1. Help your student understand the college search process 2. Be realistic and non-judgmental 3. Be in the "back seat" - and not the driver - of the college search process 4. Be open to dialogue and responsive to questions 5. Be aware of deadlines and fees due 6. Know that things have changed since your college days 7. Don’t over-emphasize your own alma maters 8. Don’t compare your student with others 9. Don’t dwell on disappointments, like a rejection letter 10. Celebrate successes!

_____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________  Guidance Time Line ◦ September 29: College Fair ◦ October 14: Senior Day ◦ November 2: Fin. Aid Night ◦ November 10: Spring DC Reg. ◦ January 29: LSC Tomball Visit  Senior Handbook ◦ (On Guidance Website— listed under Senior Year) WELCOME

 College Visit Days— Seniors get 3 to use this year  CLHS is a non-ranking school—we do rank the top 10%  GPA – updated in Family Connection  GPA Scale —4.0 weighted  School Profile must accompany official transcripts  Need an Unofficial Transcript? See Mrs. Carpenter, the Registrar  What if my student is in the first quartile and could get automatic acceptance if we ranked him/her?  Write “Thank You” notes to anyone who helped you on your college visit  Write “Thank you” notes to any teacher who assists your student in the college process (ex: letter of recommendation)

 Community College?  4 year university?  Technical College?  Culinary School?  Art Institute?  Gap Year?

In-Depth Look at the College Application Process 1. College Checklist 2. Application Deadlines  Application  Scholarship  Financial Aid  Housing 3. On-Line Applications ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Each university’s own web page 4. Essays Helpful hints given to seniors in Senior Handbook 5. Résumé  ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________

In-Depth Look at the College Application Process 6. Transcript Requests 7. LSC DC Transcripts 8. Recommendation Letters * Information found in Senior Handbook on how to request these in Family Connection  _________________________________________________  __________________________________________  _______________________________________

In-Depth Look at the College Application Process 9. SAT/ACT Test Scores ◦ ◦ Is your student applying to a Texas public college/university?  TSI is req’d if not exempt  ACT: Math: 19-22; English & Reading: 19; Composite: 23  SAT: Math ; CR: 500+; Writing: 500+; Composite of CR & M: 1070  ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ______________________  ________________________ ________________________

In-Depth Look at the College Application Process 11. College Interviews 12. Financial Aid  In December: ◦ Parents/Students get PIN numbers  In January: ◦ Get taxes done  By Mid-February: ◦ Finish the online FAFSA ◦ Money goes very quickly **CSS Profile may be required by some selective universities—form can be found at  ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________  ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________

 Aug. 26 & 27: Cap & Gown Orders (Contact Jostens)  End of February: Receive Cap and Gown  By April 1: 2 different pictures of each senior: ◦ (G. Michael will provide 1 formal portrait of each senior) ◦ Ideas:  Pictures of senior involved in activities here at CLHS—Senior Year Only  Outside activities senior is involved in—Senior Year Only  Pictures must be clear and can include other seniors in the picture  Please do NOT scan formal portraits that are copyrighted  Sometime in April: Formal Senior Class Portrait will be taken  May 1: Candidate Reply Date  May 5: Senior College Pictures  By May 6: Request Final Transcript in Family Connection  May 2-13: AP exams  Week after DC class ends: Request transcript from LSC  May 27: Graduation Luncheon/Rehearsal  May 29: Graduation

 Website  s  Announcements  Classroom Visits  Senior Handbook