1. College Planning Overview
Junior Parent Night
College Planning Overview

2. HHS Guidance Counselors Mrs
HHS Guidance Counselors Mrs. Tracy Encarnacao, District Director of Guidance
Mr. Bruce Powers
Mrs. Jami Dion
A - Castillo
McG – Pare
Mrs. Heather Brunner
Mrs. Melinda Cripps
Castro - Des
Park - Rom
Mrs. Susan Beaudoin
Mr. Andy Alsup
Dev - Her
Ros - Z
Mrs. Bonnie Levine
Ms. Stacey O’Brien
Hey – McC
Early College

3. Agenda Roadmap to College College Search Process
What’s in an Application?
Standardized Testing
Naviance
Financial Aid Overview

4. Roadmap to College Be proactive! Plan your route to college now!
Work a bit each month to help prepare for a smooth senior year

5. March/April Attend HHS college fair
March 13th- HHS Gymnasium - 6:30-8pm
Register for SAT or ACT
Develop a preliminary list of colleges
Visit college campuses
Meet with guidance counselor
If considering Div. I or II athletics, register with NCAA Eligibility Center (

6. May Attend a local college fair
May 1st- 6-8:30pm- Boston National College Fair
May 29th- 6:30-8:30pm- NEACAC Regional College Fair at Merrimack College
Don’t let your grades slip! This is the last full year of grades that colleges will see!
Think about which teachers you would want to write you a letter of recommendation
Take SAT or ACT
Continue visiting college campuses

7. June Take SAT/ACT or SAT Subject Tests
Meet with your guidance counselor to confirm that graduation requirements are all set
Think about the criteria that are important to you as you consider colleges
Get comfortable using Naviance
Search for meaningful summer job or volunteer opportunities

8. Summer Months Analyze SAT/ACT scores and plan for future testing
Create a list of schools with varying admissions competiveness as well as financially safe options
Continue to visit schools
Develop a resume
Create Common App account
Apply for FAFSA PIN
Work on college essay

9. Fall Timeline Sign up to meet with college reps
Meet with guidance counselor to review final college list and plan for deadlines
Attend Senior Parent Night
Follow up with teachers writing your letters of recommendation
Complete college essays and review them with an English teacher
Familiarize yourself with college admission deadlines

10. The College Search Process

11. Begin at the Beginning…
There is a path for everyone. Know your options!
Do your research- don’t rush the process
Do some self-reflection- what are strengths, weaknesses, values, interests?
Develop specific criteria for colleges
Utilize an online college search tool to help create that preliminary list of colleges
College Board-
Naviance-

12. Big Future (CollegeBoard)/College Search (Naviance)

13. What are the options for college?
How much training & education am I willing to get to achieve my career & life goals?
2-year Technical School or Community College
4-year University or College

14. 2-Year Technical & Community Colleges
Affordable
Transfer Options / MA Transfer Program
Licensure/Certification

15. 2-Year Admissions Requirements
High School Diploma
Completion of the Accu-placer exam

16. Community Colleges of MA
Provide well-rounded college experience
Campuses offer many of the same clubs and activities as 4-yr colleges
Many colleges have intercollegiate or club athletic teams
Smaller class sizes
MA Transfer

17. 4-Year Colleges and Universities
There are over 2,000 4-year colleges and universities in the country. Decide the factors that are important to you to help narrow down a list of schools that are a good match.

18. Location Far away or close to home? Urban vs. suburban vs. rural
Be sure to factor in the cost of travel if you plan to go far away

19. Size/Enrollment
Weigh the pros & cons of a small school vs. large university
Do you want to be a big fish in a small pond?
Do you want to blend in with the crowd in a lecture hall of 250+ students?

20. Programs of Study Not all schools have every academic major
Undecided? Be sure to look at schools that have all of your potential areas of interest!

21. Selectivity/Admission Requirements
Be realistic
Where do you stack up in comparison to admission requirements at a particular school?
What factors are important for admission?
What percentage of students are accepted each year?
Make sure your schools fall into one of three categories:
Reach
50/50
Probable

22. Cost
The investment of college is expensive. When finalizing your list of colleges; be sure to include schools which are “financially safe”.

23. What’s In an Application?

24. Parts of the Application
Essay
SAT/ACT scores
High school transcript
Letters of recommendation
Interview (depends on the school)
Application fee

25. What are Colleges Looking For?
Classes taken & quality of courses
GPA
Involvement
Standardized test scores
Essay/Letters of recommendation

26. College Applications 2 main types of applications Common Application
College-specific Application

27. Common Application www.commonapp.org
Accepted by over 500 colleges and universities
One general application & essay
Helps student organize all aspects of their applications
Many schools require a supplemental form- know what your school’s requirements are!
Letters of recommendation and transcripts are sent by Guidance Counselors through Naviance

28. College-Specific Applications
Can apply online or via paper application
Most colleges have copies of application available on their website

29. The Essay Choose topic wisely Keep focus on you
Common Application for Fall 2015 is available in August- start planning before senior year!

30. Letters of Recommendation
Ask teacher by May/June
What to consider:
Core academic subject
Teacher who can speak to your strengths as a student
Areas of weakness

31. Types of Deadlines Early Action Early Decision Regular Decision
Rolling Admission
Open Enrollment

32. Selective Programs Certain majors are more selective than others
Nursing, fine/performing arts, music
Additional materials may be required for admission
Portfolio
Auditions
Early admission deadlines
Know your requirements!!!

33. Standardized Testing

34. Standardized Tests
SAT Reasoning Test
SAT Subject Tests
ACT

35. Registration Deadline
Upcoming SAT Dates
Test Date
Registration Deadline
May 3, 2014
April 4, 2014
June 7, 2014
May 9, 2014
SAT is offered at Haverhill
$51- SAT Reasoning
$ $13 for each test- SAT Subject Tests
SAT is also available in October, November, and December.
Visit for updated information!

37. Registration Deadline
Upcoming ACT Dates
Test Date
Registration Deadline
April 12, 2014
March 7, 2014
June 4, 2014
May 9, 2014
September 13, 2014
TBA
October 25, 2014
$52.50 with writing section
Visit for updated information!

39. Naviance Manage and track all aspects of the admissions process.
Delivers all of the supporting documents for college applications
Provides valuable insight into the college admissions process with college search, scatter grams, scholarship information and college application statistics

40. Take A Career Interest Survey

41. Research Career Options

42. Perform a College Search Choose the criteria you are looking for in your ideal college

43. Research Schools

44. How do you Stack Up?

45. Keep Track of Schools You Are Considering

46. Financial Aid
The financial aid process may seem overwhelming, but you are not alone!!!

47. Two Types of Financial Aid
Merit-Based Aid
Awarded for academic, athletic, artistic talents
Need-Based Aid
Based upon financial need
Determined by standard methodology

48. Sources of Aid
Federal
State
College/University awards
Scholarships

49. Financial Aid Forms FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Required by all colleges
CSS PROFILE
Required by some colleges
Fee associated with application
Institutional Forms
Specific to some colleges in lieu of PROFILE

50. FAFSA

51. FAFSA PIN

52. FAFSA
FAFSA4caster can help estimate eligibility for federal student aid!!!

53. Financial Aid Resources
Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority
FinAid
FAFSA
Fast Web

54. Questions?