Welcome to College Information Night

1. Welcome to College Information Night LinganoreHigh School June 6, 2018 Kathy Becker –Last Names A - C Ilana Blum – Last Names D - I Paula Larson –Last Names J - Q Renata Emery –Last Names R - Z

2. What Do Four-Year Colleges Consider? Primary Factors • Rigor of Academic Courses • Academic Performance/ Grades • College Admissions Test Scores Additional Factors • Extra-curricular Activities • Essay (s) • Letters of Recommendation • Demonstrated Interest

3. College Admissions Testing for Class of 2019 SAT -16 • Time: 3 hours with optional 50 minute essay • Subjects Covered: • Evidence-Based Reading and Writing • Reading Test • Writing and Language Test • Math (includes Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra 1, & Algebra 2 • Essay (optional) and scored separately • No penalty for guessing ACT • Time: 3 hours, 25 minutes • Subjects Covered: English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing (optional) • Science: Analysis, Interpretation, Evaluation, Basic Content, & Problem Solving • Math accounts for ¼ of overall score (includes Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, & Trigonometry Scoring: total out of 1600Scoring: total composite of 1-36

4. SAT and (ACT) averages forUniversity System of Maryland (USM)* College Park: 1290- 1470 (29-33) Frostburg: 920-1110 (17-23) Salisbury: 1100-1260 (20-25) Towson: 1060-1210 (21-25) UMBC: 1140-1360 (24-29) *Midrange scores for incoming freshmen enrolling in Fall 2016 and Fall 2017according to www.collegeboard.org

5. SAT Subject Tests • May be required/recommended for some private and/or top-tier schools • Two subject tests in two different subject areas: History, Literature, Math, Science or Language other than English

6. Campus Visits • Take a campus tour • Speak to an admissions counselor • Determine actual costs • Ask about financial aid opportunities • Eat at dining center • Audit a class of interest • Read the student newspaper • Talk to current students and faculty • Tour student housing • Investigate academic programs

7. Application Deadlines (What do they mean?) • Early Decision – allows students to apply early and learn their admissions decision early in exchange for a commitment to attend that college and withdraw all other applications. Student can apply early decision to only one college, but may apply regular decision to other schools. Early decision acceptance is binding so it may not be a good option for a student unsure about his/her first choice college. • Early Action/Priority – similar to early decision but if accepted student is not obligated to notify the college of his/her decision to attend until spring. • Regular Decision – later deadline and will be considered after early decision and early action applicants. • Rolling Decision - no published deadline but colleges process applications in a timely manner. Early application encouraged.

8. Why Community College? • 2nd chance to get into your 1st choice • Unsure about major • Maturity reasons • Financial reasons • Not ready for total independence

9. Transfer Programs • Complete 60 transferable credits • Transfer to 4-year university • Community Colleges have contracts with many universities which guarantee admission • With transfer plans earning Associates Degree (AA) highly encouraged • May be limit on transfer credits • May be limit on major credits • To find out what courses transfer to USM schools go to Articulation System for Maryland Colleges and Universities http://www.artsys.usmd.edu/

10. NCAA Eligibility – www.eligibilitycenter.org/ • If you are considering playing a sport at a Division I or Division II college you must register with the NCAA. • When you first register, your transcript will be sent by Linganore High School to NCAA and each semester after that until final transcript. • Visit NCAA website to learn eligibility requirements for academics and testing

11. Senior Timeline – Do NOWFor Linganore High School • Ask two teachers (in person) if they are willing to write letters of recommendation for you. • In Naviance, complete Senior Profile Survey and add colleges to Colleges I’m Thinking About. • Practice for SAT or ACT if planning to retake. If you are applying to 4-year colleges you should complete taking entrance exams by December 2018. • Visit college campuses, attend open houses. • Start college essay – use Common App prompts as your guide.

12. Senior Timeline – After August 1 • Complete applications through Common Ap, The Coalition, college websites, or hardcopy. • If applying to any Common Application schools, create your Common Ap account and sync the account in Naviance. • Ask teachers for letters of recommendation, if not done already. • Request transcripts using “Transcript Release and Request Form (Orange Form) • In Naviance, request teacher recommendations to be sent to schools. Do this after you have started the application process. • Attend college information programs and college fairs – tentatively FCC is first Wednesday in October. • Continue campus visits, provide documentation of visit to attendance.

13. Senior Timeline - Continued • Staring October 1: complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. FAFSA provides financial aid opportunities, eligibility information, and can calculate an estimated financial aid package. • Frequently check NavianceStudent for scholarships awarded by schools, local companies, and community groups. Apply for scholarships for which you qualify. • Open Campus students will need to provide dual credit grades to Linganore. Dual Enrollments must request FCC transcript to be sent to their college of attendance. • May 1: deadline for final choice notification to colleges. • Take AP exams: have scores sent to your final choice college. • Send thank-you notes to teachers who wrote recommendation letters. • Complete Senior Survey to request final transcript. • July: notify the financial aid office of the college you will attend about any scholarships you have received.

14. Facts about FAFSA • Before October 1, 2018 create a username and password at https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm • Must be completed for eligibility for merit-based aid • Check deadlines for state and schools • Form must be submitted every year • Use FAFSA4caster to calculate student’s eligibility for federal student aid to include grants and loans @ StudentAid.gov • The FAFSA website can be found at www.fafsa.ed.gov • Financial Aid Night presented by Hood College is Monday, September 17.