College Jump StartNight
Shawnee High SchoolMay 9, 2013
Purpose of Presentation• Review the college process.
• Discuss college visits, standardized testing, Naviance, letters of recommendation, and transcripts.
• Learn about the college admission process from college admissions representatives.
College Visits/InterviewVisits• Take campus tour• Visit library, cafeteria, dorms• Talk with students
The Interview• This is a good way for schools to know YOU and not
what is on paper. • Be yourself- there are no right/wrong answers.• Be able to state why you are interested in that
particular school. * College visits/interviews are excused
with a letter from the college on school letterhead.*
How many schools should I apply to?
• Reach 1-2• Good Match 2-3• Safe 1-2Think about major, location, size, setting
(rural/urban/suburban), extracurricular activities.
Realistic evaluation of each college’s admission requirements (grades, standardized test scores, required high school courses).
Top Factors for College
1.Grades in Academic Core Courses 2. Strength of Curriculum – Both the amount of
course work you complete in high school and the quality of those courses
3. Admission Test Scores – Scores on either the SAT or ACT (most schools accept both interchangeably)
4. High School Grade Point Average
• Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling
From Rowan’s Website….
• High School PreparationYou must have completed a minimum of 16 college-preparatory units in high school. Your high school curriculum should include (at minimum) the following:
4 units - English2 units - Laboratory Science*3 units -College Prep Mathematics* (Algebra I and II, and Geometry)2 units - Social Studies5 units - Additional work in at least two of the following: History, Languages (minimum 2 units in one language), Mathematics, Science or English.
• *Engineering applicants should have 3 units of laboratory science including physics and chemistry and 4 units of college prep. math including pre-calculus. Calculus is strongly recommended.
University of Delaware recommends:
The University expects all applicants to have completed strong college prep course work:
Subject Years Required Years Recommended
English 4 4
Math 3 4Science 3 (2 must include lab) 4 (3 must
include lab)
History 4 4
Foreign Language 2 of same 4 of same
Academic Electives 2 units 2 units
Total 18 20-22
GPA/Rank• Students will receive their Rank and
GPA in homeroom in September.Unweighted is on a 4.0 scaleWeighted is on a 6.0 scale
• Top 15% weighted rank = NJ Star
Transcript reflects weighted & unweighted GPA & Rank
Standardized Tests• SAT’s-www.collegeboard.org (SAT Reasoning Test)• ACT’s-www.actstudent.org (ACT with writing) • SAT Subject Tests are specific one hour content area tests
used by a small percentage of colleges. Be sure to confirm if the colleges to which you are applying require these tests and plan accordingly.
• Send scores to Shawnee High School-CEEB-310763 & colleges of your choice-Free when you register, but fee later
• NCAA contenders must send scores to NCAA Clearinghouse: 9999
• You must send Standardized Test scores to colleges directly from the testing agency:
College Board (SAT’s)- www.collegeboard.org ACT- www.actstudent.org
• AP scores must be sent directly from College Board.
Test DatesSAT’s- at Cherokee HSJune 1, 2013 (Late deadline 5/22) January 2014October 2013 March 2014December 2013 May 2014
June 2014ACT’sJune 8, 2013 (Seneca-Late deadline 5/17) February 8, 2014September 21, 2013 April 12, 2014October 26, 2013 (Seneca) June 14, 2014December 14, 2013
BCC CAP COURSES
• If your child has taken any course as a CAP course you will need to request a transcript directly from BCC (it will not show as CAP on the HS transcript).
• http://www.bcc.edu/PDFFiles/Forms/(online)TranscriptRequestForm1209.pdf
• Fall-BCC CAP registration @ Shawnee for 2013-2014 CAP eligible courses
Shawnee is going GREEN…With the College Application
Process• Online applications• Online teacher recommendation letters• Electronic submission of transcripts
and letters
Family Connection Powered by NAVIANCE
• Create a resume• Personality/learning style inventories• Explore careers/career profiler• Search colleges• Full length SAT practice tests• Apply for scholarships• Track transcripts and letters of
recommendationhttp://connection.naviance.com/shawneehs
Username: StudentID#@lrstudents.orgPassword: StudentID#
Teacher Recommendations• Ask two teachers politely in person. Give teachers at least two weeks
notice. • Put teacher recommendation request in Naviance
1. Click on Colleges 2. Click on Colleges I’m Applying To 3. Click Add/Cancel Requests
4. Select teacher’s name from drop down bar 5. Click Update Requests• Check Naviance to see when letters have been completed. • When teachers write you a letter, they will also fill out the common
application teacher form electronically. **Teacher letters should be completed when you are requesting
transcripts** • Counselors will automatically fill out all required forms
electronically. • If you have any outside letters, you will need to send them on
your own.
Types of College Admissions • Early decision is a contract between you and the college.
You can only apply to 1 school early decision. If you are accepted, you MUST attend. BINDING contract!
• Early action is more flexible. You do not have to commit to the college if you are accepted. You can apply to multiple schools. NON-BINDING contract!
• Rolling Admission-Applications are evaluated as they are received.
• Regular Decision- decisions are made once ALL applications have been received by deadline.
• Priority/VIP Applications – If the school gives you one of these apps AND they accept the common application – YOU MUST fill out the COMMON APP for us to send your documents electronically- you can ask the school to give you a code so that the application is free!!!
Pay attention to deadlines
Ways to Apply• Online
o Go to the individual college website. o You will create a username and password. o Fill out the entire application online.
• Common Application- www.commonapp.orgo You will create a username and password.o Fill out once for multiple schools o Some schools have supplemental forms as well
** If a college accepts the Common Application & also has its own online application, you MUST apply using the Common Application for us to be able to send electronic documents**
BCCSpring Ahead Programo Fall-Attend BCC informational meeting at Shawnee &
fill out free application- https://www.bcc.edu/forms/adm
o January-Transcript request form due to Counseling Center
o February-BCC placement tests at Shawnee. Exempt if scored 540 in Critical Reading and/or 530 in Math on SAT’s or ACT Reading-23 and/or Math-20(Must have applied and sent transcript by January in order to take test)
o May-Trip to BCC to register for classes (Must have applied, sent transcript & taken placement test in order to attend)
College Athletics
Students who are planning to play in a Division I, II sport need to complete the
following:1. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center:
http://eligbilitycenter.org2.Send official test scores from College Board/ACT
to NCAA 3.Send high school transcript to NCAA-request
electronically through Eligibility Center website.
College Fair
BCC –Mount Laurel Campus
Thursday, May 16th 6-8:30 pm
Financial Aid Workshops at 6:30 and 7:45Special Accommodations Workshop at 7
Summer ProgramsCollege Essay WritingJuly 8-11 @ Seneca
July 15-18 @ SenecaJuly 22-25 @ Cherokee
July 29-August 1 @CherokeeTime- 9 am-12 pm
Tuition-$85
SAT PrepJuly 15-18 @ Seneca
August 5-8 @ CherokeeTime: 8:30 am-12:30 pm
Tuition-$110Register online: www.lrhsd.org/Domain/657
Things to do...NOW!! • Research & visit colleges• Take standardized testing• Naviance-research colleges/SAT practice
tests/career search• Register with NCAA Eligibility Center• Ask teachers for recommendation letters
(2) and request through Naviance
Things to do...in September
• Counselor will meet with seniors to review college application process
• Know where you plan to apply• Submit parental release of academic records• Fill out required Naviance information for college
applications• Ask teachers for recommendation letters (2) and
request through Naviance• Finish standardized testing• APPLY-**pay attention to deadlines**• Early action/decision deadlines are October and early
November• Rutgers-early action deadline of November 1st; Regular
decision deadline of December 1st
Counseling Center Events
Senior Parent College Application NightSeptember 2013
Shawnee Auditorium
Financial Aid NightOctober 2013
Shawnee Auditorium
Shawnee News
Visit the counseling center’s website: http://www.lrhsd.org/shacounseling
Each month the Shawnee eNewsletter is emailed: www.lrhsd.org/enewssubscribe
Counselor Contact Information
Counselor Last Names Phone EmailMs. Michelle Torrence A-B x4416 [email protected]. Kevin Looney C-D x4408 [email protected]. Gary Hill E-Ha x4419 [email protected]. Mary Alice Horos He-Man x4411 [email protected]. Helene Welde Mar-Pi x4451 [email protected]. Darren Welsh Pl-So x4451 [email protected]. Erin O’Neill Sp-Z x4402 [email protected]. Heidi Krihak SAC x4413 [email protected]
Shawnee-609-654-7544
College Panel
• Arcadia University-Brittany McCall
• BCC-Jessica Rose
• The College of New Jersey-Matt Middleton
• Dickinson College-Alan Paynter
• Drexel University-Caitlin Issen
• Saint Joseph’s University-Samantha Pitcher
• Richard Stockton College-Steve Phillips
• Rowan University-David Naphy