COLLEGE COUNSELINGCOLLEGE COUNSELING20052005

We promise we’re not trying to We promise we’re not trying to scare you….scare you….

CONTACTSCONTACTS

Nancy Beane – girls college counselor; Nancy Beane – girls college counselor; nancybeane@westminster.netnancybeane@westminster.net; 404-609-6248; 404-609-6248

Dr. Wade Boggs – boys college counselor; Dr. Wade Boggs – boys college counselor; wadeboggs@westminster.net; 404-609-6274wadeboggs@westminster.net; 404-609-6274

Donna Burbank – applications guru and administrative Donna Burbank – applications guru and administrative assistant donnaburbank@westminster.net; 404-609-6242assistant donnaburbank@westminster.net; 404-609-6242

Kimbrell Teegarden – scholarships and financial aid;Kimbrell Teegarden – scholarships and financial aid; Lasley Gober – senior year advisor; Lasley Gober – senior year advisor;

lasleygober@westminster.net; 404-609-6250lasleygober@westminster.net; 404-609-6250 Dave Drake – senior year advisor; Dave Drake – senior year advisor;

daviddrake@westminster.net; 404-609-6432daviddrake@westminster.net; 404-609-6432 Dr. George Lamplugh – senior year advisor; Dr. George Lamplugh – senior year advisor;

georgelamplugh@westminster.net; 404-609-6231georgelamplugh@westminster.net; 404-609-6231 Kristin Domescik – Registrar; kristind@westminster.net; Kristin Domescik – Registrar; kristind@westminster.net;

404-609-6386404-609-6386**Go to our website OFTEN for regular announcements, **Go to our website OFTEN for regular announcements,

updates and important college informationupdates and important college information

Whom to contact…Whom to contact…

To change your scheduled To change your scheduled conference with Mrs. Beane or Dr. conference with Mrs. Beane or Dr. Boggs, see or call Mrs. Donna Boggs, see or call Mrs. Donna Burbank at (404) 609-6242Burbank at (404) 609-6242

For questions about financial aid and For questions about financial aid and scholarships or to set up an scholarships or to set up an appointment, Email Mrs. Teegarden appointment, Email Mrs. Teegarden For transcripts that must be signed For transcripts that must be signed by the Registrar, call or go see Mrs. by the Registrar, call or go see Mrs. Kristin Domescik in the School Kristin Domescik in the School Registrar’s Office; 404-609-6386Registrar’s Office; 404-609-6386

Important DatesImportant Dates

September 14 – Westminster office deadline for September 14 – Westminster office deadline for application materials with October 15application materials with October 15thth deadline deadline

September 19 - College Day; from 1:15 to 4:00 in September 19 - College Day; from 1:15 to 4:00 in Turner GymTurner Gym

September 21 – Westminster office deadline for September 21 – Westminster office deadline for materials due with early decision applicationsmaterials due with early decision applications

November 4 – Westminster office deadline for November 4 – Westminster office deadline for application materials with January deadlines on or application materials with January deadlines on or before January 10thbefore January 10th

January 1 – FAFSA submission beginsJanuary 1 – FAFSA submission begins January 4 – Westminster office deadline for January 4 – Westminster office deadline for

application materials with January deadlines after application materials with January deadlines after the 10the 10thth and February deadlines and February deadlines

May 1 – Deadline for response to collegesMay 1 – Deadline for response to colleges

Choosing SchoolsChoosing Schools

Your decision of colleges to which you will Your decision of colleges to which you will apply will depend on many considerations:apply will depend on many considerations:

Academic goals, ability, achievementAcademic goals, ability, achievement Characteristics of the campus as a Characteristics of the campus as a

community (social life, student community (social life, student organizations)organizations)

Geographical locationGeographical location Size Size Your impressions based on your visit, Your impressions based on your visit,

conversation with official school conversation with official school representativesrepresentatives

CostCost

To how many schools do I To how many schools do I apply?apply?

We generally recommend that We generally recommend that students apply to five to six, students apply to five to six, although this number will vary although this number will vary with each studentwith each student

Sending your SAT scoresSending your SAT scores

Early September – when you fill out a registration form for Early September – when you fill out a registration form for your senior SAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subject Tests, your senior SAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subject Tests, you will list the code numbers of the colleges to which you you will list the code numbers of the colleges to which you wish to send your scoreswish to send your scores

If, however, you don’t take either SAT during your senior If, however, you don’t take either SAT during your senior fall, you will go online to www.collegeboard.com and fall, you will go online to www.collegeboard.com and follow the prompts to send your scores.follow the prompts to send your scores.

They will send all of your scores (not just your highest), They will send all of your scores (not just your highest), but usually colleges look only at the highest scores.but usually colleges look only at the highest scores.

You’ll also list Westminster’s CEEB (College Entrance You’ll also list Westminster’s CEEB (College Entrance Examination Board) number, which is 110256 Examination Board) number, which is 110256

Also, write down Westminster’s address and main phone Also, write down Westminster’s address and main phone number somewhere where you’ll have easy access to number somewhere where you’ll have easy access to them for your college applications: 1424 West Paces them for your college applications: 1424 West Paces Ferry Road Atlanta, GA 30327; 404-355-8673Ferry Road Atlanta, GA 30327; 404-355-8673

Early Action and Early Early Action and Early Decision ApplicationsDecision Applications

If you are not ready to make a final decision, but If you are not ready to make a final decision, but have narrowed down your selections, you may have narrowed down your selections, you may consider applying under one of these early plans consider applying under one of these early plans used by various institutionsused by various institutions

It is It is youryour responsibility to check the particular responsibility to check the particular school’s policies about whether or not you may school’s policies about whether or not you may apply to more than one early action school apply to more than one early action school (Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, for example, have (Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, for example, have single choice early action, meaning that you can single choice early action, meaning that you can only apply to one of them EA; Georgetown, Boston only apply to one of them EA; Georgetown, Boston College and Tulane, however, allow you to apply to College and Tulane, however, allow you to apply to more than one EA school)more than one EA school)

If you are certain of where you want to go, you If you are certain of where you want to go, you should think seriously about applying early decision should think seriously about applying early decision unless certain factors (financial or otherwise) keep unless certain factors (financial or otherwise) keep you from doing soyou from doing so

More on EA and ED More on EA and ED applicationsapplications

If you do early applications, you must also If you do early applications, you must also prepare other applications at the same time prepare other applications at the same time in the event that you are not admitted early in the event that you are not admitted early decision. (Many times you will not find out decision. (Many times you will not find out being deferred or rejected from an Early being deferred or rejected from an Early application school in enough time to rush application school in enough time to rush applications to other schools; therefore, it is applications to other schools; therefore, it is crucial that you prepare other applications crucial that you prepare other applications ahead of time.)ahead of time.)

Be aware that you may have a better Be aware that you may have a better chance of admissions to certain schools if chance of admissions to certain schools if you apply early rather than waiting for you apply early rather than waiting for regular decision considerationregular decision consideration

Applications and Cover Applications and Cover SheetsSheets

You are responsible for obtaining all college applications, You are responsible for obtaining all college applications, most of which can now be downloaded from the Internetmost of which can now be downloaded from the Internet

Take note of application requirements: hand-written in Take note of application requirements: hand-written in black ink or typedblack ink or typed

Allow plenty of time to write and revise your essays, using Allow plenty of time to write and revise your essays, using the Writing Center as a resourcethe Writing Center as a resource

Once the entire application is finished, turn in to the Once the entire application is finished, turn in to the College Counseling Center all parts clipped together with College Counseling Center all parts clipped together with the cover sheet (except teacher recommendations) and 9” the cover sheet (except teacher recommendations) and 9” x 12” envelopex 12” envelope

Cover sheets and 9” x 12” envelopes are required Cover sheets and 9” x 12” envelopes are required even if even if you submit onlineyou submit online

List teachers writing recommendations on each cover List teachers writing recommendations on each cover sheetsheet

Cover sheets can be found online (under “[PRINT Cover sheets can be found online (under “[PRINT FORMAT]”) and in the CCCFORMAT]”) and in the CCC

Applications and Cover Applications and Cover SheetsSheets

Provide the CCC with two books of 20 stamps each – we Provide the CCC with two books of 20 stamps each – we will not send your applications without stampswill not send your applications without stamps

We recommend that you keep a College We recommend that you keep a College Applications/Materials folder of some kind to contain and Applications/Materials folder of some kind to contain and keep track of all application copies, correspondence, keep track of all application copies, correspondence, important dates for submission, list of all colleges important dates for submission, list of all colleges receiving your score reports, the score reports receiving your score reports, the score reports themselves, test admission tickets, etcthemselves, test admission tickets, etc

It is It is YOURYOUR responsibility to make copies of your responsibility to make copies of your applications before bringing them to the College applications before bringing them to the College Counseling Center. If you submit electronically, be sure to Counseling Center. If you submit electronically, be sure to print the application before submittingprint the application before submitting

Be sure to download the application first and save it to Be sure to download the application first and save it to your computer until you are ready to submit it. Be sure to your computer until you are ready to submit it. Be sure to print it before submitting just in case something happens print it before submitting just in case something happens to the online submission.to the online submission.

URGENT: take special care to keep all these materials on URGENT: take special care to keep all these materials on filefile

A word about CCC application A word about CCC application deadlinesdeadlines

Turn in all applications to the College Turn in all applications to the College Counseling Office no later than the office Counseling Office no later than the office deadlinesdeadlines

Please make note of these deadlines NOWPlease make note of these deadlines NOW Respect the time and effort of those who Respect the time and effort of those who

are trying to help you with the college are trying to help you with the college application processapplication process

There are no guarantees that late There are no guarantees that late submissions will be processed on timesubmissions will be processed on time

Teacher RecommendationsTeacher Recommendations

All requests for recommendations should All requests for recommendations should be made as early as possible to respect be made as early as possible to respect your teachers’ schedules and to ensure on-your teachers’ schedules and to ensure on-time delivery of your letters to the CCC time delivery of your letters to the CCC officeoffice

You’ll want to ask teachers who know you You’ll want to ask teachers who know you and your work well, preferably from your and your work well, preferably from your Junior Year Junior Year

You should feel comfortable asking your You should feel comfortable asking your teachers if teachers if theythey feel comfortable writing you feel comfortable writing you a good recommendation. If not, ask a good recommendation. If not, ask another teacher another teacher

Ask your teachers to send their signed Ask your teachers to send their signed letters of recommendation to the CCCletters of recommendation to the CCC

Teacher RecommendationsTeacher Recommendations

When you ask someone to recommend you, give When you ask someone to recommend you, give him or her 2 things: him or her 2 things:

1.1. money money No! Just Kidding!! No! Just Kidding!!

What you should What you should ACTUALLYACTUALLY give these teachers: give these teachers: 1.1. the teacher recommendation form from the website the teacher recommendation form from the website

(with the date when the application is due to us in (with the date when the application is due to us in the CCC, the CCC, NOTNOT the date that the application is due the date that the application is due to the college)to the college)

2.2. the college’s recommendation form filled out with all the college’s recommendation form filled out with all information required of youinformation required of you

Be sure to check the box waiving your rights to see Be sure to check the box waiving your rights to see the letter to ensure confidentialitythe letter to ensure confidentiality

College DecisionsCollege Decisions

Colleges base their admission decisions on Colleges base their admission decisions on the following criteria:the following criteria:

High school grades; rigor of courses; SAT I High school grades; rigor of courses; SAT I and/or ACT scoresand/or ACT scores

The school’s stature and reputationThe school’s stature and reputation Extracurricular activities, leadership, Extracurricular activities, leadership,

evidence of talent, good citizenshipevidence of talent, good citizenship Teacher letters of recommendationTeacher letters of recommendation Application for admission, essays, Application for admission, essays,

interviewsinterviews Alumni and other connections can help, but Alumni and other connections can help, but

by no means ensure acceptanceby no means ensure acceptance

A note about interviews…A note about interviews…

*Be sure to take advantage of personal *Be sure to take advantage of personal interviews if they are offered – interviews if they are offered – sometimes direct contact with the sometimes direct contact with the applicant can be a deciding factor in applicant can be a deciding factor in admissions decisionsadmissions decisions

* Show an interest - have questions * Show an interest - have questions prepared for the interviewersprepared for the interviewers

* For those interested in interview * For those interested in interview preparation, sign up with Ms. Leach preparation, sign up with Ms. Leach for mock interviews in Octoberfor mock interviews in October

*Send thank you notes to the *Send thank you notes to the interviewers afterwardsinterviewers afterwards

Things to think about…Things to think about…

Why did you choose this college?Why did you choose this college? How will contribute to this particular How will contribute to this particular

community?community? What is your biggest strength and What is your biggest strength and

weakness?weakness? What is something significant you’d What is something significant you’d

like us to know about you?like us to know about you? What are you hoping to get out of What are you hoping to get out of

your college experience?your college experience? Do you have any questions for us?Do you have any questions for us?

A word about brag sheetsA word about brag sheets

You can now download brag sheets from You can now download brag sheets from our website:our website:

(www.westminster.net/collegecounseling)(www.westminster.net/collegecounseling)

HoweverHowever, if you make changes to your , if you make changes to your brag sheets, you brag sheets, you MUSTMUST come to the come to the College Counseling Center to make those College Counseling Center to make those changes to our hard copy of your brag changes to our hard copy of your brag sheetsheet

We use your brag sheets for a number of We use your brag sheets for a number of things, include scholarship nominations, things, include scholarship nominations, which makes it critical that we have your which makes it critical that we have your up-to-date informationup-to-date information

When you’re accepted…When you’re accepted…

Early Decision: withdraw all other Early Decision: withdraw all other applicationsapplications

Early Action: withdraw all Early Action: withdraw all applications no longer in applications no longer in considerationconsideration

Regular Decision: notify other Regular Decision: notify other colleges of your decisioncolleges of your decision

Thank your teachers, senior advisors Thank your teachers, senior advisors and college counselors!and college counselors!

Financial Aid and Financial Aid and ScholarshipsScholarships

See the Financial Aid 101 See the Financial Aid 101 Power Point Presentation on the Power Point Presentation on the websitewebsite

Email Mrs. TeegardenEmail Mrs. Teegarden Office Location: College Office Location: College

Counseling CenterCounseling Center

For even MORE informationFor even MORE information

www.westminster.net/collegecounselingwww.westminster.net/collegecounseling for:for:

college counseling updates, college counseling updates, scholarship information, scholarship information, important dates, FAQsimportant dates, FAQs

weekly announcements weekly announcements information from your class information from your class

officers about upcoming eventsofficers about upcoming events