A Career and College Planning Guide for students and parents

1. Informed Decision-Making (PDF document)
2. Staying Informed (PDF document)
      1. Evening Program (PDF document)
           a. Career Pathway Night
           b. Financial Planning Workshop
           c. SUNY College Information Night
           d. Essay Writing Workshop
           e. Senior Information Night
           f. FAFSA Workshop
      2. CC&C Newsletter (PDF document)
      3. High School Guidance Web page (PDF document)
      4. Morning Announcements (PDF document)

II. Career Research (PDF document)................. Page 3

1. Choices (PDF document) or www.bridges.com
      1. Interest Profiler
      2. Other Surveys/Assessments
2. Additional Steps to Career Searching (PDF document)

III. College Research (PDF document).............. Page 5

1. Things to Think About (PDF document)
      1. Interests and Talents (PDF document)
      2. College Setting (PDF document)
      3. College Cost (PDF document)
2. College Searching (PDF document)
      1. Internet Searches (PDF document)
      2. More Research Options (PDF document)
          a. Rugg’s Recommendations
          b. Colleges Visiting Mohonasen
          c. Colleges Visiting the Capital District
          d. College Fairs
          e. Your College Visits
3. To How Many Schools Should You Apply? (PDF document)
      1. Safety School (PDF document)
      2. Comfort School (PDF document)
      3. Reach School (PDF document)
4. 2 Year vs. 4 Year Colleges (PDF document)

IV. College Visits (PDF document)................ Page 10

1. Things to Consider When Planning Your Visits (PDF document)
2. Be Prepared for Your Visit and Interview (PDF document)
3. Things to Do (PDF document)
4. Questions for College Visits and Interviews (PDF document)
      1. Admissions (PDF document)
      2. Academic (PDF document)
      3. Campus/Social (PDF document)
      4. Financial (PDF document)

V. College Preparation (PDF document)........ Page 16

1. Academics (PDF document)
      1. GPA and Rank (PDF document)
      2. What courses should you take your senior year? (PDF document)
2. College Entrance Exams/Standardized Tests (PDF document)
      1. Registering - CEEB Code: 335103 (PDF document)
          a. SAT – www.collegeboard.com
          b. ACT – www.actstudent.org
      2. Preparing for College Entrance Exams/Standardized Tests (PDF document)
      3. Types of College Entrance Exams/Standardized Tests (PDF document)
          a. SAT Reasoning Test
          b. ACT with Writing
          c. SAT Subject Tests
3. Extracurricular Activities and Community Involvement (PDF document)
4. The Essay (PDF document)
5. Recommendations (PDF document)
     1. Who Do You Ask? (PDF document)
     2. When and How Do You Ask? (PDF document)
     3. Counselor Recommendation (PDF document)

VI. The College Application Process (PDF document)..... Page 22

1. Types of Admissions (PDF document)
     1. Early Decision (PDF document)
     2. Early Action (PDF document)
     3. Regular Decision (PDF document)
     4. Rolling Admission (PDF document)
     5. Special Circumstances (PDF document)
2. Completing Your College Applications (PDF document)
     1. Online Applications vs. Paper Applications (PDF document)
     2. The Parts of the Application (PDF document)
3. Types of Applications (PDF document)
     1. School Specific Applications (PDF document)
     2. SUNY Applications (PDF document) – www.suny.edu/student
     3. The Common Application (PDF document) – www.commonapp.org

VII. Financial Aid and Scholarships (PDF document)..... Page 28

1. Key Financial Aid Terms and Phrases (PDF document)
2. Evening Programs (PDF document)
     1. Financial Planning Workshop (PDF document)
     2. FAFSA Workshop (PDF document)
3. Financial Aid Forms and Deadlines (PDF document)
     1. FAFSA (PDF document)
     2. TAP (PDF document)
     3. CSS/Financial Aid Profile (PDF document)
     4. School Specific Forms (PDF document)
4. EOP/HEOP (PDF document)
     1. EOP (PDF document)
     2. HEOP (PDF document)
5. Financial Aid Award Letters (PDF document)
     1. The Award Letter (PDF document)
     2. Appealing Your Award (PDF document)
6. Scholarships (PDF document)
     1. Online Searches (PDF document)
     2. Scholarship Board (PDF document) and www.mohonasen.org
     3. Scholarships From Your College (PDF document)
     4. Parent’s Work or Organizations (PDF document)
7. NCAA Clearinghouse/Sports Scholarships (PDF document)

VIII. Final Thoughts (PDF document)................. Page 35


IX. Appendix 

1. Informational Interview Questions (PDF document)
2. Sample Activity Sheet (PDF document)
3. SUNY Admissions Information Summary 4 year schools (PDF document)
4. SUNY Admissions Information Summary 2 year schools (PDF document)
5. Student Brag Sheet (PDF document)
6. Parent Brag Sheet (PDF document)
7. SAT-ACT Score Comparison Chart (PDF document)
8. Mohonasen Recommendation Request Form (PDF document)
9. Mohonasen HS Transcript Request Form (PDF document)
10. Common Application Teacher Evaluation Form (PDF document)
11. Common Application Secondary School Report Form (PDF document)
12. SUNY Online Application School Counselor Form (PDF document)
13. Web site Summary Sheet (PDF document)
14. College Preparation Checklist (PDF document)
15. College Comparison Worksheet (PDF document)

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