STAY IN TOUCH

Facebook Group:DCC HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING

Also please make sure your information is updated in infinite campus

Overview Of The Evening

5:30 – Welcome in Theatre

5:40 – 6:05: First Breakout Session

6:10 – 6:35: Second Breakout Session

6:40-7:05: Third Breakout Session

7:10 – 7:30: Time to Speak with University Admission Reps

(Tables set up outside of the theatre)

Breakout Topics (Choose 3 To Attend)

Financial Aid and Scholarships (Room 328)

College Search and Application Process (Room 450)

Letters of Recommendation and Essay (Room 330)

Considering Going to College Out of State (Room 332)

Applying to Top Universities & Managing Stress/Naviance (Room 331)

Applying to U.S. Military Academies (Room 326)

Attending Universities

University of Alabama

Wartburg College

University of Oklahoma

Miami University (OH)

University of Missouri

University of Wyoming

Hastings College

Texas A&M

University of Glasgow

University of South Carolina

U.S. Naval Academy

U.S. Air Force Academy

Applying To Highly Competitive Universities & Managing Stress

And Naviance…

We Are Here To HELP!

Sandra Breeden

E –K Counselor

Kim Severn

L -R Counselor

Eric Baxter

S -Z Counselor

Teachers, Parents, Coaches, etc.

Laurie Derickson

College & Career Counselor

Laurie.Derickson@asd20.org

calendly.com/laurie-derickson

Kalene Zaabadick

College & Career Assistant

Kalene.Zaabadick@asd20.org

Jake McBride

A -D Counselor

General High School Requirements For Highly Competitive Universities

English: four years, with significant emphasis on writing and literature.

Mathematics: four years, with significant emphasis on fundamental mathematical skills (algebra; trigonometry; plane, solid, and analytic geometry).

History/Social Studies: three or more years. Such courses should include the writing of essays.

Science: three or more years of laboratory science (including biology, chemistry and physics).

Foreign Language: three or more years of the same foreign language. Your study of a foreign language ought to include the development of four basic skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening comprehension.

Requirements vary by school.

D20 Graduation Requirements and HEAR Requirements Differ

Recommendations For Highly Competitive Students

Our (Stanford) most competitive freshman applicants often have:

*4 years of english

*4 years of math (including calculus)

*4 years of social studies

*4 years of science (including biology, chemistry and physics)

*4 years of a foreign language

Choosing Courses

We expect applicants to pursue a reasonably challenging curriculum, choosing courses from among the most demanding courses available at your school. We ask you to exercise good judgment and to consult

with your counselor, teachers and parents as you construct a curriculum that is right for you. Our hope is that your curriculum will inspire you to develop your intellectual passions, not suffer from unnecessary

stress. The students who thrive at Stanford are those who are genuinely excited about learning, not

necessarily those who take every single AP or IB, Honors or Accelerated class just because it has that designation.

AVERAGE GPA IS 4.1 FOR ADMITTED SENIORS

Involvement

Students often assume our primary concern is the number of activities in

which one participates. In fact, an exceptional depth of experience in one or

two activities may demonstrate your passion more than minimal participation

in five or six clubs. We want to see the impact you have had on that club, in your school, or in the larger community, and

we want to learn of the impact that experience has had on you.

Turning The Tide

The new college admissions study from Harvard, Turning the Tide,

“...sends a strong and clear signal that a lot of colleges are looking for kids that are passionate, spirited, and engaged learners.“ ~Richard Weissbourd, senior lecturer on education at Harvard

Strong Emphasis Place on Community Engagement and Global Significance

DevelopLeadership And Volunteerism

If you haven’t already, now is the time to start to take on leadership roles and volunteer projects

Colleges are looking more and more at a student’s “passion” –make your time meaningful and unique

Making Caring Common, a project of the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Harvard Study: Asked youth to rank what was most important to them: achieving at a high level, happiness (feeling good most of the time), or caring for others. Almost 80% of youth picked high achievement or happiness as their top choice, while roughly 20% selected caring for others.

Great Article by the Washington Post (overview): https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2016/01/20/to-get-into-college-harvard-report-advocates-for-kindness-instead-of-overachieving/

How To Reduce The Stress

You Don’t Need To Be The Best At Everything

You Don’t Need To Take Every AP & IB Course

You Don’t Need To Be Involved In Everything

Top universities receive 1000s of applications with almost perfect GPAs and Test Scores

…AND THEY DON’T GET IN.

How To Reduce The Stress

Do Something You Love & Do It Well (leadership)

Be Different

Get Organized

Make a List of Schools – variety of admission difficulty

Apply To At Least One School That Is Test Optional

Take Care Of Yourself – exercise, travel, enjoy high school

Realize That Getting Into Top Universities Doesn’t Define Who You Are AND It Doesn’t Mean You Will Be More Successful

Take Time To Explore What It Is You Love To Do – it will show in your application

Establish Genuine Relationships

Start Visiting Schools Now

Letters of Recommendation

Genuine Relationships

Passion For Learning

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Global Thinker, Community Engagement

Develop Relationships with Teachers

Choose Teachers in Core Subjects or Your Area of Interest

Examples

"is working on creating an organization called the “Collective Individual” whose purpose is to encourage international conversations among the citizens of all of the different countries on the globe, becoming diplomats in their own regards."

"Discussions with ___ extended beyond the books we read; he shows how much he cares about others, about life, and about making the world a better place."

“She dreams of tearing down barriers that exist between people and united individuals despite their differences. She has a vision for the future where every single human being can learn, find peace, and reach new heights. Also, by working alongside likeminded people, ___ hopes to create a community of those who are looking to change the world on a global scale. ___ is currently working on a website project to create a forum community where people can come together and share ideas."

NAVIANCE –Your Friend

HOW DO I LOG IN?

Login In: Your Student ID

Password: first initial of your first name, first initial of your last name and birthdate (mmddyy)

What Do I Use Naviance For?

Check which admission reps will be attending DCC and sign up to attend

Career search

University search

Scholarship search

Let us know what universities you will be applying to

(It is how we send your transcript)

Request letters of recommendation

Recommendation questionnaire

Resume

Visit Admission Reps

Admission reps visit DCC frequently

Take advantage of this opportunity

Visits are scheduled in Naviance (College Tab) – sign up, check with your teacher, and we will send you a pass. It’s Easy!!

Remember – Admission reps often read your application. Put a face to your application. Ask questions!

Visiting Schools

Most schools have a set time each day for campus tours

You may also call ahead of time and arrange to meet with a specific department if you plan ahead

Look on the website to see about visits throughout the year that are just for high school students and are usually the entire day

A good way to get a feel of the campus as a student

Some visit days are set up by area of study as well

Overnight?

Make sure to visit if at all possible, especially in-state schools

You can tell a lot about the feel of a university

Transcripts

Never assume your transcript is sent

Please stop down in person to request transcripts to be sent

Include test scores? (will automatically be sent unless you tell us otherwise, each time)

Don’t assume schools take ACT/SAT scores from the transcript

Don’t assume your latest scores will be included on the transcript

99% of transcripts are sent electronically through Naviance

Transcript includes weighted and unweighted grade and your current courses

Test Prep

All Juniors will take SAT in Colorado this year

Sophomores will take the PSAT 10

Zaps SAT Test Prep at DCC – April 8th (more info to follow)

How many times should I take?

Should I send my scores to my university?

Does my school Superscore? (e.g. Mines does not Superscore, CSU and CU does Superscore )

Khan Academy – Roll your scores into the Khan Academy for individualized test prep

Essay And Subject Tests

In-state public schools in Colorado do not require the writing, so many of our students do not need it

Some out of state public schools do require the writing (examples: Univ. of AL, Univ. of Michigan, Univ. of Washington, Univ. of CA schools)

Many private schools require the writing (examples: Rice Univ., Baylor Univ., Boston Univ., Cornell Univ.)

The highly selective schools require the writing (examples: Stanford, Princeton, MIT, West Point)

Subjects tests depend on major and university – CSU, CU Boulder and Co School of Mines do not require subject tests

Deadlines

Helpful to start to put together a list of deadlines spring of junior year

Excel spreadsheet is often times helpful for families

Early Action, Early Decision, California Schools

Scholarship deadlines (are applications apart of the school application or separate)

Academy nominations- starts March 1st of Junior year

ACT or SAT registration dates

FAFSA dates – October 1st

Where To Find Information

College & Career Webpage – forms, newsletters, scholarships, PowerPoint presentations

Newsletter – make sure email address is up-to-date in Infinite Campus and Naviance

Daily Planet

20 Alert

Bulletin Boards

Remind: sign-up today!

Facebook DCC Counseling Group Page

YOU GOT THIS!