Preparing for College – start early & make it a family activity

This has been a year of learning for us as parents I was out last night with some of my original PEP moms and it seemed like a lifetime ago that we were talking about diaper rashes and pacifiers. We have watched our children grow up together. Last nightsdiscussion covered everything from the teen party scene, to which driving school ourdaughters are using, and finally to comparing our research at the college preparation process.

This past summer during our vacation back East, we visited 5 schools with our daughters who just started their junior year(see the list of notes and tips below).At some of the schools, we did an orientation and at others, we did the formal tour and for a few, we just walked through the campuses.The experience was great for all of us (even their 12 year old sister). Our daughters had the opportunity to see how many choices are available to them beyond the ten schools they hear their friends and teammates discussing.They were also able to get a sense ofcollege life at each campus seeing the differences between the architecture of the buildings, the physical setting of the schools, campus activities, the Greek system andthe dorm and apartment set-up. I think it motivated them going into their junior year and gave them a sense of what they are working towards.

As parents, we learned so much in the orientations about how to support them in the process this next two years.Itis similar to what we experienced when we were their age however the competitiveness and the emphasis on where they should focus on their college applications has changed. It was exciting to hear how much the classes and programs have evolved on the campuses. There are such amazing opportunities for cross-disciplinaryprograms, internships and other things that will develop their interests and experience outside just academics in the classroom.

I encourage parents and students starting at the sophomore age to be proactive in this process whether your childplans to go to a four year university, a community college or even if they are planning to take time off when they graduate. We have told our daughters when we are dragging them to the college fairs at their high school,you get to make the decision your senior year and we will support whatever that decision is but prior to that,we want you to be aware of all the choices that are available to you so you can make an informed decision.

There is often repetition in the information we are hearing however each time there issomething new that we learn that makes everything we have attended worthwhile. It is a process, but it is actually an exciting one to share with your children.Below are a few things we have learned

WE INVITE YOU TO COMMENT BELOW
WITH YOUR OWN TIPS & QUESTIONS!!

WHAT IS EARLY DECISION VERSUS EARLY ACTION?

• Early decision plans are BINDING a student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college.You can apply to only one early decision college. If the college accepts you and offers you enough financial aid, you must go to that college.
• Early action plans are 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.You can apply to more than one early action college. If youre accepted, you can say yes right away or wait until spring to decide. You can also decline the offer.

This is not the best avenue to take for everyone so consider the following Do you want time to compare admission and financial aid offers from several colleges? Would you benefit from having another semesterof high school work to show colleges? If so, you may want to wait to apply.

TIPS TO CONSIDER IN THE COLLEGE RESEARCH PROCESS

• TEACHERSStart cultivating relationships with teachersyou will want to have a couple teachers you can reach out to for letters of recommendation for both the college application process as well as scholarship applications.

• COUNSELORSMeet with your school guidance counselors they can help you with the process starting your freshman year choosing the appropriate classes, guiding you on which tests to take, as well as schools to research. They are also a resource for the college and can give the admissions officer a better sense of each student and the levelof rigor they are capable of.

• FINANCIAL AIDThere is need based and merit based financial aid or the combination of both. There are also scholarships, grants and loans.
• The financial aid you receive can often be influenced by your grades so the better you do, the more you will receive.Your job in high school is to go to your classes and get the best grades you can.

• COLLEGE FEESTuition, housing, dining, books, supplies, transportation, parking and eating out.

• RESEARCHING COLLEGES,things to think about
  Class Sizes Areas of Interest (ability to declare your major) Location Cost

• OUT OF STATE TUITION Out of state tuition is often much more expensive however there are some schools in their recruiting who waive the out of state fees in order to encourage more balance.

• BE PROACTIVE YOUR JUNIOR YEAR!
  Set up a PROFESSION EMAIL address. (You will be using this for all your communications throughout the admissions process you do not want your email address to give the wrong impression of you are as a student)
  Take the PSAT
  Apply for scholarships
  Tour college campuses
  Get on the email lists for admissions at these schools.

YOUR ESSAY & APPLICATION THINGS TO CONSIDER

The essays are how the admissions counselors set you apart after they have defined your ability to succeed academically. How will you impact a classroom in their school? How will you influence or impact your roommate?

Make sure you make the essay about YOU. Even if the essay question asks about who influenced you in your life, the admissions officer want to learn about you so make sure to tie in the question so that the essay is a reflection of who you are. They look at this essay as if it was their personal interview with you.

If you are asked, why do you want to attend this school?Answer this directly and show your commitment in the essay. Show the level of engagement you have had in the process such has having toured the college, or having a special major unique to that school. Connect yourself and your interests with what the school offers.

EXTRA CURRICULAR PROGRAMSAdmissions counselors weigh about fifty percent on your GPA, course rigor and test scores. The other fifty percent is on what you are doing outside of the classroom. It is not important what you did What is important is, why you did it.Dont just pad your application with a list of accomplishments or a list of places you volunteered. The admissions counselor is more interested in the things that were important to you. They want to see your level of involvement and your follow through to completion. They want to see something that shows your depth of involvement. You can also write aboutsomething that has kept you from being involved (ie: lack of transportation to be able to do an internship).

When you are choosing your high school CLASSES, consider that a B in a rigorous course versus an A in college prep will be looked on more favorably.

PRE-COLLEGE TIMELINE CHECKLIST

Spring (Junior Year) & Summer (before Senior Year)

• Visit colleges! Find out about their financial aid packages and the costs of attending.
• Start working on College Essays.
• Volunteer & Intern find meaningful volunteer opportunities (start your Freshman year).

September

• Start working on applications.
• Start preparing for SAT.
• Go to financial aid workshops in your community. Find out about application deadlines.
• Research Scholarship opportunities. Find out about deadlines. The DEADLINE for theScholarship Foundation of Santa Barbarais JANUARY 31st.
• Attend college fairs in your community or at your high school.

October

• Contact financial aid offices to find out options available. (Non-federal financial aid: www.profileonline.collegeboard.com)
• Work on your essay.
• SAT Testing [PSAT for Juniors]

November

• Talk to teachers about sending in letter of recommendation.
• Apply for scholarships and grants

December

• Finish essays and send them in. (Xerox a copy to keep.)
• SAT testing.
• Send standardized test scores to your college at www.collegeboard.com or by phone, 800.sat.score.

January

• Start filing for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  Information at: www.fafsa.ed.gov or pin.ed.gov.
• Send midyear report to colleges that require it.
• SAT testing.
• Consider hiring a college guidance counselor to assist you in the process (Juniors).

February & March

• Look at www.fastweb.com and finaid.org for ideas for scholarships.
• Visit colleges during your Spring Break.

April

• Attend admitted students weekends at college campuses.
• Send in acceptance letters to chosen school with your deposit.
• Decline other offers of admission.
• SAT & ACT testing (Juniors)

May

• AP exams. Send in AP grade report to your college.
• Fill out housing preference forms.
• Deadline for notifying colleges of your decision.

June

• Send in final high school transcript.
• Final deadline to submit FAFSA.
• Look at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net for info on competing in Division I or II college sports.

July & August

• Go to www.facebook.com to learn more about students at your school.
• Set-up bank accounts, credit cards, health insurance, cell phones, etc.
• Choose Fall classes.
• Look at www.MonsterTrak.com or www.internships.com for internships and paid positions.

HELPFUL LINKS

• degrees.calstate.edu
• sat.collegeboard.org when to take the SAT