college information
Now is the time, whether you are in Kindergarten or 12th grade, to be thinking about college! Keep scrolling for important information and links to helpful resources.
REQUEST YOUR TRANSCRIPT & LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION IN NAVIANCE!
Check out the College & Financial Aid Meeting presentation from October 2023.
College Presentation.pptx
Take the classes you need
Get involved in a group
Volunteer in the community
Keep your grades up
Ask for help, if needed
Start thinking about careers
What do you need after HS
Meet with Mrs. Conant
Keep taking a full schedule
Try some harder classes
Continue to be involved
Continue to volunteer
Consider a part-time job
Think about a career
Start talking about college
Meet with Mrs. Conant
Take a full schedule
Go on college visits
Research the military
Research careers of interest
Talk about financial aid
Take the ACT/SAT
Take the PSAT
Meet with Mrs. Conant
Keep a full schedule
Go on college visits
Meet with a recruiter
Create your resume'
Take the ACT/SAT again
Complete college apps
Complete the FAFSA
Meet with Mrs. Conant
How To Choose the College That's Right for You
Choosing the right college for you based on what's important is a big choice, but first, you need to know what's important to you: cost, location, majors, transferability of credits, graduation rate, religious affiliation, academic reputation, selectivity, etc.
Compare and contrast college throughout the USA with The College Scorecard.
Know how much college will cost before you select your college - Use the Net Price Calculator Search to find the cost of colleges.
HAVE You prepared for college admission?
Take the Tough Classes
College admissions say the #1 thing they look for is a good GPA and a college prep schedule all through high school.
Trying to maintain a 4.0 GPA by taking lower level courses may not be helpful.
Take the tough classes and WORK HARD!
Work, Volunteer, and Be Involved
College admissions want to see that you spent your extra time in and out of school by being productive.
Get a part-time job.
Volunteer at school, in the community, or at church
Join a club or sport.
Colleges want to see that you can handle managing your time.
Gaming, YouTubing, TikTok dance videos, and Snap Chat stories are NOT extracurricular activities to colleges.
Take a Campus Tour
If able, attend a campus tour and speak to an admissions counselor and the financial aid officer.
If not, take a virtual tour online and reach out to admissions and financial aid to make sure you understand the process and cost.
"Cast a wide net"! That means don't limit yourself to just looking at the schools you know. Get searching online for new schools!
Consider a regional campus or community college as a place to start before transferring to a main campus.
Take the ACT or SAT Sophomore (if you're ready), Junior and/or Senior Year
All Juniors will be offered a free ACT in the Winter (usually February or March).
Wonder what the test will be like? Check out this ACT Prep Guide with great info about the timing and content of the test!
Register to take the ACT or SAT on a National Test Date to take it before or after the Junior test.
Take a Practice ACT #1, Practice ACT #2
Take a Practice SAT
Check out Ohio Means Jobs for MORE Practice
Curious about if your ACT or SAT scores are better? Check out the ACT/SAT Score Conversion Chart.
Get Your Information Together
Save all of your awards, certificates, and transcripts in a folder.
Create your resume' highlighting your volunteering, club and sport participation, community and church involvement, awards and honors, and work experience.
Use all of this information when you are ready to apply.
ACT/SAT INFORMATION
www.act.org - for ACT information
www.myact.org - to register and pay for the test
collegeboard.org - for SAT information and to register
Are you ready to apply for college?
College Applications
Watch your deadlines, colleges may have different deadlines and requirements
Create a Common Application account for colleges that use this. One app sent to multiple colleges.
Many colleges have their own online application instead of the Common App or in addition to it. Check their website!
College applications may cost $$ to submit.
Not all colleges require an essay or a letter of recommendation.
Request a transcript in your Naviance account. Don't wait too long to request!
Submit your official test scores to each college through ACT or College Board (SAT).
A completed application usually includes: the submitted application, transcript, official test scores, and app fee.
Playing College Sports
Register for the NCAA and/or NAIA Eligibility Centers
Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center around your Junior Year of High School.
Your selected college (DI, DII, or DIII) will determine if you need just a free profile or you need to be certified.
Register with NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) if you have selected an NAIA college.
Check which association your selected college uses before registering.
Make sure you tell your coach you have registered.
Mrs. Conant will submit your Junior Year transcript and your transcript when you graduate.
You must send your official ACT or SAT scores to NCAA and NAIA (test code - 9999), they will not accept them from your transcript.
Understanding College Recruitment Terms
A contact happens any time a college coach says more than hello during a face-to-face meeting with a college-bound student-athlete or his or her parents off the college’s campus.
An evaluation happens when a college coach observes a student-athlete practicing or competing.
A verbal commitment happens when a college-bound student-athlete verbally agrees to play sports for a college before he or she signs or is eligible to sign a National Letter of Intent. The commitment is not binding on the student-athlete or the school and can be made at any time.
When a student-athlete officially commits to attend a Division I or II college, he or she signs a National Letter of Intent, agreeing to attend that school for one academic year.