Seniors: Planning for Life After High School!

Seniors:Planning for Life After High School!

Agenda • Options for Life After High School - Review • The College Application & Briar Woods High School Procedures • Advice & Information

Materials • NACAC Guide • An “Electronic-Index” will be emailed to you • Links to forms and resources • BWHS Website • “College & Career Guidance” Page • Let your counselor know if you need hard-copies

Options for Life After High School • Trade-schools/Apprenticeships • Military • Community College • 4-Year College or University

College Degrees • College Degrees • Associates Degree: 2-year degree (typically earned at a community college or a junior college) • Bachelor’s Degree: 4-year degree • Master’s Degree: Typically 2 additional years after earning a bachelors • Doctoral Degrees & Professional Degrees: PHD, JD, MD, DC

Community College • Community College • Certificate programs • 2-Year Associates Degree • First year or two of a 4-Year Bachelors degree

Community College • Benefits of community college • NOVA is one of the best community colleges in the country • Relatively inexpensive • Close to home • A “small step” into higher education • Usually “open” admissions

Community College • NOVA’s Guaranteed Admissions (incomplete list) • Christopher Newport University • George Mason University • George Washington University • Georgetown University • James Madison University • Liberty University • Longwood University

Community College • NOVA’s Guaranteed Admissions (incomplete list) • Marymount University • Norfolk State University • Old Dominion University • Radford University • University of Mary Washington • University of Virginia • Virginia Tech

Community College • Pathways Program – Apply in November • Start at NOVA • Transition to a 4-year university • Individual meetings with NOVA Pathways counselors • Assistance applying for financial aid • Early placement testing and priority course registration • No minimum GPA required to apply

College Visits at BWHS • College representative visits to BWHS • Sign-up in the Career Center or electronically using Family Connection • Limit visits to 5 • Avoid missing the same class twice • Your teacher is not obligated to release you from class • There is no substitute for a campus visit as a way to assess a school

College Admissions Testing • College testing • SAT Reasoning Test (admissions) • ACT (admissions) • SAT Subject Tests (typically for placement) • Register now!!! The Loudoun test sites fill up quickly • CollegeBoard SAT Course Online

The Application “Folder” –The Magnificent Seven • Application • Essay • Student Resume • Secondary School Report • Test Scores • Transcript • Letter/s of Recommendation

The Application • Most applications are submitted electronically over the internet • Print and review before submitting it! • Seniors are responsible for completing and submitting their own applications (not mom & dad!) • Seniors should make copies of all applications they submit • Many colleges use the “Common Application”

The Application • Seniors are responsible for being aware of application deadlines (see NACAC Guide) • Regular Admission – traditional deadline • Early Decision – binding • Early Action – non-binding • Rolling Admission – applications accepted based on space availability until the institution is “full”

The Application “Folder” • Application • Essay • Student Resume • Secondary School Report • Test Scores • Transcript • Letter/s of Recommendation

The Essay • Not all colleges require an essay • Most essays are submitted electronically along with the application • Seniors should make sure they are understand the essay topic • Seniors are advised to print out and review (with help!) their essays before sending them

The Essay • English teachers are more than happy to help students with essays; some teachers incorporate this into their curriculum • Seniors should save all essays because they may be modified and reused – but be careful • Essay resources – BWHS library, BWHS Career Center, public library, book store, internet

Student Resume • Many colleges accept student resumes • Resumes are usually sent to the college electronically along with the application and essay • Resumes can highlight your accomplishment both in and outside of school • An effective resume is EASY TO READ!

Student Resume • Use resume templates and samples to format your own • Information on resumes must be 100% accurate • Use email, Facebook, MySpace, etc. appropriately (if you wouldn’t put it on a resume…)

Secondary School Report • Some colleges provide the student with a Secondary School Report form for the counselor to complete and send in • We will send a comprehensive “universal” Secondary School Report for all students

Test Scores • Seniors are responsible for determining the tests needed for the colleges they are applying to • SAT Reasoning Test (typically for determining admissions) • ACT (typically for determining admissions) • SAT Subject Tests (typically used for placement)

Test Scores • Seniors are responsible for having their test scores sent to the colleges they are applying to • Requests are made directly through the CollegeBoard or ACT; BWHS nor LCPS send test scores • Seniors can request their scores be sent when they take the tests; or they can have their scores sent after the test date by contacting the CollegeBoard or ACT (for a fee)

The Transcript • Seniors must submit a Transcript Release Form signed by a parent. Forms can be obtained in guidance and are online • Seniors must submit the form in person to the counselor (along with the Secondary School Report if required)

The Transcript • We ask that seniors submit transcript requests a minimum of two weeks before the college application deadline (last year we sent over 3000 transcripts) • We track the process date and send date – posted on Family Connection

The Transcript • We include a school profile with transcript • Transcript requests must be made before December 1st in order to be sent before winter break • All LCPS student’s are charged $3.00 per transcript

The Transcript • Please only request transcripts to be sent to colleges you are actually applying to • There are no costs for mid-year and end-of-year transcripts

The Transcript • In November, LCPS plans to move from mailing hard-copy transcripts, profiles, and counselor letters of recommendation to using a service called National Transcript Center • No cost to student and parents • Faster for colleges • Increased “tracking” abilities for high schools

Letters of Recommendation • Counselor Letter • If a senior needs a letter of recommendation from the counselor, he/she can request it when he/she requests the transcript • Every senior will be provided with a Senior Information Packet to be turned into the counselor • The Senior Information Packet is posted online and contains a parent “brag” section • The counselor will “send” the letter with the transcript

Letters of Recommendation • Teacher Letter: • If a letter of recommendation is requested from a teacher, the senior should make the request directly to the teacher and provide the teacher with a postage-paid envelope addressed to the college • Think about who you are asking… they may need more time!

Letters of Recommendation • Seniors should allow counselors and teachers a minimum of two weeks to write a letter • Please only request letters to be sent to schools you are actually applying to • If you send more letters than the college requests, you can’t control which ones they choose to read

The Application “Folder” - Summary • Senior submits application electronically to the college • Senior submits the essay electronically to the college (if there is one) • Senior may submit the resume electronically to the college • Senior has test scores sent directly to the college by the SAT (CollegeBoard) or the ACT • Senior meets with counselor directly to request a transcript by submitting a Transcript Release Form • Senior may submit Secondary School Report (if provided by the college) when they meet with the counselor • Senior may request letter of recommendation (if needed) from their counselor and/or teachers

Keeping Sane!!! • Complete one college application “folder” at a time • Trying to work on several applications at once = confusion for all! • Use a checklist for each application

Keeping Sane!!! • Complete applications one at a time • One by Halloween • One by Thanksgiving • The rest by Winter Break • Pay attention to deadlines!

Interviews • Some colleges interview applicants • Process, procedures, and guidelines vary

Communication/Follow-Up • Students and parents can log onto Family Connection to view transcript send dates • We automatically send mid-year transcripts to the colleges our students apply to (no cost) • Final transcripts are sent to the colleges our students plan to attend (no cost) • The infamous “we didn’t get your transcript” postcard or email

Some Advice • HAVE FUN!

Upcoming Dates • Senior presentations – This week • Senior/counselor meetings begin next week • LCPS College Fair – September 25 at 4:00pm-5:30pm & 6:30pm-8:00pm, SBHS • Junior College Information Night – October 18 at 7:00pm • Financial Aid Night – December, date TBA

Have a great Senior year!!

Seniors: Planning for Life After High School!