Welcome to College Information Night

1. Welcome to College Information Night September 21, 2010 6:30 p.m. Julie Maugherman, Director of Guidance and Counseling

2. Choosing a college What is important to you?

3. Know Yourself and Your Reasons for Attending College Ask Yourself: What kind of student am I? What are my interests and strengths? What types of activities will I participate in? Consider organizations, sports, cultural groups,clubs What kind of career plans do I hold for the future? Interest and career aptitude inventories are helpful and are available from many sources How will I pay for college and what can I afford? WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU?

4. Consider College Characteristics • Four-year, two-year, community colleges, vocational schools • Public, Private, or Proprietary • Location • Size, type of campus • Student body composition • Reputation, prestige of school • Admission requirements, percent admitted • Cost of tuition, availability of scholarships and grants • Activities, organizations, sports

5. List, Compare, and Visit Schools • Be organized in your search • University and college web pages • Books, catalogs, and files in the Counseling Center • College fairs • Internet sources • Internet sources of interest: • www.collegecosts.com • www.triptocollege.org • www.learnmoreindiana.org • http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges • www.nacacnet.org

6. College representative visits to Burris • Schedule of visits is posted, in Senior Bulletin & • on NIAF • Sign up in the CC at least 1 day in advance • Ask your teacher for permission to attend • Come prepared to ask questions • Small group in which to ask specific questions about things that are important to you • This is an opportunity to make an impression • Admissions reps will remember you when your application comes across their desks…

7. Another opportunity to make an impression: • Student visits to college campuses • Burris allows three excused absences for college/career exploration and research • Places to visit when on a college campus visit: • Admissions Office • Departments of interest • Financial Aid Office • Attend a class • Tour of campus, if arranged • Choose to visit on a Friday or Monday, so you can spend a weekend exploring the campus • Talk to current students or alumni

8. Delaware County College Fair October 4, 2010 6:30-8:00 p.m. Muncie Central High School Large Commons Sponsored by Ivy Tech Community College (Formerly held at BSU)

9. Applying to College Where to begin, when to begin, how to begin

10. Applying for Admission • Aim to apply to 3-5 schools • Different types of admission -- these will determine when you apply • What do schools look for in applications? • Transcript • --Courses taken, grades earned, test scores • Extracurricular activities • Essays • Recommendations

11. Applying On Line • Encouraged by many college admissions directors • Easy to access • Quick transmission to colleges • You may check your work, print out a copy for your • own files • When applying to college online, please remember: • **Let your counselor know! • You MUST request that I send a transcript--there is always • a form to print out and give to me • Your application will not be complete without a transcript! • **Recommendations also must be sent separately, if required • **In general, application fees must be put on a credit card

12. eTranscript • The link is found on the Burris webpage • www.bsu.edu/burris • Provides students with the ability to request transcripts through Indiana eTranscript. Transcripts requested online are sent securely to the destinations that you select. • No cost to sent transcripts, both in and out of state • Students are not required to use eTranscript. They may still simply request a transcript be sent by visiting the Counseling Center and asking

13. eTranscript Benefits of using eTranscript: You may track your request online You will receive an email notification when Burris approves your transcript request And again when your transcript is delivered electronically (or mailed to certain destinations outside of Indiana).

14. The Common Application www.commonapp.org Recommended form of 414 selective colleges in 44 states and the District of Columbia Complete ONE application form Send copies to any participating college--doing the app electronically is recommended Some colleges have supplemental applications Submit application electronically or in hardcopy

15. Be aware of deadlines

16. Review the Counseling Center Application procedure Complete your part of the application and bring in the completed application with addressed, stamped envelope and application fee checks at least 2 weeks in advance Or, if your application was done online, give counselor part to Mrs. Maugherman with an envelope, stamps, and any support materials, at least 2 weeks in advance Give references plenty of advance notice Make requests 4 weeks ahead of time, request letters of recommendation be returned to you or turned in to the Counseling Center at least 5 days prior to the deadline

17. Senior Profile Allows your guidance counselor to write the best and most complete letter about you Used by the Scholarship Nomination Committee to identify specific criteria for a scholarship or award Some teachers may ask to see a copy if you request a recommendation from them--You may make copies in the CC Due to Mrs. Maugherman by Oct. 29, 2010, or earlier if you are requesting a letter of recommendation before then

18. Athletic Eligibility Register with NCAA Eligibility Center if you are considering college athletics---by end of Junior year or beginning of Senior year Go to https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/ to register and for answers to specific questions Instructions for registering online are in the CC For NAIA schools, check www.naia.org

19. Paying for College It’s not as impossible as it sounds

20. Develop a Plan to Finance your Education Don’t let cost be a determining factor in what schools you will apply to -- Nearly $60 billion in financial aid is awarded nationally every year* Finding financial aid can be intimidating--but don’t let that stop you Know what financial aid and scholarships are available *ICPAC

21. Types of Financial Aid • Grants and Scholarships • These do not need to be paid back, often called gift or merit aid • May be need-based or merit-based • Loans • Borrowed money, will be paid back with interest • Work Study • Students work for money as part of their financial aid, usually on-campus jobs

22. Finding scholarships • Senior Bulletin • Internet sources • Individual College--check with financial aid offices • Local organizations and businesses • Beware of scholarship search services You shouldn’t have to pay money to get a scholarship • Apply for Financial Aid • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by March 10th • Institutional Aid forms Some colleges require their own forms, also have own deadlines • Supplemental Application forms ex. College Scholarship Service Financial Aid Profile (CSS Profile)

23. The major source of student financial aid is the U.S. Department of Education. Nearly 70% of the student aid that is awarded each year comes from the U.S. Department of Education's programs (over $70 billion). The Department's aid includes grants, loans, and work study.* •Most federal student aid is awarded based on financial need, not scholastic achievement •Financial need does NOT have to be shown to receive certain federal student loans *collegecircle.com

24. FAFSA on the web Due March 10, 2011 (just as paper copy is) www.fafsa.ed.gov PIN number for FAFSA Your PIN serves as your electronic signature Your PIN will be emailed to you within 5 days www.pin.ed.gov

25. Surfing the Net for Dollars www.fastweb.com www.collegeanswer.com/index.jsp www.finaid.org www.collegeboard.com www.act.org www.ed.gov/finaid.html www.princetonreview.com www.petersons.com www.schoolsoup.com

26. Review and Finalize Plans Whew! You’re almost there...

27. Talk things over as a family • Meet individually with guidance counselor • Wait for financial aid packages to come sometime in April or May • Be aware of what makes you more likely to be successful once you are in school

28. Choices Choices Choices RESPONSIBILITY Deadlines Choices Researching Colleges Searching for Scholarships Choices Deadlines

29. Thank you for attending College Information Night