SENIOR PLANNING NIGHT

POTOMAC FALLS HSClass of 2016

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SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPT

• Director: Rae Ann Paolozzi• Counselors

Teresa Bennett A-Can & ELLRichard Bader Cao- Goy & CampusDeborah Brom Goz – McJStefanie Weiss McK - RLauren Gibson S - Z

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SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPT

• Support Staff

College and Career Center: Mary Ann Ottenberg

School Counseling Secretaries:Lisa TorickAllison Richardson

Contact Us: 571-434-3204PFH School Counseling Web Site

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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

SO WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?

TRADE SCHOOLSAPPRENTICESHIPS

MILITARY/ROTC PROGRAMS

ASSOCIATE DEGREE:2 YR COLLEGE

BACHELOR’S DEGREE: 4 YR COLLEGES

EMPLOYMENT

GAP YEAR

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Statistics of Our StudentsClass of 2015

2 Yr College

4 Yr College

Employed

Military

Non- U.S. College

Other Educational Plans

GAP Year

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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

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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

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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”

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• 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

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Benefits in High School Benefits at NOVA

Individual meetings about college transition, major and career planning, placement test prep

Continued academic and career counseling

Assistance with Financial Aid Process Guaranteed Admission to George Mason

Early Placement Testing Pathway Section of SDV100

Priority Registration Opportunities at GMU: classes, social and athletic events

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 – Mandi Gordon,

adgordon@nvcc.edu• School Counselor

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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!

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

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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

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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 TeacherAsk Early

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Recommendation Letters:How to ask

• Ask early and provide a copy of resume or activities list

• Inform your recommender about manner of submission

Mail directlyGive to counselorUpload 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”

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Panther Planning Portfolio

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Parchment

• New online program for electronic transcript requests

• User friendly platform with 2-step ordering- NO FEE

• Students will be able to submit AND track orders via Parchment

• Transcript request form must also be submitted to Counseling Office

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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.)

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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

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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• Request your transcript through Parchment– Final transcripts automatically sent to NCAA after

graduation (approx. mid July)• After April 1 – update profile

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Summary of Student Responsibilities

• Complete and Submit Application• Payment to college• Submit Test Scores to colleges• Request Recommendation Letter• Transcript release form: To your School

Counselor Fill in form 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

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Student Responsibilities Cont’d

• Remember to request transcript through Parchment

• 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/Parchment for processing status

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Student Responsibilities Cont’d

• Monitor your application status with each college to ensure materials are received

• Please request mid-year transcript through Parchment. It is not automatically sent. Some colleges require students to self report grades, check the requirements of your particular college.

• Request FINAL transcript through Parchment.

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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

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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 2 @ 6:30 pm

• FAFSA – Submitted after January 1, 2015

• Verify your specific college’s financial aid process

• CSS Profile-- only some require, verify college requirements

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SCHOLARSHIPS

• Check Career Center web page for updated information

• Follow instructions on how to apply or be considered for nomination

• LCPS Scholarship 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

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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

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Thank you for coming!We wish you all the best as

you begin your post-secondary planning and

college admissions process!