Important Senior Parent Meeting Details and College Prep Information

1. NORTHWEST SENIOR PARENT MEETING SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

2. Budgeting • Cap & Gown Fee - $ 50 (Due by March 28th ) • Senior Banquet - Thursday, April 25th (Tickets sold beginning April 22rd) • Prom – Friday, May 17th at the Gaithersburg Hilton (Tickets sold beginning May 3rd )

3. October 17th • Senior Class Activities During the PSAT • 7:30 am – Breakfast in the Cafeteria • 8:15 am – Group Photograph in the Stadium • 9:00am – Balfour Representative to • Distribute Graduation Announcement information • Cap & Gown Forms • 9:30am – Class Meeting • 10:15am – Guest Speaker • 10:55am – Dismissal to Lunch

4. College Process SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 • Presented by: • Theresa Dethlefsen, Resource Counselor

5. Where is the class of 2012 now? American University* Art Institute of Washington* Berklee College of Music* Boise State University* Boston University* Brown University* Bucknell University* Clemson University * Colgate University * Coppin State University * Cornell University * Dartmouth College * Dickinson University * Duke University * Elizabethtown College * Elon University* Fordham University* Frostburg State University * George Mason University * Georgetown University * Grove City College * Hampton University * Harrisburg University of Science & Technology * High Point University* Hood College * Indiana University at Bloomington * Indiana University of Pennsylvania * Ithaca College *James Madison University * Johns Hopkins University* Johnson & Wales University* University of Kentucky* LIU, CW Post* Loyola University* Marist College *University of Maryland* McDaniel College * Montgomery College, Germantown * MIT*Mount Saint Mary's University * New York University* NC State University* Ohio State University* Pacific Union College * Pennsylvania State University * Pratt Institute * Purdue University * Rice University *RIT* University of Rochester* Rutgers* Salisbury University * Stevenson University * Syracuse University* Towson University * Tulane University* Utah State * Vanderbilt University * Virginia Commonwealth University * Virginia Polytechnic Institute * Wake Forest University * West Virginia University *Yale University

6. Agenda • SSL Hours • SAT, ACT and Accuplacer Information • College Application Process • Transcript Request Process • Essay Writing

7. SSL Hours Ms. McCarthy-Redd (SSL Coordinator) • 75 SSL hours • Students should have all hours completed by the end of first semester of their senior year • Summer hours are due by Sept. 28th • SSL Opportunities: • Review bulletin board outside counseling office • http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/ssl/

8. ACT & SATReminders! Seniors should have had a conversation with their counselors about which is the ‘best fit’ test! Remember the Northwest High School Code when registering: 210-589

9. The ACCUPLACER See your counselor before registration! Test Dates: Nov. 8: MCPSAccuplacer Feb. 5: MC Accuplacer Diagnostic Feb. 6: MC Accuplacer Online Practice April 17: MC Accuplacer

10. Consider the options • 2-Year vs. 4-Year Colleges • Research using Family Connections • Look at scattergrams • Identify 2 reach, 2 target, 2 safe schools • Be aware of application deadlines for college. • Military • Recruiters and the ASVAB • Work/Apprenticeships/Vocational training

11. College Application Checklist • All seniors and parents should have met with their counselor over the summer to discuss graduation requirements and post-secondary plans. • Ms. Davis (College and Career Information Coordinator) is also available to help with Family Connection registration and college searches.

12. Send SAT/ACT Scores Request Letters of Recommendations College Process: 101 • Obtain college applications • Review/create accounts for Family Connections and the Common Application • Set up Family Connection FERPA waiver and Common Application match. • Request transcripts through registrar by completing the Electronic processing form • Submit the materials to the registrar at least 15 school days before the postmark due date of your application. • Send SAT/ACT scores through Collegeboard and ACT. • Complete and return self-evaluation to Counselor and Teacher • Mail or electronically submit student portion of the application directly to the college.

13. Applying to College…

14. Transcript Information • Fees for Official Transcripts: 1 – 3 FREE • 4+ $3.00 per official transcript • NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE needs a transcript if student plans to play sports in college. • No envelope is needed. • After registered with NCAA on-line, bring pages 1 and 2 of the NCAA Release Authorization to the Registrar.

15. Recommendation Letters: • Self-Evaluation Form • Form available on NW Website. • Students should speak to their counselor about writing a letter of recommendation. • It will be sent along with your transcript unless otherwise indicated. • If teacher recommendation is required, students MUST request letter of recommendation from their teacher in PERSON before selecting their name on Family Connections!!!!!! • Provide teachers with a copy of your self-evaluation and a note about what schools you are asking them to write for and their deadlines.

16. Financial Aid &Scholarships • FAFSA is the most critical piece for receiving $ for college. • Financial Aid Seminar (December 4 @ 6:30pm) • FAFSA should be completed between Jan. 1 and March 1, 2013 . • Scholarship can be found via Family Connections, Fastweb.com, and Career Center page of the NWHS website. • Scholarship Bulletin sent via Family Connections to registered students & parents. • Students are usually asked to complete an essay for every scholarship application. Some scholarships also require letters of recommendation. • Ms. Davis seeks out students who qualify for various scholarship opportunities. • It is important that students follow through with these applications as deadlines usually have a quick turn around time.

17. Essay Writing • The topic should be meaningful and the one that the student will enjoy writing about. • Be descriptive!! • Don’t be afraid to brag about accomplishments. • Be creative, especially if it fits your personality. • Don’t try to impress schools by using “big” words. • Relax-writing the essay is not as tough as it seems.

18. Questions