Tennessee High School Counseling Office College Information Booklet

Tennessee High School Counseling Office College Information Booklet

TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION.p.3 II. JUNIOR TIMELINE.P.5 a. Military academy Information p.5 b. College search p.6 III. SENIOR TIMELINE...p.7 IV. GENERAL INFORMATION...p.9 a. Testing terms.p.9 b. High school code.p.9 c. Admissions terms p.10 d. Letters of recommendation..p.10 e. NCAA Certification..p.11 2

INTRODUCTION Many students are under the misconception that there is one right college for them and the goal is to find that one college. In reality, many colleges will meet the qualifications that you have determined to be important. A school must fit your needs in order to be considered a good school. It is a very personal, individual match. You have the opportunity to make choices among the wide variety that institutions offer. The two factors in the college selection decision are the student and the college. In order to come up with a successful match, both parts need to be studied carefully. Students must determine their strengths, weaknesses, goals and needs. They can then begin investigating the resources to see which colleges they may be looking for and which may be looking for them. A college bound student begins the self exploration process as a freshman. Course selection throughout high school plays a vital role in the college possibilities. A student s course of study and grades in that curriculum are the most important factors in the admissions decision. As students progress through high school, their record expands to include activities, test results and class rank, until they are ready to present themselves to prospective colleges. Choosing a College There are several important characteristics that must be considered when choosing a college. Your college choice will affect not only the four years after high school, but the rest of your life. Below are some of the major characteristics to consider: Size: Do you want to be part of a large campus where you can meet many new and interesting people? Do you enjoy being a part of large groups? Would having a lecture with 500 people interest you? Do you want to be part of a large campus which may contain miles of buildings and facilities? OR do you want to walk to your classes, as opposed to taking a bus? Do you prefer to have 100 people in your dorm as compared to 1000? Do you want to join activities and know most of the members? These are questions that will help you decide on the size of college or university you wish to attend. Location: Many students from a suburban community may wish to spend four years in the urban setting of a large city. Others will prefer to continue living in a rural or suburban setting. Also to be considered is distance from your home. Do you want to commute or come home on weekends? Would you prefer to travel across the country? Academic Selectivity: Colleges vary as to the academic standards they require of their entering freshmen and upper classmen. Obviously, students should select a college at which they will be challenged and yet meet 3

success. In addition to selectivity, students should research the program and major which they plan to pursue. How large is the department? What percentage of the professors hold a Ph.D. in their fields? Does the school have a graduate department in your field of interest? Extracurricular Activities: Activities play a large role in a student s college career. They may lead to career opportunities through contacts and experiences. Check to see if the college has a soccer team, international exchange program, student government, marching band and/or fraternities and sororities. These activities are very important to most college students. Financial Concerns: Of course, college cost will be a major concern to students and parents. However, it is important to remember that private schools often have large endowments and will offset their cost by offering students generous financial aid packages. This makes many schools once thought untouchable, attainable to many students. You should begin gathering information using available resources and meeting with college representatives. A broad list of possibilities may be generated which may include 10 15 colleges. Initial testing, including ACT, SAT I and SAT II should be pursued. 4

TIME LINE FOR COLLEGE SELECTION Junior Year Spring Semester SAT I, SAT II AND ACT TESTS: Juniors who are planning to apply to ROTC Programs, Military Academies, early action, or early decision are advised to take the SAT I / ACT once in the spring and once in the summer of their junior year. Juniors who are applying to colleges that require the SAT II for admissions rather than placement are advised to take one SAT I and one SAT II in the spring of their junior year. AP EXAMS: The AP exams will be given in May of the junior year. MILITARY ACADEMIES HOW TO APPLY: Students interested in attending a Military Academy of the United States, who are willing to make a minimum nine year commitment to a military experience including four years of tuition free college, should follow the procedure set forth below. 1. Write to your U.S. Representative and Senator to request the nomination packets from each of them, in the spring of junior year. 2. Take ACT &/or SAT I twice in the spring of your junior year. When registering, enter the appropriate codes so that your scores can be sent to the academy in which you are interested. 3. Follow the directions to complete the nomination application packets. This can include a data sheet, letters of recommendation, a physical form including an eye exam, ACT &/or SAT I scores, and an official transcript. (Please be aware that your official transcript won t be available until September of your senior year.) 4. Notify the academy of your choice to inform them of your wish to start an admissions file at the same time you request the nomination packet. In order to be safe, all of the above should be completed before the end of September of your senior year. Please begin as soon as possible. Final selection will be based on academic performance, character, recommendations, physical condition, extra curricular involvement, and potential for leadership and achievement. See http://admissions.usma.edu for more information. U.S. HOUSE Phil Roe PO Box 1728 Kingsport, TN 37662 Phone: (423) 247-8161 Fax: (423) 247-0119 HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LAWMAKERS U.S.SENATE Lamar Alexander Terminal Building, #101 Tri-Cities Regional Airport 2525 Highway 75 P. O. Box 1113 Blountville, TN 37617 5

Phone: (423) 325-6240 Fax: (423) 325-6236 ROTC SCHOLARSHIPS: Graduating high school seniors may qualify for United States Army, Air Force, and Navy competitive four year ROTC scholarships that cover the costs of tuition, fees, and books, and may provide a monthly stipend. Students who receive ROTC scholarships must meet certain physical and academic requirements and agree to accept an appointment as a commissioned officer in the military after graduation. A minimum of four years active service and two years of reserve duty are required of ROTC scholarship recipients. The process should be started during the second semester of the junior year by completing an ROTC scholarship application. For detailed information on all military programs, contact the appropriate agency listed below. Armed Services Recruiting Station 2940 Paulina Drive Bristol, VA 24202 276-669-3171 MEETING WITH COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES: Many colleges send representatives to Tennessee High to meet with students who may be interested in attending their institutions. Juniors are urged to meet with the reps from colleges in which they are interested to gain helpful information. Representatives are knowledgeable about the campus, curriculum and activities offered at their school. They will be able to answer students questions. Remember, representatives may be on the selection committee that reviews your application. These meetings are a chance for you to make a good impression. To receive a pass to meet with a representative, sign up in the Counseling Office. COLLEGE FAIRS: College fairs provide students an opportunity to obtain a large amount of information directly from college representatives. Students can begin to generate a broad list of possible colleges. Check the guidance webpage an daily announcements for upcoming events. Junior Year Summer COLLEGE VISITATION: A visit to a perspective college is invaluable in the decision making process. It is recommended that the visit take place while school is in session. Visitations should be scheduled through the admissions office. This will insure the student of meeting with an admissions counselor. There are often open houses set up on campus for students. COLLEGE APPLICATIONS: Students may contact colleges during the summer before their senior year for an application, catalog and financial aid information. This will enable the student to review materials before choosing the colleges to which he/she will apply. GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES: Please visit the THS guidance webpage at http://www2.btcs.org/ths/guidance. There are several websites with information on a variety of scholarships. 6

Senior Year Fall Semester The goal for seniors is to narrow their list of colleges to which they want to apply. Further investigation should include college visitations and interviews. College fairs should be attended (if not already done as a junior). The list of colleges should be shortened to now include between 3 and 6 balanced and realistic choices. Schools should be selected with the following considerations: A student may have one or more reaching choices colleges which may be a long shot. A student should have 1 or 2 colleges at which he/she will have at least an even chance for admission. A student should have one application to a college where he/she is fairly certain of acceptance. A student should have one application to a college where he/she is able to handle the financial commitment without financial aid. In addition, seniors must continue to strive for success in their academics. Senior grades do count toward college admissions decisions. Below are important highlights for the senior year: ACT, SAT I, AND SAT II: Seniors should plan to take their required tests at either the October or November administration. It is recommended that students take the ACT or SAT twice in order to see if there is an improvement in their scores. Colleges will use the highest scores in their admissions decision. SUBMIT APPLICATIONS: Colleges with rolling admissions recommend early application (September through December). Students will then have more time to choose among the colleges that offered admission or can apply to additional schools if admission was denied. Early Decision applications are often due by November 1. FINANCIAL AID FORMS: Most colleges and universities require students to fill out the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This cannot be filed until after January 1st of the current school year as tax information from the previous year is needed. Visit www.fafsa.ed.gov for more information. FINANCIAL AID MEETING: In early December, the Counseling Department sponsors a financial aid night primarily for parents of juniors and seniors. SUBMIT FINANCIAL AID FORMS: Be sure to check which forms are required for the colleges to which you have applied. If more than one form is required, make sure the earliest deadline is observed. Colleges may also require that their own form be completed in addition to State and Federal forms. MID YEAR GRADE REPORT: Upon a student s request, the Counseling Office will send these reports, included in which are senior grades. This will NOT be done automatically. 7

AP EXAMS: These tests are given in May to students who have completed an AP course and wish to earn college credit and/or advanced standing in college. There will be several announcements about these examinations in the spring. FINAL GRADE REPORT: One final transcript, verifying graduation, is sent to the final college choice listed on the Senior Survey. 8

TESTING TERMS Test requirements vary among colleges as does the weight the test scores carry in the admissions decision. Below are definitions of the most widely used tests. PSAT/NMSQT: The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test and the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test provides a practice test for college bound students in the fall of their junior year. It is also used to identify top scholars in the country who may receive merit scholarships. The PSAT scores are divided into three sections, verbal, mathematical, and writing, and range from 20 to 80. The NMSQT Selection Index is determined by adding the total of the verbal, math and writing scores. PSAT scores are not usually used by colleges as admissions criteria, and are not included on a student s transcript. PLAN: A practice test for the American College Test (ACT) is taken by all sophomores in the fall semester. PLAN contains tests in English, Mathematics, Reading and Science Reasoning, and measures skills and abilities highly related to high school course work and also includes an interest survey and a study skills assessment. *SAT I: The Scholastic Aptitude Test is one of the factors used as a college admissions criteria. It is a multiple choice test that is designed to test the student s aptitude for scholastic work (not intelligence). The SAT is usually taken in the spring of the junior year and again in the fall of the senior year. Scores are broken down into critical reading, mathematical and writing categories and range from 200 to 800 per section. Total scores range from 600 2400, where 2400 would be a perfect score. Colleges differ on the average SAT score which they expect of applicants. SAT II: SAT II Tests cover special academic areas (e.g. Mathematics, English, and Chemistry). These tests are taken either at the end of the junior year or the beginning of the senior year. SAT II s, like SAT I s, are scored on the 200 800 scale. Some colleges use the SAT II s for placement in various levels of freshman courses; some use them as an additional indicator in the admissions process. Check a college s catalog to see if SAT II s are required. AP: Advanced Placement Tests are usually taken after a student has completed an Advanced Placement course in a specific academic area. These tests normally cost approximately $82.00. Students can earn college credit and/or advanced standing in college based on their scores that range from 1 to 5. *ACT: The American College Testing combines certain aspects of both SAT I and SAT II into one test. It is a multiple choice test and the scores range from 0 to 36. There are four parts to the test: English, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics. *Registration forms are available in the Counseling Office. TEST CENTER NUMBER: Tennessee High School Code: (for SAT I, SAT II and ACT tests): 430180 9

FEE WAIVER OPPORTUNITIES: Students unable to pay the fees of the SAT and ACT examinations may request a fee waiver from the Counseling Office. To be eligible, students must qualify for free lunch. ADMISSION TERMS Each college establishes its own admissions policy and timetable. Students often have options with regard to this timetable. Several admissions programs are described below. ROLLING ADMISSIONS: This process is the most widely used admissions procedure. A student s application is reviewed when it is received by the college. A decision is made and the student is notified of the decision within a few weeks. Some colleges will accumulate applications and review them at certain times and then mail out many acceptance/rejection letters together. It is preferable to apply as early as possible to a school that uses rolling admissions. EARLY DECISION: Early Decision is a plan under which a student applies to the first choice college early in the Fall (usually by November 1st) of the senior year and agrees by contract to enter that college if offered admission. Decisions are rendered for Early Decision Applications in early December. If not accepted under Early Decision, a student is usually reconsidered for regular admission later in the senior year. A student should not apply to more than one college under an Early Decision Plan. Early Decision applicants are judged on the basis of their junior year test scores, class rank and grades. EARLY ACTION: Early Action is used primarily in highly selective colleges. Early Action follows the same application/notification timetable as Early Decision but the accepted candidate has until May 1st to accept or decline the offer of admission. Under Early Action programs, it is possible for an applicant to be denied admission outright and not automatically be deferred for later consideration. If your junior year credentials are not truly superior, you must be careful about applying under a plan that could harm your chance for admission. COMMON APPLICATION: This form allows a student to fill out one application form (the Common Application ) and photocopy the application and recommendation forms for filing at more than one college. You should check with the admissions office to see if a college will accept the Common Application and if any supplements are required. The Common Application is available online at www.commonapp.org. OPEN ADMISSION: Some colleges do not practice selective admissions and offer admission to all high school graduates who apply. Such colleges usually have extensive programs designed to provide remedial or developmental help to students who enroll with academic deficiencies. SUGGESTED GUIDELINES FOR REQUESTING LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION 1. Request the letter at least 2weeks prior to your scheduled deadline from a teacher who knows you well. 2. Express your gratitude for the teacher s time and effort on your behalf, in writing. 3. Complete the portion of the form you are to fill out including your signature before you hand it to the teacher. 10

4. Ask the teacher if you have their permission to use the letter for other colleges or scholarships. 5. Assume that if you waive your right to see the recommendation, admissions officers will take the teacher s comments seriously. 6. Include a current transcript (unofficial) with GPA and rank and an accurate activity listing for the teacher s reference. 7. Open, honest, respectful communication always matters, especially with your teachers and counselors. You never know when you might need a good word. Don t burn your bridges! 8. If you have not received an enthusiastic response from the teacher, don t push your luck, and ask somebody else. NCAA CERTIFICATION PROCESS Students who want to participate in Division I or II sports should start the NCAA Certification process early, usually by the beginning of the senior year. It is the student s responsibility to make sure the clearinghouse has the following documents for certification. 1. A completed and signed Student Release Form and fee. 2. An official high school transcript from every school attended during high school. 3. SAT or ACT scores. **Student Release forms with instructions may be obtained on line at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. A fee waiver form is available to students in need if the student used a fee waiver for the SAT or ACT. 11