Parent Information Session
What Parents of Top 10% students Should Know
Melba Luciano, District Superintendent
Michael Akes, Assistant Superintendent (HS C&I)
Gladys Justiniano, District College Specialist
Robert Airasian, Graduate of Brown, Cornell & Harvard
Universities (Orlando Area); Chair of Brown University Admissions
What you should know?
 Applying to College
 The College Selection process
 College Application Requirements
 What College Admissions Officers look for
 Testing information (SAT & ACT)
 Scholarships & Financial Aid
Applying to College
Non-Restrictive Application Plans: (All Non-Binding)
 Regular Decision – student submits an application by a
specified date and receive a decision in a clearly stated
period of time
 Rolling Admission – Institutions review applications as they
are submitted and render admission decisions throughout the
admission cycle
 Early Action (EA) – student applies early and receives a
decision well in advance of the institution’s regular response
date
***Note: Students are not restricted from applying to other institutions and have until May 1 to
consider their options and confirm enrollment.
Applying to College
Restrictive Application Plans:
 Early Decision (ED) – student makes a commitment to a
first choice institution where, if admitted, they definitely
will enroll. The application deadline and decision deadline
occur early. (Binding)
 Restrictive Early Action (REA) – student applies to an
institution of preference and receives a decision early. They
may be restricted from applying ED or EA or REA to other
instituitions. If offered enrollment, they have until May 1 to
confirm.
***Note: Students are responsible for determining and following restrictions
Applying to College
 Recommendation: apply as early in the Fall
of your senior year as possible.
Applying to College
 Common Application
*** not-for-profit membership organization, founded over 35 years ago
The Common Application is an online college application used
by over 500 colleges. Just one application can be sent, but first
you should know how it works:
-
-
You can enter your basic information and stats into a single application
and then focus on additional essays or other requirements each college
might ask for.
A new version of the Common Application is available every August 1.
To see which colleges are participating this year, check CollegeData's
Common Application Colleges at a Glance. You can also view
application deadlines, fees, and supplemental form requirements.
Common App
- Member Colleges Must Take a "Holistic" Approach
Participating colleges must evaluate students using a "holistic" selection
process that considers recommendation letters, at least one essay, and
diversity, among other factors. The idea is that the college considers the
whole applicant, and doesn't admit students based only on data such as GPA
and test scores.
- The Common Application Essay
The Common Application requires an essay of 650 words or less. You must
choose one of five broad topics designed to help demonstrate your ability to
write clearly and grow from your personal experiences. You can view the
most recent essay topics here. It's a good idea to start your essay as soon as
possible so you have plenty of time to get feedback and make revisions.
Common App
- Colleges Have Additional Requirements
Most colleges using the Common Application will ask you to answer
additional questions and write an additional essay. All will ask for at least
one recommendation letter and information from your high school. The
Common Application supplies grade report and evaluation forms.
Counselors and teachers complete these forms only once and send copies to
the schools you apply to. Colleges may also require additional materials
such as resumes. These requests will be included in the Common
Application for that school.
Common App
- Making Changes to Your Application
You can revise and save your application as many times as you like before
submitting it to colleges. Once you have sent a Common Application to
your first college, you may create different versions of it for other colleges.
However, you can only upload a revision of your Common Application
essay twice after initially submitting it.
- How to Access the Common Application
 Go to commonapp.org, or link to the application from the website of a
school that accepts it. Using the Common Application is free, but you
are still required to pay the college's application fees. You must
complete and submit the application online. There is no paper
application.
College Selection
 Select colleges based on major first
 Other considerations for college selection include:






Geographic location
Size of the college
Quality of the academic environment
Data about Financial Aid offered annually
Activities and clubs available
Family legacy
College Visit
 An essential part of the college selection
process
 The visits should help in determining if this
institution is someplace you can picture
yourself for the next 4 / 5 years of your life.
College Research
 Several Sites to search for colleges







www.collegeboard.org
www.actstudent.org
www.usnews.com/rankings
www.collegeview.com
www.collegedata.com
www.ecampustours.com
www.princetonreview.com
College Application
 Applications include:



Personal information
Transcripts (Grades)
Test Scores (SAT or ACT) – SAT subject area tests, check
school websites




Personal Essays
Letters of Recommendation
Portfolio, Audition or Interview
Proof of residency
Application Process
Small amount of time:
 Application itself
 Transcripts
 Test Scores
 Proof of Residency
Application Process
Large amount of time:
 Personal Essay
 Letters of Recommendation
 Portfolios, auditions or interviews
Essay
 Where to begin



Make opening statement strong and unique.
(will I want to read on?)
Keep it personal – they want to know about you.
Keep it short – 500 words or less
Letters of Recommendation
 Give teacher or counselor time ( also volunteer
coordinator, coach, mentor, etc.) to write a letter for you
(up to two weeks)
 Provide a resume (or bragg sheet) with your request.
 Provide a stamped, addressed envelope for teacher or
counselor to send the letter.
 Follow-up – did it get sent? – or provide an envelope with
your name on it and collect it in two weeks.
 Thank you note – very important!
Portfolio / Audition / Interviews
 Check requirements for portfolio or
auditions.
 Meet deadlines
 Interviews – find out what questions they
will ask and be prepared.
 Be on time for interview
 Dress appropriately
The Student Athlete
 Check with your HS Counselor to make sure you
are registered with the NCAA eligibility center.
 Ask and make sure that transcripts are sent.
 ACT or SAT - use code “9999” to have official
scores sent to NCAA eligibility center
 Make sure you are on track to graduate
 Ask to have your final transcript submitted with
proof of graduation
What College Admissions
Officers Look for?








Quality of Courses
Grades: key factor in the admissions decision
Standardized Test Scores
Extracurricular Activities
Recommendations
Essays
Personal Characteristics
Diversity
Testing
 SAT www.collegeboard.org
 ACT www.actstudent.org
 Test Prep provided for FREE at every school & via
college board website w/ Khan Academy
 Should have tested in the spring of the junior year.
Can test again in Fall of senior year (as early as
possible)
Parents: What you should do?
 Remind them they still have to get good grades and study in
their Senior year. No senior-itis
 Keep communication open
 Listen to what they want – about college
 Listen for uncertainty, lack of confidence etc.
 Help them to be realistic and boost confidence
 Take them to visit colleges (if unsure)
 Remind them about tests and deadlines – help them keep a
calendar and keep a college folder
 Be prompt with any pieces you have to complete.
More Help
 Now – help students register for the ACT & SAT
& help them send their scores to the colleges
 Now – help them create / update their resume
 Now – help student by reading college essays
 Now – help get all information together for
application process
Senior Year
 Students will have many ups and downs
 Students may need about $1000 to cover all
expenses of high school and the college process








Yearbook
Cap and Gown
College application fees
Test fees
Housing deposits
Acceptance deposits
Prom
Senior Graduation event
Senior Year Actions
September
 Sign them up for another entrance test
 Help them apply to colleges in Florida
 Come to parent night events
 If going Out of State – go to those college information sessions –
usually in Orlando
 Check FOCUS monthly to keep up with their grades.
October
 Remind them to order transcripts
 Sign the residency affidavits on the Florida college applications
 Take them to open houses
Actions Continued
November
 Go to the financial aid night near you.
 Help them start applying for out of state colleges
 Start on scholarship applications
December
 Make sure they have completed their out of state applications by
the end of the month
 Help them acquire any missing paperwork the FL colleges say is
missing.
 Get ready for the FAFSA
Still More Action
January
 Remind students to check for scholarships
 Complete the FAFSA – you should do this
 Save your SAR and know your EFC
 Senioritis may set in – check FOCUS & stay on top of them!
February
 Keep reminding students to look for scholarships
 Early decision letters will be coming this month or before.
 Talk to your child about acceptances and rejections
Almost There
March
 You will have to help with housing applications and deposits
 You will have to help with acceptance deposits
 Continue to remind about scholarships
April
 Work together to make the final decision on the college based on
the financial aid package they offer
 Last reminder about scholarships
Last Month
May
 Students should have plans set at this point – must decide by May
1st
 Let the College, Counselor and Career Specialist know of the
decision
 Let the Colleges you will NOT attend know about your decision.
 They will need to pick up cap and gown
 They may be heading off in June – collect checklists of what they
will need at college and start getting those items.
 Go to their graduation and smile! You’ve earned it!
Financial Aid / Scholarships
Resources
 www.latinosincollege.com
 www.fastweb.com
 www.apiasf.org
 www.blackexcel.org/link4/htm
 www.fafsa.ed.gov
 www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/ssfad/bf
Upcoming College Info
Fairs & Events
 Valencia College Night – October 7th
 Orlando National College Fair – October 12th
 NCAA (How to prepare your athlete for the college
recruiting process):
- October 14th at CHS, 6:30pm-8pm
- October 15th at SCHS, 6:30pm-8pm
**Check with your HS Counselor / Career Specialist for Financial Aid
Information Nights Coming Soon
Remind
 Text @jstar2015
to 407-513-4614
To receive important messages & texts via
SMS texts
"Strategy, Tips, & Myths - Getting
Into Highly Competitive Colleges"
 Robert Airasian
Scholarships
 Threasa Glasscock
 Will be at OHS this Thursday night, 9/25,
7pm – 9pm
Questions
Contact Information
 Gladys Justiniano
 Email: justinig@osceola.k12.fl.us
 Phone: (407) 870-4810