During your sophomore year, you will take the first formal step of the college search process. During October, the school will administer the PSAT/NMSQT test. You will not need to register in advance for this test, and the school absorbs the cost of the registration. The PSAT/NMSQT measures critical reading, verbal reasoning, math problem-solving skills, as well as writing skills (starting in 1997). It assesses a student's ability to reason with facts and concepts rather than simply recite them.

For sophomores, the test is primarily an opportunity for you to gain insight into the kinds of skills you need to develop in order to succeed in college. The test measures reasoning ability and your ability to solve problems. It consists of three different types of questions:

• Two 25-minute verbal sections (52 questions), including sentence completions, analogies, and critical reading
• Two 25-minute mathematical sections (40 questions), including multiple choice, quantitative comparisons, and grid-ins
• One 30-minute writing skills section (39 questions), including identifying sentence errors, improving sentences, and improving paragraphs

Scores range from 20 to 80 on each of the three sections. Although the comparison is not perfect, if you add a zero to the score, the resulting number would be equivalent to the score you would earn on the SAT. Remember that your scores will probably improve considerably during the next two years.

How should you prepare for the sophomore PSAT? The sophomore PSAT is not that important. It may serve as an indicator of what your scores will be like later, and may give you an idea of what skills you need to work on in order to be better prepared for college. I urge you to read thoroughly the PSAT preparation newspaper that will be given to you by the school; however, do not spend too much time preparing. Remember that many schools do not even give the PSAT to sophomores.

When you receive your scores, discuss them with your parents and, if you have any questions, set up an appointment to talk to a college counselor. Along with the scores on each section (20-80), you will have a Selection Index (the sum of the three subtests), which is used during your junior year to determine your eligibility for scholarships as part of the National Merit Scholarship program. There is also an item analysis that indicates which questions you answered correctly. On the web, the best place to prep for the PSAT test is www.collegeboard.com.

Planning your academic program

During the spring you will meet with your advisor to plan your academic program for the upcoming school year. Keep pushing yourself! Remember that colleges want you to challenge yourself. If you can, take classes in all of the five academic disciplines. If you qualify, start taking advanced placement courses. Remember that a strong academic program is of utmost importance when applying to college. By the way, if you are considering a military academy, you should start making plans during the sophomore year.

The summer

Use the summer as productively as you can. There are many fine summer programs on college campuses; consider one of these. Many of them allow you to focus on one particular area or another, while others give you a taste of a college curriculum. Information about these programs is available online or in the college resource room.

Other less academic programs can also be very meaningful, and can provide great material for your college essay. Travel programs, sports camps, and other cultural experiences can be both stimulating and rewarding. If you aspire to play sports in college, it is important for you to be seen at summer sports camps.

Surprisingly, college admissions offices are also impressed with work experiences. Certainly an internship or work in one's field of interest is most beneficial; however, simply digging ditches or flipping burgers demonstrates a positive work ethic as well.

Academics

Challenge yourself academically throughout the next four years. Being at a preparatory school that is considered academically rigorous by colleges is an excellent start. However, while you are here, you should also take the strongest possible academic program. Colleges are looking for students who challenge themselves. As a matter of fact, one of the questions asked of the counselors by most colleges is to rate how rigorous a student's program is in comparison to other students. If you shy away from that fourth year of math or foreign language or do not take all of the Advanced Placement courses available to you, we will not be able to respond honestly that you have taken the strongest possible program.

Colleges are looking for strong college preparatory programs. Ideally, they would love to see each student take more than the School's minimum requirements in such areas as mathematics, science, and a foreign language.

Grades are important. Although the strength of your academic program is probably most important, strive for excellence in everything you do.

Consider summer programs. Many colleges offer strong academic programs on their campuses during the summer. These will not only give you a knowledge base that will make you a better scholar, but will also impress the college of your choice. The School has a file in the Resource Room that contains information about a variety of summer options.

Activities

Colleges are usually looking for the well-rounded student who is involved in activities both here at school and in the community. Get involved while at Episcopal; play sports, join clubs, run for office, become part of the music and drama programs, or write for the newspaper.

Although involvement in many activities can be important, often a strong commitment to excellence in one or two activities is even more important. That student who is an excellent soccer player because he or she plays twelve months of the year, or that journalist who writes for the local newspaper, or that volunteer who accrues one thousand volunteer hours in high school is often looked upon more favorably by a college than someone who does a little bit of everything.

The community

The School has a community service requirement for many reasons. First and foremost, we feel that it is never too early to learn the importance of giving something back to your community (to the School or to Jacksonville). Volunteering is also valued by college admissions officers. Start early and build a genuine commitment.

Other community commitments are also very valuable. Involvement in community theater, in scouting, in athletic activities, and in church groups can also add to your college resume.

Some warnings

Many colleges actually inquire about how many school absences a student has had. I believe that they see too many absences as a 'warning sign.' Obviously, regular school attendance also leads to success.

Most colleges do inquire about the character of the applicant. In addition, some colleges even ask if students have ever been in any major trouble at school. The School also may be asked if a student has ever been placed on academic warning or probation because of academic dishonesty.

The search

It's much too early to worry about identifying a specific list of colleges to which you will apply. Your job is to be the best student and best school and community citizen you can be. However, you can start thinking about the first important step of identifying the college of your choice. Start thinking about what you are looking for in a college. How big should it be? What majors should it have? In what kind of atmosphere do you feel most comfortable?

Listen to the college discussions of some of your friends who are juniors or seniors.

If you have an older brother or sister, go along on his or her college visits. These visits are valuable in helping to give you insights into the college search process.

If you are passing through a college town during a vacation or a trip, stop and look around. Don't hesitate to go to the Admissions Office and get information or a tour. Even if this isn't the "right" college, this visit will make each succeeding visit more valuable because you are starting to know what to look for or what questions to ask.

Consider a program at a college during the summer or attend a sports or arts camp.

Financial considerations (for parents)

One may argue that it is either too early or too late to start worrying about college finances. The rule of thumb seems to be that if you are very wealthy or very poor, you have nothing to worry about. The very wealthy find tuitions easy to pay, while the poor are able to get full scholarships. Most of us struggle with either no or limited scholarships.

It is definitely not too early to talk to a financial planner, or at least to an accountant. In particular, it is important to talk about the best way to protect your college savings so that you will have the most money available for college. In particular, talk to a financial planner about Plan 529. It may allow your child to accumulate tax-deferred resources for college during the next four years. If you are planning to get need-based financial aid, it is not the best option to put money in your child's name, because the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) actually requires that 35% of a student's assets be made available for college tuition while only 6% of parents' assets are to be used each year.

If you want to get a good overview of financing a college education, a couple of great sites to consult are:

• www.finaid.com
• www.collegeboard.com/paying/0,1127,6-0-0-0,00.html

 

After everything is submitted, the only thing left to do is wait! It is a good idea to apply to at least one school that has rolling admission so that you hear from one school earlier in the year. Many very selective schools will not let you know whether you have been admitted until late March or early April.

How does a college make its decision? The criteria used will vary from college to college. Most college handbooks will list the relative importance each college places on such factors as SAT scores, grades, interviews, recommendations, etc. The best things for you to do is build as strong a set of credentials as you can over four years and then to make sure that the college knows just how good you are.

Most very selective colleges have many more qualified applicants than they can accept. A rejection may not mean that the college feels that you cannot do the work. These very selective colleges may be looking for a specific trait or quality. Few students get into a very selective college on grades and SAT scores alone.

Some students are placed on a waiting list that basically means that the college wants you but does not have the room. After they get responses from accepted students, most schools accept a few students from the waiting list.

How do you decide?

If you have been fortunate to be accepted by more than one college, you then have to make the decision! Create a list of all of the pros and cons of attending each school. This may help to eliminate some. Most colleges have visitation days. Take advantage of these; however, do not be limited by these dates alone. Don't hesitate to visit at other times. In addition, if the college allows you to stay overnight, do so. Sometimes the college that looks good during the day grows warts at night.

Colleges will usually inform you of your financial aid award between April 1 and May 1. This may be a key factor in your decision-making. You will need to reply to your first choice college by May 1. Make sure you inform all other colleges to which you have applied about your decision to go elsewhere. Remember that you are well prepared for all of the colleges to which you have been accepted. Look for the college that has the right "feel"; however, also challenge yourself. U.S. News & World Report allows you to compare your college choices at this site: www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/coworks.htm.

Testing

Although the validity of the SAT I is being questioned, your score is still an important factor in determining your acceptability at most colleges. There are a few schools that do not require the SAT I; however, many of these schools are still highly selective, often using the SAT II or expect very high grades in an AP course of study. The SAT I will change in 2005 to include a writing section as well as more advanced math. The SAT II which tests achievement in specific subjects are required by only the most selective colleges.

A third test, the ACT, is now accepted by most colleges. Because it is more curriculum-driven, students who are strong students often do better on the ACT.

When should you take the SAT or ACT? Most colleges do not want you to take the SAT I more than three times. As a result, we do not encourage you to start taking the SAT until the middle of the junior year. If you need to take the SAT II, good time to take it is during the May or June test date when the material learned in class is freshest in your mind. These two test sites provide a wealth of information and allow you to register online:

• www.collegeboard.com
• www.act.org

College visits

Representatives from many colleges visit campus throughout the year. Attending these meetings is an excellent way for students to familiarize themselves with specific colleges or with the application process. In order to attend these meetings, most of which occur in the Student Meeting Room, a student must obtain a pass from one of the counselors or from Ms. Blow and give it to the classroom teacher prior to the time of the meeting.

An updated list of visiting colleges may be obtained from either the Naviance site or from the department's eBoard. In addition, many colleges hold gatherings at local hotels, school, or clubs. Please check out our eBoard to find a complete listing of these gatherings.

• college counseling eBoard
• Naviance

Financing college

Like everything relating to the college admissions process, there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to financing a college education. Just as important, what is good advice today may not apply tomorrow. The situation can change each year.

Different advice applies to different people. As an example, parents who will qualify for need-based aid and those who will not probably should approach the whole process very differently. If you are not sure if you will qualify, look at the College Board web site. The site includes an excellent program that will allow you to calculate how much a typical college, using the FAFSA form, will determine how much your parents can contribute to your college education (estimated family contribution). An EFC calculator will also be available on the FAFSA web site in 1999.

If you will not qualify for need-based aid, perhaps the best thing to do is to have your parents talk to an accountant to determine how you can best save for a college education. Remember that the cost of an education is increasing much more quickly than the cost of living. However, do not give up on receiving some financial aid. Merit scholarships are becoming more and more commonplace for students who are meritorious, either in the classroom, on stage, on the athletic field, or through community service.

If you do qualify for need-based financial aid, you must plan ahead. As an example, when a college is determining how much you and your family can contribute for a year of college education, a much higher percentage of your assets is included than your parents' assets. In other words, if you qualify for need-based aid, it is best to have the college money in your parents' accounts at the time of college entry.

In conclusion, approach the financing of education energetically. Although there are scholarships available in the community, the best sources of both merit and need-based aid is the college to which you are applying. The largest source of financial aid (grants and loans) is the federal government; however, most of this money is obtained through the college to which you have applied. Using all available federal and nonfederal aid, the federal aid administrator at your chosen college will put together a financial aid package that comes as close as possible to meeting your demonstrated need. The financial aid office wants to make college affordable for you, so make sure you use the office as a resource.

A great source to find out information about financing a college education is www.finaid.com

Some sites to find information about merit scholarships:

• www.fastweb.com
• www.review.com
• www.srnexpress.com
• www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/dollars/scholar/seach/html

Deadlines

Pay very close attention to deadlines. Unfortunately, every college has its own unique set of deadlines. These range from very rigid early deadlines for some of the most selective colleges to no deadlines for colleges that have an open admission policy. Some colleges have several deadlines, depending on whether you apply early decision, early action, or regular admission.

Types of admission

Early decision

If you are certain that you want to attend a specific college, that college may allow you to apply early decision. Deadlines for early-decision candidates are usually in either November or December. If you are accepted under this plan, you are committed to that college, so you must be careful when applying early decision. Some colleges have early and late early-decision deadlines.

Early action

Some colleges use a non-binding early-action plan. Using this plan, the college will tell you that you are accepted early in the year; however, you are not required to make a commitment until May.

Rolling admission

Many colleges will inform you of whether you are accepted or rejected within weeks of receiving your application; this is why it is so advantageous to apply early. It's always reassuring to have an acceptance in your pocket while you are waiting for an acceptance from another college that may not respond until March or April. Schools that use rolling admission will not require you to respond until the common reply deadline.

Some schools, especially state universities, with rolling admission may run out of spaces or housing options earlier than you expect, so do not delay just because there isn't a specific deadline. In addition, some colleges may be harder to get into in January than in September.

Regular admission

Except through early decision and early action, the more selective colleges will not inform you of your acceptance until late March or April.

Applications

Some applications are very easy to fill out while others, requiring multiple essays, will take hours to complete. Give yourself plenty of time to fill these out. We would like all applications turned in by the end of Thanksgiving vacation, although many are not due until January or February. These must be turned in to the counselor three weeks before they are due. Remember that we may have as many as seven hundred counselor reference forms to complete, and so you must give us plenty of time to complete your counselor recommendation. At Episcopal, we send out the complete application, transcript, and recommendations in one packet.

A few colleges use a two-part application, requiring you to send in the first part earlier than the second. Some schools will not even send you the second part until they have received the first part from you. Just think that there are as many different procedures as there are colleges, and you will be safe!

Test scores

During the 2001-2002 school year we will be sending a second sheet attached to the transcript that will list testing results (SAT I, PSAT, ACT, SAT II). This will only be done if you authorize it. This can serve as a backup. You should still have your scores sent directly from the testing agencies because many colleges require this or because sometimes, for a variety of reasons, your school testing records may be incomplete.

Common application

Many colleges accept a common application. This same application can be used for scores of colleges. After submitting this application, some colleges will then send you some additional essays to write. You can find the common application at www.commonapp.org/.

Filling out the application form

It is best to photocopy your application form and use the copy as a first draft so you can submit a 'clean' application. Unless your handwriting is very good, type or word-process your application. Most colleges now have an application on-line. You can download these and fill them out, or some sites will allow you to fill them out online to be printed. We ask you not to send the application in electronically. There is a program run in partnership with the College Board called CollegeLink, that allows you to download applications from 1,000 colleges or to use a software kit to apply to hundreds of colleges; their web page is www.collegelink.com. There is no cost for the first application and only five dollars for each additional application.

The key is to start your applications early. A college can tell when an application has been completed hurriedly.

Recommendations

Many colleges require recommendations. Most often a college will request a recommendation from any teacher; however, others will specify an English and/or math teacher. Some colleges will allow you to send recommendations from other people who know you well (minister, coach, boy scout leader, etc.). Make sure you provide an addressed and stamped envelope to the person writing your recommendation.

The interview

Interviews are more important at smaller and more selective schools. Large universities will not even allow interviews because they just do not have the personnel to conduct interviews for each applicant. Some selective colleges that do not allow on-campus interviews will require or encourage alumni interviews conducted by someone in your home town.

If you can schedule an interview, do so. It is your opportunity to shine, as well as a time to ask questions. Some admissions representatives have told us that a poor interview is not usually used to deny an acceptance, but a good interview is often used as a reason to accept a marginal candidate.

When you go into an interview, be prepared. Do your homework. Know something about the college so that your questions will reflect a genuine interest in the school. Although we have done mock interviews in class, it is a good idea to start your college visitation process at a school that is not your first choice so that you can perfect your interviewing technique. Look at the list of interview questions in the Appendix. It is important to be well-read and current on world affairs. A good interviewer is able to determine which students are intellectually alive. After each interview, be sure to write a thank you note to your interviewer.

A site with some good hints for interviewing can be found at www.collegeapps.about.com/education/collegeapps/cs/interview/index.htm .

Essays

Essays are required by both the smaller and the most selective colleges. During your junior year you were required to start an essay in your college counseling class. This essay may still be relevant; however, it is possible that the writing topic required by your college will not coincide with the essay topics on the Common Application. Make sure you save whatever essays you write on a disk because essays required by other colleges may be similar.

Make sure you write a first draft of your essay. Give it to your college advisor and to an English teacher to proofread before it is sent.

The college essay enables the admissions office to evaluate a student’s thinking and writing skills as well as to learn more about a student as a person. The essay can reveal a great deal about an applicant's values, attitudes, imagination, and creativity. The following advice was given in a pamphlet prepared by the admissions office at Randolph-Macon College concerning the writing of the college essay:

Do:

• Do think small and write about something that you know about.
• Do reveal yourself in your writing.
• Do show rather than tell. By giving examples and illustrating your topic, you help bring it to life.
• Do write in your own voice or style.

Don't:

• Don't write about what you think others will want to read.
• Don't exaggerate or write to impress.
• Don't use a flowery, inflated, or pretentious style.
• Don't neglect the technical part of your essay (grammar, spelling, sentence structure).
• Don't ramble. Say what you have to say and conclude.

A site that may give you some good ideas about the college essay is www.essayedge.com/.

Activities lists

Most colleges will require that you list activities that you have been involved in both here at school and in the community. You should build this list over a period of time. Believe it or not, many students forget some of their most important activities when, pressured by time, they fill out their applications at the last minute.

For many schools, such as the University of Florida, it is much more effective to send a separate resume than try to fill in the forms provided.

That special talent

Colleges certainly like well-rounded students; however, often what they are looking for even more is the student who has a special talent or displays excellence in one area or another. In other words, the student who has volunteered 1,000 hours for a local agency, the all-state trumpet player, or the junior editor for a local newspaper has a significant advantage over the student who has done a little bit of everything.

It is important to make sure the college to which you apply is aware of your special talent. Write about it in your essay, submit local newspaper articles that focus on it, or have adult advisors write about it in their recommendations. Although we know each of you very well, don't assume that we will remember everything that you have accomplished.

Like everything else, you cannot assume you understand how a visit to one college “works” because you have visited another college. If there is only one message that we communicate on this website it is that every college’s admissions process is unique. Expectations, selectivity, deadlines, financial aid requirements all differ from one college to the next. Even how schools conduct visits will vary from college to college.

The initial contact

Often the information you receive from a college will include details about a campus visit. Many schools have specific times set aside for tours and/or for information sessions. The larger the school, the more impersonal the process. However, even some large schools will also provide you the opportunity to talk to teachers and/or administrators in the major in which you are interested. Don’t hesitate to request anything. At smaller schools you may receive a personal tour. In addition, many schools will require or encourage an interview. This is important to know before you visit the campus so that you can call to set up an appointment for an interview. An alternate way of obtaining information about college visits is through the college’s web site. During your visit, request an interview with a specific coach or teacher in your field of interest. That person may turn out to be your advocate with the admissions committee.

Make sure a college knows you are interested. Visit, write follow-up thank you notes, contact local alumni, and talk with the visiting college representative. Some colleges actually keep track of the number of contacts you make.

The tour

Make good use of the tour. The tour provides a great opportunity to ask questions of an undergraduate student who is currently attending the college. Look at the list of possible questions that we have given you in class. Listen to the responses to other students’ questions as well. You should enter the tour with a few specific questions to ask. These questions should focus on those things that are important to you (computer connections, weekend social life, food, the quality of dorm life, the relationship between students and teachers, co-op programs, etc.). Keep good notes that reflect your impressions of each school.

Refer to the description of the PSAT in the section on sophomore year.

The PSAT does mean more for juniors than it does for sophomores. Hopefully, your scores will improve significantly from your sophomore year. These scores will more accurately predict your SAT scores; however, in most cases, students still improve throughout the last year of high school.

The junior PSAT is more important primarily because it is used as a screening mechanism for scholarship programs, most important the one run by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. A high score on the Selection Index (usually 99th percentile) will result in a student being honored as a National Merit Semi-Finalist. A score above 95th percentile usually earns a Letter of Commendation. The cut-off scores vary from year to year and even from state to state. As a result, we do not know who has qualified for either of these awards until fall of the senior year. In 2000-2001, the Selection Index Qualifying Score for Semifinalists for the state of Florida was 213. Only 15,500 students qualified in the United States and only 649 from the state of Florida.

Students should be more conscientious about preparing for the PSAT during the junior year, especially if the sophomore score would indicate that a score high enough to become a semi-finalist is possible. If a student wishes to do a thorough job of preparing for the tests, commercial prep programs, books and computer programs are available. Regular SAT preparation programs are no longer completely suitable because of the addition of a writing section in 1997. The school also has sample tests available in the office for further preparation. On the web, the best place to prep for the PSAT test is www.collegeboard.com.

Junior college counseling class curriculum

• Week one: introduction to the course (classroom/lab)
  • What the course provides students and basic intro
  • Give students folders and biographical questionnaire
  • Introduce students to Naviance
  • Sign up for SAT / ACT info.
  • Introduce students to other web programs
• Week two: students utilize an on-line interest inventory (classroom/lab)
  • Who am I ?
  • What am I good at?
  • How do these attributes help me find a major interest?
  • "Learning styles" questionnaire
  • Introduce students to other web programs as well as college search tools
• Week three: Look at a good application/class sign-up
  • Look at the characteristics of a good application: application itself, resume, transcript, essays
  • Using the transcript as a focus, talk about course sign-up for next year.
  • Talk about keeping organized
• Week four: the college visit and resume
  • How to set up a visit
  • What to do that will give you a feel for the place
  • When to go, who to call
  • A visit to the Student Union - important
  • Give them time to start a resume
• Week five: the interview and the resume continued
  • Get them started on resume with information about athletic resume and mock-up
  • Who gives interviews and why
  • What will they ask
  • What should the student ask
  • Mock interviews
• Week six: the common application:
  • Overview of paper copy and on-line forms
  • Parts of the Common - student, college counselor, teacher
  • The short answer questions
  • Students refine their resumes, word-process and turn in.
• Week seven: the college essay
  • Topics
  • Students produce essay / word process over the next week
• Week eight: how colleges choose a freshman class
  • Students function as an admissions committee using dummy applications
  • Admissions committee renders a decision
  • Instructor-led discussion about SUS, Ivies, others
• Week nine: work week
• Week ten: financing a college education
• Week eleven: what to do next
  • Turn in essays, resumes, etc
  • Summer responsibilities
  • SAT discussion

College counseling meeting

Parents and juniors are invited to a meeting at school during the winter in order to review the college search process. This is a very valuable meeting and should not be missed. The school often invites a local college admissions officer to make a presentation.

College testing

Although some colleges are questioning the validity of SAT and ACT tests as an admissions tool, most still use them as a primary screening mechanism in order to weed out students who they do not feel will be able to handle their academic demands. Most colleges that do not require the SAT I still require the SAT II. However, some will waive the testing requirement if a student's GPA is high enough.

Most colleges require either the SAT I or ACT for admission. The SAT I has two sections (verbal and math). The scores on each range from 200 to 800, with the average score around 500. The SAT II is like the old achievement tests. One can take up to three of these subject tests on each test date. Usually only the most selective colleges in the country require the SAT II. If a college requires one or more SAT II test, it usually requires the Writing test to be one of them. Sometimes colleges will not require the SAT II for admission but will ask students to take the SAT II for placement purposes.

Most schools now also accept the ACT. On occasion, a school will actually prefer the ACT, especially schools in the Midwest and West. This test is more achievement oriented.

If a student has a learning difference, the SAT I and SAT II can also be given either untimed or with extended time. In order to qualify for either option, you must have a psycho-educational evaluation on file that clearly states that you qualify. This evaluation must be no more than three years old.

We would like our students to take the SAT I for the first time no later than in May and the SAT II in June. If you are not sure whether you should take the SAT II, it is a good rule of thumb to take it. Even if the schools you are considering at the end of your junior year do not require the SAT II, perhaps a school that you start looking at at the last minute during your senior year will require the SAT II, and you don't want to get caught short!

Register online!!

• www.collegeboard.com (for SATI and SATII)
• www.act.org (for the ACT)

To prep or not to prep

There is no good answer to this question. Some students improve dramatically as a result of prepping, while for others, prepping has no impact at all.

The most common programs are lengthy and expensive programs that first give a student a diagnostic test to determine what a student's strengths and weaknesses are. The rest of the course is spent working on the weaknesses and teaching test-taking strategies. These programs are given by nationwide companies such as Kaplan and Princeton Review or through tutoring companies such as Sylvan Learning Center. The Alexandrian School conducts programs in campus. UNF also offers short, inexpensive programs.

If you decide to take an SAT review program, you should select a date that allows you to prepare for a specific test date. The end of the summer can be a good time to take the program because students do not have academic subjects to worry about at the same time. In order to really benefit from a prep course, a student must spend a significant amount of time doing the homework.

Some great Internet sites where you can prep at no charge:

• www.collegeboard.com (the College Board site - this is excellent!)
• www.act.org (for the ACT)
• www.review.com (the Princeton Review site)
• www.testu.com
• www.testprep.com

• From Jacksonville International Airport:
  • Take I-95 south approx. 15 miles, and go over the Fuller Warren Bridge.
  • Take the second exit after the bridge (Beaches)
  • Follow Atlantic Boulevard, which bears left.
  • Watch for the traffic light just before the Raceway gas station. The entrance to the school will be on your left on St. Elmo Drive.
• From I-10:
  • I-10 merges with I-95 south just before the Fuller Warren Bridge.
  • Follow the previous directions.
• From I-95 heading north:
  • Inside the city limits, exit on Emerson Street.
  • Turn right and continue as Emerson turns into a four lane highway.
  • Exit on Atlantic Boulevard; the entrance to the school will be on your left on St. Elmo Drive.
• From I-95 heading south:
  • Follow the directions from the airport.
    

Episcopal's counselors travel all over the nation investigating the academic options available to our students. Take a look at this list of some of the campuses they've visited over the last few years:

Alabama	Samford, Auburn, Alabama, Tuskegee, Spring Hill
California	University of San Diego, UC-San Diego, California Institute of Technology, University of Southern California, Occidental, Pomona, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, Claremont McKenna, Scripps, Stanford University, Santa Clara University,  University of San Francisco, University of California at Berkeley
Colorado	US Air Force Academy, Colorado College, University of Colorado-Denver, Denver University
Connecticut	Trinity College, Yale, Wesleyan, Connecticut College, University of Hartford
Florida	University of Miami,  New College, Stetson, Rollins, Florida Gulf Coast, FAU Honors College, University of West Florida, Florida, FSU, Flagler, Jacksonville University, Florida Southern, University of Central Florida, St. Leo's,  University of Tampa, Eckerd, University of North Florida
Georgia	Barry, SCAD, University of Georgia, Emory, Agnes Scott, Oglethorpe, Georgia Tech, Morehouse, Spellman, Georgia Southern, Oxford of Emory, Mercer
District of Columbia	Georgetown, American, George Washington University, Catholic University
Illinois	Lake Forest, Northwestern, Loyola, University of Chicago, Roosevelt, DePaul, Wheaton, Rockford, Northern Illinois
Indiana	Earlham, Notre Dame, DePauw, St. Mary's, Valparaiso, Butler, Wabash
Kentucky	Centre
Louisiana	Tulane, Loyola
Maine	Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Unity
Maryland	Loyola (Baltimore), Johns Hopkins, Goucher, Washington College, Mount St. Mary's, Villa Julie, McDaniel,  Maryland Institute of Art, Hood, St. John's, Notre Dame
Massachusetts	Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, Smith, Massachusetts, Wellesley, Boston University, Northeastern, Emerson, Berkelee, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Williams, Olin, Tufts, Boston College, MIT, Harvard, Wheaton, Simon's Rock
Mississippi	Mississippi, Mississippi State, Millsaps
Missouri	Washington University
New Hampshire	Dartmouth
New Jersey	Princeton
New Mexico	College of Santa Fe, St. John's
New York	Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, Hobart and William Smith, Union, Cornell, Colgate, Hamilton, Syracuse, Skidmore, RPI, Bard, Culinary Institute of America, Vassar, Sarah Lawrence, NYU, Columbia, Parsons, Wagner, Marist,  SUNY Cortland, Ithaca
North Carolina	UNC, UNC-Wilmington, UNC-Charlotte, Guilford, Lees-McRae, NC State, Elon, Wake Forest, Davidson, Duke, Appalachian State, Eastern Carolina
Ohio	Miami University, Antioch, Wittenberg, Otterbein, Ohio Wesleyan, Denison, Kenyon, Wooster, Case Western, Hiram
Pennsylvania	Duquesne, Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon, Dickinson, Gettysburg, University of Pennsylvania, St. Joseph's, Swarthmore, Haverford, Villanova, Franklin & Marshall, Drexel
Rhode Island	Brown, Rhode Island School of Design
South Carolina	University of South Carolina, Citadel, College of Charleston, Furman, Wofford, Clemson, Presbyterian
Tennessee	David Lipscomb, Sewanee, Vanderbilt, Rhodes, University of Memphis, University of Tennessee, Belmont
Texas	Trinity, University of Texas
Vermont	Norwich University, Vermont, St. Michael's, Middlebury, Bennington
Virginia	Richmond, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Washington & Lee, William & Mary, Mary Washington, James Madison, George Mason, VMI, VCU, Hollins, Hampden-Sydney
Wisconsin	Carthage, Marquette, Lakeland, Lawrence, Ripon, Wisconsin, Beloit

 

• College Board - www.collegeboard.com. You can register for the SAT online here. Also included is a college and scholarship search.
• Peterson's Colleges and Universities - www.petersons.com/ugrad. A college search engine that includes a section on financial resources and ROTC online, essay prep, financial aid profile; the college search engine is a good one.
• Financial Aid Information Page - www.finaid.org. Scholarship search, links to many resources, an excellent financial aid estimator.
• College Bound Net - www.cbnet.com
• College Link - www.collegelink.com. Apply to college electronically!
• Fastweb - www.fastweb.com. Scholarship search – Claims to be web's largest.
• Go College - www.gocollege.com. ACT/SAT practice tests, apply online, college and scholarship search
• CollegeView - www.collegeview.com. College search, apply online; an online version of what we have at school.
• U.S. News college and career centers - http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/eduhome.htm. College and scholarship search
• ACT - www.act.org Includes online registration.
• Free College Scholarship Search - www.collegescholarships.com.
• Department of Education - www.ed.gov/studentaid.
• Princeton Review - http://www.review.com. Test prepping a variety of admissions tips, search engines, career assessment test, EFC calculator
• Campus Tours - www.campustours.com. This site provides a great way of touring college campuses from your own computer.
• Wired Scholar - www.wiredscholar.com. A good comprehensive site with a heavy emphasis on financing a college education.

 

 

In many ways, the college search begins at birth! Decisions that you make about what kind of school you wish to attend reflect the interests, values, and attitudes that have been developed throughout your life. Your goal should be to find a college that represents the best match for you. It should be a school that enables you to stretch intellectually while having that elusive feel that will allow you to be happy.

As a junior, you have plenty of time to make your decision; however, that does not mean you should procrastinate. The more you learn about your college options, the better choice you will make when you are forced to make a decision. Your college counselor can aid you to make a decision by helping you to identify options; however, only you can ultimately make the final decision. The more you know about your college choices, the better decision you will make.

How to begin?

Sometimes one of the best ways to begin the search is to find out what kind of college personality you have. You can do by taking this quiz on the U.S. News & World Report site: www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/cpq/coquiz.htm . First, with the help of your parents, teachers, and friends, identify what characteristics you are looking for in a college. Start off by answering the following questions:

• Will I flourish in a large or small school?
• Do I want to be close to home, or does location matter?
• Do I want to be in a rural, suburban, or urban environment?
• Is cost an important factor?
• Can I thrive in a 'pressure-cooker'?
• What majors should my college of choice have?
• Do I want a single-sex or coed environment?
• Do I want any special programs, such as ROTC or co-ops?
• What is the right 'feel'? Schools vary from those that are similar to the radical campuses of the sixties to very conservative religious institutions.
• Is diversity of the student body important to me?
• What kinds of activities or sports am I looking for in college?
• Am I looking for a liberal arts education, or do I want to find a school that focuses on the arts or technology?

What's next?

After you have answered the questions above, it is time to start identifying colleges that meet the criteria you have set. There are many ways that you can do this. A great place to start is on the Internet. We have identified a score of websites that can be very useful. Several of these sites have college search programs that will allow you to locate colleges that meet your criteria. In addition, Episcopal has an excellent program, called Naviance, which allows you to search for a college. However, perhaps one of the best ways to identify colleges that meet your criteria is to talk to the college counselors. Collectively, the college counselors have spent more than one hundred years involved in college advising, have visited hundreds of colleges, and know you well enough to have some sense of the right 'fit.' By the end of the junior year we would like you to have a preliminary list of ten to twenty colleges in which you are interested.

Some great places to do college searches:

• www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/cosearch.htm
• www.collegeboard.com/getting/0,1134,5-0-0-0,00.html
• http://www.review.com/
• http://www.collegequest.com/plugin.nd/CollegeQuest/pgGateway
• http://www.mycollegeguide.org/

College fairs

A NACAC college fair will be held in Jacksonville during the fall. Attending a college fair is a great way to gather information from many colleges.

More information

Once you have identified colleges in which you think you are interested, get more information. Nowadays, one of the easiest ways to learn about a college is through its web site on the Internet. In addition, you can ask for further information about the school online. Moreover, you can always write or call to have information sent. After receiving this information, review it to see if your initial perceptions of the school are correct. Share your feelings with your parents and counselor.

Videos of many colleges as well as catalogues are available in the college resource room. Spend time scanning these. Sometimes you will stumble on a college of which you were unaware. There is a certain amount of serendipity involved in the process.

During the fall, as many as fifty college representatives will visit Episcopal. Make it a point to stop in to talk to these reps, especially if they come from a college in which you are interested. However, even talking to the representative of a college that is unfamiliar to you can help you to focus your college search. In addition, asking questions in this comfortable environment can make the college campus visit much easier.

College guides

Several college guides are available at any local bookstore. Among the most popular guides are ones put out by Peterson's, Princeton Review, and Barron's. Many of these publishers also have excellent web sites. The most recent Peterson and College Board guides include excellent search tools on CD. In addition, many books focus on specific kinds of schools, such as the most competitive ones, Christian schools, schools for students who have learning differences, or schools that build character. Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News & World Report put out special editions each year that focus on the college search process. Although controversial, the U.S. News edition that rates colleges can be a useful tool. There are other shorter books that focus on smaller elements of the search or application process (such as interview, essay, visit, etc.). One book that we have recently enjoyed has been College Planning for Dummies. It does an excellent job of simplifying the process as much as possible.

Still, the college bible is the College Handbook, published by the College Board. We find it to be the most informative. The College Handbook allows you to have most key information about each college right at your fingertips. Almost all colleges in the United States are listed in this book. Some of the important information listed of which you should be aware includes the following:

• The percentage of students accepted. This will help you to determine the selectivity of the college.
• The number of students who complete the freshman year in good standing and percentage who graduate. This may present a red flag if the percentage is low.
• General information about the school. Does this college's description match your criteria?
• Majors
• Testing requirements are listed under 'Freshman Admission.'
• Average SAT or ACT scores are listed under 'Freshman Class Profile.' This is another indication of selectivity.
• Deadlines and other requirements are listed under 'How to Apply.'
• Average annual expenses

The list

After you have done this research, it is time to create your list. This is a working document, and you should not hesitate to add or subtract from this list throughout the process. During the college counseling class we will give students forms that may help you keep everything organized. Remember that this is a long, complicated process, and you will need to stay organized. The categories we have included on the charts will help you to isolate key information, as well as allow you to write down perceptions and reactions.

As the junior year turns into the senior year, you should start weeding out colleges that no longer interest you. There is no magic number of colleges to which to apply; however, we would recommend applying to at least five, one of which must be a safety to which you are almost guaranteed entry.

Selectivity

There are many factors other than class rank and test scores which determine whether a student is a good candidate for a specific college; however, you might want to keep in mind this guide, prepared by a consortium of Ohio colleges.

college admission policy	ACT range (avg.)	SAT range (avg.)
highly selective	27-31	>1220
selective	22-27	1030-1220
traditional	20-23	950-1070
liberal	18-21	870-990
open	17-20	830-950

 

Planning your academic program

Now is not the time to let down. Remember that colleges are looking for a strong four-year program. Although you must take an academic program that meets your needs, ideally, you should continue taking courses in all five disciplines. Senior year is also a great time to take advanced placement courses. These courses may allow you to receive college credit while still in high school and also demonstrate to a college that you are carrying a demanding course load.

Athletics and other special talents

Special talents can make it easier to gain admission to the college of your choice. However, using the talent to open college doors can be a lengthy process and should be begun no later than during the junior year.

If you are an athlete, prepare a specific athletic resume and consider sending it to college coaches for whom you would like to play during the end of your junior year. You can usually get names of coaches and their e-mail addresses through the college website. Talk to your coaches and your counselor about preparing this resume. Select summer camps are also great ways of showing off your talent, especially in team sports where it would be more difficult for a coach to measure your abilities sight unseen. A videotape reflecting highlights of your career would also be useful. You must begin this process during your junior year. Senior year is probably going to be too late.

If you are a talented musician, thespian, or artist you must also start preparing your junior year. Prepare a resume, reflecting your accomplishments. In addition, you may need to create a portfolio or present an audition. The earlier you begin to prepare, the better the product will be!

The summer

This is your last summer to do something 'impressive'! College academic programs, travel and other adventures, or internships are great alternatives for the summer between your junior and senior years.

In addition, the summer should be spent looking at some of the colleges, which you have placed on your initial college list. Although it is certainly better to see colleges while students are in attendance, summer visits can often allow you to expunge some schools from your list that just don't stack up with the rest. It would be a good idea to visit your top five choices during the summer.

You can find good general Information about student loans at eStudentLoan.com - Compare Student Loans and Apply Online!. In addition, here are some other options and sources to consider.

College scholarships

Most colleges now give merit scholarships for strong academic achievement, academic potential, participation in sports or activities, leadership, or community service. In many instances you must apply for these scholarships; however, often you will receive a pleasant surprise (a merit scholarship) when you receive your acceptance. You are most likely going to receive a merit scholarship from a school where you are considered a particularly strong candidate. Some schools use it as a way to 'buy' good students. Most of the most selective colleges in the country do not give out merit scholarships; however, even this is changing. Merit scholarships are grants and do not have to be paid back. They will usually be renewed for the second year if you have a strong freshman year in college.

Colleges also offer need-based scholarships that are based on acceptable academic credentials and financial need as determined by the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), that is issued by the Department of Education. These forms cannot be started until January 1 and may be obtained from the College Counseling Office or the college of your choice. It is necessary for you to have most of your tax forms started in order to complete the FAFSA. This will determine the parent contribution to your education that will then determine how much will need to be covered by scholarships, work study, or loans. The FAFSA may also now be completed on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. This is the easiest and fastest method. Some of the most selective colleges in the country also use the CSS Profile, a copy of which may also be picked up in the office or completed on the web. You should start filling this out in the fall of your senior year.

If you are not sure whether you will qualify for need-based aid, use the EFC (Estimated Family Calculator) that is part of the College Board site: cbweb9p.collegeboard.com/EFC/. You may find out information about the FAFSA or fill one out online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Online Profile is available on the College Board site: www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/coworks.htm

• Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  • In order to receive this grant (no repayment), one must demonstrate need through FAFSA. A student applies for this grant through the college financial aid office. This supplemental grant ranges from $200 to $4,000. This will usually be included in the financial aid package that the college financial aid office will present to you.
• College work study (federal work study)
  • In order to be eligible for college work study, a student must qualify through FAFSA. These jobs must be either on campus or off campus with a non-profit organization. The number of hours during the school year will be limited. Once again, this will generally be included in the financial aid package from the college.
• Perkins Student Loans
  • This is a very advantageous loan that one must qualify for through the FAFSA form. The maximum amount of the government-subsidized loan in 1998-99 was $4,000. No repayment is required while a student is still in school, in the military, in VISTA, or in the Peace Corps. Other deferments are permitted if repayment would cause a financial hardship. The entire loan could be cancelled if a student teaches in a school in a low-income district where there is a teacher shortage, or if a student becomes a nurse or medical technician. There is no interest until repayment begins. The interest is 5% for four years, then 8% thereafter.

From the federal government

• Pell grants
  • This is a grant (no repayment) that can range from $200 to $4,500, depending upon level of estimated family contribution (EFC) as determined by FAFSA. A student needs to apply for this through the college's financial aid office
• Stafford subsidized loans
  • This loan is obtained through a bank or credit union but is subsidized by the federal government. There is a 5% origination fee. There are yearly and career maximums placed on the amount that can be borrowed. There is no repayment while a student is in school, the military, Peace Corps, or VISTA. A student has up to ten years to repay.
• Robert Byrd Scholarship
  • Robert C. Byrd Scholarships provide federal money to promote academic excellence and achievement. The individual states administer these programs and determine the criteria.

From the state government

In Florida, through the Bright Futures Scholarship program, students who qualify are able to receive up to 100% of tuition and fees plus a stipend if attending a public university. This grant can also be used at private Florida colleges. In order to determine if a student qualifies, a student must fill out a Bright Futures Student Authorization Form in the college counseling office. A summary of these programs:

• Bright Futures
  • The Bright Futures program provides funding for resident to attend public and private colleges in the state of Florida. The program changes yearly and may be in for some big changes because of problems with funding. For the 2003 school year there are two programs that affect our students: Bright Futures program also provides funding for Florida private institutions.
• Florida Academic Scholars Award
  • Requirements: a weighted GPA of 3.5 and a 1270 on the SAT or 28 on the ACT.
  • Award level: 100% tuition and fees (plus up to $300 in lab fees) and $300 per semester for college-related expenses.
• Florida Medallion Scholars Award
  • Requirements: a weighted GPA of 3.0 and a 970 on the SAT or 20 on the ACT.
  • Award level: 75% tuition and fees (plus up to $300 in lab fees) and $300 per semester for college-related expenses.
  • Students must register online in order to be eligible for Florida Bright Futures awards. We encourage even those students who will be attending colleges out of state to register in case they return to a Florida institution. Students may register at anytime, but must register before graduation. Registration is available on line at www.MyFloridaEducation.com/brfuture.

From local or national scholarships

Many scholarship opportunities will be made available to students during the year. In addition, make sure you read the newspapers carefully; many scholarships are publicized in small print. Episcopal also has a couple of databases that include many scholarship options. And make sure your parents investigate what scholarship programs are available through their employers; many large companies have special scholarship opportunities for children of their employees.

Many web sites include scholarship searches. Be wary of companies that offer to find you scholarships for a nominal fee; some of them are scams, and many simply search sources that are free and available to anyone. Two of our favorites sites are www.finaid.com and www.fastweb.com.

Another way of reducing or eliminating college costs is through ROTC scholarships, or by enrolling in one of the service academies. Information about future veterans benefits can be obtained through www.va.gov/education. This alternative is not for everyone.

Alternatives to financial aid

• Unsubsidized Stafford loan
  • This is for students who cannot demonstrate financial need. The terms are the same as the subsidized Stafford Loans, except interest on the loan begins while the student is still in college.
• PLUS loans and other educational loans
  • A PLUS loan is paid by the parent, and one does not have to demonstrate financial need. It is limited to the cost of education minus financial aid. The interest rate goes up and down depending on the prime rate. A parent must start paying this loan back immediately. There are many private corporations that will work with you to obtain the PLUS loan.
• Payment plans
  • Almost every college offers some kind of a payment plan allowing the parent to pay in ten installments.
• Home-equity loans
  • Home equity loans can be excellent ways of paying for college tuition because rates are low, and parents can often deduct the interest paid from their income tax.

Your goal for the beginning of your senior year is to fine-tune your college list, removing schools that, after further study, do not match your criteria, while adding new schools. There is no magical "right" number of schools to apply to; however, it is important to apply to at least one or two schools to which we are certain that you will gain admission. We would prefer that you apply to about five schools; however, some students have applied to as many as twelve schools.

Aim high! Don't be afraid you will be denied by one or more colleges. One school of thought is that if you're accepted everywhere, you haven't aimed high enough! Although we can usually accurately predict the likelihood of gaining admission to most colleges, it is impossible to make these predictions for the most selective colleges in the nation. These schools have an abundance of qualified applicants. As a result, their admissions committees are often looking for qualities other than the purely academic, such as excellence in the arts, leadership potential, or athletics.

Major points

• The visit
• The application
• The decision

Most people would say that your junior year is the most important high school year. Continue to challenge yourself and work hard to excel. In addition, stay involved in both school and community activities.

During the second semester of your junior year, you will be having a weekly class with the college counselors to help you through the college search process. Below is a general outline of the curriculum of this course. Many of the topics covered will help you throughout the next two years. Although the class can give you a great deal of insight into choosing the college of your choice, nothing can replace individual counseling, so please make sure that you meet with your college counselor whenever you have any questions. It is also very important to keep your parents up to date with your search and with the topics discussed in class.

Major points

• PSAT/NMSQT
• Junior college counseling class
• College counseling meeting
• College testing
• The search
• Selectivity
• Planning your academic program
• Athletics and other special talents
• Summer

You now have one year of high school behind you. Grade ten is a year to build on the successes of your freshman year. If the adjustment to high school was more difficult than you expected, it is not too late to start strengthening your college resume. The advice included in the previous section is still relevant. Continue to challenge yourself academically and become involved in school and community activities.

Major points

• The PSAT/NMSQT
• Planning your academic program
• The summer

Because you may be reading this guide as an eighth-grader or freshman does not mean that it's panic time. Although as a ninth-grader you are already building your credentials for college admission, don't feel compelled to make any important college decisions yet. During your junior and senior years we will be working with you, step by step, in order to achieve your objectives.

On the other hand, there are important things that you should consider when you are looking at the next four years at Episcopal. Hopefully the following insights will help you be prepared when the "college search crunch" occurs.

Major points

• Academics
• Activities
• The community
• Some warnings
• The search
• Financial considerations

Click here for Naviance.

The college counseling office is pleased to offer all juniors and seniors access to the world's leading provider of computer-based counseling support. This service, available to our students at no charge, lets them research colleges to see how their academic statistics stack up against a nationwide pool of college applicants. Students who use the service can track the progress of their applications, set up campus visits, and access a wealth of information about choosing a college. Juniors are provided with log-in information during their college counseling classes, which begin in February.

 

• Eighth-grade year
  • Eighth-grade meeting for parents and students
• Freshman year
  • Freshmen college experience a half-day freshman program designed to help students set goals for a successful high school experience, includes "Making High School Count."
• Sophomore year
  • PSAT preview
  • PSAT test taken by all sophomores
  • Spring workshops: half-day program including seminars taught by college admissions officers on a variety of topics: "Writing the College Essay," "Resume Building," "Colleges for the Arts," "Honors Colleges" and "Athletic Recruiting."
  • Spring mini-college fair at Episcopal
  • Sophomores assigned a college counselor
• Junior year
  • PSAT review
  • PSAT test taken by all juniors
  • Meetings with college representatives visiting Episcopal
  • NACAC college fair in November
  • January meeting with all parents of juniors
  • Eleven-session college counseling class (February-April)
  • Spring workshops: half-day program including seminars taught by college admissions officers on a variety of topics: "Writing the College Essay," "Resume Building," "Colleges for the Arts," "Honors Colleges" and "Athletic Recruiting."
  • Spring mini-college fair at Episcopal
  • Individual meetings with counselors
  • SAT I, SAT II and ACT testing begins
• Senior year
  • Senior college essay classes
  • Meeting for parents of seniors
  • Meetings with college representatives visiting Episcopal
  • NACAC college fair in November
  • Individual meetings with counselors
  • SAT I, SAT II and ACT testing continues
  • Spring workshops to help students make the college transition
  • "Making College Count"

Although group meetings and the college counseling class are very important, nothing can replace the value of the student-counselor relationship. Although students and parents are encouraged to speak with any member of the counseling staff at any time, the relationship is formalized during the second semester of the sophomore year. At that time students give their input to help to select their college advisor. Although it's never too early for a student to start meeting with college counselors, regular meetings begin during the second semester of the junior year. During the junior year the counselor and student will work together to first define college characteristics and qualities that would help a student to have a good experience and then to generate a list of colleges. During the senior year the counselor will help the student through the application and transition process.

 

 

The College Counseling Office at Episcopal High School is staffed by five veteran counselors who combine over 100 years of counseling experience in helping students search the nation for appropriate, competitive colleges and universities. Through continuing involvement in the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, the Southern Association for College Admissions Counseling, and the College Board, the staff stays abreast of the ever-changing college admissions scene. Extensive travel to college campuses each year ensures first-hand knowledge and maintains one-on-one relationships with college admissions professionals throughout the country.

 

Ryan Riggs 
Director of College Counseling
904.396.5751, ext. 1202

Mr. Riggs began teaching history at Episcopal in 1994, and became the Dean of Students in 2000. Ryan received his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, his master's degree from the University of Richmond, and his MBA from the University of Florida.

Favorite website: www.thesabre.com 

 

 

Jo Miller 
Associate Director of College Counseling
904.396.5751, ext. 1203

JoAnn M. Miller began her college-counseling career in1975 as director of college guidance at Bartram School in Jacksonville, Florida, and came to Episcopal in 1982. She received her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and two master's degrees from Valdosta State University. Ms. Miller serves as a reader of applications for the University of Florida.

Favorite website: http://tcci.naviance.com/episcopal

Sis Van Cleve Miller
Director of Community Service
Assistant Director of College Counseling
904.396.5751, ext.1205

Sis Van Cleve-Miller began her college-counseling career at Miss Porter's School, Farmington, Connecticut, in 1987. She served as director of college counseling at Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, for five years before coming to Episcopal in 1995. Ms. Van Cleve-Miller received her undergraduate degree from Trinity College and her master's degree from Wesleyan University. She currently serves on the Human Resources Committee of Southern Association for College Admission Counseling.

 

Christine Pezzutti Ditzel '01 
College Counselor
904.396.5751, ext. 1201

Christine Pezzutti Ditzel returned to Episcopal in 2006 to become our newest college counselor. A 2001 Episcopal graduate, Christine attended Wofford College in South Carolina, where she majored in French and was a four-year letter winner in both soccer and track. She spent a semester abroad living and studying in Paris. After a year at Bishop Snyder High School, Christine joined the Episcopal faculty. She currently teaches French in the Middle School, along with her duties as a college counselor. Married to Ryan Ditzel, Christine enjoys sports, her church choir, and her dog Murray.

Andrea Rizzi
College Counselor
904.396.5751, ext. 1206

Originally from Connecticut, Ms. Rizzi received a BBA in management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Following graduation, she worked in college admissions for seven years for both McDaniel College and the University of Miami. While working at Miami, Ms. Rizzi earned an MS.Ed. in higher education leadership. After earning this advanced degree, she accepted a position as the dean of college counseling at the Webb School of Knoxville.

   

The key to success...

...in college counseling is communication among all the constituents involved - colleges, parents, counselors, teachers and, most important, students. The student who is well informed and actively involved in the college search process will make the best college decisions.

How does Episcopal facilitate communication? We have developed a four-year curriculum that helps to guide students and their parents toward individual college decisions. The program begins with an eighth-grade night to help students establish academic and co-curricular goals and ends with a spring senior program to work with the issues of transition. Along the way, the college counselors offer a variety of formal and informal meetings that include a freshman day that features a nationally renowned program called "Making High School Count," sophomore and junior workshops featuring admissions officers from a score of colleges, an 11-session mandatory class for juniors to help them understand the college application process, as well as an assortment of daytime and evening meetings with parents and students. This curriculum is augmented by a variety of contacts through our web-site, eBoards, emails and our quarterly newsletters.

The counseling office also has created a publication, the Comprehensive College Planning Guide, now in its second edition, which is given to students during the beginning of the freshman year. It provides a workbook format, allowing students not only to plan but also track their extracurricular activities and academic results throughout their four years of high school.

This structure is important because it allows us to reach every student; however, nothing can replace the rapport that is established between counselor and student. Episcopal's college counseling office consists of four counselors who collectively have more than 100 years of experience in college counseling. Counselors have other responsibilities on campus, helping them to get to know their college advisees well so that they can help each student make an informed decision about colleges. The counselors are knowledgeable about hundreds of colleges so that we can assist in finding the right match. To remain current in our profession, each of the college counselors attends yearly national and regional association meetings and spends time on college campuses during the year. The match between the college and the student should not be seen as an arranged marriage, but rather a union that each student enters with eyes open, a knowledge of what to expect and a commitment to make it work.

You can find good general Information about student loans at eStudentLoan.com - Compare Student Loans and Apply Online!. In addition, here are some other options and sources to consider.

College scholarships

Most colleges now give merit scholarships for strong academic achievement, academic potential, participation in sports or activities, leadership, or community service. In many instances you must apply for these scholarships; however, often you will receive a pleasant surprise (a merit scholarship) when you receive your acceptance. You are most likely going to receive a merit scholarship from a school where you are considered a particularly strong candidate. Some schools use it as a way to “buy” good students. Most of the most selective colleges in the country do not give out merit scholarships; however, even this is changing. Merit scholarships are grants and do not have to be paid back. They will usually be renewed for the second year if you have a strong freshman year in college.

Colleges also offer need-based scholarships that are based on acceptable academic credentials and financial need as determined by the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), that is issued by the Department of Education. These forms cannot be started until January 1 and may be obtained from the College Counseling Office or the college of your choice. It is necessary for you to have most of your tax forms started in order to complete the FAFSA. This will determine the “parent contribution” to your education that will then determine how much will need to be covered by scholarships, work study, or loans. The FAFSA may also now be completed on the web by accessing http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. This is the easiest and fastest method. Some of the most selective colleges in the country also use the CSS Profile, a copy of which may also be picked up in the office or completed on the web. You should start filling this out in the fall of your senior year.

If you are not sure whether you will qualify for need-based aid, use the EFC (Estimated Family Calculator) that is part of the College Board site: http://cbweb9p.collegeboard.com/EFC/ . You may find out information about the FAFSA or fill one out online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Online Profile is available on the College Board site: www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/coworks.htm

• Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  • In order to receive this grant (no repayment), one must demonstrate need through FAFSA. A student applies for this grant through the college financial aid office. This supplemental grant ranges from $200 to $4,000. This will usually be included in the financial aid package that the college financial aid office will present to you.
• College work study (federal work study)
  • In order to be eligible for college work study, a student must qualify through FAFSA. These jobs must be either on campus or off campus with a non-profit organization. The number of hours during the school year will be limited. Once again, this will generally be included in the financial aid package from the college.
• Perkins Student Loans
  • This is a very advantageous loan that one must qualify for through the FAFSA form. The maximum amount of the government-subsidized loan in 1998-99 was $4,000. No repayment is required while a student is still in school, in the military, in VISTA, or in the Peace Corps. Other deferments are permitted if repayment would cause a financial hardship. The entire loan could be cancelled if a student teaches in a school in a low-income district where there is a teacher shortage, or if a student becomes a nurse or medical technician. There is no interest until repayment begins. The interest is 5% for four years, then 8% thereafter.

From the federal government

• Pell grants
  • This is a grant (no repayment) that can range from $200 to $4,500, depending upon level of estimated family contribution (EFC) as determined by FAFSA. A student needs to apply for this through the college’s financial aid office
• Stafford subsidized loans
  • This loan is obtained through a bank or credit union but is subsidized by the federal government. There is a 5% origination fee. There are yearly and career maximums placed on the amount that can be borrowed. There is no repayment while a student is in school, the military, Peace Corps, or VISTA. A student has up to ten years to repay.
• Robert Byrd Scholarship
  • Robert C. Byrd Scholarships provide federal money to promote academic excellence and achievement. The individual states administer these programs and determine the criteria.

From the state government

In Florida, through the Bright Futures Scholarship program, students who qualify are able to receive up to 100% of tuition and fees plus a stipend if attending a public university. This grant can also be used at private Florida colleges. In order to determine if a student qualifies, a student must fill out a Bright Futures Student Authorization Form in the college counseling office. A summary of these programs:

• Bright Futures
  • The Bright Futures program provides funding for resident to attend public and private colleges in the state of Florida. The program changes yearly and may be in for some big changes because of problems with funding. For the 2003 school year there are two programs that affect our students: Bright Futures program also provides funding for Florida private institutions.
• Florida Academic Scholars Award
  • Requirements: a weighted GPA of 3.5 and a 1270 on the SAT or 28 on the ACT.
  • Award level: 100% tuition and fees (plus up to $300 in lab fees) and $300 per semester for college-related expenses.
• Florida Medallion Scholars Award
  • Requirements: a weighted GPA of 3.0 and a 970 on the SAT or 20 on the ACT.
  • Award level: 75% tuition and fees (plus up to $300 in lab fees) and $300 per semester for college-related expenses.

Students must register online in order to be eligible for Florida Bright Futures awards. We encourage even those students who will be attending colleges out of state to register in case they return to a Florida institution. Students may register at anytime, but must register before graduation. Registration is available on line at www.MyFloridaEducation.com/brfuture.

From local or national scholarships

Many scholarship opportunities will be made available to students during the year. In addition, make sure you read the newspapers carefully; many scholarships are publicized in small print. Episcopal also has a couple of databases that include many scholarship options. And make sure your parents investigate what scholarship programs are available through their employers; many large companies have special scholarship opportunities for children of their employees.

Many web sites include scholarship searches. Be wary of companies that offer to find you scholarships for a nominal fee; some of them are scams, and many simply search sources that are free and available to anyone. Two of our favorites sites are www.finaid.com and www.fastweb.com.

Another way of reducing or eliminating college costs is through ROTC scholarships, or by enrolling in one of the service academies. Information about future veterans benefits can be obtained through www.va.gov/education. This alternative is not for everyone.

Alternatives to financial aid

• Unsubsidized Stafford loan
  • This is for students who cannot demonstrate financial need. The terms are the same as the subsidized Stafford Loans, except interest on the loan begins while the student is still in college.
• PLUS loans and other educational loans
  • A PLUS loan is paid by the parent, and one does not have to demonstrate financial need. It is limited to the cost of education minus financial aid. The interest rate goes up and down depending on the prime rate. A parent must start paying this loan back immediately. There are many private corporations that will work with you to obtain the PLUS loan.
• Payment plans
  • Almost every college offers some kind of a payment plan allowing the parent to pay in ten installments.
• Home-equity loans
  • Home equity loans can be excellent ways of paying for college tuition because rates are low, and parents can often deduct the interest paid from their income tax.