college counseling FieLd Guide
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The College Search Process The college search is a journey – not a result. The collective goal is to help each student develop her self-awareness, self-advocacy skills and a sense of empowerment to direct her own life. Students are provided a safe, open and confidential space in which to talk to college counselors, who listen with empathy, clarify with understanding and respond without judgment. The ultimate objective of this process is to help each girl find a college or university where she will thrive.
Stay Connected There are many ways to collect information and gain valuable advice throughout the college search and application process: • Attend class meetings for students • Attend class meetings for parents • Attend various informational programs on specific topics such as financial aid, technology, grade-level programming • Attend special events with guest speakers • Meet with college representatives who come to campus. More than 100 colleges/universities visit annually • Plug into St. Catherine’s College Counseling website “Naviance” often, accessible on SaintsNet Resource Board (sign-in required) • Set up individual appointments with College Counselors • Follow College Counseling on Twitter: @StCCollCsling • Join the College Counseling Facebook Group: facebook.com/ StCatherinesCollegeCounseling
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School Leaders Terrie Hale Scheckelhoff, Ph.D. Head of School tscheckelhoff@st.catherines.org
Lara Wulff, Ph.D. Director of Upper School lwulff@st.catherines.org 804.288.2804, ext. 3031
Frazier Aronhalt Dean of Students faronhalt@st.catherines.org 804.288.2804, ext. 3048
College Counseling Mary Jane Greene Director of College Counseling mjgreene@st.catherines.org 804.288.2804, ext. 3122
Clare Trow Associate Director of College Counseling ctrow@st.catherines.org 804.288.2804, ext. 3036
Kathy Hieber College Counseling Assistant khieber@st.catherines.org 804.288.2804, ext. 3075
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Roles & Responsibilities Student • Research and manage all requirements, opportunities and deadlines related to the admission process (e.g., testing, interviewing, document requests, applications, etc.) • Dedicate time to self-reflection – What is important to you? What are your passions? Interests? In what environment do you thrive? • Keep an open mind to the many possibilities available • Work hard to demonstrate academic success • Be proactive in your communication with your parents and counselor parent • Talk about financial expectations, conduct research and file financial aid applications on time. • Help prioritize the college search and application calendar (e.g., visits, interviews, deadlines, deposits, etc.) • Accompany your daughter on college visits • Help your daughter stay healthy • Provide unconditional love and support CounSeLor • Share professional knowledge of current and historical trends in college admissions • Provide training and guidance for research, interviewing, college correspondence and decision-making • Leverage contacts at colleges and universities to advocate for students • Guide students through scheduling for academic courses, testing, applications and summer opportunities • Help each student develop a comprehensive list of schools to pursue • Position students to compete with other college-bound students while considering college fit • Write recommendations and proofread applications and essays • Be an advocate and provide support throughout the entire college search process
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Getting Started Meeting with College Counselors The College Counselors welcome meetings with students of any grade level. Parents of course are welcome as well! Generally, meetings with students in grades 9 or 10 provide foundational information, helping students understand how their first two years in Upper School impact choices available to them in grades 11 and 12. Beginning in junior year, additional homework such as completion of a résumé and questionnaires will be required before the first comprehensive meeting that officially launches a junior into the college search and application process. Below are some tips on making appointments. • College Counseling offices are located in the Arcade • Students make appointments with counselors through the College Counseling Assistant, ext. 3075
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• The best times to meet are (in order of preference) - free period - breaks - lunch - before/after school • Each session is 25 minutes long • The first comprehensive session between student and counselor typically occurs during the junior year • A family session is encouraged during the junior year Learn more on SaintsNet The College Counseling webpages contain additional information, including upcoming events, downloads and links. Visit www. st.catherines.org, log on to SaintsNet and select College Counseling from the Resource Board.
Testing Expectations
CEEB Code 471885 — For use in registering for ACT/SAT tests and AP exams Freshman No testing required Sophomore Anytime: Practice SAT and ACT exams* October: PSAT exam during school (not reported to colleges)
June: Subject Tests for advanced students enrolled in AP curriculum Junior
do not accurately reflect their talents, applying to a test-optional school may be the best strategy. For a complete list of schools and their requirements go to fairtest.org. For test dates and to register, go to collegeboard.org for SAT or act.org for ACT. *A list of test prep service providers and practice exam dates is located on the College Counseling webpages on SaintsNet. You also will find an SAT/ACT comparison chart, subject test recommendations and guidance for test takers using accommodations.
Anytime: Practice SAT and ACT exams* October: PSAT exam (Note: This score is considered for the National Merit Scholarship Program; results announced in senior year) November: ACT practice exam (optional at St. Catherine’s) December: SAT or ACT (ideal timing for students being recruited for Division 1 sports) February: ACT and/or SAT practice exam (optional at St. Catherine’s) By June: ACT or SAT and three Subject Tests expected (see counselor for guidance on which test(s) to pursue) SENIOR September-December: Retake SAT or ACT depending on college application deadlines and possibly retake Subject Tests if recommended by counselors. More colleges each year join the test-optional list. For students who feel that their test scores
Do I need to take a test prep class? The best time to decide if test prep is necessary is after a student has taken practice exams for the SAT and ACT. These results can be discussed with her college counselor and a strategy for testing can be developed. Most students will engage in some sort of test prep, typically in spring of junior year and/or fall of senior year. The type of program (online instruction vs. a classroom), cost and length of program is a family decision. Most testing companies agree that taking several practice tests and reviewing results with a tutor well-informed about the nuances of the exam will result in the best score improvement. Quick reviews and strategy sessions are for students who have already laid a solid prep foundation and just need a refresher. Please see the college counseling webpage for a list of vendors in the area.
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Developing a List of Schools The first step in choosing the best learning environment for college is for the student to realistically and truthfully assess the type of student she is and wants to be and how those attributes align with a particular college or university. Through research and visits to various types of schools, the student will be in a better position to determine which college(s) will be the best fit for her. Figuring out which factors a student does not like about a college or university can be very insightful as well. a student should review and discuss the following considerations during the college search process: • Financial Affordability
• Average Class Size
• College size: Small (<2,500), Large (10,000+), Very Large (20,000+)
• Student Demographics and Diversity
• Setting: Rural, Suburban, Urban
• Campus Culture – studious, balanced, progressive
• Close to home or far away
• Social Attitudes and Local Community
• Geography: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, West Coast, Midwest, International
• Religious Orientation
• Liberal Arts vs. Research University • Programs and Majors • Academic Atmosphere • Honors Programs and Scholarships
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• Graduate Outcomes • Graduate School Admit Rates and Career Placement Rates • Clubs, Greek Life, the Arts, Athletics, Study Abroad, Research and Internship Opportunities
What is Naviance? http://connection.naviance.com/st.catherines Naviance is a password-protected, web-based college counseling resource that is customized for the St. Catherine’s community. Starting freshman year, Upper School students, their parents and counselors begin using this database communication/ organizational tool. This comprehensive resource is the gateway for college research, storing all pertinent student and school information that can be accessed at any time by the student, parent(s) and college counselors. This system also helps the student manage deadlines, requirements and visits.
Ways to use Naviance FreShman
Junior
• Create your account with a College Counseling-provided user name and password
• Complete the College Exploration Survey (academic, personal, family and gameplan sections)
• Complete the “Do What You Are” Career Inventory
• Update résumé
• Complete the Introductory Survey • Begin building résumé Sophomore • Complete the Career Reflection Survey • Update résumé • Conduct research on schools, programs and scholarships • Review the resource document library
• Parents complete the Junior Parent Survey • Review college visit reminders • Use the summer opportunity search engine • Review the resource document library Senior • Complete the Senior Update Survey • Update résumé • Parents complete the Senior Parent Survey • Use the scholarship search engine • Review college visits reminders • Manage transcript and recommendation requests • Track submission of school documents to each college
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The Journey: Freshman Year Discovery and Growth Cumulative grades will be a major component of the college admission decision. Colleges want to see upward growth in grades and the selection of challenging courses. Establishing good study habits in Upper School will serve the student well. When challenges arise, students should ask their teachers for help, approach their advisor for guidance and visit the Learning Center for assistance.
Self-Reflection for Students A student should spend time thinking about how she wants to spend her time out of school and what brings her the greatest joy, stimulation and challenge. Upon discovering those interests and passions, a student should: • Show upward growth and academic improvement • Intensify attention to and focus on preferred activities • Set a goal for leadership skill development • Try a new activity that takes her out of her comfort zone
What to Include in a Résumé A résumé will serve as a reflection of activities outside of the classroom. Include any accomplishments, significant skills or leadership roles. Don’t worry about listing the “right” activities. Colleges aren’t looking for specific information; they just want to get to know applicants better. Start off listing everything and edit it later. Note the activity, title or position, hours per week or year, timeframe and a description of the activity and responsibilities. FRESHMAN
Checklist OO Attend College Counseling meetings OO On Naviance: • Log on to begin exploring the system and building a résumé. Access is granted for students and parents during first semester • Complete the Introductory Survey • Complete the Do What You Are Career Inventory • Log activities using the Résumé tool
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OO Search colleges online and investigate majors offered
OO Log community service hours on school website
OO Plan four-year schedule of classes and activities
OO Focus on course selections for sophomore year
OO Visit colleges on weekends, spring break and summer
OO Identify opportunities to gain
new skills or experiences over the summer
The Journey: Sophomore Year Refining and Preparing During the sophomore year, students should assess their upward growth in terms of grades and the selection of challenging courses, each year building upon the prior year. There are a variety of college counseling events and activities that sophomores can attend to expand their knowledge of and comfort with the college search process. This is the year that students should transition from joining clubs, sports and the arts to becoming engaged and committed participants who drive positive change. Self-reflection and research should continue while the student: • Does her best academic work • Advocates for herself when challenges arise • Dedicates time to extracurricular activities that reflect her passions • Takes initiative in leadership roles
SOPHOMORE
Checklist OO October: Take the PSAT for the first time (scores not sent to colleges; results arrive in December)
OO November: Take the practice ACT (scores not sent to colleges)
OO January-March: Meet with the
counselor to plan test-taking timeline and course selections for junior year
OO March: Register for junior classes, allowing for upward growth
OO April: Attend College Fair Night OO Attend College Counseling class meetings
OO Attend educational events
OO Complete the “Career Reflection Survey” on Naviance
OO Update résumé on Naviance OO Log community service hours OO Visit as many colleges as possible
and log likes and dislikes using the journal function in Naviance
OO Meet with college representatives
who visit St. Catherine’s during free periods, breaks or lunch time
For athletes who want to play in college:
OO Talk to coaches, counselor and the Director of Athletics
OO Attend the College Athletics Information Night
sponsored by College Counseling with your parents
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The Journey: Junior Year Determined Focus Junior grades play one of the largest factors in applying to college. This year students should ensure they are making wise time commitments to focus on academics, to demonstrate leadership on and off campus and to further strengthen skills and talents. JUNIOR
Checklist OO All year: Visit colleges as much as
possible, especially during school holidays, weekends and spring break. If missing school to visit a college, complete a planned absence form
OO September - December: Meet with
college representatives who visit St. Catherine’s before school, during your free period, breaks, lunch or during class time (ask for teacher permission). If a class can’t be missed, see College Counseling Assistant to leave a note for the representative
OO October: Take the PSAT (Note: These scores determine competition for the National Merit Scholarship Program)
OO November:
• Complete your surveys in Naviance. Update the résumé and provide hard copies to College Counseling Assistant (Note: must be completed and shared prior to scheduling an appointment) • Take the practice ACT test • Attend Financial Aid Information Night
OO December: Meet with counselor
to review test scores and to develop a testing timeline and strategy
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OO January:
• Meet with counselor to plan spring break travel and to build preliminary college application list (could contain as many as 15-20 schools) • Apply for the Junior Summer Internship Program • Parents complete “net price calculator” on individual college sites to research costs
OO February: Meet with counselor to plan senior schedule
OO March: Register for senior classes OO April: Attend College Fair Night to show interest in select schools
OO May:
• Take AP exams • Ask teachers for recommendations
OO June: Take final exams
Testing OO Take SAT and/or ACT practice tests OO Pursue test prep options (see
website for list of test prep service providers)
OO Take SAT and/or ACT at least once
and three Subject Tests (see counselor on which tests to pursue and when)
OO Submit SAT and/or ACT test scores
to at least four colleges (optional — varies based on student’s readiness.)
The Journey: Senior Year Seize Your Destiny All of the student’s hard work over four years of Upper School comes to this point. There will be many special activities and traditions to celebrate in this final year of secondary education. Let’s approach the senior year with optimism and enthusiasm and set a comfortable pace to accomplish the final steps of the college search and application process. Time and balance will be important to maintain perspective throughout this culminating year. Since admission decisions factor in first semester senior year grades, it is critical that students place appropriate concentration and dedication on academics and other commitments.
Summer Before Senior Year • Consider participating in the College Essay Writing Course offered in the summer • Attend Summer Application workshops when available • Participate in the Junior Summer Internship Program — one or more
week(s) during the summer, at a mutually-agreed upon time with the career professional • Begin working on the Common Application available Aug. 1 each year (www.commonapp.org) • Investigate opportunities for scholarships, honors programs or other special programs that require application
SENIOR
Checklist OO Meet with college representatives
who visit St. Catherine’s before school, during free periods, breaks, lunch or during class time. Ask for teacher’s permission in advance.
OO Meet with your college counselor
and parents to discuss narrowing down the list; conversations should include financial goals and obligations
OO Log on to Naviance and update your final list of schools
OO Register for fall SAT and/or ACT testing
OO Submit test scores to the final list of schools. Submit up to four test scores for free at the time of test registration; otherwise, test score submissions incur a fee.
OO Manage timelines and tasks on Naviance by logging on often to keep track of dates and key information
OO Check emails several times daily and respond promptly
OO Review application deadlines and
key requirements for each school including essays, interviews, tests and application supplements
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1. Final Testing
2. Finalizing the College List
During the junior year, the student and college counselor developed a testing strategy and timeline that will last through the senior year. It is critical that the student continue to review that timeline and to follow through on expectations for retaking the SAT or the ACT in September through December of her senior year.
By fall of her senior year, a student may want to make last visits to colleges in order to finalize the list of colleges to which she will apply. Visiting a wide enough range of schools should help define the list even if a few remain unvisited until after spring admission. This list will be something that the student will work on with her counselor and parents. The list should include a range of schools, all of which are schools that the student would be happy to attend and schools that are good matches for her interests and abilities. As a recommendation, a student’s final list should include four to eight schools to which she will apply.
Testing checklist:
OO Register for SAT and/or ACT OO Take practice tests OO Enroll in a test prep course (optional) OO Submit test scores to all colleges on list (only the applicant may submit scores)
SENIOR
Application Checklist OO Research individual college’s
requirements on their websites
OO Create checklists for each college’s requirements (form available on website)
OO Request transcripts be sent to each school
OO Request teacher recommendations using form available on website
OO Write and edit essays OO Share essays with college counselor and/or teachers
OO
Complete the application for each school
OO Complete application supplements, portfolio submission or audition requirements
OO Meet with college counselor to
review and edit college application
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OO Submit all applications before December exams or sooner if applicable
OO Submit application fees for each school OO Submit applications for scholarships,
honors programs or other special programs available by application only
OO Follow up on teacher recommendations to confirm completion
OO Write personal thank you notes to
teachers and others who helped you through this process
OO Confirm colleges received all
materials (e.g., application, application supplements, testing scores, recommendations, transcripts, etc.)
OO Manage timelines and tasks
on Naviance by logging on often to keep track of dates and key information
Students should pay close attention to factors that will directly influence their personal experience. Through the college’s online course catalog, students are encouraged to research their preferred program of study in depth online. They could explore the qualifications, diversity and approachability of the faculty in their chosen department or field of study. Students can reach out to current students, alumnae/i, family friends and others for feedback as well.
OO Review all acceptance offers including
3. Preparing and Submitting Applications
OO Once the deposit to the chosen school
any available scholarships, grants, work study programs, etc., sharing updates with your college counselor
OO Deferral and waitlist offers
should be thoroughly explored with your counselor
OO Select one school only and send your deposit to that one school by May 1
OO Notify the college counselor of enrollment decision.
is confirmed as received, decline admissions offers to the other schools
The college counselor will meet with the student and her parents to suggest the application type and schedule that optimizes the student’s admission opportunities.
OO Attend special programming such as
Types of Applications
OO Follow up with the chosen college to
• Regular Decision: The most common admission decision with notification in second semester of senior year • Early Decision: A binding early admission decision with notification in late fall or early winter of senior year • Early Action: A non-binding early admission decision with early notification • Rolling Admission: Not a type of application, but a method schools use to announce admissions decisions. Typically a decision is rendered four to five weeks after a complete application is received by a college
4. Acceptances Received — Ready to Enroll All admissions decisions should arrive by April 1. After thorough reflection and consideration, the student, with the support of her parents, will decide to enroll at one college or university. Important steps to complete are:
accepted student open houses and overnight visits.
receive student enrollment and orientation information, incorporating key summer and fall dates into the family calendar
SENIOR parent
Financial Aid Checklist OO Investigate the financial aid
application requirements of each school
OO Complete the CSS Profile financial
aid application in October, if required by a school of choice. Locate the form through www.collegeboard.com (fee required)
OO Complete the FAFSA financial aid
application. Submissions are open October 1. Learn more at www.fafsa.ed.gov. (Never pay a fee to file FAFSA. It is free.)
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Tips for the Aspiring Artist • Explore broad academic interests and maintain good grades in all areas, not just the arts; grades matter • Practice your craft by pursuing opportunities in school and out such as community theatre, programs at the VMFA, VCU, Visual Arts Center, etc.; keep a regular sketchbook, journal, etc. • Network with faculty, peers, and professionals in the industry connected to your craft • Research colleges/conservatories/universities that have your major and begin mapping out college tours with your family • Research portfolio and/or audition requirements online and when you visit • Research college fit; determine which degree is right for you-BA, BFA, major vs. minor in your desired area • Define your sense of self as an artist; explore and witness your art to expand your perceptions; know yourself and your applications will be stronger • Attend National Portfolio Day (Fall semester; visual arts only; held at VCU; 30+ colleges in attendance) as a sophomore to understand college application portfolio expectations; return as a junior with a few pieces for assessment and feedback; see www.portfolioday.net for more information • Use school-related resources specific to the arts; download “The Arts & Your College Application Handbook” on the College Counseling Webpage and attend educational programs • Work closely with arts faculty or other arts coaches in junior and senior years for assistance in preparing portfolios and/or auditions • Create a calendar to organize your additional deadlines for auditions, testing, applications
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Tips for the Aspiring Athlete • Maintain strong academic pursuits with success; grades matter • Use school-related resources specific to athletic recruitment; download “Guide to College Athletics” from College Counseling website and attend educational programs • Attend NCAA information night each Winter • Practice your athletic skills daily; stay active year-round; try out for sports outside of your comfort zone, join club teams outside St. Catherine’s • Attend clinics, summer camps each year to hone your skills and maintain strong health and fitness • Develop leadership skills as a teammate • Express desire for college recruitment to school coach, club coach, St. Catherine’s Athletic Director, College Counselor • View college websites for competitive times/available positions, coach’s name/email, fill out recruiting profiles and other important information • Visit college campuses in early years (unofficially) to see variety of programs, facilities, etc. • Communicate with coaches at colleges of interest in Fall of sophomore year at earliest; no later than Fall of junior year to be the most competitive for recruitment • Complete “official visits” (start spring junior year-DIII or Fall senior year-DI) and decide where to apply •
Register yourself with the NCAA Eligibility Center (http://web3.ncaa.org/ ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.jsp) in spring junior year to begin the clearinghouse process for eligibility to play DI or DII sports
•
Prepare and Register for an early SAT or ACT; coaches may be eager to hear early results from an exam taken in November or December of your junior year; your sophomore and junior PSAT scores could also be valuable; preparation is strongly suggested
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10 things colleges want to see 1 2
A high school curriculum full of rigor and challenge Grades that evidence hard work, mastery of content and an upward trend
3
Scores on standardized tests (ACT and/or SAT, Subject) that are consistent with grades in the classroom
4
A personal essay grounded in strong writing that illustrates the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique curiosities, ideals and ambitions
5
Committed involvement that creates an impact on a few activities or experiences (versus many) outside of the classroom
6 7 8 9
Leadership and initiative when working in groups Appreciation of and willingness to contribute diversity Intellectual curiosity as shown through reading, school and recreation Demonstrated interest in the college, proven by visiting the college, meeting the college representatives when in Richmond, interviewing and engaging in communication with the school
of all of these elements through letters of support 10 Reinforcement from recommenders (counselor, teacher, etc.) 18â&#x20AC;&#x201A;w ww.st .ca t her i nes.o rg
Factors in College Admissions • Grades in College Prep Courses • Strength of Curriculum • Test Scores (ACT, SAT) • Essays • Recommendations • Student’s Demonstrated Interest • Extracurricular Activities
RESOURCES
Books • Frank Bruni, “Where You Go is Not Who You’ll Be” • Loren Pope, “Colleges that Change Lives” • Edward Fiske, “The Fiske Guide to Colleges” • “Test prep: 11 Practice Tests for the SAT & PSAT” by Princeton Review
General college resources: • National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC): www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/Pages/Default.aspx • www.womenscolleges.org
Financial Aid: • www.fafsa.ed.gov • student.collegeboard.org/profile • www.fastweb.com • www.finaid.org • www.cicv.org/affordability/tuition-assistance-grant.aspx
Testing • www.collegeboard.com • www.act.org • www.fairtest.org – list of colleges offering a variety of flexible testing requirements
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Visiting Schools What to do
Questions to ask
To arrange a campus visit, call the college’s Office of Admission directly. A thorough college visit should last several hours and include time for exploring the campus in depth. If a student has a strong interest in a school, she should consider an overnight stay and/or interview during her visit, if available. Take advantage of any of the following:
• What are class sizes in the freshman year?
• Tour campus • Attend a group information session • Attend a class • Stay overnight • Visit the library, student union and the Career Planning and Placement Office • Eat a meal • Visit the Financial Aid Office • Visit the Career Planning and Placement Office • Visit offices of importance to you such as the theatre department, athletic facilities, etc. Ask Admission Office if an appointment with a faculty member in your area of interest is available. Be observant! Pay attention to the cleanliness of the campus and the conditions of the facilities. Look for signs and flyers about concerts, clubs and special events. Notice if people are friendly or not.
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• What is a typical academic load? • How many classes are taught by graduate assistants? • What percentage of students live on campus? • Is there an honor system? How does it work? • How do professors interact with students? • How safe is the campus? • What percentage of students graduate in four years? • What percentage of graduates get jobs or are accepted to graduate schools six months after graduation? • What career planning services, internships, research and study abroad opportunities are available? • How much is tuition, room and board? • What scholarships and financial aid options are available? Always send a follow-up thank you note to the admissions office. For additional resources, including a form for capturing your campus visit reflections, please visit our College Counseling webpages on SaintsNet.
Making Good Impressions Interview Tips
• Bring a notepad to take notes
The personal interview is one way that a student can demonstrate her strong interest in a school whether the school requires an interview or not. It is an opportunity for the student to learn more about a college and to provide the interviewer with a clear picture of who the student is and what she hopes to accomplish in college and beyond.
• Be sincere with responses
• Dress comfortably, yet professionally • Be on time. Plan to arrive 10 minutes early
• Ask the interviewer for a business card • Always follow-up with a handwritten thank you note For additional guidance, including potential questions you could encounter during an interview, please visit our College Counseling webpages on SaintsNet or make an appointment with your counselor for individual interview preparation.
• Offer a firm handshake • Maintain eye contact and speak at a normal pace • Review all materials ahead of time and come with a few thoughtful follow-up questions • Come prepared to talk about goals, accomplishments, interests and an interesting personal story
Recommendations Students should solicit recommendations from teachers who know them very well. It is not necessarily the teacher of the class that resulted in the highest grade. A student should consider selecting a teacher of a core course from their junior year and consult with the college counselor as needed.
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Affording College Setting Expectations A significant factor to be considered in the college search and application process is how to pay for a college education. This is an important topic to be discussed openly at home and with the counselor. Understanding expectations early will help minimize difficult conversations at the end of the journey. Early research using individual college Net Price Calculators, located on college websites, and following up with calls directly to the Financial Aid Office of the college will provide your family the data you need in order to make the right college choice.
Need-Based Aid Eligibility depends on the family’s ability to pay, as determined by a formula incorporating family income and assets. Check with the college on which type of financial aid form(s) they require. Be sure to manage deadlines carefully. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), www.fafsa.ed.gov — this is the primary form that all colleges require. It becomes available in January; college counselors encourage completion as soon as possible after Jan. 1. This form is free. You should never pay to file this form. CSS PROFILE, student.collegeboard.org/profile – this form is produced by the College Scholarship Service and becomes available in October. Some institutions require this form as it allows them to ask for more information than the FAFSA to determine eligibility and it may allow them to better predict aid offers for Early Decision applicants. There is a fee for filing it at each college.
Virginia Residents The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), adopted the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant in 1973. This non-need-based grant is available to Virginia residents attending a participating Virginia private college or university. In the past grants up to $3,000 have been awarded. For more information contact the college’s financial aid office or go to www.schev.edu/students/factsheetvtag.asp.
Non-Need Scholarships Each year there are essay contests, competitions and other scholarship opportunities available. Some private colleges and universities offer sizable grants to balance the cost of public versus private education. Students are encouraged to conduct research through college websites, Naviance and websites such as www.fastweb.org. We recommend avoiding for-profit scholarship companies, who identify sources of scholarships only after families have invested significant upfront fees. For additional resources, including useful links, a deeper discussion of financial aid philosophies and a tool for comparing aid offers, please visit our College Counseling webpages on SaintsNet.
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College Acceptances Include: University of Alabama Allegheny College American University Amherst College Appalachian State University Arizona State University Auburn University Averett University Bard College Barnard College Baylor University Belmont University Bentley University Boston College Boston University Bowdoin College Bridgewater College Bryn Mawr College Bucknell University Butler University University of California - Davis University of California - Los Angeles University of California - San Diego Case Western Reserve University Catholic University of America University of Central Florida Centre College College of Charleston University of Chicago Christopher Newport University Clemson University Colgate University University of Colorado - Boulder Colorado College Colorado State University Columbia College - Chicago Columbia University Connecticut College Cornell University Dartmouth College Davidson College University of Delaware Denison University University of Denver DePaul University DePauw University Dickinson College Drew University Drexel University Duke University East Carolina University Eckerd College Elon University Emerson College Emory & Henry College 24â&#x20AC;&#x201A;w ww.st .ca t her i nes.o rg
Emory University Emory University - Oxford College Ferrum College Flagler College Florida Gulf Coast University Florida International University Florida State University University of Florida Fordham University Franklin & Marshall College Furman University George Mason University George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia State University University of Georgia Gettysburg College Goucher College Guilford College Hamilton College Hampshire College Hampton University Harvard University High Point University Hobart and William Smith Colleges Hollins University College of the Holy Cross Howard University Indiana University - Bloomington Ithaca College James Madison University Johns Hopkins University University of Kentucky Kenyon College Lake Forest College Liberty University Longwood University Louisiana State University Loyola University - Chicago Loyola University - Maryland Lynchburg College Maine College of Art University of Maine Manhattan College Marist College Marshall University Mary Baldwin College University of Mary Washington Maryland Institute College of Art University of Maryland Marymount Manhattan College Marymount University University of Massachusetts - Amherst McGill University - Canada
Mercer University Meredith College Miami University - OH University of Miami Millsaps College University of Mississippi University of Missouri Montana State University Mount Holyoke College Mount St. Mary’s University - CA University of New Hampshire New York University North Carolina A&T State University University of North Carolina - Asheville University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill University of North Carolina - Charlotte University of North Carolina - Greensboro University of North Carolina - Wilmington North Carolina State University Northeastern University Northwestern University University of Notre Dame Occidental College Ohio Wesleyan University Old Dominion University Pace University Pennsylvania State University Pepperdine University University of Pittsburgh Pomona College Presbyterian College Princeton University Providence College Purdue University Queens University Radford University Randolph College Randolph-Macon College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island School of Design University of Rhode Island Rhodes College Rice University University of Richmond Rider University Roanoke College Rochester Institute of Technology University of Rochester Rollins College University of San Francisco Santa Clara University Savannah College of Art and Design School of the Art Institute of Chicago Seton Hall University
Sewanee: University of the South Shenandoah University Shepherd University Skidmore College Smith College University of South Carolina University of Southern California Southern Methodist University Southwestern University Spelman College St. John’s University - NY St. Lawrence University St. Mary’s College of Maryland Suffolk University Susquehanna University Sweet Briar College Syracuse University University of Tennessee - Chattanooga University of Tennessee - Knoxville Texas A&M University Texas Christian University New School - Parsons School of Design Ohio State University Transylvania University Trinity University Tulane University Union College United States Military Academy - West Point United States Naval Academy University of St. Andrews - Scotland Vanderbilt University University of Vermont Villanova University Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Military Institute Virginia Tech Virginia Wesleyan College University of Virginia Wagner College Wake Forest University Washington and Jefferson College Washington and Lee University Washington College Washington University - St. Louis University of Washington Wesleyan University Wheaton College - MA College of William and Mary William Peace University Williams College Winthrop University University of Wisconsin - Madison Wofford College Yale University
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