Hicksville High School Junior College Planning Night

1. Hicksville High SchoolJunior College Planning Night November 15, 2011

2. The college planning process can seem overwhelming… But you can make it easier by breaking it down into smaller parts!

3. The First Steps • Choose challenging classes and do your best work every day. Seek extra help when needed. Be aware of credit requirements for graduation (22cr) and track your own progress towards a Regents or Advanced Diploma. • Take the PSAT, and thoroughly analyze your results to see where your strengths/weaknesses lie. • Go to www.nycareerzone.org to update your interest survey in order to narrow down your career areas of interest

4. The Next Steps • Register for the SAT (www.collegeboard.com) and/or ACT (www.act.org) exams. You should take the SAT twice; once in the spring of grade 11, and again in the fall of grade 12. Be aware of SAT subject tests and the colleges that require them. • Review the 5 major factors to consider when choosing a college: major, location, size, competitiveness and cost • www.collegeboard.com - go to this website frequently to review your criteria for selecting colleges. Compare yourself to the colleges based on your choices above

5. CRITERIA • Colleges look at a number of factors when they evaluate your application for admission, including: • C- Course selection • R- Rank in class • I- Interest • T-Testing • E- Essay • R- Recommendations • I- Interviews • A- Academic Performance

6. Consider the following when choosing a college: • 1. Major- If you are unsure, what two or three majors are you most likely to consider? • 2. Location- Consider whether you want to go away or stay home. Do you like an urban, suburban or rural lifestyle? • 3. Size- Do you see yourself in a big school with thousands of students or a small school with a more intimate feel? • 4. Competitiveness- Do you want to be in a school where most of the students are at or above your academic level, or do you prefer to be in a place where you are the average or above average student? • 5. Cost- Once all financial aid is factored in, can you afford to attend this school?

7. Early Action vs. Early Decision • Both programs require that applications are sent early, usually by November 1 or November 15. • Early action = a binding decision on the school’s part but no obligation to attend • Early decision= a binding decision for both the student and the school. If accepted, you must attend.

8. Deadlines • One of the most common dilemmas that we face is teaching students to meet deadlines !!! • There are immovable deadlines for registration for the ACT and SAT. • There are deadlines for the submission of applications for Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision and on-site admissions. • Please emphasize the importance of meeting deadlines to your students.

9. On-Site Admissions • We offer students a chance to meet with the admissions counselors of a wide array of local colleges in November and early December. • This is a great chance to save money (application fees are waived) and get an immediate response (you can get accepted on the spot!) from the colleges

10. Financial Aid • www.fafsa.ed.gov – this is the essential website for obtaining any financial aid from any college. The form must be filed annually, as soon as possible after January 1. We hold a financial aid night in December. Plan to attend this evening event for the best information you will hear regarding the financing of your student’s education. • CSS profile- this additional financial aid form is required by some colleges and is found via www.collegeboard.com • www.fastweb.com – this is a comprehensive scholarship database offering millions of dollars of scholarships. • Seniors also receive scholarship bulletins in class regularly, and a local scholarship directory is distributed in the spring.

11. Other Programs • NCAA- the registration clearinghouse for all student athletes. Attend our NCAA conference on December 6, 2011 for details. • HEOP/EOP- Once you are deemed eligible both academically and economically, these are programs for students who might otherwise be unable to attend college. • Questbridge- another program for students who might otherwise be ineligible for certain colleges.

12. Visit Colleges • It is important to see campuses in order to get a sense of whether or not a place is a good “fit” for you. • Try to visit a variety of schools early in your search to see whether big or small, urban or rural, near or far is for you. • Do “virtual tours” online if you can not visit in person. • Take advantage of the many college visits that we organize for your benefit. Visit with us if you can not go on your own.

13. Applying to College • www.commonapp.org • This application is accepted by nearly 500 colleges and universities. • It is available in August. • You can begin your college applications even before you begin your senior year classes. • Advanced planning now=less stress later!

14. Dates to Remember • Visit to NYU/Polytechnic- November 30 • Financial Aid Night- December 1 • NCAA Night- December 6 • College Planning Night- April 17 • College Rep. visits- ongoing throughout the school year • College Fair- October 2012

15. Planning Your Future • Planning your future is a process. • It doesn’t happen in a day, a week or a month. • Start early, ask questions, attend events. • Utilize the guide that we will be giving students in the spring, entitled “Planning Your Future”, which contains all of the relevant information we discussed tonight, and more • Call and visit the Guidance Office for anything that you or your student may need. We are here to help in any and every way that we can!

16. Hicksville Website www.hicksvillepublicschools.org