intellect, character, and ideals in the classical tradition agenda 1. year-by-year timeline 2....

Intellect, Character and Ideals in the Classical Tradition

Great Thought Inspiring Great Thinkers

Planningfor College

2015

Intellect, Character, and Ideals in the Classical Tradition

Agenda1. Year-by-year timeline

2. Graduation requirements and testing

3. College options

4. What are colleges looking for?

5. Finding colleges that fit and choosing a major

6. Application process

7. Scholarships and financial aid


Freshman Year• Get off to a strong start academically by taking

challenging courses and doing your best in them.

• Explore extracurriculars — clubs, sports, volunteering.

• Start to think about the type of college you might want to attend and to understand its academic requirements (high school courses, standardized tests).

• Begin to research the cost of colleges and to learn about how financial aid works.


Freshman Year

• Get academic help if you need it. Don’t ignore problems.

• Meet with your counselor to discuss your plans.

• Search online and visit colleges while they're in session.

• Take the PLAN, PSAT and ACT. All 9th graders at Nova take these tests, paid for by Nova, to gain familiarity with the content.

• Read a lot.


Freshman Year

Explore Summer Opportunities• Look for opportunities to help you grow: travel,

community service, volunteering, sports or music camps, and employment are all good options.

• Consider academic programs for high school students offered by colleges.


Sophomore Year

• Continue to take challenging courses.

• Get more deeply involved in extracurricular activities.

• Work hard in classes.

• Search online to learn more about required courses/tests for colleges that you are interested in attending.

• Go to college fairs in your area, visit colleges while they're in session or take virtual tours online.


Sophomore Year

• Start a calendar with important dates and deadlines.

• Take the PSAT, given to all Nova 10th graders in October. (This is still a “practice” test before 11th grade.)

• When you get your PSAT score report, sign in to My College QuickStart online. The College Board’s personalized planning kit can help you prepare for the SAT based on your PSAT results. You can also explore suggested colleges, majors and careers.


Sophomore Year

• Take AP and SAT II (subject) tests as appropriate for subjects you’ve studied. The best time to take these tests is right after you’ve had a class in the subject.

• Take the ACT in the spring, paid for by Nova.

• Log on to Naviance and research schools, and the admittance record for Nova students who’ve applied.

• Have a summer plan.


Junior Year

• Pay careful attention to testing deadlines and college requirements.

• Start a calendar with important dates.

• Keep your grades up.

• Assume a leadership role in an extracurricular activity.

• Take advantage of AP, CIS and other rigorous courses.

• Draft a first college list and meet with your counselor.


Junior Year• Attend college night and financial aid night at Nova.• Research the cost of colleges you’re interested and

learn about and how financial aid works. • Talk to your parents about paying for college. • Visit the Net Price Calculator at collegeboard.org to

estimate your aid eligibility and college costs. (Even middle-class families can receive significant financial aid.)

• Visit local colleges: large, small, public, and private. Get a feel for what works for you.


Junior Year

• Take the PSAT in October at Nova. As an 11th grader, PSAT scores can translate into scholarships or other recognition as part of National Merit Scholarship Program.

• Visit the SAT/ACT preparation centers on ACT.org and collegeboard.org to take a practice test and to get a score and skills report and for test-taking tips.

• Take the ACT in spring at Nova. (The SAT is not offered at Nova and must be scheduled independently.)


Junior Year

• Take AP and SAT II (subject) tests as appropriate for subjects you’ve studied. The best time to take these tests is right after you’ve had a class in a subject.

• Review your senior year schedule with your counselor.

• Research majors and careers and use College Board’s Big Future college search to find colleges with the right fit.

• Visit colleges. Take tours and and be sure to bring a campus visit checklist and a list of relevant questions.


Summer After Junior Year

• Enrich yourself by volunteering, getting an interesting job or internship, or signing up for summer learning programs.

• Narrow down your list of college possibilities.

• Check important dates. Some colleges and universities have rolling admissions or early decisions admissions.

• Make a list of teachers you want recommendations from.

• Register for fall ACT, SAT or SAT II (subject) tests, if needed.


Senior Year• Explore the Common App, which many schools

require, when it is released in early August.

• Take fall ACT or SAT tests if needed, or SAT II exams.

• Narrow your list of colleges to between 5 and 10 and review it with your counselor. Visit them if possible.

• Understand admissions requirements for each school.

• Make sure your college list includes a mix of “safety,” “match” and “reach/long shot” schools.


Senior Year

Make a master calendar and note: • Test dates, fees, and deadlines

• College application due dates

• Required financial aid applications and their deadlines

• Recommendations, transcripts, and other necessary materials


Ask for recommendations: • Give each person your resume, a stamped,

addressed envelope (if needed), and any required forms along with deadline information.

Senior Year


Senior YearDeadlines, deadlines, deadlines:• Understand the differences between early

decision, early action, regular decision and rolling admissions.

• Early decision and early action deadlines are usually Nov. 1.

• Most regular applications are due between Jan.1 and Feb. 15.

• Some schools offer rolling decisions, and you’ll get an answer about your application in about six weeks.

• Have your high school send your transcript to colleges.

• Contact colleges or check online accounts to make sure schools have received all necessary application materials.


Senior YearFinancial Aid and Scholarships:• Attend your school’s financial aid planning night.• College are required to have Net Price Calculators

online. Use them to estimate your family’s EFC (expected family contribution) based on your income and savings.

• Understand the differences between the FAFSA (required for all need-based financial aid) and the CSS Profile (an additional set of information required by some schools).


Senior Year

Financial Aid and Scholarships (Continued):• Submit financial aid information as soon after

January 1 as possible, even if it means using estimates. (Financial aid forms can be updated if needed after taxes are filed.)

• Many priority financial aid deadlines fall in February. To get the most attractive award package, apply by the priority date.

• Men 18 or older must register for the selective service to receive federal financial aid.


Senior YearThe home stretch• Early decision and early action acceptances are

usually made in December. • Most regular decision acceptances will be released

by April 1 or sooner.• Acceptances are usually accompanied by a financial

aid or scholarship offer. Look through aid awards carefully to weigh and understand the differences between work-study jobs, grants (which don’t need to be repaid), and student or parent loans.


Senior Year

The home stretch• Wait-listed? If you will enroll if accepted, tell the

admissions director your intent and ask how to strengthen your application. Need financial aid? Ask if funds will be available.

• Some schools will continue with admissions through spring and summer.

• If you haven't already, visit your final college before accepting. Many schools host “admitted student” days in April.


Senior Year

The home stretch• In most cases, you must tell every college of your

acceptance or rejection of offers of admission or financial aid by May 1.

• Send a deposit to the college you choose.

• Ask your high school to send a final transcript to your college.

• Start preparing for the year ahead.


Graduation Requirements

All Nova students take a college preparatory curriculum that not only meets the graduation requirements for the state of Minnesota, but for entrance requirements for state, university, public and private colleges.


Testing at Nova

PLAN PSAT ACT SAT/SAT II subject tests

AP subject tests

Grade 9 November(Nova pays)

October(Nova pays)

April(Nova pays)

May, at Nova

Grade 10

November(Nova pays)

October(Nova pays)

April(Nova pays)

* Not at Nova May, at Nova

Grade 11

October(For National Merit program. Nova pays)

April(Required, paid for by state of Minn.)


Grade 12

If needed. Not at Nova in fall.



Advanced CurriculumAP courses

• Nova offers Advanced Placement course in many subject areas: science, math, history, literature, Latin. See course catalog for complete listings.

CIS courses• Nova offers College in the Schools credit for advanced Latin

classes and is evaluating more classes for approval in this program.

Honors courses• Nova offers Honors sections of classes in many subject areas.

GPAs• Colleges are given detailed information about Nova’s

curriculum to show the difficulty in our courses compared to other schools.


PSEO

Post Secondary Enrollment Options

• The state of Minnesota allows Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) for high school juniors and seniors, but have several requirements for acceptance, limited spaces available, and transportation is not provided.

• PSEO allow students to take free college courses at a college. Students attend class and complete the same assignments required of regular college students.

• Students may earn both high school and college credit.


PSEO, CIS and AP credits

Do all colleges and universities accept these credits?

• Acceptance and transfer of credits varies by college, but many do accept credits earned through the program.

• Others colleges may choose to award advanced placement instead. This allows you to take upper-level courses without taking the introductory, prerequisite courses.

• Some will allow you to earn both credit and placement. If you're interested in a specific college, be sure to ask admissions about their policy.


Liberal Arts Colleges

Liberal Arts Colleges

• Liberal arts colleges offer a broad base of courses in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

• Most are private and focus mainly on undergraduate students.

• Classes tend to be small and personal attention is available.


Universities

Universities• Generally, a university is bigger than a college and

offers more majors and research facilities.

• Usually provides undergraduate and graduate degrees.

• Class size is often a reflection of institutional size, and some classes may be taught by graduate students.

• With size comes many resources and choice of majors.


College Choices

Public vs. Private

• Public colleges are usually less expensive, particularly for in-state residents. They get most of their funding from tuition, fees and the state government.

• Private colleges rely on tuition, fees, endowments and other private sources. Although they’re often more expensive, private colleges are usually smaller and can offer more personalized attention and larger financial aid packages.


College Choices

Single Sex• All four-year public colleges and most private

schools are co-ed, however there are about 100 single-gender schools in the United States, some of which maintain a rich tradition. Most are liberal arts colleges, and some have a religious affiliation.

Religiously Affiliated Colleges• Some private colleges are affiliated with a religious

faith. The affiliation may be more historic or cultural, or it may be reflected more day-to-day student life.


Other Options

Community or Junior Colleges• Community colleges offer a degree after the completion of

two years of full-time study. They frequently offer technical programs that prepare students for immediate entry into the job market.

Agricultural, Technical, Specialized Colleges

Study Abroad Programs• Many schools offer study abroad programs. If you are

interested in studying abroad, please research your college options carefully.


Admission Factors

What Are Colleges Looking For?• Colleges consider a variety of factors in

admissions. They often include: rigor of high school courses, grade point average, standardized test scores, leadership, volunteering, special skills or circumstances, essays, recommendations. They can include interviews and “demonstrated interest.”

• Admissions officers evaluate applications in different ways, depending on how selective, or competitive, their school is.


Levels of Selectivity

• Open admissions: These schools require only a high school diploma and accept students on a first-come, first-served basis. Many community colleges have this policy.

• Less selective: These school focus on whether applicants meet minimum requirements. Acceptable grades are often the only requirement beyond an interest in college study.

• More selective: These schools consider course work, grades, test scores, recommendations, and essays. They also may have minimum GPA or test score requirements.


Levels of Selectivity

Very Selective: These schools carefully weigh every aspect of an application: course rigor, GPA, essays, leadership. As many as 10 or 15 students apply for each spot at very selective schools. Even well qualified candidates will turned away.

Most Highly Selective: At a handful of the most selective schools, admissions rates hover in the single digits. Many very well-qualified students will be turned away. Although they receive a great deal of publicity, only a small number of colleges are this selective.


Admission Factors

• Rigor of high school courses• Grade point average • Standardized test scores• Recommendations• Activities and Volunteering• Leadership • Personal interview • Application essays and

questions• Demonstrated interest

• AP or SAT subject test

scores• Special talents and skills• Ethnicity (if an

underrepresented minority)• First-generation college

student• Economic background• Alumni relationship• Geographic location• Major or college applied to • Class Rank (Nova does not

rank)

What colleges consider for admission:


Application Checklist

What You'll Need to Apply • Most schools have an admissions checklist online

that includes important deadlines for admissions, recommendation letters, transcripts, etc.

• Fill them out carefully. • Look for application instructions on the school's

website and follow them exactly. • Make copies of everything you submit.


Application Checklist

• High School Transcript: Most colleges will require a copy of your high school transcript sent directly by your school.

• Application Fee: You might have to pay an application fee (anywhere from $20-$75). If you can't afford it, you may be able to get the fee waived. Some schools offer free applications online.

• College Admissions Tests: Most four-year colleges or universities require ACT or SAT scores. Nova offers the ACT for free starting in spring of ninth grade. In junior year, all students are required to take the ACT by the state of Minnesota. Most students try to have ACT and SAT testing complete by spring of junior or fall of senior year. AP and SAT II subject tests may be required/encouraged by more selective schools.


Interviews

Interview: If the school is very selective with its admissions process, you may be asked to schedule an interview.

• Some interviews are informational but others are considered evaluative and will be used as part of the admissions process.

• Before an interview, be sure to research schools, have questions ready.

• The best interview tip is to relax and be yourself. Let your enthusiasm for your passions shine through

• If you feel that you may be on the edge of being admitted, it may help to schedule an interview for the school to get to know you better.


Recommendations

Letters of Recommendation: More selective four-year colleges or universities often require letters of recommendation.

• These recommendations are about what you've accomplished, what kind of potential you have, and why the person writing the letter believes you should be admitted to that college.

• Recommendation can come from teachers, coaches, mentors, employers and people you've worked with in your community.

• It can be helpful to provide recommendation writers with an outline of your experiences and accomplishments and to discuss with them why you want to attend a particular school.


Essays

• If you plan to attend a more selective four-year college or university, you will have to write application essays.

• These essays are a way to let a college know the real you. If the essay topic isn't provided, you can choose your own topic.

• The Common App, required by many schools, includes essay questions.

• In addition, many schools will require one or more supplemental essays or short-answer questions.


Essay Topics

If an essay topic is not provided, here are some ideas:• An academic subject that excites and motivates the

student • Hobbies or out-of-classroom activities • A local or national event that has touched the student

in some way • A personal event that has shaped or molded the

student• A social cause about which the student is passionate • Many of the most selective schools require a “Why

us?” essay. Be specific and detailed in your answer.


Financial Aid

What is the FAFSA? • The FAFSA is a detailed set of financial information

required by all schools to award financial aid to students.• The FAFSA is available online January 1 of senior year.• File as soon as possible after January 1. (You can file with

estimates and update it later.) Online: www.fafsa.ed.gov.

What is the CSS PROFILE?• The CSS Profile is an additional set of information

required by some more selective schools.• It requires additional information and calculates aid

slightly differently.


Scholarships

• Scholarships are available through a variety of academic, special interest and other groups.

• You can search for scholarships online, through Nova’s college corner, or with the help of teachers and your counselor.

• Some places to start: websites such as collegeboard.com, fastweb.com, and through state or local organizations.

• In some cases, being awarded a scholarship means that a school will reduce their financial aid award.


Key websitesCollege Preparation and Admissions Tests

ACT ............................... www.actstudent.org

PLAN ............................... www.act.org/plan/

PSAT ............................... www.collegeboard.com/psat/

SAT .................................. www.collegeboard.com/sat/

AP testing .................... https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/home

SAT II.. https://sat.collegeboard.org/about-tests/sat-subject-tests

College Research

The College Board ................. www.collegeboard.com

College Navigator .................www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

College View ............................. www.collegeview.com

Peterson’s / Thomson Learning ...................www.petersons.com

Princeton Review ...............................www.princetonreview.com

U.S. News & World Report ……… www.usnews.com/rankings

Forbes College rankings ….... www.forbes.com/top-colleges/list

Colleges That Change Lives…………………. http://www.ctcl.org/

Financial Aid

Free Application for Federal Student Aid .........www.fafsa.ed.gov

FAFSA forecaster ............................ www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

CSS Profile...... https://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile

Expected Family Contribution Calculator https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/expected-family-contribution-calculator

U.S. Department of Education Loan Information https://studentaid.ed.gov/

Military Service Education Benefitswww.getreadyforcollege.org/military

http://www.actstudent.org/

http://www.act.org/plan/

http://www.act.org/plan/

http://www.collegeboard.com/psat/

http://www.collegeboard.com/psat/

http://www.collegeboard.com/sat/

http://www.collegeboard.com/sat/

https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/home



https://sat.collegeboard.org/about-tests/sat-subject-tests



http://www.collegeboard.com/

http://www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

http://www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

http://www.collegeview.com/

http://www.petersons.com/

http://www.princetonreview.com/

http://www.usnews.com/rankings

http://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/list

http://www.ctcl.org/

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/

https://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/expected-family-contribution-calculator



https://studentaid.ed.gov/

https://studentaid.ed.gov/

http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/military


Questions?

intellect, character, and ideals in the classical tradition agenda 1. year-by-year timeline 2....

Documents

classical tradition

year timeline

college requirements

financial aid slide

suggested colleges

college options

cost of colleges

college fairs