Junior Parent Seminar:
Beginning the College Selection
and Admissions Process
MLHS Guidance Department
College Search
• Who are you? Time for thoughtful reflection and self
analysis.
– Think about your strengths, weaknesses, likes,
dislikes, preferences, etc.
– Parents can be very helpful with this part of the
process. Dinner table discussion, but not every
night!
• Develop List through Naviance using the College
Search criteria such as: 2 year/4 year, region, location,
public/private, school size, selectivity, majors, sports,
cost, enrollment.
• Once you know what you want, then you may set out
to find the colleges/universities that best match your
interests and goals.
Important Terms
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Early Decision
Early Action
Single Choice
Regular Decision
Restrictive Early Action
Rolling
Priority
Waitlist
Evaluating an Applicant
• High School Grades and GPA
– GPA provides admissions officers sense of
performance relative to other applicants.
• Rigor of program and senior course selection
• Rank (MLHS does not rank)
• Standardized Test Scores
– Test Optional Colleges: www.fairtest.org
– Test Flexible
• Extracurricular Activities
• Teacher and Counselor Recommendations
• Application Essay(s)
• Interview (required/recommended)
MLHS School Profile
• Every school has a Profile that is updated each
year
• Contains the school’s statistical data and other
information
• Features past performance as a benchmark
• Colleges compare the strength of a student’s
transcript to the strength of the offerings, to peers,
and to the pool of applicants
• MLHS’ Profile is a strong statement about our
school, our students, and our community
High School Transcript
• Courses taken and final grades earned in
grades 9-11 with annual and cumulative
GPA. Includes senior year courses as well.
• Midyear Report includes Q1, Q2, and
quarterly exam grades.
– This report is submitted to colleges in February
unless a student tells their school counselor (in
writing) not to send the report.
• MLHS GPA is calculated using all classes
except PE, Audit, and Pass/Fail classes
• MLHS GPA is weighted on 4.0 scale
Standardized Testing
• PSAT results will be given to students in
December to be used as valuable study guides
• SAT and SAT II Subject Tests
www.collegeboard.org
• ACT with or without writing
www.actstudent.org
• AP scores are used for class placement only at
most colleges. Recently, some colleges use AP
scores as the “test flexible” submission in place of
SAT or ACT.
• Please note: Students are responsible for knowing
the specific requirements for each of their schools.
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Developing Your Story Beyond GPA and
Test Scores
Extracurricular activities
Community Service
Employment
Honors and awards
Brag Sheets with valuable information
Letters from teachers, coaches, mentors,
counselor, and employers
College Campus Visits
• MLHS CODE: 310855
• Register (online or phone) to visit with the
Admissions Office
– Information sessions, campus tours, open
house, etc.
• Talk to other students on campus
• Look at facilities, surroundings, professors,
and students
• Keep notes on the visit and specific
requirements
• Send thank you cards
Student Athletes and the NCAA
• NCAA Regulations
Division I Schools
Division II Schools
Division III Schools
• Cumulative GPA
• NCAA’s Cumulative GPA and test scores
• Register/File with NCAA in June of junior
year
Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Public or Private: Free government
application for federal student aid
– FAFSA www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Private: College Scholarship Service
– CSS Profile www.collegeboard.org
• Scholarships
Average Admissions Criteria
College or
University
GPA
SAT
ACT
Acceptance
Rate
Princeton
University
4.38
2240
33
7.44%
Vanderbilt
University
4.37
2215
33
12.74%
4.33
2072
30
21.68%
Tulane
University
4.10
1962
30
26.43%
Northeastern
University
3.94
1955
32
28.27%
Lafayette
College
3.90
1932
29
34.14%
Boston
University
3.84
2039
31
36.85%
University of
California,
Berkeley
Average Admissions Criteria Continued
College or
University
GPA
SAT
ACT
Acceptance
Rate
Marist
College
3.04
1730
24
37.45%
Villanova
University
4.07
1940
30
48.09%
Fordham
University
3.95
1885
28
48.12%
Elon
University
3.92
1820
24
53.98%
University of
South
Carolina
3.67
1767
26
63.12%
James
Madison
University
3.55
1775
25
63.56%
3.65
1797
26
64.68%
University of
Delaware
Naviance: Colleges
Naviance: Careers
Naviance: About Me
Naviance: Test Scores
Starting the College Search
College Search
Viewing College Information
College Information (cont’d)
College Information (cont’d)
Colleges I am Thinking About
Additional Resources
Guidance Department
Telephone: 973-334-8580
Fax: 973-316-0815
CEEB Code: 310855
Mrs. Grasso: mgrasso@mlschools.org
Mrs. Lewandowski: llewandowski@mlschools.org
Mrs. Sullivan: bsullivan@mlschools.org
Mr. Wolfelsperger: dwolfelsperger@mlschools.org
Ms. Stalter: lstalter@mlschools.org
Ms. Corby: mcorby@mlschools.org
Dr. Moore: jmoore@mlschools.org