College Admission Process--Parent Night 2015

are available at: www.wnhs.org→ College & Career Resources→ ACT/SAT Testing Information schools for free $12 per school if sent later.. *If so, consider taking this test for college ad

up until next Fall.)

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Go live anywhere but here!

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a group of colleges and have

graduate programs.

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*Planning

*Taking the right courses

*Testing

*Making decisions

*Paying for it

*Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for

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*A strong senior course load

Transcript—Grades and rigor of academic courses weigh heavily in

admission decisions (Is the student challenging themself

appropriately; taking core academics consistently?)

*The proposed field of study /major

*Are admission requirements different/elevated for this major?

*Do you need to apply directly into that major?

*Personal Qualifications

*Leadership and involvement in school activities

*Achievements/Honors

*Community Service/Employment/Summer Experiences

*Testing – Are scores looked at for admission?

*If so, what is the average ACT/SAT for admission?

*All juniors are tentatively scheduled to take an ACT

w/writing on April 19thhere at WNHS

*Will be accepted by all IL colleges/universities and

most out-of-state ones if given by the state

overdue it April, June, and Sept 2016 national tests

are available – sign up at www.act.org

are available at: www.wnhs.org→ College & Career

Resources→ ACT/SAT Testing Information

schools for free ($12 per school if sent later).

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*Reading, Writing & Language,

Math, Optional essay

*400 – 1600 score scale

*3-hr test (3 hrs 50 min w/

essay)

*Did student score well on

PSAT?

*If so, consider taking this

test for college admission if

better representation of

academic ability.

*20 tests available across 5 subject areas: English, History, Math, Science, Languages

*Required or recommended by selective & highly selective colleges/universities

*If recommended, we suggest you take for admission in areas of your academic interest/strength

For more information go to:

www.collegeboard.org

**SAT & Subject Tests cannot be taken on the same day, so plan

accordingly if considering both in combination with ACT testing.

*All schools will have conversion charts for

ACT/SAT tests to determine highest score

achieved

*Colleges will always take your highest

score – they WANT to admit students

sub scores from multiple tests) so do not

be afraid to send multiple test scores to

schools (NCAA does super score)

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My boss’s niece’s best friend’s cousin went there and

she said it was a good (or bad) school

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* Find Student’s “Best Fit”

*Location – How far from Wheaton does he/she want to be?

*Public or Private

*Liberal, Conservative, Moderate

*Athletics/Activities

*Special Services Offered

*Type

*Christian, Liberal Arts, Selective/Highly Selective, Technical,

or Specialized (i.e Art)

*Calendar

*Colorado College (not University of…) and Cornell College (also,

not University) are the only two institutions that require that you

do this when choosing your classes?

* Answer = Only pick one! According to Cornell

students, “You can do anything for 18 days!”

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* Large schools…

*Have a class size anywhere from 20-350 students

*Tend to be more impersonal

*Allow more anonymity and learning of independent living skills

*Tend to be less expensive

*Offer the “college experience”

*Carry a bigger name

* Small schools…

*Allow more personal involvement

*Offer community atmosphere

(including faculty)

*Have smaller classes (from 5-50

students)

*Have faculty focused on teaching

undergrads, not conducting

research

*Offer direct instruction by

faculty, not graduate students

*Usually have a higher price tag

(Do not discount small schools because of

price when conducting your initial search.)

•Colleges range in size from 20 to 50,000 students.

•Big difference between attending a small school - under

3,000 – and attending a large school - 3,000-50,000

*

‹2500

Augustana College

North Central College

Illinois Wesleyan U

North Park University

Knox College

Monmouth College

Beloit College

Lawrence University

2500-7500

Bradley University Butler University Creighton University Drake University Millikin University Carthage College

›7500

Marquette University DePaul University Northwestern University Loyola University University of Chicago Washington University (St Louis)

Private Schools Most Often Applied to by

Wheaton North Students

Marquette University

Taylor University

DePaul University

Wheaton College

North Central College

Carthage College

Augustana College

Bradley University

Loyola University

Butler University

Hope College

Northwestern University Indiana Wesleyan University Illinois Wesleyan University Elmhurst College

Calvin College Washington University (St

Louis) North Park University University of Chicago Lewis University

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• Focuses on creating a “well-rounded” student

• Broad education – study literature, languages, and the

natural and social sciences

• Requires a more complex list of general education

requirements, which may include religious study

• Smaller number of requirements in each major with a lot of

overlap allows for multiple majors and/or minors

• Unique schedule of academic terms (trimesters with

J-terms, etc.)

• Higher rates for admission to graduate and professional

school programs

What do you want your student to be able to

do when she/he graduates?

• Get a job in a specific field

• Have a diverse array of options including going on to graduate school

• Council for Christian Colleges and Universities

(CCCU)

• National Christian College Fair is typically

offered every October (location TBD)

• Pledge or code of conduc t

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equation, but still starts

with strength of schedule,

GPA, and standardized

tests (but not always)

involvements, and work

experiences

• Visits

**REMEMBER**

Colleges are looking for ways to get students IN!

*

“Selective” Colleges…

Require elite credentials and may only admit 20-30% or less of their applicants.

ACT Averages are typically in the 28-34 range Have the highest placement rates for graduate school

Do not typically offer merit scholarships Recommend that students take the most rigorous coursework available to them while in high school in all subjects

Knox College

Kenyon College

Grinnell College

Hillsdale College

McAllister College

Lawrence University

University of Chicago

Washington University

Notre Dame University

Northwestern University

• Accepted students are primarily from the Top 5-10% of

the class Test scores are also in the Top 5-10% range

• Typically admit fewer than 20% of applicants; can even

be below 10%

• Harvard 5.3%, Yale 6.5%, Columbia 6.1%, Dartmouth 10.3%

• 80% of applicants meet the admission requirements, but

only 20% are accepted (the difference between being lucky

and unlucky)

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National Association of College Admission

Counselors (NACAC) President, and Wendy

Biggs, counselor

Post-secondary schools are not obligated to provide services for students with

identified disabilities and offer varying levels of support.

• Research this fully if your child received services in high school.

• Schedule appointment with Special Services Office when visiting campus (if they have

one).

• Bring Individualized Education Plan/504 Plan documentation from most current student Reevaluation.

• Have other diagnosis documentation as well (some schools will require new diagnosis/testing if not done in

the past year

• Examples of schools with special programs:

• University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (Project Success) / UW – Whitewater (Project Assist)

• Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Achieve Program)

• Lynn University (Comprehensive Support Program)

• Lora College (Learning Disabilities Program)

• University of Arizona (S.A.L.T)

• University of Indianapolis (BUILD)

• Lincoln College (ADHD/LD program)

-• More specifics can/will be discussed during each student’s Annual

Review in the spring

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emotionally, etc.), and am I ready for him/her to leave?

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Family

• How far from home is too far (or too close)?

• What is our backup plan if the financial aid

does not work out the way we had hoped?

• What do we get for the extra cost of a

private or out-of-state school, and is it

worth it?

*

• Many more schools are using (UIC, Purdue,

Calvin, Hope; more to join in 2016)

• Can be used for over 600+ schools

• Only use if multiple schools in application list

are using it Otherwise, use school-specific

application

• A workshop will be held in September during

Access period for seniors using it

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*Most applications open for senior students August

or September 1st, but cannot be finalized without

counselor assistance, so have them wait for their

Senior Conference session

*Help them organize what materials each college

will need and when (i.e are teacher

recommendations required/used, counselor

secondary school reports, deadlines, etc…)

*October 1stdeadline for Senior Information sheets

(counselor) and teacher rec requests

Each student application

should be their own work

and effort Allow your

student to take charge

and control of his/her own

college applications

Remember, they will be on

their own and acting

independently in college,

so the more practice they

have doing this, the more

successful they will be

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*Continue using school Naviance account to research

and add college choice interests (breakout session

available for more information).

*Target 3-6 schools from overall list (safety, reasonable,

reach – consider both admissions standards / finances)

*Build college chart to organize application

requirements, due dates, and supporting documents.

*Be prepared to apply early (mid-September through

Early November).

School Deadline WNHS

Deadline Common App Application Fee Transcript needed? Test scores Needed? Letters of rec Personal Statement / Essay

Example:

University of Illinois (Priority)11/1 2 weeks prior NO Online $50 reporting)NO (self- (www.act.org)YES NO YES

Lawrence Univ. 11/1 (EA)

1/15 (Reg.) 2 weeks prior YES Online $50 YES (green form) Test Optional YES (1) YES

Access time w/ pass from counselor)

(refer to Miscellaneous Resource Reference sheet)

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Feel free to contact your student’s counselor

Counselor names, e-mails and phone numbers

can be accessed on our school website:

www.wnhs.org College & Career Resources Counseling Dept Staff