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April 24, 2008
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT - COLLEGE PLANNING
TIMELINE FOR COLLEGE SELECTION AND APPLICATION
TIMELINE FOR COLLEGE SELECTION AND APPLICATION |
April/May Junior Yr. & Sept. |
| *Discuss with your parents factors important in college choice |
| * Use these factors to set boundaries for college choices |
| * Use Naviance Connection program at http://connection.naviance.com/sfhs-wheaton |
| * Do college search on Naviance or other programs and narrow schools to 5 or 6 |
| * Consult college visit schedule (reps coming to SFHS) on Naviance Family Connection |
Senior Yr. |
| * Use resources in Guidance/Internet to obtain info and applications from colleges |
| * Select senior schedule to meet graduation/college requirements |
| * Register to take ACT/SAT tests |
| * Register to take SAT II subject tests if your colleges require them |
| * Visit with college reps in cafeteria during lunch periods |
| * Make five or more formal college campus visits |
| * Student athletes complete NCAA Clearinghouse preliminary certification and send transcript and test scores to Clearinghouse |
| * Contact Mrs. Rigney and/or one or two teachers to request letters of recommendation |
October |
| * Retake ACT/SAT |
| * Parents attend information program on college selection and financial aid |
| * Recheck college visit schedule on Naviance and see college reps who visit SFHS |
| * Maintain strong grades for first semester of senior year |
| * Continue campus visits |
| *Attend local college fairs |
| * Send in applications for priority deadlines, early decision, early admission, etc. |
November |
| * Apply by Nov. 1 for Early Action, Early Notification, or Early Decision |
| *Apply by Nov. 10 to U of I at Champaign |
| *Apply by Nov. 15 to ISU, DePaul, NIU most nursing programs & physical therapy programs (note mail documents by Nov. 1 to guarantee receipt by Nov. 15 deadline) |
| *Apply by Nov. 30 to all large public universities |
| * Continue cafeteria visits with reps and campus visits |
| * Begin to research and apply for special scholarships |
| * Request ACT/SAT to send official test scores to all colleges |
| * Continue campus visits as needed |
December |
| * Apply by Dec. 1 to Marquette, St. Louis, and other similar private colleges |
| * Complete all college applications no later than December 1--15 |
| * Pick up FAFSA (free Federal Financial Aid Form) in Guidance Office |
| * Send in registration for College Board Profile Financial Aid Form if your college requires it |
| * Begin preparing for final exams |
January |
| * Complete and mail FAFSA (paper copy or online) by February 1 |
| * Request 7th semester grades be sent to all colleges that require them |
| * Continue campus visits if necessary |
February |
| * Return housing contracts, if you have received them |
| * Continue scholarship search and applications. Watch for spring scholarship announcements in weekly Guidance Bulletin |
| * Continue campus visits if necessary |
March |
| * Discuss final college selection options with parents/counselor |
| * Begin search for summer employment |
| * Register for AP or CLEP tests (college credit by exam) |
| * If applying for financial aid, follow up with the college financial aid office as soon as you receive your SAR (student aid report) |
April |
| * Finalize enrollment contract/deposit with college you plan to attend no later than May 1 |
| * Notify colleges you are NOT attending of your final choice |
May |
| * Prepare for final exams |
| * Take AP/CLEP tests |
| * Submit to the Guidance Office a request for final 8th semester transcripts to be sent to the college of your choice and the NCAA Clearinghouse (for student-athletes) |
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- Begin early--in fall of junior year or spring of junior year at the latest.
- Use the resources available in the school such as: Internet college search programs, Naviance Family Connection, college guide books, catalogs, and college files in college counseling office. Always check with the school Guidance Office first to see if information on a particular college is available there.
- Pick up application forms from the display case or college files in the College Counseling Office. If we do not have a current application on file, call, write, or e-mail the college admission office to obtain one. Most students send applications online or download applications from the college website. Some colleges will waive the application fee if you apply online. Many colleges accept the Common Application which can be accessed at www.commonapp.org. Guidebooks in the Guidance Office have addresses and phone numbers of colleges. You can also use the list in this planning guide or check the college profile in the Naviance Family Connection (http://connection.naviance.com/sfhs-wheaton). You should also contact the college directly to request other necessary information such as viewbooks, financial aid, and scholarship information.
- Complete the application soon after receiving it. Be aware of application deadlines and requirements (i.e. SAT Subject Tests, letters of recommendation, counselor forms, etc). Read every word of the directions before you write anything.
- Complete the application neatly and correctly. Remember, this application represents you to that college. It is all the college has to evaluate you; make the most of it. Proofread for spelling or typing errors. Make certain you have signed the application in all required places (failure to do so will result in your application being returned to you).
- If you need to make a personal statement on the application or include an essay, complete a rough draft and have it evaluated by a counselor or English teacher first. Never write a sentence or paragraph directly on the application without first doing a rough draft on scratch paper.
- If you did not automatically send your ACT/ SAT test scores to the college when you registered for the test, go online to the website for ACT/ SAT , and complete an online request for them to send an official copy of your scores directly to the college. For your convenience, we automatically include a copy of all of your ACT and SAT scores on your transcript. Some colleges will accept this record in lieu of an official report from ACT or SAT . If you do not want your score to be listed on your transcript, contact Mrs. Rigney as soon as you receive your scores and we will not place the score sticker on your transcript. If you decide later to have a score removed from your transcript, you must ask Mrs. Rigney to do this.
- If you need a teacher recommendation, ask the teacher if he/she is comfortable writing a recommendation for you to a particular college. If the teacher says yes, give the teacher a completed "recommendation request form" which is available in the Guidance Office and on the school website. This will provide the teacher with the information needed to complete your letter of recommendation. Make your request at least 21 school days (three weeks) in advance of when it needs to be mailed. Do not ask more than two faculty members to write letters of recommendation for you unless it is absolutely required by the college. Most colleges do not want to receive more than two letters. Also, if you are applying to several colleges, have one or two teachers complete all of your letters.
- If you only need one letter, we strongly recommend that you request a letter from the College Counselor, Mrs. Rigney. Mrs. Rigney will contact the teachers that you believe will speak positively about you. They will provide input for her letter and she will provide a comprehensive letter that discusses your academics, activities, and personal qualities. Make this request to Mrs. Rigney at least three or four weeks in advance of when it needs to be mailed.
- For paper applications: once you have completed your application, do the following:
- Put it in a letter sized envelope (NOT large yellow envelope) addressed to the college admission office. Do not attach postage.
- Enclose a check for the application fee.
- Do not seal the envelope.
- Pick up an "application checklist/transcript release form" from the Guidance Office or print it from the school website
- Carefully review the checklist and complete the form with the correct address of the college at the bottom. Sign this form.
- Paper clip the application checklist/transcript release form to the envelope.
- The first five transcripts are free. After that, attach the $5.00 handling fee (cash or check payable to St. Francis)
- If a letter of recommendation from a teacher or from Mrs. Rigney needs to accompany the application, note that on the transcript release form in the appropriate section
- If you are using the Common Application, note on top of form & check that in the appropriate section of the transcript release form
- Bring this completed packet to Mrs. Rigney (or Mrs. Ellis) who will check it for missing items and send it on to the St. Francis Main Office.
- The St. Francis registrar will enclose your official transcript and send the application in the school mail.
- Allow at least 10 school days (two weeks) for processing. Allow at least 15 days (three weeks) if the letters of recommendation were recently requested.
- If you are applying online (preferred method), remember that sending the application electronically does not complete your application process. You must also do the following:
- Print out any special pages (if required) that may need a counselor signature or endorsement. Place in an envelope addressed to the college. Do not seal the envelope.
- Enclose any other supporting documents that need to be sent separately. This may include a check for the application fee, personal statement, list of student activities, etc.
- Complete and attach the transcript release form following the directions above. Bring your packet to Mrs. Rigney (or Mrs. Ellis who will review it and pass it on to Mrs. Rigney)
- Follow remaining directions above.
- Please process all application and transcript requests through Mrs. Rigney, not the Main Office, so she can record and track your paperwork.
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