Cardinal Newman Cardinal Newman High SchoolHigh School

Welcome to Junior Parent Welcome to Junior Parent Night!Night!

Please welcome our panel of Please welcome our panel of seniorsseniors..

Compare this year to your junior year, what are the main Compare this year to your junior year, what are the main differences?differences?

What is the hardest thing about junior year?What is the hardest thing about junior year? What kind of colleges are you thinking about?What kind of colleges are you thinking about? What piece of advice can you give to the juniors about how What piece of advice can you give to the juniors about how

to succeed in school?to succeed in school? What kind of curfew do you have? How are you instructed What kind of curfew do you have? How are you instructed

by your parents when you go to parties and drive at night?by your parents when you go to parties and drive at night? Do you ever get in a study group to prepare for exams? Do Do you ever get in a study group to prepare for exams? Do

you use tutorial as a resource?you use tutorial as a resource? What is your CBSL project? How did you choose what you What is your CBSL project? How did you choose what you

wanted to focus on?wanted to focus on? SAT/ACT test prep. What did you do to prepare for the SAT SAT/ACT test prep. What did you do to prepare for the SAT

and ACT’s. What would you recommend?and ACT’s. What would you recommend?

Importance of Junior YearImportance of Junior Year

For some colleges, this is the last look in For some colleges, this is the last look in terms of GPA.terms of GPA.

Important to have good study habits, time Important to have good study habits, time management, commitment to be a management, commitment to be a student. (That is their job!)student. (That is their job!)

Make good use of resources (teachers, Make good use of resources (teachers, TUTORIALS!)TUTORIALS!)

Strength of junior and senior year Strength of junior and senior year schedule (advanced math, 3 or 4 years of schedule (advanced math, 3 or 4 years of language). Colleges want to see students language). Colleges want to see students challenge the curriculum.challenge the curriculum.

My college meeting processMy college meeting process I meet every student for an initial meeting.I meet every student for an initial meeting. I will introduce Naviance and have students I will introduce Naviance and have students

search colleges.search colleges. I will meet with them again as soon as I get I will meet with them again as soon as I get

results from PSAT (December). We will results from PSAT (December). We will discuss process for taking SAT’s/ACT’s and discuss process for taking SAT’s/ACT’s and test prep.test prep.

We will further make a list of colleges to We will further make a list of colleges to research and visit.research and visit.

In the Spring, we will meet throughout the In the Spring, we will meet throughout the semester to further add/subtract college semester to further add/subtract college choices.choices.

We will look at and analyze SAT/ACT scores.We will look at and analyze SAT/ACT scores.

The Junior year social sceneThe Junior year social scene

Curfews - It is important to have Curfews - It is important to have boundaries and establish the responsibility boundaries and establish the responsibility that carries over into the senior year.that carries over into the senior year.

Communication and knowing other Communication and knowing other parents and families. Know where you parents and families. Know where you son’s are. (Land-line phone)son’s are. (Land-line phone)

Parties; Drinking, Drugs and Driving; Being Parties; Drinking, Drugs and Driving; Being responsible.responsible.

Understanding the big-picture. Don’t just Understanding the big-picture. Don’t just think about the present.think about the present.

ACT vs. SATACT vs. SAT Every college takes either ACT and/or SAT.Every college takes either ACT and/or SAT. From results of PSAT and PLAN, we will be able to From results of PSAT and PLAN, we will be able to

tell which one is a better test for your son.tell which one is a better test for your son. Start with Spring SAT/ACT Start with Spring SAT/ACT

(January/February/March)(January/February/March) SAT II’s for UC’s. You need 2 for admittance. Can SAT II’s for UC’s. You need 2 for admittance. Can

be two of your choice. (not required)be two of your choice. (not required) Sometimes a good SAT/ACT (700’s/31) can be a Sometimes a good SAT/ACT (700’s/31) can be a

deal maker for a highly selective school.deal maker for a highly selective school. There are many test-prep opportunities such as: There are many test-prep opportunities such as:

Team Test Prep, Princeton Review, Kaplan, Dr. Team Test Prep, Princeton Review, Kaplan, Dr. SAT, etc… Find out what works for you and ask SAT, etc… Find out what works for you and ask around for recommendations.around for recommendations.

Cal State SystemCal State System

Course Requirements (see sheet). Advanced Math Course Requirements (see sheet). Advanced Math and third year of a foreign language will look good at and third year of a foreign language will look good at any selective Cal-State schoolany selective Cal-State school

3.0+ GPA list - Long Beach (3.4), Chico(3.3), San 3.0+ GPA list - Long Beach (3.4), Chico(3.3), San Diego State (3.7), San Marcos (3.0), Pomona (3.2), Diego State (3.7), San Marcos (3.0), Pomona (3.2), Fullerton (3.0), San Jose State (3.1), Cal Poly SLO Fullerton (3.0), San Jose State (3.1), Cal Poly SLO (3.8+)(3.8+)

No D’s in any college prep classes (except in first No D’s in any college prep classes (except in first semester foreign language or math classes).semester foreign language or math classes).

1500+ SAT or 22+ ACT for above 3.0 list of colleges. 1500+ SAT or 22+ ACT for above 3.0 list of colleges. CSU mentor website for applying to Cal states and to CSU mentor website for applying to Cal states and to

research schools.research schools. Use Naviance to search colleges, majors, admissions, Use Naviance to search colleges, majors, admissions,

scholarshipsscholarships..

UC SystemUC System UC Course requirements (see sheet). All UC Course requirements (see sheet). All

recommend 4 years of Math and 4 years of foreign recommend 4 years of Math and 4 years of foreign language. language.

Big range of admission. Cal, UCLA, UCSD are Big range of admission. Cal, UCLA, UCSD are highly selective (10 - 15% admit rate) with 4.0 and highly selective (10 - 15% admit rate) with 4.0 and better for GPA with 2000 or 28 at least on the tests better for GPA with 2000 or 28 at least on the tests needed. needed.

UCSB, UC Davis, and Irvine need at least a 3.8 GPA UCSB, UC Davis, and Irvine need at least a 3.8 GPA with solid test scores (1700+, 26+). with solid test scores (1700+, 26+).

Santa Cruz (3.6) and Riverside (3.6) and Merced Santa Cruz (3.6) and Riverside (3.6) and Merced (3.3-3.5) are considerably less. (3.3-3.5) are considerably less.

Personal Statement - Pick one thing to focus on Personal Statement - Pick one thing to focus on and expand on that. Don’t talk about many and expand on that. Don’t talk about many different things. Give them a sense of who you different things. Give them a sense of who you are and what sets you apart from other applicants.are and what sets you apart from other applicants.

Visit Naviance for more profiles and admissions. Visit Naviance for more profiles and admissions. UC website- universityofcalifornia.edu/admissionsUC website- universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions

Private and or Catholic Private and or Catholic SchoolsSchools

Schools such as Santa Clara, USD, LMU, Gonzaga Schools such as Santa Clara, USD, LMU, Gonzaga need a 3.5+ GPA with SAT (1700), ACT (25).need a 3.5+ GPA with SAT (1700), ACT (25).

Other schools need less: St. Mary’s (3.5), USF Other schools need less: St. Mary’s (3.5), USF (3.5), Portland (3.5), Dominican (2.5+), and Notre (3.5), Portland (3.5), Dominican (2.5+), and Notre Dame de Namur (2.5+).Dame de Namur (2.5+).

Theses schools look at all 4 years and extra Theses schools look at all 4 years and extra curricular activities.curricular activities.

These schools also require letters of These schools also require letters of recommendation. Ask junior/senior level teachers recommendation. Ask junior/senior level teachers who know you to write letters for you.who know you to write letters for you.

Out of state schools such as OSU and UNR need a Out of state schools such as OSU and UNR need a 2.7, U of Oregon, NAU, and ASU a 3.0 to Colorado, 2.7, U of Oregon, NAU, and ASU a 3.0 to Colorado, Texas, Florida need a 3.5.Texas, Florida need a 3.5.

Highly Selective SchoolsHighly Selective Schools Highly Selective Schools look at all 4 years of Highly Selective Schools look at all 4 years of

curriculum. They want the students to challenge curriculum. They want the students to challenge the curriculum to the best of their ability. (Honors the curriculum to the best of their ability. (Honors and AP Courses).and AP Courses).

All applicants of Highly Selective Schools have All applicants of Highly Selective Schools have 4.0+ GPA’s and great test scores (2000+/31+).4.0+ GPA’s and great test scores (2000+/31+).

How do you separate yourself from other How do you separate yourself from other candidates? You must have a talent or something candidates? You must have a talent or something other than school and test scores. ( Athlete, other than school and test scores. ( Athlete, musician, writer, ASB leader, service, etc…)musician, writer, ASB leader, service, etc…)

Personal Statement or Essay is very important. Personal Statement or Essay is very important. Students must grab reader. Essay can make the Students must grab reader. Essay can make the difference in admittancedifference in admittance..

Community Colleges and Community Colleges and SRJCSRJC

Community Colleges and the JC are a great Community Colleges and the JC are a great stepping stone to UC’s and other universities.stepping stone to UC’s and other universities.

Community Colleges are a great way of getting Community Colleges are a great way of getting into schools that you can’t get into straight out of into schools that you can’t get into straight out of high school.high school.

Community Colleges have great certificate Community Colleges have great certificate programs and occupational programs. programs and occupational programs.

Community Colleges are a great way to save Community Colleges are a great way to save money and get your general education classes money and get your general education classes done.done.

Make sure to listen to announcements when Make sure to listen to announcements when representatives come to visit (senior year), to representatives come to visit (senior year), to explain process and administer placement exams.explain process and administer placement exams.