College Planning Packet
Name: _______________________
This packet contains:
The Role of the College Counselor
College Planning Checklist Brochure
Initial Meeting Fall of Junior Year Questionnaire
College Check List: Junior Year
College Check List: Senior Year
What is the difference between the ACT and the SAT?
Testing Dates for the SAT & ACT
Financial Aid and Scholarship Websites
Suggested Questions to ask Admissions Representatives
The Role of the College Counselor
The college guidance program aims to help the student formulate appropriate post-secondary plans. The college counselor works with juniors early in the year to assist the students with their higher educational plans. Meetings between the guidance counselor, the student, and the parents are focused mainly on college applications, College Board testing and financial aid information. The college counselor is available for appointments with students and parents during regular school hours. Parents must be active participants in the college search and application process. An initial meeting between the college counselor and students will take place at the beginning of junior year. A meeting will take place between the college counselor and parents after the PSAT scores are received in December.
The college counselor provides the following guidelines:
Provides a college-planning packet to students at the beginning of 11th grade
Conducts a meeting with juniors in the fall, winter and spring and with seniors in the fall and winter of the academic year to discuss students’ college search, the college
application process, college entrance exams.
Organizes college fair field trips for the 11th grade and 12th graders.
Organizes several college admissions representatives to visit the school and speak to students about college planning, financial aid, college admissions, college academics, and college life.
Registers 11th graders for the PSAT upon confirmation from the student that he/she would like to take the test.
Directs college-bound athletes to the appropriate NCAA/NAIA information sites.
Administers the PSAT in October, and the SAT in the Fall and Spring at the Waldorf School of San Diego High School
As the college counselor, I am available to meet with students and parents to discuss the college admissions process during school hours. Appointments may be made my calling the school or through email.
Melinda Rocha
Initial Meeting Fall of Junior Year Questionnaire
In preparation for meeting with Mrs. Rocha to discuss the college search process, college applications and college entrance exams, please complete the following questions.
Are you planning on attending college? If so, is it a community, trade school or traditional 4-year university?
What are you interested in studying?
Why are you interested in studying the above field?
What are the main criteria you have when choosing a university/college? o Do you want to live in an urban or rural setting?
o Would you like to live where there are seasonal changes? o Would you like to live by the ocean, lake or in the mountains? o How about student body size?
o What specific academic program are you interested in? o NCAA/NAIA athletics?
o Cost?
Are there any colleges/universities you are currently interested in? If so, why?
What activities are you currently involved in that will reflect positively on your character in your college application? Volunteer work, employment, sports and theater/music?
Do you have any concerns about the college application process, college entrance exam, and/or attending college in general?
College Check List: Junior Year
Take PSAT in October
Schedule a meeting with Mrs. Rocha to discuss your college search, the college application process and college entrance exams.
Research collges/universities
o Create a collegeboard.com student account
o Use Mrs. Rocha’s college QUICKSTART through collegeboard.com (access after receiving PSAT results)
o Use books o Use the internet
o Attend college fairs (As a class, we will be attending a college fair in the spring)
Fill in the college calendar provided by Mrs. Rocha
Register online at collegeboard.com for an SAT and/or ACT test for the Spring.
Become familiar with college applications and begin to think about your college application essay
Create a summer schedule that reflects your good character. Get involved in volunetter work, an internship, athletics/theater/ music, or get a job etc. Most important, BE ACTIVE THIS SUMMER!
College Check List: Senior Year
Schedule a meeting with Mrs. Rocha to discuss your college search, the college application process and college entrance exams.
Fill in the college calendar provided by Mrs. Rocha
Narrow your list of prospective colleges/universities to 5-10 schools.
Sign up in the fall for SAT and ACT test dates.
Complete a rough draft of your college application essay and ask teachers to edit the draft and provide comments. Allow a MINIMUM of 3 weeks for teachers to edit your essay.
Ask teachers for recommendations. Allow a MINIMUM of 3 weeks for teachers to complete the recommendation.
Contact Mrs. Garratt to ask for you transcript to be sent to the colleges/universities you are applying to.
Complete early decision and UC applications in early November
Complete regular decision applications before the winter break.
Submit the FAFSA, Free Application For Student Aid, through the collegeboard.com website as soon as possible.
Ask Mrs. Garratt to send in your final high school transcript to the college/university you will be attending in the fall.
What is the difference between the ACT and the SAT?
The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.
The ACT has up to 5 components: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing Test. The SAT has only 3 components: Critical Reasoning, Mathematics, and a required Writing Test.
The College Board introduced a new version of the SAT in 2005, with a mandatory writing test. ACT continues to offer its well-established test, plus an optional writing test. You take the ACT Writing Test only if required by the college(s) you're applying to.
The SAT has a correction for guessing. That is, they take off for wrong answers. The ACT is scored based on the number of correct answers with no penalty for guessing.
The ACT has an Interest Inventory that allows students to evaluate their interests in various career options.
ACT Test Dates
Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required)
September 21, 2013 August 23, 2013 August 24-September 6, 2013 October 26, 2013 September 27, 2013 September 28-October 11,2013 December 14, 2013 November 8, 2013 November 9-22, 2013February 8, 2014* January 10, 2014 January 11-24, 2014 April 12, 2014 March 7, 2014 March 8-21, 2014 June 14, 2014 May 9, 2014 May 10-23, 2014 *No test centers are scheduled in New York for the February test date.
SAT Test Dates Subject Tests Available (Find Dates) Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline
(Add’l fee if you register After the regular deadline but before the late registration deadline.
Deadline For Changes
(Fees may apply)
Oct. 5 Subject Tests Sep. 6 9/20 Mail
9/23 Online/Phone
9/23 Nov. 2 Subject Tests Oct. 3 10/18 Mail
10/21 Online/Phone
10/21 Dec. 7 Subject Tests Nov. 8 11/22 Mail
11/25 Online/Phone
11/25 Jan. 25 Subject Tests Dec. 27 1/10 Mail
1/14 Online/Phone
1/14 Mar. 8 Feb. 7 2/21 Mail
2/24 Online/Phone
2/24 May 3 Subject Tests April 4 4/18 Mail
4/21 Online/Phone
4/21 June 7 Subject Tests May 9 5/23 Mail
5/28 Online/Phone
Suggested Questions to Ask Admissions Representatives
What programs are particularly strong?
What are the academic profiles of admitted students? (SAT/ACT/GPA) Are extracurricular activities considered in the admissions decision? Does the institution offer career-planning services?
Is residence housing guaranteed? Is it required to live in the residence halls? What percentage of classes are taught by professors and by teaching assistants? What are the deadlines for applications and for financial aid?
What percentage of students receive financial aid? What is offered in an average financial aid package?
What percentage of the freshman class return for sophomore year? What is the student to faculty ratio?
What kinds of academic assistance are offered?
What are the study abroad opportunities offered? Is studying abroad encouraged? Are there general education or distribution requirements? If so, how many units do
these courses account for?
If I take a full course load every semester am I guaranteed to graduate in 4 years? What types of extracurricular activities are offered?
What type of student does the institution look for?
Can you describe the typical student who attends your school?
Financial Aid and Scholarship Websites
www.finaid.org Aid estimator and scholarship search
www.fastweb.com Database of private-sector scholarships, grants, and loans
www.fastaid.com Largest and oldest private sector scholarship database
www.collegenet.com/mar25 Database contains over 600,000 awards totaling over $1.6 billion
www.collegeboard.org Scholarship search and financial planning resource
www.grantsandfunding.com Government information services/education funding
www.mappin-your-future.org Student site for aid and scholarships
www.easi.ed.gov Locate federal, state, and private sources of grants
www.faam.org Financial aid calendar, selecting a college, financial aid
www.collegequest.org Financial aid and scholarships
Items to Include in Your College Calendar
Test dates and registration dates for the PSAT/SAT/SAT Subject Tests/ACT
When to begin your college application essay
When to turn in a rough draft to your teacher(s)
When to finish your college application essay
College application deadlines for your top 5-10 schools. This should be determined in the fall of your senior year. Make sure to include early decision deadlines as well.
When to ask for recommendations
When to ask for transcript to be sent to colleges/universities
FAFSA and CSS/Financial Aid Profile submission date
