Warwick High School Guidance Department

1. Warwick High SchoolGuidance Department Presents The Journey Into the New Millennium

2. The Process • In the Home Stretch • Finishing touch to your first impression is underway. • Advised to challenge yourself. • Go beyond the books/solid foundation • Never too late to get it right • Not the time to slack off • What next? • Continue to work hard • Take SAT I & II in May or June • Use Test Prep aids, I.e. PSAT results, Homepage, CNU, TNCC, etc. • Narrow colleges to 4-5 schools using Technology available. • Visit top choices if possible • Attend college seminars here at WHS • Surf the Web to get current info on your schools • Talk to alumni or current students if possible

3. The Process The Application Piece • Obtain applications • On-Line • Career Center - Mrs.. Eves • Old Fashion way - mail • Variety of Shapes and Size • The more competitive the school the more involved the application • Essay • Counselor/Teacher recommendations • Assessment of the student's academic program’s rigor • Statement on discipline/attendance/character • Don’t underestimate the value of a well done application (no crayons please) Transcript Piece • Request card. • Transcript. • Test scores • Activity Card. Resume.

4. The Process • Deadlines • Admissions Options • Early Decision • Early Action • Rolling Admissions • Regular Decision Financial Aid Piece or Where’s the dough? • Pot of Money • Grants - Free money • Scholarships • Work Study • Loans • #1 Document required by all schools? • FAFSA - January 1, 2002 (Federal Govt./Free) • Some require the profile (College Board/Fee) • Student Aid Report (SAR)/ Expected Family Contribution (EFC) • Financial Aid Proposal

5. The Process • Scholarship Searches • Beware of the Scam • Other Stuff • Summer Program • NCAA Initial Clearinghouse • Scholarship Bulletins

6. Did you Know? • Guidance has a Homepage. with links to College, Career and Financial Aid information. • You can do a search in all three areas online. • Labs are available for your use to access this info on appointment. • Soon the latest Guidance news and tips can be yours via Email and the WWW. • Mrs. Eves, our Futures Assistant, has an extensive Career Center with the latest technology. • Guidance publishes a scholarship bulletin every 10-14 days. • Merit Scholarship winners are based on the results of the PSAT taken in the 11th grade. • The PSAT is a practice for the SAT and is given once a year in October. • Over a 100 colleges will be at Hampton University in the Fall. • College representatives visit Warwick throughout the year. • Juniors should take the SAT or ACT in June 2000. • The #1most important step in the college search is the most demanding and challenging academic program you can handle. • In addition to a copy in the mail, students will bring a copy of next year’s schedule home on April 17th. • Although colleges emphasize academic rigor, they are interested in the whole person, and therefore school and community activities are important. • Through good old fashioned hard work anything is possible.

7. Lifting the Veil of Mystery The percentage of college admission officials who say the following factors are “ considerably important” in influencing admission decisions • Grades in College Prep Courses 84% • Class Rank 42% • SAT/ACT 39% • Grades in all Subjects 35% • Teacher/Counselor Recommendation 22% • Essay/Writing Sample 19% • Interview 14% • Work/School Activities 4% • Personal Recognition Programs 1% Source: National Association of college Admission Counselors