Parish Hill High
School
Junior College Night
Write down one
question or
concern you have
about the college
selection process
Junior Calendar
 September
 Register for PSAT
 October
 Take PSAT
 December
 PSAT score report arrives
 Read and understand your scores
 Consider SAT prep course or study from SAT Prep book or
website
 March
 Register for SAT I exam
 College Search/Interest Inventory on
CHOICES
Junior Calendar Continued
 April
 Attend college fair
 Narrow down list of colleges and plan visits
 Fill out recommendation questionnaire
 May
 Take the SAT I
 June
 Take the SAT I (if not in May)
 Plan college visits for summer
Senior Calendar
 August
 Narrow college list down to no more than five
schools
 Request catalogs & applications
 September
 Check test dates for SAT I & SAT II exams and
register
 Make list of deadline dates for SATs, college apps
and financial aid
 Begin asking teachers for letters of
recommendation
Senior Calendar Continued
 October






Take SAT I exam
Come to PHHS Senior College Night
Work on admissions essays
Visit colleges/attend open houses
Attend college fair
Submit CSS/PROFILE if required
 November
 Take SAT I or II exam
 Check on Financial Aid/Scholarship applications
and deadlines
 Begin preparation of college applications and
check deadlines
Senior Calendar Continued
 December
 Come to PHHS Financial
Aid Night
 Pick up FAFSA Form (DO NOT SUBMIT
BEFORE JANUARY 1)
 Watch for Scholarship Bulletins
 January
 Submit FAFSA form ASAP
 Keep copies of FAFSA & tax returns
Senior Calendar Continued
 February
 Check to see if midyear grades have been
sent
 Rank final list of colleges
 Finish applications
 March
 Look for Student Aid Report (SAR) in the
mail containing federal financial aid
information
 Submit tax forms to financial aid
office if requested
Senior Calendar Continued
 April
 Look for college acceptance and financial
aid award letters
 Make your final decision and send in
deposit by deadline
 Notify schools you will not be attending
 Watch for important deadlines
(housing, financial aid, etc.)
 May/June
 Relax and enjoy the summer!
The College Search

Two essential questions that you should ask yourself
 What does it take to get into the school
 Do I want to be there even if your friends are not going to be
there. Research is needed by you. YOU NEED TO VISIT AND LEARN BY
CONTRASTING SCHOOLS. Speak to students there









The College – Location, size, type, student body, housing, facilities
Admission – Requirements, selection criteria, percent accepted,
deadlines
Application – It looks much nicer to type your application on the
computer, even if you don’t send it online
Costs and financial aid – Tuition, housing, meals, fees, books, other,
forms required, deadlines
Academics/program – Range of courses in major, student-faculty ratio,
AP Policy, special academic programs (study
abroad, Co-op, honors, double major, etc)
Student life and services – Counseling, health, job placement, athletics,
clubs, sororities/fraternities
Alumni information – Graduate info, email addresses
Online applications
Email directory
Types of Colleges to Apply
to:
at least one of each of below
 Reach – a school that you may not get into
based on SATs and grades, but would go to if
accepted
 Match – a school that matches your academic
profile and you will “most likely” be accepted
 Safety – A school that you are “guaranteed” to
be accepted to – this may not be your first
choice, but at least you will have a college to
go to in the Fall
Senior Year Courses
 Choose a challenging courseload
 Colleges will look for:







4 yrs English & literature
3-4 years of mathematics
3-4 years of sciences, including biology, chemistry and physics,
3-4 years of the same foreign language
3-4 years of history & social science
2-3 years of music and arts.
Supplement the ideal curriculum by taking courses at community
college, Eastern Whips Program, etc.
 Check with guidance about course selection
 Watch out for senior slump
 Colleges do get midterm grades and final grades
 They have the right to deny or rescind admission
Class Rank & Grade Point
Average
 Calculated at the end of each year
 Calculated at end of 3rd quarter senior
year for Valedictorian & Salutatorian
 Class rank and GPA are weighted
 Advanced classes add weight
 Class rank
 Not overly important for small school
Extracurricular Activities
 Colleges will look for involvement in sports, activities,
volunteer work, community service (in and out of
school), church activities, etc.
 Consistency, commitment and leadership are
important factors
 Be a good person
 People will be needed to write recommendations based on
your personality
 Colleges want well-rounded, responsible, students
 Don’t spread yourself too thin
 keep up your grades and attendance
SAT I Test
 Juniors usually take in May or June
 Seniors take in the Fall
 Cost is $45.00
 Payable to the College Board
 School Code is 070093
 Know your Social Security Number
SAT Subject Tests
 Usually taken in Fall of senior year
 Individual achievement test usually relating to
area of interest
 Usually three taken at one sitting
 Each about 1 hour in length
 Check with colleges to see if necessary and
what tests are required
 Writing usually required and two others
 Preparation is mainly through high school
classes, but additional prep available in
booklets, books and on the web
Admission Plans
 Regular Admissions
 Dec. 1 and May 1
 Early Decision
 Have to commit to that school if you are accepted
 Rolling Admissions
 Students are accepted as they apply
 Early Action –
 Will get early decision, but do not have to commit to
that school until May 1st
 These options are good for students who know
for sure where they want to go
Open Houses/Campus
Visits
 Visit colleges during the summer
 Most colleges have Open House/Campus
Days in Sept – Nov – usually on weekends
 Call before visiting
 Tours are available
 Ask questions
 Talk to students (not your tour guide)
 “Why did you choose this school?”
 “What do you like about it?”
 DO NOT ACCEPT TO A SCHOOL YOU HAVE
NOT VISITED!
College Applications
 Available at College Fairs, call, email,
write
 Many will be sent through SAT Test &
College Fair signups
 Many are available on the web
 Type on computer
 Don’t forget your Social Security Number
 PROOF READ
College Essays
 One will be written in senior English classes
 Be creative
 This is not a resume
 What do you want to say to a college not what you think they want
to hear? Must be honest and present yourself in the best light.
 Once again a family affair so you need to help them but do not
take over the process and write it for them or put your ideas in
their essay. The student should be writing and it should be in their
words.
 PARENTS DON’T TAKE OVER THE PROCESS

IF YOUR STUDENT IS NOT WRITING THE ESSAY, YOU AS A
PARENT NEED TO ACT AS A BOOSTER AND AID THEM IN THE
PROCESS BUT IT SHOULD BE THEIR WORK AND ONLY THEIR
WORK.
 Guidance has info available on writing essays
 Write, Rewrite, Rewrite, PROOF READ!
Recommendations
 Students should fill out recommendation
questionnaires from guidance
 Make copies for counselor and teachers
 Ask at least two weeks before needing it
 List on questionnaire
 Schools applying to and date needed
 Follow-up with teachers at deadline
NCAA Clearinghouse
 Divisions 1 & 2 must register for NCAA
Clearinghouse at end of junior
year/beginning of senior year
 Division 3 does not need to register, but
should talk to coach
 There are many rules/regulations
Military
 ROTC
 Deadline in Early Dec.
 Available at many
colleges
 Requires commitment
after college
 College usually free
 National Guard
 Tuition reimbursement
available
 Regular military
 Must serve after high
school graduation
 Tuition reimbursement
available during and after
service
 Military Academies
 Process starts early
 Very competitive
admissions
 Requires commitment
after graduation from
academy
 Remember that a
recruiter’s job is to sign
you up
 Investigate/Read carefully
This is your life
College information
websites
 www.campustours.com




www.bestschoolusa.com
www.campustours.com
www.collegeboard.com

www.commonapp.org – Common Application

www.usnews.com/usnews/edu

www.ctmentor.org – for CT Colleges &
Universities
www.collegenet.com

www.massmentor.edu – for MA Colleges &

www.collegelink.com

www.collegeprofiles.com

www.wiredscholar.com

www.petersons.com

www.xap.com

www.princetonreview.com

www.embark.com

www.allaboutcollege.com

www.collegeview.com

www.collegexpress.com
Universities
Financial Aid/Scholarships
 PHHS will have Financial Aid Night in
December to help with FAFSA Form and
information
 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student
Aid) is the main form, which is sent to all
colleges and is primary source of financial aid
 CSS PROFILE
 An additional financial aid for required by some
colleges
 Available in September of Senior Year
 Need to pay for each college and must send for
applications
Financial Aid/Scholarships
Cont.
 Some colleges have their own financial aid form
 Scholarship Bulletins will be published and distributed to all
seniors 4-5 times throughout senior year – Also available on the
PHHS website at www.parishhill.org
 Scholarship searches available through CHOICES at PHHS and
on the web.
 DO NOT PAY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH
 Plan your finances now - a) start saving now, costs continue to
rise – b) cost should not limit your college search. Many of the
most expensive colleges offer financial packages that may cost
less than other colleges
Parents and students need to form a
financial union. – communicate how much you as a family can
afford.
Financial Aid websites








www.collegeboard.com
www.collegeview.com
www.edgov/finaid.html
www.educaid.com
www.fastweb.com
www.freschinfo.com
www.finaid.org
www.salliemae.org