Seniors:
Planning for Life After High School!
Agenda

Options for Life After High School –
Quick Review

The College Application & Briar Woods
High School Procedures
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Advice & Information
Materials
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An “Electronic-Index” will be emailed to you, includes
– NACAC Guide
– Transcript release form
– Senior Information Packet
– Additional forms & resources

BWHS Website
– “College & Career Guidance” Page

Let your counselor know if you need hard-copies
BWHS COLLEGE INFORMATION ELECTRONIC INDEX - SENIORS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Profile: This document lists data including, but not limited to, LCPS grading scales, BWHS contact
information, course level descriptions, and AP program overview.
Information for College Applications: This document lists several important pieces of information that you
will probably need for your college applications.
REQUIRED FORMS
Transcript Release Form: Use this form to have your transcript sent to colleges, universities, and
scholarship programs. Students are charged $3.00 per request.
Senior Information Packet: Complete this packet and provide to your guidance counselor. It will help
them write your letter of recommendation.
HELPFUL WORKSHEETS & RESOURCES
College Application Checklist : Use a checklist for each college you apply to. This will help you keep
track of all the different pieces of your application.
College Visit Worksheet: Use this worksheet to keep track of what you like and dislike about every
college you visit. If you don't use a worksheet like this, you will get details about each of the colleges you
visit mixed up. Trust us!
College Essay: Use this resource to help you write your essays.
College Interviews: Use this resource to help prepare for interviews.
Sample Resume: Use these templates to help you create a resume to highlight your accomplishments.
College Application Calendar: Use this CollegeBoard resource to help stay on track during your senior
year.
Questions to ask College Representatives: Going to the college fair or visiting a college? Don't know
what to ask college reps? Use these questions to help you get the most out of your visit.
Financial Aid Primer: Basic overview of financial aid. What it is and where to get it.
Virginia Colleges & Universities: Helpful lists, links, and maps of Virginia Colleges and Universities.
TESTING INFORMATION
SAT and ACT information and dates.
SAT and ACT Concordance Table: Compare the scores between these two tests.
SAT Last Minute Tips: Review these tips to help you perform at your best on test day!
Options for Life After High School
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Trade-schools/Apprenticeships
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Military
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Community College
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4-Year College or University
College Degrees
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College Degrees
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Associates Degree: 2-year degree (typically
earned at a community college or a junior college)
Bachelor’s Degree: 4-year degree
Master’s Degree: Typically 2 additional years after
earning a bachelors
Doctoral Degrees & Professional Degrees: PHD,
JD, MD, DC
Community College
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Community College
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Certificate programs
2-Year Associates Degree
First year or two of a 4-Year Bachelors degree
Community College
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Benefits of community college
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NOVA is one of the best community colleges in
the country
Relatively inexpensive
Close to home
A “small step” into higher education
“Open” admissions
Community College
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NOVA’s Guaranteed Admissions (incomplete
list)
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Christopher Newport University
George Mason University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
James Madison University
Liberty University
Longwood University
Community College
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NOVA’s Guaranteed Admissions (incomplete
list)
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Marymount University
Norfolk State University
Old Dominion University
Radford University
University of Mary Washington
University of Virginia
Virginia Tech
Community College
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Pathways Program – Apply in November
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Start at NOVA
Transition to a 4-year university
Individual meetings with NOVA Pathways
counselors
Assistance applying for financial aid
Early placement testing and priority course
registration
No minimum GPA required to apply
College Visits at BWHS
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College representative visits to BWHS
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
Sign-up in the Career Center
Limit visits to 5
Avoid missing the same class twice
Your teacher is not obligated to release you from
class
There is no substitute for a campus visit as a
way to assess a school
The Application “Folder”

Each college application requires seven
pieces of information (more or less!)
The Application “Folder”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Application
Essay
Student Resume
Secondary School Report
Test Scores
Transcript
Letter/s of Recommendation
The Application
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Applications are submitted electronically over
the internet
Print and review before submitting it!
You are responsible for completing and
submitting their own applications (not mom &
dad!)
You should make copies of all applications
they submit for your records
Many colleges use the “Common
Application”
The Application

You are responsible for being aware of
application deadlines (see NACAC Guide)
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Regular Admission – traditional deadline
Early Decision – binding
Early Action – non-binding
Rolling Admission – applications accepted based
on space availability until the institution is “full”
The Application

Early Decision & Early Action
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Is it binding?
Dates?
Can I get out of it?
Is the competition tougher or easier? (+ 2-3%)
If I am not accepted, will I be considered for
regular admissions?
Can I afford it without financial aid?
The Application “Folder”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Application
Essay
Student Resume
Secondary School Report
Test Scores
Transcript
Letter/s of Recommendation
The Essay
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Not all colleges require an essay
Essays are submitted electronically along
with the application
You should make sure they you understand
the essay topic
You should print out and review (with help!)
their essays before submitting them
The Essay
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

English teachers are more than happy to
help students with essays; teachers
incorporate this into their curriculum
You should save all essays because they
may be modified and reused – but be
careful!
Essay resources – BWHS library, BWHS
Career Center, public library, book store,
internet resources
The Application “Folder”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Application
Essay
Student Resume
Secondary School Report
Test Scores
Transcript
Letter/s of Recommendation
Student Resume

Many colleges accept student resumes

Resumes can highlight your accomplishment
both in and outside of school

Resumes can be sent to the college
electronically along with the application and
essay

An effective resume is EASY TO READ!
Student Resume

Use resume templates and samples to
format your own

Information on resumes must be 100%
accurate

Use email, Facebook, YouTube, etc.
appropriately (if you wouldn’t put it on a
resume…)
The Application “Folder”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Application
Essay
Student Resume
Secondary School Report
Test Scores
Transcript
Letter/s of Recommendation
Secondary School Report

Some colleges provide the student with a
Secondary School Report form for the
counselor to complete and send in

We will automatically send a comprehensive
“universal” Secondary School Report for all
seniors with their transcripts. This is now
common practice
The Application “Folder”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Application
Essay
Student Resume
Secondary School Report
Test Scores
Transcript
Letter/s of Recommendation
Test Scores

Seniors are responsible for having their test
scores sent to the colleges they are applying
to. LCPS does not send scores!

Seniors can request their scores be sent
when they take the tests; or they can have
their scores sent after the test date by
contacting the CollegeBoard ( for SAT) or
ACT
If you haven’t taken the SAT or
ACT yet… do so NOW!

SAT Reasoning Test (“aptitude” test – designed to
predict success the freshman year in college)
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Critical Reading
Math
Writing
ACT (“achievement” test – designed to test “what
you have learned”)
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English
Math
Science
Optional Writing section
Plan & Prepare for the
Admissions Tests
SAT Subject Tests (your parents might
remember these as “SAT Two’s”)
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Usually used for placement purposes only
Not used for admissions
Subject test requirements vary greatly among
different colleges
2013-2014 SAT Dates
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October 5
November 2
December 7
January 25
March 8 - BWHS
May 3
June 7
2013-2014 ACT Dates
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September 21
October 26
December 14 - BWHS
February 8
April 12
June 14
Plan and Prepare for the
Admissions Tests
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Hard copy registrations materials are available in the
Career Center, or

Register for the SAT at www.collegeboard.com
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Register for the ACT at www.act.org

Register early!
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See the BWHS Guidance website for details
Preparing for the Tests
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Long-term v. Short-term preparation

Get free practice tests for the SAT & ACT in the
Career Center – Don’t just take it… have a “dress
rehearsal”
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Free online CollegeBoard SAT course
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BWHS SAT course - .5 credit, pass/fail
Free SAT Prep at
CollegeBoard.Com
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Official SAT Question of the Day
SAT Skills Insight
My SAT Study Plan
SAT Essay strategies
Math and Writing reviews
SAT/ACT Prep – Private Sources
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Books & Manuals – look for materials created
by the testing companies themselves
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Private courses (PTSO)
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Other outside private courses
The Application “Folder”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Application
Essay
Student Resume
Secondary School Report
Test Scores
Transcript
Letter/s of Recommendation
The Transcript

You must submit a Transcript Release Form
signed by a parent. Forms can be obtained
in guidance and are online

Seniors must submit the form in person to
the counselor
BRIAR WOODS HIGH SCHOOL
REQUEST FOR TRANSCRIPTS TO BE SENT TO A COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY OR PROGRAM
I hereby request that a transcript of the scholastic records of
Student’s Name
be sent to the following college/university or program:
College/University or Program
Address
Deadline
Date of
Request
Date
Processed
Type of Admissions (please check one):
____Regular Decision
____Early Decision
____Early Action
____Rolling
Have you submitted an application to this college/university or program?
___ Yes
___ No
Does this college/university require a counselor Letter of Recommendation?
If so, have you completed a Senior Information Packet?
___ Yes
___ Yes
___ No
___ No
Have you attached $3.00 for this request?
___ Yes
___ No
Scores on the SAT, ACT, and Advanced Placement Exams are sent directly from the College
Board or ACT at the request of the student. Briar Woods does not send test scores.
Please allow 2 weeks to process your transcript request.
Student’s Name — PRINT or TYPE
Student’s Signature
Parent’s Name — PRINT or TYPE
Parent’s Signature
The Transcript

We ask that seniors submit transcript
requests a minimum of two weeks before the
college application deadline (last year we
sent over 3000 transcripts)

We now use the National Transcript Center
to “send” transcripts

We track the process date and send date –
posted on Family Connection
The Transcript
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We include a school profile with transcript

Transcript requests must be made before
December 2nd in order to be sent before
winter break

All LCPS students are charged $3.00 per
transcript
The Transcript

Please only request transcripts to be sent to
colleges you are actually applying to

Mid-year and end-of-year transcripts are sent
automatically

There are no costs for mid-year and end-ofyear transcripts
The Application “Folder”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Application
Essay
Student Resume
Secondary School Report
Test Scores
Transcript
Letter/s of Recommendation
Letters of Recommendation

Counselor Letter
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If a you need a letter of recommendation from the
counselor, you can request it when you request
the transcript
Every senior will be provided with a Senior
Information Packet to be turned into the
counselor
The Senior Information Packet is posted online
and contains a parent “brag” section
The counselor will “send” the letter with the
transcript
Letters of Recommendation

Teacher Letter:
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If a letter of recommendation is requested from a
teacher, you should make the request directly to
the teacher and provide the teacher with a
postage-paid envelope addressed to the college
Think about who you are asking… they may need
more time!
Letters of Recommendation
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
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Seniors should allow counselors and
teachers a minimum of two weeks to write a
letter
Please only request letters to be sent to
schools you are actually applying to
If you send more letters than the college
requests, you can’t control which ones they
choose to read
The Application “Folder” - Summary
1.
2.
3.
Senior submits application electronically to the college
Senior submits the essay electronically to the college (if there
is one)
Senior may submit a resume electronically to the college
4.
Senior has test scores sent directly to the college by the
CollegeBoard (for SAT) or the ACT
5.
Senior meets with counselor directly to request a transcript by
submitting a Transcript Release Form
BWHS will automatically send a universal Secondary School
Report to the college with the transcript
Senior may request letter of recommendation (if needed) from
their counselor and/or teachers
6.
7.
Keeping Sane!!!

Complete one college application “folder” at
a time

Trying to work on several applications at
once = confusion for all!

Use a checklist for each application!!!
Check When
Complete
Task
Date Completed
I have completed the online application
I have completed the essay online (if necessary)
I have submitted a resume online (if necessary)
I have requested that the testing company send my SAT
and/or ACT scores to the college
I have completed and turned in a transcript release form to
my counselor – in person

My counselor will automatically send a Secondary School
Report
I have requested a letter of recommendation from:
n/a
Keeping Sane!!!

Complete applications one at a time
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One by Halloween
One by Thanksgiving
The rest by Winter Break
Pay attention to deadlines!
Interviews

Some colleges interview applicants

Process, procedures, and guidelines vary

Resources can be found on the E-Index
E-Index

Every senior will receive an e-index:
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NACAC Guide
Planning calendar
Student information packet
Sample resumes
Transcript release form
College visit worksheet
College application checklist
and more…
Communication/Follow-Up

Students and parents can log onto Family
Connection to view transcript send dates

We automatically send mid-year transcripts
to the colleges our students apply to (no
cost)

Final transcripts are sent to the colleges our
students plan to attend (no cost)
Upcoming Dates

Senior presentations – Next week
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Senior Interviews – Late September
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LCPS College Fair – September 29 at 4:00pm5:30pm & 6:30pm-8:00pm, SBHS

Junior College Information Night – October 30 at
7:00pm

Financial Aid Night – November 20 at 7:00pm
HAVE A GREAT SENIOR YEAR!!