Senior YearSenior YearThe College The College

Application ProcessApplication Process

Questions to ConsiderQuestions to Consider

Have you discussed your post-graduation plans with your Have you discussed your post-graduation plans with your family in depth? family in depth?

Did you follow up with counselor recommendations that Did you follow up with counselor recommendations that took place at the Junior planning conference last spring?took place at the Junior planning conference last spring?

Have you visited college campuses?Have you visited college campuses?

Have you identified your reach, target, and safety Have you identified your reach, target, and safety schools?schools?

Reach, Target, Safety SchoolsReach, Target, Safety Schools

Reach SchoolsReach Schools (1-2): These are colleges that present an (1-2): These are colleges that present an admissions challenge because the admissions criteria are admissions challenge because the admissions criteria are competitive and a small percentage of applicants are admitted.competitive and a small percentage of applicants are admitted.

Target SchoolsTarget Schools (2-4): These are colleges where student (2-4): These are colleges where student qualifications closely match those of the average student.qualifications closely match those of the average student.

Safety SchoolsSafety Schools (1-2): These are colleges where the students’ (1-2): These are colleges where the students’ academic profile exceeds the academic profile of the students academic profile exceeds the academic profile of the students accepted at the college.accepted at the college.

Have You Requested Letters of Have You Requested Letters of Recommendation?Recommendation?

You should request 2 teacher letters of You should request 2 teacher letters of recommendation.recommendation.

You may also want to consider coaches, You may also want to consider coaches, employers and/or community leaders as employers and/or community leaders as character references. character references.

Counselors write letters of recommendation Counselors write letters of recommendation for all studentsfor all students

Have You Prepared The College Have You Prepared The College Essay?Essay?

The college application asks ONE basic thing-The college application asks ONE basic thing-who are you and what makes you different who are you and what makes you different from all those other qualified applicants? How from all those other qualified applicants? How you answer these questions sheds light on your you answer these questions sheds light on your values, opinions and talents. Write from “the values, opinions and talents. Write from “the heart”. Speak in your own voice using your heart”. Speak in your own voice using your own vocabulary. own vocabulary.

English classes/counselor reviewEnglish classes/counselor review

Have you developed your activity sheet?Have you developed your activity sheet?

If you are an athlete seeking a Division I or Division If you are an athlete seeking a Division I or Division II scholarship, have you registered with the NCAA II scholarship, have you registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse? If not, see your counselor Clearinghouse? If not, see your counselor immediately!immediately!

If you are planning on pursuing a course of study in If you are planning on pursuing a course of study in the Arts, have you inquired about the requirements the Arts, have you inquired about the requirements for admission? You may be required to present a for admission? You may be required to present a portfolio or audition.portfolio or audition.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU MEET ALL YOU MEET ALL DEADLINES!!!!DEADLINES!!!!

The deadline to submit The deadline to submit college application receipt college application receipt

forms to the guidance forms to the guidance department for colleges with department for colleges with a January 1, 2013 deadline is a January 1, 2013 deadline is

November 2, 2012November 2, 2012

Early Action vs. Early DecisionEarly Action vs. Early Decision

Both require that applications are sent early, usually by Both require that applications are sent early, usually by November 1 or November 1 or November 15-YOU MUST HAVE YOUR APPLICATION AND/OR November 15-YOU MUST HAVE YOUR APPLICATION AND/OR RECEIPT FORM IN GUIDANCE 10 WORKING DAYS PRIOR TO RECEIPT FORM IN GUIDANCE 10 WORKING DAYS PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE BY MID OCTOBERTHE DEADLINE BY MID OCTOBER

Early DecisionEarly Decision: allows you to apply early and get an admission decision : allows you to apply early and get an admission decision from the college well in advance of the usual notification date. It is from the college well in advance of the usual notification date. It is BINDING-you are agreeing to attend the college if you’re accepted and if BINDING-you are agreeing to attend the college if you’re accepted and if you receive an adequate financial aid package. You can only apply to one you receive an adequate financial aid package. You can only apply to one college early decision. You may apply to other colleges under regular college early decision. You may apply to other colleges under regular admission.admission.

Early ActionEarly Action: Similar to early decision, but it’s NOT binding. You can : Similar to early decision, but it’s NOT binding. You can apply to multiple colleges in this way and compare offers of admission and apply to multiple colleges in this way and compare offers of admission and financial aid.financial aid.

Submit completed Submit completed College Application Receipt College Application Receipt FormsForms to the appropriate secretary in guidance to the appropriate secretary in guidance

College Application Receipt FormsCollege Application Receipt Forms will be will be accepted between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 P.M. each accepted between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 P.M. each school dayschool day

Students are assigned by counselor to the Students are assigned by counselor to the following secretaries in guidance: following secretaries in guidance:

Ms. DeMarcoMs. DeMarco: Ms. Ibarra (Ms. Molof): Ms. Ibarra (Ms. Molof) Mr. Paranandi, Ms. RosenblumMr. Paranandi, Ms. Rosenblum Ms. KupferMs. Kupfer: Ms. Felber, Ms. Hannon, Mr. : Ms. Felber, Ms. Hannon, Mr.

Purcell, Ms. Velez Purcell, Ms. Velez

ChecklistChecklist

Colleges will not consider your Colleges will not consider your application “complete” without application “complete” without recommendations, activity sheets, recommendations, activity sheets, essays, SAT/ACT scores, and other essays, SAT/ACT scores, and other special information .special information .

A Completed Application IncludesA Completed Application Includes Teacher letters of recommendationTeacher letters of recommendation Counselor letter of recommendationCounselor letter of recommendation High school transcriptHigh school transcript Senior program of classesSenior program of classes Hicksville High School ProfileHicksville High School Profile Schools require that test scores are sent directly by the Schools require that test scores are sent directly by the

College Board and/or ACT—most schools will not accept our College Board and/or ACT—most schools will not accept our photocopies as official score reportsphotocopies as official score reports

The Common ApplicationThe Common Application

Common Application—apply and pay on-line-nearly Common Application—apply and pay on-line-nearly 500 schools www.commonapp.org500 schools www.commonapp.org

When applying electronically-MUST INFORM When applying electronically-MUST INFORM GUIDANCE BY COMPLETING THE COLLEGE GUIDANCE BY COMPLETING THE COLLEGE APPLICATION RECEIPT FORMS FOR EVERY APPLICATION RECEIPT FORMS FOR EVERY COLLEGE TO WHICH YOU HAVE APPLIEDCOLLEGE TO WHICH YOU HAVE APPLIED

Nassau Community College: Health/Immunization Nassau Community College: Health/Immunization records required with application—NCC.EDUrecords required with application—NCC.EDU

SAT Examination--take at least twiceSAT Examination--take at least twice Highest scores will be combinedHighest scores will be combined SAT Reasoning Test/Subject Tests:SAT Reasoning Test/Subject Tests:

October 6 October 6

November 3 (HHS)November 3 (HHS)

December 1December 1

January 26 (HHS)January 26 (HHS) March 9March 9

May 4 (HHS)May 4 (HHS)

June 1 (HHS)June 1 (HHS)

Competitive colleges typically require 2 subject area testsCompetitive colleges typically require 2 subject area tests

ACT ACT

October 22October 22

December 8December 8

April 14April 14

June 8June 8

On Site Admissions & College On Site Admissions & College Information SessionsInformation Sessions

On-Site Admissions-On-Site Admissions- submit applications 10 working days prior to the submit applications 10 working days prior to the on site and meet with an admissions counselor in the guidance office. on site and meet with an admissions counselor in the guidance office. Application fees are waived, decisions are rendered and sometimes Application fees are waived, decisions are rendered and sometimes scholarships are awarded on the spot!scholarships are awarded on the spot!

C.W. Post UniversityC.W. Post University

St. Joseph’s CollegeSt. Joseph’s College

New York Institute of TechnologyNew York Institute of Technology

St. John’s UniversitySt. John’s University

Adelphi UniversityAdelphi University

Molloy CollegeMolloy College 20 representatives will be visiting and meeting with students prior to 20 representatives will be visiting and meeting with students prior to

November 16, 2012 to provide college informationNovember 16, 2012 to provide college information

Researching Colleges and Careers Researching Colleges and Careers The Collegeboard website is a comprehensive site for exploring colleges and The Collegeboard website is a comprehensive site for exploring colleges and

careers. All students and parents should familiarize themselves with this site as careers. All students and parents should familiarize themselves with this site as a primary tool for use in your research.a primary tool for use in your research.

• www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com

Career Zone is a New York State funded website designed to help you discover Career Zone is a New York State funded website designed to help you discover your interests and abilities, research potential careers, and even explore your interests and abilities, research potential careers, and even explore colleges within New York State that coincide with your interests.colleges within New York State that coincide with your interests.

www.nycareerzone.org www.nycareerzone.org

The “Planning Your Future” booklet is a comprehensive guide to assist in The “Planning Your Future” booklet is a comprehensive guide to assist in planning for college and the world of work. This booklet will be distributed at planning for college and the world of work. This booklet will be distributed at our individual planning meetings in Februaryour individual planning meetings in February. .

Financial AidFinancial Aid

FAFSA – (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the FAFSA – (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the required form for any financial aid.required form for any financial aid.

File between January 1File between January 1stst and February 15 and February 15thth of senior year of senior year

www.fafsa.govwww.fafsa.gov

CSS Profile – This is an additional financial aid form CSS Profile – This is an additional financial aid form required by some schools. Check with colleges for required by some schools. Check with colleges for verification of required forms. A link for this form can be verification of required forms. A link for this form can be found at found at www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com

ScholarshipsScholarships

Fastweb – This is a comprehensive scholarship Fastweb – This is a comprehensive scholarship database to which all students should subscribedatabase to which all students should subscribe www.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.com

Monthly scholarship bulletins are distributed Monthly scholarship bulletins are distributed via English classes throughout the school yearvia English classes throughout the school year

The local scholarship directory is distributed to The local scholarship directory is distributed to each senior student in the spring. each senior student in the spring.

Events to RememberEvents to Remember

The College Fair: The College Fair: Monday, September 24Monday, September 24thth

Financial Aid Night-Financial Aid Night- December 6, 2012 at December 6, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Learn all about the financial aid 7:00 p.m. Learn all about the financial aid process and have your questions answered by process and have your questions answered by a representative from a college financial aid a representative from a college financial aid office. office.

www.hicksvillepublicschools.orgwww.hicksvillepublicschools.org

All of the information presented can All of the information presented can be found on the district website. be found on the district website.

Please visit the website frequently Please visit the website frequently since information is updated since information is updated regularly. regularly.

Thank you!Thank you!