The College Application Process For State College High School Seniors Class of 2011

1. The College Application Process For State College High School Seniors Class of 2011 Alice Ball Sue Brindle Kelly Fredley September 2010

2. Where are you now? • Have you taken the SAT or ACT? • Do you have a list of schools? • Have you visited some of the schools? • Have you looked at the website and application procedures? • Have you registered with NCAA Clearinghouse if you plan to play sports? • If you are completely overwhelmed by these questions, then read your College Planning Booklet and start with 1 application.

3. Goal For This Meeting How to Apply to College Three main types of applications • Penn State/Schreyer Honors College • Common Application • Other applications (on-line and paper)

4. Points to Remember for the Regular PSU Application • Complete on-line application • Bring in the School Report form---Mrs. Wolanski • Sign a Transcript Request form---Mrs.Wolanski • Must choose a school and a major or DUS • Fall admission vs. summer admission • College Prep Math 1-3= (Alg. 1, Alg. 2, & Geometry) • Trig. / Business, Engineering, Science, IST • Foreign Language requirement • Complete application by Oct. 31st to be safe. • SAT & ACT scores: YOU NEED to have them sent directly from College Board. It takes 2-3 weeks. PSU will not process your application without SAT scores.

5. Schreyer Honors College • Complete regular PSU application on-line • Indicate that you want to complete the Schreyer on-line application. (Who should apply) • Complete Transcript Request form w/ Mrs. Dodson in the Counseling Office. • Reminder: Have your counselor’s and teachers’ emails handy for requesting recommendations. • Recommendations need to be requested 3 working weeks before due date—Green Sheet must be complete at that time for recommendation to be written by counselor.

6. Points to Remember - Common Application • Google Common Application and get on their website to see if your schools use the common application. • Go to each College Website before applying and check for supplements. The info is on the Common Application website as well. • Read all directions regarding Common Application. • Get teachers’ permission before submitting their names as references. • Waiving your right-to-privacy is strongly recommended. • Print out a hard copy for records. • Complete a Transcript Request for each Common Application School. • Complete Green Sheet information for counselors—must be into Counseling office 3 working weeks before due.

7. Other Applications • Can be on-line or paper. If there is a choice we recommend the on-line version. • Make sure you print out all forms for teachers and counselors and give them to the appropriate people. • Each application is a bit different, follow the directions and take your time. • If you bring in your entire application to be mailed you need to bring in a large envelope with 4 stamps and addressed. • Sign a Transcript Request form for each college.

8. Recommendation Packet (Pick these up in Counseling) If you need a counselor recommendation for any college you are applying to, make sure that you have completed these forms at least 3 weeks before the recommendation is due College Application To-Do List In – House Evaluation Forms (4) Information For Letter Of Recommendation

9. Application Essay • Many colleges require an essay. • Seek help from your English teacher. • Read the College Planning Book about the essay on pages 15-19 or go to educationplanner.org or collegeboard.com or use resources in counseling office. • Schreyer Honors College of PSU requires three essays - begin them now! • Have at least one person proof your essay. Make sure that you are coming across the way you intended.

10. Recommendations • PSU does not require recommendations, with the exception of Schreyer Honors College. • Teacher recommendation—any 9th through 12th grade teacher may write a recommendation. • Some colleges will require specific subject teachers. • Counselor recommendation –Susan Brindle/ Alice Ball/Mr. Morgan/ Mrs. Campbell/ Mrs. Donovan, or any counselor you have been working with. • If you need a letter of recommendation you will need to fill out the Green Sheet packet and have 4 teachers fill out white sheets.

11. Recommendations continued….. • Some colleges want to receive all recommendations and transcript together. If this is what the college requires, then all documents must be sent from the counseling office. • Other colleges that require recommendations state that teachers and counselors may mail recommendations separately. • Waive your right to read the recommendation.

12. Application Process • Apply online if possible. • Apply to at least one “safety” school that is both academically and financially safe. • Try to limit your applications to 5 or 6 colleges. The average application fee is $50 per application. • Apply as early as possible to get maximum consideration. • Make a detailed checklist for each college application.

13. Wonderful People * Treat them well * Mrs. Wolanski & Mrs. Dodson

14. Transcript Request Form

15. Transcript Request Form • You must complete a transcript request form for each college with Mrs. Wolanski in the North Counseling Office in order to have your transcript submitted. • Make sure your request is in at least 3weeks before it is due.

16. Additional Forms • Early Decision Agreement • Mid Year Report • College Specific Financial Aid Forms • FAFSA—January 1st, 2011 • Athletic Supplement • Arts Supplement • Final Report/Transcript

17. Envelopes and Stamps • Paper Applications 9x12 envelope, addressed with 4 stamps • Transcript only/Mid Year Report Regular legal size envelope, addressed with 1 stamp

18. Application Deadlines • Rolling admission • Early decision • Early action • Regular decision • Note: For both transcript and recommendations, make sure that you give the counseling office and your counselor at least 3 weeks notice. Example, if the deadline is December 1st have all your requests in by November 9th. Look at the bottom of your purple sheet to see our deadlines.

19. Financial Aid • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student AID (FAFSA) soon after Jan 1st, 2011. • Fill Out CSS Financial Aid Profile if required by the college. • Become familiar with the financial aid process. • Read the financial aid section in the College Planning Book - pages 23-31. • Visit http://www.finaid.org/ for a preliminary financial aid estimate. • Attend financial aid nights: • PSU Financial Aid – December 7th, 2010 - PHEAA – January 6th, 2011

20. Scholarship Search • Comprehensive Scholarship Information - www.fastweb.com • Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency - www.pheaa.org • State High Senior Scholarship Book • Resources in North Counseling Office • Employment/religious affiliations/military • Many colleges give out hefty merit financial aid

21. College Visits • Many colleges visit our HS in the Fall • Check the SCASD web site for upcoming visits • A few examples are: 10/1 Susquehanna University 10/4 Edinboro University of PA 10/ 5 Central Pennsylvania College US Marines NROTC Talk 10/6 West Chester University of PA 10/11 Wilson College 10/12 Lehigh University, Juniata College, Bloomsburg University of PA 10/13 George Mason University 10/14 University of Pitt at Johnstown 10/15 Westminster College 10/18 Elizabethtown College 10/20 Bucknell University 10/21 Lycoming College 10/22 Colgate University/Alfred University

22. Searching Colleges • www.collegeboard.com • www.educationplanner.org • High school counseling office • Individual college websites

23. How Colleges Evaluate You • Grades in college prep courses • Standardized test scores • Grades in all courses • Essay • Counselor recommendation • Teacher recommendation • Special talents and abilities • Work/extracurricular activities • Interview • Alumni relations • Subject tests • Demonstrated interest • Ethnicity • Ability to pay • State of residence

24. Common Mistakes On College Applications • You apply to a college and never come to the counseling office to request your transcript to be sent from our HS to the college. • You apply to a college and forget to send your SAT/ACT scores to the college. • You apply to college and forget to download all the necessary forms. • You miss a deadline. • You forget to ask for teacher and counselor recommendations. • You forget to hit the submit button.

25. How well did y0u listen? • What needs to be completed for each application besides filling out the application? • How do colleges receive your SAT/ACT scores? • When do you need a large addressed, stamped envelope? • What is the first thing to do if you need a teacher recommendation? What is the second thing? • What does your counselor need in order to complete a letter of recommendation? • What do you always have to do (two things) when you have finished an on-line application? • What do you need to bring into the counseling office if you are applying to Penn State? What will you do after you hand in the form? • What are supplements?