Navigating Post-High School Options: Guidance for Potomac Falls High School Seniors

1. SENIOR PLANNING NIGHT POTOMAC FALLS HS Class of 2015

2. SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPT • Director: Rae Ann Paolozzi • Counselors Teresa Bennett A-B and ELL Richard Bader C- GK and Campus Deborah Brom GL – MAR Stefanie Weiss MAS - R Amy Burgess S - Z

3. SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPT • Support Staff CAREER CENTER ASST: TBD SECRETARIES: Lisa Torick Allison Richardson Contact Us: 571-434-3204 PFH School Counseling Web Site

4. AGENDA • Post High School Options • Creating your college list • Naviance/ Family connection • The college application • Process for requesting transcripts and recommendation letters • Paying for college

5. SO WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? TRADE SCHOOLS APPRENTICESHIPS MILITARY/ROTC PROGRAMS ASSOCIATE DEGREE: 2 YR COLLEGE BACHELOR’S DEGREE: 4 YR COLLEGES EMPLOYMENT GAP YEAR

6. Statistics of Our Students

7. FINDING THE RIGHT MATCH • Log on to Family Connection http://connection.naviance.com/pfhs • Make a list of colleges of interest. • Identify your priorities • Research the characteristics of a range of schools • Match the priorities with characteristics

8. CHARACTERISTICS TO CONSIDER: Is this the right fit for me? • Academic Programs and Strengths • Type of College (public, private, religious, etc.) • Location • Size • Cost and Financial Aid Offer • Retention and Graduation Rates, Grad School Placement • Difficulty of Admission • Campus Life and Diversity • Resources • Study Abroad

10. Family Connection • Access through PFH Counseling Dept Web page • Click on Family Connection • Parents have access to a Family Connection account • Seniors should complete the: • Career Cluster Finder and/or College Search to conduct college searches and narrow choices • List colleges they are planning to apply to • Update E-MAIL address • Complete My Game Plan • Scattergrams to compare colleges • College Visit Schedule can be accessed by clicking on the “Colleges” tab and looking for “Upcoming college visits”

13. COMMUNITY COLLEGE • INCREASINGLY POPULAR DUE TO AFFORDABLE TUITION • Students can complete the first one or two years of a bachelor’s degree • Community colleges in Virginia offer guaranteed admission to 4yr colleges in Virginia

14. Who should apply? Seniors who will graduate by August and who want to earn a Bachelor’s Degree • For more information contact your: • Pathway Counselor – Jill Lawson, jclawson@nvcc.edu • School Counselor

15. APPLYING TO COLLEGE • Don’t focus on either too few or too many schools: 5 -7 is the average • Consider colleges that are high, moderate, and low likelihood of admission • Do your research on admissions requirements • Understand your deadlines • Know what is required as part of your completed application • Communication with your parents and counselor is key!

17. Components of your Application • The Application itself • Essay(s)/ Personal Statement or Specific Prompt • Recommendation Letters • Transcript • SAT/ACT scores • Payment • Supplemental Forms

18. The Essay/ Personal Statement • Write to the prompt • Write in your voice – be yourself • Check for accuracy • Work with parent or teacher to review • Be creative – remember admissions counselors read a lot of essays • Very important in admissions consideration as this is their way to get to know you • Show versus Tell

19. Recommendation Letters • Know your specific college requirement – this information varies depending on the college • If recommendations are required, be sure to understand the requirements and follow the procedure as determined by each specific college • Things to keep in mind: Deadline Procedure for Teacher Ask Early

20. Recommendation Letters:How to ask • Ask early and provide a copy of resume or activities list • Inform your recommender about manner of submission Mail directly Give to counselor Upload directly to college via e-mail link • Inform your counselor if a counselor recommendation is required. Counselors do not automatically write a recommendation. • Remember to write a “Thank You”

21. Panther Planning Portfolio

24. The Transcript • Remember to complete PFHS Transcript Request Form for each college to which you intend to apply • A signature is required from both student and parent • Cost: $3 per transcript (Scholarships are no charge.)

25. Test Scores • Students must have College Board or ACT forward scores to their colleges and NCAA • www.collegeboard.org • www.actstudent.org • www.ncaa.org • www.eligibilitycenter.org

26. Summary of Student Responsibilities • Complete and Submit Application • Payment to college • Submit Test Scores to colleges • Request Recommendation Letter • Transcript request: To your School Counselor Fill in forms completely to include: • Full name of college/university, city/state. • Complete address for overseas universities. • Indicate Early Action/Early Decision/Regular Admission and specific date • Signed by both parent and student • One time fee if not already submitted

27. Student Responsibilities Cont’d • Meet or beat transcript deadlines – submit to counselor 2 weeks prior to deadline. If it falls around a holiday, sooner is better! • Keep communication open with your counselor • Check with counselor or through Family Connection for processing status • Monitor your application status with each college to ensure materials are received

28. Items the School Counselor submits • Official Transcript: Final grades through 11th grade including cumulative GPA & Rank • Current schedule • PFH Secondary School Report form • Recommendation letter from counselor, if required, *Teacher Letter(s) of Recommendation, as required

29. Other Transcript Information • Official transcript for each application uploaded through eDocs or mailed to colleges • 1st semester grades sent automatically to ALL colleges on your transcript request form – mailed mid-Feb • Some colleges require students to self report grades, check the requirements of your particular college. • Final transcripts are mailed aftergraduation based on senior survey responses

30. Break Out with Counselors Monday, Sept 29 • Mrs. Bennett – Library • Mr. Bader – Auditorium Wednesday, Oct 1 • Dr. Brom – Library • Ms. Weiss – Auditorium Friday, Oct 3 • Mrs. Burgess - Library

31. NCAA ELIGIBLITY CENTER PROCESS • Only for athletes participating in Div I/Div II collegiate-sports (contact Div III schools directly for eligibility requirements) • Register online with NCAA Eligibility Center ASAP • www.eligibilitycenter.org • Use unofficial transcript for visits w/ coaches • Send SAT/ACT scores directly to NCAA (9999) • List NCAA on transcript request form • Final transcripts automatically sent to NCAA after graduation (approx. mid July) • After April 1 – update profile

33. PAYING FOR COLLEGE • Financial aid can increase your ability to attend your 1st choice school and improve your options in the future • Help is available: college offices, FAFSA help line, Super Saturdays, Net Price Calculators • Financial Aid Night at PFH! • December 3 @ 6:30 pm • FAFSA – Submitted after January 1, 2015 -- Create your PIN now and try FAFSA4caster • Verify your specific college’s financial aid process • CSS Profile -- only some require, verify college requirements

34. SCHOLARSHIPS • Check Career Center web page for updated information • Follow instructions on how to apply or be considered for nomination • LCPSScholarship Handbook available in early February http://www.lcps.org/page/1871#and click on the scholarship link on the left side menu bar. • Check all your family’s groups and affiliations

35. Summary • Know your post high school options • Update your e-mail in Family Connections to stay informed • Communicate with your school counselor to keep him/her informed of your plans • College Bound – develop college list; begin application process; and research scholarships • Manage your deadlines • Know your resources and where to go to get your questions answered

36. Thank you for coming! We wish you all the best as you begin your post-secondary planning and college admissions process!