Junior College Planning Night - Commack Union Free School District

Junior College Planning Night

College Planning is a Process• It doesn’t happen in a day.• It doesn’t happen when someone handsyou a list.• You, the student, must “own” it. We,your parents and counselors, aren’tgoing to college. You are.

Steps to College• Know yourself• College qualities to consider• Identifying and comparing collegechoices• Applying for admission• Applying for financial aid• Deciding where to attend

Sources of Information• People• School counselor• College representatives• CHS Information Sessions• CHS On-Site Admission• College Fairs• Alumni• Currently enrolled students• Parents• Friends• Educational consultants• Paper• Objective guidebooks• Subjective guidebooks• Specialized guidebooks• Printed material from colleges• Electronic• Internet• Naviance Family Connection• General• Student Life• Specialized• Financial aid• College web sites• College videos and dvd’s

Sample College CompareNaviance Family Connection5

Sample ScattergramNaviance Family Connection6

Applying for Admission• Build your Commack High School College File• Student and Parent Evaluations/Autobiography• Résumé• Teacher Recommendations• Take SAT and/or ACT• Obtain applications• Complete applications• Write essays, if required by colleges• Submit applications

Applications• Types• The CommonApplication• SUNY• CUNY• College OnlineApplications• Paper• Typical components• Demographicinformation• Academicinformation• Extracurricularinformation• Essays• School report form• Teacher report form

Early Admission Programs• Early Decision• Apply early and receive decision early• Binding• If accepted, student will attend and withdraw all other applications• May apply to other non-binding schools• May only apply to one binding school• Early Action• Apply early and receive decision early• Non-binding• Student may weigh all options and decide by May 1• May apply early to other schools• Early Action Single Choice/Restricted• Same as Early Action but student agrees to apply to only oneschool early

Completing Applications• Read and follow instructions carefully!• Answer all questions honestly andcompletely!• Do it yourself!• Don’t overwhelm the reader with toomuch supplemental information

Submitting Documents• Application Processing Coordinator• Located in central guidance reception area• Collects all college-related material.• Student and Parent Evaluations/Autobiography,Résumé, Application Forms, etc.• Receives all Application ProcessingRequests

How to Submit an Application• Obtain Application Processing Request form• Available in Counseling Center• Review & Complete Student Checklist• Student/Parent Evaluations or Autobiography on file• Create Common Application online account (late Aug/early Sept Senior Yr)• Complete FERPA agreement on Naviance (after creating Common Appaccount)• Verify teachers have submitted recommendations• Acknowledge understanding of student’s responsibility to submit SAT and/orACT scores, outside (non-CHS) recommendations, and activity resumedirectly to colleges• Acknowledge understanding that eight (8) applications will be processed atno additional District charge and that there is a $10 processing fee for eachadditional application.• Complete Application Processing Form and submit to ApplicationProcessors with:• Printed confirmation of online electronic submission or paper application ifnot submitting online

Processing TimelineApplication ProcessingRequest submitted by:Will be processedby:October 1 November 1October 15 November 15November 1 December 1November 15 January 1

Deciding Where to Attend• May 1 Candidates’ Reply Date• Commitments due• Final factors to consider• Revisit• Financial aid• Total costs• “Do I feel comfortable here?”

Tips for Students• Be an active participant in the process• Get excited about it• Work with your counselor• Pay attention to deadlines• Don’t procrastinate

Tips for Parents• Assist your son or daughter in evaluatingtheir strengths, interests, and collegeoptions• Approach the process with excitementrather than apprehension• Realize that this is a stressful time for yourchild