Options after high school.
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Work/apprenticeships/internships
Military
2 year colleges—community or residential
4 year colleges and universities
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Not sure?….. Visit the Career
Center

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Oct 18 th - Visual & Performing Arts Fair
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Oct 18 th - FCPS College Fair 7:30 pm
Fair Oaks Mall
Oct 19 th - FCPS College Night – 7:00 pm
Hayfield Secondary School
Oct 13 th - Alcanza – 9 am- 1:00 pm
George Mason University
Read the Career Center Newsletter for more

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Over 150 colleges and universities visit Woodson every year. The reps who come are often the very ones who read the applications from Woodson.
MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN.
Advertised in
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WTW Main Page Calendar
Family Connection
Career Center Newsletter
Lunch Room / Announcements

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Myth: There is one perfect college for me.
Fact: There are over 3,000 U.S. colleges.
Factors to consider: studies/majors available, campus environment, student support services, faculty accessibility, graduation rate, number of students on campus during the weekends, clubs and activities.
Disability Support Services
Don’t be swayed: “my best friend is going there.”

College Fit and Match
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Keep in mind that “profiles” for the admitted student to a college includes
ALL groups in the incoming class across
ALL demographics.
Remember: Colleges list minimum requirements for admission. Minimum does not make a student competitive for admission.

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3,600 # of 2 and 4 year colleges in the US.
2,000 # of 4 year colleges in the US.
135 # of 4 year colleges that admit fewer than
50% of the applicants.
50 # of 4 year colleges that admit fewer than
50% of the applicants AND with an SAT average of 1250 (out of 1600).
24 # of colleges that admit fewer than 25% of the applicants with a 1250 or higher score.

Know What Matters to the Admission Offices
NACAC Findings (2014)
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1. Grades in College Prep Courses
2. Strength of program
81.5%
63.7%
3. Admission Test scores (SAT/ACT) 58.3%
4. Grades in all courses 51.5%
5. Essay
6. Demonstrated interest
7. Counselor Recommendation
22.2%
20.1%
15.9%
8. Class Rank
9. Teacher Recommendation
10. Activities
11. Interview
12. AP/IB scores
15.2%
14.1%
9.6%
7.8%
7.5%

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“Data Driven” Reads
This is a focus on the more quantitative pieces of the application
 number of Honors/AP courses,
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 overall GPA, core GPA,
SAT/ACT scores.
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“Wholistic” Read
This includes a focus on qualitiative pieces of information within the application-
 recommendations,
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 essay, activities and awards as well as the numbers.

www.fcps.edu/is/instructionaltechnology/
247help/parents.shtml

2009-10

Welcome Message document library

Compare your GPA and
Test Scores to those who graduated last year from your school.
If no scattergram displays for the institution selected, please contact your counselor or career center specialist for more information.
Radford University

James Madison University

http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
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Retention Rates
Graduation Rates
Campus Safety
Financial Information
–
Total Costs
–
Financial Aid
–
Net Costs

pplication
rocess
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Ownership
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Responsibility
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Colleges want to hear from the Student

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pplication
rocess
Fall ~ Senior Year
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 short list of college and universities online application accounts
(write down password!) visits essays / personal statements
Letters of recommendation resume in progress
SAT I, SAT Subject tests, ACT, TOEFL taken or registered for where appropriate

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Collect student-focused information
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Recommender email addresses
GPA
Class size
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Application Deadlines
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Notify your school counselor of applications all

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Early Decision ~ binding ~ only ONE ~ if you are accepted you commit to attend and withdraw all other applications. Be aware of all deadlines.
Early Notification (Action) and single choice~ upon submission of all materials college will notify student of decision – student has until May 1 st to commit.
Regular Decision ~ application submitted by college deadline, notification by April 1 st , commit by May 1 st .
Rolling Decision ~ within 2-4 weeks of submission of application, student is notified of decision. Ask when/if programs close early!! Commit by May 1 st .

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Part 1 ~ Student information and data.
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Part 2 ~ Teacher recommendations.
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Part 3 ~ Counselor recommendation which includes your transcript and the
WTW Secondary School Report form .

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Personal and Family information.
Academic information including test scores.
Honors and Awards.
Activities - both in and out of school.
Essay or personal statement.

It is your responsibility to have test scores sent from the test company to colleges and universities when appropriate.
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SAT 1/Subject tests www.collegeboard.org
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ACT www.actstudent.org
AP scores https://apscores.collegeboard.org
TOEFL

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“Show” who you are, not the “stuff” you have done.
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Admission officials want to “see” you when they read your essay ~ your personality and distinctive traits ~ what makes “you” you. Show your character as you answer the question.
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Essay support:
English teachers/Writing Center

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Ask at least 3 weeks prior to due date.
Give teacher all required forms.
Give teacher envelopes with proper postage unless the teacher agrees to recommend online.
Put forms and envelopes in large brown envelope with cover letter. This letter can help remind your teacher of a paper or project for which you are particularly proud and wish the colleges to know about.
Be sure to write a thank you note!

Teacher Name
WT Woodson High School
9525 Main ST
Fairfax, VA 22031
College Name
Office of Admission
Street Address
City, State zip

WT Woodson High School
9525 Main ST
Fairfax, VA 22031

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At least three weeks prior to deadlines give your counselor:
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Transcript release form. First three are free and after that there is a
$5.00 charge which is required at time of request. Release forms are available in Family Connections under Document Library and in the
Student Services Office.
College Planning packet- which was given to you in your English classes last spring and is also available on Family Connections in the
Document Library and also in Student Services.
We will
 include the WTW Secondary School Report with the transcript
 mail semester grades to all colleges to which you applied at the end of first semester.
Plan to meet with your counselor as needed to review your applications.

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Posted Online
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From the WTW Home Page,
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Point to Student Services
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Point To Transcript Release
Click on Seniors

In Family Connection
Click colleges
Look-up your college
Scroll Down

Possible submission icons and options under Application Deadline
Common Application
We are NOT able to send electronically at this time. – choose “M” for mail
“Your school may submit transcripts and recommendations electronically”
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“This college does not accept transcripts and recommendations electronically through our system.”

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Be thorough
Be complete
Be accurate
Type directly into this form, print, sign/date it, and it will be easy to read.

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Completed application consists of:
 application
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 fee essay or personal statement other attachments required by the college recommendations
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Safeguards
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Print or photo-copy the application prior to any submission.
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Write down any application passwords
Check with the admission office to be sure they received your application.

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Application and fee.
Transcript request and fees.
Essay/ personal statements.
Recommendation requests.
NCAA registration.
Portfolio/work samples when applicable and supplements.
Test score reports.

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Process transcript request
Process counselor recommendation request
Include school profile
Mail the above
Mail semester grades

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Research financial aid filing deadlines for each school
MUST file by the earliest of those deadlines
Watch for electronic notifications/ communications. Respond appropriately.
(Student receives not parent!)

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Understand all application deadlines
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Priority deadline is usually a scholarship deadline
Does the school have another scholarship deadline
Does the school have
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Scholarships that require separate application?
Nominated scholarships?
Check scholarship lists

The BIGGER the Scholarship
The Earlier the Deadline
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Georgia Tech’s Presidential Scholarship
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Tuition/fees, room & board
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15 October application deadline
Washington University in St. Louis’s
Danforth Scholars Program
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Full or partial tuition scholarships
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15 October nomination deadline…

University of South Carolina
Likelihood of Admitted Freshmen Receiving USC Merit
Scholarships
Test Scores
GPA
2.0-2.49
2.5-2.99
3.0-3.49
3.5-3.99
4.0-4.49
4.5+
1100-1190
24-26
1200-1290
27-28
1300-1390
29-31
1400-1490
32-33
1500-1600
34-36
Green- Highly likely Blue- Likely Black- Less likely Gray- Unlikely
Based on fall 2012 freshmen class stats

University of Vermont
Scholarship Test Scores Other
Presidential
Trustees
1800 or 26
1650
Top 20%
Top 25%
Amount
Up to $11,000/yr
Up to $7,000/yr
Cooper Union
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50% tuition scholarship for ALL students
Curtis Institute of Music
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NO tuition for ALL students

Cooperative Learning Options
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Study specified number of semesters
Intern/Work full-time under the college umbrella without study
Full-time work provides $$ for college and resume experience
May take longer than 4 years to graduate

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Listen for announcements about college visits to Woodson and get a pass.
Check the Career Center Newsletter and Family Connections for scholarships, college visits, and career information.
The Career Center Newsletter also contains a information on internships, special programs/opportunities, colleges, and important happenings.

Keep Your Grades Up!!
Senior Year is like the On
Ramp to I-95 ~ DON’T
SLOW DOWN!
Colleges often send letters and call counselors when grades slip!
All grades count, all year!

Complete the survey found at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/WTW_Sr_Parent_Ngt
(Those spaces are actually ___ .)