Senior Year Timeline/Noteworthy Events

Senior Year Timeline/Noteworthy Events: 2015-16

SAT/ACT: GPA and SAT/ACT scores important for admission. “Super Scoring”. SUNY Univ. Centers, some privates, & all military academies need scores directly from agency! Fee waivers for eligible students (2 SAT, 2 Subj. Exam, 2 ACT ;total 11-12) -SAT test dates (www.collegeboard.com) Registration deadlines -Oct. 3 (here at Newfane) -Sept. 3 (late registration: Sept. 22 = $28 additional!) -Nov. 7 (Medina,Lkpt. Or Star Pt) -Oct. 9 (late registration: Oct. 27 = $28 additional!) -ACT test dates ( www.actstudent.org ) Registration deadlines -Oct. 24 -Sept. 18 (late registration: Oct. 2= $25 additional!) -Dec.12 -Nov. 6 (late registration: Nov. 20= $25 additional!)) College applications: How many? Depends (free?). 1 “dream” school, ~3-4 in range,1 safety (NCCC/ECC/GCC) -Apply by Thanksgiving (do earlier though). Transcripts have to be sent from guidance office. (Also, NCAA for athletes- Div. I/II- see your counselor for more details/info.). -Early Action vs. Early Decision (CAREFUL!): Not all colleges offer either/or. -early action (Nov. 15) is non-binding and early decision (Nov. 1) is BINDING! How to apply to colleges: (Paper applications are pretty much a thing of the past. It is rare for colleges to make available). 1) SUNY Online Application (www.suny.edu) – Once you submit, we know you applied and we do our part Use if applying to just SUNY 4 yr. colleges. One application for all. Do not do the SOAR section!!! Will have to complete the initial app. plus the supplemental to apply! / Don’t use for NCCC, ECC, GCC, etc. (comm. coll.) applications. These are free and are on the individual college websites (Institutional apps.). Short and easy to complete besides being free! 2) Common Application (www.commonapp.org) – Once you submit, we know you applied and we do our part. Use if applying to a mix of SUNY and private or all private. One application for all. Check member institutions on Comm. App. Website to make sure the colleges are members of the Comm. App. Program (over 500 colleges are cooperating members) and specifics regarding number of letters of recommendations, appl. fees, etc. Will need LOR from counselor and teachers. Recommendation writers will need your resume! 3) Institutional applications (college’s own unique application)- sometimes free if do online/electronically (SUNY never free unless have free or reduced lunch) -NOTE: You need to let your counselor know you applied using this appl. method since is between you and the specific college (we receive no list or notification!). There is often a counselor form that you need to give your counselor. Can apply to most community colleges (NCCC, GCC, ECC, etc.) by using the college’s own FREE application.

*Apply early for some majors: Music, art, hlth. sciences (RN, PA, PT,etc.) – separate appl.? Audition/portfolios? ** Most college applications require an essay (comm. colleges do not). Get working on it!! Proof read! Get help. *** If you have Free or Reduced Lunch- You are eligible for appl. fee waivers (4 SUNY’s and unlimited private). See counselor. Mid-yr. reports: Some colleges used to ask for this report for for students “on the fence”. It is more the norm now so don’t fret. Colleges want to make sure potential recruits don’t get a bad case of “senioritis”. Final transcripts will be sent to your final choice Teacher Recommendations: -Not required unless college requests it (part of Common Application though). Should consider obtaining some (no more than 3) if the college/major is selective or if your academics/test scores/”well-roundedness” are weak. Common App tells you how many. -Use common sense and show common courtesy! Give the teacher plenty of time to compose one for you and give them a stamped and addressed envelope (with college admission’s address) in which to send it if they can’t do online. Remember, you are probably not the only one who has asked for this special favor. Don’t make it more work than it already is. -Create a resume: Include all of your academic/athletic accomplishments, awards, etc. along with work, volunteer, leadership history. This is the stuff that shows you are well rounded and makes for good college admissions reading! Give a copy of this to the teacher(s) you asked to write a letter of recommendation for you (can also send to the college as part of your application). Financial Aid: -Don’t have to worry about applying for FAFSA until after applied to colleges. We have a financial aid meeting annually in mid- January. Make sure your parents attend this evening meeting! Can’t apply for FAFSA until Jan. 1 (on-line). January and February are financial aid months. Pick college by 5/1. Scholarships: Goes on all year long from Sept. until June. All scholarships that are received in the guidance office are scanned (or linked) onto our guidance office webpage. You can search the internet for more or have parents check with their employers. Check for new scholarships (at home or at school) every couple of weeks to make sure don’t miss deadlines. Many/most colleges offer schol. based on your GPA and SAT or ACT scores -> automatic (no appl.). CHOICES: Familiarize yourself with Choices again – www.bridges.com- (a college software program that you created an account for last year – remember? Username = your email login?). If don’t remember your CHOICES username and/or password, see your counselor to retrieve for you. This is the place to go in order to access college information (applications, majors, athletics, cost, etc.) and to get contact number, address, and website address for all of the colleges. Fall College Fairs: If attend, can often get appl. fee waivers from private colleges (ask coll. rep. for one). 9/27 SUNY Colleges- 2:00-4:30 UB No. Campus Alumni Arena; 9/21 Daemen Coll. Fair- 6:30-8:00; 9/24 NOCA/NCCC- 6:30-8:00 at NCCC G-Bldg; Sept. 29 WNY College Consortium Mini-College Fair 11:45-12:30 at Newfane gym (for Newfane students only).