SENIOR YEAR
The Nuts & Bolts of Applying to College
Getting Started
Naviance search
th
❖ FHS College Fair October 19 during
school 10:30-12:00
❖ All-Cape College Fair Barnstable High
School October 19th 3:30 -5:30 PM
❖ Open Houses/Tours
❖ Student meetings w/ Counselors
❖
Naviance
Go to site:
http://connection.naviance.com/falmouth
Username = Student ID
password = student’s birthday (mmddyy)
Parents may enter as Guest
(password =guest)
•
www.commonapp.org
• More than 600 Colleges & Universities accept this one
application
• Easily completed online and sent to chosen colleges
• Some schools will also require a supplement
What are you looking for?
Safety School
Realistic School
Reach School
❖ 100% chance of
acceptance
❖ 50/50 chance of
acceptance
❖ 25% chance of
acceptance
❖ GPA/SAT on the higher
end of average or above
❖ GPA/SAT should fall
within the average range
of the school’s statistics
❖ The school your student
has always dreamed of,
but unsure of chances of
acceptance
❖ Student should be
prepared and happy to
attend this school
❖ At least one Safety
School on list
❖ 1- 5 Realistic Schools on
list
❖ GPA/SAT on the lower
end of the average or just
below
❖ 0-2 Reach Schools on list
Massachusetts State Colleges
Bridgewater State
❖
4 years of English
Fitchburg State
❖
4 years of Mathematics: Algebra I & II, Geometry
Framingham State
❖
3 years of Science incl. 2 lab sciences: Bio, Chem,
Physics, Anatomy, Forensics, Marine Ecology
❖
2 years of Social Studies including U.S. History
❖
2 years of Foreign Language
❖
Minimum of 3.0 GPA
Umass Boston
❖
Sliding SAT scale
Umass Dartmouth
❖
* Community College Students who maintain a 2.5 or higher GPA are
Mass College of Art
MCLA
Mass Maritime
Salem State
Umass Amherst
Umass Lowell
Westfield State
Worcester State
guaranteed admission to a State College through Joint Admissions
Admission Testing
SAT : Scholastic Aptitude
Test
ACT : American College Test
◻
www.collegeboard.org
◻
Critical Reading/ Writing & Math
◻
Scored on a scale of 1600
◻
200-800 points each category
◻
Essay is optional
◻
October 1 @FHS
◻
November 5 @FHS registration = Oct. 7
◻
December 3 @FHS registration = Nov. 3
◻
December 10@FHS registration = Nov. 4
◻
January 21
◻
February 11
registration = Dec. 21
SAT II
Hour long exams in particular subject areas.
Ask your colleges if they require any SAT
II Subject Tests
◻
www.act.org
◻
Reading, English, Math & Science
◻
Scored on a scale of 36
◻
October 22 @ FHS
late registration = Sept 17- 30
registration = Jan. 13
*Students are responsible for sending their
scores to their chosen colleges
Early Decision
Early Action
A Binding agreement
between student and the
college. Can only apply to
one school early decision.
Must be certain that this is
their # 1 school
Accepted students not obligated
to enroll and can apply to more
than one school. Students will
be notified of decision earlier.
Should be one or two top
schools
Definitions
Regular Decision
Rolling Admission
Gives students ample time to
visit schools and make an
informed decision. Most
deadlines fall between
January –March. Often the
best decision for most
students.
Applications are processed and
decisions are made in the order in
which they are received. Normally
will notify students of decision 4-6
weeks after reviewing the
application.
Application Process
From this point forward , DEADLINE is the most important word in your vocabulary!
Make sure you take note of your deadlines and adhere to them!
Accepts Common App
Paper App Only
Accepts Electronic App
The first two icons require the same process. If you see the third on any school, see your counselor for further
instructions.
Register on commonapp.org Keep your login information in a safe place!
Complete final list of colleges you are applying to on “My Colleges” on
Common App.
Fill out your application. Ask your counselor if you have any questions.
Some information that you will need to know:
Falmouth High School
874 Gifford St.
Falmouth, MA 02540
School Code: 220815
Guidance Counselor
Lindsay Ruthven
[email protected]
508-540-2200 x4043
Application process cont.
Complete the FERPA Waiver on Common App by choosing one of the colleges that you have
added to your list. In the left column, you will see “Recommenders and FERPA”. You will need to check off 3
boxes: giving permission for the school to send your information and also waive your right to access this
information You will want to check off:
“I authorize every school I have attended to release all requested records”
“I waive my right to review all recommendations and supported documents submitted by me or on my behalf
”
“I understand my waiver above pertains to all colleges…”
You’ll only need to do this once!
Log onto Naviance: http://connection.naviance.com/falmouth
Click on Colleges I’m Applying To….
Add your email address that you used to register for Common App.
This allows your counselor and teachers to upload their supporting documents to your application. This is a
mandatory step.
Complete your final list of colleges that you are applying to.
Remember… if you have any questions about completing the application, ask your counselor!
Student Responsibilities
Students are responsible for bringing the following materials
into their counselors and teachers 2 WEEKS BEFORE
THEIR DEADLINE
Student will bring
Student will bring
Student will send
THEMSELVES
To COUNSELOR
to TEACHER
Green Transcript Request
for each school
One Pink
Recommendation Request
form
Application
Student & Parent Brag
Sheets
Copy of resume if
requested
Application Fee
Hard copy of resume
If teacher requests to
mail letters or if a school
is a paper only
application, provide a
stamped addressed
envelope for each school.
Essay
Will email copy of resume to
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
SAT/ACT Scores
www.collegeboard.com
www.actstudent.org
Sample Resume
Clubs
Sports
Leadership
Roles
Awards
Volunteer Work
Academic
Achievement
Work
Experience
Name
Address
SS#
Extracurricular Activities
Peer Tutor (11, 12)
Key Club (9, 10, 11, 12)
Psychology Outreach Club (10, 11, 12)
Sports
Varsity Football (9, 10, 11, 12)
Varsity Football Captain (12)
Academic Achievement Awards
Latin Most Valuable Student (10)
High Honor Roll (10, 11, 12)
Community Service
American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life
(9, 10, 11, 12)
Falmouth Road Race Volunteer (11, 12)
St. Patrick’s Church CCD Teacher (12)
Employment
Stop and Shop, bagger and cashier -6/2007
–present
Personal Essay
Some students have a
Describe a problem you’ve
background, identity,
solved or a problem you’d like to
interest, or talent that is so
meaningful they believe
their application would be
incomplete without it. If this
sounds like you, then
please share your story.
solve. It can be an intellectual
challenge, a research query, an
ethical dilemma-anything that is
of personal importance, no
matter the scale. Explain its
significance to you and what
steps you took or could be taken
The lessons we take from
to identify a solution.
failure can be
fundamental to later
success. Recount an
incident or time when
Discuss an accomplishment
you experienced failure.
or event, formal or informal,
How did it affect you, and
that marked your transition
what did you learn from
from childhood to adulthood
the experience?
within your culture,
community, or family
Reflect on a time when you
challenged a belief or idea. What
prompted you to act? Would you
make the same decision again?
Tips for a Great Interview
Make an appointment. Call any admissions office
Dress neatly and comfortably. Shirt and tie for guys and skirt or
dress pants for girls.
Display courtesy. Firmly shake hands, look the interviewer in the
eye and remember your manners
Research the school and what makes it unique.
Be prepared with questions of your own
Ask for a business card & Send Thank-You
Note.
How am I going to pay for this?
September 29, 2016 7PM
Financial Aid Night @FHS
Fill out FAFSA as soon after October 1st as
possible
Start browsing websites for outside
scholarships:
www.finaid.org or www.fastweb.com
Don’t pay for access!
Do your colleges require the CSS Profile?
Pay attention to your individual college
financial aid application deadline
Students will get a scholarship workshop
beginning in February for local
opportunities
Further Questions?
Alan Kazarian
Director of Guidance
[email protected]
508-540-2200 x4047
Carolyn Connolly
Guidance Counselor
[email protected]
508-540-2200 x4040
Kurt Lawson
Guidance Counselor
[email protected]
508-540-2200 x4041
Susannah Brooks
Guidance Counselor
S_brooks@
falmouth.k12.ma.us
508-540-2200 x4042
Lindsay Ruthven
Guidance Counselor
[email protected]
508-540-2200 x4043