1. College Planning - An Overview
Presented by GVHS Counselors:
Mr. Chip Harvey
Ms. Anna Saracino

2. 11th Grade Milestones Fall/Spring
Register Online for Entrance Exams (SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests)
Familiarize Yourself with Naviance and College Websites
Search for Colleges & Research GOOD FIT Schools
Develop Preliminary List of Schools
Build Your Resume
Visit Colleges (Great time- Spring Break!)
Attend College Fairs (NACAC National College Fair – November 12, 2017 and Main Line College Fair at Villanova- April 9, 2018). The NACAC College Fair requires pre-registration.
Carefully Select Senior Year Courses
Request Letters of Recommendation from Teachers (spring)
DI/DII Potential Athletes- Register with NCAA Clearinghouse

3. Summer Between Junior & Senior Year
Spring/Summer
Investigate/Enroll in summer programs (late winter/early spring)
Review list of summer programs in NAVIANCE under “colleges tab”
Finalize list of colleges/universities (6-10)
Summer/Fall
Locate and complete applications online at the individual college admissions website or on Common Application ( or Coalition Application (
Look at essay topic requirements and work on essays (April-Aug 2018)
Begin working on school-specific applications (after August )
Prepare for any additional standardized tests and sign up online
Over 800 colleges and universities accept the common application

4. 12th Grade Milestones Fall
Attend Senior Student & Parent Night (early September)
Meet with your Counselor for senior meeting
Scheduled by the counseling office 2nd week of September thru mid-October
Request that your school packet and transcript be sent to each college where you will apply online thru a link in NAVIANCE
School Packet includes Transcript, Secondary School Report (data sheet), Counselor Letter of Rec, School Profile, Teacher(s) Letters’ of Rec
Must be requested 15 calendar days before materials need to be at college
PENN STATE EXAMPLE

5. 12th Grade Milestones Continued
Fall
Follow up with teachers writing on your behalf by using the teacher letter of recommendation follow up form (in counseling and on Naviance)
Take any additional SAT/ACT/SAT Subject tests (by October)
Send test scores to each college where you will apply
Submit applications well before deadline date (by end of November for Rolling Admission deadlines) a few southern state school have 10/15 deadlines if you would like to be considered for scholarship money
Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, Rolling, Priority

6. Important Factors in Admission Decision
High School Transcript (Academic Record)!!!
Grades and Rigor are the most important factors
Senior year courses should reflect ability and interests
Senior year grades are shared with colleges in the Mid-Year report
Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests)
Review requirements on Naviance or on school’s webpage
YOU- Who Are You As a Person!?
Essay(s), Interviews (if required/recommended), Letters of Rec, Resume
Application
Completed and submitted online

7. Taking Entrance Exams (SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests)
When?
Recommended first test dates - SAT March ACT - Feb or April
Refer to NAVIANCE or test websites for full list of test dates and locations
Register for exams online
SAT & Subject Test Registration:
ACT Registration:
Does my school require Subject Tests?
View link to determine the answer:
Some Schools do NOT require test scores
Test optional schools:

8. The College Search
Goal – Develop Preliminary List of Schools This Year
Identify Good Fit Characteristics
size, location, major, activities, strength of program, learning env., etc.
Use College Search Sites to Narrow List
CollegeBoard, Naviance, Petersons, Cappex, Princeton Review, etc.
VISIT Colleges (small, big, city, rural, etc.)
Attend College Fairs
Selection Process (foundational, target, reach)
Narrow List! (subjective and objective research)

9. VISIT COLLEGES Great time to visit- SPRING BREAK!
See school when students are on campus- ask questions~
Sign up for a tour with the admissions office by calling the school in advance or some schools offer online registration.
Bring a Notebook!
Jot down your likes and dislikes as SOON as you leave campus
Your impressions of a school are important and will help you to determine good fit and factors of importance. Your notes may help in making a decision about where to apply and enroll

10. Build Your Resume
Include activities, jobs and volunteer hours that you have been involved with since the beginning of 9th grade
Use appropriate grammar (you are not texting!!!)
Take on leadership roles and stay involved
Consider a summer program that is related to your career goals or that is on a college campus of interest
Example resumes available in NAVIANCE
Resume tab available to document experiences in NAVIANCE

11. Letters of Recommendation
Ask 2 teachers to write you a letter of recommendation
When to ask!? Right after Spring Break !
Use “GVHS Request for Letter of Recommendation” form
Ask Major Subject Teachers
Math, English, Science, Social Studies, World Language
Consider the major you might pursue in college
Follow up with recommenders during the first 2 weeks of senior year
Use “Recommendation Letter Follow-Up” form!
All forms are available in the counseling office or they may be printed from Naviance (in the document library, junior or senior folder)
Remember to say “THANK YOU” to your recommenders after receiving your college decisions spring of senior year!

12. Potential DI/DII Athletes
REGISTER with NCAA at:
Request that your transcript be sent to NCAA the summer after junior year & after graduation using the GVHS transcript request form
Review NCAA core-course requirements to ensure you are on track to meet academic NCAA requirements
Send your test scores (SAT &/or ACT) to the NCAA
Enter the code 9999 each time you register to take the exam

13. Acceptances and Decisions
When!?
Rolling Schools- response within 2-3 weeks or more
Early Action/Early Decision- response before winter break usually
Regular Decision- response before April 1st
How
Most schools post application decisions online
Many schools mail a decision in the mail
National Decision Day!
Students must commit to a school no later than May 1st of senior year
Some colleges do not guarantee housing if you wait until 5/1
Consider your financial aid package with decisions (next slide)

14. Financial Aid FAFSA CSS Profile Local Scholarships Fastweb Database
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Apply for a FSA ID in September of senior year or earlier
Complete FASFA in October of senior year
Complete online:
CSS Profile
Required by many private colleges and universities to determine your eligibility for non-government financial aid, such as the institution's own grants, loans and scholarships
Can be completed in the fall of senior year
Completed online:
Local Scholarships
late winter of senior year
Fastweb Database

15. Questions