A Career and College Planning Guide for Students and Parents

Table of Contents

I. Introduction (PDF document)........................ Page 1
  A. Informed Decision-Making (PDF document)
  B. Staying Informed (PDF document)
      1. Evening Programs
          a. Information Night for 8th Graders and Parents
          b. Financial Planning Information Session
          c. SUNY College Information Night
          d. The College Application Process
          e. Essay Writing Information Session
          f. Senior Information Night
          g. FAFSA Information Session
      2. CC&C Newsletter
      3. High School Guidance Webpage
      4. Morning Announcements

II. Career Research (PDF document).................Page 3
   A. Choices or www.bridges.com
       1. Interest Profiler
       2. Other Surveys/Assessments
   B. Additional Steps to Career Searching (PDF document)

III. College Research (PDF document)............. Page 5
   A. Things to Think About (PDF document)
       1. Interests and Talents
       2. College Setting
       3. College Cost
   B. College Searching (PDF document)
       1. Internet Searches
       2. More Research Options
           a. Rugg’s Recommendations
           b. Colleges Visiting Mohonasen
           c. Colleges Visiting the Capital District
           d. College Fairs
           e. Your College Visits
   C. To How Many Schools Should You Apply? (PDF document)
       1. Safety School
       2. Comfort School
       3. Reach School
   D. 2 Year vs. 4 Year Colleges (PDF document)

IV. College Preparation (PDF document).............. Page 11
    A. Academics
        1. GPA and Rank
        2. What courses should you take your senior year?
    B. College Entrance Exams/Standardized Tests (PDF document)
        1. Registering - CEEB Code: 335103
            a. SAT – www.collegeboard.org
            b. ACT – www.actstudent.org
       2. Fee Waivers
       3. Versus Placement Tests
       4. Preparing for College Entrance Exams/Standardized Tests
       5. Types of College Entrance Exams/Standardized Tests
           a. SAT Reasoning Test
           b. ACT with Writing
           c. SAT Subject Tests
   C. Extracurricular Activities and Community Involvement (PDF document)
   D. The Essay (PDF document)
   E. Recommendations (PDF document)
       1. Who Do You Ask?
       2. When and How Do You Ask?
       3. Counselor Recommendation

V. College Visits (PDF document)................. Page 18
    A. Things to Consider When Planning Your Visits (PDF document)
    B. Be Prepared for Your Visit and Interview (PDF document)
    C. Things to Do (PDF document)
    D. Questions for College Visits and Interviews (PDF document)
         1. Admissions
         2. Academic
         3. Campus/Social
         4. Financial
    E. Questions You May be Asked at an Interview (PDF document)

VI. The College Application Process (PDF document).......Page 24
      A. Types of Admissions
           1. Early Decision
           2. Early Action
           3. Regular Decision
           4. Rolling Admission
           5. Special Circumstances
      B. Completing Your College Applications (PDF document)
           1. Online Applications vs. Paper Applications
           2. The Parts of the Application
      C. Types of Applications (PDF document)
           1. School Specific Applications
           2. SUNY Applications – www.suny.edu/student
           3. The Common Application – www.commonapp.org

VII. Financial Aid and Scholarships (PDF document)........Page 30
      A. Key Financial Aid Terms and Phrases (PDF document)
      B. Evening Programs
          1. Financial Planning Workshop
          2. FAFSA Workshop
      C. Financial Aid Forms and Deadlines (PDF document)
          1. FAFSA
          2. TAP
          3. CSS/Financial Aid Profile
          4. School Specific Forms
      D. EOP/HEOP (PDF document)
          1. EOP
          2. HEOP
      E. Financial Aid Award Letters (PDF document)
          1. The Award Letter
          2. Appealing Your Award
      F. Scholarships (PDF document)
          1. Online Searches
          2. Scholarship Board and www.mohonasen.org
          3. Scholarships From Your College
          4. Parent’s Work or Organizations
     G. NCAA Clearinghouse/Sports Scholarships (PDF document)

VIII. Final Thoughts (PDF document).........Page 38

IX. Appendix
     A. Informational Interview Questions (PDF document)
     B. Sample Activity Sheets (PDF document)
     C. SUNY Admissions Information Summary 4 year schools (PDF document)
     D. SUNY Admissions Information Summary 2 year schools (PDF document)
     E. Student Brag Sheet (PDF document)
     F. Parent Brag Sheet (PDF document)
     G. SAT-ACT Score Comparison Chart (PDF document)
     H. Mohonasen Recommendation Request Form (PDF document)
      I. Mohonasen School Counselor Recommendation Request Form (PDF document)
     J. Mohonasen HS Transcript Request Form (PDF document)
     K. Common Application Teacher Evaluation Form (PDF document)
     L. Common Application Secondary School Report Form (PDF document)
     M. SUNY Online Application School Counselor Form (PDF document)
     N. Web site Summary Sheet (PDF document)
     O. College Preparation Checklist (PDF document)
     P. College Comparison Worksheet (PDF document)
     Q. Sage Target List Questionnaire (PDF document)
     R. Sage Junior/Senior Year Timeline for College Preparation (PDF document)
     S. Interview Tips (PDF document)

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