THE JOURNEY OF THE COLLEGE SEARCH AND ADMISSIONS PROCESS

THE JOURNEY OF THE COLLEGE SEARCH AND ADMISSIONS PROCESS

THE JOURNEY OF THE COLLEGE SEARCH AND ADMISSIONS PROCESS A SERIES OF STEPS

The Journey of the College Search Process: The college search process involves two basic steps: 1. The student thinks about and then decides what he/she wants from a college or university. 2.The student researches the universities requirements of student applicants. The better the student understands these two parts of the process, the better fit will occur between the student and his/her chosen college/university.

Choosing a College As a general rule, applying to 5-6 colleges/universities will allow students to have a number of good choices. Students ought to include colleges from each of the following categories: Reach School: These colleges are most challenging and very selective in their admissions criteria. Target or Match School: Your chance for admission at these schools is (50/50). Your academic record, test scores and rank should meet or exceed the school s published averages. Safety School: Your record should exceed all of the school s published requirements and averages.

What Are the Colleges Looking For From Student Applicants? Transcript (GPA) College Admission Testing (SAT or ACT) Recommendations College Application Personal Essay Interview and College Visit The Intangible

GPA GPA is determined by a student s grades and by the level of the class. Matignon HS uses a 5.0 grading scale. This scale can be viewed on page 11 of the Student Handbook. For example: an A = 4.0 in a college prep Level 1 class; A = 4.5 in an honors level class; A = 5.0 in an advanced placement level course.

Transcript

Transcript Transcript: A student s transcript reflects the courses and final grades that a student has received in each course, each year, grades 9 12, the cumulative GPA, the graduation date, and SAT/ACT scores. Colleges expect that students will take the most challenging courses that he/she can. Rigor is more important than GPA. Taking difficult classes speaks more about a student s capability for college-level work than getting A s in easy classes.

College Admissions Testing Students must submit their SAT or ACT scores to the colleges through the College Board.

College Admissions Testing SAT Reasoning Test is a college entrance examination that is generally taken at the end of the junior year and during first semester of senior year. This test has two sections: Evidenced Based Reading and Math. There is an optional Essay section that is scored separately. The ACT is also a college entrance examination that is accepted by most colleges. It tests more content areas than the SAT. Matignon is a test center for both the SAT and ACT.

College Admissions Testing The Subject Tests (formally SAT II s) are subject tests that some competitive colleges require students to take and they are primarily used for placement rather than admission. Only a minority of colleges require the SAT II, so be sure to research the admissions requirements of each college to which you are applying.

SAT and ACT TESTING DATES March 5, 2016 May 7, 2016 June 4, 2016 June 11, 2016 October 1, 2016 October 22, 2016 November 5, 2016 December 3, 2016 January 26, 2017 March 11, 2017 May 6, 2017 June 3, 2017 SAT at Matignon SAT at Matignon SAT at Matignon ACT at Matignon SAT at Matignon ACT at Matignon SAT at Matignon SAT at Matignon SAT at Matignon SAT at Matignon SAT at Matignon

College Admissions Testing All juniors were given SAT registration information in the spring. Juniors should register on-line at www.collegeboard.com. All juniors have been shown how to use the My College Quick Start program through the College Board. They can use this program to review their PSAT scores and answers, find out their weaknesses in certain areas and better prepare for the SAT.

COLLEGE ADMISSION TESTING Register for the SAT or ACT on line. www.collegeboard.org www.actstudent.org Matignon High School code # is 220515 SAT Test Center Code # is 22260 ACT Testing Code # is 238220 Seniors must have their SAT/ACT scores sent directly from the College Board or ACT center.

Recommendations Colleges prefer a recommendation from a teacher that a student had during his/her junior or senior year. Students should ask teachers who know them well, and if possible have taught the student in a subject area related to his/her intended college major. Students must provide their teachers with a Senior Input Sheet (resume) and, in some cases, a teacher recommendation form (Common Application) when asking for a recommendation. Counselor recommendations are required by the majority of colleges.

College Application It is important that the student chair the committee of the college process. The essay and every part of the application should be completed by the student. College admissions personnel can tell if the application or essay has been too influenced by an adult. The majority of colleges in the U.S. use the Common Application.

College Application The Common Application must be completed online. The 2016 Common Application can be accessed through the website: www.commonapp.org. when the new Common Application becomes available. In conjunction with the Common Application, Matignon uses the Naviance program. Through This program we send student transcripts/recommendations electronically. All juniors and their parents are given a Naviance Code in the spring of junior year. This enables the student to register on Naviance.

College Application www.commonapp.org/commonapp/default.aspx

Personal Essay The essay should contain something about the student that can not be found anywhere else on the application. The Common Application provides essay prompts from which a student can choose one that applies to his/her experience. The average time that an admissions person spends reading a student essay is 110 seconds The student should have the essay proof read by his/her English teacher and/or other adult before submitting it to the college.

Material sent to Colleges from MHS Student s Transcript-including current senior year report card. Recommendation from Guidance Counselor; Common Application s Secondary School Report. School Profile-this includes information re: the school s mission, grading system, and college acceptances of previous classes.

Interview and College Visit

Interview and College Visit Most colleges do not require an interview, but if a college does recommend one, be sure to schedule one (ex: Bentley, Bates). An interview can provide the student with the opportunity to explain circumstances for low grades, etc. Be sure to visit a school prior to making a decision to attend. Typically, parents and students visit colleges over the course of junior and senior year. Colleges offer several visitation days and open houses or you can schedule an individual date with the college by contacting the admissions office. During your college visit, you will have opportunities to speak with both students and admission personnel. Be sure to bring questions with you pertaining to specific programs, (honors, study abroad), facilities (co-ed dorms), instructors (do professors teach freshmen classes or do TA s).

The Intangible Colleges sometimes accept students for reasons that are in addition to transcript, SAT s, recommendations, and extra curricular activities. From a college admissions perspective, they are asking: 1. Is the student a good fit into the community? 2. If the student is accepted, will he/she attend? 3.Can the student succeed at the college? 4. Will the student graduate from the college?

The Intangible Other factors that might influence a college admissions decision to accept a student: 1. Has the student overcome enormous adversity and still achieved high grades? 2. Will the student choose a major that is small, but one that the college/university would like to enlarge? 3. Leadership is more important than general involvement in lots of things. A student can demonstrate leadership in a variety of ways.

Explore Career Options On the My College Quick Start program, students can take a personal profile survey to help determine his/her personal qualities related to specific careers. Students can also research career options with different majors. Students should consider his/her values, interests, and abilities in considering career choice. Students should be sure to take courses that will best prepare him/her for career choice. It is recommended that students spend time with (shadow) a parent/friend in a career of interest to him/her.

Paying for a College Education There are 5 main categories of expenses to think about when determining how much your college education is is really going to cost: 1.- Tuition and Fees 2.- Room and Board 3.- Books and Supplies 4.- Personal Expenses 5.-Transcportation

Paying for a College Education Colleges assume that the student and his/her family will be responsible for the majority of the payment of the child s education. However, there are several forms of aid for which a student may qualify: 1.- Federal and Gov t Aid 2.- College Grants/Scholarship 3.-Private Grants/Scholarships 4.- State Gov t Grants/Scholarship

Paying for a College Education 5.- Loans 6.- Work Study Keep in mind that student loans must be paid back beginning 6 months after a student graduates. If the total cost of attending college is $50,000. or $60,000. per year, it is not uncommon for a student to have $10,000.- $20,000. a year in student loan debt, and to end up with $40,000. or more of total debt when he/she graduates. Matignon Guidance Department hosts a Financial Aid Night for Senior parents in the month of December.

Some important web sites: Collegeboard.com/cbsearch_sswelcome Collegeconfidential.com Peterson s.com www.mefa.org Finaid.org/scholarships Fastwebscholarship.com Scholarships.com

This is an exciting time for you. Enjoy the experience. Good Luck.