SENIOR YEAR Countdown to College September 2015

What you need to know…..  Where should I be right now in the application process?  Admissions categories  Requesting a transcript  Requesting a recommendation  The Common App and other online applications  University of Maryland application  Financial Aid

SeptIdentify schools of high interest Organize and begin applications/Common App Begin Transcript Request Forms Request LOR from Teachers/Counselor OctBegin essays Begin investigating financial aid Nov-DecMeet deadlines Dec-JanComplete FAFSA (Opens January 1 st ) Continue pursuing financial aid Jan-MarCollect and organize acceptances Make your decision Apr-MayPay deposit Jun-AugAttend open house; pack your bags! SeptBegin college

By NOW, you should have:  Registered for, or printed out, applications for each of your schools  Made plans to conduct final visits  Registered for the October ACT or SAT, if necessary. Take advantage of sending 3 score reports to schools when you sign up!  Filled out the Counselor Recommendation & ed to Mrs. McKeiver  Chosen additional teachers/community leaders to write recommendations, notified them and sent them a completed copy of the Recommendation Form

This month and next:  Refine your list of colleges and organize yourself by identifying deadlines, compiling your academic resume, reviewing essays topics, noting application check-lists  Request transcripts from Mrs. McKeiver at least 10 (ten) school days prior to the date they are due  List financial aid options and their deadlines: Federal, state, local, college-based and lending institutions. Keep checking the CHS newsletter and your online resources  Fill out appropriate college financial aid forms

Moving into fall, winter & spring…  Consider attending the College Fair on Monday, October 5 th at Carroll Community College, particularly if you are undecided  Consider attending the “College 101” night at CHS on Wednesday, March 16th  Parents should review the FAFSA in Dec, organize their financial info and COMPLETE the online FAFSA form beginning January 1st, 2015  Regional Financial Aid night to be announced…  Continuing exploring financial aid options and keep your grades UP

Admissions terms and benefits:  Rolling – Find out early and find out quickly  Generally utilized at smaller, less-selective schools  Applications are reviewed and decided upon in order of receipt  Acceptances begin now and run well into next spring, space permitting.  Early Decision- Some statistical advantage but financially risky  LEGALLY binding  Only permitted to submit one  Often due by November 1 st  If a student is admitted to the college, the student must cancel all other applications

Admissions terms (cont.)  Early Action- Some statistical advantage, find out sooner, have time to reconsider options  Usually due November 1 st  Applicant will receive an answer by early January  Can apply Early Action to as many schools as you wish  Denials often rolled over to regular admissions window  Regular Decision  Due between Dec and February  Students receive an answer by mid to late March  Commitment deadline usually May 1

Requesting a transcript  Visit the School Counseling Office and fill out a Transcript Request Form or print one from our website  The first three transcripts are FREE. After that, the cost is $2.00 per transcript  Minimum of 10 SCHOOL DAYS to process a transcript  If a Secondary School Report is required by your school, and if it must be completed by hand, please attach it to your transcript request  Many secondary school reports are part of schools’ online process and DO NOT have to be attached

The Secondary School Report  An important part of your application that is submitted by the high school  It includes critical information: GPA, rank, character & academic scales, a general recommendation and more.  If a PAPER secondary school report is your only option, turn it in with the transcript request form  If your are doing an online application, or the Common App, be sure YOU understand how the Secondary School Report will get to Century HS: Is it printed it out, auto- ed, or do counselors have to log-on to access it

Recommendation letters  If a counselor recommendation letter is needed:  Visit the school website (  Click on the “School Counseling” Tab  Then click “Frequently Used Forms”  Open the Senior Recommendation Request Form  Complete the Senior Recommendation Request form AND the Senior Activity Form  After completing the forms, the complete document to Mrs. McKeiver at and to any teacher you have spoken to about a

The general ONLINE application process 99.99% of applications will be online. Your piece : Personal information, academic resume, essay, SAT/ACT/AP scores (must be ordered by student), application fee, and more Our piece :Secondary school report, counselor recommendation, transcript, character/academic scales, etc. We do not provide standardized test scores Teacher piece : Recommendation, character/academic rating scales 1. Log-in and note your name and password (can log on with us) 2. Be sure you know how to get the secondary school report to CHS 3. Feel comfortable following-up with Ms. McKeiver and your Counselor with questions 4. Keep track of the status of your application and deadlines 5. Pay attention to check-lists and KNOW what each school requires

The Common Application  Determine which of your schools accept the Common App  Complete student information portion online  Invite your Counselor and teacher(s) of choice – this allows them to complete their portion of the form  Minimum of 15 School Days to complete these forms  Complete a Transcript Request Form – found on the CHS website or in guidance. List all schools on one page

University of Maryland  DO NOT click the opt-out box. Read the instructions carefully – you want to complete this application online, so follow directions exactly  Minimum of 15 school days notice required for counselor to complete the online reports  Must apply by November 1 st – their Priority Application

Primary sources of financial aid  Federal and state programs (usually need- based)  Colleges and universities (both merit and need- based)  Scholarships from local, state and national organizations  Lending institutions: banks, credit unions  Businesses and professional organizations (Am. Society of Engineers, Nike, Am. Physical Society)

Financial Aid  Read the School Counseling Newsletter for scholarship opportunities  Join one or two financial websites; monitor closely.  Regional Financial Aid Workshop--TBA  Complete the FAFSA Form after January 1 st  Approach your college to see what aid opportunities are available  Meet with a rep from your family’s bank to discuss options

The Ideal Scenario…. ALL of your paperwork (Transcript, Secondary School Report, Counselor Recommendation Form) is sent to the college at the same time OR All of your paperwork is submitted electronically (preferred by colleges)

SeptIdentify schools of high interest Organize and begin applications/Common App Fill out Guidance Forms OctRequest recommendations personally Begin essays Begin investigating financial aid Nov-DecMeet deadlines Dec-JanComplete FAFSA Continue pursuing financial aid Jan-MarCollect and organize acceptances Make your decision Apr-MayPay deposit Jun-AugAttend open house; pack your bags! SeptBegin college

SeptIdentify schools of high interest Organize and begin applications/Common App Begin Transcript Request Forms Request LOR from Teachers/Counselor OctBegin essays Begin investigating financial aid Nov-DecMeet deadlines Dec-JanComplete FAFSA (Opens January 1 st ) Continue pursuing financial aid Jan-MarCollect and organize acceptances Make your decision Apr-MayPay deposit Jun-AugAttend open house; pack your bags! SeptBegin college

Counselor's Corner Be sure to sign-up on our website!!