Junior Family College Night

Class of 2027

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Hailey Swanbom and Chris Savage

Goals

Gain an understanding of the college planning process including:

• Timeline
• Components of the process
• List building
• The applications
• Scholarships and financial aid

Ground Rules and Common Beliefs

• Everyone is on their own valuable path–We do not keep up with the Joneses
• The best way to determine the next best steps is to take a next step
• Trust the process but be proactive!
• Students must be in the driver seat and have ownership

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Spring-Summer-Fall Timeline Overview

• Testing
• List-building
• Rep visits/college fairs
• 5-10 schools by fall
• Applications
• Types (Common app, Coalition app, direct)
• Deadlines (Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision- apply when application is strongest!)
• Activities/Extracurriculars
• Essays
• Letters of Recommendation
• in Common App
• Request transcripts

Spring Timeline - Testing

All juniors will take the SAT on 4/16 here at Fossil- already registered- start prepping now

Many colleges are test-optional, BUT a test score COULD be helpful (admission, scholarships)

Should your student re-test?

• Are they up for taking a test again?
• Are their scores just outside the range for their colleges? (look at the middle 50% range of previous year’s accepted students)
• If you are going to re-test, consider when you would have ~2 months to prepare

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Should your student submit their test score? Example from CollegeData.com

Spring-Summer Timeline - List Building

Things to Consider:

• Cost (can estimate using Net Price Calculator)
• Location (proximity to home)
• Other factors (major, size of school/access to professors, sports, weather)
• Focus on fit and balance
• Finding schools that are a good fit for your student, not just “brand name”
• Balance Reach schools with Target and Likely Schools (GPA, test scores, admit rate)

Spring-Summer Timeline - List Building cont.

How to learn about colleges:

• Online research- college website, Niche, CampusReel, College Data, Visit with college representatives
• College Fairs
• PSD Spring College Fair Tuesday 4/28 @ The Foothills Mall
• College Visits and/or The College Tour
• College Tours- can visit during summer and school breaks

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Discuss (2 minutes)

Cost/ways to pay for college

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Proximity to home

Summer

• Consider how you want to spend your time
• Pursue your interests, not “what colleges are looking for”

Discuss

What are your summer plans?

• What will you want to include on your applications in the fall?

Volunteer opportunities, work experience, internships, job shadowing

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Fall Timeline - Applications

• The Common Application
• 1,000+ colleges use the Common App
• Invite your counselor via Common App
• Can create account now, will roll over on 8/1
• Individual university applications i.e. MIT, Georgetown, BYU
• Coalition Application
• University of California (UC)
• California State University (the other CSU)
• Apply Texas

Fall Timeline - Application Deadlines

Different types of deadlines:

• Early Decision: Binding, typically higher admit rates. We suggest only applying ED if you have a clear #1 choice AND you are not very concerned about financial aid
• Early Action: Non-binding (with a few exceptions): Applying EA typically means getting decision earlier
• Regular Decision: The standard deadline (typically January- March)
• Rolling Admission: Can apply anytime throughout the year

*Note that some colleges will have multiple deadline options- choose what works best for you

Fall Timeline - Application Deadlines cont.

Which deadline should we choose?

Apply when your application is the strongest

Things to consider:

• Are you waiting for grades or test scores to rise?
• You will apply to each school independently and can apply whenever you are ready

Fall Timeline - Activities/Extracurriculars

• Will be able to list and describe on applications
• Could be possible essay topics
• Still have time to add!
• Summer/fall plans
• Job, internship, volunteer
• Xello
• Listed under “opportunities”
• Work-based learning
• See Mrs. Iverson for more information/opportunities

Fall Timeline - Essays

Common App personal statement- 650 word limit

• Tell a story about who you are and what is important to you. What do you value?
• Reflect on why the events in that story are significant to you. What did you learn?

Supplemental Essays (college specific)

UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQ’s)- NOT essays- be direct, answer like you are being interviewed

Fall Timeline - Letters of Recommendation

• Check what types and how many your student will need
• General rule is to ask one to two teachers (make sure to give them plenty of time!)
• ask teachers in spring, follow up in the fall
• Recent teachers, relevant subject area
• Teacher and Counselor recommendations
• Other recommenders (coach, employer, clergy etc.) request in Common App

Fall Timeline - Letters of Recommendation cont.

Discuss

Which two teachers would be willing to write strong letters of recommendation for you?

Can you identify an “Other Recommender” as well?

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Common Application

• Personal statement
• Supplementals
• Activities List
• Letters of Recommendation
• AXS Companion- step by step walkthrough of the Common Application
• Application help in College and Career Center

Fall Timeline–Financial Aid

• FAFSA (& FSA ID)- Typically opens in October, priority deadline is 3/1/2027
• CSS Profile (may be required in addition to FAFSA)
• Scholarships with Fall deadlines
• Financial Aid 101
• CSU Financial Aid Completion Night 11/4

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Scholarships and Financial Aid

• Need Based and Merit Aid
• “Learn the Lingo”
• FAFSA
• CASFA (for undocumented CO ASSET students)
• CSS Profile
• Boettcher Scholarship
• Daniel’s Fund
• Going Merry scholarship database

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Money Saving Hacks

• Free Application Days (10/20-10/22 2026) “click submit days”
• TREP- PSD
• Net Price Calculator (each college has one)
• “Extreme Buyers” Resource (can get it here)
• Concurrent Enrollment & AP Credits (college dependent)
• Transferology
• Students can live with a relative!
• Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE “WOO-ee”)
• Community College

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PSD FUTURE READY website - www.psdfutureready.org

TREP (Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation)

• If your student is interested in becoming a teacher, they can be eligible to get TWO years of college FREE!
• FRCC or UNC
• Students must take one class from the education pathway during their senior year
• Students must meet their graduation requirements
• Students can be full-time or part-time

What’s next?

• Junior class presentation 2/25
• Have your student schedule a junior meeting with their counselor (after 2/25)
• Follow the timeline (build a college list, essays, activities list etc.)
• Plan out summer activities
• Utilize resources (see QR codes, Senior Meetings page)
• Ask for help when needed

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Spring College and Career Events

• 2/17 - Junior Family College Night
• 2/25 - Junior Class Planning meeting during homeroom
• 4/28 PSD Spring College Fair at the Foothills Mall 6:00-7:30 PM
• 8/13 Student College Application Camp at CSU “Ready NOCO”
• 3/8 1:00-3:30 PM RMACAC College Fair at Cherokee Trail High School
• Other upcoming college fairs
• *Students meet individually with their counselor
• *Dedicate 20-30 minutes 2-3 times per week for college/career research

Resources (handouts available):

This Presentation

Colorado Free Application Day

Common App

Big Future

Learn the Lingo

CSS Profile

FSA ID

FAFSA

FRHS Counseling

Senior Meeting Page

AXS Companion

(Common App walkthrough)

Xello

FRHS Counseling

Home Page

To scan, use your camera app or a QR code reader on your device.

Need and Merit-based Aid

Survey