EAGLECREST HIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR COLLEGE NIGHT FOR
PARENTS
COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
EAGLECREST HIGH SCHOOL
TONIGHT’S AGENDA
• SENIOR TIMELINE
• COLLEGE SEARCH / SELECTION
• UNDERSTANDING COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
• ADDITIONAL TESTING- ACT / SAT (SUBJECT TESTS)
• APPLICATION PROCESS
• FINANCIAL AID / SCHOLARSHIPS
SENIOR TIMELINE
FALL SEMESTER:
FINISH THE COLLEGE SEARCH/ VISITS
RETAKE YOUR COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS
SUBMIT YOU COLLEGE APPLICATION BY THANKSGIVING
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS FROM COLLEGES
SENIOR TIMELINE
SPRING SEMESTER:
FAFSA FINANCIAL AID FORM IN JANUARY
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION- ADDITIONAL
REVIEW FINANCIAL PACKAGES AND AWARD LETTERS
MAKE COLLEGE CHOICE BY THE END OF APRIL
COLLEGE SEARCH AND
SELECTION
LOCAL COLLEGE FAIRS
-IN STATE COLLEGES – OCTOBER 9TH
CHEROKEE TRAIL HIGH SCHOOL 6-7:30 P.M.
-OUT OF STATE COLLEGES/WORKSHOPS OCTOBER 11TH
MOUNTAIN VISTA H.S. 10:00 A.M.-12:30 P.M
-NACAC COLLEGE FAIR- OCTOBER 18TH
COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER 1-4P.M.
-VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS FAIR- OCTOBER 22ND
CHERRY CREEK H.S. 6:00-8:00 P.M.
MEETING WITH COLLEGES AT EHS
Log into Naviance
Click on the
‘Colleges Tab’
EHS COLLEGE VISIT SCHEDULE
Sign up to
meet with
Colleges of
interest
COLLEGE SEARCH AND
WEB TOOLS
NAVIANCE COLLEGE SEARCH
COLLEGEDATA.COM
COLLEGEDATA.COM
COLLEGE NAVIGATOR
COLLEGE CAMPUS VISITS
 College Preview Days
 College Visits with a Campus Guide
WHAT DO YOU DO ON A VISIT?
• Campus tour
• Special Preview days - sit in a class
• Talk with students, professors, admissions representatives
(do not discuss family finances at this point!)
 • What does the campus feel like?
 • Pros and Cons list
FINDING THE RIGHT FIT!
 • Major
 • Size
 • Location
 • Chances of being accepted
 • Cost of Attendance…
 • Personality of the school
UNDERSTANDING COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
•
UNDERSTANDING COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
Application Options
• Regular decision: Deadlines for submitting applications and supporting
credentials for fall semester admission typically fall between December and
March. Most institutions that follow this traditional schedule mail/email
admissions decisions in late March or early April and ask students to notify
them of their enrollment decisions by May 1.
• Rolling admissions: Some colleges offer a rolling admissions process, in
which applications are reviewed and evaluated as they are received. These
institutions notify students of their admissions status as decisions are made.
UNDERSTANDING COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
• Early action: Some colleges have a fall application deadline for students who wish
to receive notification of their admissions status in December or January. Colleges
may admit or deny these applicants, or they may opt to reconsider them under the
regular decision process. Receiving an early offer of admission can be a relief for
students, and students who are denied admission usually still have time to apply to
other colleges. Some institutions ask that applicants apply for early action at only
one college, while others do not have this restriction.
• Early decision: This process differs from early action in that students agree to
attend the institution if offered admission. In addition, they must withdraw their
applications from all other institutions if admitted. As students may apply to only
one institution using this option, it is appropriate only for students who are certain
about their first-choice college. In some cases, applying for early decision can have
ramifications for financial aid.
THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
Step One: Complete your college
application online and print off any
forms that need to be sign by your high
school.
THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
Step Two: Log into Naviance and add your
college to the ‘Colleges I’ve Applied To’
tab.
Log into Naviance
Naviance
Add Colleges
Colleges I’m Applying To
You will need to update this section once you hear the college’s decision. Click on the
pencil to edit and mark your acceptance, wait list decision, etc. At the end of the year
you will mark which college you decided to attend.
THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
Step Three: Complete our Transcript
Request Form (found in the College &
Career Center) for each college you have
applied to.
TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS
THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
Step Four: Monitor your college
application account (linked to your
application) to determine if the college
you have applied to needs any more
information (or if they want you to fill out
additional information for a scholarship!).
COLLEGE APPLICATION RECAP
• Step One: Complete college application online. Print off any
forms that need to be signed by your high school.
• Step Two: Log on to Naviance and add the college to
‘Colleges I’ve Applied To’ tab.
• Step Three: Complete Transcript Request Form (found in
College & Career Center) for each college you have applied
to.
• Step Four: Monitor your college application account (linked
to your application) to determine if the college you have
applied to needs any more information.
COMMON APPLICATION…
THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS OFFICE
WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO COLLEGE ADMISSIONS OFFICERS…
THE DESIRABLE DOZEN OF ADMISSIONS
Grades (in core classes)
Rigor of course work
Test Scores (ACT/SAT)
Grades (all classes- overall GPA)
Student Essay (If Required)
Student Interests (how do you spend your time)
Class Rank
Counselor Letter of Recommendation (If Needed)
Teacher Letter of Recommendation (If Needed)
AP Test Scores
Student Interview (If Required)
Extracurricular Involvement (show depth/not volume)
THE COLLEGE APPLICATION
• College admissions officers typically review 900-1200
applications.
• Application reviews (not including the essay) usually take 12
minutes.
• Some college applications have 2-3 student essays.
• College admissions officers are usually recent graduates, under
the age of 27, and grad-school students, who have a good
understanding of what type of students ‘fit’ on campus.
• Do research on the history, culture, accomplishments, and points
of pride for each school you are applying to.
THE COLLEGE ESSAY
• You have 4-5 sentences to make an impression!
• Show, don’t tell! An essay should expose who you are, not just
what you have done.
• Avoid generic college essays (if you can).
• Who is your audience? Liberal, moderate, or conservative
campus?
• What is the school’s identity? What do they believe?
• Flow? Please have someone read it out loud to you. If you essay
is choppy, it will end up in the ‘maybe’ pile (at best).
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS
• Make sure you know which colleges require a letter.
Don’t ask for more letters than you need.
• Complete the Teacher Recommendation Form in
Naviance and print it off for your teacher!
• Check back with your teacher to make sure he/she
uploaded it into Naviance (you won’t be able to
request transcripts until this is done).
• Remember to give your teacher 3 weeks notice and
say thank you!
LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FORM
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS- TESTING
Preparing for the ACT or SAT
REASONS TO RETAKE THE ACT
To improve your score for admissions
 To improve your score for scholarships
 To qualify for NCAA athletic eligibility
ACT AND SAT TESTING
ACT – September 13th
- October 25th
- December 13th
SAT - October 11th
- November 8th
- December 6th
(register by Aug 8th)
(register by Sept 19th)
(register by Nov 7th)
(register by Sept 12th)
(register by Oct 9th)
(register by Nov 6th)
ACT costs $38.00 and the SAT costs $52.50
Some out of state schools and private schools may also
require SAT subject tests (also called SAT II tests).
ACT TEST PREP
SYCAMORELEARNING.COM
ACT / SAT TEST PREP
METHOD TEST PREP
ACT / SAT TEST PREP
METHOD TEST PREP
ACT / SAT TEST PREP
METHOD TEST PREP
ACT / SAT TEST PREP
METHOD TEST PREP
Financial Aid and
Scholarships
FINANCIAL AID
FAFSA= Free Application for Federal Student Aid
*** Never pay to submit your FAFSA
Everyone should apply for financial aid by filling
out the FAFSA in January of senior year.
Even if you think you may not qualify it is
required for work study jobs
Financial Aid Night @ EHS on Dec. 5th
FAFSA.ED.GOV
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
• FAFSA pin numbers
• FAFSA4caster
• College Opportunity Fund
• Net Cost Calculators on college sites
FAFSA PIN NUMBERS
COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY FUND
COLLEGEINCOLORADO.ORG
NET PRICE CALCULATORS
NET PRICE CALCULATORS
CSS PROFILE (IF REQUESTED)
SCHOLARSHIPS: WHERE TO START?
 Most award packages are provided directly from the college or university especially private schools.
 Students exhibiting financial need will often receive additional grant
money from the United States government typically in the form of a Pell
Grant.
 Scholarships website are a great way to search for private based
scholarships, but beware aware- you should never pay to apply for a
scholarship.
 Scholarships requirements typically include one of the following
categories: financial need, merit recognition, or special talent or diversity.
SCHOLARSHIPS
SCHOLARSHIPS
SCHOLARSHIPS
SCHOLARSHIPS
Financial Aid Night
rd
Wednesday, December 3
Senior College Readiness Day
rd
Tuesday, September 23 .
Thank you
for coming!