The Next Step

1. The Next Step Junior Parent Night St. Agnes Boys High School Speaker: Mr. Giordano

2. Agenda • The application process • The college selection process • The cost • Realistic choices “Will I get in?” • Getting to know the college • The SAT and ACT • Deadlines • Financial Aid & Scholarships • Resources

3. The Application Process

4. The Application Process • Step one – Conduct research and develop a list of at least 6-8 colleges • Step two - Visit those colleges by attending an open house and/or college fairs. • Step three – Speak with an admissions or financial aid rep. regarding scholarships. Visit schools website for scholarship info. • Step four – The student must complete the online application. This includes, if required, the essay and/or personal statement. • Step five – Submit payment online, or provide the check to Mr. Giordano to be mailed out with transcript. If you qualify for a fee waiver, then make sure that it is included with your transcript once you have requested one. • Step six – The student must submit a transcript request form to Mr. Giordano • Step seven – The student must submit an envelope addressed to each institution that he has applied to. Envelopes can be found in Mr. Giordano’s office. No postage required. • Step eight – The student must be sure to submit any materials (essay, personal statement, application supplements, letters of recommendation, etc..) that he would like sent out with the transcript. I highly recommend sending everything in one envelope.

5. Fall 2008 Reminders • Students should narrow college choices--6 to 8 applications should suffice. CUNY counts as one. • Register for September/October SAT. • Turn in all paperwork to Mr. Giordano • Get going on the Essay! (English and/or computer teachers will assist in class). Essays vary per school. Essays usually ask for a personal statement about the students life. For an idea of college essays visit www.commonapp.org to create an account. • Ask teachers to write recommendations (ASAP). Use the teacher recommendation form located in Mr. Giordano’s office. Be sure to give teachers enough time, usually one month notice. The more time they have to write the letter and the more information they have on you the better the quality of the letter. Consider creating a resume to hand in with your recommendation request. • Students must be sure to schedule an appointment to meet with Mr. Giordano in the fall…BE PREPARED.

6. The Selection Process

7. The College Selection Process Always keep in mind that the best college for your student may not be the most selective one, but the one that best matches your students’ desires, goals, objectives and abilities.

8. What do I want to be when I grow up? • Look at interests and hobbies • Most students enter college undecided • Being undecided is OK which is why the best college experience emphasizes broad-based liberal arts curriculum for the first two years • Career interests changes an average of four times • For more information on possible careers visit http://online.onetcenter.org/.

9. Narrowing the Choices Competitiveness Career/Major College Visits

10. Some friendly advice • Consider limiting your choices to 5-10 applications. Applying to too many schools can be overwhelming • Students that apply to too many schools often miss important deadlines. • Focusing on fewer schools makes it easier to track the applications and often results in a more favorable outcome and more financial aid.

11. Approach to Ranking • First Choice • Dream School • Most Competitive • Second Choice • Almost all of the characteristics looking for • Third & Fourth Choice • Most of the characteristics looking for • Fifth & Sixth Choice • Safety Net

12. Things to Consider During the College Search Process • G.P.A./Test Scores of average student compared with that of your child • Location and Environment • Type of University • University size • Type of Student Body • Cost • Miscellaneous considerations • All of this info. is easily accessible at www.collegeboard.com

13. Location and Environment • Urban, Suburban, or Rural • Distance from home • Climate • Quality of living conditions

14. Types of Universities State Universities 4 year/2 year 1. Colleges 2. Universities 3. Community Colleges 4. Technical Schools City Universities 4 year/2 year 1. Colleges 2. Community Colleges Private Universities 4 year

15. CONS Class size Competition for teams Dorm rooms (Try to squeeze as many students as possible) PROS Wide variety of courses Terrific resources, libraries, speakers, athletic facilities, internships, job opportunities. Variety of majors University Size - Large

16. CONS Limited number of majors/classes Limited activities Limited resources PROS Smaller class size Individual attention Comfort level University Size - Small

17. Type of Student Body • On campus residents • Commuters (If going away to school better to look at schools with at least 70% of freshmen class living on campus) • Geographic distribution • Ratio of males/females • Outlook and values of students

18. Miscellaneous Considerations

19. Where can I get this information from? • The collegeboard.com website is a one-stop-shop for information about individual institutions.

21. Admissions for (S)tudents (W)ith (D)isabilities • If your son has been diagnosed with a developmental or physical disability be sure to inform the college admissions staff early on in the process. • Many schools offer special admissions programs for SWD as well as grants and scholarships. • Be sure to update your son’s testing prior to his senior year. Most institutions of higher learning will require testing to have been updated/completed within one year of admissions. • For more information please visit the Department of Education at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html.

22. The Cost

23. Cost Considerations • Don’t Let Cost Deter You! • Private Universities Average • $21,235 to $40,000 • State Universities Average • $12,000 to $17,000 • City Universities Average • $7,371 – 9,000

24. State Universitieswww.suny.edu • Application completed online • One application for all SUNY schools. • $40 per school. • Some schools require supplements. • Supplements can be found on the SUNY website. SUNY Cobleskill SUNY College at Brockport SUNY College at Old Westbury SUNY College at Oneonta SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry SUNY Cortland SUNY Delhi SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology SUNY Geneseo SUNY Fredonia SUNY Maritime SUNY Morrisville State College SUNY Orange County Community College SUNY Plattsburgh SUNY Purchase College SUNY University at Buffalo SUNY Westchester Community College SUNYIT SUNY Albany SUNY Alfed University SUNY Alfred State College SUNY at New Paltz SUNY at Oswego SUNY at Potsdam SUNY at Stony Brook University SUNY Binghamton University SUNY Buffalo State SUNY Canton

25. 2006-07 Typical Expenses for Undergraduates at the State University of New York(Best buy for a student in New York) CommunityColleges State-Operated Campuses Baccalaureate Degree Programs

27. Category A Supported by one or more individuals whose total annual income is from Social Security or sources other than employment and which does not exceed the applicable amount under Category A above. Category B Supported by more than one worker whose combined total annual income does not exceed the applicable amount under Categories B and C Category C Supported by either one worker (yourself) or a single parent worker whose total annual income does not exceed the applicable amount under Categories B and C above Category D Supported by one worker with 2 or more jobs in a two-parent household whose income does not exceed the applicable amount under category D above. These income guidelines (above) DO NOT apply if: You or your family receive payment from Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Home Relief, Safety Net, or Family Day Care through a New York or County Department of Social Services, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, or Office of Children and Family Assistance. There is no change in the income guidelines if a family has more than one household member in college. When family income exceeds the guidelines, students can still be admitted if unusual circumstances can be documented. The typical cases involve unavailability of parental financial support due to illness, disability, neglect, or abuse.

28. BASED ON 1040 • I will be happy to review your most recent 1040 to determine eligibility.

29. Binghamton University • In August 2007 Binghamton was ranked 82out of 262 schools on the US News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges: National Universities: Top Schools"[(The publication only ranks the top 124 schools). This is the highest rank of all SUNY universities. • Arts and Sciences: Binghamton is 19th in Chemistry, 13th in Historical Sociology, 15th nationally and 19th world wide in Political Science and 9th in Anthropology. • The School of Management: Business/Management is ranked in Business Week's top 40 business schools, in the top 10% percent of all business schools, Top 10 for CPA examination, is in the top 5 Business Schools in New York State (along with NYU, Columbia University, Cornell University and The University of Rochester). • Fisk Guide to Colleges has labeled Binghamton as, "The Premier Public University in the Northeast," a statement that has become prominent in marketing efforts.

30. University at Albany • UAlbany was ranked 66th nationally among the 100 Best Values in Public Colleges by Kiplinger’s magazine in 2008. According to the publication, listed institutions are “noteworthy for their combination of top-flight academics and affordable costs.” • The University in 2007 ranked 77th nationally in NSF-funded research, just behind Carnegie Mellon University.UAlbany has neither medical nor engineering schools, making its NSF-funded profile particularly noteworthy. When medical and engineering schools are excluded, it ranks 38th nationally in NSF-funded research. • The Chronicle of Higher Education ranks UAlbany doctoral programs in criminal justice, educational administration, and social welfare in its "Top 10" nationally in their respective disciplines. • UAlbany ranked 45th worldwide among universities in the social sciences in 2006 by the [Institute of Higher Education], [Shanghai Jaio Tong University], [Shanghai, China].

31. University of Stony Brook • In 2005 "Stony Brook was one of 33 universities in that ranked 26th through 50th nationally in at least one of the measures, and the University scored better in the category than such institutions as the University of Massachusetts, Tufts University, the University of Tennessee, and Indiana University.“ • In August 2007 U.S. News & World Report, for the sixth time, ranked SBU among the top 100 national universities in the United States and among the top 50 public national universities. The University was tied for 96th in the U.S. News rating of "best national universities," and tied for 45th in the category of "top public national universities." In January 2007 it was ranked 34th best value among the country’s public institutions for in-state students by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

32. CUNY Baruch College • Baruch ranks among the top 40 universities in the Northeast that offer a full range of undergraduate and master's programs and is among the top 6 of those institutions that are public (U.S. News & World Report, "America's Top Colleges 2007"). • Baruch’s undergraduate business programs ranked 41st nationally, the second most highly regarded in the NY/NJ metropolitan area. The undergraduate business program was also ranked among the top 30 of public institutions (U.S. News & World Report, "America's Top Colleges 2007"). • Baruch's Zicklin School of Business is included in the 2007 edition of The Princeton Review's annual "Best Business Schools" listing. • The 2006 edition of the Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive Business School Survey ranked Baruch 50th among the nation's top 50 regional undergraduate business colleges.

33. CUNY Queens College • In its 2006 edition of "America's Best Value Colleges," The Princeton Review ranks Queens College eighth in the United States. • Queens College is ranked as one of the "25 Hottest Universities" in the Newsweek/Kaplan 2008 College Guide.

34. CUNY City College • City College was recently ranked in a study by Shanghai Jiao Tong University as 88-118 nationally and 201-300 internationally. It should be noted however that the study focuses heavily on institutions with strong hard science backgrounds, as the rating is based on a number of factors including articles published in scientific journals and Nobel laureates.

35. How did I get this information? • Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/ • Type in the schools name under search. • Go to table of contents • Click on rankings

36. City Universitieswww.cuny.edu • CUNY application filed online. • $65 dollars for 6 schools. • Don’t require supplements, recommendations, or essays. • List schools in rank order. • One transcript sent out to CUNY UAPC. Labels in my office • Accepted to a maximum of 3 schools. Baruch College Baruch College Borough of Manhattan Community College Bronx Community College Brooklyn College City College College of Staten Island Queens College Queensborough Community College York College Hostos Community College Hunter College John Jay College of Criminal Justice Kingsborough Community College LaGuardia Community College Lehman College Medgar Evers College New York City College of Technology

37. Average cost of attending a CUNY in 2007 Related CostsBooks and Supplies: The average cost for a full-time student is $879 per year.Transportation: The average amount is $816 per year.Personal: Approximately $1,659 per academic year.Room and Board: Estimate $1,500 for the academic year (student living at home with parents).Housing: Residence hall space is not available within CUNY except for a limited number at Hunter College. Students interested in obtaining information about off-campus housing/apartments may contact the Office of the Dean of Students at the college they will be attending.Technology Fee: Paid by each student to help improve computer services in the colleges. Full-time students pay $75.00 per semester and part-time students pay $37.50.Activity Fees: Funds paid by each student to support student clubs, student government, various campus services, and a variety of student activities. These range from $40 to $101.25 per semester for a full-time student. A part-time student pays less. • Tuition: • Full-time Students at Senior Colleges: • $4,000 per year • Part-time Students at Senior Colleges: • $170 per credit • Full-time Students at Community Colleges: • $2,800 per year • Part-time Students at Community Colleges • $120 per credit Total Cost including fees: Off Campus: $ 9,005

38. SEEK and College Discovery If you are a talented and motivated individual whose academic record does not reflect your full potential, the SEEK or CD program is for you. Eligibility • Economically disadvantaged, defined as having a gross family income below the level set by New York State guidelines (See table) • Academically disadvantaged, defined as being inadmissible according to the regular admissions criteria established for the CUNY senior college he/she will attend • Attend a Pre-Freshman Program if he/she does not meet University standards on any one of the CUNY skills assessment tests

39. Private Universities St. John’s University College of Mount Saint Vincent Manhattan College Iona College Seton Hall University St. Peters College Rochester Institute of Technology University of Hartford Marquette University Tulane University Xavier University Seattle University Manhattanville College College of St. Rose St. Louis University University of Washington Fordham University • Applications should be filled out online. • Range in price from free to $50. Payable by check, credit card, money order or fee waiver. • May require essays and recommendations. • Check website for details. Barry University (Florida) St. Thomas University (Florida) Duquesne University American University Mount Saint Mary University of Arizona Le Moyne University

40. Average cost of attending a private school • Tuition costs, including room and board, on average cost $32,712 per year. • Tuition alone on average costs $23,712. • Many college students don't pay sticker price. 63percent of students receive some form of aid, either loans, grants or both. • On average, full-time students at private institutions get about $9,600 in aid in the form of grants and tax benefits.

41. HEOP • Similar to CUNY SEEK guidelines. • Each school will inform you if you qualify based on information from the FAFSA

42. The Common App.http://www.commonapp.org • The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member institutions by providing an admission application – online and in print – that students may submit to any of our nearly 300 members. • One application for over 300 schools. • Requires supplements for each school. Supplements can be found at common app. Website. • There is no charge to students to use the Common Application. The only fee involved is the specific institutional application fee, payable directly to the college/university. Some schools waive or reduce the application fee for those students who apply electronically. You can use Common App Online (http://app.commonapp.org ) to apply via the Internet. • Many colleges offer fee waivers for applicants from low-income families. If you have participated in the College Board's SAT Program Fee Waiver Service, you may also be eligible to waive application fees at the colleges to which you are applying.

43. COST COMPARISON

44. Can I get in?

45. Considerations for College Admission Boards • Academic achievement/class rank • Test scores: SAT/ACT • Personal profile

46. Other Considerations . . .

47. Extracurricular activities • Extracurriculars are only good if they are consistent and complement a strong academic record. • Do not sacrifice grades for activities. • Grades and SAT scores are still the most important factors in the admissions process. • Habitat for Humanity, National Honor Society and other such organizations can help in the application process, but only if the grades and SAT scores are in the range of what the school is looking for.

48. Incoming Freshmen G.P.A.’s for Non-(H)EOP applicants • Highly competitive - *3.8/93/1300 (Ivies) • Very competitive - *3.6/91/1200 • Competitive - *3.5/90/1100 • Somewhat competitive -*3.0/85/1000 • Open - High School Diploma • Core GPA - English, Math, Science, History, and Foreign Language • * Scores diifer for special programs such as (H)EOP.

49. Conversions vary per institution.

50. Regents Scores SAT sticker (most schools will accept this as official) FIRST LAST M.I. John Smith TEST DATE GRADE SAT CR SAT M SAT W NOV06 12 530 510 510 Total credits after 6 semesters Cumulative/6 semester GPA