COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
101
JUNIOR PARENTS 2013
CRAZINESS OF COLLEGE
ADMISSIONS
• The goal of tonight’s workshop is to share planning and
organizational information to lessen the stress and anxiety often
associated with junior year college searches.
• Juniors will be applying to colleges less than one year from
tonight. Ex: UC apps will open August 1, 2014 for the
graduating class of 2015!
• It can be and should be an exciting experience. One month at a
time!
6 MUST KNOW FACTS
ABOUT ADMISSIONS
Fact 1: Every kid will get in
Forget the rankings- “The Best” school may not be the best school
for your child.
“College is a match to be made not a prize to be won.” Sachs
No correlation between “best schools” and success in later life.
Community College Option
• Community college may be the perfect route to the college of
your choice.
• http://adegreewithaguarantee.com/
• TAG Sierra College with the UC system
• This year UC/CSU’s will take more transfers and less freshmen.
• 122 community colleges in the state of CA.
• Financial Aid, scholarships, BOG, etc.
• Student Success Scorecard Plan implemented at Sierra
College– mandatory college and career counseling.
http://scorecard.cccco.edu/scorecard.aspx
Fact 2: Free resources available
bigfuture.collegeboard.org
californiacolleges.edu
Collegeweeklive.com
Colleges looking for well rounded student body
not necessarily the well rounded student.
Have your student do what they love
not what you think looks good on a
college application.
Take initiative in pursuing passions and interests.
The junior year includes this summer! Seek enrichment.
i.e. Sierra College academic enrichment, UC Cosmos, volunteer,
A-G Admission Requirements
UC Doorways – search by school for A-G list ucopdoorways
A. History and Social Science
B. English (4 years of college preparatory English composition and literature)
C. Math (3 years/4 years recommended) including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and beyond
D. Laboratory Science (2 years/3 recommended including 1 biological and 1 physical)
E. Language Other than English (2 years/3 recommended of the same language
F. Visual and Performing Arts (dance, drama or theater, music, or visual art)
G. College Preparatory Elective (additional year chosen from the University of California A-G list)
Fact 3:SAT Scores Count; Grades
Matter More
Students should take the most rigorous schedule they can
be successful at. These are the final 2 semesters the
universities will be able to evaluate.
UC’s use Holistic Comprehensive Review – 14 criteria
http://admissions.ucsc.edu/apply/freshman.html
Top colleges want to see a broad, rigorous academic
schedule right through the senior year. There should be a
minimum of 4 A-G courses should be taken senior year.
Fact 4: College Essays Can
Be Pivotal
Personal statement prompts are typically released
in May for the Common Application and the UC.
Personal Statement -- You Tube video from the
UC office of admissions
Personal statement tips from UC Berkley
Sign up for the UC Readers Fall 2014.
P.S. Do not write your student’s personal essay!
Fact
is more
financialCan
aid
Fact 5:
4: There
College
Essays
available
than you might realize.
Be
Pivotal
Most financial Aid is based on parents’ income, but
also Merit based.
District Scholarships over $800,000 last year –
Barbara Ross will host a “rising senior” workshop
June 2014.
File FAFSA in January 2015 fafsa4caster
Cal Grants are stable – Cal Grant A and B
Free or reduced lunch waivers (see H.S. counselor)
Middle class scholarships added to UC and CSU.
Be upfront about finances
Students need to know if their school choices are realistic.
Only custodial parent must declare income.
Beware of scams- should not have to pay for financial aid
information!
District Financial Aid night Dec 2013 and Dec 2014.
Barbara Ross – attend a scholarship workshop tonight! If you
cannot, please go to njuhsd.com you’ll find the scholarship page
under academics.
Visit Campuses
Important to do before senior year.
CSU Spring 2014
CSU Spring 2014 Open House
UC Spring 2014 (vary by campus)
UC Davis Open House 2014
Private schools – see web sites
Revisit October break senior year.
Fact 6: Out of state tuition may
not be as high as you think
WUE- Western Undergraduate Exchange- gives tuition
discounts to neighboring states.
Some states with WUE: Nevada, Oregon, Hawaii, Alaska
A LOT of scholarships available for out of state students.
Use The Common Application!
This application is used by almost all private
colleges including Harvard and Stanford – over 540
Universities.
Commonapp.org
Communication with recommenders is critical.
Types of Admissions
Rolling- opens early, may let you know in a few
weeks. Often large, non-impacted institutions.
Early Action- non-binding. Will let you know by end
of November. Financial Aid information will not
be available upon initial notification.
Early Decision- binding. Look at small print. Only
apply to one Early Decision.
Regular- must meet deadlines.
Test Prep
Big business- don’t have to spend a lot of money!
PSAT – October 19 (Sat of Oct break) You can still sign up!
$15 cash, pencil, student ID, NU 7:30 AM-Noon
www.collegeboard.comfree test prep questions, question of the day, on-line course
ACT.org- free test prep
January 2014 Californiacolleges.edu additional free test prep
NJUHSD- great school/great test scores
Pick one email and check
it
All admissions now electronic and
notify the student by email
3 semesters of annoying yet helpful
e-mails – learn to love it then
unsubscribe spring of senior year!
Important Timelines
Testing: Most colleges will take either
the SAT or the ACT
PSAT- October 19, 2013
SAT/ACT- Spring 2014
SAT II- Spring 2014
UC’s no longer require
SAT/ACT- Fall 2014 before Dec
Important Timelines
Financial Aid:
FAFSA January 2015
Cal Grant- GPA Verification
District Scholarships:
January 2015
Important Timelines
Admissions:
CSU/UC’s must be completed
by November 30th of Senior Year
National Acceptance Day is May 1st!
NCAA ClearingHouse
All student athletes must register with the clearinghouse
before recruiters can contact them.
Best done during junior year – the NCAA is no joke and
they are VERY strict!
ACT/SAT scores must be sent to NCAA Clearinghouse
Transcripts
www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
There is Lots of Help!
College Rep visits
College workshops by HS counselors
College Week Live
Guidance Counselor
Our Community! ( Where did you go to
college? If you were my age, what would
you have done differently?)
It’s all good
Don't let anxiety and fights over
college admissions tax your relationship
and mar your child's last 2 years at home.
Pick a time to talk about admissions and
let it go the rest of the time.
Beware of Senioritis
Remind students that colleges review final
transcripts and can rescind offers. Transcripts
expected by July 2015.
Rigor in Senior year important! At least 4 A-G
courses or be prepared to explain.
If drop a second semester class must notify colleges.
Review
Start Early
Be Organized
Help with planning- timelines
Have the money talk
Remember you act as the travel agent- but
It is your child’s journey