A Parent’s Guide to Surviving Their Child’s

Senior YearMarch 2013

Welcome!

Who are we? Hillary Bush, Guidance Director (G-M) Corey McFadden, School Counselor

(N-Z) Rachel Paddock, School Counselor (A-

F)

Early College Options

JOAN MACRI

COLLEGE FOR ME ANDROSCOGGIN

www.collegeformeandroscoggin.org

CMCC, USM. Kaplan, St. Joe's, Bates, UMA, UMaine Academ-e

Tonight’s Agenda

What have your kids done so far to prepare for life after PRHS?

What will they do next year? College Admissions Process Financial Aid

Just to clarify…

College = any training or education beyond high school

PRHS Graduation Requirement = must complete a college application

Junior Year – Getting Ready for Senior Year!

Post-Secondary Research Guide Resume Cover Letter Mock Interview Individual Meeting with Counselor Weekly Class meetings with Counselors SATs Ask for letters of recommendation Attended College Fair – April 29

Next Year… Weekly class meetings will continue in

the fall At least one more meeting with counselor College essay will be done in Senior

English class Second attempt at SATs College visits in Maine College reps to visit PRHS Follow up on letters of recommendation Financial Aid Night - in October

Admissions Process Senior To-Do Calendar # applications varies: 1-24! Average: 6 Encourage applying to at least one Maine

school Researching colleges: websites, reference

books Go visit! Ramp up that resume – consider summer

opportunities. Get on mailing lists! Meet with reps who visit PRHS in fall

ED vs EA

Early Action: apply early, nonbinding decision

Early Decision: apply early, must attend if accepted

Ways to ApplyCommon Application: paper or online

One application used by over 300 colleges Supplements (extra forms) often required -

student responsibility Teacher & Counselor Forms - student

responsibility

School Specific Application: paper or online (if available)

Teacher & Counselor Forms (if any) - student responsibility

Online Applications Benefits: easily read, gets to

admissions office faster, application fees are sometimes waived, environmentally friendly

Cons: very easy to press send button before you’re ready, often need a credit card to pay application fees, student sends and does not notify guidance

If A Student Applies Online.. Save application (if able) and print out

for counselor to review Student completes green College

Application Checklist and submits to guidance, along with any other forms or application fee if not paid online

Guidance will gather and mail transcript, report card, school profile, and letters of recommendation. Copies will be kept here.

If A Student Uses Paper Applications…

Print neatly using blue/black ink Complete green College Application

Checklist and submits along with application, essay and application fee to guidance

Guidance will review application for accuracy and gather and mail transcript, report card, school profile and letters of recommendation. Copies will be kept here.

Important Notes We need 2 weeks notice to send

anything out. Goal is Dec. 1 deadline for all applications!

Letters of recommendation are confidential

Sr. year report card mailed - includes progress report grades

Stay organized: folders, envelopes, spreadsheets - whatever works!

Financial Aid

What is it? Any money that can help with the

cost of college: loans, grants, scholarships, work study

Senior Year is Expensive!

Free/Reduced lunch students have application fees, AP exam fees and SAT fees waived

Have students start saving now!

Ways to Get Financial AidFAFSA: Free Application for Federal

Student Aid Required by all colleges Cannot complete until January 2013

CSS/Profile Required by some colleges - usually private Fee to apply Available online at www.collegeboard.com

beginning Oct. 1st Institutional Forms - some colleges have

their own forms for you to complete

Scholarships

Students should apply to MANY! www.fastweb.com PRHS guidance website PRHS scholarship notebook Parents’ places of employment,

church, organizations Watch out for scams!

Private vs. Public Colleges Sticker Shock Try not to rule out a college initially just

based on cost You won’t know what it will cost your

child to attend until after the financial aid process

Private colleges often have more money to give

Colleges often publish information on average indebtedness and loan packages

Financial Aid Tips Apply early and watch deadlines Respond to any request from a college

immediately Apply regardless of your family’s

financial situation Attend Financial Aid Night at PRHS in

October Attend College Goal Sunday - Jan. 2014

Changes!Your Teen: scared, confused, overwhelmed, anxious, excited, might revert backwards, might push for more independence because, after all they’ll be on their own next year!

You as a Parent: scared, confused, overwhelmed, anxious, excited, might revert back to treating teen like when they were younger, might expect more from them because, after all they’ll be on their own next year!

THANK YOU FOR COMING!

Please feel free to email or make an appointment with one of us if you

want more help/information.