JONATHAN LAW HIGH SCHOOL
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
PRESENTS
THE COLLEGE PROCESS
School Counseling Team
Contact Information
School Counselors:
A-BOR Paulette Reeves
ext. 5868
DB-J
Cristina Scarpa
ext. 5768
K-MT
Nicole Pirrello
ext. 5468
MU-S
Barbara Kovacs
ext. 5668
BOS-DA, Marguerite Raymo
ext. 5568
T-Z
Email: first initial, last name@milforded.org
Support Staff:
Christy Lindsay, College and Career Assistant ext. 5060
The College Process Is …
 A commitment
 Time consuming
 Often confusing
 Hard work
 Requires thought
 A team undertaking
 The student, the family and the school
counselor working together
Our Agenda
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Student profile
Naviance
Testing
Choosing the right school(s)
Applying to school(s)
Financial aid
NCAA registration
Questions and answers
Student Profile
What do colleges want to know?
 Just the facts:
 G.P.A.
 Class Rank
 Courses (level of difficulty)
 SAT/ACT Scores
 Digital Footprints
 Be aware of what it is and how it is used
The Whole Person
 Student Leader
 Volunteer
 Athlete
 Employee
 Key/Keyette Club
 Scout
 Interact Club
 Sailor
 Advocate Staff
 Member of your family
 Actor
 Church Group
 Musician
 Artist
Naviance
 Naviance enables our counseling office to offer a
comprehensive website for parents and students to
use in making decisions about colleges and careers. It
allows students to:
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Research colleges/careers
Sign up for college visits at JLHS
Check out scholarships
Complete inventories/surveys
Share information via email with students and parents
 www.connection.naviance.com/jonathanlaw
Resources that Naviance provides:
 College Information
 Scholarship
 College Search
Information
 Learning Styles
 Resume Builder
 EDOCS
 Academic/Action Plan
 Interest Inventory
 Personality Survey
College Admissions Testing
 SAT
 SAT I – (Reasoning)
 SAT II (Subject tests)
 ACT
About the tests
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What are they?
When do students take them?
Where are they offered?
How to register?
What is the cost?
How do the colleges receive the
scores?
 Are there alternatives?
 How may my son or daughter improve
their scores?
SAT Reasoning Test or SAT I
 Three sections to the test:
 Critical Reading
 Math
 Writing
 Each section is scored on a scale of
200-800.
 There are sub scores for the multiple
choice sections and the essay.
SAT Subject Tests or SAT II
 One hour long, may take three at
one administration sitting
 Required by some selective
colleges for admission
 May be used for placement in
appropriate college level
classes
 Will be indicated on the
application if required
The ACT
American College Testing Program
 Four sections to the test:
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English
Math
Reading
Science
 Optional writing section with an essay sub-score
 Scored on a scale from 1-36
 Four individual scores plus a composite average
score
When do students take
SATs/ACTs?
 Most students take these tests
in spring of junior year and
then again in fall of senior
year.
 Most colleges will take the
higher/highest score in each
section from all of the testing.
 Most colleges recommend two or
three times.
How to Register:
 Online
 SAT at
www.collegeboard.org
 ACT at
www.actstudent.org
How to Register:
 What is the cost? (This year)
 SAT Reasoning Test- $50, late fee $27
 SAT Subject Tests- $23 registration
fee, plus $12 per test.
 ACT- $35, $50 with optional Writing
Section
*See your counselor to determine
if you are eligible for a fee
waiver*
Deadlines and additional fees are
described in the written material
or on website.
How Do Colleges receive Scores?
 Directly from Testing Service
 Four are free at registration or within 5 days
after the testing date.
 Cost per school $11 for scores to be sent
 Current scores and previous scores
 Score Choice
 Student elects scores to be sent
 Must select prior to registration or within 10
days of testing.
Very Important:
 Entering the school code gives College
Board and ACT permission to send
Jonathan Law your scores.
CEEB CODE 070423
What are testing optional
schools?
 Certain colleges are accepting alternative
information such as evidence of long term
projects, etc. This is indicated as SAT
optional. The information is on the
college’s website.
 Consult individual college websites or see
your counselor.
How may my student improve
their scores?
Read, read and read more…
Use PSAT results
Take challenging math classes and
other college preparatory courses.
Register for the “SAT Question of the
Day” on collegeboard.com.
CHOOSING A COLLEGE
HOW TO NARROW THE SEARCH
Important factors to consider:
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Location
Size
Major
Suitcase School
Housing/Commute
Cost
Activities
 Facilities on
campus
 Community
activities on
campus
 Support
Services
 Special Needs
Where to Start?
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College websites
Naviance
View books
College representatives
College fairs ( sign up today
for the Harford College Fair)
 College tours
College Visits
• Call for an appointment.
• Review school information before
arriving for your visit.
• Tour the surrounding area.
College visits continued…
 Time your visits when students
are on campus.
 Tour the residence halls,
cafeteria, classrooms and
library.
 Bring an unofficial transcript.
 Ask questions (i.e. freshman
class size, health services, car
policy, campus security,
admissions dates and criteria).
College visits continued…
 Speak, informally, to students.
 Consider having an interview
with admissions staff.
 Talk to financial aid office
during the visit.
 Make a list of first
impressions.
 Take pictures.
Open Houses
 Day or weekend activities for
prospective students.
 Dates available on college
websites.
 Usually late spring and early
fall.
APPLICATION
PROCESS
Jonathan Law Timeline
 The Jonathan Law Guidance Department
requires 10 School days to process a
completed application.
 The guidance department reviews the
application, including the essay, prior to the
student submitting the application.
TYPES OF COLLEGE APPLICATION
DEADLINES
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Early Decision
Early Action: Single Choice
Early Action
Standard
Rolling Admission
TYPES OF APPLICATIONS
 Online Applications-encouraged by
schools
 Common Application
(www.commonapp.org)
 Paper Application
Completing the Edocs/Online
Application:
 Aspect of Naviance
 JLHS may transmit transcript and support
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materials (recommendation letters) electronically
to colleges
All students must register for the Common
Application
Upon completing registration for the common
application, students must sign “Release Form”
Student may now transmit their common
application or the school’s own electronic
application. Please save your work.
Student should complete the Transcript Request
Form (blue form) and bring it to Mrs. Sena in
guidance.
Essays
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Brainstorm on the topics.
Complete a rough draft.
Have someone review it.
Revise.
Edit.
 SAVE ESSAYS WRITTEN DURING YOUR
JUNIOR YEAR.
RECOMMENDATIONS
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Determine how many the schools require.
Make sure they’ll be strong.
Teachers
Counselor-If you are using the common
application please make certain to inform
your counselor.
Decisions
 Acceptance
 Deferral
 Wait List
 Denial
 Inform counselor of decision
FINANCIAL AID
Tuition Cost Breakdown
Western
Connecticut
State
University
College of
the Ozarks
University
Vermont
University of
South
Florida/Tampa
Worcester
Polytechnic
Institute
Tuition
$8,246
Tuition
Tuition
Work for free $32,528
tuition
Tuition
$14,916
Tuition
$39,450
Room and
Board
$10,223
Room and
Board
$5,900
Room and
Board
$9,708
Room and
Board
$9,190
Room and
Board
$11,934
Books
$1,300
Books
$800
Books
$1,200
Books
$1,500
Books
$1,000
*check school website for net price calculator
*this price is before financial aid/scholarships/loans are factored in
The primary responsibility of
paying for college is that of
the parents/guardians and
the student.
Bridging the Gap
The GAP
 Cost of Attendance (COA) = Tuition, Room
and Board, Fees
 Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) = From
FAFSA – amount family is expected to
contribute
 Gap is the Need. COA – EFC = Gap
Financial Aid is money that you can apply
for to help bridge the gap between your
family assets
 Grants
 Scholarships
 Loans
 Work Study
How to apply for Financial
Aid?
 Start to prepare your tax information in
November – December of the Senior year
 Complete and submit the Profile, if required
 Apply for your PIN so that you can complete and
submit the FAFSA to get the SAR that tells you
your EFC.
WATCH DEADLINES!
 Contact Financial Aid office for specific
application forms, deadlines and
requirements
Financial Aid Acronyms
 FAFSA- Free Application for Federal Student
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Aid.
EFC-Expected Family Contribution
SAR- Student Aid report
PIN- Personal Identification Number
CSS- College Scholarship Service
COA – Cost of Attendance
Scholarships
 Jonathan Law Scholarship: all students
should submit the application
 Scholarships are listed on the Guidance
website and updated daily via
Naviance/Family Connection
 Beware of scholarship services that
charge a fee
NCAA Eligibility Center
 All Athletes who are considering Division I
and/or Division II schools
 Online application: Go to NCAA website
and follow prompts for application. This
should be done at the end of junior year.
 There is a fee required to submit the
application. ($70)
 H.S. transcript is required to complete the
application.
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Questions
and
Answers…