Review

1. Selecting a Good Fit College

2. Exploration and Research

New Information

3. The College Application Process

4. College Admission Testing

5. Decision Day

6. Other Important Mentions: NCAA, Scholarship, AP Scores & College Credit

7. Spring/Summer To Do

1. Your preferences, needs and wishes for your college education. (Some examples include: location, majors offered, size, cost, campus activities etc.)
2. A balanced list: consider how you stack up to students they typically admit: Reach, Match, Safety school

• Reach School - your GPA, test scores, and rigor are below the middle 50th percentile of admitted students OR it's a very low admission rate
• Good Match School - your GPA, test scores, and rigor are in line with the majority of admitted students
• Safety School - your GPA, test scores, and rigor are above the average admitted students

3. An average potential college list size could include 3-6 college options, but you could have more or less depending on your situation.

• College Admission Representatives visits SC in the fall
• College nights- Adams is hosting the fall 2024 night!
• College websites
• Join college mailing lists or request information from the college
• Visit the college campuses

• https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/
• www.princetonreview.com
• http://www.petersons.com/college-search.aspx
• http://www.collegeresults.org/
• http://goseecampus.com/
• https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/0,4636,7-372-86870---,00.html
• https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
• https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/find-your-college
  

This is a comprehensive college and career web resource that will support students in exploring a good fit college, college major selections and many career options.

Click here to access Xello

• Use your RCS Gmail account log in

We recommend you take time to make college visits. Here are some questions to consider while on your visit.

• Does it feel like it could be your home?
• Is campus up-to-date, clean?
• Will you have enough to do outside of class?
• What’s the town around it like?
• Is it the right mix of support and challenge?
• Will it meet your academic needs and careers goals?

Virtual College Tours

Colleges provide a variety of alternatives to in person tours and information sessions. Go to the admission web pages of your potential colleges to find out what options you have to access this information and what experiences are available. Usually you can find this information in the 'visit us' section. Below are a few virtual college tours sites:

https://www.strivescan.com/virtual/

https://campustours.com/

https://www.youvisit.com/collegesearch/

Questions to Ask Colleges & College Visit Resources

College Visit Checklist

50 Questions to Ask on a College Visit

Key questions to ask on your college visit:

• https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/questions-to-ask-on-a-college-tour
• https://www.cappex.com/articles/match-and-fit/questions-ask-on-college-tour-part-1

• Rolling Admission: the sooner you apply the sooner you hear.
• Early ACTION: Early application deadline, usually by November 1 or before.
• Early DECISION: Early application deadline and it's LEGALLY binding. There is an early commitment and you will drop all other applications and offers if accepted.
• Regular Decision: Deadlines will vary, but usually a January 1 application deadline. Admission decisions typically come out by April 1.

• It is recommended that students apply to college in the fall of their senior year and complete their applications by October 31.
• Students should always be aware of each individual college's due dates and deadlines.
• In most cases students can begin the application process in the summer. If essays are a part of a student's application process, it is strongly recommend to complete the essays in the summer to alleviate added stress in the fall.

1. Apply online

• Go to the admissions web page and begin your application
  
• Most applications can be saved along the way, so you don't have to complete it all at once.
• Start the application process in August!

2. Send your transcripts

• PLEASE NOTE: Transcripts will not be processed and released until all schedules are final in the fall. Colleges want to see your senior year schedule on your transcript, which will not be available until mid-September.
• Once transcripts are available, create an account at www.parchment.com to send your transcripts to colleges. Set SCHS as your high school and use your student ID.
  
• Make sure you correctly indicate your graduation year and full legal name.
• If you are using the Common Application, please request a transcript be sent to the Common Application, not to each individual college in CA, so that all colleges on your CA list can see your record.
• Transcript requests will go through Mrs. Paulus for verification, you will receive an update when transcripts are sent, and again when your transcript is downloaded by the college. You can track your transcript on your parchment account.

3. Send SAT/ACT scores

• You must send your SAT and/or ACT score(s) to the colleges you are applying too if they require a standardized test for admissions or scholarships purposes. If you didn’t send your scores when you registered for the test you must request to do so at www.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org. Test scores must be sent from the testing agency. This process can take several weeks. We recommend you do this ASAP so your scores get to the college on time.
• Each college has their own practice for using test scores for the admission process and/or scholarships. You will need to carefully read and understand your colleges practices. Some colleges require a test score and others are test optional.

4. Double check, follow up, and track:

• It is wise to verify that your applications, transcript, and SAT/ACT test scores were properly submitted. Check your emails and college application accounts/portals for verification and confirmations once you have completed these processes. Some colleges do NOT send emails to communicate applications status, therefore you have to check your college portal.
  

Senior Schedules are included on the transcript. If you change your schedule after your transcript was sent for your college applications:

• You risk your application being rescinded by the university
• You are required to appropriately inform the universities of your new schedule

2025 Class Size: 357

Rank: We do not rank

Weighted GPA and UIC number: Located in StudentVue in the Course History tab. Your GPA is at the top of the Course History page.

1. The Basic Application (estimated time to complete: 45 mins - 1 hour)

This application will ask for basic personal and academic data. No essays and no letters of recommendation will be required.

2. The Basic Application Plus an Essay (estimated time to complete: 45 mins - 1 hour, plus the time it takes to complete the essay)

This application will ask for basic personal, academic data and one essay or personal statements. Typically no letters of recommendation will be required.

3. The 'Extensive' Application (estimated time to complete: several hours, depends on time it takes to complete all the essays)

This application will ask for extensive personal and academic data, plus essays and letters of recommendation. The Common Application is a great example of this type of college application.

www.commonapp.org

• This online application used by over 1,000+ participating colleges, which allows you to apply to multiple colleges at the same time.
• COMMON APPLICATION OPENS AUGUST 1st, so we recommend you get started on essays and the application prior to school starting to alleviate tasks and stress.

Common Application Essay Prompts

• Many colleges will have their own "supplemental" or additional essays in addition to the common application essay prompts. Other examples of supplements essay.

Mr. Beach (A-Col): pbeach@rochester.k12.mi.us

Ms. Seawright (Com-Gr): kseawright@rochester.k12.mi.us

Mrs. Holzknecht (Gu-Kur): kholzknecht@rochester.k12.mi.us

Mrs. Muir (Kus-Pa): smuir@rochester.k12.mi.us

Mrs. Donnellon (Pe-Sti): sdonnellon@rochechester.k12.mi.us

Ms. Allen (Sto-Z): nallen@rochester.k12.mi.us

Our common application accounts are associated by these specific email addresses

Please see some of these articles for suggestions and tips prior to writing your college essays.

• https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/college-essay
  
• https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/college-essay-tips

• https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays/tips-for-writing-an-effective-application-essay-college-admissions

• https://wowwritingworkshop.com/

• https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays/8-tips-for-crafting-your-best-college-essay
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/college/2014/10/23/9-essay-writing-tips-to-wow-college-admissions-officers/37397979/
  

• https://www.linkforcounselors.com/how-to-help-students-respond-to-any-essay-prompt/
  

Some colleges who use Common App may also offer their own own application on their website (i.e. Wayne State, Western MI). So you may have a choice on how you want to apply.

If you have the choice on how to apply, and the college is your only common application school, we may recommend the school's own application to save you some time.

U = University’s Application

C = Common Application

Scenario A -- applying to:

University of California - U

MIT - U (myMIT)

Georgetown University - U

University of Michigan - C

University of North Carolina - C

Recommendation on how to apply:

• University applications provided on website AND Common Application
• Must send transcript to each university as well as to Common App through Parchment

Scenario B -- applying to:

Oakland University - U / C

Grand Valley State University - U / C

Michigan State University – U / C

University of Michigan - C

Indiana University – U / C

Recommendation on how to apply:

• Either through Common Application OR each university’s own application.
• If applying separately, send transcript to each university
• If apply to Common Application, send transcript to Common App

Scenario C -- applying to:

University of Michigan Ann Arbor - C

Kalamazoo College - C

Hope College - C

Miami University (Ohio) - C

Wayne State – U / C

Recommendation on how to apply:

• Common Application
• Send your transcript to Common Application

• Most colleges on Common App will require at least one letter of recommendation (typically a teacher in an academic area) and then a counselor recommendation/secondary school report.
• You will need to include first/last name of recommender as well as an email address in the application.
• Check with your recommender which email account to include in common application as our accounts are attached to specific emails. For counselors, please use the email @rochester.k12.mi.us (NOT Gmail).

• Starting now, you can begin politely asking for letters of recommendation if your colleges require them. Please check first. Provide at least two weeks for the letter to be completed. Provide letter writers with your Senior Profile Sheet for Letters of Recommendation (pick up in Counseling or see link below).
• Check in with your recommenders in the early fall to make sure they received the profile sheet and have what they need.
• Remember to write a thank you note after the letter is written!

It is recommended to closely research and understand the college admission testing requirements at each of your potential colleges both for admission and scholarship purposes.

SAT testing is offered on a National Saturday during the months below.

August

October

November

December

March

May

June

Register to take the SAT HERE. When you register you can select up to 4 colleges to have your scores sent for free.

If you participate in the Free and Reduced Lunch program you are eligible for SAT fee waivers including additional score reports and college applications. Please see your Counselor for more information.

Some of you are planning to retake a SAT, or take the ACT, this summer or next fall. Below are some reasons to consider:

• Do you think you can do better?
• Do you need to do better (cut off score for scholarship?)
• Have you taken it twice?

• Data #1: 55% chance your score will improve when you retest
• Data #2: scores don’t typically go up after twice unless you study, take a prep class
• How much time are you willing to give to study?
• Access Test Prep resources

When you register, you can select up to four colleges to send your scores for free. If you decide not to do this and prefer to send after you view your scores, you must request and pay for your SAT scores to be sent to a college or scholarship program from the testing agency (College Board).

It may take up to six weeks after your testing date for the college to receive your scores. Please keep this in mind as you are working to meet college application deadlines. All materials (application, transcript, test score, rec letters, etc. ) must be in for your application to be complete.

How to send your SAT scores

You can access your SAT score report online through your College Board account. Make sure you use the same login/password you used to register for SAT test (name, email, date of birth, etc.) so that College Board can match your scores to your account.

If are having trouble viewing your scores online, please contact College Board Customer Service at 866-756-7346 for assistance.

Studying for the SAT for 20 hours on the FREE official SAT practice in Khan Academy is associated with an average score gain of 115 points, nearly double the average score gain compared to students who don’t use Khan Academy.

• When students practiced for shorter periods of time, there were still meaningful score gains. For example, 6-8 hours of practice was associated with an average 90-point increase from the PSAT/NMSQT to the SAT.
• Many students are seeing extraordinary results. Out of nearly 250,000 test takers studied, more than 16,000 gained 200 points or more between the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT.

National ACT testing is offered on a Saturday during the following months.

July

September

October

December

February

April

June

ACT Test Registration Information

The Princeton Review: 1-800-273-8439 www.princetonreview.com

Kaplan: 1-800-KAP-TEST (1-800-527-8378) www.kaptest.com

Study Point: 1-87STUDYPOINT or (1-877-883-9764) www.studypoint.com

College Quest Educational Services: 248-647-8378 www.collegequestmi.com

Kabir's Prep: https://www.kabirsprep.com/

ACT Test Prep www.actstudent.org/sampletest/

NOTE: This list is compiled as a courtesy service to parents and students. It is not to be taken as a recommendation. Tutors listed are not employed as tutors by Rochester Community Schools and are not subject to background checks. If you intend to use this list to locate a tutor or organization, it is your responsibility to interview candidates and make a selection based on information you feel is relevant to your particular needs.

Free Websites

• www.4tests.com/
• www.number2.com/
• https://academy.act.org/?_ga=2.40713956.759956482.1588266567-1111280423.1560196658
• http://www.freetestprep.com/

Either they….

1. Accept: info on housing, orientation, financial aid is sent to you

2. Defer: you will remain in the applicant pool for consideration and the college will ask the student to provide more information (1st semester grades, updated test scores, etc)

3. Wait list: Just have to wait. They are still considering your application, but must hear from the admitted students first before they may offer you admissions.

4. Deny: cannot offer you admissions.

• No college can require you to commit to attending prior to May 1st, the National Candidates Reply Date, with the exception of Early Decision or NCAA athletic scholarship programs.
  
• If you have received financial aid offers, compare them carefully. Determine exactly what your out-of-pocket cost will be to attend each school.
  
• Attend prospective student events at the colleges to which you were admitted.
  
• Confide in those close to you (family, teachers, counselor).
• You should never submit an enrollment deposit to more than one school. It is an unethical practice that may result in your acceptances being withdrawn by the colleges involved.
  
• Once you have decided, notify the colleges that you will not attend and request to have your application closed.
  
• If you have been offered a spot on a college’s wait list, learn what you need to do to be an active member of the wait list.
  
• Stay on top of your other applications, if you are not eventually offered admission off the wait list.

• Check the scholarship/financial aid webpage of the colleges you are interested in.
• Use a FREE scholarship search engine such as:
• www.fastweb.com
• https://www.cappex.com/scholarships
• www.scholarships.com
• www.finaid.org
• https://www.goingmerry.com/
• https://www.raise.me/
• https://opportunity.collegeboard.org/

• Check out the Scholarship links:

  • SCHS Scholarship Opportunities
  • RCS Scholarship Opportunities

• Complete the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid. FAFSA. This application SHOULD be made available to the public October 1st.

Many (but not all) colleges have merit based scholarships to award students. The merit scholarships do vary at each college, however many times criteria will include GPA & test scores. Check out your potential colleges and any merit scholarships they may offer.

Examples from a few colleges:

• https://www.oakland.edu/financialservices/available-financial-assistance/undergrad/
• http://www.svsu.edu/cfsc/typesoffinancialaid/scholarships/academicscholarships/
• https://www.gvsu.edu/financialaid/incoming-freshman-and-transfer-merit-scholarships-160.htm

AP classes are college-level courses taken during high school that may provide students the opportunity to earn credit at college through your AP exam score. Each college has specific guidelines for awarding credit for AP scores. Some institutions will give credit for AP scores of 3+, but most give credit for AP scores of 4 and 5. You will need to research AP guidelines at each school you plan to attend.

AP scores are available online in July.

Examples of AP Credit Guidelines:

Oakland University

University of Michigan

Central Michigan University

Alma College

Students interested in Division I or II college athletics need to make sure they meet eligibility requirements.

Division 1 Requirement Sheet:

• Requires 16 core courses
  
• Sliding Scale that include test scores and a core course GPA of 2.3 or higher

Division 2 Requirement Sheet:

• Requires 16 core courses
• Minimum core course GPA of 2.0
• Test Scores: minimum SAT sum score of 820 or minimum ACT sum score of 68

NCAA Registration and Eligibility Tips:

1. Register during Junior year for NCAA www.eligibilitycenter.org

• Registration Checklist

2. Verify NCAA received your transcript at the end of Junior and Senior year. Stoney Creek will send your transcript.

3. You MUST send ACT and/or SAT scores to NCAA (code: 9999) from the testing agency. They will only take official test scores.

4. Verify your 16 core courses HERE:

• SCHS school code is 233-201.
• You can use the worksheets to assist with this too.

5. Check out College Bound Student-Athlete and Parent Guide

Prestige Portraits will be taking senior yearbook photos August 14th, 15th, and 16th in the Stoney Creek High School auditorium from 8am - 4pm.

Prestige auto selects your appointment date and time for you. You will receive this information directly through Prestige (through a postcard in the mail and an email). If this date/time does not work out for you, you will be able to go online and reschedule your appointment within the confines of those three days.

*More information will be emailed to you and your parents and will be available on the Stoney Creek Website in the coming weeks.

1. If you need letters of recommendation, ask your letter writers and provide them with a completed Student Profile form this spring. It is advised to follow up with your letters writers in the fall when school is back in session. You can find the form in the smore above.

2. Make time and plan for college visits/tours/open houses, even virtual opportunities.

3. Join mailing lists of your potential colleges of interest if you haven't already.

4. Do more college research online, communicate with the colleges and ask questions.

5. Do some career research on Xello to help identify future career options and education paths.

6. Consider retaking the SAT or ACT this summer, if you are not happy with your score from April.

7. If your college application requires essays, we strongly encourage you to get them done this summer.

8. Get a head start on college applications this summer once their new application opens for the 2024-2025 school year.

9. If you are planning to send your SAT, AP and/or ACT scores to your colleges you must request directly from the testing agency. Depending on your college, their requirements, and your preference, this could be different for each person and each college.

10. Create an account on Parchment so you are ready to send your transcript in the fall. This is the only way to request/send transcripts.

11. Did you take AP exams in the Spring? Take a look at your scores in July on your College Board account. Look up potential credit awarded at your colleges of interest and note your credit opportunities.

12. Develop a plan to stay organized! Keep track of all your online college and scholarship account logins and passwords.