Class of 2019 Profile▪Class Size: 633▪Top GPA: 4.71▪95th 4.41 90th 4.22 75th 3.85 50th 3.35

▪Four Year Colleges 78% Two Year Colleges 17%▪Military Service 2% Other Plans 3%

***Information found on the WVHS Homepage under Student Profile Sheet***

Top College Choices of Class of 2018

1. College of DuPage 2. University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign

3. University of Illinois - Chicago4. Indiana University

5. Illinois State University6. University of Iowa

7. Iowa State University8. Purdue University9. Aurora University

10. University of Arizona

Roles & Responsibilities

Student▪Students should drive the application process▪ Initiate contact with counselors & teachers▪Complete college applications▪Write essays▪Complete letter of rec forms

▪Research▪Attend college visits▪Lookup admissions requirements▪Search for scholarships▪Pay attention to deadlines

Parent▪Allow your student to take the lead▪Parents should support but hold students accountable▪Have open conversations on college fit▪Be up front about college finances▪Be aware of approaching deadlines

School Counselor▪Complete counselor portion of applications▪Transcript▪Letters of Rec▪Counselor forms/ Common Application

▪Be available for student appointments during the day▪Help students determine appropriate college fit

▪Facilitate College & Career Center visits▪Provide general scholarship & financial aid information▪School counselors are not financial planners

Waubonsie Teachers▪Write letters of rec upon request▪ Informal mentor/share personal experiences▪Utilize ARC for essay support

College Admissions Staff▪Facilitate admissions visits▪Review application materials▪Make & communicate admissions decision

Academic

FinancialPersonal

Targeting the Right Fit

Finding the Academic Fit

▪How do I compare with other students academically?▪Does this school have my major?▪Does this school have my minor?▪Are there research / internship opportunities?

Safety, Target, & Reach Schools

▪Safety- Student is academically above the middle 50% of freshmen

▪Target- Student is academically in the middle of the freshmen class.

▪Reach- Student is academically below the middle 50% of freshmen

Highly Selective Schools▪There are no guarantees for highly selective schools▪ Ivy Leagues, Northwestern, Stanford, MIT, other top rated universities▪Your GPA & ACT scores must fall solidly within the university’s average freshman profile for the previous year’s class▪Criteria may change from year to year▪Depends highly on “special factors”▪A student may not get in even if another student with the same profile was admitted previously

Finding the Personal Fit

▪Size of the school▪Location▪Yours and the colleges

▪Post-graduation employment▪Extracurricular activities▪Does the campus speak to you

Finding the Financial Fit

▪What can we afford?▪What are we willing to pay?▪Do we have college savings?▪Am I willing to take out loans?▪Parent & Student

College Sticker Price

▪Community Colleges (COD) - $9,930▪ In State Schools (Illinois State) $11,108 + $9,850 RB▪Flagship State School (U of I) $15,698 + $11,308 RB ▪Out of State Schools (Western Michigan) $12,964 + $8,943 RB▪Midwest Student Exchange Program

▪Out of State Flagship (U of Wisconsin-Madison) $25,523 + $8,546 RB▪Private Schools- (North Central) $34,050 + $9,795 RB▪Commuter Schools (UIC) $11,564▪ *Numbers do not include books, fees, transportation or personal expenses

Is your college worth the price tag?

▪Do your job prospects after college justify your college’s price tag?▪Debt vs Income

▪Ex: Northwestern University & Teaching▪Tuition, Room & Board, Fees = $68,095 per year▪ 4 Years = $272,380

▪Starting salary for a teacher = $43,170▪ 6.3 years just to break even not paying any other expenses

Sources of Financial Aid▪Grants ▪FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid▪Available to submit October 1 – submit 2017 tax information▪First come, first served▪ Largely driven by family income▪Benefits those with multiple students in college

▪Scholarships▪Academic / Need-Based / Athletic / Special Interest

▪ Loans▪Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and Deferred

▪Think Creatively

Financial Aid Resources▪Aurora Public Library - Eola Branch▪September 10 - ISAC The Financial Aid Process▪October 22 - FAFSA on the Web▪September17 - Finding the Right College and How to Pay It

▪Waubonsie Valley High School▪November 15 - Post-Secondary Night▪Variety of college and financial aid topics

Application Assistance for Free/Reduced Lunch

College Admissions Nuts & BoltsPay Attention to the Dates & Details

Admissions Vocabulary▪Regular admission – apply by a mid-winter deadline and hear from colleges from a few weeks to as late as April

▪Rolling admission – most common – students submit applications and schools respond within four to six weeks

▪Early action – students submit applications early in the fall and hear from schools by early January or sooner – “non-binding”

▪Early decision – students submit applications early in the fall and schools notify them in December or January – “binding”

Admissions Timeline

Early Action/Priority filingRegular Admission

Commitment/Deposit

WVHS College Application Procedures

1. Complete application 2. Be sure to check for any pages that must be

printed out (signature page, secondary school report, counselor form, etc.)

3. Complete WVHS Transcript Release Form, listing all schools you are applying to (forms found in each house, theBeat, WaubonsieStudent.org and WV Counseling Dept website.

Application Procedures4. Request your transcripts through Naviance. “Schools I’m

applying to”5. Bring completed application materials to Ms. Harris in the

Main Office▪ WVHS Transcript request form▪ Recommendation Letter Profile Sheet (allow min. 2 weeks),

6. Request Test Scores from the testing company (ACT- actstudent.org or SAT- collegeboard.com)

Questions? There is a tutorial video. Please watch it!

The Common Application

▪Used by nearly 700 schools▪One application that can be submitted to multiple colleges▪Contains all aspects of your application▪Academic Profile▪Extracurricular activities▪ Letters of recommendation▪Personal statement / essays

▪Accounts created as Juniors will roll over to Senior year▪7 essay prompts available now

The Personal Statement/Essay…▪ Is personal – it is not a parent’s report, a teacher’s opinion, or some expert’s belief▪Should be a reflection of the inner workings of the applicant▪All essays should demonstrate the student’s passion, interests and writing style▪Link an experience or belief to your future▪Have a trusted & objective adult review your essay before you submit it

Asking for a Letter of Recommendation

▪Ask in person, please!▪Provide the teacher/coach/advisor with a list of activities, awards, etc. that you have earned. (Use the form on the counseling department website.)▪Choose 2 or 3 people to ask: at least one should be a teacher. Personal & Academic▪Give the writer a due date (at least 2 weeks) so they have time to be thoughtful and not rushed▪Send a thank you note to the letter writer!

But I Still Don’t Know Where I Should Apply!▪Visit the College & Career Center this fall▪Meet with college reps at WVHS

▪Attend Regional College FairsHundred Black Men of Chicago College & Scholarship Fair 10/13, NACAC Chicago 9/29, Waubonsee Community College 10/1, COD College Fair 10/16,

▪Go online▪Naviance, collegeboard.com, petersons.com, actstudent.org, collegeconfidential.com, and many others

What Now?

▪Keep your grades up ▪Take this last year seriously!

▪Retake the ACT/SAT if needed▪ACT: October 27th (registration deadline 9/28)▪SAT: October 6th (registration deadline 9/7), November 3rd (registration deadline 10/5)

▪Go on college visits▪Senior meetings start this week

College Visits

▪Set up through the Office of Admissions, online or by phone▪Give 1-2 weeks notice, more if you want a non-standard visit▪2-3 per year (bring back evidence)

College Visits

▪Group Visit Days▪Deciding between types of schools

▪ Individual Tours▪When you want the real deal▪Seriously considering the school

Questions?

Individual counselors will be available following the group Q&A.