2. Identifying Colleges
• “Best Fit”
• Career Interest
• Balanced List of Schools
– Target/Likely/Reach/Financial Safety Schools
– Use Naviance –SJ Specific Data
• Apply to schools you see yourself attending
• Realistic discussion concerning college costs
3. College Trends
• Students are applying to more schools
• Application deadlines earlier
• ED and EA yielding more acceptances
• State schools’ application pools growing
• Males favored in application process
• Rising recruitment of out-of-state applicants
• Not all schools are need blind
(see linked article in handout)
4. Application Types
• Most common application methods
–Apply Texas
• www.applytexas.org
–Common Application
• www.commonapp.org
–Individual college applications
–Fast Apps (must notify Mrs. Cashiola)
5. Application Deadlines
• ED- Early Decision
• EA Early Action
• Regular Decision
• Rolling Admissions
• Honors (possibly separate application)
• On Campus Housing (deposits required)
• Scholarship
• Special Programs
• UT Plan II - Deadline October 15th
• This deadline differs from regular application deadline
6. SJ Guidance Office Procedures
• Meet with college counselor
• Create and firm up college list
• Complete transcript request form
• Obtain teacher signatures and return form
to guidance office
• 30 day clock begins for faculty to complete
recommendations
• Use Common App if available
• Notify Mrs. Cashiola and counselor if
changes are made to initial college list
7. College Documents
• SJ Guidance office will send the following forms:
– Transcript
– Letters of Recommendation
– Counselor Recommendation
– Secondary School Report
– SJ School Profile
• Student Responsibility to send:
– Application, Essays, Supplemental Essays & Fee
– ACT/SAT Scores/SAT Subject Tests
– AP Scores (if considered by college)
– Resume
– Scholarship Application (if needed)
– Double check that all materials are received at the colleges you apply!
8. College Visitation
• Seniors are allowed 3 excused absences
• Must be pre-approved one week before visit
• Form in Guidance office
• Counselor and Teacher signatures required
• Student must be proactive with make-up work
• Sign up directly with colleges
• Make the most of your visit
Talk with department/Meet a professor
Visit a class/ Eat in the dining hall/Visit students
9. SAT/ACT Testing
• SAT and Subject Tests – www.collegeboard.org; picture ID required
• No stand-by testing, wait list only (no guarantees), must register 5 days
prior to test date
Test Date Regular Late Registration
Registration
October 6 September 7 Sept 21
November 3 October 4 October 19
• ACT Plus Writing – www.actstudent.org; picture ID required
• Stand by requests on-line only, must be on roster, different deadlines
Test Date Regular Late Registration
Registration
September 8 August 17 August 18-24
October 27 September 21 Sept. 22- Oct. 5
10. Financial
• FAFSA- Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Application Jan 1, 2013
On-line application, assists in accuracy
Sign up for PIN number
Estimator available, must update with actual taxes
EFC- Expected Family Contribution
• CSS Profile- College Scholarship Service Profile
Additional financial information required by some private institutions
Used to award institutional aid
October 1st or college specific deadlines
Fee $25.00 for 1st report, $16 for each additional report
• Net Price Calculator-College Cost Estimator
Find on each college website
Plug in financial and student profile to estimate costs
• Scholarships
Merit Based Institutional Aid
Separate application/deadlines
11. UT and A&M
University of Texas
• Application opened August 1st, December 1 deadline
• Top 8% automatic admits
• SJ Class of 2012 -54 admitted, 58 CAP
• CAP-Coordinated Admissions Plan Option-must apply to UT to qualify
Selected acceptance to specific UT schools (7 options)
A&M
• Application opened August 1st, January 15 deadline*
• Impacted departments such as Engineering and Business fill early
• Top 10% automatic admits
• SJ Class of 2012- 51 admitted, 16 Blinn Team, 25 PSA program
• Auto Admits- Top 25% and SAT 1300 {minimum 600 in Math & Critical Reading}
• Auto Admits- Top 25% & ACT 30 {minimum 27 in Math & Reading}
• Blinn Team - Must apply to A&M to qualify/selection process
• PSA-Program for System Admissions- Must apply to A&M to qualify
12. How to Support your Son
• Assist with organization of materials
• Keep a record of all application log-in and passwords
• Complete parent brag sheet/student resume checked
• Essays and applications should be proofread prior to
final submission ex: senior English teacher or counselor
• Print a list out of ACT/SAT Test Scores that are sent
• Communicate (check –in once a week)
• Have realistic expectations, be excited for acceptances
• Focus on senior year course work
13. Resources
• SJ Website/Guidance Office/College Counseling
• College representatives at Strake Jesuit
• Speaker Rob Franek “Getting In” Sept 20th 6:30 pm at SJ
• Catholic College Fair
October 9, 2011 on SJ campus 6:30 pm
• NACAC (National Association of College Counselors)
Parent Tab www.nacacnet.org
• www.fafsa.ed.gov (FAFSA)
• College websites
