1. What’s Next? Your Guide To What Lies Ahead After High School

2. Options College Military Employment The Choice Is Yours

3. College? Four Year Receive your Bachelor’s Degree Two year Receive your Associate’s Degree Certificate Program Typically takes two years or less

4. Terms Early Action-has earlier deadlines and earlier notification dates. Does not require that the student commit to attending the school. Early Action-has earlier deadlines and earlier notification dates. Does not require that the student commit to attending the school. Early decision-student applies to a college earlier then the regular admissions deadline. If a student applies early decision he/she commits to attending the college upon admission. Early decision-student applies to a college earlier then the regular admissions deadline. If a student applies early decision he/she commits to attending the college upon admission. Regular Admission-students apply by a certain date, and will receive a decision. The decision usually arrives in early spring. Regular Admission-students apply by a certain date, and will receive a decision. The decision usually arrives in early spring. Rolling Admissions­-there is not a deadline to turn in the application materials. Applications are reviewed on a continuous basis. Rolling Admissions­-there is not a deadline to turn in the application materials. Applications are reviewed on a continuous basis. 4

5. Open Admissions-students are admitted regardless of academic qualifications. The school may require a probationary period when the student must earn satisfactory grades to stay enrolled. Open Admissions-students are admitted regardless of academic qualifications. The school may require a probationary period when the student must earn satisfactory grades to stay enrolled. Defer-the student will not receive he/her decision until a later date, typically in late spring. Defer-the student will not receive he/her decision until a later date, typically in late spring. Wait-list-The student is put on a waiting list as a “maybe”. This decision does not guarantee admittance, but it is not a denial either. The student will receive a decision typically in late spring. Wait-list-The student is put on a waiting list as a “maybe”. This decision does not guarantee admittance, but it is not a denial either. The student will receive a decision typically in late spring. FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is the application students fill out, based on their families tax information, to apply for student financial aid. FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is the application students fill out, based on their families tax information, to apply for student financial aid.

6. How to Organize Keep a separate location for every college Put ALL the information you receive in the college folder Make notes on the folder about what you like and dislike Put the deadline on the front of the folder – BE MINDFUL OF DEADLINES!!!!!

7. Where to start? You should have a list of colleges that you are currently interested in This should include 1 dream school and 1 safety net school Bring this list with you when you meet with Ms. Owens

8. What to look for? Location-how close or far away from home do you want to be? Size-big, small, or in between? Majors-Do they offer majors that you are interested in? Clubs and activities-do they offer activities that you enjoy – www.petersons.com www.petersons.com – www.collegeboard.com www.collegeboard.com

9. Application Process Application Process What type of application? What type of application? Common Application Common Application www.commonapp.org www.commonapp.org Allows you to apply to multiple schools with one application Allows you to apply to multiple schools with one application SUNY Application SUNY Application www.suny.edu/student www.suny.edu/student Allows you to apply to multiple SUNY Schools Allows you to apply to multiple SUNY Schools School Specific Application School Specific Application Online or paper copy? Online or paper copy? 9

10. Know your deadlines Know your deadlines Turn completed application in to the counseling office for processing Turn completed application in to the counseling office for processing Include application, essay, form of payment, and any other requirements Include application, essay, form of payment, and any other requirements Allow at least two weeks for processing Allow at least two weeks for processing If you are completing an application online do not submit it until Ms. Owens reviews it!!! If you are completing an application online do not submit it until Ms. Owens reviews it!!! You should receive a response from the college sometime in the early spring You should receive a response from the college sometime in the early spring Give a copy of your acceptance letter to Counseling Office Give a copy of your acceptance letter to Counseling Office 10

11. Letters of Recommendation Most colleges require at least two from teachers, one from counselor Most colleges require at least two from teachers, one from counselor Choose somebody who will write a positive letter Choose somebody who will write a positive letter Give a resume to Ms. Owens by the end of junior year. Give a resume to Ms. Owens by the end of junior year. Your letter will be written over the summer Allow each letter writer at least two weeks Allow each letter writer at least two weeks Use forms included in the college search guide Use forms included in the college search guide Choose somebody who will write a positive letter Choose somebody who will write a positive letter 11

12. College Essay Most colleges require that you write an essay Most colleges require that you write an essay Look at each colleges specific requirements, and try to write a letter that can be used for all applications Look at each colleges specific requirements, and try to write a letter that can be used for all applications This is your chance to stand out This is your chance to stand out Write about something unique, what distinguishes you from your peers? Write about something unique, what distinguishes you from your peers? Allow plenty of time. Ask a teacher or other adult to edit it for you. Allow plenty of time. Ask a teacher or other adult to edit it for you. 12

13. How to Pay for It Scholarships/Grants Scholarships/Grants Free Money Free Money File in resource rom File in resource rom Your responsibility Your responsibility Work Study Work Study Depends on Income Depends on Income Loans Loans Needs to be paid back Needs to be paid back Financial Aid Night in December Financial Aid Night in December FAFSA-January 1 st FAFSA-January 1 st Free filing-Be careful of fraud Free filing-Be careful of fraud – www.fafsa.ed.gov www.fafsa.ed.gov Employment Employment 13

14. Athletics? If you plan on playing a Division 1 or Division II sport register at this website ASAP: If you plan on playing a Division 1 or Division II sport register at this website ASAP: https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/ https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/ https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/ See College Search Guide for more information See College Search Guide for more information See Ms. Owens with questions See Ms. Owens with questions 14

15. Military Army Army Navy Navy Marines Marines Air Force Air Force Coast Guard Coast Guard Academy? Academy? Begin meeting with Recruiter this summer Begin meeting with Recruiter this summer See College Search Guide for more info See College Search Guide for more info 15

16. Resources www.collegeboard.com www.actstudent.org www.petersons.com www.fastweb.com www.fafsa.ed.gov www.hesc.org 16

17. Questions Call-898-5802 E-mail – jowens@groton.cnyric.org Check out the new Groton School Counseling website – http://grotonschoolcounseling.wikispaces.com/