Junior Classroom Presentation 1 November 17th & 18th, 2014

Outcomes of Today’s Presentation

Counselor Interaction and Communication

What Colleges Value in the Admissions Process

Testing Plan

Review of Making the Match

Use of Family Connection/Online Resources in the College Search Process

Overview of College Counseling for Juniors

When What

November 17 & 18 Junior Classroom Presentation 1

February-April Individual Junior Meetings

February 25 &26 Junior Classroom Presentation 2

March 19 & 20 Junior Classroom Presentation 3

April 21 & 22 Junior Classroom Presentation 4

April 23th

Case Studies at Archbishop Mitty High School (evening event)

May 7th Santa Clara County College Fair at Mission College (evening event)

Communication with Counselor

FAQ… Answer… Also…

How can I connect with my College Counselor?

Email a question. It may take a day, be patient.

When will my College Counselor be available?

Collaboration, Lunch, and after school.

When will my College Counselor see me?

Individual appointments will start in February.

Counselors have between 50-100 students and it may take several weeks for your counselor to see each junior.

Check Your SFHS Email Daily:

Check your Saint Francis email… EACH DAY. The Guidance Department will be sending reminders and information updates.

College representatives may also start visiting our campus-so stay informed.

Information on summer opportunities may be sent to your email.

•This is an important pattern to develop as colleges will also be communicating with you through email.

Missing an email update could eventually cost you an opportunity. “I did not read my email is not an excuse.”

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What Do College Care About?

The Four Tenets of College Preparation

Mastering Your Academics

Activities: Finding Your Passion

Spiritual Fulfillment: Being Authentic

Communication: Fulfillment in meaningful relationships

Colleges are looking for students who have addressed these areas. Evidence is revealed in your: Transcript Activity Section of College Application College Essay Letters of Recommendation

Mastering Academics: What Can You Do Now!

Actions Last six weeks of this semester = the final push to raise 5th Semester Grades.

See Teachers during Collaboration.

Attend CSF Tutoring during Collaboration.

Dump the social networking during study.

Build Character

Persevere

Strive for Personal Best

Access Resources

Problem solve

Activities: Finding Your Passion Focus on In-Depth involvement in those things you love to do:

Colleges prefer significant and sustained involvement in one or two activities as opposed to multiple and meaningless.

Colleges looking for: •Commitment

•Talent

•Leadership

•Serving Others

What Does In-Depth Mean?

Become a Board Member/Leader

Be involved in Club Activities

Build Community-connect with others in your activity.

Enrichment/Summer Activity-Is there something that ignites your passion?

Spiritual Fulfillment: Being Authentic

What Do I Care About?

Research Shows A Happy Teen is:

Grateful (Appreciate what you have.)

Healthy (No drugs, alcohol, cigarettes=happier teen)

Active (Action is the cure for anxiety.)

What Do I Care About?

What Can I Do To Show I Care?

Be True to Your Values.

Communication: Fulfillment in Meaningful Relationships

Connecting with People:

•Parents and family

•Friends

•Classmates and Teachers

•Positive human interaction is face to face.

Communication Skills:

Acceptance of self and others

Listen intently

Walk in the shoes of the other

Ask someone to join you or seek out that person.

What Will Colleges Review in the Application Process?

Colleges will Review Your High School Transcript

o The transcript is the most important part of the college application. Each college reviews the transcript according to their own criteria.

o All colleges review the courses selected, especially those for senior year.

The GPA

Official SFHS transcript calculates

weighted and un-weighted GPA

Private/ out-of-state public colleges

look at weighted GPA at end of 6th semester

UC/CSU calculate their own GPA based on 4 semesters (Grades 10-11)

What is “Rigor” or “Strength of Curriculum”?

Colleges Qualify These Academic Subjects as Most Rigorous:

Math, Science, Foreign Language

Social Studies, English

Senior Year is a Measure of a Student’s Willingness to take on Rigor:

• Going to the next level. (Especially math, science, FL if appropriate.)

• Realistic academic stretch. (AP level, if appropriate)

• Normal course load. (6 courses)

From Santa Clara Admissions:

“In our admission evaluation of roughly 15,000 applications for a class of 1300, we focus on 5 Power Points :

1. Program

2. Performance

3. Potential

4. Participation

5. Personality”

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Plan for Admission Testing Now

PSAT is a Practice for the SAT

PSAT is a mini version of the SAT

with the same types of questions.

SAT= 3 hours 45 Minutes

Your Personal Score Report is mailed home in

December.

What you do with it is

extremely important.

You will receive an actual copy

of the test booklet in the

mail . Review the

test! 18

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1. What are my scores? 2. What are my score ranges? 3. What are my score percentiles 4. How will I do on the SAT?

5. NMSQT information 6. What can I learn from my test about my

skills?

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7. What can I learn from my answers?

8. What are my next steps?

Be sure to use your online access code to view important information on your PSAT.

PSAT vs. SAT Scores

Total Possible PSAT 240

SAT 2400

Critical Reading 80 800

Math 80 800

Writing 80 800

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Making A Testing Plan

Typical Testing Sequence! • October of 11th grade → PSAT (NMSQT)

• March/May of 11th grade → SAT • ACT in April/June • May/June of 11th grade → Subject Tests if needed

• Fall of 12th grade → Re-test as necessary (SAT, ACT, ST)

SAT vs ACT

Consider the ACT?

The ACT with Writing Assessment tests are universally accepted for college admission. • The ACT Assessment is accepted by virtually all colleges and

universities in the U.S., including all of the Ivy League schools. • The ACT Assessment tests are curriculum based.

The questions on the ACT are directly related to what you have learned in your high school courses in English, mathematics, and science. However, the ACT math section covers basic Trigonometry, while

SAT math section covers Algebra II.

Students should have a strong aptitude for scientific reasoning.

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Subject Tests

SAT Subject Tests-

Subject Tests are Optional for the UC and not required at all by the CSU.

Subject Tests can be required for some majors at the UC’s. (i.e. Math 2 for Engineering majors.)

Two Subject Tests are required by many highly selective colleges. (rarely three required)

Check with the college website for Subject Test requirements.

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Some subjects like math could be taken twice (Math Level 2)

Other subject areas could be taken directly after finishing the course.

Subject Tests measure your knowledge of a particular subject.

If you continue to study the subject and take the test again, your score should

reflect your increased knowledge.

Are Prep Classes Helpful? Most students learn testing strategies and seem

more comfortable with the tests. A list of test prep providers in our area is

available in the Counseling Center. For free practice online go to

http://www.collegeboard.com 26

https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat

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It’s not about the name, it’s about the match!

What to Expect?

• The decision to choose a college is YOUR decision.

• Your counselor is here to assist you in understanding your resources and options.

• You have more informational resources than any previous generation in learning about colleges.

• You are ultimately the one who will go off to college, not your counselor, your friends, and not even your parents.

• Make it your process. The more research you do now, the happier you will be with the list of colleges when you apply.

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Consider…

You will meet with your counselor, but the research/reflection on the college match takes more time than you can possibly be out of class.

You can attend several college workshops during collaboration and lunch to gain more information.

Goal for this spring/summer:

Research your college list during this fall, spring and summer. Visit colleges if you can.

Arrive at school in August with a clear idea about where you would like to apply.

Making the Match Means Looking Beyond the Brand Names

Do not judge yourself by how you compare with others. Prestige is over-rated---success is based on how much you grow…making a good match means you will thrive at the college you attend. Care about the match…be comfortable---authentic self not some projection of excellence that you do not believe you are but feel you have to be. College search should be fun and fulfilling---YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE YOUR COLLEGE. College is serious work but also lots of fun…and adventure.

Making the Match

Be Realistic:

There may be several colleges that make a good match. There is not just a “one and only”.

More safety and target=more acceptances.

More reach-must be prepared for deny or waitlist.

How many applications can you handle?

Be Flexible:

With 3,500 colleges, could there be one you have not considered?

Apply broadly-you may change your mind by May 1 of your senior year on where you would like to be in 2016-2017.

Be Informed:

No regrets, …If only I had known…

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Making the Match Activity

Using the Priority Board, please rank your top 5 priorities in selecting a college.

Geographic Location California, Mid West, East Coast? Where do relatives live? What type of transportation is necessary to travel to and from home?

Religious Orientation Holy Cross, Catholic, other religious affiliation-requirements for religion courses?

Size of College The size of the campus: 1 acre or 400 acres? Enrollment: 26 students to 50,000 students?

Public/Private/ Specialty Art, Music, Drama, Technical School

Cost Can range from Community College tuition to $60,000 per year. Do you plan to attend grad school?

Social Atmosphere What type of students-can I picture myself among them? Is there diversity? Female/Male? Sororities/Fraternities? Clubs? Service?

Sports NCAA sports? Banana slug vs. Trojans? PAC 12 or Patriot League? Division I, II, III, NAIA? Intramural Sports? Club Sports?

Academic Atmosphere Are the standards for academic involvement compatible with my goals? Research opportunities? Time most students invest in study? Class size and opportunities to interact with professors? Large classroom, discussion groups, small class size? Very competitive academic environment vs. collaborative environment? What works for you?

Academic Programs and Honors Programs What majors? Can you change your major? Is my major featured at this school? Is the academic model more theoretical or practical?

Community/Housing Is this a residential campus where most of the students come from more than 50 miles away? Will most students be on campus on the weekends? Do students live on campus all four years? OR Is this a college where students commute or go home on weekends? What is there to do outside of class time?

Surrounding Community Rural / Suburban / Urban? Weather? Ocean? Mountains? Small college town, big city, opportunities for internships in the local areas? Transportation options?

Selectivity What would make me distinguished from other equally qualified applicants if this school has a low admission rate? Have I researched my chances for admission at this school? Is my choice based more on ranking than a great match? Is my application realistic or magical thinking?

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Reach-Target-Safety

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Stanford

REACH: GPA and test score averages are above the student’s scores. OR Admission rate may make the probability of getting in more of a gamble:

Top Tier Schools: Admission rate below 20%. Admits students at the top of their high school class.

If it is a very selective college, will it spark your competitive side or will it overwhelm you? Is this school a match for you?

Highly Selective- Low Admission Rates

Target

Student’s grades and test scores match the average student admitted, therefore the student is more likely to be admitted.

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Safety

Student’s GPA and test scores are above the average student admitted.

Admission rate indicates high probability of admission.

Each student should apply to at least two safety schools as individual college acceptance rates change each year.

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Use the LMU Scattergram to identify the status of the following students.

Sample Student Weighted GPA SAT Total

Newman 4.00 2100

George 3.50 1800

Kramer 3.00 1700

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Which student(s) should consider this college?

Is the college REACH, TARGET, OR SAFETY?

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Newman George

Kramer

Activity: 20-25 Minutes Junior College Planning Questionnaire

Your responses to these questions will be discussed in your college planning meeting with your counselor . Write complete and thoughtful responses.

Use of Family Connection and

Online Resources

in the

College Search Process

Family Connection This is the most important online tool you will use. Your counselor will be posting information through this system. You will need to list the colleges you first research, and then apply to, in this system. Login frequently.

Use Junior Class Portal

Notice you can access the TABS we will be using this year. Junior Class Portal links to all classroom presentations and documents.

View of Junior Portal

TASKS for Today:

A. Create a College Board Account if you have not already done so.

A. Use Big Future Search Engine to find five colleges that match.

B. List 5 colleges you would like to research in “Colleges I’m Thinking About” in Family Connection under College Tab.

A. Review SFHS 2014-15 College Handbook

Why Create A College Board Account?

•Connect to My College Quick Start™, a free college planning kit based on your PSAT/NMSQT® results.

•Start an SAT® registration and come back to it later.

•Choose your test date and test center online.

•Get immediate registration confirmation.

•Print SAT admission tickets for test day.

•View SAT scores online as soon as they're available.

•Participate in The Official SAT Online Course™.

•Get your AP scores online as soon as they're available.

•Access AP practice questions.

Create A College Board Account If You Have Not Already Done So.

Why:

Complete A College Search with Big Future (College Board tool)

You can Save Selections if you login to your College Board Account

Task for Today Are Listed in Your Portal Under “What’s New”

Instructions:

1. Open Browser

2. Login to Family Connection Now:

Family Connection address (Bookmark It!)

http://connection.naviance.com/sfhs

Do Finish These Tasks By December 1st

Go to My Planner TAB Go to Tasks Assigned to Me

“Colleges I’m Thinking About”

After Completing a Big Future Search, add 5 colleges you would like to research in your Family Connection Portal under Colleges TAB.

Try Other College Search Engines in Your Junior Class Portal

Activity and Questions