St. Catherine’s 2020 College Counseling Field Guide

college counseling

Field Guide

The College Search Process

The college search is a journey – not a result. The collective goal is to help each student develop her self-awareness, self-advocacy skills and a sense of empowerment to direct her own life. Students are provided a safe, open and confidential space in which to talk to college counselors, who listen with empathy, clarify with understanding and respond without judgment.

The ultimate objective of this process is to help each girl find a college or university where she will thrive.

STAY CONNECTED

There are many ways to collect information and gain valuable advice throughout the college search and application process: O Attend class meetings for students.

O Attend class meetings for parents.

O Attend various informational programs on specific topics such as financial aid, technology and grade-level programming.

O Attend special events with guest speakers.

O Meet with college representatives who come to campus. More than 100 colleges visit annually.

O Plug into St. Catherine's College Counseling's advising platform, SCOIR. O Set up individual appointments with College Counselors.

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School Leaders Lila Lohr Interim Head of School llohr@st.catherines.org 804.288.2804

Lara Wulff, Ph.D. Director of Upper School lwulff@st.catherines.org 804.288.2804, ext. 3031

Roles & Responsibilities STUDENT

O Research and manage all requirements, opportunities and deadlines related to the admission process (e.g., testing, interviewing, document requests, applications).

O Dedicate time to self-reflection – What is important to you?

What are your curiosities? Interests? In what environment do you thrive?

O Keep an open mind to the many possibilities available.

O Work hard to demonstrate academic success.

O Be proactive in your communication with your parents and counselor.

Frazier Aronhalt

PARENT

Dean of Students faronhalt@st.catherines.org 804.288.2804, ext. 3048

O Talk about financial expectations, conduct research and file financial aid applications on time.

O Help prioritize the college search and application calendar (e.g., visits, interviews, deadlines, deposits).

O Accompany your daughter on college visits.

College Counseling Anthony Ambrogi Director of College Counseling aambrogi@st.catherines.org 804.288.2804, ext. 3126

Molly Seay ’05 Associate Director of College Counseling mseay@st.catherines.org 804.288.2804, ext. 3120

O Help your daughter stay healthy.

O Provide unconditional love and support.

COUNSELOR

O Share professional knowledge of current and historical trends in college admissions.

O Provide training and guidance for research, interviewing, college correspondence and decision-making.

O Advocate for students with college admission offices.

O Guide students through scheduling for academic courses, testing, applications and summer opportunities.

O Help each student develop a comprehensive list of schools to pursue.

Clare Trow Associate Director of College Counseling ctrow@st.catherines.org 804.288.2804, ext. 3036

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O Position students to compete with other college-bound students while considering college fit.

O Write recommendations and proofread applications and essays.

O Provide support throughout the entire college search process.

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Testing Expectations

CEEB Code 471885 — For use in registering for official ACT/SAT tests and AP exams FRESHMAN

October: PSAT exam practice for SAT (not reported to colleges)

Getting Started

SOPHOMORE

October: PSAT exam practice for SAT (not reported to colleges) November: Pre-ACT exam practice (not reported to colleges)

their test scores do not accurately reflect their talents, applying to a test-optional school may be the best strategy. For a complete list of schools and their requirements go to fairtest.org.

For test dates and to register, go to sat.org for SAT or act.org for ACT. *A list of test prep service providers is located on the College Counseling webpages on SaintsNet. You also will find the current year's test dates, an SAT/ACT comparison chart, subject test recommendations and guidance for test takers using accommodations.

JUNIOR

Meeting with College Counselors The College Counselors welcome meetings with students of any grade level. Parents, of course, are welcome as well! Generally, meetings with students in grades 9 or 10 provide foundational information, helping students understand how their first two years in Upper School impact choices available to them in grades 11 and 12.

Beginning in the junior year, additional homework such as completion of a résumé and questionnaires will be required before the first comprehensive meeting that officially launches a junior into the college search and application process. Below are some tips on making appointments.

O College Counseling offices are located in the Arcade.

O Students make appointments with counselors on SaintsNet.

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O The best times to meet, in order of preference, are: – free period – breaks – lunch – before/after school O Each session is 30 minutes long.

O Students meet individually with their counselor each year.

O A family session is encouraged during the junior year.

Learn more on SaintsNet The College Counseling webpages contain additional information, including upcoming events, downloads and links. Visit www. st.catherines.org and log on to SaintsNet to access additional resources provided by your counselors.

October: PSAT exam (Note: This score is considered for the National Merit Scholarship Program; results are announced in senior year and are not reported to colleges) November: Optional Pre-ACT practice exam (scores not reported to colleges) December: SAT or ACT (ideal timing for students being recruited for Division I sports)

By June: ACT or SAT; Subject Tests may be advisable for some students (see counselor for guidance)

SENIOR

August-December: Retake SAT or ACT depending on college application deadlines and possibly retake Subject Tests if recommended by counselors.

More colleges each year join the testoptional list. For students who feel that

Do I need to take a test prep class?

The best time to decide if test prep is necessary is after a student has taken practice exams for the SAT and ACT. These results can be discussed with her college counselor and a strategy for testing can be developed. Most students will engage in some sort of test prep, typically in spring or summer of junior year and/or fall of senior year. The type of program (online instruction vs. a classroom), cost, and length of program is a family decision. Most testing companies agree that taking several practice tests and reviewing results with a tutor well-informed about the nuances of the exam will result in the best score improvement. Quick reviews and strategy sessions are for students who have already laid a solid prep foundation and just need a refresher. Please see the college counseling webpage for a list of vendors in the area.

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What is SCOIR? https://app.scoir.com

Developing a List of Schools

The first step in choosing the best learning environment for college is for the student to realistically and truthfully assess the type of student she is and wants to be and how those attributes align with a particular college or university. Through research and visits to various types of schools, the student will be in a better position to determine which college(s) will be the best fit for her. Figuring out which factors a student does not like about a college or university can be insightful as well.

A student should review and discuss many considerations during the college search process, including:

SCOIR is a password-protected, college counseling resource that is customized for the St. Catherine’s community. Upper School students, their parents and counselors can use this database communication/ organizational tool via their laptops or the SCOIR mobile app. This comprehensive resource is the gateway for college research, including historical admission information for past St. Catherine's students, and can be accessed at any time. It is also a good tool to connect students with college representatives who visit our campus.

Ways to Use SCOIR FRESHMAN

SOPHOMORE

O Create your account with a College Counseling-provided user name and password.

O Update your résumé.

O Begin building your résumé.

O Take career inventory survey.

JUNIOR

SENIOR

O Conduct research on schools, programs and scholarships.

O Financial Affordability

O Average Class Size

O College size: Small (<2,500), Large (10,000+), Very Large (20,000+)

O Student Demographics and Diversity

O Begin researching colleges and visiting virtual tours.

O Review college visit reminders.

O Setting: Rural, Suburban, Urban

O Campus Culture – studious, balanced, progressive, friendly, etc.

O Parents and counselors suggest colleges for student consideration.

O Complete the senior-level surveys.

O Close to home or far away

O Social Attitudes and Local Community

O Update your résumé.

O Geography: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, West Coast, Midwest, International

O Religious Orientation

O Complete the junior-level surveys.

O Attention to Health and Safety Concerns

O Parents complete the junior parent survey.

O Liberal Arts vs. Research University O Programs and Majors O Academic Atmosphere O Honors Programs and Scholarships

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O Graduate Outcomes including Graduate School Admit Rates and Career Placement Rates O Clubs, Greek Life, the Arts, Athletics, Study Abroad, Research and Internship Opportunities, etc.

O Update your résumé.

O Track submission of school documents to each college.

O Record admission decisions.

O Review college visit reminders.

O Complete the Teacher Recommendation Letter Reflection Survey.

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The Journey:

The Journey:

Discovery and Growth

Refining and Preparing

Cumulative grades will be a major component of the college admission decision.

Colleges want to see upward growth in grades and the selection of challenging courses. Establishing good study habits in Upper School will serve the student well.

When challenges arise, students should ask their teachers for help, approach their advisor for guidance and visit the Learning Center for assistance.

During the sophomore year, students should assess their upward growth in terms of grades and the selection of challenging courses, each year building upon the prior year.

There are a variety of college counseling events and activities that sophomores can attend to expand their knowledge of and comfort with the college search process.

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Self-Reflection for Students

This is the year that students should transition from joining clubs, sports and the arts to becoming engaged and committed participants who drive positive change. Self-reflection and research should continue while the student:

A student should spend time thinking about how she wants to spend her time out of school and what brings her the greatest joy, stimulation and challenge.

Upon discovering those interests and curiosities, a student should:

• Does her best academic work

• Show upward growth and academic improvement

• Dedicates time to extracurricular activities that reflect her curiosities and interests

• Intensify attention to and focus on preferred activities

• Takes leadership initiative

• Advocates for herself when challenges arise

• Set a goal for leadership skill development • Try a new activity that takes her out of her comfort zone SOPHOMORE

What to Include in a Résumé A résumé will serve as a reflection of activities outside of the classroom. Include any accomplishments, significant skills or leadership roles. Don’t worry about listing the “right” activities. Colleges aren’t looking for specific information; they just want to get to know applicants better. Start off listing everything and edit it later. Note the activity, title or position, hours per week or year, timeframe and a description of the activity and responsibilities.

FRESHMAN

Checklist

O October: Take the PSAT for the first time (scores not sent to colleges; results arrive in December).

O On SCOIR: • Log on to begin exploring the system and building a résumé.

Access is granted for students and parents during freshman year.

• Log activities using the résumé tool.

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O Attend College Counseling meetings.

O Search colleges online and investigate majors offered.

O Log community service hours.

O Plan four-year schedule of classes and activities.

O Focus on course selections for sophomore year.

O Visit colleges on weekends, spring break and summer.

O Identify opportunities to gain new skills or experiences over the summer.

Checklist

O October: Take the PSAT for the first time (scores not sent to colleges; results arrive in December).

O Attend educational events sponsored by College Counseling with your parents.

O November: • Take the Pre-ACT practice exam (scores not sent to colleges).

O Complete the sophomore-level surveys in SCOIR.

O Log community service hours.

• Attend Financial Aid Information Night.

O January: Attend College Kickoff program with parents O February: Meet with counselor to plan test-taking timeline and course selections for junior year.

O March: Register for junior classes, allowing for upward growth.

O April: Attend College Fair Night.

O Attend College Counseling meetings.

O Update résumé on SCOIR. O Visit as many colleges as possible and log likes and dislikes.

O Meet with college representatives who visit St. Catherine’s during free periods, breaks or lunch time.

For athletes who want to play in college: O Talk to coaches, counselor and the Director of Athletics.

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The Journey:

Junior Year

Determined Focus Junior grades play one of the largest factors in applying to college. This year, students should ensure they are making wise time commitments to focus on academics, to demonstrate leadership on and off campus and to further strengthen skills and talents.

JUNIOR

Checklist O All year: Visit colleges as much as possible, especially during school holidays, weekends and spring break.

If missing school to visit a college, complete a planned absence form.

O September - December: Meet with college representatives who visit St. Catherine’s. If you are unable to meet with a college that interests you, see your counselor to leave a note for the representative.

O October: Take the PSAT (Note: These scores determine competition for the National Merit Scholarship Program and are not reported to colleges).

O November: • Complete your surveys in SCOIR. Update your résumé and share with your counselor. (Note: must be completed and shared prior to scheduling an appointment.)

• Attend Financial Aid Information Night.

O December: Meet with counselor to review test scores and to develop a testing timeline and strategy.

O January: • Attend College Kickoff program with parents • Meet with College Counselor to discuss senior schedule, plan spring/summer college travel and build preliminary college application list (could contain as many as 15-20 schools).

• Parents complete “net price calculator” on individual college sites to research costs.

Senior Year Seize Your Destiny All of the student’s hard work over four years of Upper School culminates in the senior year. There will be many special activities and traditions to celebrate in this final year of secondary education. Let’s approach the senior year with optimism and enthusiasm and set a comfortable pace to accomplish the final steps of the college search and application process. Time and balance will be important to maintain perspective throughout this culminating year. Since admission decisions factor in first semester senior year grades, it is critical that students place appropriate concentration and dedication on academics and other commitments.

Summer Before Senior Year • Consider participating in the College Essay Writing Course offered through the Brilliant Summer program.

• Attend summer application workshops.

O March: Register for senior classes.

• Participate in the Junior Summer Internship Program — one or more weeks during the summer, at a

O April: Attend College Fair Night to show interest in select schools and discover new college options.

SENIOR

O May: • Take AP exams.

• Ask teachers for recommendations.

O June: Take final exams.

Testing O Take SAT and/or ACT practice tests.

O Pursue test prep options (see website for list of test prep service providers).

O Take SAT and ACT at least once; Subject Tests may be advisable for some students (see counselor for guidance).

O Submit SAT and/or ACT test scores to colleges (can submit to four colleges for free during test registration process).

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The Journey:

Checklist O September - December: Meet with

college representatives who visit St. Catherine’s before school, during free periods, breaks, lunch or during class time (ask for teacher permission). If a class can’t be missed, see your counselor to leave a note for the representative.

O September - November: Meet with your college counselor and parents to discuss narrowing down the list; conversations should include financial goals and obligations.

O Log on to SCOIR and update your final list of schools.

mutually-agreed upon time with the career professional.

• Begin working on the Common Application and/or Coalition Application available Aug. 1 each year.

• Investigate opportunities for interviews, scholarships, honors programs or other special programs that require application.

O Review application deadlines and

key requirements for each school including essays, interviews, tests and application supplements.

O Register for fall SAT and/or ACT testing.

O Submit test scores to the final list of schools. Submit up to four test scores for free at the time of test registration; otherwise, test score submissions incur a fee.

O Manage timelines and tasks on

SCOIR by logging on often to keep track of dates and key information.

O Check emails several times daily and respond promptly.

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1. Final Testing

2. Finalizing the College List

During the junior year, the student and college counselor developed a testing strategy and timeline that will last through the senior year. It is critical that the student continue to review that timeline and to follow through on expectations for retaking the SAT or the ACT in August through December of her senior year.

By fall of her senior year, a student may

Testing checklist: O Register for SAT and/or ACT O Take practice tests on your own O Enroll in a test prep course (optional) O Submit test scores to all colleges on list

(only the applicant may submit scores)

SENIOR

Application Checklist O Research individual college’s

requirements on their websites.

O Create checklists for each college’s

requirements (form available on SaintsNet).

O Complete transcript request form.

O Request teacher recommendations.

O Write and edit essays.

O Share essays with college counselor

and/or teachers.

O Decide which admission plan

(Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision) to use for each college.

O Complete the appropriate application for each school.

O Complete application supplements,

portfolio submission or audition requirements as applicable.

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want to make last visits to colleges in order to finalize the list of colleges to which she will apply. Visiting a wide range of schools should help define the list even if some remain unvisited until after spring admission. This list will be something that the student will work on with her counselor and parents. The list should include a range of schools, all of which are schools that the student would be happy to attend and are good matches for her interests and abilities. As a recommendation, a student’s final list should include four to eight schools to which she will apply.

O Meet with college counselor to

review and edit college application.

O Submit all applications before

December exams or sooner if applicable.

O Submit application fees for

each school.

O Submit applications for

scholarships, honors programs or other special programs available by application only.

O Follow up on teacher recommenda-

tions to confirm completion.

O Write personal thank you notes

to teachers and others who helped you through this process.

O Confirm colleges received all

materials (e.g., application, application supplements, testing scores, recommendations, transcripts).

O Manage timelines and tasks

on SCOIR by logging on often to keep track of dates and key information.

Students should pay close attention to factors that will directly influence their personal experiences. Through the college’s online course catalog, students are encouraged to research their preferred program of study in depth online. For example, they could explore the qualifications, diversity and approachability of the faculty in their chosen department or field of study. Students can reach out to current students, alumnae/i, family friends and others for feedback as well.

enroll at one college or university.

Important steps to complete are:

3. Preparing and Submitting Applications

O Notify the college counselor of

The college counselor will meet with the student and her parents to suggest the application type and schedule that optimizes the student’s admission opportunities.

Types of Applications O Regular Decision: This is the most

common admission decision with notification in second semester of senior year.

O Early Decision: This is a binding early

admission decision with notification in late fall or early winter of senior year

O Early Action: This is a non-binding

early admission decision with early notification.

O Rolling Admission: This is not a

type of application, but it's a method schools use to announce admissions decisions. Typically a decision is rendered four to five weeks after a complete application is received by a college.

4. Acceptances Received — Ready to Enroll All admissions decisions should arrive

by April 1. After thorough reflection and consideration, the student, with the support of her parents, will decide to

O Review all acceptance offers including

any available scholarships, grants, work study programs, etc., sharing updates with your college counselor.

O Deferral and waitlist offers

should be thoroughly explored with your counselor.

O Select one school only and send your

deposit to that one school by May 1. enrollment decision.

O Once the deposit to the chosen school

is confirmed as received, decline admissions offers to the other schools.

O Attend special programming such as

accepted student open houses and overnight visits.

O Follow up with the chosen college to

receive student enrollment and orientation information, incorporating key summer and fall dates into the family calendar.

SENIOR PARENT

Financial Aid Checklist O Investigate the financial aid

application requirements of each school.

O Complete the CSS Profile financial aid application in October, if required by a school of choice. Locate the form through www.collegeboard.com (fee required).

O Complete the FAFSA financial aid application. Submissions in October. Learn more at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Never pay a fee to file FAFSA; It is free.

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Tips for the Aspiring

Artist

Tips for the Aspiring

Athlete

O Maintain strong academic pursuits

with success; grades matter.

O Use school-related resources specific

to athletic recruitment; download “Guide to College Athletics” from SaintsNet and attend educational programs.

O Practice your athletic skills daily; stay active year-round; try out for sports O Explore broad academic interests and maintain good grades in all areas,

not just the arts; grades matter.

O Practice your craft by pursuing opportunities in and out school, such as community

theatre, programs at the VMFA, VCU, Visual Arts Center. Keep a regular sketchbook or journal.

O Network with faculty, peers and professionals in the industry connected to your craft.

O Research colleges/conservatories/universities that have your major and begin

mapping out college tours with your family.

O Research portfolio and/or audition requirements online and when you visit.

O Research college fit; determine which degree is right for you—BA, BFA, major vs.

minor in your desired area.

O Define your sense of self as an artist; explore and witness your art to expand your

perceptions; know yourself and your applications will be stronger.

O Attend National Portfolio Day (Fall semester; visual arts only; held at VCU; 30+

colleges in attendance) as a sophomore to understand college application portfolio expectations; return as a junior with a few pieces for assessment and feedback; see www.portfolioday.net for more information.

O Use school-related resources specific to the arts; download “The Arts & Your

College Application Handbook” from SaintsNet and attend educational programs.

O Work closely with arts faculty or other arts coaches in junior and senior years

for assistance in preparing portfolios and/or auditions.

outside of your comfort zone, join club teams outside St. Catherine’s.

O Attend clinics, summer camps each year to hone your skills and maintain

strong health and fitness.

O Develop leadership skills as a teammate.

O Express desire for college recruitment to school coach, club coach,

St. Catherine’s Athletic Director and/or College Counselor.

O View college websites for competitive times/available positions, coach’s name/

email and fill out recruiting profiles and other important information.

O Visit college campuses in early years (unofficially) to see variety of programs

and facilities.

O Communicate with coaches at colleges of interest in fall of sophomore year at

earliest; no later than fall of junior year to be the most competitive for recruitment.

O Complete “official visits” (start spring junior year for DIII or fall senior year for DI)

and decide where to apply.

O Register yourself with the NCAA Eligibility Center (web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/)

in spring of junior year to begin the clearinghouse process for eligibility to play DI or DII sports.

O Prepare and Register for an early SAT or ACT. Coaches may be eager to hear early

results from an exam taken in November or December of your junior year; your sophomore and junior PSAT scores could also be valuable. Send official score report to NCAA and colleges.

O Create a calendar to organize your additional deadlines for auditions, testing and

applications.

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Factors in College Admissions O Grades in College Prep Courses O Strength of Curriculum O Test Scores (ACT, SAT, Subject Tests

if applicable)

O Essays O Recommendations

10 things colleges want to see 1

A high school curriculum that takes advantage of the academic rigor offered

2

Grades that show evidence of hard work, mastery of content and an upward trend

3

Scores on standardized tests (ACT and/or SAT, Subject Tests) that are consistent with grades in the classroom

4

A personal essay grounded in strong writing that illustrates the student’s unique curiosities, ideals and ambitions

5 6 7

Appreciation of and willingness to participate in a diverse community

8

Intellectual curiosity as shown through reading, school and recreation

9

Demonstrated interest in the college, proven by visiting the college, meeting the college representative when in Richmond, interviewing and engaging in communication with the school

Committed involvement that creates an impact on a few activities or experiences (versus many) outside of the classroom Leadership and initiative when working in groups

of all of these elements through letters of support 10 Reinforcement from counselor and/or teacher recommenders.

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O Student’s Demonstrated Interest O Extracurricular Activities

RESOURCES

Books

Financial Aid:

O

Frank Bruni, Where You Go is Not Who You’ll Be

O

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): www.fafsa.ed.gov

O

Loren Pope, Colleges that Change Lives

O

CSS/Profile: student.collegeboard.org/profile

O

Edward Fiske, The Fiske Guide to Colleges

O

Fastweb Scholarship Search: www.fastweb.org

General college resources:

O

Financial Aid and Scholarship resources: www.finaid.org

O

Tuition Assistance Grant for Virginia Private Colleges: www.cicv.org

O

SCOIR: app.scoir.com

O

National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC): www.nacacnet.org

O O

Women’s College Coalition: www.womenscolleges.org Virtual College Tours: www.youvisit.com

Testing: O

SAT and Subject Tests: www.sat.org

O

ACT: www.act.org

O

Test-optional/flexible Colleges: www.fairtest.org

For more online resources for college and scholarship searches or test preparation, visit the College Counseling resource page on SaintsNet or contact your college counselor.

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Visiting Schools What to do

Questions to ask

To arrange a campus visit, contact the collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office of Admission directly. A thorough college visit should last several hours and include time for exploring the campus in depth. If a student has a strong interest in a school, she should consider an overnight stay and/or interview during her visit, if available. Take advantage of any of the following:

O

What are class sizes in the freshman year?

O

What is a typical academic load?

O

How many classes are taught by graduate assistants?

O

What percentage of students live on campus?

O

Is there an honor system? How does it work?

O

How do professors interact with students?

O

Tour campus

O

Attend a group information session

O

Attend a class

O

Stay overnight

O

How safe is the campus?

O

Visit the library, student union and the Career Planning and Placement Office

O

What percentage of students graduate in four years?

O

Eat a meal

O

O

Visit the Financial Aid Office

O

Visit the Career Planning and Placement Office

What percentage of graduates get jobs or are accepted to graduate schools six months after graduation?

Visit offices of importance to you such as the theatre department, athletic facilities, etc. Ask the Admission Office if an appointment with a faculty member in your area of interest is available.

Be observant! Pay attention to the cleanliness of the campus and the conditions of the facilities. Look for signs and flyers about concerts, clubs and special events.

Notice if people are friendly or not.

O

What career planning services, internships, research and study abroad opportunities are available?

O

How much is tuition, room and board?

O

What scholarships and financial aid options are available?

For additional resources, including a form for capturing your campus visit reflections, please visit SaintsNet.

Making Good Impressions Interview Tips The personal interview is one way that a student can demonstrate her strong interest in a school whether the school requires an interview or not. It is an opportunity for the student to learn more about a college and to provide the interviewer with a clear picture of who the student is and what she hopes to accomplish in college and beyond.

O Dress comfortably, yet professionally.

O Arrive 10 minutes early.

O Offer a firm handshake.

O Maintain eye contact and speak at

a normal pace.

O Review all materials ahead of time

and come with a few thoughtful follow-up questions.

O Come prepared to talk about goals,

accomplishments, interests and an interesting personal story.

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O For virtual interviews: choose a location

free from distraction and with a suitable background.

O Bring a notepad to take notes.

O Be sincere with responses.

O Ask the interviewer for a business card.

O Always follow-up with a thank you note.

For additional guidance, including potential questions you could encounter during an interview, please visit SaintsNet or make an appointment with your College Counselor for individual interview preparation.

Recommendations Students should solicit recommendations from teachers who know them very well. It is not necessarily the teacher of the class that resulted in the highest grade. A student should consider selecting a teacher of a core course from their junior year and consult with the college counselor as needed.

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Affording College Setting Expectations A significant factor to be considered in the college search and application process is how to pay for a college education. This is an important topic to be discussed openly at home and with the counselor. Understanding expectations early will help minimize difficult conversations at the end of the journey. Early research using individual college Net Price Calculators, located on college websites, and following up with calls directly to the Financial Aid Office of the college will provide your family the data you need in order to make the right college choice.

Need-Based Aid Eligibility depends on the family’s ability to pay, as determined by a formula incorporating family income and assets. Check with the college on which type of financial aid form(s) they require. Be sure to manage deadlines carefully.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA - www.fafsa.ed.gov) is the primary form that all colleges require. It becomes available in October of senior year; college counselors encourage completion as soon as possible. This form is free. You should never pay to file this form.

The CSS/PROFILE form (student.collegeboard.org/profile) is produced by the College Scholarship Service and becomes available in October. Some institutions require this form as it allows them to ask for more information than the FAFSA to determine eligibility and it may allow them to better predict aid offers for Early Decision applicants. There is a fee for filing it at each college.

Virginia Residents The Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) is a non-need-based grant, usually about $3,000/year, that is available to Virginia residents attending a participating Virginia private college or university. For more information contact the college’s financial aid office or go to www.cicv.org.

Non-Need Scholarships Each year there are essay contests, competitions and other scholarship opportunities available. Many private colleges and universities offer sizable grants to balance the cost of public versus private education and individual colleges are the primary source for scholarships and grants. Students are encouraged to conduct research through college websites and websites such as www.fastweb.org.

We recommend avoiding for-profit scholarship companies, who identify sources of scholarships only after families have invested significant upfront fees.

For additional resources, including useful links, a deeper discussion of financial aid philosophies and a tool for comparing aid offers, please visit SaintsNet.

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2017-2020

College Acceptances: Adelphi University American University Appalachian State University Arcadia University Arizona State University Auburn University Azusa Pacific University Bard College Bates College Baylor University Belmont University Berry College Bishop's University Bluefield College Boston College Boston University Bowdoin College Bridgewater College Brown University Bucknell University Carnegie Mellon University Catholic University of America Centre College Chapman University Chatham University Christopher Newport University Clark Atlanta University Clark University Clemson University Coastal Carolina University Colby College Colgate University College of Charleston College of the Atlantic College of the Holy Cross College of William & Mary Colorado State University Columbia University Community College of Denver Connecticut College Cornell University Dalhousie University Dartmouth College Davidson College Denison University Dickinson College Drexel University Duke Kunshan University

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Duke University East Carolina University Eckerd College Elon University Emerson College Emory & Henry College Emory University Ferrum College Florida State University Fordham University Franklin & Marshall College Furman University George Mason University George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Gettysburg College Gordon College Goucher College Hague University of Applied Sciences Hamilton College Hampton University High Point University Hillsdale College Hollins University Hood College Howard University IE University, Segovia Indiana University, Bloomington J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College James Madison University Johns Hopkins University Juniata College Kenyon College King's College London La Salle University Lafayette College Lake Forest College Lasell University Lehigh University Leiden University College Lewis & Clark College Liberty University Lipscomb University Longwood University Louisiana State University

Loyola University Chicago Loyola University Maryland Macalester College Marist College Mary Baldwin University Maryland Institute College of Art Marymount Manhattan College Marymount University Marywood University Massachusetts College of Art and Design McDaniel College McGill University Miami University (Ohio) Michigan State University Middlebury College Montclair State University Mount Holyoke College Mount Ida College Muhlenberg College New York University North Carolina State University Northeastern University Northwestern University Nova Southeastern University Occidental College Ohio State University Old Dominion University Oxford College of Emory University Pace University Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania State University, Abington Pennsylvania State University, Altoona Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg Pennsylvania State University, Mont Alto Pepperdine University Point Park University Pomona College Pratt Institute Queen's University Queens University of Charlotte Radford University

Randolph College Randolph-Macon College Reed College Regent University Rhodes College Richard Bland College Roanoke College Rollins College Rowan University Rutgers University, Newark Saint Vincent College Salve Regina University Samford University San Diego State University Savannah College of Art and Design School of the Art Institute of Chicago Seattle University Seton Hall University Sewanee: The University of the South Shenandoah University Shepherd University Skidmore College Smith College Southern Methodist University Spelman College St. Lawrence University Stanford University Stevenson University SUNY at Purchase Susquehanna University Sweet Briar College Syracuse University Talladega College Temple University Texas A & M University Texas Christian University Texas State University Towson University Trinity College Trinity College (Dublin) Tulane University United States Air Force Academy United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy University of Alabama

University of Arizona University of Bridgeport University of British Columbia University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of Colorado, Boulder University of Colorado, Colorado Springs University of Colorado, Denver University of Connecticut University of Denver University of Edinburgh University of Findlay University of Florida University of Georgia University of Glasgow University of Hawaii at Manoa University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of Kentucky University of Lynchburg University of Manchester University of Mary Washington University of Maryland Eastern Shore University of Maryland, Baltimore County University of Maryland, College Park University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Miami University of Mississippi University of Mount Olive University of Nebraska University of New Hampshire University of New Orleans University of North Carolina at Asheville University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of North Carolina at Wilmington University of Northern Colorado University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of Puget Sound University of Redlands University of Rhode Island University of Richmond University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of South Carolina University of Southern California University of St. Andrews University of Tennessee University of Texas at Austin University of Toronto University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Washington Ursinus College Vassar College Villanova University Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Military Institute Virginia Tech Virginia Union University Virginia Wesleyan University Wagner College Wake Forest University Warren Wilson College Washington & Jefferson College Washington & Lee University Washington College Washington University in St Louis Wellesley College West Virginia University Wheaton College Whitman College Whittier College Wingate University Wofford College Xavier University

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