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Planning Ahead for Your College Career
Rich Quadrel, Ph.D.
Sage College Prep Services
October 19, 2016
Sage College Prep Services
Median Earnings of Full-Time Year-Round Workers Ages 25 and Older, by Education Level, 2008 Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009; Internal Revenue Service, 2008; Davis et al., 2009.
Unemployment Rates of Individuals Ages 25 and Older, by Education Level, 2009 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010c.
Obesity Among Adults Ages 25 and Older, by Age and Education Level, 2008 Sources: NCHS, 2008 National Health Interview Survey, calculations by the College Board.
School Readiness of Preschool Children Ages 3–5, by Parents’ Highest Education Level, 2007 Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2007.
Voting Rates Among U.S. Citizens Ages 18–24, by Education Level, 2008 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008.
When you graduate high school, you would like to
have as many college options as possible
It will take some planning!
5 Elements of Your College Plan
1. Academics
2. Extracurricular activities
3. College search and selection process
4. College applications
5. Paying for college
Academics
Choose your college prep curriculum• 3-4 credits in each of English, Math, Social
Studies, and Science• 2 years world language• Special requirements for your intended
major (e.g., Physics or Calculus)?• Stay on track with your counselor
Challenge yourself with a rigorous schedule –
strive for a high GPA
Sample 4-year Academic Plan
• 4 years of math & science (note the progression)
• 3 years of World Language
• 2 or 3 AP classes (additional AP courses can be substituted if offered)
• 24 credits
Academics
Choose your college prep curriculum• 3-4 credits in each of English, Math, Social
Studies, Science• 2 years world language• Special requirements for your intended
major (e.g., Physics or Calculus)?• Keep your curriculum on track – talk to
your counselor
Maintain a high GPA• Study hard; organize your time• Start a study group – network with other
college-bound students• Ask for tutoring if needed• Start strong in 9th grade! Each year, your
GPA becomes more difficult to change
Advanced Placement (AP) classes• Boost your GPA: An “A” in an AP class is
worth 5.0, compared to a 4.0• Take the AP test at the end of the term –
scoring well can earn college credits!
Challenge yourself with a rigorous schedule –
strive for a high GPA
What about Running Start?
Pros
• Reduces the time required to achieve
a college degree
• Saves a significant amount of money
• Broadens the students’ horizons – but
they must be sufficiently mature to
thrive in a college environment
• Class schedule may be more flexible,
allowing for a part-time job or other
activities
Cons
• Selective colleges may prefer AP
classes over Running Start classes
• Running Start class credits are not
transferable to all universities
• Students may miss some high school
and college experiences
• Students need to find their own
transportation to CBC or WSU Tri-
Cities
Running Start is a dual-enrollment program in Washington (and Hawaii) which allows high school juniors and seniors to attend college courses numbered 100 or above while completing high school.
Extracurricular activities
Quality over quantity• “Laundry lists do not impress”• Better to have 1-3 activities over a
number of years than 10-12 activities for shorter periods of time
Pursue your passion• Activities in which you have a genuine
interest• Choose activities in which you can excel
and demonstrate leadership• Start your own after-school club or
organize a community service project• Organize a school event or competition• Start your own mini-business
Who are you outside of the classroom?
Quality of the activity Examples
Productive & Meaningful • Have you made a difference?• Contributed to a worthwhile cause?• Learned something, or developed a new skill?• Reached a goal?
Leadership & Initiative • Been founder or president?• Served as a captain of a team?• Progressed from regular member status to leadership
status?• Changed the nature of the organization?
Outside recognition • Received awards or honors?• Publication of work?• Letters of acknowledgement?
Other specific qualities • Competent, high energy level, adventurous, curious, cooperative, sustained commitment, passion and focus
What college admissions officers look for
Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz, Founder, www.adMISSIONPOSSIBLE.com
Extracurricular activities
Quality over quantity• “Laundry lists do not impress”• Better to have 1-3 activities over a
number of years than 10-12 activities for shorter periods of time
Pursue your passion• Activities in which you have a genuine
interest• Choose activities in which you can excel
and demonstrate leadership• Start your own after-school club or
organize a community service project• Organize a school event or competition• Start your own mini-business
Keep a journal of your activities
Who are you outside of the classroom?
Internships can be a differentiator• Work closely with your high school’s
Career Center to find opportunities
College search and selection
Online Search Tools
CollegeView.com – Most comprehensive search criteriaBigFuture.com – Best summary profilesWOIS.org – Excellent search engine, and includes career exploration and portfolio management tools (by subscription)
Remember: college is a means to an end. The idea is to choose a college that will launch you into a successful
and fulfilling career
• Deadlines for admission, early decision, financial aid
• % applicants admitted
• Criteria used for admissions decisions
• GPAs and SAT/ACT scores of incoming freshmen
• Student-to-faculty ratio
• % students who return for their sophomore year
• Most popular majors
College profile report
College search and selection
Online Search Tools
CollegeView.com – Most comprehensive search criteriaBigFuture.com – Best summary profilesWOIS.org – Excellent search engine, and includes career exploration and portfolio management tools (by subscription)
Remember: college is a means to an end. The idea is to choose a college that will launch you into a successful
and fulfilling career
Talk to a college representative
National College Fairs – Over 150 colleges from across the U.S.• Oct 21-22: Seattle – WA State Convention and Trade Center• Oct 23-24: Portland – Oregon Convention Center• Oct 25: Spokane – Spokane Convention Center
Register at www.nacacnet.org/college-fairs/students-parents
• Schedule your visit while school is in session
• Talk to students
• Visit the admissions office. Collect information, pick up financial aid forms, sign up for
their mailing list
• Take the campus tour…
• …but take your own tour too (especially the library, dining hall, and freshmen dorms)
• Read the media (student newspaper, department newsletters). Check out the bulletin
boards.
• Be a student for a day (or night)
• Save the best college for last
• Keep a record of every visit
• Don’t rush to judgment
Make the most of your college visit
College applications
College Application• Know your application submission
deadlines, and create a schedule• The Common App – used by nearly 700
colleges • Get recommendations early• Your extracurricular activities journal will
come in handy now!
Standardized testing plan
Most students apply to 4-8 colleges, with a range of “safe” to “stretch”
schools
Your application essay can be a key differentiator
Fall semester, Junior year (October)
Spring semester, Junior year (4x)Fall semester, Senior year (3x)
• Generalization• Problem solving• Deeper Algebra• Reading – 13 min• No Science test• Slower pace (154 Q)
• Precision• Test of knowledge• Broader Math• Reading – 8½ min• Science!• Faster pace (215 Q)
Common App essay prompts
• Meaningful background, identity, interest, or talent
• Experience of failure and what did you learn?
• Time when you challenged a belief or idea
• Problem that you’ve solved or would like to solve
• Accomplishment that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood
Overused essay topics to avoid
• “The Big Game” or “The Big Orchestra Recital”
• Pet Death
• Religious Epiphanies
• Trials and Tribulations of Travel
• My Grandfather (or Grandmother)
• Achieving World Peace Through Mutual Understanding
College application essays
College applications
College Application• Know your application submission
deadlines, and create a schedule• The Common App – used by nearly 700
colleges • Get recommendations early• Your extracurricular activities journal will
come in handy now!
Standardized testing plan
What’s the difference between “Early Decision” and “Early Action?”
Most students apply to 4-8 colleges, with a range of “safe” to “stretch”
schools
Your application essay can be a key differentiator
Fall semester, Junior year (October)
Spring semester, Junior year (4x)Fall semester, Senior year (3x)
• Generalization• Problem solving• Deeper Algebra• Reading – 13 min• No Science test• Slower pace (154 Q)
• Precision• Test of knowledge• Broader Math• Reading – 8½ min• Science!• Faster pace (215 Q)
Early Decision
• If you’re sure about which college you want to attend:
• Students can apply early (before the usual deadline)
and get a decision early
• Some students have a better chance of getting in than
through the regular admission process
…but…
• You can apply to only one early decision college
• If the college accepts you and offers enough financial
aid, you must go to that college (“binding”)
• Think twice if you want to compare admission and
financial aid offers
Early Action
• You can apply to more than one early action college
• If you’re accepted you say yes right away or wait until
spring to decide
• You can also decline the offer
Early Decision / Early Action
Paying for College
Resource Options• Federal Government:
federal grants, student loans, federal work-study programs
• State Government• Colleges and Universities• Scholarships through local, regional, and
national non-profit organizations• Personal resources: savings, 529 plans,
summer jobs
Public schools vs. Private schools
FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (fafsa.gov)• NEW! Applications opened on Oct 1, 2016
for the 2017-2018 school year
Most students don’t pay “sticker price.”
• Supported by state funds
• Benefits for in-state residents
• Less expensive
• Supported by tuition, endowments, donations
• More expensive, but often more financial aid opportunities
3 Steps1. Submit the FAFSA2. Find out if other financial aid forms are
required3. Search and apply for private scholarships
Upcoming seminars on college prep
October 19Planning Ahead for Your College Career
October 18Finding Your Perfect College
November 17Assembling a Successful College Application
December 14Paying for College
Sage College Prep Services
TEST PREPARATION
Comprehensive test preparation for the SAT,
ACT, and PSAT
PRIVATETUTORING
One-on-one tutoring to help students with course
work and assignments
COLLEGE COUNSELING
Guiding students through the college search and
application process
SageCPS.com509.375.5555