POLYTECH
Post High School &
College Planning
2015-2016
Increase your job opportunities and choices – 68% of jobs
in Delaware require some post-secondary education.
Earn more money with a post-secondary degree – college
graduates earn at an average of 66% more than non-
college graduates.
Enjoy greater job security throughout your life – most
jobs requiring a college degree offer better benefits.
Take advantage of the course variety offered at colleges
and universities – pursue a career that matches your
interests and skills.
Why College?
?
Students need to maintain a strong
student profile by:
• Maintaining good grades – GPA is critical
• Maintaining regular attendance
• Avoiding discipline issues
• Participating in school and community
activities
Student Profile
Keep a file & calendar to manage your
college search, testing and application
data
Colleges look for the strength of the high
school program – challenging classes and
strong testing scores
Colleges prefer a strong junior &senior
year – do your best! Do not drop
challenging courses .
Organization is Key
Visit the POLYTECH Guidance Web Page for
important information/notices – view both
the College Information and Links sites
Visit the Delaware Department of
Education’s website
http://www.delawaregoestocollege.org/
Resources
Plan to apply to at least four colleges – your list should
include at least one of each of the following:
• Reach School – not “out of reach” but this might be a more selective school - one of your dream schools
• Match School – schools that are a good match for your GPA, class rank and abilities/interests
• Safety School – a school with open enrollment – you are sure to be admitted
• Do not rule out schools that might be out-of-state or
expensive. Sometimes small, private schools have larger
endowments with scholarships available to deserving students
Four or More!
Consider the following and how important these
factors are to you:
Location – in-state or out-of-state
Setting – Rural, Suburban or Urban
Size – large, medium, small
Co-ed, women or men only, diversity?
Do most students live on campus or commute?
Availability of support Services – tutoring, employment
services, disability services, etc.
College Fit
College Admissions – Application categories
Early Decision –earlier deadlines – November 1 – 15 - Binding - If accepted, you are committed to attend. This option limits financial aid comparisons between universities.
Early Action – not binding - earlier deadlines - can apply to more than one college early action
Regular – the college has a specific deadline for applications which are then reviewed and decisions are mailed to all
applicants at the same time (usually April)
Rolling – no deadlines – colleges make decisions soon after application is submitted – decisions are released on a
“rolling” basis
College Admissions
Check out some of these websites
• Colleges that Change Lives - http://ctcl.org/
• The National Association for College Admission Counseling - http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/Pages/Default.aspx
• US Department of Education Resource - http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
• NCAA Website -
https://web3.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.jsp
• Delaware SEED Scholarship -
https://www.dtcc.edu/admissions-financial-aid/financial-aid- scholarships/types-aid/seed
Additional Resources
Complete your Senior Data
Sheet/Resume – Found on the PHS
College Information Site
Draft your college essay and resume
Get tips and sample essays at
www.essayedge.com or
http://www.collegeessayguy.com/
Paperwork
Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete
without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content.
What do you do or experience there; and why is it meaningful to you?
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture,
community, or family.
Note: The essay length is capped at 650 words.
2015-16 Common Application
Essay Prompts
Seniors - Meet with your counselor individually to
review your college plans. Check graduation
requirements, GPA and class rank.
Complete the Common Application @
www.commonapp.org, over 500 colleges accept this
application
Request letters of recommendation from your
counselor and teachers who know you well. Be sure
to give them enough notice (at least two weeks).
Complete your college essay.
October
All Students - Attend College Fairs
Central DE College Night @ POLYTECH
Nov. 9, 7-9 p.m. Main Gym
NCC@Carpenter Center, Univ. of DE –
Nov 10, 7-9 p.m.
Sussex Tech HS, Nov. 12, 7-9 p.m.
Seniors - Prepare information you will need for
POLYTECH’s College Application Week –
November 9 - 13
November
College Application Week – November 9-13
You will have the opportunity to apply to colleges
during the school day (scheduled by shop). If you
apply earlier, please note the following:
All Delaware colleges will waive their application fees
during College Application Month – October 19 –
November 20 – counselors will provide codes
If you apply to DTCC during this week, you MUST
remember to apply for the SEED scholarship in the
spring
College Application Week
Prepare for College Application Week (CAW)
When completing applications, you will need the following
:
• List of colleges to submit applications
• Your social security number & e-mail address
• Parent information including e-mail address, driver’s license number and date issued -to confirm residency, education level, work place location and type
• Access to your completed college essays
• Your Senior Information sheet/resume
• You will need to self-report GPA, class rank, SAT scores/dates
October
Register for the SAT and ACT – find links to
websites on Guidance Page
SAT - November 7
thtest – deadline to register –Oct 9
SAT - December 5
thtest – deadline to register – Nov. 5
th
ACT – December 12
th– deadline to register – Nov. 6
ACT – February 6
th– deadline to register – Jan. 8
(Discuss fee waivers with your counselor – eligibility for
free and reduced lunch provides up to two fee waivers
for testing and four fee waivers for college
applications.)
October
Review the Delaware Scholarship
Compendium, available on-line at
www.scholarships.delawaregoestocollege.org
–Request transcripts from the Guidance
Office – we will be using an on-line
system – Parchment – to submit resumes
– Students must use their POLYTECH e-
mail for Parchment.
October
November 1 – 15: For early decision admissions,
colleges may require test scores and applications
between these dates
November 5, 8:00 a.m. – ASVAB testing at PHS –
for students interested in the military
College Application Week – November 9 - 13
Check college application Deadline Dates –
University of Delaware’s preferred date is
December 1
stNovember
Seniors - set a goal to complete all
applications by Winter Break
Parents and Students - Apply for your FSA ID #
for FAFSA
Seniors now; juniors by end of year
http://studentaid.gov/fsaid
This allows you to sign the form
electronically
December
Complete FAFSA in January/February but no
later than second week of March. Submit the
on-line application at www.fafsa.ed.gov
Continue to visit prospective colleges, complete
scholarship applications and schedule
interviews as necessary
Follow up with your counselor and teachers
about status of letters of recommendations and
transcripts
January
Never rule out a college because of cost alone.
Compare costs before applying.
Be sure to look at direct and indirect costs
Direct costs include tuition/fees, room and board
Indirect costs include personal expenses, books and
transportation
Estimate your net price by completing the cost
estimators (most colleges/universities have these on
their websites)
Financial Aid
Be sure to check deadlines and submit before the earliest
deadline – this increases your chance of receiving institutional aid through the individual colleges and universities
Keep all tax records up-to-date – student and parent
Be sure to use the Data Retrieval tool to have your information transferred from the IRS
Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) and your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
Compare awards when received in late spring.
Juniors – note – you will be able to complete the FAFSA earlier next year
Financial Aid
SEED Scholarship – Student Excellence equals Degree
University of Delaware’s Associates of Arts Program –
two years – located on the DTCC campus in Dover.
Studens can then transition to the main campus in
Newark – two years free tuition – deadline to apply –
January 15
