This document provides information to help students navigate the college application process including graduation requirements, timelines, types of application deadlines, college search criteria, Naviance, standardized testing, and an overview of financial aid. It outlines the graduation requirements needed to receive a high school diploma. It provides timelines and to-do lists for the fall, winter, and spring of a student's senior year. It also describes different types of post-secondary schools and factors to consider during the college search process.

2. Topics
 Graduation Requirements
 Timelines
 Types of Deadlines
 College Search Process
 Types of schools
 Naviance
 Standardized Testing
 Financial Aid Overview

3. HHS Graduation Requirements
Area Credit
English 4.0
Social Studies (Including US History) 3.0
Math 3.0
Science 3.0
Computer Lit and Career Exploration .5
School to Careers 1.0
Fine Arts or Foreign Language 1.0
Wellness 1.0
Electives 3.5
Total 20.0

4.  Meet with your Counselor to review your plan
 Finalize list of colleges and continue to visit campuses
*2 + 2 + 2 (Safety – Probable – Reach)
 Attend Local College Fairs (HHS Mini Fairs October 2013, SNHU, UNH, NECC)
 Request letters of Recommendation and complete Senior Resume – Available in the Senior Booklet!
 Complete college essays and review them.
 Take college entrance exams (SAT/ACT) again
 Create a Common Application Account for appropriate schools and complete FERPA form on Naviance.
 If you are applying Early Action, submit your application. Deadlines are typically around November 1st, but check
with individual schools as some may be earlier.
 Remember all application materials must be submitted to Guidance 2 weeks prior to the deadline!
What should I be doing now?
Fall Timeline

5. Types of Deadlines
 Early Action (Non-Binding)
 Typically Oct 15, Nov 1, Nov 15
 Early Decision (Binding)
 Typically Oct 15, Nov 1, Nov 15
 Regular Decision
 Varies…as early as December 1 and as late as April 1
 Rolling Admission
 Applications are processed upon arrival. Acceptance/denial letters received in about
6-8 weeks
 Open Enrollment
 Admittance is dependent upon graduation from high school

6.  Submit applications
 Deadlines are typically around January 1, but check with each
school.
 Complete the necessary financial aid forms, including
the FAFSA (after January 1st).
 Attend the Financial Aid Workshop by MEFA
 Tentatively scheduled for January 7th
 Continue to apply to outside scholarships.
 Ask your counselor to complete any necessary Mid-Year
School Reports. They are typically due in February.
Winter Timeline

7.  You are almost done! You will typically receive notification letters
at the beginning of April.
 Discuss with your parents the financial aid offers and contact the
schools if they are seriously insufficient.
 Notify the schools of your admission decision and send your
deposit to your new college (May 1st).
 Take part in “Pre-Frosh” events and visitations.
Spring Timeline

9. 2-Year Technical & Community
Colleges
 Affordable
 Community College costs between $5,000 and $6,000 per year
 Stepping Stone
 One or two successful years at a community college can help
you get in as a transfer student to your dream school and help
you develop the characteristics (such as
independence, ambition and maturity) necessary to become a
successful college student.
 Licensure/Certification
 These schools offer hundreds of Associate Degree and
Certificate Programs that lead to licensure in the career field of
your choice.

10. 2-Year Admissions
Requirements
 High School Diploma
Completion of the Accu-placer
 Exam administered by the college that evaluates English and Math
proficiency. These scores determine which math and English
classes are appropriate for your 1st semester of college

11. Local 2-year Community Colleges
Massachusetts Community Colleges share a commitment to provide students with
opportunities not only for an excellent education but also a well-rounded college
experience.
Student clubs and activities, events, performances, and community service
opportunities are among the many options. Many colleges have intercollegiate or
club athletic teams, and each has a student government that facilitates student
involvement in the life of the campus and provides opportunities for leadership.

12. 4-Year Colleges and
Universities
There are over 2,000 4-year colleges
and universities in the country. Decide
the factors that are important to you
to help narrow down a list of schools
that are a good match for you.

13. Factors to Consider
Location, Location, Location!
How far are you willing to go?
Size and Enrollment
Have you dreamed of attending a huge
university or do you prefer a medium or
small college?
Money, Money, Money!
The investment of college is expensive. When
finalizing your list of colleges; be sure to
include schools which are “financially safe”
such as state schools and community college
Programs of Study
Not all schools have all academic majors. If you
have not yet chosen a major, be sure to look
at schools that have all of your academic
areas of interest.

14. Selectivity/Admission
Requirements
 GPA & quality of courses
 Standardized Test Scores
 Extracurricular Activities
 Letters of Recommendation
 Essay
 Interview
These are all factors admissions counselors will use to decide if you are a good
match for their school. The more competitive the school, the harder they will
scrutinize the quality of your admissions file.

15. Naviance
 Manage and track all aspects of the admissions process.
 Delivers all of the supporting documents for college applications to approximately 1,000 colleges.
 Provides valuable insight into the college admissions process with college search, scatter grams, scholarship information and college application
statistics
 So much more!

16. Perform a College Search
Choose the criteria you are looking for in your dream school

17. Research Schools

18. Keep Track of Schools You Are
Considering

19. Track Submitted
Applications

20. Standardized Tests
 SAT I – Reasoning Test
 Three-hours 45 minutes
 Primarily multiple-choice test that measures critical reading, math, and writing abilities that develop
over time.
 Many colleges require SAT scores for admission.
 www.collegeboard.org
 SAT II – Subject Tests
 One-hour
 Primarily multiple-choice tests that measure your knowledge of particular subjects and your ability to
apply that knowledge.
 More selective colleges may require or recommend one or more Subject Tests for admission or
placement.
 ACT – Assessment Test
 Three-hours 25 minutes
 Measures educational development in English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning.
 It is recommended students choose to take the optional writing section of the test.
 www.actstudent.org

21. Financial Aid
 The financial aid process may seem complicated, but in
its simplest form it comes down to understanding five
easy steps:

22. FAFSA
You must complete the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) soon
after January 1 of the year you intend to
enroll in school. Check with each of the
colleges to which you apply for specific
deadlines. Be certain to ask if any other
supplemental forms (such as the CSS
Profile Form or institutional financial aid
form) are required.

23. E.F. What?
 After completing the FAFSA, your information is
submitted to the U.S. Department of Education.
The DOE calculates, your ability to pay for the cost
of attendance for one academic year. Your ability to
pay is called the EXPECTED FAMILY
CONTRIBUTION (EFC).
 EFC= amt. of the money student and parent are
expected to contribute to the student's education for
one academic year.
 Financial Aid Night at HHS presented in 01/2014
by MEFA.

24. C.O. Who?
 The Department of Education sends the
FAFSA information, including the EFC, to
every school you listed on the FAFSA. The
financial aid officers subtract your EFC
from the COST OF ATTENDANCE
(COA) to determine your eligibility for
financial aid.

25. Gap…like at the mall?
 The financial aid officer calculates, based on the
campus’ available resources, the amount of
financial aid the institution is able to offer the
student.
 BE AWARE: Because a student is eligible for a
certain amount of financial aid does not mean
the student is guaranteed to receive that amount.
The unmet need is called the GAP.

26. If it’s an Award Letter why
don’t I feel like a winner?
 The financial aid officer sends the student an
AWARD LETTER that details the amount of
financial aid the college is able to offer the
student. The aid is broken into categories of
loans, grants, scholarships and work-study.

27. Financial Aid Resources
 Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA)
 www.mefa.org
 FinAid
 www.finaid.org
 FAFSA
 www.fafsa.ed.gov
 Fast Web
 www.fastweb.com

28. Make an Appointment With Your
Counselor!
The sooner you start talking to your guidance
counselor, the less daunting this process will
seem…don’t wait until the last minute!