I. Sophomore Year

II. Junior Year

I. Where to Start

II. Types of Schools

I. Why Visit Colleges

II. When to Visit

III. How to Arrange a Visit

IV. What to Look for During the Visit

I. High School Record

II. College Entrance Tests

III. Additional Requirements

IV. Official High School Transcript

I. Competitive (No-Need) Scholarships

III. Sources of Financial Aid

Following is the recommended procedure that students and parents should follow when exploring and planning for education beyond high school.

A. Continue to get acquainted with yourself-know your strengths as well as your weaknesses.

B. Keep asking yourself why you want (or do not want) an education beyond high school.

C. Be sure to check the courses you are now taking or are planning to take while in high school

against the requirements established by the schools of your choice so that you will be

prepared academically. Use the Career Planning Guide to assist in course selections.

D. Use occupational information found in the Career Resource Center.

E. Discuss advanced education with your parents, counselor, friends and teachers.

F. Read catalogues and reference books to explore different areas (or majors) you could study.

G. If possible, plan to visit some campuses during summer vacation to get firsthand

information.

H. Begin planning for the costs of post high school education.

I. Maintain good grades. If you are considering college attendance, a reasonable goal

is at least a B average. The higher the grades, the better the chances for acceptance to the

college of your choice. Grades earned in college prep courses in high school are the best

single predictor of success in college.

J. Attend the Lancaster County College Night held at Conestoga Valley High School during

A. Try to make a decision regarding the general program of studies you might follow after

high school (i.e. science or communications, etc.)

B. Use the Career Resource Center to do preliminary research for college choice and major

field of study (particularly the computerized Guidance Information System and COIN).

C. Draw up a list of colleges from which you will make final choices. Discuss the list with

your counselor during the junior-parent interview.

D. Arrange with your counselor to take the following tests:

1. Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying

Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in October.

2. SAT I at least one time in the Spring (March, May or June). Ephrata offers

the test in May. It may be good to take SAT I two times during the junior year.

E. During the summer or early fall, visit the campuses of several schools you are

seriously considering.

F. Attend the Lancaster County College Night held at Conestoga Valley High School during

November or the McCaskey College Night in March. 

G. Meet with the college representatives who visit the high school throughout the year.

These visits are listed on the Counselor Bulletin and announced during morning

A. Finalize the list of colleges that you are considering.

B. Discuss the schools of your choice with your counselor before obtaining an application form.

Avoid selecting colleges which are all admissions risks.

C. Keep track of deadlines. Be sure to consult the college catalogue for any application

deadline and plan accordingly. The responsibility for obtaining the necessary application forms rests with the student. This may be done by contacting the admissions office (by

phone, mail, or Internet e-mail) of the schools under consideration. Some applications

are available in the Career Resource Center. Complete the student portion of the

application, attach a check for the application fee (unless instructed otherwise) and

bring everything to the Guidance Office. The official transcript will be prepared and

all forms will be mailed for the student at a cost of $.50 per transcript.

D. Check to make sure that you have arranged to take whatever tests the schools

require for admission.

1. Most colleges require the SAT I. Some will accept junior year scores and

some will also request senior year scores. It is probably to your advantage

to take them again. This should be done in October or November (preferably

October) of the senior year. Ephrata offers the test in October.

2. Some colleges will also require the SAT II. Check the catalog for specific

requirements.

3. Some colleges, particularly those in the Midwest and South, require the American

College Test (ACT). Talk to your counselor about this in early September.

E. Need-based financial aid. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is

the basic application required for all colleges. If you plan to attend a private or out-

form. Students who took the SAT I in the spring of their junior year will receive a FAFSA in the mail in November/December. The FAFSA is also available in the Guidance Office.

F. Be prepared to discuss any questions or concerns about admissions and financial aid

procedures during your interview with your counselor at the beginning of the senior year.

G. Read the weekly Counselor Bulletin to keep informed about test deadlines, financial

aid information, scholarships and other important announcements.

A. Gather as much information as possible. This should include:

II. TYPES OF SCHOOLS

A college is an institution usually requiring graduation from a secondary school for admission.

a student to pursue a graduate degree if desired. There are many types of colleges. Some are independent in control (private), some are state (public) supported, some are exclusively for men

The university may be defined as an educational institution comprising an undergraduate college

The junior college is an institution offering two years of college training beyond high school.

It has a twofold purpose. One purpose is to provide the first two years of a four-year college

education with the possibility of transfer to a four-year college for the final two upperclass years.

The second purpose is to provide two-year terminal training in semi-professional and technical

The community college is a publicly supported institution very similar to the junior college.

It offers the two-year college transfer program, the career program for immediate employment

after two years of study, and the one-semester program of basic skills and knowledge essential

The technical/trade school is a privately-operated institution offering one or two-year terminal

programs in technical training or mechanical trades. The curricula are intensive, with emphasis

on the practical processes of mathematics and science. Career schools give highly-specialized training for specific careers. These schools are normally accredited. The process for selection

There are two general types of nursing education programs. One prepares the student to be a professional or registered nurse; the other prepares the student to be a licensed practical nurse.

(generally requiring three years of training). A strong academic background is recommended for these programs. Students interested in nursing should be sure to take a course in high school chemistry prior to applying.

The military services operate a variety of schools of semi-professional, technical, or trade type.

These schools are designed to meet the job needs of a particular branch of the military.

Students (male and female) who enlist in the military service are selected for these schools on the basis of tests and interviews with recruiters.

The military offers a host of educational programs including college courses which are paid for

on a cooperative basis. Interested students may obtain more information on these programs

A. Location

1. distance from home

2. cost of transportation

3. city, suburban, or rural atmosphere

B. Size and type of institution

1. large or small

2. co-ed or single sex

3. public or private

C. Admissions

1. tests

2. required and/or recommended high school courses

3. deadlines

4. competitiveness

D. Majors/Programs

E. Costs

1. financial aid availability

2. scholarship availability

F. Accreditation

G. Other factors

A. Many facts and impressions of a college can only be obtained by a personal visit.

There are subtle differences that you must see to appreciate. It is best to get these

facts firsthand.

B. You must see for yourself rather than rely on:

1. obviously biased admission counselors

2. alumni who have been away from the campus a number of years

3. current students at the college who may have a different perspective and

emphasis than you

C. Specifics that you can gather from a college visit:

A. During the latter part of your junior year narrow down the list of prospective colleges

to four or five. Plan visits during September and October of the senior year. If this is

not possible, then go in the summer prior to the senior year. A visit when school is in

session is more informative.

B. Parents should participate in the visits.

A. Make prior arrangements for a visit by contacting the admissions office by mail or

telephone. Telephone is best because agreement on a specific date and time can

be made. Telephone numbers of colleges are available in the Career

Resource Center.

B. Familiarize yourself with the college by reading the catalogue and view book before

you visit. Catalogues are available in the CRC.

C. Request your high school transcript from the guidance secretary in advance of your

visit and take it with you. This will be helpful when you meet with the admissions

counselor.

D. Allow sufficient time to tour the entire campus. Overnight accommodations may

A. Instructional program considerations

1. size and type of classes

2. library facilities and accessibility

3. method of registering for classes

4. availability of advisors

5. computer requirements and availability

B. Campus Environment

1. type of housing

2. food services

3. social and recreational facilities

4. medical services

5. religious facilities

6. college atmosphere

7. rules and regulations

A. Write a brief thank you note to the college officer who spent time with you.

and GPA, computed from final letter grades beginning in grade 9, are used in the admissions process.

High school course requirements vary with the type of school and major selected. Most colleges require

about 16 units or credits and sometimes suggest specific high school courses as preparation for majors at

their school.

Four-year colleges and universities usually require an academic background that includes the following

in grades 9-12:

1. English - four years

2. Social Studies - three or four years

3. Mathematics - three or four years of academic math

4. Science - three or four years including two years of laboratory science

5. Foreign Language - at least two years of one foreign language may be required

PSAT/NMSQT. This test is useful as practice and can indicate scores you might expect from the SAT I.

Results are also used by the National Merit Corporation for scholarship competition.

The two major admission testing programs are the College Board (SAT) and the American College

Testing Program (ACT). Students interested in college should take the SAT I at least once in the spring

of their junior year (April, May or June) and again in the fall (October or November) of their senior year.

Students attending colleges requiring the ACT usually take it in the fall of their senior year.

The College Board also administers the SAT II. This test is subject based and is sometimes required for

admissions and/or placement purposes. Students should check to see if their college requires the SAT II.

They should be taken at the end of the junior year or by fall of the senior year.

The following is a listing and brief description of the tests mentioned:

PSAT/NMSQT - The PSAT/NMSQT is a test administered only once each year in October. It is

the result of two individual testing programs having merged into one test with dual purposes. It is

first, a two-hour version of the SAT I which measures verbal, mathematical, and writing skills required

for college work. Secondly, the PSAT/NMSQT is the first step necessary for consideration for

scholarships offered through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Test scores range from

20 to 80.

SAT I - The SAT I is a three-hour test designed to measure verbal and mathematical abilities

generally considered important to college work. The verbal sections assess understanding of words

and of the relationships among ideas, and the ability to read with understanding and discrimination. The

mathematical section is designed to measure fundamental quantitative abilities, the ability to handle

numbers and to do quantitative reasoning in solving problems. Test scores range from 200 to 800.

SAT II - The SAT II tests are one-hour objective tests designed to measure a general level of achievement

in specific subject fields such as Writing, Foreign Language, Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and American History. Students need to check requirements of individual colleges to see if they need to take the SAT II.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT TESTS - These tests measure college-level knowledge and are

designed to help colleges judge the qualifications of candidates for advanced placement and/or

college credit. These tests are recommended for students who have completed AP courses in

high school, but they may be taken by any student. Each test is three hours long, administered in

May, and arranged through the guidance office.

AMERICAN COLLEGE TESTING PROGRAM (ACT) - The American College Test (ACT) is

required by some colleges generally in the Midwestern and Southern states for admission and/or

placement purposes. It consists of a battery of four tests of about 45 minutes each in English,

mathematics, the social studies, and the natural sciences. Scores range between 1-36 on each

of these areas. A composite score of the four areas provides an estimate of general ability to

succeed in college. Students needing this test should take it in the fall of their senior year.

TOEFL - The purpose of the TOEFL test is to evaluate the English proficiency of people whose

native language is not English. This test can be used in place of the SAT I. Students who feel

they are eligible to take this test should talk to their counselors. Registration materials are available

Qualities of leadership as evidenced by participation in extracurricular activities become important

considerations to more selective colleges.

Some colleges require a counselor and/or teacher evaluation and recommendation of the student

applicant. Counselors review student records, including any teacher comments, school and work

earned to date (beginning with grade 9), test data, current cumulative rank in class, activities,

honors, statistical school data, plus a profile of Ephrata Senior High school. This package, known

as an official transcript, is sent to colleges upon student request. In addition, whenever required

Cost of transcript and mailing is $.50 per transcript.

Admission notices vary among colleges. One of the following is normally used:

EARLY DECISION - Notification is usually made between December 1 and 15 of the senior year.

Early decision candidates have agreed at the time of the application that although they may apply

to other colleges, they will cancel other applications if accepted by their first choice college. All

early decision candidates who are denied entrance in December are reconsidered for regular

decision.

ROLLING ADMISSION - Notification is given within six weeks of the completion of all

application forms.

JANUARY-FEBRUARY DECISION - Notification is made between January 15 and February 15.

SPRING DECISION - Notification is sent about April 1.

EARLY ADMISSION - This plan allows a superior student to enter college at the end of grade 11.

If accepted, the student omits the senior year at high school and goes to college. This plan is

recommended only for the very exceptionally able and mature student. The student does not

receive a high school diploma until successful completion of the first year of college.

DEFERRED OR DELAYED ADMISSION- Deferred or delayed admission to college is not a

standard practice but may be a possibility for some students. Under this type of admission,

college acceptance is postponed for a year or more with a guarantee from the college of

admission later, or application for admission is not made at all until a year or more of experience

in employment, travel, community work, etc. Any student who is considering this type of approach

should contact the college directly.

All college acceptances are provisional until the student successfully completes the senior year in high school.

The student must not permit academic achievement to decline as this could result in acceptance

being withdrawn.

This type of scholarship Includes those awarded for special skills in areas such as athletics, music, art and for academic accomplishments. Some helpful steps are as follows:

A. As a junior, take the PSAT/NMSQT to qualify for the National Merit Scholarships.

B. Write to the financial aid office of each college applied to for admission and ask for information

on competitive scholarships and financial aid in general.

available.

D. Read the weekly COUNSELOR BULLETIN and other notices posted on homeroom bulletin

boards. As scholarship information is received, it will be announced.

and is usually computed on one or more of the following forms:

A. FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)

FAFSA applications are sent directly in December to students who have taken the SAT I

in the spring of their junior year. FAFSA applications are available in the guidance office only for students who have not received their forms by December 15. This is the basic form all students

should file as soon after January 1 of the senior year as possible. Students will be considered

for state, federal, and college based aid when the FAFSA is filed.

B. CSS PROFILE - The profile is available in the high school guidance office. It must be completed

by the parent. Not all colleges require the profile.

III SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AID

Various sources of financial aid are listed below. This is only a partial list.

B. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT - Federal aid programs are also available to students. Eligibility is

based on information when the FAFSA is filed.

C. THE COLLEGE - The college is an important source of financial aid. Aid granted by a college

packages vary from minimal assistance to those covering all costs. Most aid granted by the college

D. OTHER SOURCES

Community and Private Foundations - Publications describing these programs are available in the

CRC, and new information is announced in the Counselor Bulletin. Employers, unions, churches

and fraternal organizations may also have aid available.

Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) - Qualified and selected students can enroll in four-year

or two- year programs. All ROTC scholarships include free tuition, textbooks, lab fees and a monthly