English class later this week. Please check this document to make sure that it is accurate and that it meets high school graduation requirements: 22.5 credits needed to graduate: - 4 credits in English and History - 3 credits in Science and Math credits in Phys. Ed credits in Health -.20 credits in Driver’s Ed credits in Electives - Graduation Project - 20 Community Service Hours

Transitioning from High School to College