Saint Francis High School Guidance and Counseling Department Presents College Advising

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Saint Francis High School Guidance and Counseling
Department PresentsCollege Advising

• 2008

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Appointments

• The Academic Office does not allow for any
  student to miss more than 80 minutes of class
  time for Senior College Counseling during this
  semester, as students should not miss academic
  instruction. (Many high schools do not allow
  students to miss any class time for appointments
  so BE Appreciative.)
• Alternate times counselors are available for
  assistance
• Collaboration
• Lunch
• After school
• One forty minute meeting per student beginning
  Wednesday 9/17.
• Be prepared with tentative list and questions.
• Be on time for your meeting and use this valuable
  time wisely.
• If you are concerned about missing class time-go
  by and make an appointment for one of your free
  periods.

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• The pink Transcript Release Form must be returned
  to Mrs. Weber in the Counseling Center by Friday
  Sept. 19.
• Your appointment will be postponed until this
  form is turned in.

• Senior Parent Night
• Sept. 18th at 700P.M.
• 600 PM Financial Aid Presentation

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Accessing Information

• Read Senior PowerPoint Presentations
• Download Counselor Recommendation Packet as
  needed.
• Download the Teacher Recommendation Packet as
  needed.
• Link to important sites and information from the
  Senior College PowerPoints.

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How to Access the Senior PowerPoints

• Go to the Saint Francis High School webpage at
  www.sfhs.com
• Go to the Guidance and Counseling page at
  http//www.sfhs.com/academics/guidance.aspx

• Senior PowerPoint Topics
• How to Obtain a Counselor Letter Of
  Recommendation
• How to Obtain a Teacher Letter of Recommendation
• Extended Calendar of Senior Year Planning
• Admissions Plans
• Applying to the University of California
• Applying to the California State Universities
• Financial Aid and Scholarships

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The Informed Participant

• Read
• Senior PowerPoints and access forms and
  information as needed.
• Read
• All applications thoroughly.

• Attend
• College rep visits-on and off campus. Find the
  schedule for College Rep Visits on
• Counseling Department Web Site
• Ask
• Questions-
• This is your life-think about the best match for
  you-ignore peer pressure.

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TestingRemember Only You Can Send Your Scores
to a College!!

• UC and Private Colleges
• All testing must be completed no later than Dec
  test date for both UC and private colleges.
• Early Action or Early Decision admissions plans
  may use no later than October 2008 test scores.
  Check with each college for more information on
  testing requirements.
• Check each Private College application for the
  last date test scores will be accepted by the
  college.

• CSU Campuses
• For all impacted campuses, October should be the
  last test date for completion of the SAT I or
  ACT.
• Some impacted campuses may also accept November
  scores-check each campus application for
  deadlines.
• For non-impacted campuses, December is the last
  test date for SAT Is and ACT.

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UC and Selective Colleges

• Make sure scores are sent to each campus you are
  applying to by the appropriate date set by that
  college.
• SAT I and ACT include a Writing section-
• check with your colleges policy in using this
  score for evaluation.

• SAT II-Two Subject Areas-
• The UC will select the best score of two areas to
  use for admissions.

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NCAA

• Any student interested in Division I or II
  athletic programs must register with the NCAA
  Eligibility Center
• Go to the front office and also request a
  transcript sent to NCAA.
• You must send your test scores to the
  clearinghouse or order scores sent to NCAA when
  registering for an SAT or ACT this fall.
• Use code 9999

• It is your responsibility to send your scores and
  transcript to NCAA

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Admission Plans

• Early Action
• Early Action is non-binding
• Admitted students are not obligated to enroll and
  may apply to other colleges.
• Decisions must be made by May 1, 2009.
• Single Choice Early Action is a unique plan where
  a student can only apply to one school. Stanford
  and Yale use this plan.

• Early Decision
• Early decision is binding.
• Students must commit in advance to attend the
  Early Decision college if admitted under its
  early program.

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(No Transcript)
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Before Applying Early Consider Advantages and
Disadvantages

• Preparation-are junior grades strong?
• Is testing complete by October testing dates?
• Admission Rates?
• Financial Aid?

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Other Admission Plans

• Rolling Admissions
• The sooner you apply the sooner you learn of the
  admissions decision.
• Decisions come between 2 and 6 weeks after all
  required application documents are received.
• Some colleges have an admission deadline and do
  not notify students of admission decisions until
  a certain date. Highly selective colleges may
  follow this plan. UCs notify between March 1-30
  of admission decisions.
• Admission Deadline-the last possible date to
  submit an application.

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Getting the Applications

• Apply Online to UC and CSU Colleges
• UC Pathways at www.ucop.edu/pathways
• CSU Mentor at www.csumentor.com

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Out of State Public and All Private Schools

• Applications may be downloaded from the colleges
  website or submitted electronically .
• Go to the colleges website for information on
  deadlines
• Also check on any additional deadlines for
  applications
• Housing Application-may be required at the same
  time as filing application. Be sure to check
  each colleges website for housing deadlines. You
  may be able to apply for housing along with your
  application for admission.
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships

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Electronic Communications

• Make sure you give the college a current and
  reasonably worded email address. Check it
  frequently! Many colleges will issue a Portal
  access where all communications will be posted
  including admission status.
• Check deadlines carefully and consistently check
  the email address you place on the application
  for instructions.
• With electronic applications, be sure to print
  out a receipt and a copy.

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Common Application

• The Common Application allows you to fill out one
  application and send it to any one of the 300
  colleges who accept this application.
• If using the Common Application make sure you
  also fill out the Supplement for the college you
  are applying to
• check www.commonapp.org for supplements
• If a college is your top choice and the school
  provides its own application?

• If you use the Common Application be sure to show
  expressed interest in the campus
• Attend college rep visits
• Tour campus
• Ask for interview if available
• Stay current with communication from that campus

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Applying to the University of California

• File ASAP during the period Nov. 1-30.
• (You may begin working on the application Oct.1)
• Use Pathways if possible-www.ucop.edu/pathways
• One application may be generated to all campuses.
• Attend Application Workshop sponsored by the
  Guidance and Counseling Department. TBA

• Make sure to order test scores sent to each
  campus.
• Comprehensive Review is used for all students-
• Be sure to detail leadership, service,
  involvement and describe it in language that
  focuses in on your strengths.
• This can be part of
• Section V-Extracurricular Information section of
  the application.

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In Anticipation of Applications

• Update your resume. You will be asked to submit
  an updated resume with your Letter of
  Recommendation Request.
• Check your transcript for activity credit NOW!
• If you completed a Community College course this
  past summer, order transcripts. You will need to
  send a CC transcript to each private and out of
  state public school you are applying to so order
  enough.

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After You Have Applied to the University of
California

• The Application Status website allows you to
  review your personal/background information
• Campus and major choices
• Test scores reported
• Revise portions of your application.
• The information will be online four to five weeks
  after you submit your application.

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Importance of Senior Grades

• All colleges accept students on a conditional
  basis.
• Senior grades are evaluated and admissions can be
  rescinded at any time -even after students have
  moved into dorms.
• UCSC rescinded more than 358 admission decisions
  this past summer.
• First and second semester senior grades will be
  important for admissions.

• Immediately notify each campus of any D or F
  grades in the senior year.
• Immediately notify each campus if dropping a
  course that is listed on your application.

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Tips on Writing the Personal Statement Questions
and Essays for All Schools

• Purpose of the UC Personal Statement Questions
• To help Admissions personnel get to know the
  student as an individual and to provide a context
  for consideration of all other applicants.
• To allow the applicant to fill in the gaps,
  explain unusual circumstances, and provide a more
  complete picture of her or himself.
• To help the reader understand a students
  interests, achievements, opportunities, and
  challenges faced while achieving academic and
  personal success.
• Scholarship consideration.

• Assigned in senior
• English classrooms.
• Personal Statement and Essay Questions
• Be sure to access Fall
• 2009 applications.
• Get feedback from others-edit-edit-edit.
• Review more tips in the Applying to the
  University of California Senior PowerPoint

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Applying to the California State University

• Use http//www.csumentor.com/ to apply-a separate
  application must be sent to each campus.
• Read the directions at the beginning of each
  campus application to learn about Housing
  Applications and any instructions on how to
  communicate with the college.
• Read the Senior PowerPoint Applying to the
  California State Universities

• You can use the code when requesting scores sent
  from the College Board or ACT3594
• Impacted campuses Fullerton, LB, Cal Poly SLO,
  Cal Poly Pomona, and San Diego and Sonoma.

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Cal Poly SLO

• Cal Poly SLO must apply online-
• Be accurate in reporting hours of leadership,
  work, and activities-this does count.
• Select a major you can live with.
• Go to Cal Poly website and create your webpage
  for communication with Cal Poly.

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Applying to a California Community College

• Check community college website for application
  filing dates in early March. Apply early and
  online.
• Transfer Admission Guarantee agreements
• Each California community college has a TAA
  (Transfer Admissions Agreement or TAG (Transfer
  Admission Guarantee) with some UC, CSU, and
  Private colleges.
• See Foothills TAA schools
• Honors Programs available at the community
  colleges
• At this time the tuition at a California
  Community College is extremely inexpensive in
  comparison to other colleges.

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How to Get a Letter of Recommendation

• Read the Senior PowerPoint How to Obtain a
  Counselor Recommendation
• Read the Senior PowerPoint How to Obtain a
  Teacher Recommendation
• Teachers
• Math, Science, Foreign Language, English, and
  Social Studies
• Should be of junior level or higher
• Coaches, moderators, people who have observed
  your special talents and abilities may write
  optional recommendations

• No letters accepted by UC or CSU

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Letters

• Materials must be submitted no later than
• October 6 for EA or ED
• December 1 for all other admission plans
• Give Counselor or Teacher at least 3 weeks
  notice.
• Will not be given back to students, but sent
  directly to the colleges.
• Have the same teacher write and copy -do not ask
  several teachers.

• Use the correct format or your request will be
  turned back to you for changes.
• Thank people.

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Letter of Recommendation Packets

• Read the Senior PowerPoint How to Obtain a
  Counselor Letter of Recommendation-Download Forms
• Read the Senior PowerPoint How to Obtain a
  Teacher Letter of Recommendation-Download Forms

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TranscriptsTurn Transcript Release Form to your
counselor's box in the Counseling Center ASAP.

• Official and Unofficial
• Request from the main office for 2.OO
• Must give 2 days notice
• Request to have it placed in your counselors box
  for letters of recommendation.

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Financial Aid and Scholarships

• Institutional Form-check with each school and
  submit on time.
• FAFSA-required by all public and some private.
• CCS Profile-required by some private-check list
  on the CSS Profile application. May start CCS
  Profile applications online.
• Oct 1, 2008.

• Beware of Scholarship Scams-searches are free
  online.
• Dont pay for something you can get for free.

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Scholarships

• File FAFSA and CCS Profile to receive
  scholarships as well as need based financial aid.
  Dont leave any stone unturned.
• File as early as possible after January 1-March 1

• Persistence
• Check Scholarship Notebook in the Counseling
  Center.
• Check the Guidance and Counseling website-under
  College Guidance.

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Integrity Issues

• Create and maintain an appropriate email address
  where colleges can communicate with you. (check
  it frequently)
• Caution on Facebook/MySpace pages or self
  designed webpages-
• Colleges and employers have reported checking
  these sites to learn more about an applicant.
• Discuss any disciplinary/academic integrity
  issues with your counselor.

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Reminders

• Use the Guidance and Counseling website!!!!!!!!!!
• Read the Senior College PowerPoints and use them
  to download forms needed.

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Questions

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