Session A: College Admissions

Agenda Review of Top Schools Questbridge College Application Timeline

Review of Top Schools

National University Rankings 1. Princeton 2. Harvard 3. Yale 4. Columbia 5. Stanford 6. University of Chicago 7. MIT 8. Duke 9. University of Pennsylvania 10. California Institute of Technology 11. Johns Hopkins 12. Dartmouth 13. Northwestern 14. Brown 15. Cornell 16. Vanderbilt 17. Washington Univ.- St. Louis 18. Rice 19. Notre Dame 20. University of California-Berkeley

Interesting Facts About Some of the Top 20 Schools Princeton Small college and small class sizes Early action and regular decision admissions Students live on campus all four years Train station on campusstudents can be in NYC or Philadelphia in 1.5 hours! Admissions looks for students with extracurricular involvement and good character Vanderbilt On campus housing is guaranteed- 96% of students live on campus all four years Create your own major program Entrepreneurship centerstudents can take a business idea and receive guidance/support to create it One immersive experience is required (research, study abroad, etc.) Northwestern Living on campus is required first two years Research and entrepreneurship assistance 50% of class is admitted from early decision No student loan/debt policy upon graduation- all financial need will be covered

Interesting Facts About Some of the Top 20 Schools Dartmouth Small- approximately 4,000 students Very focused on nature and students who like outdoor activities Use Coalition and Common Application UC Berkeley Students answer personal insight questions in lieu of essay Dual degree program in business and engineering called MET- separate admission criteria Global Edge program: study abroad program for 1 st semester in London Fall program for Freshmen (FPF)- designed to give students a gradual transition to the university (for those who need extra support). Harvard All freshmen live in the same housing and have same dining hall- lots of 1 st year support 90% of families pay less at Harvard than at a state university Family income of less than 65K= no parental contribution, no loans Freshman can qualify for $2,000 grant for 1 st year to aid in purchase of winter clothes, etc. if they come from a different climate. College has a 1 st generation student union.

Interesting Facts About Some of the Top 20 Schools University of Pennsylvania Stanford Duke Penn First- student organization that provides support for 1 st generation students PFP- summer bridge program for 1 st generation, low income students Full financial need is met for all four years- no loans! Student fly-in program- Penn Early Exploration Program. 3 days all expenses paid. Application available in late summer. Small class sizes 97% of students live on campus all four years Family income of less than 125K= no tuition and sliding scale for housing fees Family income of less than 65K= full tuition and housing, no loans Leland Scholars: low income and 1 st generation programstudents can apply after being admitted 5 year engineering master s program- declare by junior year Family income of less than 60K= no parent contribution, students earn tuition through work study and will have to take out a very small loan of less than $2000. Family income of less than 40K= no contribution at all, no loans All financial aid packages include housing Undocumented students can be admitted-need blind

Admission Advice from Top 20 Schools Take a rigorous curriculum, but be yourself with regard to extracurricular activities. Why are you doing them and how does that make you a fit at each university? Ask: Why do I want to apply to this school and what personal qualities do I have that will add to the school? AA degree will not start as a junior Dual Enrollment, AP, AICE, IB are all viewed as a means to demonstrate rigor, but not necessarily to earn credit or finish faster. Not a lot of credit accepted, but AP, IB and AICE more likely to earn a credit than DE. All of these universities want you to have the full 4 year experience, and in most cases families are not having to contribute to the cost of this education regardless.

QuestBridge

QuestBridge National College Match program connects outstanding low-income high school seniors with full four-year scholarships to the nation s leading colleges. Who should apply? High School Seniors who: Are in the top 5-10% of their class Score a 1240 or higher on the SAT or 28 or higher composite score on the ACT Come from households earning less than $65K per year (for a typical family of four) May be eligible for free or reduced lunch May be part of the first generation in their family to attend college

QuestBridge Apply online at www.questbridge.org Applications are normally due in late September

College Application Timeline

College Application Timeline There are several types of college admissions options that vary per college/university. Schools may offer more than one option It s important that you do you research into which schools offer which options, and the deadlines for each admission type.

College Application Timeline Admissions types include: Regular Admissions- most common option. All students are required to submit their applications by a specific date, usually between Nov. and Jan. Rolling Admissions- common at large state universities. Students can apply at anytime during the admission period. Admission is granted on a first come, first serve basis, so it s important to apply as early as possible! Open Admissions- common for community colleges, online schools and distance learning programs. Open admissions means that nearly all high school graduates are admitted as long as they have a diploma or GED. Deferred Admissions- for students who have been accepted to a school but want to defer their enrollment for a year. Early Admissions- there are several types of early admissions options.

College Application Timeline Early Decision You agree to attend this school if accepted Cannot apply to any other college or university If accepted, you must withdraw applications to other schools Early Action Similar to early decision in that you are applying only to your top school You are not bound to attend if accepted You can apply early action to more than one university Early Evaluation You can apply early to find out your chances for acceptance Usually need to submit application by November Determination is usually sent by the school by December or January

College Application Timeline When should I apply to college? How many colleges should I apply to? How can I increase my chances of getting in? These are all common questions that high school students have. The task of applying to college can seem overwhelming, so CollegeBoard (2017) created a timeline to assist students.

Fall

College Application Timeline: Fall Narrow down the list of colleges you want to apply for admission to between 5 and 10. Create a list or calendar that includes the following: Tests you ll take, including fees, dates, and registration deadlines College application deadlines Required financial aid application forms and their deadlines Other materials you ll need (recommendation letters, transcript requests, etc.) If you can t afford application or test fees, ask your counselor to help you request a fee waiver

College Application Timeline: Fall Take the SAT at least one more time Most seniors will take their final SAT in October, as many schools have early application deadlines (such as UF and FSU) You can continue taking the SAT through the end of your senior year to improve your scores for Bright Futures eligibility Be sure to have your SAT scores sent to the schools you are applying to Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). October 1 st is the first day you can file the FAFSA. Complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE Required by certain schools to determine financial aid eligibility

College Application Timeline: Fall Prepare early decision and rolling admissions applications ASAP! Colleges may require test scores and applications to be complete between Nov. 1 and Nov. 15 for early decision Always check the college/university web site for application deadlines!

College Application Timeline: Fall Ask a counselor or teacher for recommendation letters if you need them Tip: Ask individuals who know you well and can personally speak to your accomplishments College essays: write first drafts and ask teachers and others to read them. Tip: English teachers can help you with grammar and structure on your essay! Your counselor and college/career advisor can help you figure out what information to include.

College Application Timeline: Fall If you need transcripts to be sent, request them from the Guidance office. Some schools don t require transcripts until the end of your senior year, but require you to fill out a Self-reported Student Academic Record (SSAR) (for example, FSU). Please see your prospective schools websites for specific requirements.

Winter

College Application Timeline: Winter Keep copies of everything as you finish and send your applications and essays Request transcripts to be sent to the colleges you applied to. Tip: Always check your prospective college s website for specific information on transcript requirements (i.e., method of sending, number of times they need to be sent, etc.)

Spring

College Application Timeline: Spring Keep active in school. Tip: Now is not the time to take it easy. Keep your grades as high as possible. Colleges do rescind admission offers if they see your grades drop. If you re waitlisted, the college will want to know what you have accomplished between the time you applied and now. Visit your final college before accepting. You should receive acceptance letters and financial aid offers by mid- April Inform each college of your acceptance or rejection of the offer of admission and/or financial aid by May 1 st. Send your deposit to one college only

College Application Timeline: Spring Take any AP Exams Show what you ve learned in your AP classes. A successful score (3 or higher) could earn you college credits If you were waitlisted by your first choice, contact admissions and ask how you can strengthen your application. Work with your counselor or college advisor to resolve any admission or financial aid problems. Ask the Guidance office to send a final transcript to your college. Review your financial aid awards. Not all financial aid awards are the same. Choose the aid package that s best for you and your family More information and tips on financial aid will be discussed in the financial aid session.

Questions?