Take Campus Visits
Register for campus visits on the school's website. Once the meeting is arranged, see your counselor for a college visit pass or download from the website. Give the pass to attendance before going and bring back proof. Seniors are allowed 3 visits.
When visiting:
Make sure your parents go with you
Talk with someone in admissions – be prepared with questions
Talk with someone in financial aid and find out what is available
Talk with students and faculty
Sit in on a class
Take a campus tour
Stay overnight, if possible
Check-out the dorms, library, student activity center, etc.
Have a meal on campus
Find out about campus activities, sports and organizations
Retake ACT/SAT
Apply online.
ACT Registration
SAT Registration
If you are on Free/Reduced Lunch, you can have your testing fees waived. See your counselor. Make sure you send your test scores to four colleges. Otherwise, you have to pay a fee to have them sent. Study before taking the ACT/SAT using online resources, software, and/or study guide books. PHS and Edison offer an ACT prep class.
What scores are colleges looking for?
Highly Selective (top 10% of class) – ACT = 27-36 / SAT = 1220-1600
Selective (top 25% of class) – ACT = 22-27 / SAT = 1150-1230
Traditional (top 50% of class) – ACT = 20-23 / SAT = 950-1070
Liberal (many accepted from lower half) – ACT = 18-21 / SAT = 870-990
Open (all accepted to limit of capacity)
Attend College Week at PHS
Attend Local College Fairs
Apply to College
Narrow your list to 3-4 colleges. Make sure you have 1 "safe" school. Check with the college’s admissions office or visit their website for information on what you need to do to apply. If you are on free and reduced lunch, you may be able to waive the application fee. See your counselor.
For some colleges, you have to complete the Common Application. The Common Application is an online college application that is accepted at many colleges and universities nationally. Students can use one application for any schools that accept the common application instead of filling out a separate application for each school. Some schools require an additional supplement, so be sure to check the admission requirements. Application fees to each school still apply. For more information and the application, go to the Common Application. Once you apply, update your information in Naviance. If you apply with the Common Application, you have to link your Common Application and your Naviance account.
Meet Application Deadlines. The counseling department suggests filling out applications for each college by Thanksgiving, no later than Christmas. If you have a first-choice college, consider applying early decision (a binding commitment to enroll if accepted) or early action (gives students the benefit of an early yes or no without the commitment to attend). When applying, you also want to be aware of scholarship or major deadlines. Have your materials in by that date, so you can be eligible for the school-specific scholarships.
Some colleges/scholarships require letters of recommendation. If they do, choose adults who know you well, such as teachers, coaches, or employers. You will want to ask them to write about your talents and abilities, both academic and otherwise. You must complete the counselor/teacher recommendation form in Naviance. If you request a recommendation through Naviance, make sure you talk to the teacher as well. Give them at least two-weeks notice.
If you are not applying test optional, see if your college will accept standardized tests from your transcript or if you have to send them directly from the testing agency. Make sure your scores have been submitted.
After you complete your application, complete a transcript request in Naviance. Turn in request no later than one week before the deadline.
Check the college's application portal to make sure they have received all of your application materials.
Attend the Financial Aid Meetings During Conferences
Search and Apply for Scholarships
Scholarships are free money, so apply for as many as you can! To get started, go online and take advantage of free scholarship searches, check the scholarship list in Naviance, and check the college’s financial aid office for scholarships. Do not waste your time applying for scholarships that you are not eligible to win.
To prepare get organized and keep scholarships you are working on separate from those you have not started. Use a calendar to track dates and deadlines. Create a folder for each scholarship application and materials.
Know your time frame to apply. Complete and send the easiest scholarships first. Then focus on the scholarships with earlier deadlines and ones that may require more time. Allow plenty of time when requesting letters of recommendation. If they will take a copy of your transcript, you can use an unofficial transcript. If the scholarship wants an official transcript, this must be obtained from your counselor.
When submitting your application, remember to check spelling and grammar. Proofread your materials and have your teacher, parent, or friend read over your application and essay. Make sure you included all required documents and you answered all of the questions.
Look for tell tale lines of a scholarship scam: "The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back." "You can't get this information anywhere else." "I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship." "We'll do all the work." "The scholarship will cost some money." "You've been selected by a 'national foundation' to receive a scholarship" or "You're a finalist" in a contest you never entered.
*Tips from FastWeb and the Federal Trade Commission
Apply to the NCAA Clearinghouse or the NAIA Clearinghouse
If you didn't apply at the end of your junior year, you need to register with the Clearinghouse if you plan to play NCAA Division I, II or NAIA sports in college. You will need to request the transcript on Naviance. When you take the ACT, have your scores sent directly to the Clearinghouse by filling in their code under the colleges/scholarship box. The code for the NCAA Clearinghouse is 9999. The NAIA Clearinghouse is 9876.
Complete the FAFSA
Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1. The FAFSA is the federal form the U.S. Department of Ed. uses to determine how much federal student aid you qualify for. To complete the FAFSA, you will use tax information from one year prior. Even if your parents "make too much money", completing the FAFSA gives you the opportunity to borrow federal loans, which may be at a reduced interest rate than private loans.
To submit the FAFSA, students and parents must have an FSA ID. It will take three days to recieve your FSA ID. You can apply for one here: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch
Men 18 or older must register for the selective service to receive federal financial aid.
You can call, email, or live chat with Federal Aid Resource Center if you have any questions about the FAFSA. Some colleges require you to complete additional College Specific Forms or the CSS profile which provides colleges with a more complete view of your families circumstances. Each college will have different requirements, so be sure to check the policies at each of the schools to which you are applying.
Review your Student Aid Report (SAR)
After you complete your FAFSA, you will receive your FAFSA Submission Summary. This will tell you your student aid index (SAI). The colleges use this number to put together your financial aid package.
Compare Financial Aid Award Letters
If you applied for financial aid and completed all of the steps, you will receive award letters from the colleges that accepted you. Your award letter shows how much financial aid is offered to you. The awards may be in the form of grants, loans, work-study, and/or scholarships. You do not have to accept all or any of your awards.
Pick Your College
May 1 is National Decision Day where studnets make a jinad decision and announce where they will attend college in the fall. Send deposits and sign all paperwork. Contact and decline the offers from the colleges you do not plan to attend.
Request Final Transcripts
Final transcripts must be sent to your college and to the NCAA or NAIA Clearinghouse if you are planning on playing sports. Complete a transcript release form on Naviance. If you took College Credit Plus courses. You need to request your college transcript be sent to your college by visiting the National Clearinghouse.