Guidance department trinity high school

2015-2016

COLLEGE PLANNING GUIDE
YOUR KEY TO THE COLLEGE SELECTION AND APPLICATION PROCESS

GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT

TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL

7574 W. Division Street

River Forest, Illinois 60305

PH: (708) 771-8383

FAX: (708) 488-2014
Mrs. Rachel Behren School Counselor rbehren@trinityhs.org

Mrs. Victoria Herling School Counselor vherling@trinityhs.org

Ms. Renee Koziol College Counselor rkoziol@trinityhs.org

Mrs. Rosalie Martinez Registrar rmartinez@trinityhs.org

1. 
   College Search Process and Senior Year Timeline 3-5
   

2. 
   Responsibilities in the College Selection Process 6-7
   

3. 
   What is Expected of College Freshman 8
   

4. 
   High School Curriculum 9
   

5. 
   College Selection Criteria 10-12
   

6. 
   Campus Visit 13-15
   

7. 
   College Admissions Interview 16
   

8. 
   College Application Process 17-18
   

9. 
   Personal Statement/Essay, Getting Organized 19-22
   

10. 
    Admission Processes 23
    

11. 
    Standardized Testing – College Entrance Exams 24
    

12. 
    Financial Aid 25-27
    

13. 
    Scholarships 28
    

14. 
    Terminology for College Admission 29
    

15. 
    The Student Athlete 30
    

16. 
    Visual and Performing Arts 31
    

17. 
    Illinois Public Universities’ 32
    

18. 
    International Baccalaureate 33
    

19. 
    Internet Resources 41
    

20. 
    College Guidebooks 42
    

21. 
    Summer Opportunities 43
    

22. 
    Sample Resume 44
    

23. 
    College Application Organizer 45
    

• 
  Continue to take the strongest curriculum that is appropriate - CHALLENGE YOURSELF!
  
• 
  Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October
  
• 
  Continue your involvement in volunteer and extracurricular activities. Remember quality not quantity is important. Apply/run for a leadership position and develop your skills.
  
• 
  Prepare for ACT and SAT on your own or by enrolling in a test preparation course.
  
• 
  Complete College Questionnaire on Naviance by mid-February.
  

• 
  Attend Junior College Seminar Night. Check school calendar for specific date/time.
  
• 
  Use PSAT scores to begin your career exploration and college search. Develop your personal selection criteria and identify colleges to investigate. Learn more about what schools have to offer – you can do a lot of this online!
  
• 
  Research Colleges and build prospective list on Naviance
  
• 
  Prepare to attend a Junior Planning Meeting with the College Counselor during 4^th block.
  
• 
  Register for college entrance tests (ACT, SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject Tests) as needed.
  
• 
  Ask 1-2 teachers to write a letter of recommendation for your college applications.
  

• 
  Call the office of admissions at each college on your list to schedule a campus visit. Schools offer visit days, individual visits, and overnights.
  
• 
  Begin filling out your applications and writing your essays.
  

• 
  Attend Senior Parent Night at Trinity. Check school calendar for specific date and time.
  
• 
  Check college websites directly for application, housing, and financial aid information.
  
• 
  Register to retake the ACT, SAT Reasoning Test, and SAT Subject Tests as needed.
  
• 
  Request 1-2 teacher letters of recommendation.
  
• 
  Make an appointment for an individual senior conference with the college counselor. The college counselor will also be available during 3A and 3B for drop in and appointments.
  
• 
  Attend Future Focus College Night at Triton College in September.
  
• 
  Attend NACAC College Fair in September. Visit www.nacacnet.org for more information
  
• 
  Meet with college representatives at Trinity during lunch.
  
• 
  Schedule College campus visits, especially on long weekends in the fall. Seniors have two days allotted for college visits. College visit forms are in the guidance office. Arrange with teachers and the main office for a pre-approved college visit day.
  
• 
  Narrow your college choices.
  

• 
  Begin/complete applications carefully. Be aware of deadlines. Plan ahead; Turn in required paperwork and transcript request forms to your counselor for processing at least 2 weeks prior to the due date.
  
• 
  Apply early to your top choice college (by late-October).
  
• 
  If national and state scholarship opportunities are seriously desired start to research, investigate, and apply. (See scholarships page 34).
  
• 
  Look ahead to audition dates for fine arts scholarships (Art, Dance, Music, Theater, & Creative Writing).
  

• 
  Applications with January 1^st deadlines should be given to your counselor in early December.
  
• 
  Attend Financial Aid and Awareness Program at Trinity High School. Check school calendar for specific date and time.
  
• 
  Register for your required PIN numbers at www.fafsa.ed.gov to prepare for completing the FAFSA online.
  

• 
  Complete the FAFSA after January 1^st ASAP. (See Financial Aid – pages: 29-33)
  
• 
  Keep working hard in your classes! Grades and courses continue to count throughout senior year.
  
• 
  Arrange with your counselor to forward 7^th semester (1^st and 2^nd block senior year) grades to colleges as required.
  
• 
  Bring in acceptance letters and award letters to guidance office
  

• 
  Finish your senior year with the same academic integrity and commitment you have shown in previous years.
  
• 
  As college admission decisions arrive continue visiting/revisiting college campuses to aid in the final decision.
  
• 
  If you complete the FAFSA in January/February you will receive Financial Aid Award Letters in mid-March through April from each college indicating the types and amount of aid offered for the coming academic year.
  
• 
  Apply for campus housing.
  
• 
  Bring in college acceptance letters and scholarship award letters to the guidance office.
  
• 
  May 1 – National Candidate Reply Date. Make your final college choice and submit an enrollment deposit to secure placement in the freshman class. (This should be received no later than May 1.)
  

• 
  Decline in writing (email) the offers from all other schools.
  
• 
  Notify your counselor about final college decision.
  
• 
  Request a final transcript to be sent to the college that you plan to attend.
  
• 
  Write thank you notes to teachers who wrote letters of recommendation for you.
  

• 
  Attend college orientation programs as scheduled and register for college classes as soon as possible.
  
• 
  Consider taking a general education class at a community college. (Check to make sure the credit is transferable to your college/university)
  
• 
  August/September – Move-In and Orientation. Classes begin.
  

As a general rule it is recommended that students apply to 5-10 schools. That number allows for a range of colleges, giving you the likelihood of being accepted by at least one of your top choices. Your list of colleges should contain colleges in each of the following categories: