Welcome toWelcome toCinnaminson High Cinnaminson High

SchoolSchool

Junior Parent NightJunior Parent Night

January 2014January 2014

The College Admission The College Admission ProcessProcess

can be complicated and can be complicated and complex! ! !complex! ! !

We are here to support your efforts in We are here to support your efforts in navigating through the process . . .navigating through the process . . .

Which college is right Which college is right for you?for you?

Things to think about . . . Things to think about . . . • Size of school Size of school

• Location Location

• Distance from Distance from home home

• Activities/Athletics Activities/Athletics

• Public/Private Public/Private

• Coed/Single sex Coed/Single sex

• Entrance Entrance requirementsrequirements

• Entrance difficulty Entrance difficulty

• Reputation of Reputation of School School

• Majors available Majors available

• Commitment to Commitment to major by school major by school

• Cost Cost

• Campus Campus personalitypersonality

There are over 4,000 colleges There are over 4,000 colleges in the U.Sin the U.S

What are the options?What are the options?

• Community Colleges Community Colleges (Associates Degree) (Associates Degree)

• Two Year Private Two Year Private Colleges (Associates Colleges (Associates Degree) Degree)

• Public Public Colleges/UniversitiesColleges/Universities

• Private Private Colleges/UniversitiesColleges/Universities

• Liberal Arts Liberal Arts SchoolsSchools

• Ivy League Ivy League SchoolsSchools

• Specialized Specialized InstitutionsInstitutions(art, music, (art, music, culinary arts, etc.)culinary arts, etc.)

• Technical SchoolsTechnical Schools

How to search for the right How to search for the right college?college?

• connection.naviance.com/cinnaminsonhsconnection.naviance.com/cinnaminsonhs• Naviance Super Match will be done in Naviance Super Match will be done in

AprilApril• www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com• www.collegeboard.com/quickstartwww.collegeboard.com/quickstart• College rep visits during lunches in FallCollege rep visits during lunches in Fall• Attend campus toursAttend campus tours• Recommendations from former seniors, Recommendations from former seniors,

parents, relatives, etc. who attendedparents, relatives, etc. who attended• Attend College FairsAttend College Fairs• Counselor conferencesCounselor conferences

Understanding Admission Understanding Admission FactorsFactors

How Colleges Evaluate How Colleges Evaluate Candidates?Candidates?

• Strength of CurriculumStrength of Curriculum 68%68%• Admission Test Scores ACT/SATAdmission Test Scores ACT/SAT 59%59%• Essay or Writing SampleEssay or Writing Sample 25%25%• Counselor Recommendation LetterCounselor Recommendation Letter 19%19%• Class RankClass Rank 19%19%• Teacher Recommendation LetterTeacher Recommendation Letter 17%17%• Subject Test Scores (AP)Subject Test Scores (AP)

7%7%• Portfolio and/or InterviewPortfolio and/or Interview 6% 6%• SAT Subject TestSAT Subject Test 5% 5%• Extra Curricular ActivitiesExtra Curricular Activities 5% 5%• Work/Volunteer or Community Service Work/Volunteer or Community Service

2%2%

Applying to college:Applying to college:Where to begin?Where to begin?

Please refer to the Please refer to the Junior Planning CalendarJunior Planning Calendar

Juniors will receive their “Juniors will receive their “Senior PacketSenior Packet” in June” in June

Prepare to take SAT or ACT this spring and next fallPrepare to take SAT or ACT this spring and next fall

Think about which two teachers your son/daughter will Think about which two teachers your son/daughter will ask to write recommendation lettersask to write recommendation letters

Begin researching colleges and plan summer visits to Begin researching colleges and plan summer visits to colleges (refer to colleges (refer to College Visit ChecklistCollege Visit Checklist) )

Every student will be scheduled to meet with his/her Every student will be scheduled to meet with his/her school counselor to discuss post-secondary plans school counselor to discuss post-secondary plans beginning in October (Parents are encouraged to beginning in October (Parents are encouraged to attend.)attend.)

Refer to the Refer to the Senior Parent Tip SheetSenior Parent Tip Sheet for ideas on how for ideas on how to support your child through the college admission to support your child through the college admission process process

Get Organized & ApplyGet Organized & ApplySo now what?So now what?

• There is no magic number, but narrowing your college There is no magic number, but narrowing your college search to five will simplify the processsearch to five will simplify the process

• Categorize your choices: “Categorize your choices: “ReachReach”, “”, “RealisticRealistic”, & ”, & ““SafetySafety” schools” schools

• Review scholarship & financial aid requirementsReview scholarship & financial aid requirements• Visit www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov for an estimate of your Visit www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov for an estimate of your

federal financial aid eligibilityfederal financial aid eligibility• Share draft essays with teachers and/or family to editShare draft essays with teachers and/or family to edit• Ask teachers (Ask teachers (no more than twono more than two) to write ) to write

recommendation lettersrecommendation letters• Set firm dates for completion of recommendations Set firm dates for completion of recommendations

((allow three weeksallow three weeks))• Submit Transcript Request through NavianceSubmit Transcript Request through Naviance

NJ STARSNJ STARS• NJ STARS is a scholarship program NJ STARS is a scholarship program

exclusively for New Jersey residents exclusively for New Jersey residents that covers the cost of tuition at New that covers the cost of tuition at New Jersey's 19 community colleges.Jersey's 19 community colleges.

• Students who graduate in the top 15 Students who graduate in the top 15 percent of their high school class may be percent of their high school class may be eligible.eligible.

• Students have five (5) semesters of Students have five (5) semesters of eligibility for NJ STARS.eligibility for NJ STARS.

NJ STARS IINJ STARS II• NJ STARS Students Can Earn a NJ STARS Students Can Earn a

Significant Scholarship Towards Their Significant Scholarship Towards Their Bachelor's Degrees with NJ STARS IIBachelor's Degrees with NJ STARS II

• New Jersey community college NJ STARS New Jersey community college NJ STARS students who earn their associate's degrees students who earn their associate's degrees with a 3.25 grade point average or better with a 3.25 grade point average or better are eligible for up to a $2,500 per year NJ are eligible for up to a $2,500 per year NJ STARS II scholarship at any New Jersey STARS II scholarship at any New Jersey public or independent NJ TAG-participating public or independent NJ TAG-participating four-year college or university. four-year college or university.

College responses:College responses:What are the decision options?What are the decision options?

• Regular Decision Regular Decision Check each college for deadline Check each college for deadline

• Rolling Admission Rolling Admission Will be reviewed as received Will be reviewed as received

• Early Decision Early Decision Requires early application, commitment & Requires early application, commitment &

contract contract

• Early Action Early Action Requires early application & no commitmentRequires early application & no commitment

Making a decision . . .Making a decision . . .How do I decide where to go?How do I decide where to go?

• Visit, visit, visit!Visit, visit, visit!

• Compare financial aid packages in the Compare financial aid packages in the springspring

• Ultimately a personal decision . . . Ultimately a personal decision . . . Encourage your child to seek advice from Encourage your child to seek advice from

thosethose

who know him/her wellwho know him/her well

Consider location, size, academics, activities,Consider location, size, academics, activities,

& facilities& facilities

College Planning College Planning SummarySummary

• College opportunities exist for College opportunities exist for everyone!everyone!

• Simplify the planning processSimplify the planning process

Understand admission factorsUnderstand admission factors

Explore your options earlyExplore your options early

Develop a financial planDevelop a financial plan

Visit, visit, visit!Visit, visit, visit!

Questions & Questions & CommentsCommentsAlexis MancinelliAlexis Mancinelli

A-HaA-Hamancinellia@cinnaminson.commancinellia@cinnaminson.com

Crystal WidmannCrystal WidmannHe-PHe-P

widmannc@cinnaminson.comwidmannc@cinnaminson.com

Donna LobascioDonna LobascioQ-ZQ-Z

lobasciod@cinnaminson.comlobasciod@cinnaminson.com