tim smith school counselor (h-kt, pva) stephanie swonger school counselor (dem-g) junior parent...
TRANSCRIPT
Tim SmithSchool Counselor (H-Kt, PVA)
Stephanie SwongerSchool Counselor (Dem-G)
Junior parent night
“You're off to Great Places!Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,So... get on your way!”
~Dr. Seuss
Program Content
Words of Wisdom The College Search The Visit College Testing/Test Preparation The Application Process
• Application• Recommendation• Essay
Financial Aid ECAP Program
Words of Wisdom
Relax…
You will get in.
70% of colleges accept an average of 70% of their
applicants.
Words of Wisdom
You don’t need to go far away.
Most high school students go to college in their home
state.
Words of Wisdom
If you don’t have a major, it’s OK.
More than half of new college students say a very important reason for going
to college is “to find my purpose in life.”
School Counselors are here to help!
We meet with your child many times…December: small groupsFebruary: course selectionMarch: college planning groupsApril: individual junior meetingsSeptember: small groups and individual senior meetings
Use Naviance/Family Connection!(ask your child to show you what they
learned)
Naviance/Family Connection
• Website available to all students with many college/career resources available
• Communication with counselors• Researching Colleges/careers• College Visits at BHS• Links to college websites, SAT/ACT
websites, AACC, etc.• Scholarship information• Document Library
Types of Colleges
Type Description Tuition Admission Requirements
Four year Degrees offered: Bachelors and beyond
Provides: A well-rounded college experience that includes an academic area of study.
State: Typically cost around $10,000/year (plus room & board)
Private: Typically cost $30-40k/year (plus room & board)
•SAT or ACT•GPA•Class rank•Essay•Extracurricular activities•Letters of recommendation•Transcripts
Types of Colleges
Type Description Tuition Admission Requirements
Two year
Degrees offered: Associates
Provides: A way to ease into college / take general college classes for credit.Typically have agreements with four year colleges to transfer credits.
Typically around $4,000/year
Open-door admission policy
The Search
• Who is your child?• What is a good match?• What is your role in the selection?• Tools for looking for schools - College Representatives (sign up on Naviance/Family Connection) - College Fairs - Internet resources
Know Your Child
• Values
• Ambitions
• Achievements
• Academic Strengths
• Interests
• Your Standout Talents
Factors for Consideration
• Geography• Cost• Size• Level of Competitiveness• Majors• Activities *A good match is one that addresses the
needs of your child and matches those needs with the factors for consideration. Is this a place your child can see themselves spending the next 4 years?
The Visit
• Call ahead • Ask to visit a class, see a department rep. • Take the college tour• Speak to other students• Visit the dining hall• Write down reactions as you leave campus• Compare and contrast college visits
Your Role in the Process
• Help your student understand the process
• Be realistic not judgmental
• Be open to dialogue
• Be aware of deadlines
• Be in the “back seat” not the driver
• Things have changed in the last 20 years!
• Celebrate success!
Tools for looking for colleges
• Visit the Colleges!
• College Admissions Representatives
• College Fairs
• Open Houses
• Virtual tours on college websites
• Call, write or email for information (MAKE CONTACT)
• Websites for searches…
Websites
• Naviance/Family Connection
• MDgo4it.org
• Cappex.com (college search)
• nacacnet.org (national organization)
• collegeboard.com (search and SAT registration and test prep)
• actstudent.org (ACT registration and test prep)
WHAT ARE COLLEGESLOOKING FOR?
Grades Level of Classes
*including senior year!
Test Scores (SAT/ACT) Essays Recommendations Leadership Activities and Service Interviews
Athletics Talent in the Arts Geography
About College Admission Tests• ACT (American College Test)
• Predominantly used by schools in middle-U.S. states• Consists of the following tests: English, Math, Reading, Science, and
Writing• Writing component is optional and recommended• Top composite score is 36
• SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test, College Board)
• NEW SAT starts March 2016• Predominantly used by east and west coast schools• Consists of two sections: Reading & Math• Each section is scored on a scale of 200-800 • Top score is 1600
• SAT Subject Tests
• Required for most competitive colleges
COLLEGE TESTING
2015-2016 Tests TestRegistration
DeadlineJanuary 24 SAT & Subject Test December 29February 6 ACT January 8*March 5 SAT Only February 5
April 9 ACT March 4
*May 7 SAT & Subject Test April 8*June 4 SAT & Subject Test May 5June 11
Fall 2016
ACT
SAT/ACT
May 6
Oct/Nov/Dec
•New SAT (1600) no writing section
Test Preparation
• Broadneck's SAT Prep Course• Kahn Academy, Kaplan, Princeton Review, Sylvan, Huntington• College QuickStart – from the PSAT score report• Books - 5 SATs, Up Your Score, etc.• Collegeboard.org
The Complete Application
1. Student’s Online Application (some use Common Application)
2. Broadneck’s School Information• Transcript• Teacher Recommendation• Counselor Recommendation/Form• School Profile
3. Test scores • Must be requested from College Board or ACT
Application Deadlines
General Timelines
Military Service Academies Spring/Summer
Early Action/Decision October/November
University of MD November 1st
Regular Admission January 1st
Early Action Regular Decision Rolling Admission
Apply early and receive a decision well in advance of regular response date.
Submit application by specified date and receive decision in clearly stated period of time
Review applications as they are submitted.
Non-BindingEarly Decision Restrictive Early Action
Students make a commitment to a first-choice school where if admitted they definitely will enroll. Early Deadlines.
Students apply to a school of preference and receive a decision early. They may be restricted from applying ED or EA or REA to other institutions.
BINDING Non-Binding
Admission Types
Financial Aid
• FAFSA (online form)• Need Based vs. Merit Based• Loans vs. Grants (scholarships)• Work Study• The Financial Package
Scholarship Resources on the Web
• Naviance/Family Connection – Local Scholarships
• Fastweb.com - Private scholarships
• fafsa.ed.gov - Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Studentaid.ed.gov - The federal government’s website about paying for college
• MeritAid.com - $11 billion in merit scholarships
• Cappex.com - Scholarship matching
• finaid.org - Free student resource for learning about all types of financial aid
• Other web searches
Merit Scholarship Tips
Merit scholarships are where the money is.
• There are more than $11 billion in merit scholarships available to students directly from colleges
• Not just for “A” students• Many emphasize leadership or school involvement• Nearly all colleges offer merit aid scholarships• Scholarships can be small or cover full cost of
college• Many can be renewed year after year if the student
maintains minimum academic standards
STUDENT ATHLETES
• Go to NCAA Eligibility Center website for information and to register
• www.eligibilitycenter.org
• The Eligibility Center is responsible for determining the eligibility of every prospective student-athlete in Divisions I & II on a GPA/SAT sliding scale
• Students should register after their junior year and have a transcript sent to the Eligibility Center
• Students must be ‘cleared’ to be ‘officially recruited’ and to be eligible to compete in college
ECAP Program at AACC
• Available to seniors with at least a 2.0 GPA • Students should visit AACC and take placement exams
*SAT scores can be used for placement as well•Students need signed ECAP form to receive ½ price tuition
March 8th at 9:45am: Informational presentation for Juniors
*sign up on Naviance/Family Connection under “College” by clicking “college visits”
Next Steps for JuniorsIn SchoolStay focused on academicsDo not lighten your academic load for senior yearMeet with your school counselorStay involved in school activities
Standardized TestingPrepare for and register for ACT / SAT tests
College ExplorationExplore colleges on the WebVisit colleges Sign up for college representatives’ visits in the fallAttend college fairs
STAY ORGANIZED and MEET DEADLINES
Thank you!
“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and
the wings of independence.”
~Denis Waitley