Class of 2025
Please make sure you check this site for weekly updates and information that we share! We will also send you weekly emails and post materials in the College Planning Google Classroom.
Advice from Current Seniors
This week's PPT covers advice from current seniors about the college application process. We find it helpful that juniors hear from students who just underwent the process and how they can best prepare. This will be our last lesson shared this year, but we will continue to send out our weekly emails with status updates.
SAT Registration & Alternatives to College
This week we have information about signing up for an additional SAT test(if you are interested). Many schools are test optional including CUNYs and SUNYS(all colleges that are test optional can be found HERE), but some do require the SAT or ACT test. We can only review you for a fee waiver for the SAT if you have your family income form in. Otherwise the test will be $68. If they are found eligible for an SAT fee waiver and they want to register for another test, the student should email Heather(honeil@actvf.org) to make an appointment to register because we have to enter a specific code. We have limited codes so students should only register if they are serious about testing again.
Students will be signing up to take the test at a school that is NOT TvF on a Saturday morning, so they should sign up soon to ensure there is a school with a seat that is close to home
If students are interested in testing again, we recommend taking the dates offered in August, October, or November only so that scores come back in time to be used for applications. You should sign up soon because spots go quickly!
We also have folder of information regarding alternative options to college. We have students every year who opt to go a different path that fits them and their priorities! We love that for our students! You should be looking at all your options. We strongly recommend using the Career Directory Tool that can help you focus your search on programs in certain locations and interest areas!
Alternatives to College Folder
You can also use this helpful tool that allows you to look at a variety of different trade programs or alternatives to college based on interest and location.
How to Research Colleges Online & Sign Up for College Tours
This week's PPT covers how to research colleges online and to sign up for virtual college information events and in person college tours. Colleges have a LOT of availability for students to sign up for tours with family members and their websites hold lots of helpful information! Definitely check it out because you don't want to apply to a school you later realize you aren't interested in!
Family Income Forms & Financial Aid 101
We ask that all junior families submit a family income form(Google Form OR PDF version) based on their 2023 tax information by Friday, May 17th. We use this information to determine eligibility for financial aid, opportunity programs, and fee waivers for college applications. If you have any outstanding questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to Heather(honeil@actvf.org).
***YOU ONLY NEED TO SUBMIT ONE OF THE OPTIONS FOR THE FAMILY INCOME FORM ABOVE!***
Below is an introduction about the financial aid process and the specific applications families will complete next year. We will have actual FAFSA/TAP nights to support you in completing two major applications, but we find it helpful for you to have some of this information now.
Personal Statement & Supplemental Essays
Every college will require a personal statement(also known as the College Essay). You will have the opportunity to work on this at the end of this year in your English class, but we wanted to share this information with you in case you wanted a head start. The personal statement can be about anything(within reason) and we have some recommendations about it in this week's PPT on how to get started, dos/don'ts, and some examples from previous students and outside resources.
Some colleges with have extra essays called supplemental essays that are usually shorter than your personal statement. It is best to do research now on these essays(though they can change between now and next year).
Teacher Recommendation Requests - Step 2
Step 2: Electronic Request on Overgrad
You should only proceed with adding the electronic official teacher recommendation request on Overgrad once your teacher has VERBALLY AGREED to write you recommendation. Please follow the directions outlined in the PPT to add the electronic request to Overgrad.
Teacher Recommendation Requests - Step 1
Step 1: Verbal Requests
This powerpoint reviews the teacher recommendation request process including who to ask, how many recommendations you need, and if you should ask a film production teacher. The first step to request a recommendation is talking to the teacher! You should be finalizing and asking your teachers by Friday(4/19). We will cover how to add your formal request to Overgrad next week once a teacher says yes!
College Lists & Deadlines
This week's information is about the terminology associated with college lists and the various deadlines in the college application process next year. In terms of deadlines(regular decision vs. early action or decision), you don't need to officially decide until next year, however, it is good to do research about these deadlines now. Some colleges have only certain types of deadlines or only allow certain deadlines for specific majors.
Opportunity Programs
Later this spring we will be having you complete a family income form for us to review you for application fee waivers and opportunity programs. Below is information about how being eligible for these programs financially can lower the academic criteria at certain colleges. Opportunity programs are offered at all CUNYs, all SUNYs, and some private colleges within New York.
Brag Sheets
All juniors received an email yesterday(Monday, March 11th) gaining access to an individually created document called a brag sheet. This document has a number of questions we ask each student to complete so the College Office and letter of recommender writers can learn more about each student. You can find your brag sheet in your Google Drive(Student Last Name First Name - Brag Sheet).
Juniors should complete their brag sheet by Thursday, March 28th.
After that date, a member of the College Office will review the document for completion and leave feedback if necessary. You do not need to notify us that yoru brag sheet is complete by the deadline, but if you complete it AFTER the deadline, you need to let the College Office know so we can review it again.
Below are two documents that answer common questions and give you an idea of responses we are looking for. The more information you give, the more we can learn and advocate for you in our letters of recommendation!
Personal Email Creation & Overgrad Review
Creating a Personal Email PPT
It is crucial that you have a personal email dedicated to the college process next year. You will not be using your TvF email because once you graduate, you will lose access to it. Your personal email will be used for college application, college communication, and financial aid!
Types of Colleges
This week's information covers the different types of colleges our students typically apply to which include CUNYs, SUNYs, and private and out-of-state colleges. We cannot stress enough that doing your research now and visiting schools will help you finalize your lists. It's also important to understand that certain programs like film require additional materials including portfolios or supplemental essays. We will be revisiting in early March with the whole junior class how to use Overgrad in your college and career exploration search.
Two vs Four Year Colleges
This week's information reviews the differences of a two year and four year colleges from cost to what degrees they provide.
Everyone will have at least one community college(two year) CUNY college on their list come the fall as they are cost efficient and the only guaranteed acceptance as a DOE student(unless a parent waives this requirement).
Junior College Night Information
Resources
CUNY Admissions Profile - You can look at the current GPA requirements for each CUNY campus.
CUNY Majors Search Tool - This allows you to research the CUNY campuses by the majors they offer. We strongly suggest you read about the courses and requirements of the schools specific majors on the school sites to get a better idea of how each school teaches and prepares students in that particular field. It can be different school to school.
SUNY Admissions Profile - You can look at the current GPA/SAT requirements for each SUNY campus. Keep in mind SUNYs are test optional!
SUNY Majors Search Tool - This allows you to research the SUNY campuses by the majors they offer. We strongly suggest you read about the courses and requirements of the schools specific majors on the school sites to get a better idea of how each school teaches and prepares students in that particular field. It can be different school to school.
Scholarship Search Tools - These are sites where students can create profiles and start researching/applying to scholarships.