1. Benjamin N. Cardozo High School
Mr. Gerald Martori, Principal
Ms. Sheila Clark, Assistant Principal
Pupil Personnel Services

2. Junior Parent College Orientation Program
March 10, 2015

3. The Bernard Cohen College Advisory Service consists of the following staff:
Ms. Jackie Kucker, College Counselor/Coordinator of College Advisory Service
Ms. Barbra Klein, College Advisor
Ms. Nina Tricarico, College Advisor
Mr. Mark Bomer, Scholarship Coordinator
Ms. Pat Melbourne, Scholarships/CUNY Liaison/ College Office Support Staff
Ms. Lois Wirtheim, College Office Manager/College Office Support Staff

4. The College Office We are located in Room 151
Our phone number is (718)
Cardozo’s College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) code is
click on “College”

5. To all students of the class of 2016:
The College Advisory Service will supply the advice, information, and materials to help you make decisions about which colleges to apply to or to guide you to other post-Cardozo options
However, it is your responsibility to narrow your choices, apply to various schools, and then ultimately choose the school you will attend or option you will pursue!

6. We are ready for and eager to work with you:
Ms. Jackie Kucker: Abdallah - Lawson
Mrs. Nina Tricarico: Lee Rodriguez
Ms. Barbra Klein: Romelien - Zuniga

7. Some Basic Truths and Myths to Overcome
Ivy League and Tier 1 colleges
CUNY and SUNY (best buys)
Two-year colleges

8. Services offered by the College Office
Publishes “Annual Admissions Report”
Provides up-to-date admissions information
Provides orientation and information sessions
Provides individual student/parent interviews in the spring of junior year
Arranges college tours
Assists with summer programs
Provides in-school information sessions with college representatives in the fall

9. Services cont’d Hosts a College Fair in October
Hosts a Financial Aid Workshop in December
Writes detailed counselor recommendation letters
Processes college applications
Provides scholarship information and processes scholarship applications

10. Brief Calendar for Junior Year
Attend college admission sessions in E6 classes
Complete Junior Student Profile & Request for Appointment forms – Confidential issues
Attend College Office interview, preferably with parents
Attend Junior Parent Orientation assembly in March
Take SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, TOEFL, & Advanced Placement exams
Research programs of interest and visit colleges
Schedule rigorous senior program with guidance
counselor
Get involved in quality extracurricular activities
Apply to summer college programs

11. Brief Calendar for Senior Year
Begin online application process, including biographical information, college essays/personal statements, activity sheets, etc.
Attend application sessions in E7 classes
Complete Senior Profile Update, Autobiography, and Confidentiality Waiver
October 1 – Early Decision/Early Action
Attend College Night and other college fairs
End of 10/15 to mid-11/15 - Inform College Office of schools you are applying to
Re-take SAT Reasoning, Subject Tests, ACT, and TOEFL (if applicable)

12. Schedule college interviews (if available)
After 1/16 - File FAFSA and CSS Profile (if necessary)
1/15 - 4/15 - Colleges respond/offer financial aid packages
5/1 - Common Reply Date
Submit Final Forms to College Office!

13. Post-Secondary Opportunities
4 year colleges, universities, technical institutions
Community/Junior Colleges
Combined Bachelor’s and Graduate Programs – Sophie Davis, Brooklyn College BA/MD; Accounting at SUNY Buffalo,
Pharm-D at St. John’s
Joint Degree Programs 3/2 Engineering Adelphi/Columbia
Business and Trade Schools
Armed Forces
Professional Art and Music Schools (require either a portfolio, or live audition)

14. What tests to take? PSAT/NMSQT
Cardozo is not a test center for any standardized college
admission exam!
Cardozo’s code:
PSAT/NMSQT
SAT Reasoning Test – changing as of 3/16
SAT Subject Tests
ACT Test (with Writing)
Advanced Placement Exams
TOEFL
N.Y.S. Regents Exams

15. The College Application
CUNY
SUNY
Parchment
Early Decision
Early Action
Common Application
Send. Edu
School’s Website

16. What applicant information are colleges interested in?
What subjects have you taken?
How many years of each subject have you taken?
Have you taken Honors courses? Advanced Placement courses? Special summer courses?
How strong is your senior program?
What is your GPA and rank in your graduating class? (both are weighted; Honors 5%; AP 10%)
What are your standardized test scores?

17. What colleges want to know, cont’d
In what school and community activities have you participated? What activities have demonstrated your initiative? Leadership skills?
What special honors or awards have you received?
What are your character traits? Are you honest, hard working, etc.?
What are your hobbies, interests, and talents?
Do you have any work experience?
What challenges or obstacles (if any) have you overcome?

18. How do colleges learn about applicants?
Biographical sections
College essay/personal statement
Resume or activity sheet
High school transcript
Standardized test scores

19. How colleges learn about applicants, cont’d
Recommendation letter from College Advisor
Recommendation letter (s) from teachers
Recommendations from outside sources: community service supervisor, clergy member, employer, etc.
Interview with applicant

20. What to consider before applying to college?
What type of college is best for you? Four-year? Two-year? Private? Public?
What programs does the college offer?
Do you want to live at home? On campus?
Where is the college located? Urban? Rural?

21. What to consider, cont’d
What is the size of the school?
What are the major costs? Tuition? Room & board? Books? Supplies? Fees? Transportation?
What scholarships and grants are offered? Are they need-based? Ability-based?
What are the recreational and social activities offered at the college and in the surrounding area?

22. College Visits
Visit colleges while classes are in session, if possible
Arrange in advance for an information session and tour
Schedule an interview with admissions personnel, if possible
Attend classes, if possible
Be prepared with specific questions about the college, special programs, requirements, etc.

23. Financial Aid Everyone should apply!
Financial Aid Night – 12/15 – Expert from St. John’s
The financial aid process begins with the online filing of FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
FAFSA should be filed as close to January 1 of senior year as possible
Once your FAFSA is filed, you will be informed of your EFC (Estimated Family Contribution), the amount the family is expected to pay for college
The major costs of attending a college include tuition and fees, room and board (if applicable), books, transportation, and personal expenses

24. Types of Financial Aid:
Federal/State grants are funds (given to eligible students) that do not have to be paid back. Ex: Federal Pell Grant/NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
Loans are funds that must be repaid. There are both subsidized and unsubsidized student loans as well as parent loans
Work Study

25. Some scholarships are:
Scholarships are monetary awards granted by colleges or other organizations based on certain criteria
Some scholarships are:
National Merit Scholarship-based on PSAT scores
New York State Scholarship for Academic Excellence
The Posse Scholarship
The Gates Millenium Scholarship
The Ron Brown Scholarship

26. Scholarships cont’d The New York Times Scholarship
The Milken Scholars Program
Los Padres Foundation College Scholarship
JP Morgan Chase Thomas G. Labrecque Smart Start
Scholarship Program
Ronald McDonald House Charities U.S. Scholarship Program
Athletic Scholarships-NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association)
Many more such as business and union, talent, veteran, religious and ethic affiliation, etc.

27. Scholarships cont’d www.fastweb.com www.scholarshipexperts.com
click on “College”
click on “Scholarship Information”