Senior Year Open House Presentation August 31, 2017 Brett Littlehale Greg Stolzer DGN Counselors
Goal for Evening To provide parents with a chronological overview of their student s senior year related to postsecondary planning and to give an overview of college application procedures.
Aug September Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Family Connection Inventories Personality and Career Both linked to possible careers and continuing education avenues College Search Can search using personal preferences Scattergrams
Aug September Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Transcript review ACT/SAT Scores Finish strong colleges are watching! Colleges can rescind admission offers No drops 4 Weeks See Counselor Drop Slip Contact College/University/NCAA Rigor of Courses Important for college admissions
Aug September Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Testing ACT/SAT Retake no later than Oct/Nov for admissions purposes (send scores directly to colleges) Read requirements carefully Official vs. unofficial scores Application Materials Read applications carefully Is student working on personal statement if application requires one? Senior Information Sheet Take time Don t Rush! More detailed information = Better recommendation letter
Aug September Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Letters of Recommendation Be thoughtful of teachers/coaches you ask Give teacher a deadline and plenty of time (at least 3 weeks) Give needed materials to teacher (if necessary) Don t waste time! Ask for recommendation only if school requires it and don t ask for more than is needed. Application Essays Follow the directions, be yourself, take your time, proofread, have another set of eyes review!
Aug September Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Still adding schools to your list? Chicago National College Fair: 11:00-3:00 at McCormick Place on Saturday, October 14 th (NACAC) Meet w/ your counselor or utilize CCC to generate ideas Look closely at cost and affordability for the family Utilize Family Connection website College search engine Match your ACT/GPA stats with colleges requirements Look at cross-applications
Application Complete... What to do now? Follow the College Application Procedures on the Google Classroom senior site, on the Family Connection homepage, College and Career homepage, or in the CCC Transcripts Letters of Recommendation Test Scores
Aug September Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr College of DuPage STEP 1: Apply on-line at $20 Application fee- IMPORTANT! STEP 2: Placement Tests Reading, Writing, Math STEP 3: Meet with an Advisor at COD Set up myaccess account at www.cod.edu Course registration for new students generally begins in May
Aug September Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Financial Aid Pre-financial aid forms/net Price Calculator Check out the fafsa4caster at www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov www.studentaid.ed.gov Go to a college s website to utilize its Net Price Calculator
Aug Sept October Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Dates to Note All Month - College Applications All Month - Career Exploration Wednesday October 4 th D99 Financial Aid Night Downers South 7:00 pm; FAFSA reviewed with Q&As Monday, October 9 th - Columbus Day - No School! Go visit a college or two if you still need to make visits Tuesday, October 17 th - College Of DuPage Regional College Fair Saturday, October 28 th ACT National Test Date 9/22 deadline
Aug Sept October Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Financial Aid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) fafsa.ed.gov Apply on or after October 1, 2017
Sept Oct November Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Saturday, Nov. 4 SAT National Test Date DGN is hosting; 10/5 registration deadline Application Deadlines Pay attention to them! Priority/Preferred Filing Period Illinois Schools (e.g., U of IL 11/1; ISU 11/15, UIC 11/15)
Oct Nov December Jan Feb Mar Apr May June Start looking for private scholarships Stop into the College & Career Center for tips and lists of scholarships Winter Vacation Natural timeline to get rest of applications and transcript requests to the counselor Don t wait until the last minute Counselors/College Center/Teachers go on break too!
Oct Nov Dec January Feb Mar Apr May June Scholarships Scholarship Files in the College & Career Center Check Family Connection website for updated list of scholarships Guest password is purpleandwhite; click on scholarship list Check with colleges/universities about additional scholarship opportunities
Oct Nov Dec Jan February Mar Apr May June High School Coursework Continue to do your best Colleges look at final transcripts University Housing Can you begin to fill out an application? Read everything very carefully Scholarships Continue to check in the College and Career Center for opportunities
Oct Nov Dec Jan February Mar Apr May June Financial Aid Award letters will start to arrive soon, if not already Read everything carefully Questions? Call the college/university s Financial Aid office
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March Apr May June Make final visits/overnight stays Getting on campus is best way to get a feel for a school
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April May June Decisions and Actions By end of month make a decision and inform school of choice Send in all necessary enrollment forms and deposit info in timely manner Notify those schools where student has been admitted but will not attend This could free up a spot for someone else
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June May 1 st Enrollment deadline for most schools Mid-June Once final grades are official a final transcript will be sent to the attending college/university by DGN School indicated on senior survey
Website as a resource
QUESTIONS?