Senior Future Planning Presentation

1. Senior Future Planning Presentation Class of 2014 Stoneham High School

2. 4 year college • 2 year college + 2 • 2 year college • Certificate Programs • Military • Prep school/Post Grad Year • Technical School • Work • Gap Year • We know this can be a confusing and stressful time for you all. We are ready to help you make the process more manageable. • Please be sure to make and keep your Guidance Appointments! Future Planning Options

3. 4 year or 2 year • Co-ed or single sex • Size • Location • Major • Admissions criteria • Cost • Academic support • Extra-curricular activities/sports • Internships/study abroad College Selection Process

4. Reach • Realistic • Likely • Financial safety ** Check to see which colleges are visiting SHS. You must sign up in advance. College Selection Process

5. Early Decision • Early Action • Rolling • Regular Decision Deadlines are Important!

6. SAT , SAT Subject Tests and ACT tests Register on-line www.collegeboard.org www.actstudent.org • Fee waivers available • Information and links are on the Guidance web site @ www.stonehamschools.org • Picture ID requirement • Admission Ticket Requirement • SAT prep materials available through Kaplan • Score Choice • Sending Score Reports (Do not rush scores) Testing

7. Check each college website for specific recommendation requirements. Every school is different. • Request recommendations from teachers at least one month before the application deadline. • Teacher request forms are available in Guidance. Teacher/Counselor recommendations

8. Transcripts were sent home over the summer, please alert us of any discrepancies. • Transcript request form available in guidance • There is a one time $5 transcript request fee. • Transcripts must be requested at least 10 days prior to deadline. • December 2, 2013 is the deadline for applications to be processed and sent before Christmas vacation. (particularly January 1st and 15th deadlines) • Before a transcript can be sent, you must fill out the ferpa on the common application. Transcripts

9. If you are planning on applying to any four year college (even if you are not using the Common Application) you MUST register on the CA website. • Start by filling out the Education section completely. • Add the colleges to which you are applying. • Then the FERPA can be signed under the Assign Recommender section. • Print the “offline” Teacher Recommendation Form for your teacher. The Common Applicationwww.commonapp.org

10. https://connection.naviance.com/stoneham Naviance Future Planning Questionnaire Match to your Common Application Account Make sure your email address is up to date and college appropriate.

11. Look at topics in the Common Application • Colleges want to know more about student so this is opportunity to tell them • Brainstorm your ideas with teachers, parents, friends, counselor • Make sure to check supplemental writing sections on the CA College Essay

12. Minimum 3.0 GPA – recalculated • Actual minimum is closer to 3.7 @ Amherst • 4.2 /1345 for Commonwealth College • 4.0/1240 for Nursing (84 spots) • 3.5/1150 for Isenberg School (pre-calc B or better) • 3.5/1150 Computer Science and Engineering • 90% increase in applications since 2003 University of Massachusetts Amherst

13. Sliding Scale (Re-Calculated GPA) SAT (State Universities) SAT (UMASS-Universities) 2.51 – 2.99 920 (19) 950 (20) 2.41 – 2.50 960 (20) 990 (21) 2.31 – 2.40 1000 (21) 1030 (22) 2.21 – 2.30 1040 (22) 1070 (23) 2.11 – 2.20 1080 (23) 1110 (24) 2.01 – 2.10 1120 (24) 1150 (25) • Minimum (re-calculated) high school GPA of 3.0 • Applicants who meet the GPA requirement do not have to use the sliding scale for admission, but still must submit SAT or ACT test scores for consideration if they are applying to a state college or UMass within three years of high school graduation. • If an applicant’s GPA falls below the required minimum, a sliding scale will apply. • This scale should be used only when an applicant’s GPA falls below the required 3.0 minimum for admission to the state colleges or UMass. No student with a GPA below 2.0 may be admitted to a state college or university campus

14. Financial Aid Night November 19, 2013 • FAFSA - www.fafsa.ed.gov (sign up for a PIN) • CSS Profile- https://profileonline.collegeboard.org • MEFA – www.mefa.org • Important to check deadlines with individual colleges • Scholarship info updated regularly on Guidance website • All-Stoneham Scholarship available in March, 2014 **SSN is required on CA if you plan on applying for Financial Aid Financial Aid

15. Adams Scholarship – Provides tuition credit for students who score in the top 25% on MCAS at their high school. Students are notified in fall of senior year. Must send copy of letter to state college/university student plans to attend. • Students must maintain a 3.0 G.P.A. in college. • Koplik Certificate of Mastery –Student who earns Advanced on one test and Advanced or Proficient on two other MCAS tests meets initial eligibility. • To qualify, student must have 2 additional qualifying scores, ex. SAT II or AP tests. Letter sent home in junior year. Must complete testing and submit application to Guidance prior to May 1st of senior year. • Students must maintain a 3.3 G.P.A. in college. • Tuition credit only awarded for one of these scholarships • Tuition credit is fraction of cost of attending • Cost of attending U Mass Amherst is around $23,000 but tuition is actually just under $1800. Mass. Board of Higher EducationTuition Scholarships

16. SHS Guidance – www.stonehamschools.org • NCAA – www.eligibilitycenter.org • Mass Career Center – www.masscis.intocareers.org Other important sites

17. Reading College Fair October 22, 2013 Shriner’s Auditorium, Wilmington @ 6:30 • Financial Aid Night November 19, 2013 at 6:30 • Counselors welcome meetings with students and parents together Future Events