1. East Granby High School
Junior Planning Night
February 13, 2018

2. Tonight’s Focus
Timeline: What should we be doing now through the end of summer?
Researching Colleges
Standardized Testing
EGHS Application Process
Other Post-Secondary Options

3. Timeline February - June
Schedule Individual Junior Planning Meeting with your school counselor (Starting in February)
Register / Prepare for AP exams
Register / Prepare for SAT, Subject Tests and ACT
Schedule College Visits

4. Timeline continued
May/June
Resume (if not already completed through school counseling lesson)
Begin College Essay
Continue to Research and Visit Colleges
Preliminary college list
Ask two teachers to write a letter of recommendation for you in the fall

5. Timeline . . . continued Over the Summer…
Continue to research and visit colleges
Make all necessary revisions to your main essay
Register on the commonapp website
Begin filling out college applications
Fine tune the list of schools you will be applying to in the Fall.

6. A Good Decision Requires Information
Gather information about yourself (Naviance)
strengths, weaknesses, abilities, interests
Gather information about colleges
Admission statistics
Location
Size
Majors/ Programs
Financial Aid
Retention, Graduation Rate & Employment Rate

7. How to finalize your college list?
Video Clip
How to finalize your college list?
Stephanie Balmer, Dean of Admissions
Dickinson College

8. Reach, Realistic and Safety
How many is too many?

9. What Resources Are Available here at EGHS?
School Counselor/School Counseling website
Collegeboard
Naviance
“The Guide”
Open House visits
College Rep. visits at EGHS

10. Standardized Testing SAT SAT II: Subject Tests ACT
All students should set a goal to have all of their standardized testing completed by November of their senior year.

11. Remaining SAT and Subject Test Dates
Test Date Test Offered Registration Late Fee Deadline March 10th SAT Only Feb 9th February 28th May 5th SAT & Subject Tests April 6th April 25th June 2nd SAT & Subject Tests May 3rd May 23rd It is the student’s responsibility to know which tests are required by each college

12. Remaining ACT Dates Test Date Registration Late Fee Deadline
April 14th March 9th March 23rd
June 9th May 4th May 18th
July 14th June 15th, 2018 June 22nd

13. Sending SAT and ACT Score
Students must contact the testing agency to request scores to be sent to each college.
EGHS does not report SAT or ACT scores on the transcript.
SAT -
ACT –

14. EGHS College Application Process
Expectations (timely manner, be responsible and always ask)
How to Apply (commonapp vs. individual college website)
Components of the Application (application, resume, recommendations, essay, transcript, transcript request form)

15. Resume – Things to Include
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
PERFORMING ARTS ACTIVITIES
YEARBOOK
SPORTS: Varsity/JV and any out-of-school clubs or experiences
COMMUNITY SERVICE
OUTSIDE of SCHOOL LEARNING EXPERIENCES
OTHER ACTIVITES (i.e. religious activities, hobbies, clubs, etc.)
SUMMER or SPECIAL TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
EMPLOYMENT
HONORS and AWARDS

16. Teacher Recommendations
School Counselor recommendation
Two Teacher Recommendations
Ask your teachers, in person, prior to leaving in June.
Follow-up…thank you notes

17. Getting Started on the Essay
Brainstorm essay ideas with parents, teachers and friends.
Read the six essay prompts on the Common Application. (*new prompts will be released in March)
Think of an interesting story to tell that answers one of the prompt and reveals something about you not already shared in your application.
Work on your story over the summer. Good essays evolve and take many edits.
Be concise, honest , and creative. Make sure your essay answers the prompt.
Check supplemental writing questions for each individual college – do not short change these!

18. Transcript Request Form

19. When to Apply Early Decision I & II Early Action
Restrictive Early Action
Regular Decision
Rolling Admission

20. Expectations Students are expected to: Complete college applications
Complete all processing forms (transcript request form) in a timely manner –two weeks processing time
Check regularly
Communicate with their school counselor and teachers for support, questions or requests

21. What Will the Counselor Send?
Transcript
School Profile
Secondary School Report Form
Counselor Recommendation
Teacher Recommendations (only for non-commonapp schools)

22. What is Federal Student Aid?
Financial Aid
What is Federal Student Aid?
Federal student aid comes from the federal government— specifically, the U.S. Department of Education. It’s money that helps a student pay for education expenses at a postsecondary school (e.g., college, vocational school, graduate school).
The four categories of federal student aid are:
• Grant—Grant money usually doesn’t have to be repaid. Most U.S. Department of Education grants are based on the student’s financial need.
• Scholarship—U.S. Department of Education scholarship money is awarded based on a student’s academic achievement and does not have to be repaid.
• Work-study—Work-study money is earned by a student through a job on or near campus while attending school and does not have to be repaid.
• Loan—Loan money must be repaid with interest. 
Rising Seniors and Parents: mark your calendars. College Goal Sunday is a free onsite program that helps students and families complete the free application for Federal Student Aid. The form that is required to apply for financial assistance for higher education. 

23. Financial Aid
Collegeboard.com CollegeNET Horatio Alger Association BestColleges.com College Scholarship Database Fastweb Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Scholarships for Minority Students African-American Affairs Commission Scholarship Information

24. Options? Military Community College Vocational/Trade School
Cosmetology School
Employment
Gap Year

25. Lastly……. Keep the process in perspective Work together as a family
Students must take ownership
Discuss finances openly
Start early and meet all deadlines