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The College Application Process

Welcome!

¡Beinvenidos!

Soo Dhowow!

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PEOPLE TO KNOW

  • Counselors Students With Last Name:
    • Clinton Ferguson A-Fl
    • Herb Crowell Fo-La
    • John Pemberton Le-Sk
    • Clinton Ferguson Sl-Sy
    • Herb Crowell Sz-Z

  • CCC Coordinators
    • Hana Sato All Students
    • Erin Kottke All Students

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CAREER AND COLLEGE CENTER (CCC)

  • Open Mon-Thurs @ 8:00am-4:00pm in room #107
  • The CCC can help students with the following:
    • Create a post-secondary plan
    • Take inventories to increase self-awareness
    • Research careers/resume development
    • Scholarship search and assistance
    • Financial aid
    • College admission test information
    • Summer/community/volunteer/job opportunities/building resumes
    • Washburn college access networks (TRIO Upward Bound, Project Success & Genesys Works)

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SIGN UP FOR REP VISITS

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FULL LIST OF CCC EVENTS HERE

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ORDER OF OPERATIONS

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Step 1: Get organized and ask questions

Step 2: Develop the college list

Step 3: Complete applications

Step 4: Obtain Letter of Rec authorization if necessary

Step 5: Meet with Counselor

Step 6: Track applications through college portal(s) and Xello

Step 7: Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA or Dream Act)

Step 8: Apply for Scholarships

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NOTE: Do not wait on ACT scores, transcripts, or teacher recs to send in your application

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STEP 1: GET ORGANIZED AND ASK QUESTIONS

You will be making a leap into your future. You can do it.

  • Make informed choices
  • Engage with the process
  • Use your resources well
  • Remain calm and organized
  • The “best” school is the one that fits you best. There is no one single “best" school for you.

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STEP 2: DEVELOP COLLEGE LIST

  • A good school is one that is a good fit for you
  • A school where you will be happy, engaged, grow and that meet your needs
    • Educational
    • Personal
    • Social
    • Financial

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STEP 2: DEVELOP COLLEGE LIST

  • Likely – realistic
    • Your profile is SIGNIFICANTLY stronger than the typical freshman
    • 60-90% chance of admission

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  • Possible – selective
    • Your profile is similar to the typical freshman
    • 30-60% chance of admission

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  • Reach – more selective
    • Your profile is not as strong as the typical freshman
    • less than 30% chance of admission

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STEP 2: DEVELOP COLLEGE LIST

  • “Objectively Important Profile” factors (published)
      • GPA
      • ACT or SAT scores if you choose to send them
  • “Subjectively Important Profile” factors (unpublished)
      • Rigor of Courses (Unweighted GPA, Unranked)
      • Activities/ Unusual Talent
      • Diversity (Race, Ethnicity, Income, Geography)

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STEP 3: COMPLETE COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

    • Deadlines
      • Rolling Admissions
      • Regular Deadline
      • Early Action/Priority Deadline
      • Early Decision (binding contract)

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STEP 3: COMPLETE COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

  • The Common Application
  • Institutional Applications
  • Coalition Application
  • Black Common Application

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STEP 3: COMPLETE COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

  • Be Professional!
    • Appropriate grammar, punctuation
    • Formal language; do not use texting/tweeting format
    • Professional email address
  • Follow all directions

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MN DIRECT ADMISSIONS PROGRAM

  • State of MN Direct Admissions Pilot Program
  • Goal is to let students know that they are “college material”
  • WHS submitted academic information to MN OHE
  • E-Mail was sent to students confirming direct admission to colleges that each student will be admitted to by answering a quick survey OHE.
  • Each college that student selects will be sent a personalized email regarding next steps. Usually a link to a modified application.
  • All MN schools are participating with exceptions
  • No obligation to attend any of the schools
  • Fees are waived

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DA Tiered GPA College Admittance Examples

Tier 6* (GPA 3.5>): St. Thomas, Gustavus, UM Rochester

Tier 5 (3.0-3.49): UMD, UM Morris, St. Kate’s, St. John’s/Ben’s,

MSU Mankato, MCAD, Bethel, Augsburg

Tier 4* (2.75-2.99 ): Winona State, Hamline

Tier 3 (2.75-2.99): Concordia (St. Paul), Bemidji State

Tier 2 (2.50-2.74): St. Cloud State, Dunwoody, St. Scholastica

Tier 1 (<2.50): Normandale, Minneapolis College, Henn Tech

*Must have at least a C average in Math, English, and Science

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ESSAY RESOURCES

  • Not all colleges require an essay ( ex: U of M, Iowa, Iowa State)
  • The Washburn Writing Lab can help with pre-writing techniques and brainstorming, organizing and outlining rough drafts, proofreading for grammar and mechanics and polishing final drafts to turn in.
  • Contact the Writing Lab Coordinator, Mary Manor, if you have any questions at Mary.Manor@mpls.k12.mn.us
  • Join Manor for the College Essay Writing Breakout Room!

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STEP 4: REQUEST LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

  • Be sure that a letter is REQUIRED. Use CA or college website as a resource
  • Obtain LOR Authorization Form from counselor or CCC (no appointment needed)
  • Make in-person request to teacher with authorization form
  • Student should waive FERPA rights in CA
  • Add teacher name into Xello for each individual college
  • Teacher uploads letter to Xello and is auto-forwarded to CA

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STEP 5: MEET WITH COUNSELOR

  • Senior Meeting with Counselor includes:
    • Review of colleges
    • ACT discussion
          • Student must send via ACT website
    • Transcript request
    • Fee Waivers processed if eligible
    • Additional forms and counselor LOR
    • Ensure Xello and CA are connected

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STEP 6: COMPLETE AND TRACK APPLICATIONS

If you get an email or postcard that says you are missing materials:

  • Step 1: Check Xello to see what Washburn has sent to the college.
  • Step 2: Check college portal (if the college has one) to see if the college has received your materials.
  • Step 3: Check with the CCC to help problem-solve.

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U OF MN APPLICATION

  • Submit an application on one of three platforms (Golden Gopher Application or Common App) Pay the $55 application fee or submit a fee waiver request through counselor.
  • SELF REPORT high school course grades and standardized test scores (No official transcript is required at the time of application).

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STEP 7: APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID

  • Fill out your FAFSA at fafsa.gov or MN Dream Act at ohe.state.mn.us beginning in December/January
  • The CCC is available if one-on-one help is needed
  • Complete verification if chosen
  • Continue to follow up with all financial aid offices
  • Review preliminary financial aid package

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STEP 8: APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

  • Did you know?:
    • 90% of scholarships are given from the attending institution
    • Institutional scholarships can be awarded based off your college application
    • Always make sure to check your college’s website for more institutional scholarship opportunities
  • Private scholarship opportunities:
    • WHS Scholarship Spreadsheet on CCC Website
    • Most will be available starting in January
      • i.e. Washburn scholarship

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SENIOR YEAR TIMELINE

  • Fall: (Applications)

9/28 Senior College and Financial Aid Night for Families

10/4 -10/5 National College Fair @ Minneapolis Convention Center

10/28 ACT (10/6 late registration)

11/1 Early Action/Priority Deadlines

  • Winter: (Scholarships/Financial Aid)

12/9 ACT (register by 11/3)

1/18 Financial Aid Workshop at Washburn

2/20 Financial Aid Workshop at Washburn

3/4 Washburn Scholarship Application Opens

3/21 Financial Aid Workshop at Washburn

  • Spring: (Graduation)

4/9 Washburn Scholarship Application Closes

April/May Financial Aid packages

5/1 Make final decisions

6/15 Graduation

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MISCELLANEOUS FINAL NOTES

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  • College application fee waivers available for students who qualify for Educational Benefits through the WHS website
  • For more than 3 out-of-state transcripts there will be a $5 transcript fee (collected in June)
  • North Star Promise Scholarship Program is coming! (free college tuition< $80,000)
  • Students signed up for counselor appointments already but can email counselor if missed.

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Copies of this presentation will also be available on the Counseling website

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Financial Aid Overview

&

“Better FAFSA”

Updates

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Financial Aid Overview

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  • Types of Financial Aid Forms
  • Financial Aid Timeline
  • Types of Financial Aid
  • Important Financial Aid Tips

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Financial Aid Forms

FAFSA

  • FREE Application for Federal Student Aid
  • Students who are US Citizens, permanent residents, and refugees should complete FAFSA
  • Determines “Student Aid Index” (formerly the “Expected Family Contribution”) and Pell Grant/Federal Loan eligibility

MN Dream Act

  • Non-citizens can complete the MN Dream Act and qualify for state grants

CSS Profile

  • Required by some (typically more selective/expensive) colleges
  • More detailed than FAFSA

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Estimated Financial Aid Timeline:

Dec: FAFSA/MN Dream Act Opens

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March-April: Receive full financial aid award

Dec-March: Receive admission decision and merit scholarships

May: Accept, decline, or appeal award

September: Start college—yay!

Ongoing: update the FAFSA every year to keep receiving aid

Fall: Create an FSA ID account to prepare

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Types of Financial Aid

“Free Money”

Grants (federal, state, institutional)

Institutional Scholarships

  • Academic merit (sometimes have GPA requirement)
  • Athletic (DI, DII schools)
  • Artistic (sometimes require arts involvement)
  • Diversity

Outside Scholarships

“Money You Have to Pay Back”

  • Work Study (through employment)
  • Loans

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Click here to learn more about financial aid packages!

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Important Tips:

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  • Don’t automatically dismiss schools with high “sticker prices”
  • If you qualify for free lunch, you will likely qualify for aid
  • Apply on time and stay aware of deadlines!
  • When you get your financial aid package, be sure to understand what is loan money and what is grant money
  • If it seems too good to be true—it probably is!
  • Don’t forget other costs: books, transportation, entertainment, etc.
  • Apply for outside scholarships - Achieve has a very comprehensive Scholarship List and Washburn has a Scholarship Spreadsheet

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Key Updates on 2024-2025 FAFSA

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  • FAFSA form is much simpler
  • FSA ID - everyone needs one, create them early on
  • Students and contributors will need to give consent for their information to be transferred from IRS
  • New terminology

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FAFSA Simplification

  • After creating FSA ID, FAFSA will be MUCH simpler and faster for most families
  • Federal Student Aid overhauled the website, shortened questions, and developed a mobile site

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The 2024-2025 FAFSA will open in December 2023

  • Federal Student Aid has not released the official date yet
  • MN Dream Act will also open in December
  • CSS Profile will still open Oct 1

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FSA IDs are more important than ever!

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Every contributor (including parents and students) needs to create an FSA ID

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Create an FSA ID early to prepare!

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You’ll use the FSA ID to start the FAFSA

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Source: NCAN & FSA

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Contributor

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  • Dependent students will start the FAFSA and determine which parent’s information they need to include on their FAFSA
    • Parent wizard can help determine this
  • Students will then be able to invite the parent to fill out the contributor section of the FAFSA
    • Contributor will log in with their own FSA ID to complete this section

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Agreeing to IRS Data Exchange

  • After creating an FSA ID, contributors will use it to give consent for their information to be transferred from IRS
    • Rather than giving permission at the end (through a signature page), now they’ll provide it at the beginning
  • If either a student or their “contributor” (parent/guardian) does not give consent, the student will not be eligible for federal student aid

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Terminology

EFC (expected family contribution)

SAI (Student Aid Index)

Household Size

Family Size

Parent (s)

Contributors

Student Aid Report

FAFSA Submission Summary

Dependency Status

Student Personal Circumstances

IRS Data Retrieval Tool

Direct Data Exchange

OLD

NEW

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Process

Contributor could access the FAFSA without creating FSA ID first

Contributor will NOT be able to access the FAFSA without an FSA ID set up prior to starting the form

Parent without social security number could not create FSA ID. Signature page required

Parent(s) without SSN will be required to create an FSA ID - new process

Using IRS Data Retrieval Tool was optional

Everyone has to click a permission box allowing their financial information to be transferred from the IRS, including non tax-filers

Parent info provided was determined by “whom the student lived with more out of the year”

New definition of parent is “parent who provides the greater portion of the student’s financial support

Student could enter up to 10 colleges

Student will be able to add up to 20 colleges

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Formula Changes

Household size reported by student applicant

Family size based on number of people claimed as exemptions on tax forms

Businesses and farms with fewer than 100 employees not counted as an asset

Net value of businesses and farms of any size counted as an asset

Number in college included in EFC calculation

Number in college NO LONGER included in SAI calculation. Question will still appear for institutional purposes

Families with Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) greater than $50,000 required to report asset information

Families with AGI greater than $60,000 will be required to report asset information

Lowest EFC is 0

Lowest SAI is -1500

NEW

OLD

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Next Steps

  • Create an FSA ID account today to be ready for the December launch
  • Keep an eye out for communications from the CCC & Counseling Dept.
  • FSA will be creating more family-facing resources in the months to come
  • Start planning for college costs by using Net Price Calculators or the College Scorecard tool

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BREAKOUT SESSIONS

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    • 6:45-7:05pm Breakout Session I
    • 7:10- 7:30pm Breakout Session II
    • 7:35-7:55pm Breakout Session III

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  • FSA ID Creation: Room 107 (CCC)
  • Scholarship Information: Room 122 (Choir Room)
  • College Essay Writing: Room 119
  • Applying to Large Regional School : Auditorium (Only Session 3)
  • Tips for the Common App: Room 115
  • Sala de Habla Espanol: Room 106C
  • Somali Speaking Room/Qolka Afka Soomaaliga: Room 106B

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Stay for as many sessions as you would like. Presenters will repeat each topic three times.