Class of 2022
Parents/Guardians College Planning Information Session
February 10, 2021
5:30-6:30pm
Post Secondary Planning
Due to the current global pandemic, navigating the college search may look a little different this spring.
Your student can move forward with post secondary planning through research, connecting with admissions representatives, taking virtual tours and reviewing applications.
This is about finding the RIGHT FIT and understanding the college application process; putting together the student’s strongest application.
Finding the Right FIT
Self-reflection:
Now is a great time for students to self-reflect and figure out what they want in a school; students will be able to customize their search to find the right fit for them.
A school you connect to academically and personally.
Create a list of schools:
We recommend creating a list of about 10-15 schools consisting of Reach, Target, and Likely/Safety schools.
Examples of Topics to research before adding to college list:
Admission requirements
Standardized test scores (more schools are going test-optional)
Cost of attendance and financial aid
Programming and courses being offered
Housing options
Demonstrated Interest
The admissions offices want to hear from the college bound student
Now is a great time for your student to email or call an admissions office.
Be sure they give their full name and let them know they are from Mashpee High School. Typically the admissions office will make a note of the student’s name and school, this is one step to showing their interest in the college.
Students can always ask to be connected with the admissions representative who is assigned to Cape Cod.
Colleges are noting that students have even more access now to the faculty and admissions offices then ever before.
Encourage your student to join the mailing lists of colleges of interest, they will be notified of upcoming virtual opportunities.
Check out the many virtual college fairs happening, like BigFuture Days & NACAC Fairs!
BigFuture Days: College Board is hosting virtual events for high school students!
Students can connect directly with college admissions representatives and take action on the most important steps for college.
Below is a link for Parents/Guardians for BigFuture Days & tips to have your teen prepare
https://pages.collegeboard.org/big-future-days/parent-information
BigFuture Days West + Southwest, Postponed
BigFuture Days Southeast, Tuesday, February 23, 5:00-9:00 PM ET/2:00-6:00 PM PT
BigFuture Days Northeast, Sunday, March 7, 4:00-8:00 PM ET/1:00-5:00 PM PT
BigFuture Days Midwest, Thursday, March 11, 5:00-9:00 PM ET/2:00-6:00 PM PT
NACAC Virtual Fair Dates - more virtual opportunities!
Hear about student life, majors and programs, financial aid, scholarships, and more, plus ask questions and text chat.
Sign up now for free at virtualcollegefairs.org and start exploring. Families invited, too.
On each fair date, hundreds of colleges will offer Zoom sessions for high school students like you. Students everywhere can log in, drop in, and ask questions.
Click below to see which colleges will be at each fair. For the most up-to-date listing, please check online.
College Application Process
Admissions representatives often take 2 types of information into consideration when reviewing your student’s application:
Objective: transcripts, test scores, extra-curricular activities; and
Narrative: teacher letter of recommendation, counselor statement, college essay(s) and individual school specific questions or essays.
Holistic Review: A “holistic” process places tremendous emphasis on your four years’ worth of academic achievement and less on a standardized test you took over four hours. A holistic review usually involves reviewing all of the following:
The APPLICATION: Common App or School Specific
The Application:
Colleges utilize a School Specific Application or The Common Application
Go to the college website to find out or search the common app for your school.
👉 Common Application: https://www.commonapp.org/
The common application is used by over 900 colleges & universities.
Student will create a profile and begin working on your application now!
As a first year student see https://www.commonapp.org/apply/first-time-students
👉 School Specific Application: School application that can be found on admissions
site under APPLY.
The College Essay
Students will need one strong essay (650 words or less)
A student may apply to schools that have a school specific application (and not the common application, for example Westfield State).
The essay prompts can usually be used on a school specific application; or they will ask for a Personal Statement (an essay you write to show who you are and why you feel you deserve to be admitted).
Basically, as Personal Statement is the same as a College Essay.
The college website will indicate if they use the common application; or they use their own application.
Many college bound students may write about our current times, quarantine, COVID 19, living through a pandemic; be sure to not blend in; your essay can help your child STAND OUT! Try to have them pick a topic unique to them. There will be a place to write about how COVID may have impacted you.
Some colleges/universities require additional supplemental essay QUESTIONS; they will find under MyColleges tab on Common App.
Examples of the 2020-21 Common Application Essay Question(s)
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education
On the Common App the student will find:
FERPA Release Authorization
Students will have to authorize the release of all requested records; and then we can MATCH the Common App to the student’s Naviance Account.
⏰ APPLICATION DEADLINES ⏰
EARLY DEADLINES:
Early Action (EA): non-binding
(November 1st or November 15th)
Early Decision (ED): binding
(November 1st or November 15th)
Restrictive Early Action (REA):
At some Ivy League schools (Harvard); you can apply REA to only one Ivy, however you can apply EA to any public college/university or universities outside US.
DEADLINES:
Regular Decision: January 1st, January 15th, February 1st
Rolling Admissions: once you apply usually hear back within 4-6 weeks
Other EARLY REGULAR Deadlines:
California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, some honors programs.
To Apply Early or To Wait…..That is the Question
Answer: You Can do EITHER for your different schools.
APPLY EARLY if:
✔ Your GPA is at or above a 3.0 (85% or B) after your Junior Year of high school.
✔ You have identified schools to apply early.
✔ You are ready to apply, have spent time on your college essay and application.
✔ You are trying for an honors college; and even some scholarship offered for early applicants.
✔ EA and ED base decisions on only 6 semesters; it does not include senior year grades.
APPLY REGULAR/ROLLING if:
✔ Your GPA falls below a 3.0 (85% or B) after your Junior Year of high school.
✔ You are not sure of where you would like to apply.
✔ You are not ready to apply by November 1st.
✔ You need your senior year grades (7 semesters) to help increase your chance of acceptance.
✔ Your school only offers ED and you do not want to be bound to one school if you get in.
SAT or ACT Standardized Tests
👍Many schools were test-optional before the pandemic; see a list of all test-optional schools at: fairtest.org
👍SOME schools are also extending their test-optional policies for the 2021-2022 cycle.
👉Don’t forget to double-check the test policy for the schools & your major (nursing, engineering) you’re applying for, as circumstances may change throughout the year.
👉Difference between test-optional (option to send test scores) and test-blind (even if you send the school will not look at scores).
Register for SAT at CollegeBoard.org
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/dates-deadlines
Test Dates:
March 13th: Registration Deadline (Feb. 12)
May 8: Registration Deadline (April 8)
June 5: Registration Deadline (May 6)
*REMEMBER to check to see if your test site is cancelled; you can do this by logging onto College Board.
Anticipated Test Dates:
August 28th
October 2nd
November 6th
December 4th - LATE date for senior year
MMHS School Documents
👍Request Teacher Letter of Recommendation (LOR):
Now is a good time for your student to start thinking about teachers who they will be requesting a LOR.
Students will find a copy of the Request for Teacher Letter of Recommendation on the Class of 2022 Future Planning Google Classroom. First step: students connect with the teacher and provides the request letter. If they agree, student can then request on Naviance.
Teachers will begin writing letters in Spring/Summer for prep for Fall 2021.
School counselors will work with your student to request the letter your selected teachers have written through Naviance.
👍Counselor’s Statement - complete Information for Counselor’s Statement by 9/2021
👍School Profile - school counseling office takes care of & uploads.
👍Transcript - YOU request on Naviance; school counseling office will help you.
👍Mid-Year Grade Reports - YOU request on Naviance; school counseling office will help.
Scholar-Athletes, Scholar-Artists & Scholar-Actors
Scholar-Athletes:
NCAA Eligibility Center https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/
College-bound student-athletes preparing to enroll in a Division I or Division II school need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to ensure they have met amateurism standards and are academically prepared for college coursework.
Scholar-Artists and Scholar-Actors:
Check out college/university undergraduate admissions for directions:
Portfolios - school specific - check out school’s website
Auditions - school specific - check out school’s website
Helpful Resources
Naviance https://student.naviance.com/mashpee
Check out Colleges SuperMatch & College and Career Resources
CollegeBoard https://collegeboard.org
Look into Opportunity Scholarship https://opportunity.collegeboard.org/
Khan Academy SAT prep
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice/khan-academy
College Navigator https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
A college search engine that lets you filter the information by size, location, standardized test scores. School profiles available with information on cost, majors, and student services.
Virtual Campus Visits
YouVisit https://www.youvisit.com/collegesearch/
YouVisit offers virtual campus tours of over 600 colleges and universities. Many tours are accompanied by student guides, providing their commentary on the school.
Niche https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/value/
This site allows you to search colleges based on the qualities you value like cost, major, selectivity, or religion. Niche also provides student reviews and comments.
Military (ROTC sites)
US Air Force https://www.afrotc.com/
US Army https://www.goarmy.com/rotc.html
US Marines https://www.marines.com/
US Navy https://www.public.navy.mil/netc/nstc/nrotc/index.aspx
💲💲💲Types of Financial Aid 💲💲💲
Financial Aid is any type of financial assistance provided
to help your student with educational expenses:
Merit Based Aid (YOU = Student)
Scholarships
Grants
Need Based Aid (FAFSA and *CSS Profile)
Grants
Loans
Work Study
Scholarships
*CSS Profile is need-based aid for Private schools. CSS information can be found at: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/getting-started-your-css-profile-application
💰💰Financial Aid Planning Senior Year 💰💰
September/Oct 2021: Create a FSA ID @ https://fsaid.ed.gov/
October 1st 2021: You can begin filling out your FAFSA https://fafsa.ed.gov and
CSS Profile https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org
January-March 2022: Local & Community Scholarship Application Window
March-April 2022: Most financial aid applications are due at colleges.
*Deadlines a little later at community colleges.
*Check with each college you are applying.
Information on entire financial aid application process:
https://www.mefa.org/videos/family-webinar-series-college-financing
Financial Aid Award Letters are sent to accepted students by mail or through school portal.
Once you accept your FinAid student may need to complete Loan Counseling through FAFSA & Master Promissory Note.
Fall 2021 the school counseling department will host a MEFA representative for a Financial Aid Night
January 2022 the school counseling department will focus on Financial Aid Awards Letters & scholarships
Some Documents to Gather When Filling Out the FAFSA
→ Student’s social security number & parents’ social security numbers’; parents’ dates of birth.
→ If parents are divorced, separated or widowed, student will need the month and date of divorce/separation/death.
→ Student’s driver’s license, if they have one.
→ Student’s alien registration number, if they are not a US Citizen
→ 2020 FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION or tax returns, including W2’s for student, and for parent (with whom the student lives with).
→ Records of 2020 student’s untaxed income (i.e. retirement contributions which most students do not have); information on savings and investments for student and parent(s). This includes the balance of all checking and savings accounts.
→ Current market value of all real estate property including multiple family houses NOT the student’s or parent’s primary residence.
Financial Aid Resources
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) https://www.mefa.org/
Fastweb https://www.fastweb.com/
Leading online search engine for finding Scholarship to help pay for school; fill out a profile and get matched with eligible scholarships for you.
Niche https://www.niche.com/colleges/scholarships/
Search lists of scholarships by choosing a category or get matched to college scholarships you are eligible for.
CollegeBoard https://opportunity.collegeboard.org/
Complete 6 college planning steps for 6 separate chances at $500. When you finish all 6, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a $40,000 scholarship, but you can still earn money even if you don’t complete them all.
JUNIOR YEAR = FINISH STRONG
Mashpee M/High School 4 Yr. Colleges 4 Yr. Mass. Colleges
(Required) (Recommended) (Required)
English 4 4 4
Math 4* 4 4 (Alg I & II Geo)
Science 3 (lab based) 3 3 (3 labs)
History/Soc. Studies 3 (U.S.History I & II) 2 (1 U.S. History) 2 (1 U.S. History)
World Language 2 (single language) 2-4 (3 recommended) 2 (single language)
Senior Seminar/S.T.C. 1
Unified (Fine/Applied) Arts 2 1 (Unified Arts)
Electives 3.5 3-6 2
Phys. Ed. 1 2 (P.E./Health)
Health .5
____ ____ ____
Total 24 19-25 16 (CP Level higher)**
*Math four year requirement must be completed in grades 9-12.
**A minimum weighted grade point average in college preparatory coursework (CP) at the end of the seventh semester is also required as follows:
Thank You Class of 2022 Parents & Guardians
Students are encouraged to join the
Class of 2022 Future Planning
Google Classroom Code: bplesxp
To schedule a meeting to discuss future planning please email:
Ms. Julienne McCuish jmccuish@mpspk12.org
Mrs. Lindsay Kett lkett@mpspk12.org
ENJOY this time to explore the many OPPORTUNITIES available!