duPont Manual High School

1. duPont Manual High School SENIOR PREVIEW NIGHT Class of 2011 Presenter: Christy Teague, Manual Counselor (H-O)

2. Get to know your COUNSELOR... A-G Mrs. Johnston H-O Ms. Teague P-Z Mrs. Medley YPAS Mr. Robinson

3. Graduation Requirements (Pre-College Curriculum)

4. Missing Graduation Requirements??? Talk to your counselor IMMEDIATELY if you think you are missing any required courses for graduation & they are NOT in your schedule !!!

5. Senior Stats Report • You will get your Seniors’ Stats Report and a copy of your unofficial transcript during your Senior Meeting with Mrs. Medley. • It shows classes still needed for graduation. • See your counselor if there are mistakes on this report. • If you know you are missing graduation credits, you need to see your counselor immediately!!! Do not wait to get your Stats Report. • Complete all independent study and E-school credits by Spring Break • Check transcript for mistakes on your transcript. • Check to make sure all summer school/E-school credits are showing on your transcript

6. Senior Year August-September-October • all tests should be taken (ACT/SAT/Subject SAT) • updated resume & your letter of recommendation—get these items to your counselor • list of colleges that you plan on applying to—know their deadline dates, admissions requirements, etc • line up your recommendations—teachers, counselors, community leaders, etc—get your resume and letter to them at least 3 weeks prior to deadline • start on applications, especially the essay portion and recommendations November • Work on college apps and scholarship apps over Fall and Winter breaks December • send off your final college apps • write “thank you” notes to those who gave you a recommendation • notification on “Early Decision” apps will be this month January • Do the FAFSA February • Register for AP exams

7. March-April • Take a look at your acceptances and financial aid packages. In most cases, you have until May 1 to decide. Visit your top choices, weigh out options, and send in the deposit! May-June • Graduation • Congratulations—you’ve been accepted to college!

8. DIPLOMAS

9. Considering playing college sports? NCAA Clearinghouse Must complete the NCAA Clearinghouse at the end of your junior year—before you go on an official college visit for a sport Make sure you have taken the ACT or SAT and reported your scores to the Clearinghouse Register online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net The fee is $50.00 Contact Mrs. Marti Johnston—NCAA questions

10. 1. Academic Rigor, Talent, and/or Mastery of Skills 2. Cumulative GPA 3. Grades in Advanced Placement (AP) Courses 4. Grades in College Prep Courses 5. Grades in All Subjects 6. ACT & SAT Test Scores 7. Essay or Writing Samples 8. Honors, Awards, etc. 9. Counselor Recommendations 10. Teacher Recommendations 11. Interviews (if required) 12. Community Service 13. Work and Extra Curricular Activities College Admissions Criteria by Importance

11. ACT College Readiness Benchmark Scores • A benchmark score is the minimum score needed on an ACT subject area test to indicate a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher, or, a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit bearing college course • College English Composition 18 on ACT English Test • College Algebra 22 on ACT Math Test • College Social Sciences 21 on ACT Reading Test • College Biology 24 on ACT Science Test • Overall College Readiness 21 on ACT Composite Score These are the minimum scores you need to indicate to the average college you are ready for postsecondary work – More competitive colleges will require higher benchmark scores

12. How Many Colleges Should I Apply To??? • For most it will be a list of about three to six schools • Aim for one or more “reach” colleges that are highly desired and highly selective. If you don’t, you’ll always wonder, “what if?” • It is wise to include one or two schools where the odds are 50/50 that you will be accepted. • Include at least one or two colleges where admission is highly likely and a college where you can afford to attend if you receive very little financial aid • The easy part is finding your dream and reach schools • The hard part is finding your safety schools that are also a really good match – keep an open mind about the many fine colleges that are not intensely competitive in admission • Two safety schools are preferable to guarantee a choice between two offers • The potential for heartache in April can be drastically reduced by a few good decisions in October and November

13. Academic Common Market • If the program you are interested in studying is not offered at a college in Kentucky, you may be able to pay in-state tuition at an out-of-state school through the Academic Common Market • Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia participate at the undergraduate and graduate levels • Florida, North Carolina, and Texas participate at the graduate level

14. How To Use Your Red Folder • During your senior class meeting, each student will receive a red folder with a cover sheet and additional information inside • You will use this folder all year to request recommendations, transcripts, and secondary school reports that are to be sent to the colleges you will be applying to • Please write on the cover sheet the date that you turn the folder into your counselor • You must submit this folder to your counselor at least 10 school days in advance of your first application deadline in order to give us time to process your applications • The earlier you turn in the folder the better - it gives us more time to produce meaningful and high quality letters and reports • Send the actual application and fees separately (online or through the mail). Do not submit money or checks to the guidance office

15. Red Folder Front Cover • Complete all information requested on the front cover • When listing what is inside your folder, only list what is actually being turned in that day and not all of the colleges you are applying to for the whole year • The order colleges are listed on front cover needs to be the order they are inside the folder from earliest due date to the latest

16. LEFT SIDE Letter to your counselor stating information about you we may not be aware of and is not on your resume An up to date resume Any information that will help us write a rich and substantial letter of recommendation If you wish, you can even write your own letter of recommendation and we will refine it and add our own thoughts about you RIGHT SIDE Secondary School Report, Counselor Form, or Curriculum Verification Form, Scholarship Applications Addressed, stamped envelope Small - 2-3 stamps Large - 4-5 stamps Paper-clip forms to envelope Place forms and envelopes in the order they are listed on the front cover page Red Folder INSIDE

17. Red Folder“Letter to Your Counselor” • Include additional information that is not on your resume • You should include more personal information • Explain what is unique about you • Describe your strengths and weaknesses • Describe any hardships you have overcome • Describe how the university would benefit from accepting you - what special traits do you have that will benefit the school • Who has been your greatest influence in life and how have they have helped shape the kind of person you are • What are you passionate about and why?

18. Red Folder Common Applications • If you are submitting the Common Application to several schools, only one copy of the secondary school report is needed for your red folder - we will photocopy for each school • Make sure you indicate which schools need the common application • The common application usually requests counselors to submit on line - take note that we are not processing any online applications - please provide us with a hard copy we can fill out and send in

19. Mid-Year Reports & Final Transcripts • Some colleges (and all that use the common application) require a mid-year report and all colleges require a final transcript • Mid-year reports are not sent automatically - you must remind your counselor during the 2nd week in January to send a mid-year report if your college requires it • Fill out the mid-year report of the common application and give it to your counselor • We will send final transcripts two weeks after school is out in June to the one school you tell us you will be attending for 2011-2012

20. Applications Via Download • Application software that comes via download from a website that allows students to generate applications on their own computer • Students generally print and send the application via the post office

21. Applications Through the Web • To use these, students access a website that houses the software rather than downloading • Generally, a username and password will be provided that will allow you to save your work from multiple sessions • The final copy is either transmitted through the Web or printed and sent via snail mail

22. Take Precautions!!! • Resist the temptation to impulsively hit the “send” button until you have thoroughly proofread your application – have at least one other person also check for typos • It is advised that you compose essays and short answer questions offline and transfer them to your application after you have refined those responses • Review a printed copy of your work whenever possible before sending and keep it for your records • Electronic filers should receive an acknowledgement via return mail • Don’t forget you may need to print and mail a signature page with a check for the application fee • Other parts of the application (recommendation page, counselor page, secondary school report, etc.) must be printed and given to your teacher or guidance counselor • If you print your application, make sure you sign it and enclose your check

23. Old Fashioned Way • If you plan to stick with paper applications, make at least two photocopies of the original • Practice on them and get all the typos and coffee or pizza stains out of your system • A sloppy application is the quickest way to get a rejection letter • Proofread for spelling, spacing, word choice, and anything else you can think of • Type the final copy yourself – don’t worry about a “few” neatly corrected errors, but avoid a sloppy appearance • If you print instead of type (less professional looking), make sure your penmanship is neat and easily readable

24. Common Application • Available online at www.commonapp.org • Approximately 300 schools, including the most selective liberal arts colleges, accept the Common Application • You can either download the software or transmit through the web • Use the college’s own application form if they have one – but many have adopted the common application as their own

25. Get It In Early • Keep on top of deadlines - there will be different ones for each college and for each part of the application process • Some deadlines are as early as Oct. 1st • If the college offers rolling admissions they admit the first good applicants that come along leaving fewer slots for later applicants • If the college evaluates in one big pool, applying early shows you are interested and they know that stronger applicants tend to file early – waiting later risks getting less consideration because of the flood of applications pouring in all at once

26. Early Decision vs. Early Action • Both require students to apply by an early deadline - usually between October 15th and December 1st • Decisions are usually rendered between December 15 and February 1 • Borderline students are usually deferred and considered with the regular applicant pool at a later date

27. Early Decision • Early decision involves a BINDING DECISION to enroll if accepted - you have to attend that school regardless of other offers and without knowing any financial aid package that may or may not be offered • You may only apply to one school through Early Decision and if accepted, you must withdraw your applications to all other schools • Early Decision offers a slight advantage of acceptance - colleges usually accept a higher percentage of applicants than those that apply for regular decision - colleges desire students that really want to attend their school • Early Decision is a good option for borderline students with LOW financial need who have a clear first choice school - others should be very CAUTIOUS!!!!

28. Early Action • Entails no commitment to enroll and therefore offers little advantage for admission • Early Action students, however, are often first in line for merit scholarships and housing • Competition in Early Action pools at highly selective schools is generally tougher than in the regular pool • Some Early Action colleges now ask that students apply early only to their institution, however, you may still apply regular decision to any other institution

29. Interviews • Try to relax • Dress nicely • Be on time • Be prepared to discuss 2 or 3 topics at length (your school, favorite subject, extracurriculars, current events, favorite book) • Do not misrepresent yourself - don’t tell them you like current events and then go blank when they ask you about the Supreme Court’s latest decision • Keep your cool and be yourself

30. Expect Probing Questions • What books have you read lately? • Why do you want to enroll here? • What are your most important activities and why are they valuable? • What would you add to the life at this college? • What other colleges are you considering?

31. Good Questions to Ask an Interviewer • What is distinctive about your school? • What sets students here apart from those at similar schools? • What percentage of entering students graduate within five years? • What are the most common career paths for your graduates? • What is the average time a student gains employment after graduation?

32. Your College Essay Can Make the Difference!!! • Admissions officers are looking for spark, vitality, wit, sensitivity, originality, and signs of a lively mind • They want to know how well you can express yourself in writing • Try to be as concise and specific as possible • Don’t waste words that aren’t essential to your point • Reread the essay several times for word choice and typos • If you have time - put your essay aside for a few weeks and reread again to see if it still makes sense • When talent, GPA, and test scores are equal - the essay will often determine who is chosen for admittance

33. COLLEGE $$$ Question: Who should apply for financial aid? EVERYONE GRANTS SCHOLARSHIPS WORK- STUDY LOANS CONVERSION SCHOLARSHIPS WAIVERS MILITARY

34. F A F S AFree Application for Student Financial Aid Why? • Completing the FAFSA makes you eligible for financial awards from state/federal programs and even some scholarships. • Financial aid is awarded based on financial need, as well as on academic, athletic, or other talents. • Most financial aid is need-based but is often awarded in combination with merit-based awards. When? • Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after the first of the year—after your guardians have completed their income taxes • Apply for your pin number after Thanksgiving atwww.gohigherky.org Where? • On-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov is the simplest, most time-efficient, most accurate way to complete the FAFSA

35. F A F S A processing • The college’s financial aid office will process your FAFSA information to determine your financial aid eligibility. If you are eligible for need-based aid, they will determine how much and what type. • The college will create a financial aid package for you. • Each college you list on your FAFSA will consider you for financial aid and will notify you of its decision in late spring or early summer. • The sooner you complete your FAFSA (after January 1), the sooner the colleges can notify you of your financial eligibility.

36. Scholarships • 95% of all scholarship money is available through the colleges themselves - search their financial aid site • Alumni Groups, National Corporations, Associations, your local high school, local businesses, community service organizations, fraternities and sororities, banks, and churches all offer scholarships • When scholarships become available that we know about you will receive an email announcing the specifics on eligibility requirements • www.dupontmanual.com - click on counselors, then click on scholarships • Check out Manual’s College Career Room for Scholarship Applications

37. Scholarship Scams Warning signs of scholarship scams: • Application fees • Other fees • Guaranteed Winnings • Unsolicited Opportunities • Mail Drop Box Number or Residence for a return address

38. Internet Searches for Financial Aid and Scholarships • Financial Aid: http://www.finaid.org Includes a top-quality homepage of links to many financial aid and related sites. The expected family contribution estimator is a highlight of this site • FastWeb: http://www.monster.com Free scholarship search database that saves your profile and emails new sources of private merit aid to your mailbox online • Loan Repayment Estimator: http://www.student-loans.com/Repay.html Estimates monthly payments for various college loan programs • Sallie Mae: http://www.salliemae.org • Nellie Mae: http://www.nelliemae.org Information on Sallie Mae and Nellie Mae college loans

39. For Specific Information Regarding: • National Merit Finalists; Governor’s Scholars Program - contact Amy Medley at amy.medley@jefferson.kyschools.us • ILP; NCAA Clearinghouse - contact Marti Johnston at marti.johnston@jefferson.kyschools.us • Advanced Placement - contact Christy Teague at christy.teague@jefferson.kyschools.us • Scholarships; Governor’s School for the Arts; Awards Programs - contact Dennis Robinson at dennis.robinson@jefferson.kyschools.us

40. Announcements!!! • Listen for announcements • Watch for information on the TV • Check College Room for upcoming college visits • Manual’s website at www.dupontmanual.com for scholarship up-to-date listing

41. Some Thoughts for Parents • Communicate - be available to talk • Set Financial Parameters - as a family, set an understanding early on about how much you can pay out of pocket • Be Realistic - know the college’s standards and expectations and your own qualifications • Think Broadly - some of the best colleges may be ones neither of you has ever heard of • Let the Student Take Center Stage - don’t try to manipulate the system - let them stand on their own merits • Don’t Live Through Your Child - allow them to follow his or her own dreams instead of your own dreams • Be Supportive - remind them they will be accepted to a good school - one where they will make friends, have fun, be challenged, and get the education they deserve • Redouble your efforts - when the rejection (thin envelope) and acceptance letters (thick envelope) arrive, be there for them

42. INDEX CARDS • Print your legal name — this will be the name that goes onto your high school diploma • Print student’s email address & phone number • Print parent’s email address & phone number • Write ADVANCED PROGRAM if you are • Write COMMONWEALTH if you are • Return Index Cards to Ms. Teague before you leave

43. Questions???