College Information for Seniors

1. College Information for Seniors

2. El Modena Class of 2013 • UCLA • UC Santa Cruz • UC Davis • University of the Pacific • Duke • Arizona State • UC San Diego • Texas Christian • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo • UC Irvine • New York University • University of Arizona • American Ballet Theatre • USC • Chapman University • UC Santa Barbara • CSU Long Beach • CSU Fullerton • BYU • Whitworth University • University of San Francisco • Syracuse University • University of Oregon

3. Application Dates/Deadlines • CSU (California State Universities) • Apply at csumentor.edu • October 1 - November 30 • $55 application fee per campus • UC (University of California) • Apply at universityofcalifornia.edu • November 1 – November 30 • $70 application fee per campus • Common Application (private universities) • Check each school’s application window. Deadlines differ!

4. Testing Dates/Deadlines • CSU/UC – accepts either the SAT or ACT • Private universities – check to see which they prefer • Community colleges- do not require the ACT or SAT • ACT – register at act.org ($35 - $50) • October 26 (register by September 27) • SAT – register at collegeboard.org (Fee - $50) • November 2 (register by October 3)

5. Letters of Recommendation • CSU/UC – Not required • Community colleges – Not required • Common Application – REQUIRED!

6. Letters of Rec. continued • Ask Early! • 2weeks minimum notice - Remember your recommenders have many letters to write. • Include College Information Sheet • Available in front office - see Mrs. Lamb • Turn in to your counselor when you request your letter • Provide Detailed Instructions • Include due date, location letter is to be sent, stamped & addressed envelope if necessary (most letters of recommendation are submitted online)

7. Common Application Process • Apply at commonapp.org • Enter counselor information correctly • Apply early – allow 2 weeks minimum for your counselor to complete your application. Counselors are not available during school vacations.

8. Common App. Process Cont. • You must request your transcript through Parchment.com BEFORE your counselor can submit your application. • Send transcript to “Common Application” , NOT to the college. (this is the most common mistake) • Mrs. Stringfellow, school registrar (who processes your transcript request), is not available during school vacations. • Keep your counselor informed of your application deadlines including the mid-year report (some schools require, not all)

9. Transcripts • Transcripts for ALL colleges must be sent via Parchment.com • See Mrs. Stringfellow, school registrar (front office), for more information.

10. Early Decision – be 100% sure that the college is the best choice for you. Pros Cons Early decision is binding. If admitted, a student must attend or else lose a sizable enrollment deposit A student may apply to only one college early If accepted, a student must withdraw all other college applications A student accepted early must decide to attend before receiving a financial aid package (note that inadequate financial aid is the one allowable reason for breaking an early decision contract) • Acceptance rate is usually higher than regular admissions • Students who aren’t accepted early are still considered with the regular applicant pool • Students are usually notified by December = less stress! • Students can still apply to other colleges for regular decision

11. Early Action - not offered by many colleges • In general, early action is a much more attractive option than early decision. Here’s why: • Acceptance rate is usually higher for early action than for regular decision • Students who are not accepted early are still considered for admission with the regular decision pool • Early action is not binding – students are free to apply to other colleges • Students can apply early to other colleges • Although students receive early notification of acceptance, they do not need to make a decision until the usual May 1 deadline. This allows time to figure out financial aid. • If accepted early at a college, the spring semester of a student’s senior year will be far less stressful. • Even if accepted early, a student can choose to go to a different college with no penalty.

12. Financial Aid • Attend a Financial Aid Workshop! • FAFSA workshop at El Modena, January 2014 • Check with local community colleges • Ways to pay • Grants (free money!) • Scholarships (free money!) • Work-study or student employment programs (work = $) • Loans (must pay back with interest) • FAFSA.ed.gov – Free Application for Federal Student Aid • Do not use any other site or pay money for this application • Application opens January 1 • The early bird gets the dough! The later you apply, the less money available.

13. Scholarships • Start your search with a free web site such as www.fastweb.com • You should never have to pay to apply for a scholarship or receive one • Follow the instructions exactly • Get help if necessary • Dedicate yourself – it will take a lot of your free time!