1. Class of 2015
Year One C.T.O. Planning Night
February 27th, 2014 – 6:00 – 7:30pm

2.  Elena Yesner
 CTO Director, Queens
 CTO Advisers:
MarinaWoronzoff –
Learning Center Director
Patricia Sharpe – Dean of
Studies
AngelTelesca – Guidance
Counselor
Elizabeth Canty –
Guidance Counselor
Julia Robinson- Surry –
Chemistry Faculty
Holly Brown– Spanish
Faculty (on Leave Spring
2014)
Mike Magee –
Psychology Faculty

3. Colleges and University Options
 There are over 2,500 4-year Colleges and
Universities in U.S.
 19 SUNY’s 4-year Colleges ad Universities
(State University of NewYork)
 11 4-YearCUNY’s Colleges (City University of
NewYork)

4. Where do BHSEC Grads go?

5.  Small Group College Transfer Advisory Meetings
 Individual Advising
 CTO Resource Office
 Naviance
 BHSEC Joint Spring College Fair
 College Visit Trip – “Simon’s Rock Trip”
 Over 40 Fall CTO College Information Sessions
 Workshops on Financial Aid

6. College Admissions 101

8. • Each school weigh each factor differently.
• Larger Schools - tend to focus on more
quantitative data
• Smaller Schools and More Selective
Schools – focus on qualitative indicators
and use “Wholistic Review”
• Test-Optional/Flexible Schools: www.fairtest.org
What matters most?

9. Always:
 Transcripts - both GPA’s and Courses Chosen (above and
beyond required)
 StandardizedTest Results (ACT, SAT and SubjectTests)
 Letters of Recommendation from 1-2 Faculty )almost always
aY1 teacher) and CTO Advisor.
 Personal Essay and OtherWriting
 Special Activities (school, community, honors, awards, etc.)
Sometimes/Often:
 Personal Interview (optional)
 Demonstrated Interest (sometimes)
 Supplemental Material and/or Letters of Recommendation
Admissions Criteria: Highly Selective &
SelectiveAdmissions

10. Always:
 Transcripts
 StandardizedTest Results (ACT, SAT and SubjectTests)**
 Minimum Required Courses
Sometimes:
 Personal Essay and OtherWriting (Sometimes)
 Letters of Recommendation from Faculty and CTO Advisor
**For BHSEC Students, the major exception here is CUNY.
Admissions Criteria: Less Selective &
Open Admission

12.  Regular Decision  Rolling
• College Review Apps as
they are submitted and
make decisions throughout
the admissions cycle.
• Towards the end of the
cyle, admissions may
become more selective.
Regular Decision and Rolling Deadlines

13.  Early Decision:
• If accepted, student will
definitely attend that school.
 Early Action:
• Indicates to school the student’s
strong preference.
• Student not obligated to accept
offer of admission or decide until
May 1.
• Student may apply to others
without restriction**
** Unless it’s a “restricted EA”

14. 1. Submitted by the Student:
▪ Application & Supplement
▪ Application Fee
▪ Essay
▪ Resume
▪ StandardizedTest Score Reports (via College Board/ACT)
2. Submitted by CTO Advisor and Faculty:
▪ Letters of Recommendations
▪ Transcripts (Both College and High School)
▪ Secondary School Report
▪ School Profile
What Does a Completed Application Look Like?

15.  BHSEC Students apply as “FIRSTYEAR” students
 Often using the CommonApplication. Can be submitted
to multiple colleges.
 Fee’sVary. Fee Waivers available if you’re on free or
reduced lunch.
SUNY’s and Private Colleges

16. • BHSEC Students must apply asTRANSFER’s.
• Allows for 4CUNY Choices, in ranked order. Students
will hear back from only 1.
• $75.00 fee. Limited fee waivers available
The CUNY App

17. CreditTransfer
A.A B.A

18.  C’s and above, generally
 B’s and above, in some cases

19.  CUNY
 Generally, 50-60 Eligible CreditsTransfer*
 SUNY and Out-of-State Public
 Generally, 50-60 Eligible CreditsTransfer*
 Private Colleges
 Varies Widely – from 1.5 years to individual
classes*

20.  CUNY  Apply as Transfer
 SUNY  Appy as Freshman and then transfer
credits in later.
 Out-of-State Public Schools Varies
 Private Colleges Typically, Freshman

21. CreatingYour List

22.  Active/Participant Learning vs. Passive
 Career Orientation
 Independence
 Social Consciousness
 Self-Understanding
 Academic/Social Balance
 Eagerness for Continued Study
GetTo KnowYourself

23. Safety, Probable, Reach
• Apply to a maximum of 2-3 in each category
 “Safety” or “Likely” Schools - this should be a “slam dunk”.
 “Probable” or “Match” Schools - these are schools were you
are right in the middle of their admitted students profile
 “Reach” Schools - these are schools you like, but where you fall
just a bit short of their middle 50%. But these should still be
possible.
It’s About Balance…

24. Planning Ahead

25.  Visit 2 + colleges per semester!
 Read College Guide Books
 Pay close attention to your academic record
and progress reports.
 Take Leadership roles, plan an active summer

27.  Prepare for SATs or ACTs; decide if you want
to take subject tests.
 Explore the difference between the ACT and
SAT tests.
 SAT Prep Offered at School through
Princeton Review
 Other Low-CostTest Prep offered at
community organizations

28.  Our “testing philosophy”
 When to take them for the first time:
• SAT March 2014 or May 2014
• ACT w/Writing April 2014
• June 2014 – 2 SAT SubjectTests
 Fee waivers – available for FRL students. Ask In the CTO.
 Recommended but not required by most schools:
 Two subject tests in subjects you are strong in.

29.  What is ‘Financial Fit’?
 How do I know if a school is a good financial
fit for me?
 Talk about resources
 Use NET PRICE CALCULATORS!
 http://netpricecalc.challengepost.com/submission
s/5718-net-price-calculator-typography-video

31.  Facts:
 Some scholarships are “merit-based,” that is,
they are awarded based on a student’s academic
performance.
 However, most financial aid is “need-based,”
that is, awarded based on a family’s ability to pay
for college.

32.  All colleges use a basic equation to determine
financial need:
College Costs
(tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board,
transportation, miscellaneous expenses)
minus
Expected Family Contribution
(the amount the Federal Government
determined you & your family can contribute)
= Student’s Financial Need
 If the result is positive (college costs more than you
can contribute), then you have demonstrated
“financial need.”

33.  Examples of need-based aid:
 Federal and state grants do not have to be repaid.
 Work-study (money earned by the student through on- or off-campus
jobs)
 Subsidized student loans (low-interest and interest deferred until 6
months after graduation)
 Parent loans (low interest)
 Examples of non-need-based aid:
 Some college and state-funded scholarships and most private
scholarships
 Unsubsidized student loans (low interest and interest accrues
while still in school)

34.  The amount expected from parents varies from
family to family according to the ability to pay
derived from information submitted in the
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student
Aid), and is called the Expected Family
Contribution.

35. Examples:The Santiago’s
• Two kids - Joe (Y1), Melissa (7th Grader)
• AGI: $90,000
• Savings: $20,000 for emergencies and $10,000 in 529
tuition savings plan for each kid
• Joe is academically strong - 3.6 and 1300 on the CR/
M of the SAT
• They determine they can pay $14,000 per year
• They assume Joe will take out $5500 his first year
and get a campus job worth at least $1500

36.  Fact: Most financial aid and scholarship applications
are free.
 Fact: Nobody can guarantee that you will win a
scholarship.
 Do not pay to get information on financial aid and
scholarships.
 If it sounds too good to be true, it might be a scam!
 Free searches for scholarships are on the Internet:
 www.fastweb.com

37. School Name Net Price Estimate
SUNY Bing $13,615
SUNY Albany $12,584
Purdue U $34126
Michigan State U $35170
University of Wisconsin Madison $31,491
East Stroudsburg $24,400
UConn Stamford $31,192
Vanderbilt University $6,535
Stanford University $4,829
Grinnell College $10,079
NYU (living at home) $22,515
NYU (Dorming) $40,865
Pace (living at home) $22,000
Hofstra (dorming) $23,545
St. Bonaventure $21,072

38.  Scholarships help students pay for their education.
Scholarships do not have to be paid back.
 Scholarships are available for students who demonstrate
achievement in academics, athletics, the arts, or
community service
 Also available for students with financial need or who are
interested in certain fields of study, or who meet certain
criteria, such as a parent’s membership in a service
organization.
 Scholarships are awarded by the college or other
organizations (churches, corporations, etc.)

39.  Fact: Some student loans are “good debt” because
with a college degree you are increasing your
earnings potential.
 Fact: Student loan repayments are manageable.
 For example:The average beginning salary for a graduate from a
large east coast public university is $38,170 annually or $2,742 per
month. If a student were to borrow the maximum amount of federal
student loans, payments would only be about $333 per month.
 Fact: Defaulting on a student loan (or any loan) is
bad.

40.  Fact: True, there are some private colleges where
tuition costs more than a new car.
 Fact: 78% of college students attend schools where
tuition and fees are less than $8,000 per year.
 Fact:The average tuition and fees for a public 4-year
college/university is $5,132.
 The higher the cost of education, the easier it is to
demonstrate financial need.

41.  Federally backed educational loans are a good
investment and available to almost all students
 Federal subsidized loans are made to
financially eligible students
 Federal unsubsidized loans are made to
students without regard to finances
 Interest rate is now fixed at 7.2%, unless
Congress changes the law.

44. Use College Navigator
nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

45.  A web-based resource for students and parents
that encourages and supports post high school
career and college planning
 Family Connection is specific to our school
 Family Connection is linked with Naviance
Succeed, a service that is used in the CTO.
45

46. Family Connection is web-based
 http://connection.naviance.com/bhsecq
 Student accounts
 Parent accounts
46

47.  Students and Parents will receive a registration code via
email the first week of CTO Advisory
 Registration codes are used to create
accounts
 Codes are random and alphanumeric for security
reasons
 Codes can be used only once
47

48. Naviance Scattergrams - CUNY Hunter College
Accepted
College GPA
Average
&Scores
THIS
IS
YOU!

49. Naviance Scattergrams - SUNY Stony Brook
University

50. Naviance Scattergrams - Brown University

51. Naviance Scattergrams - St. Johns University

52. ElenaYesner
eyesner@bhsec.bard.edu
718-361-3133 ext 6635
www.bard.edu/bhsec -->CTO
Parent volunteers needed for Simon’s Rock
Trip Chaperones and for the College Fair!