1. College Application Process State College Area High School
The
College Application Process
State College Area High School
Class of 2019
Ms. Parkes (A-Co) Mr. Guthoff (Cr-G)
Mr. Brigman (H-K), Mrs. Chamberlain (L-N)
Mr. Eckberg (O-Si) Mr. McCurdy (Sk-Z)
Mrs Dodson - Counseling Secretary
September 2018

2. Goals For This Presentation
Provide details about the process of submitting college applications
Provide preliminary information about applying for Financial Aid and Scholarships
Know that we are here to help and support you in this process. ASK US!

3. YOU MUST CHECK YOUR SCASD EMAIL FREQUENTLY !!!!
IMPORTANT!!!
YOU MUST CHECK YOUR SCASD FREQUENTLY !!!!
THIS IS THE WAY WE WILL CONTACT YOU AND SHARE INFORMATION WITH YOU ABOUT COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES, GRADUATION INFORMATION, ETC.
ALSO…
Check out the Counseling college planning and college admissions/application links on the high school website for additional info.

4. This is Your Responsibility!
As a graduating senior, it is your responsibility to meet all college entrance deadlines and submit all required information!
Please be aware of “internal” deadlines in our Counseling Office.
Communication, research, and following directions will be the key to success!

5. Where are you now?
SAT or ACT: Late deadline for October test is 9/26/18
List of schools and their Application due dates?
College visits?
Research college websites & application procedures? (are SAT Subject tests required, etc?) Do you fit their profile?
Have you registered with the NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER and requested your transcript to be sent if you plan to play sports at the collegiate level?
Re-read the College Planning Booklet.

6. Penn State & PSU Schreyer Honors College
TYPES OF APPLICATIONS
Penn State & PSU Schreyer Honors College
Common Application
Other – Coalition, SendEdu, PASSHE Schools, Private Schools

7. Regular PSU Application
Go to admissions.psu.edu
Create a MyPennState Profile – if you already have a Penn State user id, use that.
Go to “Apply” and complete the online application.
Follow specific PSU application directions-- provided separately (will be ed out, posted online, and hard copies are available in the Counseling Office).
Early Action Deadline: November 1st. Dec 24 notification!
Priority Deadline: January 31 notification
Make sure your SAT and/or ACT scores are sent directly to Penn State from the testing agency (it takes 2-3 weeks at least).
We recommend that you complete the “optional” personal statement.

8. PSU Application - New Process
Key Changes:
SRAR - Self Reported Academic Record
Transcripts will no longer need to be requested for the application process (PSU ONLY)
You must select an alternate campus in addition to your first choice
PSU will request final transcript to verify your SRAR (after you have accepted your admission to PSU)

9. PSU - After application is submitted
Check your MyPennState account regularly – you will be notified there if anything is missing.
Admissions decision will be made around or by December 24th, if completed application is submitted by November 1st.
November 30 applications will be notified by January 31, 2019.
Some application decisions may take longer.

10. Schreyer Honors College
Complete regular PSU application on-line.
Schreyer accesses all academic info via SRAR.
Indicate that you want to complete the Schreyer on- line application when prompted.
Another application fee is required.
Reminder: Have your counselor’s and teachers’ s handy for requesting recommendations.
Recommendations need to be requested 3 working weeks (15 school days) before due date—Counselor Composite packet must be complete at that time for recommendation to be written by counselor.
Schreyer does not use SAT/ACT test scores in their decisions.

11. Common Application
The “Common App” is an online college admissions application that may be used to apply to any of nearly 800 colleges in the US and around the world. Application information need only be completed once, then it is sent electronically to the schools to which you apply.
To complete the application you will need: copy of HS transcript; list of activities/sports/jobs/volunteer hours; test scores and dates; parent/guardian information; recommenders’ names and addresses
Go to to begin

12. Common Application
Get teachers’ permission before submitting their names as recommenders.
Invite your recommenders ASAP (usually 1-2 teachers and a counselor/LE teacher)
Waiving your right to read recommendations is strongly recommended.
Print out a hard copy for your records.
Complete a Transcript Request Form for each Common Application School – See Mrs Dodson.
Complete Counselor Composite information for counselors—must be in to Counseling office 3 working weeks (15 school days) before due date.
We do not rank
There are 551 students in the class of 2019; we have a 4.0 grading scale and always use your weighted GPA.

13. Inviting your recommenders:

14. Waiving Your Rights

15. Other types of Applications
Coalition, SendEdu, PASSHE Schools (Lock Haven, Bloomsburg, etc.)
Some schools prefer/require you to complete their own application
Each application is a bit different, follow the directions carefully and take your time
Sign a Transcript Request form for each college to which you apply (except PSU regular admission)!
Flow charts available for each different “kind” of application.

16. See your counselor if you have any questions.
Fee Waivers
If you receive free or reduced lunch, please speak to your counselor (or Mrs. Dodson) for fee waivers for college applications, SAT’s, etc.
See your counselor if you have any questions.

17. Application Essay Many colleges require an essay or essays.
You may want to seek help from your English teacher, the Writing Center, or another resource.
Read the College Planning Book about the essay or go to educationplanner.org, collegeboard.com, or use other online resources.
Have at least one person proofread your essay. Make sure that you are coming across the way you intended.

18. Recommendations PSU regular app. does not require recommendations.
Teacher recommendation—any 9th through 12th 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 – Paul Brigman, Bethany Chamberlain, Jill Campbell, Jen Rand, Sheila Abbruzo (or any counselor/LE teacher with whom you have been working).
If you need a Counselor letter of recommendation, then you will need to fill out the Counselor Composite packet and complete the Evaluators Request Form.

19. Recommendations continued…..
Other colleges that require recommendations state that teachers and counselors may mail/upload recommendations separately. You will need to provide the teacher/counselor addresses to these colleges on your application.
Waive your right to read the recommendation. Understand what this means.

20. Counselor Composite Packet – pick this up in the Counseling Office
College
Application
To-Do
List
Evaluator’s
Request
Form
Information
For
Letter Of
Recommendation
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 (15 school days) before the recommendation is due

21. General Application Information
Review prospective school list: FIT, REACH, SAFETY
Apply to at least one “safety” school that is both academically and financially safe.
Try to limit your applications to colleges.
Make a detailed checklist for each college application – this is critical to help keep track of deadlines and the various parts of each application.

22. Counseling Office Team
* Treat them well *
Mrs. Dodson

23. Transcript Request Form When you come in to request your transcript, please have the following information: Names of college/university, your due dates, names of recommenders.

24. Transcript Request Form
You must complete a transcript request form for each college/institution that needs your transcript with Ms. Dodson in the Counseling Office in order to have your transcript submitted. (Transcripts are free for current students.)
THE ONLINE FORM IS ONLY FOR GRADUATES OF STATE HIGH. Do not use this online request form!
Make sure your request is in at least 3 weeks (15 school days) before it is due.

25. Admission Plans
Rolling admission – decisions are made on a “rolling” basis as applications are received
Early decision – Legally binding contract that if accepted, applicants are obligated to attend a school to which they apply under this plan. Decisions are made earlier than under other plans.
Early action – admission decisions are made early, but applicants are NOT obligated to attend
Regular decision – there is a single deadline and all decisions are made at the same time

26. DEADLINES:
Note: For both transcripts and recommendations, make sure that you give the counseling office and your counselor at least 3 weeks (15 school days) notice. PSU App should be submitted by Oct. 31st to be safe.
Early Decision and Early Action applications that are due November 1st must be submitted to us by Oct. 11th to be on time.
December 31st or January 1st due dates must be submitted to us by December 1st due to the holiday break.
Jan. 15th due dates must be submitted to us by Dec. 18th (due to holiday break).
Feb. 1st due dates must be submitted by Jan. 11th to our office.

27. Common Mistakes On College Applications
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 miss a deadline.
You forget to ask for teacher and/or counselor recommendations.
You forget to hit the submit button!!!!!!!!!!!

28. Financial Aid
Review the Financial Aid section in the College Planning Guide pages and check out the financial aid link on the HS Counseling website.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after Oct. 1st, 2018 to apply for grants, loans and work/study.
Create a FSA ID at: out/fsaid
Fill out CSS Financial Aid Profile if required by the college (many private colleges require this).

29. Financial Aid
PSU students should complete their FAFSA on the web by February 15th for maximum financial aid consideration.
Make sure you meet deadlines for other schools.
Visit for a preliminary financial aid estimate.
Use the Net Price Calculator for each school to estimate costs.
Attend financial aid nights:
Penn State Financial Aid Night –October 2 - LGI room @7pm
PHEAA/Financial Aid Webinar – October 7 pm

30. Scholarship Search
Comprehensive Scholarship Information -
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency -
State High Senior Scholarships –applications not available online until March of 2019
Resources in Counseling Office and on the Counseling website under the financial aid link
Employment/religious affiliations/military
Many colleges award significant merit financial aid, so do NOT be deterred by the sticker price.
College specific scholarships can be found on the college websites sometime in mid-fall/early winter

31. College Visits at State High & Additional Scholarship Information
Go to the State High Counseling webpage
Select College Planning (left side)
Select College Visits
Select Financial Aid and Scholarship Sites (left side)

32. TRANSCRIPTS
Please check your transcript to make sure that it is accurate and that you meet high school graduation requirements. It’s important to ensure that transcripts are accurate before we send them out to colleges.
22.5 credits needed to graduate:
- 4 credits in English and History
- 3 credits in Science and Math
- 1.8 credits in Phys. Ed.
- 1.0 credits in Health
-.20 credits in Driver’s Ed.
- 5.5 credits in Electives
- Graduation Project (pass/fail)
- 20 Community Service Hours (pass/fail)

33. F.O.R.M. Consulting
A student organization at Penn State, F.O.R.M. works with high-achieving students who identify with underrepresented demographic groups, as low- income, and/or as first-generation. We provide mentorship throughout the post-secondary application process, from helping mentees choose the best fit for them, through helping them earn financial aid. Feel free to reach out to our organization's at:

34. QUESTIONS ????