Class of 2013

College Application Process

Walton High School Guidance Department

Senior Information 2012-2013

Counselor Assignments A-C Mrs. Clary D-G Mrs. Ferguson H-K Mrs. Dunham L-O Mrs. Carlson P-S Mrs. LaVangie T-Z Mrs. Wise Each counselor has a blog for

reminders

Senior Information 2012-2013

Guidance Personnel Mrs. Cheryl Lenenski: College Corner

Advisor, College Representative Visits Mrs. Melissa Schrenk: Records Room

Clerk Scholarships & Financial Aid

Blog: www.waltonhigh.org, click on Departments, click on Guidance, find scholarship information.

Senior Application Process

College Applications & Transcripts If no teacher recommendations or

secondary school report, complete application on-line & submit. Order transcript from the Records Room.

If recommendations and/or school report required, allow about 3-4 weeks for completion from the counselor & teacher.

Senior Application Process

If the application contains multiple sections, download paper copies for a reference

Your child is the applicant – BUT if they are disorganized you may help with that

Watch Deadlines – Set up a calendar!

Pay with the same credit card for tracking

Common Application To be completed on-line. Make sure a receipt is printed. Ensure that we are aware of EVERY

institution to which you applying. One request from records and one

request for standardized tests Make sure the essay for the

application is generic. It will be sent to all of the schools you apply to.

Common Application

If the School requires a supplement, make sure that it is school specific.

Always have essays in the first person and ANSWER the question

Download receipts of submission – they have the date and time

Request recs. from Counselor and teachers on-time

UGA - 2012

Part I only is required for Early Action. Due by Oct 15, 2012 Part I has a section for outside activities.

If not enough space, combine types of activities and/or abbreviate.

No teacher recommendation Counselor Recommendation is required

UGA

Part I. Each applicant to self-report

Academic Profile UGA still wants an official transcript sent. Do not report MS grades or activities Abbreviations are acceptable

For example, Lit, Geog, Hist, etc.

UGA

Standardized Tests Only report SAT & ACT due to field

restriction. Print out receipt. After midnight on

October 15th, the Early Action is closed. You may apply Regular Decision (Jan

15th) before October 15th. You do not have a better chance if

deferred vs Regular Admission

If deferred Need teacher recommendation Part II must be completed

If deferred and decide not to attend UGA – Go to “MY STATUS” and select

“cancel application option.”

UGA

Senior Information 2012-2013

College Applications & Transcripts Complete “Transcript Card” in

Records Room. Fee for each transcript (except final) is

$2.00 Standardized test scores are only

accepted from the governing office: (www.collegeboard.com or www.actstudent.org)

Senior Information 2012-2013 Graduate Exit Exam

All portions of the GHSGT/GHSWT must be passed before graduation or a congruent Subject Area End of Course Test.

Diploma Order Forms Honor Graduates PROBE Fairs

Tuesday, September 11th, 6-9 pm, Northpoint Mall

Senior Information 2012-2013

Financial Aid Night November 12, 6:30 pm, Walton

Theater GSFC representative

HOPE Information FAFSA Other sources of financial aid. CSS Profile – High Dollar Private

Institutions

Senior Year Checklist Applications

Some are due on Nov 1 Others need to be mailed by Nov 1 Apply to 5-8 schools

Reach, Range, and/or Safety Contact Financial Aid Offices of each

college Keep up your grades! Senior grades

DO count!

Senior Year Checklist Expect notifications from most schools

by the 1st week in April. Financial Aid packages should be

received in April. Most schools require a deposit and/or a

letter by May 1. Request a final copy of your high school

transcript to be sent to your college of choice.

How to Choose a College Colleges vary in

terms of: Academic program Length of study Size Type of

Community Location Admission policy

Affiliation Housing Cost Activities Athletics Student body

composition

How Colleges Choose Among the Applicants

Colleges look at the following ranked in order of importance: High School academic record

Rigor of curriculum Grades

SAT or ACT Scores Essays – YOUR Child’s Essay Recommendations

How Colleges Choose Among the Applicants

Colleges look at the following ranked in order of importance: Special abilities: Art, Music, Athletics,

Leadership Community Service & Extracurricular

Activities Neatness and accuracy of the

application….

How Colleges Choose Among the Applicants

Points to consider Most colleges only consider academic

courses when calculating GPA – or fine arts for specific programs.

In most cases, recalculated GPA will be lower than the GPA stated on your transcript.

Preliminary List of Colleges Reach School(s)

I might be accepted Dream School

Range School(s) I should be accepted 50/50 chance of being admitted

Safety School(s) I will be accepted

College Admissions Programs

Important Terms

Regular Admission Fixed application date; often January 15

Rolling Admission College considers application as soon as all

application materials have been received. Open Admission

College grants acceptance to all high school graduates without regard to additional qualifications.

College Admissions Programs

Important Terms

Early Decision Legally Binding Definite 1st choice college Withdraw all other applications, if

accepted If not, usually deferred or denied.

College Admissions Programs

Important Terms

Early Action Non-binding Have until May 1 to accept

admission’s offer Early Action – Single Choice

New option Non-binding Do not apply Early Action to another

school

College Admissions Programs

Important Terms

Deferred Enrollment Delay enrollments for a semester or a

year. Delayed/Provisional Admissions

Students are accepted, but usually after completion of a summer program or a fall semester at another college.

College Websites www.collegeboard.com www.GAcollege411.org www.fastweb.com or www.fastaid.com www.careercruising.com

UserID: Walton Password: Raiders

www.commonapp.org www.ncaa.org

College Admissions Tests Must take 1 of 2 primary admissions

tests.. SAT (Highest possible score 2400) ACT (Highest possible score 36)

Walton is an official test center for both (except June administration).

Must have taken the Writing section at least ONCE.

SAT IIs are specific subject tests. Research your college to determine if needed as part of the application.

Senior Year Checklist

SAT, SAT Subject Tests and/or ACT SAT and/or ACT are usually required SAT Subject Tests are required by Ivy

and highly selective Universities and Colleges

SAT – Oct 6, Nov 3, Dec 1 SAT Subjects – same dates – can take

up to three tests per sitting ACT –Sept 8, Oct 27, Dec 8

Funding Your Education Dos:

Start Early!!! Make sure you have a valid & Correct SSN on

file. If male and 17 ½ or older, you must register

for selective service. Make personal contacts with college financial

aid office. Search the internet. Check Guidance Blog. Be willing to write essays.

Scholarships /Financial Aide

Scholarships can be Merit or Need Based

Try to avoid Loans – if needed use Federal Based loans – int. rate is lower than private

80% of dollars are from the College or University

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Check the Guidance Blog for Scholarships – updated weekly

Try for locals – less applicants Nomination Scholarships by school

– watch deadlines and committee decisions

Fill out FAFSA regardless of income

Funding Your Education

Don’ts: Rule out a college b/c of the “sticker”

price. Wait until you are accepted to inquire

about financial aid. Allow bogus search companies to

scam you. No service can guarantee a scholarship. Any advertisement that has a fee is a SCAM!!!! Throw it out!

HOPE Scholarship Calculation A complete transcript is submitted to GSFC

after graduation. A mid year report will be generated an available to students on-line after first semester each school year

Nominal Standard for eligibility: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

All academic credits counted in calculation English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and

World Languages Extra Weight: AP and IB only (0.5)

Zell Miller Scholarship - 2012

Full tuition Includes SAT/ACT component SAT 1200 CR and Math Total/one

sitting ACT – Composite of 26 in one sitting 3.7 calculated HOPE GPA based on

CORE attempted courses

Senior Grades Second Semester

All acceptances are conditional!! Seniors who develop “Senioritis” may

have that acceptance rescinded if grades or attendance decline significantly

All colleges regardless of the level of difficulty of entry require that students maintain approx. the same grade average through their senior year.

Walton Statistics - 2012

99% of our Graduates are now attending college (94% – 4 year)

Attending 37 states and 5 Countries

In State – approximately 60% Retention – a good thing in college

–over 85%

Walton UGA STATS - 2012

Number of applicants – 229 Number accepted –144 Waitlisted – 16 Denied – 68 Canceled App by student - 11 Senior honors courses/average 7 Senior AP courses/average - 8

Walton Ga Tech STATS

Applicants 102 Accepted – 64 – 70% - highest in

the State – average 47% Average GPA 3.96 Average SAT 2100 ACT 31 Honors Courses average – 6 AP Courses average -8

Keeping your Sanity The year goes quickly! Enjoy your child’s last full year at

home. Keep communication open and feel free

to contact or e-mail your child’s counselor.

Check the Walton Website for all senior information and deadlines – Sr. section