Does this sound familiar???
Communicate as a Family
• Welcome and thank you for coming!
• I hope and anticipate that the college
conversation will continue in your home.
• There is a clear commitment on everyone’s part
to continue talking through any obstacles and
come to a working approach in this exciting (and
sometimes stressful!) time in a student’s life.
Help is here… Just ask.
• We are all here to help you along in this process
over the coming months.
• Contact us:
▫ Karyn Koven – College Counselor
 Dr.koven@ht-la.org 818-609-2681
▫ Nikki Bender – Academic Counselor
 Ms.bender@ht-la.org 818-609-2682
▫ Nicole Dorfler – Assistant College Counselor
 Ms.dorfler@ht-la.org 818-609-2686
▫ College Counseling Assistants
What not to do in a PowerPoint
presentation…
• That’s the model here!
▫ Not a good POL model kids!
▫ I’ll talk in bullet points.
▫ The full presentation will be posted on the HTLA
website under “College Guidance” for your future
reference and further details/notes.
You will be
AWARE OF DEADLINES
• Senior year is all about
DEADLINES – for college apps,
financial aid & scholarships,
ordering your cap and gown,
completing all your
requirements to GRADUATE
and go off to college!
The Senior Year
All year:
▫ Continually check your Naviance
account for scholarships, when college
reps are visiting, upcoming events,
links to career websites
▫ Visit college campuses every chance
you get! (school trip planned in November)
▫ Search for scholarships. There is a lot
of free money you can get your hands
on if you just put in a little effort!
▫ Maintain your grades in all of your
academic courses.
2014 U.S. News & World Report
Best Regional Universities
Best National Liberal Arts
Colleges
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Pomona College
Claremont McKenna College
Harvey Mudd College
Scripps College (women’s)
Occidental College
Pitzer College
U. of Redlands
Soka University
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Santa Clara University
Loyola Marymount University
Mills College
Cal Poly-SLO
Chapman University
St. Mary’s College of Calif. (women’s)
California Lutheran University
Cal State Long Beach
Mount St. Mary’s College
CSU – Chico
Cal Poly Pomona
Sonoma State University
CSU Fresno
San Jose State University
Break the hovering habit
Hovering gives your kids the message that only
you know what is best for them and they cannot
do it on their own.
Trust, build self-confidence and let them deal with
conflict or difficult situations on their own. This
will make them better self-advocates and more
independent.
DO pay attention and stay involved
but DON’T do it for them.
September
• Meet with college admissions
reps visiting HTLA
• Create a timeline - calendar your application and
scholarship deadlines
• Review your applications, transcript, activities resume
and college essays with your parents, teachers and
counselor
• Register for the upcoming SATs, ACTs and SAT Subject
Tests if you need to
• Have your official scores sent to the colleges you are
applying to (best to do it within days after the SAT/ACT)
SAT/ACT/Subject Tests
 Go to www.collegeboard.com for
SAT/Subject Tests, or www.actstudent.org
for ACT. (go to websites for deadlines)
 SAT Subject Tests: It is your responsibility to
check with your colleges to see what (if any)
specific tests they require.
 The last exam date you can sit for is
December. Those scores will be sent to the
colleges you are applying to per your request.
 Fee waivers are available for students who
qualify for free/reduced lunch. See the main
office for the waivers. Lunch forms need to
be turned in each year.
October
• October 1. Your college list is due on Naviance.
• Continue to polish your application essay/s – get many
people to read it for you.
• Continue to visit with College Representatives when they
visit HTLA (listed on Naviance) or meet them locally in
the evenings (look at the college websites).
• Ask your teachers if they will write letters of rec. for you
in person. Then, make the request through Naviance.
You must do this by Nov. 1.
• Get started on your
applications if you haven’t
done so already.
The Application Process
You are responsible for:
• Application & fees
• Essays/personal statement
• Asking/getting teachers to complete
recommendation letter/s
• Transcript requests through Naviance
• Sending your ACT or SAT test scores to
the colleges you are applying to
• Following up with all necessary
communications with the colleges
• Asking for help when you need it.
Online Applications
• It is recommended that you
complete all applications online.
Most all forms your high school must
complete (School Report Form/
Teacher or Counselor
Recommendation Form) are also
completed electronically through
Naviance.
*Most fee waivers are also
Submitted online.
Applying… the nuts and bolts
Community College
Cal State University (CSU)
• Apply by February of your
senior year.
• The application is simple – no
transcript or tests needed.
• Graduation from high school
required to attend full time.
• No application essay.
• Apply by November 30th
• Straight forward application –
you will need your transcript
to list classes taken. (no
official transcripts needed
until the end of senior year)
• SAT I or ACT required.
• No application Essay.
Applying Continued
University of California
• Apply by November 30th.
• Comprehensive application
– need to list classes taken,
activities, and awards. (no
official transcripts needed
until the end of senior year)
• SAT I or ACT required.
• Two or three SAT II subject
tests recommended (Math,
writing and one of your
choice).
• Application has short
answer essays (personal
statement).
Private & Out of State
Universities
 Deadlines vary (most are due
by mid January).
 Comprehensive applications –
need to list classes taken,
activities, awards.
 Official transcripts need to be
sent, as well as letter/s of
recommendation.
 SAT I or ACT required, as well
as SAT II tests (see college
website).
 Applications usually have
several essays.
 Interviews sometimes
available through admissions
office.
Application fee waivers
• If you qualify for free/reduced lunch, you may
obtain application waivers for private colleges
from Dr. Koven through Naviance.
• For the UC/CSU, students must enter their
parent’s annual income and the computer will
immediately let you know if you are granted a
fee waiver. If you are free/reduced and you don’t
get the fee waiver on the site, see Dr. Koven.
▫ If you get a fee waiver you should apply to the
full number of schools you are able to for free:
 UC = 4 campuses
 CSU = 4 campuses
 If you would like to apply to more than the fee waiver
will cover, you must pay for the additional
applications.
Application Tips and Workshops
during Xblock @ HTLA
Application Tips
• Monday, October 5 – CSU Application
• Monday, October 12 – UC Application
• Monday, October 19 – Private colleges (common
application)
Application Workshop (work on any apps)
• Monday, November 2 and
• Friday, November 6
Application Deadlines
• UC
November 30, 2015
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply
• CSU
November 30, 2015
www.csumentor.org
• Private Colleges
Dates Vary*
*www.commonapp.org
*See the college website for details
November
• Start your Financial Aid Process. Both you
and your parents need to obtain a PIN at
www.pin.ed.gov so you can fill out the FAFSA
• Complete the CSS Profile Financial Aid Form
if your colleges require it for application or
financial aid (Private colleges)
• November 30: Deadline for
UC and CSU applications.
December
• Complete Applications for private colleges
• Check on Naviance before winter break to see if
your teachers and Dr. Koven have submitted your
letters of recommendation.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Financial Aid Night @ HTLA – FAFSA line by line
workshop on Tuesday, December 1 at 6:30 p.m. in
the Great Room with Cynthia Martinez from CSUN
(assistance in Spanish will be available).
• Sign the consent to release your GPA for the Cal
Grant. Give it to Dr. Koven.
Other Deadlines… Last Call…
• December 14, 2015 begins the last week of
school before winter break. Please make sure
you have a teacher or Dr. Koven look over your
applications. Some private college applications
are due during or before winter break.
Transcripts
(three types):
1. Official (sealed and stamped or sent
electronically) – They go to colleges and for
scholarships and end of the year transcript to the
college you will attend in the fall.
2. Unofficial (for your reference only).
3. Mid-Year Transcripts – sent electronically. If they
can’t be sent electronically…
• ALL official transcript requests must be given to
Dr. Koven with 3 days notice! In person or by email
• Please do NOT request a transcript or letters of
recommendation if you are not 100% sure you will
be completing that school’s application!
We are NOT talking about financial
aid in detail tonight. But…
• Do not limit your college research or application
submission based only upon the notion that you will not
be able to pay for tuition.
• Do apply broadly.
• Do apply for financial aid through the FAFSA, Cal Grant,
scholarships, local scholarships and ask at the
university/college what scholarships you can apply for.
• AND YOU NEVER KNOW… some private
colleges have $ to give. Why not to you??
• MANDATORY MEETING: Seniors and their parents
must attend F.A. night
FAFSA line by line 12/01/2015 6:30 p.m.
2- year colleges
4-year colleges
trade schools… everyone needs to try to get $
*Students who are undocumented AB540 need to see me for information
about financial aid. They may NOT apply for federal financial aid (FAFSA)
but may apply for state aid (Cal Grant). They may apply to any college,
anywhere. If they have been at a California high school for 3 years and
graduate, they are granted in-state tuition at CA public colleges and
universities. See Dr. Koven for more details and scholarship resources.
Money/Scholarships
◦ Look for local scholarships
◦ Look on Naviance for scholarships
◦ Join fastweb.com, scholarships.com and look at
the reference sheet on our website under college
office – it’s a good resource!
◦ Parents - File taxes as early as possible this year
and each year that your student is in college
(March 2 deadline for FAFSA)
January
• You may begin to fill out the FAFSA online as of
January 1, 2016. You have until March 2 to submit.
• Complete other scholarship applications.
• Dr. Koven will send your mid-year transcripts to
colleges electronically OR give you copies to mail to
colleges.
• If you received a grade of “D” or “F”
during first semester, you MUST call the
admissions offices at the four-year colleges and
tell them. They have the right to rescind your
acceptance if they don’t find out about it until June.
February/March
• Review scholarship programs for additional sources
of merit and need-based funds. (Naviance,
fastweb.com, scholarships.com, etc.)
• Be sure you have applied for housing at the public
college of your choice.
• FAFSA & CSS Profile are due by March 2.
• Have you received FAFSA Acknowledgement and
the Student Aid Report (SAR) from the Pell Grant
Program? If there are changes or corrections,
resubmit the forms.
• If you applied to the UC or CSU, you should hear
from the campus in mid-March (sometimes later).
• Private colleges send acceptances throughout the
spring, but before April 15.
April
• Review your acceptances and financial
aid offers with Dr. Koven
• Check about housing opportunities at
your colleges
• Wait to hear from all of your colleges before making
your final decision.
• Visit the college of your choice if before making the final
decision.
• Notify the college of your choice. Send the Statement of
Intent (SIR) and deposit to the school by May 1.
May
• May 1. Input your college acceptance data into Naviance
• Notify the schools from with you have been accepted
that you have decided NOT to attend.
• Keep your counselor informed of your college
decision and the scholarships you receive.
• Send your Pell Grant Student Aid Report (Green Copy)
to your chosen college. Keep one for your records.
• If necessary, apply for student loans
• Apply for a summer job to help pay for college costs.
• Academic counselor does a final graduation check.
• Contact the college you plan to attend if you
think you will earn a final grade of “d” or “f”.
Letting Go Night & Internship POL
• Nights for seniors and their parents.
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Internship POLs presented
Mentors and community members present
Tips for the transition from high school to college
Guest speakers
Prizes and food!
• Save the dates:
▫ Letting Go: Wednesday, May 3 at 6:30 p.m.
▫ Internship: Wednesday, May 24 at 6:00 p.m.
Both events will be in the Great Room.
On the topic of Letting Go…
• Let GO!
• Allow students the freedom to explore
their interests and passions
• Keep an open mind
• Apply and see
• Let students take advantage of the best
educational opportunity offered to them. Do not
limit growth, experiences and opportunities –
that’s why you sent them to HTLA!
June
• Finish all courses and requirements for
graduation. (See your graduation contract)
• Keep applying for scholarships.
• Get final transcript at graduation practice
to send to the college you will be attending.
• Thank all those who have
helped you in this process
Parents, friends, teachers…)
• Graduation! (6/10/16)
@ 6 p.m.
Other helpful tips/reminders…
What is our School Code?
High Tech LA
051526
Check your email daily.
It’s where all the important stuff goes!
Choose one log-in name and one
password… make your life easier
Parents: Are you on
Naviance/Family
Connection?
If not, email me
ASAP!
Questions?