college planning night

College Planning NightCollege Planning NightAlamance Christian SchoolAlamance Christian SchoolThe Pursuit of Excellence through ChristThe Pursuit of Excellence through Christ

College PlanningCollege Planning

Helping a child make college choices Helping a child make college choices and getting a child into college can and getting a child into college can seem like overwhelming tasks.seem like overwhelming tasks.

What can ACS do to help?What can ACS do to help?


We can encourage your student to We can encourage your student to think about colleges and majors.think about colleges and majors.

We can make your student We can make your student aware of colleges and majors aware of colleges and majors that might provide a good that might provide a good fit.fit.


We can make them aware of We can make them aware of scholarship opportunities and teach scholarship opportunities and teach them how to search for scholarships.them how to search for scholarships.

We can educate them We can educate them about the various forms about the various forms of financial aid.of financial aid.

College PlanningCollege PlanningWe can make your students aware of We can make your students aware of standardized tests dates and provide standardized tests dates and provide them with registration information them with registration information for those tests.for those tests.

We can prepare them for We can prepare them for college and financial aid college and financial aid interviews.interviews.

College PlanningCollege PlanningWe can help your students write We can help your students write admissions essays and to answer admissions essays and to answer application questions.application questions.

We can provide them with We can provide them with effective letters of effective letters of recommendation.recommendation.

College PlanningCollege PlanningWe help your student to be realistic We help your student to be realistic and strategic in the college and strategic in the college admissions process.admissions process.

We can make them aware of We can make them aware of college view days and bring college view days and bring college representatives here college representatives here to ACS.to ACS.

College PlanningCollege PlanningWhat do you need to know to help your What do you need to know to help your student through this process?student through this process?

You need to know how to find You need to know how to find colleges that might be a good fit colleges that might be a good fit and how to interview colleges.and how to interview colleges.You need to know how to find You need to know how to find scholarships and financial aid.scholarships and financial aid.You need to know the criteria You need to know the criteria colleges use to make decisions.colleges use to make decisions.You need to know how to help You need to know how to help your student make his/her best your student make his/her best impression.impression.

College PlanningCollege PlanningWhat makes a college a good fit for your What makes a college a good fit for your student? Here are a few things to student? Here are a few things to consider…consider…

Doctrinal issues/educational Doctrinal issues/educational philosophyphilosophyLocation/safetyLocation/safetyCampus lifeCampus lifeMajors offeredMajors offeredAccreditationAccreditationGraduation ratesGraduation ratesCost/available aidCost/available aid

College PlanningCollege PlanningHow do you find colleges that might How do you find colleges that might fit your student well?fit your student well?

Searching the internet Searching the internet sometimes works, but it can sometimes works, but it can also be ineffective and time-also be ineffective and time-consuming because college consuming because college web-sites don’t always web-sites don’t always provide the information you provide the information you really want.really want.

College PlanningCollege PlanningSome helpful resources are…Some helpful resources are…

Many of these are available at public Many of these are available at public libraries.libraries.

College PlanningCollege PlanningHow do you find colleges that might fit How do you find colleges that might fit your student well?your student well?

Talk to alumniTalk to alumniTalk to pastorsTalk to pastorsTalk to teachersTalk to teachersTalk to practitioners of whatever Talk to practitioners of whatever field your student wants to field your student wants to pursuepursueChurch/denominational websitesChurch/denominational websitesAdvertising in publications you Advertising in publications you admireadmire

College PlanningCollege PlanningHow do you interview prospective How do you interview prospective colleges?colleges?

If interviewing at a Christian If interviewing at a Christian school, ask “What does your school, ask “What does your school teach regarding Creation, school teach regarding Creation, the Bible, etc.” (insert your the Bible, etc.” (insert your doctrinal concern here). doctrinal concern here).

Don’t assume a denominational Don’t assume a denominational label means what you think it label means what you think it means.means.

College PlanningCollege PlanningHow do you interview prospective colleges?How do you interview prospective colleges?

You should ask all colleges the You should ask all colleges the following…following…

1.1. How is your school’s philosophy of education unique?How is your school’s philosophy of education unique?2.2. What is the goal of your school for each student? What is the goal of your school for each student? 3.3. Who succeeds here? Who succeeds here? 4.4. What kind of students do you like to attract? What kind of students do you like to attract? 5.5. Why do some students not succeed here?Why do some students not succeed here?6.6. What percentage of incoming freshman graduate in four What percentage of incoming freshman graduate in four

years, or in five? years, or in five? 7.7. Total cost – tuition, fees, room and boardTotal cost – tuition, fees, room and board8.8. Average financial aid package by grant/work and loan?Average financial aid package by grant/work and loan?9.9. Average Merit financial aid award?Average Merit financial aid award?10.10.What is the average debt load of your graduates?What is the average debt load of your graduates?11.11.What do you wish people knew about your school?What do you wish people knew about your school?

College PlanningCollege PlanningHow do you find scholarship and How do you find scholarship and financial aid information?financial aid information?

Here the web can be Here the web can be valuable.valuable.www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.comwww.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.comwww.finaid.orgwww.college-scholarships.com

College PlanningCollege PlanningWhat criteria do colleges use to What criteria do colleges use to make admissions and financial aid make admissions and financial aid decisions?decisions?

Criteria College Reps Want to Know About YouCriteria College Reps Want to Know About You

Grade Point Grade Point AverageAverageRigor of Course Rigor of Course SelectionSelectionSAT/ACT ScoresSAT/ACT Scores

Application EssayApplication EssayLetters of Letters of RecommendationRecommendationExtra Curricular Extra Curricular ActivitiesActivitiesCommunity serviceCommunity serviceSpecial Special talents/abilitiestalents/abilitiesAthleticsAthletics


How can you help your student make How can you help your student make the best possible impression on the best possible impression on college admissions officials?college admissions officials?

If your student is applying to a If your student is applying to a school where the admissions school where the admissions process is at least somewhat process is at least somewhat competitive, or if your student is competitive, or if your student is competing for financial aid competing for financial aid money, the following guidelines money, the following guidelines should help your student make a should help your student make a favorable impression on college favorable impression on college decision makers.decision makers.

College PlanningCollege PlanningKeep in mind that the best thing your Keep in mind that the best thing your student can do is to get good grades and student can do is to get good grades and attain good standardized test scores. attain good standardized test scores.

The Entrance to Heaven

“You’re kidding! You Count the SATS!”

College PlanningCollege PlanningKeep in mind that the best thing your Keep in mind that the best thing your student can do is to get good grades and student can do is to get good grades and attain good standardized test scores. attain good standardized test scores.

College PlanningCollege PlanningKeep in mind that the best thing your Keep in mind that the best thing your student can do is to get good grades and student can do is to get good grades and attain good standardized test scores. attain good standardized test scores. However, beyond grades and test scores, However, beyond grades and test scores, the following tips can help your student the following tips can help your student stand out.stand out.

College PlanningCollege PlanningBe EarlyBe EarlyOne way you can impress college One way you can impress college admissions reviewers right is by admissions reviewers right is by submitting your application early. Now, it submitting your application early. Now, it goes without saying that rushing to goes without saying that rushing to complete an application will show. complete an application will show.

However, a well-done However, a well-done application that arrives early application that arrives early will stand out in the minds will stand out in the minds of reviewers because they of reviewers because they will see it before they are will see it before they are inundated with applications.inundated with applications.

College PlanningCollege PlanningBe PersonalBe PersonalHave your student write a letter to the Have your student write a letter to the admissions committee explaining why they admissions committee explaining why they want to attend the college.want to attend the college.

The letter should also highlight The letter should also highlight specific reasons why your student specific reasons why your student thinks that they are a good match thinks that they are a good match for the college.for the college.Follow up the letter and Follow up the letter and application with a telephone call application with a telephone call (not you, your student).(not you, your student).After a college visit, write After a college visit, write another letter thanking the another letter thanking the admissions representative.admissions representative.

College PlanningCollege PlanningBe ProfessionalBe ProfessionalYour student needs a professional sounding Your student needs a professional sounding email address.email address.

[email protected]@[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]@aol.comThe email address of your student may be the first The email address of your student may be the first thing that a college official sees.thing that a college official sees.Your students needs something likeYour students needs something [email protected]@emailprovider.com

College PlanningCollege PlanningBe RelevantBe RelevantChoose only the best personal Choose only the best personal achievements on the application. You achievements on the application. You want to point out the biggest want to point out the biggest accomplishments and the most accomplishments and the most noteworthy items before the noteworthy items before the reviewer moves on to the next reviewer moves on to the next applicant.applicant.

Likewise, be careful to only Likewise, be careful to only include information that is include information that is relevant to the particular relevant to the particular question you are answering. question you are answering.

College PlanningCollege PlanningBe InvolvedBe InvolvedColleges want to see more than Colleges want to see more than sports and school activities on sports and school activities on applications. applications.

Your student should be Your student should be volunteering in some way volunteering in some way that helps your church or that helps your church or community. This activity community. This activity needs to be highlighted in needs to be highlighted in the application.the application.

College PlanningCollege PlanningBe ArticulateBe ArticulateThe admissions essay is often an The admissions essay is often an important key to admission. If you important key to admission. If you want to impress admissions officers, want to impress admissions officers, you need to take it seriously. you need to take it seriously.

Use the personal essay to Use the personal essay to make clear any special make clear any special hardships or adversities that hardships or adversities that you have overcome.you have overcome.

Have teachers here at ACS proof it.Have teachers here at ACS proof it.

College PlanningCollege PlanningBe In-chargeBe In-chargeYour student needs to be the primary Your student needs to be the primary contact person with all school contact person with all school officials.officials.

College PlanningCollege PlanningSchool officials want to give School officials want to give admissions and financial aid to admissions and financial aid to students who 1) passionately want to students who 1) passionately want to come to their school and 2) are come to their school and 2) are mature, responsible, independent, mature, responsible, independent, and self-directed. and self-directed.

School officials are troubled School officials are troubled by “helicopter parents” or by “helicopter parents” or with the perception that a with the perception that a student will need a lot of student will need a lot of guidance from Mom and Dad.guidance from Mom and Dad.

College PlanningCollege PlanningWhen you visit a campus, your When you visit a campus, your student should walk into the student should walk into the admissions office first, introduce admissions office first, introduce himself, and introduce you.himself, and introduce you.

The student should ask well-The student should ask well-prepared, thoughtful prepared, thoughtful questions about the college. questions about the college. After the discussion, the After the discussion, the student should say, “Mom student should say, “Mom and Dad, do you have any and Dad, do you have any questions?”questions?”

College PlanningCollege PlanningBe ThoughtfulBe ThoughtfulQuestions that admissions people do Questions that admissions people do not want to hear:not want to hear:

Can I have a car?Can I have a car?What time is curfew?What time is curfew?Can I have an off campus apartment?Can I have an off campus apartment?Do I have to go to chapel?Do I have to go to chapel?Will I have to take ____________class?Will I have to take ____________class?How many students attend this college?How many students attend this college?What are the dorms like?What are the dorms like?Tell me about extracurricular activities?Tell me about extracurricular activities?What are your most popular majors?What are your most popular majors?When is your application deadline?When is your application deadline?

College PlanningCollege PlanningBe ThoughtfulBe ThoughtfulQuestions that admissions people Questions that admissions people want to hear?want to hear?

How is your school’s philosophy of education unique?How is your school’s philosophy of education unique?What is the goal of your school for each student? What is the goal of your school for each student? Who succeeds here? Who succeeds here? What kind of students do you like to attract? What kind of students do you like to attract? Why do some students not succeed here?Why do some students not succeed here?What percentage of incoming freshman graduate in four What percentage of incoming freshman graduate in four years, or in five? years, or in five? What is the best way to prepare for your school? What is the best way to prepare for your school? Total cost – tuition, fees, room and boardTotal cost – tuition, fees, room and boardAverage financial aid package by grant/work and loan?Average financial aid package by grant/work and loan?Average Merit financial aid award?Average Merit financial aid award?What is the average debt load of your graduates?What is the average debt load of your graduates?Who will read my application for admission?Who will read my application for admission?What do you wish students knew about your school? What do you wish students knew about your school? If interviewing at a Christian school…If interviewing at a Christian school…What does your school teach regarding Creation, theWhat does your school teach regarding Creation, the Bible, etc. (insert your doctrinal concern here). Bible, etc. (insert your doctrinal concern here).

College PlanningCollege PlanningBe RepresentedBe RepresentedYour student needs to seek out letters of Your student needs to seek out letters of recommendation for teachers. These letters recommendation for teachers. These letters should not be generic, non-specific lists of should not be generic, non-specific lists of nice qualities.nice qualities.

These letters should talk very These letters should talk very specifically about how the specifically about how the teacher has seen your student teacher has seen your student being a leader, being determined being a leader, being determined to overcome adversity, being to overcome adversity, being honest, being dedicated, being honest, being dedicated, being scholarly, being in love with scholarly, being in love with learning, etc.learning, etc.

College PlanningCollege PlanningWe are here to help.We are here to help.Please call on me whenever you need Please call on me whenever you need some counsel or help concerning some counsel or help concerning college.college.An additional websites you should An additional websites you should visit…visit…

www.cnfc.orgwww.cnfc.orgwww.fafsa.govwww.fafsa.gov

college planning night

Documents

college planningwe

college planningwhat

college representatives

college choices

college admissions process

student aware of colleges

aware of college view

college websites dont