The College admissions Process

1. The College admissions Process

2. Decision Factors • Size of school • Location • Distance from home • Activities/Athletics • Public/Private • Coed/Single sex • Entrance requirements • Entrance difficulty • Reputation of School • Majors available • Commitment to major by school • Cost • Campus personality

3. How Many Schools To Apply To • No “right” number • “Diversify” you applications • “Safe” schools • “Match” schools • “Reach” schools • Be sure to adhere to deadlines • When requesting transcripts allow at least 10 working days before the due date

4. Benefits to Going on a Campus Tour or Interview • Indicates your level of interest • Allows you to get beyond the statistics • Puts a “face” onto the college • Gives the college an opportunity to get to know you on a more personal level

5. Average GPA/Class Rank? Average SAT scores? Other tests required? Cost of attendance/average financial aid package (grants, loans, work study)? Average class size for major Number of years housing is guaranteed % of students who return after 1 year? Graduate in 4 years (6 years)? Do professors teach freshmen/undergrads? Adjunct or full-time Campus social life Career placement services available? “Top 10 Questions” to Ask on a College Visit

6. How Colleges Evaluate Candidates: • Course selection (difficulty, extended languages, extended math & science, honors & AP courses) • Grades/GPA • Rank in Class • Sat scores • Take the SAT in the spring of your junior year and the fall of your senior year • Check schools for SAT Subject Test requirements • Review for the SAT or take an SAT prep course. Scores will improve with practice (free after school/evening SAT prep lessons available/Kaplan SAT Prep Course available at a great rate!) • Rank in Class • ACT Option • Accepted by virtually every college in the US in place of SAT • Tests what you have learned, not your aptitude • www.act.org

7. Evaluation Continued • SAT Subject Tests • Required by some colleges: math, science, etc. • Leadership Positions • Activities • Sports • Clubs & High School activities • Community/church activities • Volunteer community service activities • Part-time jobs

8. Evaluation Continued • Essay • Recommendations • ask for letters of recommendation from two or three teachers early in the fall • Supply a résumé • remember to thank them and let them know where you have been accepted • Interview • Your preparation and planning

9. Hearing From the Colleges • Regular Decision (April 1) • Rolling Admission (reviewed as received) • Early Decision (early application & commitment) • Early Action (early application & no commitment)

10. Where To Go From Here www.burltwpsch.org Go to schools – click on the High School then click on Counseling On the counseling page, scroll down to find the following • College Open Houses • Career/ College/ Financial Aid Web Sites • Check out the BTHS Scholarship Bulletin under “Scholarship Information” • Check out links for “College Information”, Application Essay Guide” & Tips for Applying to College • COIN 3 for college & career information • www.coin3.com • Click on the GREEN “go” button - Career Community (BTHS Site ID: NJ17056) • Username = Student ID # • Password = Student ID # - Then UPDATE • Begin your scholarship search

11. Where To Go From HereContinued • Attend the College Fair at BCC on October 14th • Attend the National College Fair in Philadelphia on October 17th- register at www.nacacnet.org • Visit colleges during our Fall break- Nov. 1-5 • If you can’t visit schools this fall, plan on spring tours • Meet with your counselor often

12. Seniors Need to Complete By December 2010 • Complete applications on the schools to which you plan to apply • Check to see if the schools you are applying to accept the Common Application www.commonapp.org • Take the SAT or ACT by December • Take the SAT Subject Test if required by college • Check the Scholarship Bulletin regularly and apply for any scholarships that you are eligible for • Register for a scholarship search on a web engine such as Fastweb www.fastweb.com

13. TRANSCRIPT REQUEST NAME:_________________________ DATE REQUESTED: ______________ APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST TWO (2 WEEKS PRIOR TO DEADLINE 1. NAME AND ADDRESS OF COLLEGE OR SCHOLARSHIP: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ DATE APPLICATION DUE: If submitted online, check here: ___________ Essay Required: YES____ NO:____ If Essay was submitted on-line, check here: ___________ List all Teacher Recommendations to be included: ____________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ List all other forms to be included with your transcript: ________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 2. NAME AND ADDRESS OF COLLEGE OR SCHOLARSHIP: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Etc. Etc. Students are responsible for requesting letters of recommendation from teachers. Be sure to give teachers sufficient time to return their letters of recommendation to the counseling office *APPLICATIONS WILL BE RETURNED IF ANY ITEMS ARE MISSING* THERE IS A $3.00 CHARGE FOR ALL TRANSCRIPTS SENT OUT CERTIFIED MAIL

14. FAFSA Get started on applying for financial aid by: • Going to www.fafsa.ed.gov • You and your parent/ guardian apply for a pin number • Download the 2011-2012 FAFSA on the web worksheet

15. Students who wish to compete inCollege Athletics (Division I or II) • Register with NCAA Eligibility Center (www.eligibilitycenter.org) • The eligibility center is responsible for certifying all college-bound student-athletes wanting to compete in NCAA college athletics. This is done in two ways: • Academic Certification & Amateurism Certification • Do you meet the eligibility requirements • Have you kept your amateur status?

16. JUNIORS – Things to Do • Take the PSAT in October (October 16th) Register in the Counseling Office- $20 fee • Take the SAT or ACT one or two times between December and June • Use COIN site, other websites and college guidebooks to begin college search • Check the Scholarship and Open House information • Register for a scholarship search on a web engine such as Fastweb (www.fastweb.com) • Meet with your Counselor often

17. SOPHOMORES & FRESHMEN Things to do • Take a challenging curriculum and excel in your coursework • Begin to familiarize yourself with colleges, careers and scholarship opportunities through the various websites • Consider taking the PSAT on October 16th • Meet with your Counselor often

18. UPCOMING EVENTS • October 14th- College Fair at BCC-Pemberton • October 16th – PSAT @ BTHS – 8:00 AM October 17th – National College Fair in Philadelphia • December 2nd – “Ultimate Money Skills-College Funding” presentation at BTHS – 7:00 PM Cafetorium • December 4th- SAT and SAT Subject Test at BTHS • January – FAFSA Workshop – Date TBD

19. Are You – Or Would You Like to be an NJ STAR? Students in the top 15% of their class at the beginning of Senior year may qualify you as an NJ STAR!! • Qualifies you to attend BCC at a greatly reduced cost!! • Program is dependent on state funding • Go to www.hesaa.org, click on the Students/Parents link, then click on the Scholarship link

20. Welcome to Mr. Jason Jankowski Admissions Counselor, Rutgers University, Camden