Application Procedures & Common App CLASS OF 2019

Transcription

1 Application Procedures & Common App CLASS OF 2019

2 Application procedures

3 Von s Application Procedures 1. Students are responsible for understanding each college s deadlines. Look for Priority or Early Action deadlines Increases scholarship opportunities Early Decision deadlines are different Committing to attending that school if you are accepted. Students should not apply early decision without consulting with their parents/guardian and counselor.

4 Von s Application Procedures 2. Students are responsible for understanding each college s requirements. These may include: Essays Teacher and/or counselor recommendations Official or unofficial SAT scores Admissions interview CSS Profile

5 Von s Application Procedures 3. If Letters of Recommendation are required, students should request letters from teachers approximately 1 month before the application deadline. Teacher and Counselor Recommendation Surveys in Naviance Make requests in person, then follow up with request in Naviance Separate letters for each school are not needed

6 Von s Application Procedures 4. Students should request Transcripts from counselors 15 schools days before the application deadline. Requests are made via Naviance AND with a paper form. Student must complete application first 5. Application procedures reviewed with seniors at the beginning of the year. Seniors will receive a folder and handouts outlining steps.

7 Senior Requirements Apply to 3 match colleges Report admissions results to counseling staff Complete the FAFSA if eligible Review financial aid award letters with counseling staff Complete the Senior Exit Questionnaire Upload evidence of a post-secondary plan in Naviance, such as: College acceptance & financial aid letter Proof of military enlistment Registration in a trade school Registration in a gap year program Letter of employment

8 Supports at Von In the summer: College application assistance in the College & Career Center In September: Group meetings by division with counselor Individual meeting with counselor Financial aid presentations with seniors by division and in evening with parents Throughout the year: Counseling department and the College & Career Center (room 116) After school workshops Additional financial aid lessons & events in 2nd semester

9 Common App

10 Applying to Colleges Colleges have different application methods Most use online applications and require students to make an account Make sure to write down account information for each college ( address you used, username, and password) Many colleges use the Common App, but not all

11 Common App Intro WHAT IS IT? A single application used by 768 colleges across the country and the world. WHY USE IT? 1. Connect to More This online system gives students access to a diverse array of colleges and universities, both public and private. 2. Work Smarter Using the Common App saves time in the admission process. Enter your information once and it will be shared across all of your schools. 3. Stay on Track You will be able to manage your deadlines and view your application progress in one convenient dashboard.

12 Getting Started - Commonapp.org

13 Create an Account Use a professional, personal address. Consider creating an entirely new one so that your inbox is free of spam, retail offers, etc. Examples: Jessica.davis@gmail.com, jdaviscollege@gmail.com Write down your Common App password.

14 College Search Search for colleges by name or location. Add them to your Common App.

15 Common App The Common App tab is where you will complete the main application. Sections include: Personal information Family information Education Testing Activities Writing (personal essay)

16 My Colleges The My Colleges tab lists detailed information and requirements for all of your colleges. Questions Colleges have their own questions and requirements for students, in addition to the main application.

17 Dashboard The Dashboard provides a snapshot of all your colleges, including their writing requirements and the deadline you chose (i.e. priority or regular)

18 Information You Will Need Class rank, class size, and cumulative GPA (from transcript or Naviance) Senior year courses School counselor name and contact information List of your honors, activities, leadership positions, work, and family obligations Standardized test scores and dates Parent/guardian educational history and occupation information Sibling grade level and educational information

19 Account Rollover The Common Application for the school year will launch on August 1st. After August 1st, you can log in using your same username and password. Upon that first sign in after August 1st, Common App will ask if you want to roll over your account from If you answer yes, you ll just have to confirm the following: Your role (i.e. current applicant) Your current high school Your acceptance of the Privacy Policy Your previous My Colleges list

20 What Will Rollover? The 6 sections under the Common App tab (the main application): Profile Family Education Testing Activities Writing (essay)

21 What Will NOT Rollover? Any information you may have entered for college-specific Questions and Writing Supplements Your Release Authorization and FERPA selection Any Recommender invitations and forms* * Von students do not need to request recommendations through the Common App. We use Naviance for that purpose.

22 Get Started Now 1. Create a Common App account. 2. Fill in most of the main application under the Common App tab: Profile, Family, Education, Testing, Activities, and Writing (main essay). 3. Work on your personal essay. Save in Google Docs. 4. Research colleges and review their current supplemental questions and requirements. Remember: Anything you fill in for a specific college will NOT rollover. Only the main Common Application rolls over.

23 College Search Resources & Recommendations

24 Key considerations for your family

25 Where to Start Important Considerations for Your College Search: What is your academic MATCH level? What colleges are a good FIT based on personal preferences? What schools offer the best financial aid awards? Where do students graduate successfully?

26 College Match Match or selectivity level is determined by your GPA and SAT/ACT Grid is a guideline, not a guarantee College list should include mostly match schools, as well as safety and reach

27 College Fit Location Size Academic programs and majors Campus life & atmosphere Student demographics Athletics Out-of-Pocket cost (after financial aid) VISITING CAMPUS IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! o Keep an eye out for information on bus trips and prospective student weekends. o Counseling department will students and parents via Naviance.

28 Financial Considerations Don t get scared off by a college s sticker price Expand your search beyond Chicago and Illinois. o Limiting yourself to Chicago usually means limiting your financial aid Smaller, private liberal arts schools may have more scholarship money to offer AND want to attract CPS students o Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) -- usually selective to very selective liberal arts colleges that may offer generous financial aid o Colleges that meet 100% of need -- usually very selective schools that cover a family s full financial need, sometimes without loans

29 Financial Aid Example #1: Actual Von Steuben Student

30 Financial Aid Example #2: Actual Von Steuben Student

31 Success Indicators Graduation Rates and Student Retention Rates o -- breaks down these rates by ethnicity/gender o Aim for schools with a 50% graduation rate or above Living on Campus vs. Commuting from Home o Studies show that college students are more successful living on campus o We recommend aiming for living on campus if financially possible o College is more than the classes you take; much of your education and growth happens outside the classroom

32 Tools for your family

33 College Search Resources Naviance Collegeresults.org o SuperMatch College Search o Retention rates after 1st year o Scattergrams o Graduation rates US Dept. of Education s College Navigator College Board s Big Future College Search College Greenlight Collegescorecard.ed.gov o Graduation rates o Average salaries of graduates

34 Scholarship Search Resources CPS Academic Works CPS Strategic Scholarships and external opportunities College Greenlight Summer Challenge: add 10 colleges and 5 scholarships to your account before September, then register to win the Summer Challenge scholarship Cappex College Board Peterson s Additional resources for undocumented students: Illinois Association of College Admissions Counseling (IACAC) Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)

35 Naviance Demonstration SuperMatch college search Scattergrams

36 Things you can do

37 End-of-Year Action Plan 1. Start Your College List 2. Work on Your Common App Essay 3. Create a Common App Account 4. Review Your SAT Scores and Consider Testing Again Test date: August 25th; register by June 8th after school in the College & Career Center, if you need a fee waiver Use Khan Academy! 5. Finish Junior Year Strong

38 Summer Checklist Remember: Create a professional, personal address to use for college applications & scholarships If your current is filled with spam, create an entirely new account Check your regularly - please! Continue working on the Common Application Write and revise personal statements/essays Work on your list of approximately 10 schools -- DIVERSIFY your college list Mix of public and private schools; mix of in-state and out-of-state schools Mix of match, safety and reach schools (mostly match)

39 Summer Checklist, continued Research requirements and deadlines for each college; create a system to organize the information Letters of recommendation? Essays? CSS Profile? Target the Priority/Early Action deadlines to qualify for the most scholarships Create accounts with various scholarship websites Start with CPS Academic Works -- use your CPS login Research opportunities to visit colleges on your list Look for free bus trips from Chicago Look for prospective student weekends Gather information for FAFSA; mark your calendar for October 1st

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