1. East Granby High School
Junior Planning Night
February 06, 2019

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 March)
Prepare for AP exams
Take state SAT at EGHS
Register / Prepare for SAT, Subject Tests and ACT
Schedule College Visits

4. Timeline . . . continued Resume Begin College Essay
May/June
Resume
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
Register for summer/fall SAT/ACT

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. Inside College Admissions
Video Clip
Inside College Admissions
Eric Furda, Dean of Admissions
University of Pennsylvania

8. Reach, Realistic and Safety
What is the average number of applications?

9. What Resources Are Available here at EGHS?
School Counselor/School Counseling website
Collegeboard
Naviance
“EGHS Post-Secondary Planning Guide”
Open House visits
College Rep. visits at EGHS
National College Fair

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 9th SAT Only Feb 8th February 27th May 4th SAT & Subject Tests April 5th April 24th June 1st SAT & Subject Tests May 3rd May 22nd 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 13th March 8th March 25th
June 8th May 3rd May 20th
July 13th June 14th June 24th

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
One or two Teacher Recommendations
Ask your teachers, in person, prior to leaving in June.
Use the Teacher Recommendation Form
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 questions 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.
Make sure an adult edits your essays!
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 Regular Decision
Rolling Admission

20. Expectations Students are expected to: Complete college applications
Complete all processing forms (transcript request form, teacher recommendation form) in a timely manner –two weeks processing time
Check regularly
Communicate with your 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. Video Clip Types of Financial Aid

24. 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

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

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