1 West Forsyth High School College Scholarship Financial Aid 2017

1 West Forsyth High School College/Scholarship/Financial Aid 2017 -2018

Student Services Counselors • • • Miranda Di. Cato Jenn Wyshner Robin Downs Tammy Winchester Allison Barnes Sean Sandag 2 A-Coj Col-Ep Es-Ji Jo-Mo Mu-Sh Si-Z

Admissions: Factors of Importance • • • Transcript • Grades • Strength of Curriculum Test Scores: SAT/ACT/Subject Tests Extracurricular activities Recommendations Essays Interviews / Demonstrated Interest

Admission Statistics 4

Transcripts 5 Seniors have received their updated copy showing courses scheduled senior year NOTE: Colleges evaluate students based on the transcript they receive Change of schedule can impact admissions UNC Chapel Hill has created an email address specifically for students with high school scheduling questions and notification of changes Seniors can request their transcript two ways: Enter counselor email address in online portal, Ex. Common Application Student requests hard copy using request form in Student Services First 2 requests are free then $2 each All transcript requests for scholarships are free

Testing www. collegeboard. org (SAT & Subject Tests) www. act. org (ACT) Seniors – taking one or both a 2 nd time Juniors – ACT on February 27 th Free Test Prep Score reports – PSAT, PRE-ACT Collegeboard. org, ACT. org, CFNC. org see Student Services website Myth or Fact: Phenomenal test scores almost guarantee admissions

Submitting Test Scores 7 Test scores are NOT added to student transcripts Must request score reports from: www. collegeboard. org (for SAT, Subject test scores) www. act. org (for ACT scores) Consider all test date score reports for super-scoring

Extracurricular Activities • Develop a list of activities, awards, recognitions • Elaborate • Submit in applications • Submit to counselor, along with Recommendation/Scho larship Questionnaire Myth or Fact: A large listing of activities is better than one or two

Recommendations • 10 Should be sent directly to admissions from recommender • Electronic or paper submissions • Provide recommenders with a minimum of 2 weeks • Complete the West Questionnaire • Teachers or Counselors, both or none • “I waive my right to review or access letters and statements of recommendation written on my behalf”

Interviews 11 Few colleges REQUIRE an interview It’s usually beneficial to interview if interviewing is an option and student interview skills are a strength Utilize West’s Mock Interview Process - Mr. Sandag

Application Deadlines 12 Early Action: NONBINDING — students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1 Early Decision: BINDING — a student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college. Students cannot apply ED to more than one school. Regular Decision: Later due date – certain percentage admitted based on admit rate at early deadline. Rolling Admission: Admissions decisions are made as applications are received

Community College 29% of West’s 2017 graduating class planned to enter a community college Two-Year Transfer Program: Complete the first two years of college and then transfer to a four-year college as a junior saving thousands of dollars Associate Degree Programs Certificate Programs

Job Trends

RDS Residency 15 Determination Service Required by all NC public colleges before reviewing application Generates a RCN (Residency Certification Number) to be entered in each college application https: //ncresidency. cfnc. org/residency. Info/

Financial Aid • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) • Determines federal aid eligibility & Expected Family Contribution (EFC) • Cannot be submitted until October 1 st (senior yr. ) • www. fafsa. ed. gov • Some schools may also require CSS Profile • Use financial aid calculator www. collegeboard. org or www. cfnc. org

Three Main Types of Financial Aid • Grants and Scholarships - don’t have to be repaid. Grant aid can be awarded by government and by institutions based on need. Scholarships usually awarded based on merit. • Loans- Must be repaid. Most loans awarded based on need are low-interest subsidized by government (no interest until graduation). • Work-Study

Financial Aid Myths 18 Private schools are too expensive I won’t qualify for aid I shouldn’t accept a financial aid package with any “self-help” I can’t appeal my financial aid package The FAFSA form is long and too hard to complete

Scholarships • Sign up for Scholarship Newsletter • Email bworley@wsfcs. k 12. nc. us • Check announcements daily • Request recommendations early • Utilize Mock Interview Committee when needed • “I want to be considered” form • Google search Tip: You should not need to “pay” anything in order to find “money”

Senior Parent Questionnaire Briefly describe your son/daughter’s strengths and weaknesses. (Academic and/or Personal) Is there a significant circumstance that interfered with your child’s performance during high school? What three adjectives would you use to describe your son/daughter? What would you like to have emphasized in your son/daughter’s recommendation letters? Are there any special considerations that affect the decision of where to apply or attend college? Please provide any financial information or special circumstances that you would like considered for potential need-based scholarships. 20

Follow us on Twitter @WFHSCounselor Email Ms. Worley for Daily Announcements & Scholarship Newsletter bworley@wsfcs. k 12. nc. us

Important Dates: WSFCS College Fair Benton Convention Center Monday, October 2 nd 5 -8 p. m. College Application Week November 13 th – 17 th WSFCS Financial Aid Nights October 19 th & November 13 th 6 -8 pm Education Building Auditorium West FAFSA Day October 18 th (Early Release Afternoon) WSFCS - FAFSA Day November 4 th

Meaningful Questions to ask Admissions Representatives Can you describe your career services and how that office would help me determine my intended major? 23 How often do new students meet with their academic advisors? Do the professors offer open office hours for students who need extra help? And are they actually available or would I see a Graduate Assistant? Can you describe the study center on campus that offers help with writing papers, studying for tests, etc? What are some of the reasons why students transfer from your school? Am I able to reach out to that advisor anytime for help? What programming and efforts has the college made to try to improve the retention rate? Given the use of internet recourses, do students still utilize the Library? And how late is it open to students?

Timeline 24 NOW Requesting recommendations Working on overall applications Working on Essays Compiling list of activities / resume Re-taking SAT October 7 th or ACT October 28 th if needed Completing West Questionnaires (student/parent) Request score reports for SAT / ACT scores Application Deadlines (vary by institution) Early Action / Early Decision October 15 th , November 1 st , November 15 th , December 1 st Early Action for colleges with an earlier ED deadline December 15 th , January 1 st Regular Decision January 15 th – March 1 st

Our Goals for your child: 25 They listened to our presentations to them last week and have been motivated to begin or continue working on their plans They meet with us one-on-one during the 1 st quarter to discuss their personal plan They continue to meet with us and ask questions They complete the questionnaire for both recommendations and scholarship opportunities They work with you to complete the FAFSA and RDS They attend a college that is THEIR best fit!

Resourses www. collegeboard. org www. bigfuture. collegeboard. org www. act. org www. fastweb. org www. cfnc. org www. wsfoundation. org www. fafsa. ed. gov www. Tomjoynerfoundation. org www. gmsp. org www. convertyourscore. org 26