College Planning Application Packet

4 Steps…

1. Go to college website “prospective students” Follow directions!

2. Print necessary forms. Counselor Form, Secondary School Report, College Prep

3. Complete the application:Apply on-line. Go to college website. Some are free.Download application to be filled out by hand. (Use ink, be neat!)456 schools use The Common Application https://www.commonapp.org BHS SCHOOL CODE: 360385

4. Bring to Guidance. You must have everything :Transcript Request Form completed: college, address, deadline, signature, checked items, Brag sheet, Counselor Forms

Name______________________________________ Date submitted to Guidance___________________

This form authorizes BHS to release your transcripts and records to the named schools. Each college requires certain items for a completed application. Go to each college’s website to verify what is needed for their university. To avoid delay, include all items with this request when you submit it to Guidance..

___________________________________________ (Student Signature)

College #1 (Include complete address)__________________________________________________________________________________________ College deadline date ______________

_____I have already applied to the above college: (Check the one below that applies) _____On-line application from college website _____The Common Application_____Downloaded application from college website filled out by hand

_____College Prep Form, Counselor Recommendation Form or Secondary School Report MUST HAVE THIS!!!_____Résumé or Activity List ( if required)_____Recommendation letters from teachers: List teachers_________________________________________Recommendation letter from counselor

Transcript Request Form

Check your deadlines!!

1. We need 2 weeks to prepare your application.

2. Holiday deadlines:December 1: We need it by November 14

December 16: We need it by November 28 January 15: We need it by December 15

…no exceptions

“Brag Sheet”

Name _______________________

1. What are your proudest accomplishments?2. List five adjectives that describe you as a person. 3. How would your friends describe you?4. What are your extracurricular activities?5. Any volunteer experiences?

Your Counselor will…

• Mail to the colleges:– Transcript, SAT and ACT scores. AP scores.– Profile of BHS if required– List of 2011-12 classes– Letters of recommendation if required– Counselor Recommendation, College Prep, Secondary

School Report . • Mail you a confirmation when all is sent.• It takes a college several weeks for a college to

process your application. Patience!

September/OctoberSeptember 13th – College Planning NightBegin applying to colleges. Go to college websites. Most prefer on-line. Check for scholarships on college website and on BHS Guidance page. Complete Brag Sheet and submit to Guidance.Visit college campuses. Call university to inquire about Visitation Days. Take (retake) SAT or ACT.October 25– Attend Financial Aid NightAsk teachers for letters of recommendation only if the college specifically requires one. Contact local recruiter if interested in the military. www.military.com

November November (early in the month) Campus Caravan (UK and UC)November 28– deadline for transcript requests for submittal before Winter BreakSubmit applications for admission. Prepare documentation for the FAFSA and obtain FAFSA pin at www.pin.ed.gov

December Finish college applications

Senior Timeline

Common Application Colleges in Ohio Baldwin Wallace College Case Western University College of Wooster Denison College Hiram College John Carroll University Kenyon College Lake Erie College

Marietta College Miami University Oberlin College Ohio Northern University University of Dayton University of Findlay Wittenberg University Xavier University

Go to: https://www.commonapp.org to get forms. You can download and save the application as a word document and complete the form in Word. Ohio College Deadlines for applications:

College Application deadline Scholarship deadline FAFSA deadline

Baldwin Wallace 12/01/11 regular 12/01/11 regular 02/15/12 Bowling Green 01/15/12 – priority; honors

02/01/12 01/15/12 (with test scores) 03/01/12

Case Western 11/01/11 early action 12/01/11 pre-professional 01/15/12 regular

01/15/12 Various dates

Open – early is best

Hiram College 02/15/12 03/15/12 if space available

02/15/12 02/15/12

Indiana University 11/01/11 early decision 01/15/12 regular admission 04/01/12 space available

11/01/11 – Selective school. 01/15/12 regular admission

03/01/12

Miami 11/01/11 early decision 12/01/11 early action 02/01/12 regular

12/01/11 early decision 01/31/12 max choice

02/15/12

Ohio State University 12/01/11 full consideration 02/01/12 regular

12/01/12 full consideration

02/15/12

Ohio University 12/01/11 honors, 12/15/11Scripps, visual comm. 02/01/12 regular

03/01/12 (accepted by 02/01/12) Various dates

03/15/12

Ohio Northern 11/01/11 pharmacy 12/01/11 max consider

11/01/11 12/01/11 max consideration

03/01/12

Otterbein College 01/15/12 early action Rolling

03/01/12 priority 04/01/12 priority

Sinclair Rolling 05/31/12 05/01/12 University of Cincinnati 11/15/11 DAAP, Eng., Bus.

11/01/11 music 02/01/11 regular

12/01/11 Cincinnatus 12/01/12 Honors

02/01/12

University of Dayton 12/15/11 priority admission 03/01/12 regular

12/15/11 max consideration 03/31/12

University of Kentucky 01/15/12 honors Rolling

01/15/12 honors 02/15/12 regular 04/01/12

Wright State 1/15/12 honors 2/15/12 regular

01/15/12 honors 02/15/12 academic

02/15/12 - FAFSA 03/15/12 verification

Xavier University 12/01/11 priority, Early app. 02/01/12 regular

12/01/11 priority 02/01/12 regular

02/15/12 priority

Application Do’sDO:• Read applications and directions carefully. • Know the deadlines for admission, scholarships, honors college, financial aid• Know that BHS Guidance needs 2 weeks to process every request! • Know that we need 2 weeks EVEN FOR LATE SPRING SCHOLARSHIPS.• Make sure that everything that is supposed to be included is enclosed. • Fill out your own applications. You are going to college, not your parents. • Start with the simple applications and then progress to the more complex ones. • Make copies of applications, and practice filling one out before you complete the original. • Type or neatly print your answers• Proofread the applications and essays several times for accuracy before submitting. • Describe how you can make a contribution to the schools you applied to if they ask. • Be truthful, and do not exaggerate your accomplishments. • Tailor your essays to the specific college. Research what the college is like.• Keep a copy of all the forms you submit to colleges. • Be thorough and turn things in on time. • Give your counselor 2 weeks…2 weeks….2 weeks….

Application Don’ts

DON’T:• Don’t use a paper application if you can apply on-line. • Don’t include a teacher recommendation if you weren’t asked to submit one!• Don’t write in cursive. If you don't have access to a computer or typewriter, print neatly. • Don’t leave blank spaces. Missing information may cause your application to be sent back or

delayed while admission officers wait for complete information. • Don’t be ambiguous or unclear. If the question calls for a specific answer, be specific.• Don’t ask your teacher at the last minute for a letter of recommendation.• Don’t forget thank you note to a teacher who wrote your recommendation• Don’t ask your guidance counselor to rush your application in without 2 week notice!• Don’t forget the Counselor Form (Secondary School Report, College Prep Form)

College Entrance Tests

•ACT: October 22 (9/16)

•SAT: November 5 (10/7)

ACT vs. SAT ACT SAT

Test Length 3 hours, 25 minutes(including the 30-minute optional Writing Test)

3 hours, 45 minutes

Test Structure 4 Test Sections (5 with the optional Writing Test): English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing (Optional), Experimental Test (sometimes added and clearly labeled)

10 Sections: 3 Critical Reading, 3 Math, 3 Writing (including the Essay), 1 Experimental (unscored but included as a regular section)

Reading Reading Comprehension—4 passages with 10 questions per passage

Reading Comprehension—short and long passages with questionsSentence Completion

Math Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, algebra II, and trigonometry

Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and algebra II

Science Analysis, interpretation, evaluation, basic content, and problem solving

Science not included

Essay Last thing you do (optional): 30 minutes Not included in composite

score

Topic of importance to high school students

First thing you do: 25 minutes Factored into overall score

More abstract topic (vs. ACT)

Scoring Composite score of 1–36, based on averageof scores from 4 tests 4 scores of 1–36 for each test

Plus optional Writing Test Score of 0–12

Total score out of 600–2400, based on addingscores from 3 subjects 3 scores of 200–800 for each subject

Score of 0–12 for the Essay

Wrong Answer Penalty No penalty for wrong answers. ¼ point subtracted for each wrong answer.(except for Math Grid-In questions)

Sending Score History You decide which score is sent Your entire score history will be sent automatically.

NEW—Beginning with Class of 2010, you decide which test score is sent.

Test Contact Information ACT, Inc. 1-319-337-1000actstudent.org

The College Board1-866-756-7346

collegeboard.com

ACT vs. SAT

Scholarships, Financial Aid:

FAFSA: www.fafsa.ed.govGrantsLoansScholarshipsBHS guidance webpage Top websites for

Visiting Colleges

• Visits are excused absences (exams)• How to set up a visit.• What to do while there?• Questions to ask• Interview help

BHS Resource Guide

• Counselor Info• ACT/SAT info• Improving ACT/SAT• Top 10 search sites• College fairs• Visiting a college• How to choose a major

• Military/College ROTC• CEEB: 360385• Apprenticeships• BHS class of 2011• FAFSA• Scholarships• Scholarship websites

Campus Caravan

• University of Cincinnati• University of Kentucky• November (early)• Leave 7:00 a.m Return 5:00 p.m• $$ ???• Sign up and pay in Guidance

Introducing….

• Mrs. Tortorici “College Access Counselor”• Tuesdays and Thursdays in Guidance• Scholarships, Financial aid, help with FAFSA• Sinclair information• Career counselor• Help with applications• Help with SAT/ACT registration

Get started… NOW!