LCHS Junior Parent college night 2016 Lee County High School & Duke College Advising Corps February 18th 2016
Agenda
Terms & Definitions
Timeline of the Application Process
SAT & ACT Info
Choosing the Right School
Brief Financial Aid Overview
Resources
Q&A Panel w/ Seniors & Recent Grads
Terms & Definitions
CFNC.org
Websites for which you may want to save your login info
CommonApp.org
Main Use: Applying to colleges, sending transcripts
Main Use: Applying to colleges
FAFSA.gov
Main Use: Financial Aid
application used by all colleges
Collegeboard.org
Main Use: SAT registration, sending scores, college search
Actstudent.org
Main Use: ACT registration & sending scores
Terms & Definitions (cont.) Types of Deadlines
Rolling Admissions
Priority (I, II, III)
Early Action
Early Decision
Regular Decision
Types of Decision Letters
Deferred Waitlisted
Conditional Acceptance
Timeline - Changes for This Year
Common Application Available Now
NEW SAT Rolls Out March 5th
NEW CHANGES FOR THIS YEAR:
Will
not be super-scored with tests taken before March 2016
FAFSA Available October 1st
Timeline
Spring of Junior Year
Summer Before Senior Year
Senior Year
Important Dates
Timeline
Spring of Junior Year Take
the ACT & SAT
Search Visit
for Schools
Colleges
Summer Before Senior Year Start Visit
Searching for Scholarships
Colleges
Start
College Application Essays
Timeline
Senior Year Fall July-August
Colleges begin accepting applications
September-December
TBA – Senior Parent Night in September
Retake the ACT or SAT if needed
Apply early for schools with
“rolling admissions”
“Rolling” means colleges review applications as they roll in
Timeline
Senior Year Fall October
10/1 – FAFSA available for 2017-18 academic year
10/15 – Early Action Deadline for NC State & UNC Chapel Hill
TBA – College Fair
November
Early Action/Decision
Deadlines
College Application Week
Timeline
Senior Year Spring January-April
Final Deadlines vary by school
Notification Dates depend on
when application submitted
April
CFNC Redirection Pool
May
5/1 – College Decision Day
TBA – College Decision Breakfast
Timeline
Important Dates:
Mar 1- Free ACT at LCHS (Juniors Only)
Mar 22- Greater Raleigh National College Fair
Oct 1- FAFSA Available for 2017-18*
Nov 7-11 (est.)- College Application Week
May 2017- College Decision Day Breakfast
TBD:
Senior Parent College Night (Late Sept)
Financial Aid Night
College Fair at CCCC
Timeline
Important Dates (cont.) Greater Tues,
March 22, 2016 4:30-7:30pm
Raleigh More
Raleigh National College Fair
Convention Center, Raleigh, NC
info: www.gotomyncf.com
The SAT & ACT Tests
Overview
SAT vs. ACT
SAT Info
ACT Info
The SAT & ACT Tests
Overview
Used For:
Admissions decisions, Merit scholarships
& Placement test
Cost
SAT - $43 or $54.50 (w/ writing)
ACT - $39.50 or $56.50 (w/ writing)
+ $28 if registering late + $25 if registering late
Fee Waivers
Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch, or families who may have difficulty paying
Covers all fees for SAT, but not late fee for ACT
The SAT & ACT Tests
SAT vs. ACT All
colleges accept both
If
ACT & SAT scores are both sent to a college, only the higher score will be considered
Different
formats for different types of students
The SAT & ACT Tests
SAT vs. ACT
The SAT & ACT Tests
SAT – www.sat.org Scores
range from 400-1600
Reading & Math sections added together
Superscore = highest scores for each section from all tests taken
Send
score report to 4 schools for free*
$12 per each additional score report
Upcoming
Test Dates:
March 5 (at LCHS)
May 7 (at Southern Lee)
June 4 (must try expanding search radius to 75 mi)
**Take SAT w/ a waiver & receive 4 college application fee waivers!**
The SAT & ACT Tests
ACT- www.actstudent.org Scores
Composite = Avg. of all sections except writing
Send
range from 6-36
score report to 4 schools for free*
$12 per each additional score report
Upcoming
Test Dates:
March 1st (free test for juniors only)
April 9
June 11
College Search Start here: http://bigfuture.collegeboard.org Best Ways to Find Your Perfect School: 1. Visit Colleges 2. Virtual Tours 3. Compare Factors
College Search
Options
Academic Fit
Location
Size
Student Body
Programs Offered Profile on www.collegegreenlight.com
College Search
Options: 2-Year
College (Associate’s Degree)
4-Year
College or University (Bachelor’s Degree)
College
Transfer Pathway
College Search
College Transfer Pathway 24-30
Transferable Credit Hours
Maintain
over a 2.5 GPA
Higher the better!
Apply
as a transfer student to most schools in NC Complete remaining requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree (~2-3 more years)
College Search
Academic Fit Admissions
Profiles (www.collegedata.com)
Middle 50th Percentile Range Ex.
NC State’s ACT Middle 50%= 26-31 for students admitted for Fall 2014
Averages Ex.
High Point University’s Average SAT (Reading & Math only)= 1100 for the Freshman Class of 2018
College Search
Academic Fit (cont.) Matching
Safety Schools You
are above Mid-50 Range for GPA & Test Score(s)
Target Schools You
Schools
are within Mid-50 Range for GPA & Test Score(s)
Reach Schools You
UNC
are slightly below Mid-50 Range for GPA & Test Score(s)
System Minimum Requirements
GPA ≥ 2.5
ACT ≥17 or SAT ≥ 800
College Search
Location Distance
from home
Setting
Size Student Campus
Population
College Search
Student Body All
Male, All Female, or Co-Ed
Diversity
on Campus
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)
Hispanic Serving Institutions
Liberal Student
or Conservative Environment Groups on Campus
College Search
Majors/Areas of Study Liberal
Arts, Engineering, Education, Business, etc.
Pre-professional Research
tracks
Opportunities
FYI: Undecided is the most popular major for incoming freshmen!
Financial Aid Overview
Need-based Aid FAFSA:
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Grants
Work Study
Student Loans
Merit Scholarships Academic Essay
Writing
Talent-based
Cost of College Nowadays:
To Wrap Up…
What to do NOW: Search
for colleges and make a list of schools that fit you academically and match your preferences
Take
the ACT & SAT
Then focus only on the one you are better at taking
Visit
Campuses
Start
the Common App (if applicable)
To Wrap Up…
Over the summer: Make
a scholarship list
Decide
which schools you will apply to
Recommended: 1+ Safety School(s), 2+ Target Schools, 1+ Reach School(s)
Study
for the ACT or SAT (if taking again)
Write
college and/or scholarship essays
Visit
campuses
To Wrap Up…
Next Fall:
Meet with your Counselor or College Adviser
Retake the ACT or SAT (if needed)
Attend Senior Parent Night
Go to the College Fair
Submit your applications early!
Apply for Financial Aid after October 1st
Apply for as many scholarships as possible
Resources
Guidance Homepage: http://bit.ly/lchsguidance
College Advising: http://bit.ly/lee2college
Follow Us on Twitter:
@GuidanceLCHS
@lchs2college
Text @lchs17 to 81010 to Receive Text Updates on:
College Info Sessions & Events at LCHS
ACT/SAT Prep Workshops & Registration Deadlines
College Application Deadlines
And More!
Resources Victoria Dietrich School Counselor, Last Names A-G vdietrich.ls@lee.k12.nc.us 919-776-7541 ext. 2538
Rosana Medan ESL School Counselor rmedan.ls@lee.k12.nc.us 919-776-7541 ext. 2164
Denise Riley School Counselor, Last Names H-O driley.ls@lee.k12.nc.us 919-776-7541 ext. 2587
Kelly Hagerty College Advising Corps Adviser lchscollegeadvising@gmail.com 919-776-7541 ext. 2521
Tatiana Bissonnette School Counselor, Last Names P-Z tbissonnette.ls@lee.k12.nc.us 919-776-7541 ext. 2639
Schedule Meeting: http://lchscollegeadvising.youcanbook.me