Pine View SchoolCollege Planning NightApril 5th 2016

Pine View School College Night

Opening Session: An Introduction to College Planning Lance Bergman and Finding Your Fit Jane Robbins

Breakout Sessions (7:30-8:00 and 8:05-8:35PM)

• College Funding and Financial Aid - Jane Robbins and Paul

Dietrich (Auditorium)

• Standardized Testing and College Essays - Chris Deveau/

Neal Schleifer (Band Room)

• Special Circumstances: Sport Eligibility and Recruitment, Military Academies, Twice Exceptional and Under-represented Students – Lance Bergman and Lynn Halcomb

(Orchestra Room)

Plenary Program and Objectives

• An Introduction to College Planning

• Our Mission - Pine View College Resource website

• Ethics in College Application Process

• Your College Search: Research and Fit

• Guidelines/Tips for the Application Process

• Naviance/Family Connection - Timeline and Tasks

• The Florida State University System

• UF, FSU and the SUS Matrix

• Bright Futures Eligibility

• Timeline for Spring - Summer 2016

• “Finding Your Fit” – Jane Robbins

An Introduction to College Planning

• Junior Presentations and Handouts

• The Pine View College Resource Website

• www.pvscollegecounseling.com

Pine View College Resource Mission (Handout)

Ethics and Responsibilities

• Applying to College• Ethics Statement and Student Responsibilities

What Do Colleges Want? Factors in Admission

• Rigor of High School Coursework (and Focus)

• Overall High School GPA (weighted and unweighted)

• SAT or ACT Scores (SAT Subject Scores, if applicable)*

• Extracurricular Activities (depth v. breadth)

• Community Service/Volunteer Work

• Strong Personal Statement/Essay(s)*

• Letters of Recommendation (private and some public)

• Interview with Admissions (if optional, say yes!)

• Demonstrated interest in the University and program

Standardized Testing: SAT and ACT*

• College Planning/Standardized Testing The PVS website describes the different tests (including SAT IIs and APs), and offers information on test preparation resources, suggested timelines and strategies, new SAT and fee waivers

• SAT – sat.collegeboard.org

• ACT - www.actstudent.org

• Test Preparation – Naviance Test Prep, in-house, online and private companies (Revolution Prep)

• *More info provided in the Standardized Testing and College Essays session (Chris Deveau and Neal Schleifer)

College Research

• College searches available on the internet. Refer to Resources/Helpful Links on pvscollegecounseling.com and Naviance (SuperMatch and College Compare)

• Make use of Pine View specific data (Scattergrams)

• Books and brochures in the college resource room

• College fairs/representatives on campus

• Visit college campuses (take tours and meet with admissions)-see Visiting Colleges on the website

• Alumni parents, teachers, former PV students

The Right “Fit” - Creating Your List*

• Using charts/matrices on the PVS website to consider and weight some of the following factors:

• Academic Majors/Programs (Honors, dual degrees…)

• Cost/Affordability – “Financial Fit”

• Liberal arts vs. vocational/career

• Size of college/classes - small, medium, large

• Locations that are possible/desirable (distance)

• Setting - state, geography, urban/rural, college town

• Campus Atmosphere – campus life, athletics, clubs

• Housing/Facilities – dorm options, recreational, dining

• Finding Your“Fit” – Jane Robbins

Financial “Fit”*

• No surprises! Your family should research the total costs of each college and your ability to pay. Family conversations are very important.

• Use various tools (listed below) and those shared in the Costs and Funding of Your College Education session • College Affordability and Transparency Center http://collegecost.ed.gov/

• FAFSA4Caster https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1

• Edvisors https://www.edvisors.com/tools/

• Net Price Calculator http://netpricecalculator.collegeboard.org

• Simple Tuition http://www.simpletuition.com

A Balanced and Manageable List

Ideally no more than 8-10

• 2-3 Reach Schools

• 3-4 Target Schools

• 3 Safety Schools

Think Outside the Box $$

• Visit Composing Your List on the PVS website

• Colleges That Change Lives http://www.ctcl.org Beloit, New College, Reed, Rhodes, Juniata, Guilford…

• Fiske’s Best Buy 2015

• Private: Adelphi, Baylor, Cooper Union, Elon University, Olin College of Engineering, Rice

• Public: UF, New College, Purdue, UNC –Chapel Hill and Asheville, U of Toronto

• Peterson’s Best Fit, Cappex.com, Zinch.com, Unigo.com…

Admissions Decision Plans

• Applying to College/Decision Plans

• Regular Decision (most January 1st)

• Rolling Admissions (apply early-scholarship priority)*

• Early Action

• Early Decision I

• Restrictive Early Action (SC)

• Early Decision II

• FSU - October 15th

• UF - November 1st

• Other Florida publics*

• Out of State publics

Private College/University Applicants Only

• Tips/guidelines for applying to private colleges can be found on the PV website www.pvscollegecounseling.com

• For most applications you will use the Common Application (600+ schools) www.commonapp.org

• One to two teacher recommendations are required in addition to a guidance letter/evaluation

• You will choose one of five Common App essays

• There is a Common App/Naviance matching process

The Common Application (The CommonApp)

• CommonApp Rollover – You may create a 2016-17 Common App account now

• The 2016-17 Common App Essay Prompts will remain the same as last year. Start thinking about your essay!

Teacher Recommendations

• Ask teacher recommenders in advance

• Guidelines/Instructions for requesting teacher letters of recommendation are on the PV website

• UF and FSU do not accept letters (as is true of other major publics). Other Florida public universities may accept letters of recommendation. NCF requires one

What is Naviance/Family Connection?

• Required of all Pine View students - Electronic delivery of all PV application materials. Separate from your application

• Go to http://connection.naviance.com/pineviewsch. Log in using your PV student N# and PIN and add your parents’ email to your account

Naviance/Family Connection Resources

• College Research – SuperMatch and College Compare• Pine View specific data (Scattergrams) • Standardized test preparation (Naviance Test Prep)

Naviance/Family Connection

• Assigned Tasks for guidance purposes only

• Complete Student Questionnaire (due April 15th)

• Answer Recommendation Prompts (April 15th)

• Complete the Game Plan Survey (by meeting)

• Colleges I’m Thinking About (by meeting)

• A Personal Resume. Create a resume using the Resume Builder or upload one you already have (May 27th)

• Time to complete these and other college-related tasks will be given in Junior English classes

Naviance/Family Connection

State University System of Florida

• Students are encouraged to apply to one or more Florida public universities

• Refer to the 2015 SUS Matrix (handout) and specific admissions information (on the PVwebsite)

• Pay close attention to SUS timelines and requirements

Florida Schools 2015 Report

• University of Florida - Gainesville (50,000/34,000UG)

• Single application deadline November 1st Mid-February decision

• Must complete the SSAR (Academic self-report)

• Middle 50%: 4.2-4.5 GPA; 27-32 ACT; SAT 1760-2080

• Honors College – Must apply

• 80% reported 3 or more AP scores

• 45% accepted Fall 2014 (PV 76% to date)

• Essay very important. No letters of recommendation

Florida Schools 2015 Report

• Florida State University – Tallahassee (42,000)

• Mid-October early deadline - Notification date mid-December. Second deadline mid-January

• SAR – Academic self-report

• Middle Range 3.9-4.4; ACT – 27-30; SAT 1780-1930

• Students invited/apply to join honors program

• Students with high academic achievements automatically considered for scholarships

• 44% of total applicants accepted Fall 2015 (91% to date)

Bright Futures (2015-16)

• Florida Academic Scholar Award - GPA (3.5), ACT (29) orSAT (1290-R&M only), Community Service hours (100)

• Florida Medallion Scholar Award– GPA (3.0), ACT (26) orSAT (1170-R&M only), Community Service hours (75)

• The FAS award was $103/credit hour (Medallion $77)

• University of Florida 2013 tuition and fees $6170 Bright Futures funded approximately $3000

• Florida State University tuition and fees $5170

• All students will be required to sign up beginning in December 2016

* The Florida State legislature adjusts requirements and awards each year. Please keep posted as award levels may change

Additional Information

• Additional information will be mailed home at the end of May, and will be posted online. This will include:

• A Senior 2016-17 Timeline

• The Statement of Ethics (to be read and signed)

• A Parent Questionnaire

• Instructions for matching your Naviance and Common Application accounts and requesting transcripts

• You may call Mrs. Manders for an appointment. Spring appointments are strongly suggested for early admission plans and special circumstances (military, athletic)

April through Summer 2016 – To Do

• Research, visit, and compare colleges

• Narrow down college choices. Do not consider applying if you are not willing/able to attend. Match and Fit!

• Attend Peter Van Buskirk presentation sponsored by PVA

• Attend summer programs, work, volunteer. Keep busy!

• If applying to Common App schools begin the process

• Look at essay prompts and begin writing

• Plan for any additional SAT/ACT testing

• Work on Community Service hours

• If using an outside counselor you must share ALL Pine View materials with them (including the Statement of Ethics and deadlines)