Welcome Class of 2013 Ready? Set? …GO TO COLLEGE

AHS College Counseling Philosophy “ College admission is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.” …the “best” college is the one that will challenge you appropriately, open your eyes to new ways of thinking, and help you develop and broaden your talents as you take your place in the world ahead. Willard Dix

Tonight Testing Plan - Review & Put in Place College Visits Prospective College List Naviance –

Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAPs ) Each student in the State of Colorado deserves a voice in the conversation about their future. The intent of the ICAP policy is to ultimately decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates by assisting students in developing and maintaining a personalized postsecondary plan that ensures readiness for postsecondary and workforce success. An ICAP should be designed to assist a student and his or her parent or legal guardian in exploring the postsecondary career and educational opportunities available to the student, aligning course work and curriculum, applying to postsecondary education institutions, securing financial aid and ultimately entering the workforce.

CDE & ICAP Recognizing the importance of integrating postsecondary planning into the high school curriculum, in 2010, Colorado joined several other states in passing legislation aimed at assisting students in exploring postsecondary educational and career opportunities. This legislation, outlined in Colorado SB and frequently referred to as ICAP, requires high school counselors and other school personnel to assist every public school student in grades 9-12 in developing an Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP). The expressed intent of ICAP is to “help establish personalized academic and career goals, explore postsecondary career and educational opportunities, align course work and curriculum, apply to postsecondary institutions, secure financial aid and ultimately enter the workforce” [Colorado Department of Education (CDE), 2011].

College in Colorado CollegeInColorado.org — CIC is the free, comprehensive Website dedicated to providing adults and students with everything they need to know about career exploration and planning, selecting high school courses, choosing and applying to colleges, obtaining financial aid and getting ready to take the SAT, ACT or GRE tests. CIC Link:

Junior Year CONTINUE TO CARE… C: Get Connected School & CivicC: Get Connected School & Civic A: Get Authentic…get real…ask yourself questions?A: Get Authentic…get real…ask yourself questions? R: Get Rigor - Class/Course selectionR: Get Rigor - Class/Course selection E: Get Evidence - ResumeE: Get Evidence - Resume

What Does Your Transcript Look Like?

AHS Course of Study Ask where my transcript is it headed? Pepsi-light or authentic scholarship? Evidence of a passion & rigor? Electives point out a personality Curious, adventurous, discovery

Reminder: Test Plan Every junior should have a testing plan. Know what tests are required for the schools on your prospective colleges list. Every junior will take the State mandated ACT on Tuesday, April 24 th (on the house). Juniors need to know if the schools to which they will apply require SAT Subject tests

ACT Test Plan S. April 24, 2012 N. June 9, 2012N. Sept. 8, 2012 N. April 14, 2012

JUNIOR “SPRING” Is it time to make a change or keep going the way you are going …letting life happen to you? Be proactive…get out in front. Develop and maintain a personalized postsecondary plan that ensures readiness for postsecondary and workforce success.

Planning for the rest of your life What do you love doing? Where do you love being? What do you do with your spare time? Who do you enjoy being with? How do you define success? What are you proud of? What makes a great day great?

College Visits: A Planning Checklist “Every college visit should have at least two dimensions, formal and informal,” notes Janet Schneider, director of college counseling at the University School of Nashville (TN). To cover both dimensions, begin your planning with the following checklist. To make sure you’re able to see everything you’d like to, don't forget to call the college ahead of time and schedule your visit! “Formal” Dimensions of College Visits Take a campus tour Have an interview with admission officer Participate in group information session at the admission office Sit in on a class (or two!) Talk to a professor (or two) in your chosen major(s) Talk to a coach in your chosen sport Talk to a student or counselor in the career center Spend the night in the dorm with a current student

College Visits “Informal” Dimensions of College Visits Read the student newspaper, even the ads Try to find other student publications—department newsletters, 'alternative' newspapers, literary reviews Eat in the cafeteria Ask a student why he/she chose this college, and what their favorite part about it is Wander around the campus by yourself Search for your favorite book in the library Read the bulletin boards in the student union and in the academic department you're interested in Ask a student what he/she dislikes about the college Browse in the college bookstore Eavesdrop on students to hear what they’re talking, or complaining about Surf the Net in the student computer center Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus to explore the surrounding area Find out if there is public transportation or if you can have your vehicle on campus Ask a student what he/she does on weekends Ask career services about upcoming job opportunities Look into clubs and organizations on campus that interest you Listen to the college's radio station Try to see a dorm that you didn't see on the tour See if you can imagine yourself at this college

Forks: Rigor and Choices I took the one less traveled by… What are the required and recommended courses—for graduation and for college prep? And prep for life? How should I plan my schedule so I'll complete them? Which elective courses are available? Which IB courses are available? OPEN

RESOURCES Web Site: grade by grade Workshops: by CC: 4 Jr. & Sr. years Career Inventory Naviance College Fair: Fall each year College Visits: Virtual and Actual AHS Grad Panel on Grassroots TV Seniors going through the process College Counseling Office & CC Library

Three Components for Developing a Thoughtful College List Self-Knowledge - Who am I? How do I learn best (lecture, discussion, etc.)? Am I competitive or collaborative? Hopes and Aspirations for My College Experience - career prep-renaissance education? Internships? Activism? Social networking and life-long friendships? College Knowledge - Kathy and Susan will help you match your personal and academic background and hopes and aspirations with colleges and universities in the U.S. and beyond.

Developing the College List.. START WITH WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT YOURSELF Academic and/or Career Interests Student Body Size: large (15,000 students +), mid-size (5,000 – 15,000 students), small (< 5,000 students) Geography: region, state, etc. Location: urban, suburban, rural Climate: warm, temperate, mountains, ocean Political Environment: liberal, conservative Academic/Social Environment: collaborative, competitive Extracurricular Interests: athletics, arts, etc. Cost of Attendance (COA) Financial Safety and Stretch

What is the easiest way to build a list? Start with what you know about yourself. Am I a free spirit or am socially conservative? Am I about “life of the mind” or campus spirit? Do I have specific career aspirations? Was I a slow academic starter but now on an upward academic trend? Am I planning to go to graduate school? Do I need a second chance?

Interesting Lists

Colleges for the Lover of Ideas

Campus Spirit

DEVELOPING THE COLLEGE LIST THE INITIAL (JUNIOR YEAR) GOAL: The initial goal is to develop a list of 10 – 25 colleges that reflects your interests and preferences and that represents a balance of “reach, likely, and very likely” colleges in regard to your chances for admission. THE FINAL GOAL: Early in the senior year, you will pare down the initial list to 5 – 10 colleges to which you will apply for admission. The Magic “8”

How to get to Final Goal of “Magic 8” Attend junior/parent college workshops (4) Junior student/parent CC meetings (2) College Visits Summer Workshops (June or July) Senior student/parent college workshop-Sept. Senior student/parent meetings (2+) College Fair College Visits Complete Applications Senior parent Financial Aid Workshops (3)

Colorado Western Slope College Fair Sunday, September 30, Colleges Workshops by Reps “Face time” with the decision makers Shopping for possibilities Mini Interviews

Thinking About College Give some time and thought to why you want to go to collegeGive some time and thought to why you want to go to college – What do you hope to gain from going? – What do you hope to gain from going? Take a personal inventoryTake a personal inventory – Academic strengths – Academic weaknesses – Interests at this point in your life Talk to a number of adultsTalk to a number of adults – What would they do differently if they were starting college over?

Which College? One of the most frequently asked questions in planning for college is: Which colleges are good? Better questions might include... Which colleges are good for what?... and... Which colleges are good for whom?... and... Which colleges are good fits for me? /my son or daughter? Is the college that's "good" for the budding entrepreneur the same as the college that fulfills the needs of the aspiring artist? Is the college that fits the needs and desires of the student who yearns to build close connections with professors and peers the same as the college that fits the needs and desires of the student who prefers anonymity and an ever-changing social scene? Is the college that provides the "best value" the same as the college with the greatest name recognition and/or "prestige"? Is the college that is the best fit for me/my son or daughter the same as the college that is the best fit for my best friend?/my friends' sons and daughters?

Admission: Not a “Trophy” or a “Prize” Look for a good fitLook for a good fit – Challenges you, makes you stretch, allows you to grow – Not one where you’ll have to study 24/7 just to keep up Most students are happy with their choicesMost students are happy with their choices

NAVIANCE Student Sign ON Family Connection is on the Web Register with your School Fusion: The website address is: Your sign on is: - School fusion 1 st number (user name) Naviance Password: Same as School Fusion password

Parents Sign ON Family Connection is on the Web – Register with your password: Welcome, Charlie Brown! Your counselor has created an account for you on Family Connection, a website to help you plan for your future. Sign on today and enter your registration code to set up your account. The website address is: Your registration code is: XXXXX

What information do college admission officers review? Grades / Overall GPA Strength of high school course selections Admission Test Score Essay Teacher and counselor recommendations Class rank Student’s demonstrated interest Personal accomplishments Personality characteristics Courses in progress Junior and Senior year

Keep the Conversation Going With parents Teachers Counselors Friends Buddy Adult Mentors Employers

Important Summer Workshop Intensive prep for application time 4 components: Resume Letters of Ask for Recommendations Application Familiarity Essay starts (long & short & supplement) FRIDAY, JUNE 8  SAVE THE DATE!

The BEST College… the “best” college is the one that will challenge you appropriately, open your eyes to new ways of thinking, and help you develop and broaden your talents as you take your place in the world ahead.”