Selecting And Funding �The Right College For You

​

Camille Colatosti, Provost

camille@interlochen.org

​

This slide presentation will be shared with you

in the next edition of Provost News.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Agenda

Staying Calm and Focused

Timelines by Grade Level - will get specific and then will get broad

Questions to Ask Yourself

Degree Types, Minors, and Concentrations

Environment is Important

Financial Aid

Actual Cost of Attendance�Appeals Process

Getting Prepared

Reminders & Further Reading

College Fair & Questions to Ask

​

​

College decisions can be overwhelming and produce extreme emotions.

​

• Stay calm
• Stay connected
• Utilize tools provided by our Academy and College Counseling Team
• Try to take it step by step

Staying Calm & Focused

What to do at each grade level - 9th & 10th Grade

College advisement is presented as part of the curriculum, �including group and one-on-one meetings with an assigned Academic and College Counselor

https://www.interlochen.org/academy-students-and-families/student-support/college-counseling-process-timelines

​

Testing

• 9th Graders: PSAT 8/9 (April)
• 10th Graders: PSAT 10 (April)
• 9th & 10th Graders may also request to sit for PSAT on October 26

�College Research and Advisement

• Visit colleges - take a private lesson and/or campus tour
• Utilize Scoir - college research and readiness tool
• Meet college and university representatives who visit campus, hold virtual sessions & attend the on-campus College Fair
• College Corner - review Provost News

​

Summer

• Programs & Intensives - consider opportunities hosted at colleges and universities of interest

​

What to do at each grade level - 11th Grade

September - October

• Use Khan Academy to practice for the PSAT
• Take the PSAT/NMSQT
• Attend the on-campus College Fair

​

January - March

• Meet with your college counselor to plan senior curriculum, and register for tests (SAT, ACT, and/or TOEFL)

​

Spring Break

• Visit colleges (Check tour schedules & inquire about private lessons)
• Discuss as a family so all are on the same page (financially, geographically, academically, artistically)
• Budget for application/audition fees and audition trips

​

​

What to do at each grade level - 11th Grade, continued

April - May

• Attend an Interlochen workshop to begin the Common App
• Work within English classes to write an admissions essay
• Work within major to create resume/repertoire list
• Take test prep class at Interlochen
• Refine list of colleges within Scoir
• Request letters of recommendation within Scoir
• Take tests, as appropriate: ACT, TOEFL (non-native English speakers only), Advanced Placement (AP), SAT Reasoning

Summer

• Stay engaged - Take an Interlochen Online College Essay course, attend camps, intensives, and institutes; consider a job or volunteering
• Visit colleges - interview or take lessons, when available
• Continue work on the Common App, college essays, and supplemental questions
• Prepare for the SAT (Khan Academy)
• Take college essay writing class (Interlochen Online)

​

​

​

​

​

​

What to do at each grade level - 12th Grade

Many students will complete the application process within the first eight weeks of school.

​

September

• Request all letters of recommendation
• Finalize college essay (within English courses)
• Utilize our College Organizational Chart to track deadlines and requirements
• Determine a testing timeline and register for TOEFL, SAT, and/or ACT.
• Take test prep class at Interlochen
• For schools in the UK, fill out the UCAS application

​

October - December

• Begin FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) - opens in December (U.S. citizens only)
• Complete CSS Profile (determines eligibility for grants, loans and scholarships)
• Submit applications for Early Action and/or Early Decision by Nov. 1.
• Most music, dance, & theatre applications are due Dec. 1. Other majors may have a later due date.

What to do at each grade level - 12th Grade, continued

January - February

• Audition season for performing arts majors
• Theatre students travel as a group to the National Unified Auditions in Chicago
• Submit International Financial Aid Application and Certificate of Finances (international students)

​

March - April

• Spring break - potential last-minute college visits
• National Notification Day is April 1 - all schools will notify students of admissions decisions.

​

May

• Select and commit to a school later than May 1
• Report within Scoir which school you will attend �

🎉

​

​

​

Canvas - Review the College Planning page for more details. You will find a robust set of resources!

At All Grade Levels: Questions to Ask Yourself

What type of experience do you want to have?

​

How do you want to spend your time in college?

​

Who do you want to spend your time with?

​

THE B.

Liberal Arts

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Science

​

Degrees

Professional

• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Music Education
• Bachelor of Fine Arts
• Bachelor of Design Arts
• Undergraduate Diploma

Majors, minors, concentrations, tracks

Environment is important

Scholarships �& Financial Aid

UNDERSTANDING THE BIGGEST FACTOR �IN YOUR DECISION

​

​

Types of Aid

Need-based Aid

Know your colleges deadlines!

FAFSA - When will it open?

FAFSA will not open October 1

​

The 2025–26 form will be available to the public on or before Dec. 1, 2024.

​

Between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1 the form will be available to individuals selected to participate in a limited beta release. Participation in the beta release is by invitation only.

​

Stay informed!

FAFSA - Be ready before the release

Students should…

​

• Create a StudentAid.gov account (if they don’t already have one).

​

• Learn about the documents they may need to fill out the FAFSA form.

​

• If they’re a dependent student, use the Who’s My FAFSA Parent? wizard to identify which parent(s) will be a required contributor on your form.

​

“We will not qualify…”

​

Are you 100% sure?

• Available on many college and university websites.

​

• Allows prospective students to enter information about themselves to find out what students like them paid to attend the institution in the previous year.

​

• Factors in grants and scholarship aid.

Net Price Calculator

Appeals

Remember, no one ever has ALL the information

Yes, you can appeal. Proceed with information.

Useful Scholarship Websites

• Finaid.org
• Fastweb.com
• petersons.com/college-search/scholarship-search.aspx
• cappex.com/scholarships
• chegg.com/scholarships
• scholarshipmonkey.com
• majoringinmusic.com/scholarships-for-music-majors
• jlvcollegecounseling.com
• immigrantsrising.org

​

Bookmark this list:�https://l.ead.me/scholarship-links

Prepare yourself

• Build your team & your metrics for ranking
• Go over timelines & communication expectations
• Deadlines & application materials
• Planning Grids
• Audition/portfolio options
• Email
• Social Media

Prepare yourself

Create a spreadsheet to track your application process and keep track of due dates and requirements. Here is an example:

​

Requirements vary depending on major. It is important to find the specific requirements and dates for your major!

You can then add to the spreadsheet the audition requirements for each school. �It’s important to consolidate all the information in one place. But do not paraphrase. �Be exact! Here is an example:

​

​

Audition requirements vary. Some schools require a pre-screen before inviting students to an audition. Note that application date and pre-screen dates could be different.

Prepare yourself

Prepare yourself

What will be the biggest factor in your decision?

�How does this guide your strategy?

Reminders

1. Decision makers want you to succeed
2. Be open to feedback
3. Clarity is key
4. Your path will be unique
5. It won't all get done in a day
6. Use the ACC office and follow all deadlines

​

Be patient & kind with yourself

​

​

​

​

Recommended Reading

College Fair: Making the Most of Today

• Do you have my area of interest?
• What is different about your process this year?
• When is the first deadline?
• What is the size of the program, the undergraduate population, and the entire school?
• Are there special materials required to submit for my area of study?
• What financial aid and scholarship opportunities are available?
• What makes your program unique?
• Are there important links you could put in the chat?
• Would you put your name and email in the chat?
• Thank the rep and follow up.

​

​

​

Thank you!�

This slide presentation will be shared with

you in the next edition of Provost News.

Camille Colatosti, Provost

camille@interlochen.org

​