College Information Night
September 2015
➔There are over 4,000 colleges &
universities nationwide
➔Entrance requirements vary greatly
and may change annually
➔Costs will vary
Resources That Can Help
➔ College Rep Visits
➔ Campus Visits
➔ World Wide Web -
www.st-bede-guidance.com
◆ Career Cruising & college websites
➔ IVCC College Fair in October
➔ Ms. Bernabei in the Guidance Office
➔ Digital Locker in Teacher Ease
➔ Class of 2016 Guidance Google Classroom
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➔ Join using code 2bp086b
WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
➔ Have you selected the type of school you
will apply to?
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2-year or 4-year
Public
Private
Religious
Vocational/Career
Narrow Down Your Choices!
➔Apply to 6-10 colleges
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More Applications = More Paperwork and Fees
➔1 or 2 Safety Schools
● IVCC or another school where your qualifications
match the top 25% of the incoming freshman class.
➔4-5 Match Schools
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Your qualifications match the top 50%
➔1-2 Stretch Schools
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Your qualifications match the bottom 25%
No Place So Close
Can Take You So Far !!
➔ www.ivcc.edu
2-year public college
➔ Associate degrees & certificates
➔ Transfer to a 4-year school
➔ Open enrollment
➔ Rolling admissions
➔ Accuplacer/Placement test
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(SAT or ACT may be accepted
in lieu of placement tests)
➔ SBA students will receive specific information on IVCC
registration and placement testing sign-up in January
2016.
4-Year
Colleges & Universities
➔ Undergraduate & graduate degrees
awarded
➔Enrollments vary from under 1000 to over
30,000 students
➔ Must meet admission requirements
➔ Application requirements and deadlines
are different for every college
4-Year
Colleges & Universities
➔ SAT or ACT test required
➔ Toefl (for international students) required by most
colleges
➔ Applications may require
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activities
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clubs
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sports
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awards & achievements
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teacher recommendations
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essays
➔ Not all applicants are admitted
The Application Process
➔ Develop
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an organizational system
computer files & paper file folders
➔ Always keep copies of everything!
◆ applications, essays, FAFSA, etc…
The Application Process
➔ Where
to find applications
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August 1st
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Specific college website
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Common Application
www.commonapp.org
The Application Process
➔ Requesting
a Recommendation Letter
Junior year teachers or teachers who have had you more than once and
can vouch for your good qualities.
◆ Ask - don’t assume!
◆ Ask 2 weeks or more before the due date.
◆ Provide specific information –
● Due date
● Your student applicant number if you have one.
● Your Full Legal Name and birthdate.
 What do they do with the letter after they write it?
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Provide the teacher with an addressed, stamped envelop to mail it directly
to the admissions office.
Provide email address for the admissions office.
Give the letter to Ms. Bernabei who will forward it to the college.
Common App. - Remind them to look for the email with the link.
Always follow up. Gently remind them of the due date if needed.
Send/give the teacher a hand written Thank You note after.
The Application Process
➔Requesting transcripts
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Official or Unofficial?
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To be considered official it must be sent from the high
school directly to the college.
Electronic or Snail Mail?
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Parchment www.parchment.com
Written request to Ms. Bernabei
◆ Submit all requests as soon as possible
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at least 2 weeks before due date
Test Scores
 ACT/SAT

Required by public & private schools
◆ Required by many scholarship providers
◆ Scores will be on your SBA Transcript (eventually)
◆ Students are responsible to check their transcript to
make sure scores are recorded from all test dates.

Toefl
•
scores may be required even if you’ve been in the
US for 3 or more years. Every college will have a
different requirement.
Test Scores
➔ SAT Subject Tests
◆ Required by some private & more selective
colleges/universities. Find out which subject tests
are required before you take them.
Test Scores
➔Sending Scores to Schools
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Many colleges will accept test scores recorded on a high
school transcript as Official some will require scores be
sent directly from ACT or the College Board (SAT/AP)
◆ ACT www.actstudent.org
◆ SAT www.collegeboard.org
◆ AP
www.collegeboard.org
◆ TOEFL
https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/scoresWT.ac=toeflhome_scores_121127
Test Scores
➔ Send
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ALL Scores
Some schools use Super Scoring
Only the best scores will be used
If any seniors are interested in retaking the ACT:
Test Date is Saturday, Oct 24, 2015
This Friday, Sept. 18 is the last day to register.
Fees
Scholarships from the
College/University
➔ Applicants are considered based on GPA and
test scores
➔ Many will require a separate application
➔ College/University Scholarship & Financial Aid
webpage
➔ Beware of Deadlines !
Private Scholarships
➔ Employers
➔ Military
➔ Scholarship
List on the Financial
Aid/Scholarship tab of the SBA Guidance
web page www.st-bede-guidance.com
➔ List of Recommended College, Career &
Scholarship Web Sites on the College &
Career tab of the Guidance website.
➔ Google Web Search
Resources on the Guidance web page
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Scholarship list & links to the applications
FAFSA Information and Comparison Worksheet
ACT Information
Elks Teen of the Month Application and info
College, Career & Scholarship Web Guide
College Path Checklist for Juniors & Seniors
UIUC Engineering Summer Program info
Health Careers Summer Camp app. & info
Alternative Admissions Program information
Lots of articles about the college application process,
Early Action & Early Decision, College interview,
College Essays and more!!
Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or to
request an individual meeting.
Thank you for coming!
Ms. Theresa Bernabei, Director of Guidance
815-250-0351
tbernabei@st-bede.com