COLLEGE SEARCH

PROCESSPikesville High School

YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP…

http://youtu.be/C5BUZzkSV5A

FRESHMAN YEAR Make a four-year plan of classes that

interest and challenge you, so that you have a worthwhile high school experience.

Get involved with extracurricular activities in which you have a genuine interest and are able to make the necessary time commitment

Look into different volunteer opportunities and choose to participate in the ones that interest you.

NINTH GRADE – 2ND SEMESTER Seek to balance academic rigor with the

value of strong grades in grade 10 Consider SAT Subject test in Biology and

- if proficient - Hebrew Finish service learning requirement Continue service projects and establish

autonomy and independence in your service, thinking ahead to scholarship applications

ACADEMIC RIGOR Honors vs. GT vs. AP Depth and breadth Analysis and Application Quality Points and class rank Think about the time commitment Seek BALANCE in your life School may be the most important thing,

but it is not the ONLY thing. It is not natural to make decisions in high

school that theoretically lead you to a goal. Do your best in high school in order to have

choices.

SOPHOMORE YEAR If you haven’t already, start looking at

different colleges online and in other resources.

www.collegeweeklive.com Use Twitter to follow colleges, advisors,

and hashtags Attend a college fair Re-evaluate your high school course

selection to make sure it meets college requirements

Take the PSAT in October

PSAT Measures critical thinking skills Critical Reading, Math, Writing Skills 20-80 National Merit in 11th grade AP Potential PSAT Extra / My College Quickstart

TENTH GRADE – 2ND SEMESTER Seriously consider the balance of rigor

and academic success for junior year AP is good. ALL AP is not necessarily all

good. Attend college fairs Consider SAT Subject tests in World

History, Chemistry, and – if applicable – Spanish

Seek leadership positions in student organizations – or create your own!

VISIT REPRESENTATIVE COLLEGES

SMALL LARGE

MEDIUM

URBAN

SUBURBAN

RURAL

U of Baltimore

GoucherNotre Dame of MD

Hood CollegeMcDaniel CollegeUMES

Johns HopkinsHoward U

UMBCMorgan State

Frostburg StateSalisbury U

Temple U

U of MarylandU of Delaware

Penn State

FALL JUNIOR YEAR Take the PSAT in October Visit College fairs Take SAT Listening subject test in

November Start preparing for the SAT and ACT Develop a list of colleges and begin

researching

SPRING JUNIOR YEAR Register for and take the SAT and ACT

when you are ready. Begin narrowing your college list and

start visiting campuses If you plan on playing Division I or II

sports, register @ www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

Make an appointment with your School Counselor to discuss your college search

Ask 2-3 teachers for letters of recommendation

Take SAT Subject Tests in May or June

THE SAT AND THE ACT Both the SAT and the ACT accept fee

waivers for eligible students. See your school counselor individually for details.

Both the SAT and ACT are accepted by colleges across the USA.

Your test score is not as significant as your GPA and level of academic rigor.

Both provide accommodations for students with disabilities, but have different processes for approval.

TOEFL

THE SAT VS. THE ACT

The SAT The ACT

10 sections Critical Reading, Math,

Writing Skills

7:45-12:30 7 dates each year Math includes algebra 2

and geometry

4 sections English, Math, Science,

Reading, and optional Writing

7:45-12:00, or 7:45-12:45

6 dates each year Math includes 4

trigonometry questions

THE SAT VS. THE ACT

The SAT The ACT

Lose points for incorrect answers – don’t guess

Reasoning and Problem-solving

Norm-referenced scoring

200-800 on each test 500 is average

It is safe to guess, because you don’t lose points.

Directly related to curriculum

Criterion-referenced scoring

0-36 on each test 21 is average

PREPARING FOR THE TESTS Tutors Tutoring companies Test prep books Software Apps QOTD emails and tweets READ nonfiction

REPORTING SCORES Four scores for free at registration Approx $10 per recipient after the test Score Choice Super-scoring ACT vs. SAT

THINGS TO CONSIDER Location

Distance from home & surrounding community

Size: of campus, student body, and community

Competitiveness (Average grades & SATs)

Extra-curricular opportunities Racial/Ethnic/Religious composition Athletics Cost – “net price calculator”

LIBERAL ARTS OR RESEARCH? Teaching-oriented Smaller classes Privately funded Scholarships

depend on merit and need

Research-oriented Larger classes More likely public Less generous with

scholarship

ELITE COLLEGES? 4.0 36 2400 Valedictorian State champion in _____ Musical virtuoso Son of a senator Hollywood starlet 9% of those students are admitted

SCHEDULING CAMPUS VISITS Register in advance on their websites Go on tours “Demonstrated interest” Eat in the dorms Ask to sit in on classes

THINGS TO CONSIDER Transportation:

Is there a college bus service?Can students have cars on campus?

Employment: Are there many jobs for students on

campus?What kind of jobs are available locally for

students?Does the college help students find paid

internships or externships? Majors:

Industry accreditationAcademic common market

THINGS TO CONSIDER Safety:

How safe is the campus? Where can I find crime statistics for the campus and area?

Are the residence halls locked? Who has access to them?

Social Life:What clubs, volunteer groups, and other

extracurricular activities are available?What are weekends like on campus?Where do students socialize on campus?

Off campus?

THINGS TO CONSIDER Housing:

Are students guaranteed housing on campus the first year? Is housing also guaranteed after the first year?

What percentage of undergraduate students live off campus?

Is there a service that helps commuters find housing?

Do student rooms have wi fi access? Telephones?

WHERE DO YOU LOOK? Internet

www.collegeboard.orgwww.collegeweeklive.comhttp://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ College websites

Books College Fairs College Visits Representative Visits (Senior Year)

COLLEGE FAIRS October 28 – JCC College Fair October 29 and 30

Baltimore Convention Center February 7, 2013

Pikesville High School, 5pm-6:30pmCollege Admissions Workshop starts at 6:30.More than 50 colleges are invited

March, 2013CCBC Catonsville, 6pm-8pmOver 100 colleges will be represented

Bring labels with your contact information!

COLLEGE VISITS Arrange a time on the school’s website

or by calling admissions Try to visit when classes are in session Students are allowed 2 college visit days

junior year, and 3 college visit days senior year

QUESTIONS TO ASK What are the most popular majors? What percentage of first-year students

return to this college for their second year of college?

What is the graduation rate? What is the average amount of time it takes to graduate?

What is the average size of a general education course?

WHAT ADMISSIONS OFFICERS VALUE Be aware of your admissions options Accentuate your strengths Be aware of your limitations Grades & coursework come FIRST Test scores usually come SECOND Essays are read Recommendations count, though not as

much as grades Extra-curricular activities – colleges are

building a well-rounded class, not necessarily looking for well-rounded applicants

Marginal applicants need every possible edge

TYPES OF ADMISSIONS PROGRAMS Rolling Admission- A decision is made

on your application almost immediately. You will learn of the decision typically 4-6 weeks after your application is complete.

Many colleges will have a set deadline date and then in the spring set a notification date, where they will notify all candidates of their decision.

TYPES OF ADMISSIONS PROGRAMS Early Decision- A plan in which

students apply in November or December and learn of the admission decision in December or January. This is often binding and other applications are required to be withdrawn.

Early Action- Differs from early decision in that students are not required to accept admission or withdraw other applications if accepted.

TYPES OF ADMISSIONS PROGRAMS Early Admission- A program in

which a college allows high school students to enroll before they graduate from high school as a full-time student.

Concurrent Enrollment- Some colleges will allow currently enrolled high school students to take a course or courses at the college (part-time).

Open Admissions- A policy which allows almost all applicants to be accepted.

TYPES OF ADMISSIONS PROGRAMS Midyear Admissions- An option some

colleges offer, allowing students to start classes in the second semester, rather than in the fall.

Summer Admissions- A program that the college recommends where the student would begin course work in the summer rather than in the fall.

Transfer Admissions- After accumulating a set number of credits, colleges evaluate your application based on your GPA in those courses

THE APPLICATION PROCESS Identify your 6-12 colleges:

Reach schools Comfort schools Safe schools

Apply on-line or on paper Ask teachers and other adults for

recommendations early Wait until orientation at the beginning of

next year before you submit anything If there is any chance you’re applying to a

4-year college, you should have taken either the SAT or ACT no later than October of your senior year.

Keep a system to manage ALL of your information during this process.

SUMMER JUNIOR YEAR

Visit any remaining colleges that you are interested in

Research scholarship opportunities Begin writing essays Narrow (or grow) your list to about 10

schools If you registered with the NCAA, send

your transcripts

FALL SENIOR YEAR Retake the ACT/SAT, if necessary Continue to take a full course load of

college-prep courses Decide on your final list of colleges

and apply Write thank you notes to those who

wrote letters for you Arrange for admissions interviews, if

necessary Compile financial data for the FAFSA

SENIOR YEAR Fill out the Free Application for Federal

Student Aid (FAFSA), not prior to January 1

www.fafsa.ed.gov Follow up with colleges to make sure

they have received all application forms, transcripts and letters of recommendation

Financial Aid Information NightDecember 6

SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES www.fafsa.gov www.scholarships.com www.fastweb.com Twitter: #campuschat #collegecash Pinterest:

http://pinterest.com/aidscholarship/ Livebinders:

http://www.livebinders.com/shelf/search?terms=scholarship&search%5Btype%5D=0&commit=Search

BOOKS TO READ The College Solution by Lynn

O’Shaughnessy College Admissions for the 21st Century

by Robert Sternberg Colleges That Change Lives by Loren

Pope College Bound and Gagged by Nancy

Berk

GOOD LUCK!! REMEMBER TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS WITH YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS!