CLASS OF 2019 COLLEGE PLANNING GUIDE

Admissions Process Entrance Tests Financial Aid

2

Carmel Catholic High SchoolOne Carmel Parkway

Mundelein, Illinois 60060847-566-3000

Dr. Brad Bonham, PresidentMs. Sue Crook, Principal

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

School Counseling Office

School year hours: 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Carmel Catholic website: www.carmelhs.org

New College Resource Center website coming soon

Mrs. Jaime White, Assistant Principal for Student Services jwhite@carmelhs.org 847-388-3408

Mr. Nate Bargar, College and Career Counselor nbargar@carmelhs.org 847-388-3310

Mr. Robert Covek, School Counselor rcovek@carmelhs.org 847-388-3306

Mr. Paul Emerson, School Counselor pemerson@carmelhs.org 847-388-3316

Mrs. Christine Hartnett, School Counselor chartnett@carmelhs.org 847-388-3307

Mrs. Taylor Samson, School Counselor tsamson@carmelhs.org 847-388-3303

Mr. John Ryan, School Counselor jryan@carmelhs.org 847-388-3309

3

College Planning

Introduction to College Planning 4

Family Connection/Naviance 4

College Planning Calendar 5-6

College Entrance Tests

ACT 7

SAT 7

SAT Subject Tests 8

General Testing Information 8

Research

College Representatives Visiting Carmel 9

Campus Visits 10-11

Benefits of Attending a Community College 12

The Application Process

Parts of the Application 13

Types of Admissions Options 13

What Do Colleges Look At? 14

College Application Instructions 15

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial Aid Process 16

Sources of Financial Aid 16

Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA) 17

CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® 17

Senior Year Timeline for Financial Aid 17

Appendix

Recommended Questions to Ask College Representatives 18

Carmel Catholic’s Top 50 Colleges 19-20

Helpful Websites for College Search Process 21-22

CCHS College Application/Transcript Request Form 23

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4

INTRODUCTION TO COLLEGE PLANNING

The purpose of this planning guide is to assist you in your college planning and selection process. Choosing a college or university is by far one of the most exciting yet complicated decisions that you will ever make. When selecting the right college for you, you must look at three distinct fits: 1) Academic, 2) Financial, and 3) Personal. All of these fits are as important as the others. The academic fit makes sure that you are going to learn what to do in your career. The financial fit makes sure that college is affordable. The personal fit makes sure that you like where you are going to spend the next four years of your life. When looking at these fits, it is recommended that you apply to no more than 10 colleges/universities.

• 1-2 reach schools: a school that normally will accept students with a higher GPA and/or ACT/SAT than yours.

• 3-4 target schools: a school that normally will accept students with a similar GPA and/or ACT/SAT to yours.

• 1-2 most likely schools: a school that normally will accept students with a lower GPA and/or ACT/SAT than yours.

Please know that the Carmel Catholic counselors are available to help provide information and resources for you throughout the college selection process.

FAMILY CONNECTION/NAVIANCE

Family Connection is a comprehensive website that students and families can use to help make plans about colleges and careers. Family Connection is linked with Naviance Succeed™ (Naviance), a service that we use in our office to track and analyze data about college and career plans, so it provides up-to-date information that is specific to our school. Students must use Naviance when they are planning to apply.

Family Connection will allow you to:• Get involved in the planning and advising process - Build a resume, complete online surveys,

and manage timelines and deadlines for making decisions about colleges and careers.• Research colleges - Compare GPA, standardized test scores, and other statistics to actual

historical data of CCHS students who have applied and been admitted in the past.• Research careers - Research hundreds of careers and career clusters, and take career assessments

like the Career Interest Profiler and personality tests. • Organize your college list - Request transcripts and letters of recommendation.

Naviance will allow Carmel Catholic to:• Send application documents such as your transcript, letters of recommendation, school profile,

and counselor forms (secondary school reports).• Share information with you about upcoming meetings and events, local scholarship

opportunities, and other resources for college and career information.

To visit Naviance, you may use the link on the College and Career Resource Center (CCRC) website or visit http://connection.naviance.com/carmelcathhs.

Username: Student ID# (starting with 1111) or can also be set to your Carmel e-mail addressPassword: Whatever the student set it to (can be reset by Mr. Bargar or Mrs. Gille, or use the “forgot my password” feature)

5

COLLEGE PLANNING CALENDARJUNIOR YEAR

January – February• Register for senior courses. Take the most challenging program possible and achieve successfully.• Attend the junior parent/student conference with your counselor to discuss graduation and post-

high school plans. • Register for March SAT

March • Write your resume. Make sure to include honors, awards, activities at Carmel and outside of

Carmel, ministry, and work experiences. Use the template on Naviance. • Attend the College Fair at the College of Lake County. • Visit colleges over spring break. • Register for the April, May, or June ACT and/or SAT tests (now 2 June dates).

April• Take the ACT (offered at Carmel; register at www.actstudent.org).• Turn in your resume and the counselor recommendation form.• Attend Financial Aid Night, Libertyville High School, April 12, 2018.

May• Take the SAT or SAT subject test(s), if appropriate.• Take AP tests, if appropriate.• Request letter(s) of recommendation from teacher(s). Be sure to complete the teacher

recommendation form.

June – August• Take the ACT again, if necessary.• Take the SAT subject test(s), if needed.• Work on college essay ideas.• Visit colleges.• Revise and begin to finalize your college list.• You may be able to apply to some colleges over summer, if an official transcript is not required.

All applications requiring transcripts and/or letters of recommendation must wait until school is in session in August. Transcripts are available two to three weeks after school begins.

6

COLLEGE PLANNING CALENDARSENIOR YEAR

September• Update your resume in your Naviance account. Give a copy to your counselor and recommending

teachers. Keep one in a file for use in your applications.• Meet with your counselor. • Attend the senior application meeting for complete application instructions. • Continue working on rough draft essays and applications. • Investigate scholarships that may be available at your colleges. • Register to take the SAT and SAT subject test(s), if you need to take or retake them. • Take ACT, if you need to take or retake it.• Politely ask teachers to write recommendations, if required; check in with teachers you may have

asked last spring. All requests should be done a minimum of two weeks in advance of any deadline (i.e. November 1 deadline by October 18 for both letters of recommendation and transcript requests.)

• Start submitting applications.

October• Attend Financial Aid Night.• Submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1. It is required to apply for financial aid. (www.

FAFSA.ed.gov.)• Take the ACT or SAT, if needed.• Complete the College Scholarship Service (CSS)/PROFILE as required by some colleges. • Submit applications. Be sure to check deadlines – especially for early admission programs. Most of

your applications should be submitted before October 31. Check deadlines on college websites for specific admission options and deadlines. All transcript or letter requests should be completed two weeks before any deadline.

• Update Naviance with schools to which you have applied.

November• Continue the application process, but watch for deadlines. • Research and apply for scholarships. • Update Naviance with schools to which you have applied.

December• Some college acceptance letters may arrive; update your Naviance account when you receive a

decision from a school.• All college applications with a January deadline must be completed by the end of the first week of

December in order to allow time for processing before the winter break.

January – February• Send 7th semester transcripts to colleges, if needed. • Keep researching and applying for scholarships.

April• All colleges should respond by the first week of April. • Decide which college you wish to attend and send a deposit to one school. Inform your counselor

and teachers of your selected choice; update your Naviance account.

May• Notify the college to which you plan to attend by May 1. • Notify the colleges to which you were admitted but do not plan to attend by May 1. • Turn in your final transcript request and update this information in Naviance.

7

COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTS

Carmel Catholic High School Code: 143096

Many colleges will require either the ACT or the SAT for admission. Most schools will take either or both. You may also need to take SAT subject tests. It is your responsibility to know which test(s) each college requires. Please check the college website for this information.

ACT• Try to take in February, April, or June of your junior year.

• The writing test is optional, but we encourage you to take it once.• This is taken after the multiple choice tests.• It does not affect the composite score.

• You will receive two scores, if you take the writing test.• Scale of 1-36 as your total composite score

• Average of your English, Math, Science, and Reading subscores• Scale of 2-12 as your writing score

• Students must register for the test at www.actstudent.org before the test day (see schedule below for registration dates). Carmel Catholic will host the ACT on April 14.• When registering, students must upload a photo of themselves.

• If this is not done, your registration will be cancelled.

Test Date Registration Deadline Late Fee RequiredFebruary 10, 2018 January 12, 2018 January 13-19, 2018April 14, 2018 March 9, 2018 March 10-23, 2018June 9, 2018* May 4, 2018 May 5-18, 2018July 14, 2018* June 15, 2018 June 16-22, 2018

*There will be tests in September and October of your senior year as well.

SAT• Writing test is optional, but we encourage you to take it once.

• You will receive three writing scores.• A scale of 2-8 for each dimension: Reading, Analysis, and Writing

• Scale of 400-1600 for your total score.• Based on the test scores from Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math

• Students must register for the test at www.collegeboard.org before the test day.

Test Date Registration Deadline Late Fee RequiredMarch 10, 2018 February 9, 2018 February 10-28, 2018May 5, 2018 April 6, 2018 April 7-25, 2018June 2, 2018 May 3, 2018 May 4-23, 2018August 25, 2018

8

SAT Subject Tests• There are 20 different subject tests you can take.

• One hour tests in subjects such as:• English• Foreign Languages• Science• Math• History

• It is not possible to take subject tests on the same day as the SAT.

• Colleges use them for multiple things:• Admission (many highly selective schools like to see these)• Placement into classes• Possible college credit

General Testing Information• Fee waivers: if you meet the economic eligibility requirements, see Mr. Bargar.

• Reporting your scores:• Students are responsible for reporting scores.• Scores are not on the official Carmel Catholic transcript.• Score reports can be sent by going to the testing website, www.collegeboard.org.• For each ACT or SAT test you take, you can send your score to four schools for free. You are

highly encouraged to utilize these four free scores.• Each additional school has a fee involved. (An increasing number of institutions are allowing

for self-reported test scores. The following link is a good resource for the most up-to-date list: www.princetonreview.blog/2017/11/03/can-you-self-report-sat-and-act-scores/.)

• Special accommodations:• Students with professionally diagnosed and documented disabilities may request extended

time for testing.• Any extended time must be arranged with Carmel Catholic’s Serna Center several months in

advance of the first test a student wishes to take.

9

COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES VISITING CARMEL CATHOLIC

Each year about 150 colleges and universities send representatives to Carmel Catholic to visit with prospective students. Most of these visits happen during the fall semester, with some additional/repeat visitors in the spring. These visits are a great opportunity for you to learn more about the schools you are considering and to get some questions answered that may help you to narrow down your list of prospective schools. It is also a chance for you to make a great impression, since the representative who visits Carmel Catholic is often the person who will be reviewing your application.

The schedule of colleges visiting Carmel Catholic is listed in Naviance. If you have a college/university in “Colleges I Am Thinking About” or “Colleges I Am Applying To” you will receive an automated e-mail that looks like it comes from your counselor as soon as that college/university registers for a visit. It is still your responsibility to go in and complete the following process to sign up for the visit. In order to schedule a visit, please follow this procedure:

1. Log in to the Family Connection/Naviance website.2. Click on the tab at the top of the page that says “Colleges.”3. Under “Upcoming College Visits,” click the link that says “view all upcoming college visits.”4. When you find the college you are interested in, click the link on the left side of the column that

says “sign up.” BEFORE YOU CLICK ON “SIGN UP” MAKE SURE YOU PRINT THIS PAGE.5. Once you have printed the page, go ahead and click “sign up” to add your name to the College

and Career Resource Center list for this college visit. You are now signed up to attend.6. Take your printed page to your teacher for the period you will be missing. Ask them to sign the

pass to indicate that you have permission to leave class. THIS IS YOUR PASS FOR ATTENDING THE COLLEGE VISIT. NOTE: YOU MUST PROVIDE THE TEACHER 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE. NAVIANCE WILL SEND A REMINDER 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE VISIT; HOWEVER, IT IS STILL UP TO THE STUDENT TO MONITOR THE LIST OF VISITS AND RECEIVE PERMISSION TO ATTEND 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE.

7. Be sure to remind your teacher on the morning of the visit so that they can plan their class work accordingly.

8. Bring your signed pass to the College and Career Resource Center at the time of the visit and check in.

THE ABOVE STEPS MUST BE COMPLETED AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE VISIT OR YOU MAY BE UNABLE TO SIGN UP. ALSO, TEACHERS ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECLINE YOUR REQUEST IF THEY FEEL YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THEIR CLASS. Please see the “Recommended Questions to Ask College Representatives” in the appendix on page 18.

10

Campus visitsThere’s no substitute for seeing a college yourself!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

There are lots of ways to findout about a college, from brochuresto videos to college fairs.

But the bottom line is that

nothing beats the test of going to acollege and seeing it for yourself.

Here are some ideas to helpyou make the most of a campus visit.

Beforeyou go Just as there’s no substitute

for seeing a college firsthand,there’s no substitute for advanceplanning.

When you call the admissionsoffice, tell them the date you’dlike to visit and the time of dayyou expect to arrive.

If you want to stay overnightin a residence hall, ask if they canmake arrangements.

Also, find out about liningup an interview (if they offer themand you’d like one) or attendingan information session, visitingclasses and talking with faculty.

Call the admissions office in advance

Go back through the infor-mation you’ve collected aboutthe college. Check the resourcesat your school’s guidance officeand browse the college’s Website, if possible.

This research will help you

think of questions to ask andaspects of the college to explorewhile you’re there.

The other side of this pagehas lists of questions to help youget started. As you think of otherquestions, write them down.

Read up on the college and think about questions

Whileyou’rethere

Once you’re on campus, tryto take advantage of a variety ofways to learn about the college:• Meet with an admissions officeror attend an information session• Take a tour of the campus• Sit in on a class

• Have a meal in the cafeteria• Pick up copies of the studentnewspaper and alumni magazine.

Throughout your visit, talkto as many students as you canand don’t be bashful aboutasking questions!

Talk to as many students as you can

If you have scheduled aninterview, take along your list ofquestions, so you're sure to covereverything you wanted to find out.

You’ll probably be askedabout your academic background,

interests, hobbies, goals and whyyou’re interested in the college,so be ready to talk about that.

As with any interview, be ontime, or call ahead if you knowyou’ll be delayed.

Prepare for the interview

A campus visit

is informative at

any time, but

it’s best to see a

college in action,

when students

are in classes.

Colleges encouragevisits, but theirschedules for tours,interviews andovernight staysmight fill upearly. Call ahead!

Nervous aboutthe interview?That’s natural.Try to look at itas a conversationin which you askquestions, too.You’ll be morelikely to relax, beyourself andenjoy it.

Have some extra

time during your

visit? Stop by the

campus coffee

shop or grill, read

bulletin boards,

try to strike up

conversations with

students, or go to

a play or lecture.

Take some time to explorethe campus on your own andabsorb the atmosphere. While

organized activities can give youinformation you can’t get on yourown, the reverse is true, too.

Take time to look around on your own

This College Guide handout is published by the Associated Colleges of the Midwest. www.acm.edu

Beloit • Carleton • Coe • Colorado • Cornell • Grinnell • KnoxLake Forest • Lawrence • Luther • Macalester • Monmouth • Ripon • St. Olaf

© 2004

11

Lotsand lotsof ????

You’ve probably alreadythought of lots of questions toask during your campus visit.

Here are some suggestions,but be sure to ask the questionsthat are important to YOU.

1. How many hours a week doyou study? Is that typical here?2. Are faculty members interestedin students and accessible outsideof class?3. Do many students go home onweekends?4. Are the athletic facilities open toall students or only to athletes?5. Is it possible to study in yourdorm room?6. Is the food good?

7. Are campus jobs readilyavailable?8. Is there easy access to computers?Where are they located?9. What’s the library like as aplace to study? to do research?10. What do you like most aboutthis college? least?11. How easy is it to get theclasses you want?12. If you could change somethingabout this school, what would it be?

When you talk to students, ask . . .

1. Are students prepared for theclass? Do they seem interested inthe material?2. Do I feel that the students arelearning—either new facts or newways of thinking about a subject?

3. Is there time for questions anddiscussion? Do students participate?4. Am I intellectually challenged bywhat is taking place in the class?5. Is there good rapport betweenprofessors and students?

If you attend a class, ask yourself . . .

1. Are the buildings in goodrepair? the grounds well-kept?2. Are the residence halls pleasantand quiet enough to study in? Arethere laundry and kitchen facilities?

3. What’s the cafeteria like?4. Are computers and lab equip-ment up-to-date and plentiful?5. What’s the surrounding townor city like?

As you tour the campus, ask yourself . . .

1. Were the people you metfriendly? Did they answer yourquestions fully and candidly?2. What do you think of thequality of instruction and theacademic atmosphere?

3. Were the students the kind ofpeople you’d like to get to know?4. Did you like the socialatmosphere?5. Would you like to spend moretime there?

Afterthe visit

Write down your impressions

1. Does the college have academicprograms that fit my interests?2. Where are computer terminalslocated? Will I have to pay extrafor computer time?3. Will I have access to specialequipment (such as an electronmicroscope) as a first-year student?4. What are the strengths andweaknesses of the college’sadvising system?

5. How many students will therebe in courses I’m likely to take inmy first year? Are those coursestaught by professors or graduateassistants?6. What kinds of campus jobs areavailable for first-year students?7. Will there be any new programsor facilities in the next two years?8. What are the college’s recentgraduates doing now?

In an interview or information session, you could ask . . .

People's views

about a college or

university can

vary widely, so

try to talk with

as many people

as possible.

Write down yourquestions soyou’ll rememberthem and canrefer to themduring your visit.

As you tour the

campus and talk

with people, ask

yourself whether

this is a place

where you’d feel

comfortable and

able to learn and

do your best.

Are you interested inany extra-curricularactivities? If so, askabout them and tryto see the facilities.

If possible, write

down your

impressions of the

college while

they’re still fresh

in your mind.

This College Guide handout is published by the Associated Colleges of the Midwest.Visit the ACM website for more pre-college planning materials. © 2004

www.acm.edu

12

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING A COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Prepares students to transfer to four-year

universities

• Credits can transfer to most four-year institutions across the country. • Many community colleges offer articulation agreements with different

four-year institutions. • For example, CLC participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI)

that has statewide GECC agreements that transfer to over 100 colleges and universities in Illinois.

Small class sizes

• Most community colleges have an average class size of 25 to 30 students.• For example, CLC tries to keep their class size at 21.• Students have an opportunity to interact more with professors and other

classmates.

Faculty focused on teaching

• Community college faculty are primarily focused on teaching.• Tenure is awarded based on teaching skills rather than on research and

publications.• Faculty have practical work experience helping students gain real-world

perspectives.

Studentdiversity

• Community colleges give students the opportunity to work and learn in a multicultural environment.

• Student diversity in community colleges provides students with an understanding and appreciation of diversity within our society and the workplace.

• For many students the community college is their first exposure to a diverse student body; including traditional and non-traditional populations with life and work experiences.

Many programs to choose from

• Community colleges offer programs in all major areas of study – from art to science.

• Community colleges offer career preparation regardless of whether you are planning on transferring, getting your associates degree, completing a technical program or certificate.

• CLC offers a Joint Agreement Program for students who wish to complete programs that may not be offered at CLC.

Use of latest technology

• Most community colleges have connections with local businesses and therefore are often equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

• Community colleges are leaders in many cutting-edge fields.

Low tuition cost

• Community college tuition is approximately 50% lower than most four-year institutions.

• For example, CLC’s annual tuition is only $3,780 compared to almost $13,000 to attend a four-year public university in Illinois.

• Students who attend a community college for two years and transfer to a four-year university can lower their costs significantly.

...and so much more!

• Community colleges provide excellent student support services. • Community colleges do more than just educate students; they give students

encouragement and the confidence to continue with their education by pursing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.

• Community colleges are a cost effective alternative to starting a career. • Community colleges encourage lifelong learning.

13

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Parts of the ApplicationGenerally there are two parts to an application: one for the student applicant to complete and the other for the high school counselor. Students will complete the Common Application, Coalition Application, or individual school application, which will include the student’s essay and, in some cases, a supplemental report. Be sure to print out and proofread your application.

Part of the Application Who Sends ItApplication: School’s Own or Common Application YouEssay YouTest Scores (ACT or SAT) YouResume/Portfolio YouApplication Fee YouTranscript CCHSCounselor Recommendations CCHS*Teacher Recommendations CCHS*

*In order for Carmel Catholic to send your recommendations, you must sign The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) waiver on your application.

TYPES OF ADMISSION OPTIONS

Taken from NACAC.

14

WHAT DO COLLEGES LOOK AT?

According to the National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC), the graph below shows what colleges consider to be the most important factors in the college admission process.

FactorConsiderable Importance

Moderate Importance

Limited Importance

No Importance

Grades in College Prep Courses

76.9% 12.5% 9.3% 1.4%

Grades in All Courses

77.1% 13.8% 6.4% 2.8%

Strength of Curriculum

51.8% 35.3% 7.3% 5.5%

Admission Test Scores (SAT, ACT)

54.3% 27.9% 13.7% 4.1%

Essay or Writing Sample

18.9% 35.9% 22.1% 23.0%

Counselor Recommendation

14.6% 46.0% 25.8% 13.6%

Student’s Demonstrated Interest

13.7% 25.5% 32.1% 28.8%

Teacher Recommendation

10.9% 46.4% 28.0% 14.7%

Class Rank 9.2% 24.0% 34.6% 32.3%

Subject Test Scores (AP, IB)

6.9% 30.6% 30.6% 31.9%

Portfolio 6.2% 5.7% 27.6% 60.5%

Extracurricular Activities

7.9% 36.0% 36.9% 19.2%

SAT II Scores 2.4% 6.1% 21.2% 70.3%

Interview 4.7% 17.4% 31.9% 46.0%

State Graduation Exam Scores

1.9% 7.6% 21.9% 68.6%

Work 2.8% 15.6% 47.4% 34.1%

Source: NACAC Admission Trends Survey, 2016

15

COLLEGE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Complete college application.• Common Application• School’s own application• Coalition Application

2. Order test scores.• Do this online.• May take up to 2-3 weeks to get delivered to schools.

3. Log in to your Naviance account at www.connection.naviance.com/carmelcathhs.• Username: Student ID# (starting with 1111) or Carmel e-mail address• Password: Whatever the student set it to (can be reset by Mr. Bargar, Mrs. Gille, or use the

“forgot my password” feature)4. Go to the “Colleges” tab.5. Select “Colleges I am Applying To.”6. If you have used the Common Application, match the e-mail from your Common Application to

Naviance.7. If you are not using the Common Application, check the box “not needed.”8. Enter the college name by selecting “add colleges to this list.”9. Click “lookup” and find your college.10. Click “I have submitted my application” and “transcript request.”11. Click “Add colleges” in the bottom right.12. Under the column “Applying via Common App?,” state yes or no.13. Look at the teacher recommendation section. Be sure to talk to your teacher before requesting

through Naviance. Once you have spoken with the teacher, click “add/cancel requests.”14. Select the teacher and write a personal note to him/her.

• Make sure to say thank you for writing the recommendation letter for you. • Let him/her know if you are applying to a school via the Common App, as the teacher will

fill out an additional form for you. • Let him/her know if your letter should go to a specific school or to all of your schools.

15. Be sure to click “Update Request” at the bottom of the page.16. Complete the CCHS College Application/Transcript Request Form and submit it to your counselor

for each college you apply to. This form can be found in three places:• In this guide at the back.• In the school counseling office.• On the CCRC website.

Notes:• Be sure to check with each school before the deadline to confirm all required documents have

been received!• Two to four weeks is the considerate amount of time to give anyone to complete documents to be

sent for you. Please be respectful of other people’s time.

16

FINANCIAL AID PROCESS

Most financial aid is based on need and is administered through the financial aid office of individual colleges. The best source for information is the financial aid website at each college.

Students who are in need of financial aid usually are awarded a combination package made up of the following:

• Monetary award, grant, or scholarship which is given to the student and does not have to be repaid. An award may be for one year only or may be renewable if academic requirements are met.

• A loan which the student must repay after s/he leaves college. Parent loans are also available.• Part-time employment, possibly related to a student’s field of study.

Sources of Financial AidThe major financial aid programs are described below.

Institutional FundsMost colleges have their own scholarships or grants as well as loan and work programs funded from endowments and operational budgets.

Federal ProgramsPlease note that financial aid programs, as sponsored by the federal government, may be changed or eliminated through legislation from year to year.

Three major federal programs are campus-based, that is, directly administered by colleges. Nearly all colleges participate in these programs.

• College Work Study Program (CWSP) - This program provides jobs for students with demonstrated need. Colleges may also administer other federal programs, including ones to assist students who enter nursing and other health programs.

• Guaranteed Student Loan Program (GSL) - This federally sponsored program is an important source of loan funds. These loans are made primarily by banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions, but some colleges are also lenders. Loans are based on demonstrated need.

• Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) - The federally sponsored Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students allows parents of students to borrow money to help with their children’s college costs.

State FundsThe state of Illinois provides scholarships and/or grants to help students attend the college of their choice. The regulations and application procedures for these programs vary. See the Illinois Student Assistance Commission’s website, www.isac.org.

Local FundsFinancial aid is also provided by community agencies, foundations, corporations, unions, religious organizations, clubs, and civic, cultural, and fraternal groups. Need is usually considered, but other factors may be taken into account in determining a student’s eligibility. Check with Mr. Bargar and/or Naviance for more information on local aid sources. Parents should contact a human resource officer for employer-sponsored scholarships.

17

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)All families seeking financial aid must complete this form after October 1. In order to qualify for federal student aid you must meet some basic requirements including demonstrated financial need. Financial aid is calculated according to a formula established by law. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is a measure of your family’s financial strength and is calculated from the information you report in the FAFSA. You may complete the form online by visiting www.fafsa.ed.gov.

CSS/PROFILECSS/PROFILE is a service of the College Board—a not-for-profit membership association of high schools, school systems, colleges and universities, and educational organizations. The College Board’s mission is to connect students to college success. Colleges, universities, graduate and professional schools, and scholarship programs use the information collected on CSS/PROFILE to help them award non-federal student aid funds. The College Board does not award scholarship money or other financial aid. The CSS/PROFILE application is customized for you based on the information you give when you register for the service. By completing CSS/PROFILE, you provide the college with a complete picture of your family’s financial circumstances. CSS/PROFILE also allows you to include explanations about special circumstances on the same application. Register your customized CSS/PROFILE application at www.collegeboard.org.

Unlike the FAFSA, CSS/PROFILE is not required by every college and university. Please check to see if this is required by the colleges and universities to which you plan to apply. There is a fee for this service.Some colleges will require you to complete both forms.

Senior Year Timeline for Financial Aid

September• Carefully read the guidelines from the prospective college or university to determine what

documentation they require in order to file for financial assistance. • Student and one parent each need a personal identification number (PIN) to file the

FAFSA. Get your PIN before October 1, if possible. Go to www.pin.ed.gov to request a PIN.

October• Attend Financial Aid Night.• Submit your FAFSA! You may complete this process online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. • Complete the CSS/PROFILE online at www.collegeboard.org (if necessary). • You may use tax information from two years ago. Once your information has been

processed you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR).• Check your SAR for accuracy. If your report has errors, return to the processing center for

corrections. File the final corrected copy with your other college-related information. • Watch for any mail that may come from the financial aid office at any of the schools to

which you’ve applied. Open these letters immediately as they may contain time-sensitive information.

All Year• Students should regularly check the list of scholarships in Naviance. There are many local

scholarships available. See Mr. Bargar in in the College and Career Resource Center for more information.

18

APPENDIX

RECOMMENDED QUESTIONS TO ASK COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES

Admissions What are the admission requirements? What factors are considered for admission? What majors are offered? What are the most popular? What are the application deadlines for admission? Are interviews required? What GPA does your school accept? What kind of test scores do I need? Do you admit by major?

Academics What is the academic profile of the student you are interested in? What percentage of students graduate in four years? Are there internships available? What is the criteria for the honors program? What is the average class size? How accessible are professors outside of class? Will graduate students teach my courses? When must I choose a major? What student services are offered (tutoring, career counseling, study workshops, etc.)? What opportunities are available for study abroad?

Application What are the application deadlines? Is there a “best time” to apply? What percentage of applicants are admitted? Does the application cover scholarships, or do they require separate applications? Which application format is used by your school (Common App, School App, or both)? Are recommendation letters required? If not, does it help to send one anyway? What is the average range of test scores for incoming freshmen? Which entrance exams need to be taken (ACT/SAT/SAT Subject tests)?

Financial Aid What is the estimated annual total cost? What sources of financial aid and scholarships are available? What percentage of students receive financial aid? What is the average indebtedness at graduation? What financial aid forms are required and when is your deadline?

Housing What type of housing is available? Is it difficult to get on-campus housing? Is there a requirement that underclassmen live on campus? Is student housing guaranteed for four years? How and when do I apply for housing? How are roommates selected?

Student Life What is the geographic, ethnic, religious, and racial make-up of the student body? What special interest groups, activities, and fraternities/sororities are available? What’s it like on campus on the weekends? What are the hot issues on campus? What athletic division is your school a member of? Are intramural, club, and varsity sports offered? How are the sports and fitness facilities? What types of meal plans are available?

Other How many freshmen return as sophomores? How safe is the campus and its surrounding neighborhoods? Why is your school good for someone who’d like to study ___________________? What sets your school apart from others? Do you have a 4-year graduation guarantee? What career services do you offer? What are recent graduates doing now?

19

Col

lege

# A

pplic

atio

ns

Sent

# A

ccep

ted

% A

ccep

ted

# A

tten

ding

AC

T M

id 5

0%

Ran

geTu

itio

n***

Mar

quet

te U

nive

rsity

7558

77%

1525

-29

$38,

000

Uni

vers

ity o

f Min

neso

ta, T

win

Citi

es74

3649

%2

26-3

0$2

3,80

0

The

Uni

vers

ity o

f Iow

a71

6186

%10

23-2

8$2

8,41

3

Uni

vers

ity o

f Illi

nois

at U

rban

a-C

ham

paig

n68

5073

.5%

2127

-33

$15,

868-

$20,

872

Indi

ana

Uni

vers

ity a

t Blo

omin

gton

5949

83%

1324

-30

$34,

246

Uni

vers

ity o

f Mis

sour

i Col

umbi

a59

5085

%9

23-2

8$2

4,46

0

Uni

vers

ity o

f Wis

cons

in-M

adis

on59

3254

%14

26-3

0$3

2,73

8

Loyo

la U

nive

rsity

Chi

cago

5749

86%

724

-29

$36,

938

Mia

mi U

nive

rsity

, Oxf

ord

5335

66%

525

-30

$31,

592

Purd

ue U

nive

rsity

5239

75%

224

-30

$28,

804

Sain

t Lou

is U

nive

rsity

5147

92%

1025

-30

$40,

726

Uni

vers

ity o

f Day

ton

5044

88%

724

-29

$40,

940

Mic

higa

n St

ate

Uni

vers

ity40

3280

%9

23-2

8$3

8,48

6

Illin

ois

Stat

e U

nive

rsity

3831

82%

922

-26

$14,

062

Iow

a St

ate

Uni

vers

ity38

3284

%9

22-2

8$2

0,85

6

DeP

aul U

nive

rsity

3727

73%

423

-28

$36,

361

Bra

dley

Uni

vers

ity33

2473

%3

23-2

8$3

0,50

0

Uni

vers

ity o

f Not

re D

ame

283

11%

332

-34

$46,

237

Nor

thw

este

rn U

nive

rsity

276

22%

531

-34

$50,

855

The

Uni

vers

ity o

f Ala

bam

a26

2181

%2

22-3

0$4

1,81

6

Nor

ther

n Ill

inoi

s U

nive

rsity

2521

84%

419

-24

$9,4

64

Was

hing

ton

Uni

vers

ity in

St.

Loui

s25

728

%2

32-3

4$4

6,46

7

Cre

ight

on U

nive

rsity

2417

71%

324

-30

$32,

812

But

ler

Uni

vers

ity22

1986

%5

25-3

0$3

7,01

0

Uni

vers

ity o

f Illi

nois

at C

hica

go22

1673

%1

21-2

6$1

0,58

4

Col

lege

of L

ake

Cou

nty

2217

77%

15**

**$3

,780

Uni

vers

ity o

f Mic

higa

n22

732

%1

29-3

3$4

5,41

0

CA

RM

EL

CA

TH

OL

IC H

IGH

SC

HO

OL

TO

P 5

0 C

OL

LE

GE

S(B

ased

on

the

num

ber

of a

pplic

atio

ns s

ubm

itted

to e

ach

scho

ol b

y th

e C

CH

S C

lass

of 2

017)

STU

DEN

T A

CC

EPTA

NC

E IN

FO*

CO

LLEG

E IN

FOR

MAT

ION

**

20

Col

lege

# A

pplic

atio

ns

Sent

# A

ccep

ted

% A

ccep

ted

# A

tten

ding

AC

T M

id 5

0%

Ran

geTu

itio

n***

Aug

usta

na C

olle

ge21

1467

%2

22-2

9$3

7,23

6

Texa

s C

hris

tian

Uni

vers

ity21

1362

%4

25-2

9$4

2,58

0

Bos

ton

Col

lege

204

20%

230

-33

$50,

480

Car

thag

e C

olle

ge19

1910

0%4

21-2

7$3

6,57

0

Uni

vers

ity o

f Ken

tuck

y19

1684

%3

22-2

8$2

6,15

6

Uni

vers

ity o

f St.

Thom

as19

1684

%6

24-2

9$2

9,44

0

The

Ohi

o St

ate

Uni

vers

ity19

1053

%2

27-3

1$2

9,22

9

The

Uni

vers

ity o

f Ari

zona

1814

78%

621

-27

$36,

017

Val

para

iso

Uni

vers

ity18

1372

%2

23-2

9$3

4,76

0

Xav

ier

Uni

vers

ity18

1478

%2

23-2

7$3

2,07

0

Car

roll

Uni

vers

ity (W

isco

nsin

)17

1694

%3

20-2

6$2

8,55

0

The

Uni

vers

ity o

f Nor

th C

arol

ina

at C

hape

l Hill

172

12%

127

-32

$33,

648

St. N

orbe

rt C

olle

ge17

1482

%2

22-2

7$3

5,38

1

Uni

vers

ity o

f Wis

cons

in-W

hite

wat

er16

1063

%4

20-2

4$1

6,00

0

Bos

ton

Uni

vers

ity15

17%

027

-31

$49,

176

Uni

vers

ity o

f Mis

siss

ippi

1512

80%

421

-27

$19,

144

Van

derb

ilt U

nive

rsity

151

7%0

30-3

4$4

3,83

8

Dra

ke U

nive

rsity

1412

86%

325

-30

$35,

206

Uni

vers

ity o

f Kan

sas

1412

86%

222

-28

$24,

962

Mia

mi U

nive

rsity

(OH

)14

750

%0

28-3

2$4

4,40

0

Ari

zona

Sta

te U

nive

rsity

139

69%

122

-28

$26,

470

Cle

mso

n U

nive

rsity

138

62%

126

-31

$33,

300

Uni

vers

ity o

f Col

orad

o at

Bou

lder

1311

85%

225

-31

$35,

059

*Bas

ed o

n C

CH

S st

uden

t dat

a fr

om N

avia

nce.

** B

ased

on

univ

ersi

ty d

ata

from

Nav

ianc

e as

of 1

2/5/

2016

. Che

ck c

olle

ge w

ebsi

tes

for

the

mos

t up-

to-d

ate

rate

s.

**

*Tui

tion

figur

es li

sted

are

bas

ed o

n in

-sta

te tu

ition

for

Illin

ois

scho

ols

only

. Out

-of s

tate

tuiti

on is

list

ed fo

r sc

hool

s ou

tsid

e Ill

inoi

s.

**

**C

LC u

ses

AC

T in

form

atio

n fo

r cl

ass

plac

emen

t pur

pose

s on

ly, n

ot fo

r ad

mis

sion

.

Plea

se n

ote:

you

mus

t add

the

cost

of r

oom

, boa

rd, b

ooks

, and

oth

er fe

es fo

r to

tal c

ost o

f atte

ndan

ce.

STU

DEN

T A

CC

EPTA

NC

E IN

FO*

CO

LLEG

E IN

FOR

MAT

ION

**

CA

RM

EL

CA

TH

OL

IC H

IGH

SC

HO

OL

TO

P 5

0 C

OL

LE

GE

S(B

ased

on

the

num

ber

of a

pplic

atio

ns s

ubm

itted

to e

ach

scho

ol b

y th

e C

CH

S C

lass

of 2

017)

21

HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR THE COLLEGE SEARCH PROCESS

A student’s first stop for information on anything related to the college process should always be Family Connection on Naviance. Numerous college guidebooks, catalogs, and related materials are available in the CCRC. The internet also offers a vast amount of information to help you with your college search. Parents and students should check the Student Services website on a regular basis for class-specific information, test dates, upcoming events, and other important information.

CARMEL CATHOLIC WEBSITESFamily Connection/Naviance http://connection.naviance.com/carmelcathhs

GENERAL COLLEGE INFORMATIONAssociation of Catholic Colleges and Universities www.accunet.orgCollege Information www.wisemantech.com/guidanceCollege Guide www.mycollegeguide.orgCollege of Lake County www.clcillinois.edu College Profiles www.collegeprofiles.comCollege View www.collegeview.comGo College www.gocollege.comPeterson’s Guides www.petersons.comPrinceton Review www.princetonreview.com/collegeVirtual Tours www.campustours.com

FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPSCSS/PROFILE www.collegeboard.orgFAFSA www.fafsa.ed.govFAFSA Forecaster www.fafsa4caster.ed.govFastWeb Student Resource Network (Scholarships) www.fastweb.comFederal Student Aid Resources www.studentaid.ed.gov/resourcesThe Financial Aid Information Page www.finaid.orgFinancial Fit www.collegecountdown.comIllinois Student Assistance Commission www.isac.orgNet Price Calculator - link to colleges www.collegecost.ed.gov/netpricecenter.aspxScholarships www.scholarships.comU.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid www.studentaid.ed.gov

22

TESTING TIPS AND INFORMATIONACT www.actstudent.orgCollege Board (SAT) www.collegeboard.org

COLLEGE ATHLETICSNAIA Eligibility Center www.playnaia.orgNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics www.naia.orgNational Collegiate Athletic Association www.ncaa.orgNCAA Eligibility Registration www.eligibilitycenter.org

CAREER RESOURCES AND INTEREST SURVEYSCareer Builder www.careerbuilder.comCareer Toolbox www.myfuture.comCareers by Major/Interests www.niu.edu/careerservices/weblinksOccupation Outlook Handbook www.bls.gov/ooh

PROFESSIONAL WEBSITESArchitecture www.acsa-arch.orgDentistry www.ada.orgEngineering www.nspe.orgGame Design www.igda.orgLaw www.americanbar.org/aba; www.lsac.orgMedicine www.aamc.orgNursing www.nursingworld.orgPharmacy www.pharmacist.comPhysical Therapy www.apta.orgSports Management www.nassm.comVeterinary www.aavmc.org

23

CCHS College Application/Transcript Request Form***Instructions: This form should be returned to your counselor as the final step in EVERY application.***

______________________ _____________________ _____ _______________________Last Name First Name MI Counselor Name

College Name: ___________________________________________________________

Campus Location or City/State: ____________________________________________

I AM SUBMITTING MY APPLICATION ONLINE USING:

The College’s Website The Common Application (www.commonapp.org) The Coalition Application I entered my Common App USERNAME/PASSWORD on NAVIANCE and matched the Common App to Naviance (in “Colleges I am Applying To”)

I answered the Applying Common App? column in Naviance with “yes”

CHECKLIST FOR THIS APPLICATION:

I have self reported my grades and no official transcript is required (i.e. U of I, Iowa, Iowa State); do not need transcript. I submitted my application and any supporting documents (fee, essay, resume, etc.) to college and I need a transcript sent. I sent test scores to colleges via ACT (www.actstudent.org) or SAT (sat.collegeboard.org).

*CCHS does NOT report or send test scores to colleges.Does the college or university I’m applying to accept self-reported test scores? https://princetonreview.blog/2017/11/03/can-you-self-report-sat-and-act-scores/

DEADLINE: _____________________________

RECOMMENDATION LETTERS/SCHOOL REPORT:

Does this college require a secondary school report/counselor report? Yes No

How many teacher/counselor letters of recommendations would you like us to send? ________(The number requested should be based on the number required at the college/university, not the number of teachers you have requested them from.)

List the recommendation letters you would like us to send:

1: __________________________________ 2: ________________________________ 3: ___________________________

Have you spoken with your teachers and requested them in Naviance? Yes No

My signature below authorizes Carmel Catholic High School to release all records to the party listed above. (REQUIRED)

STUDENT SIGNATURE: ______________________________________ DATE: __________

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For Office Use Only:Date Received: ____________________ By: ________________________

Transcript Sent: Online US Mail

Date Completed: ___________________ By: ________________________

One Carmel Parkway | Mundelein, IL 60060