COLLEGE SEMINAR FOR JUNIORS March 10, 2010

What is a good Starting point as I get serious about this “whole college THING…?”

Your School Counselor Your high school counselor can provide you with lots of great information about college. Use them and their resources in helping you find a college that is a good match for you. *You are the one who will ultimately make the decision about where to go to school. This is about your life - take control! *Hopefully you have already begun talking to your parents about going to college - if you have not done so already, now would be a good time to start…parents

Take responsibility for your future! Source: ACT College Planning Guide

Talking to your parents about college Before starting the process of looking for colleges that you would like to attend, you should discuss your plans with your parents or guardians. This is particularly important if you are counting on them to help pay for your college education. You should be sure to include them in your college choice process but keep in mind that the final decision about which school to attend should be yours. Avoid unwanted stress and prevent your parents from nagging by making sure you are well organized… don't procrastinate….

G.H.S. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 4 Credits of English 2 Credits of Mathematics 3 Credits of Social Studies 2 Credits of Science 1.5 Credits of Phy.Ed..5 Credits of Health Credits of Required Classes and 9 Credits of Electives…

CREDIT LOAD DEFICIENCIES Methods for making up deficiencies  Grafton High School: Summer school –English, Math or Social Studies only, offered for 6 weeks.  Retaking the class during the next academic year…  Alternative programming (i.e. online classes through American School, BYU, MATC, etc…)

AP COURSES AP Biology AP Chemistry AP English AP Psychology AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Computer Application of Music Theory AP Computer Science A AP Economics (Macro & Micro) AP Probability and Statistics AP Spanish Language

Foreign Language decisions, decisions…  UW-Madison requires minimum 2 years but recommends 4  UW-Eau Claire requires 2 years but recommends more…  UW-La Crosse average Freshman has at least 3 years  UW-Platteville, UW-Milwaukee, & UW- Parkside require either 2 years in H.S. or 1 year in college to receive one of their diplomas  Marquette University requires minimum 2 years

College Entrance Exams  ACT vs. SAT  ACT vs. ACT Plus Writing  ACT/SAT Prep *Short-term Prep: ACT Prep Classes *Long-term Prep: Rigorous high school course plan with core curriculum.

COLLEGE PLANNING Entrance Requirements Class Rank College Core Units ACT/SAT Scores (Most schools use these as their primary criteria for selection. However, additional items such as extra-curricular activities, community service, interviews, leadership, etc…may be considered.)

“Holistic admission policies…” Each school takes an even more comprehensive look at each student’s application to determine whether the student will be admitted…

CONTINUING WITH COLLEGE PLANNING… …take a look at these six easy steps as you move towards exploring your college options…

1 Look inside yourself!!! Before you begin the process of identifying colleges that you would like to attend, you should try to get a realistic idea of who you are. You may want to ask yourself the following questions to help you better understand yourself. What are my grades in school like? Have I worked hard or do I do the work that enables me to just get by? What are my test scores like? Can they be improved? Is there time? What kind of special talents do I have? What kinds of things do I enjoy doing most? What are my interests? What kind of thought have I given to life after college? What are my ambitions, hopes, and dreams? What are my values? What kind of personality do I have? What do I know about college? Why do I want to go?

Spring Break Anyone…? Reminder… Many colleges & Universities offer open houses during spring break… so if you aren’t doing anything, take advantage of this great opportunity… Check on the individual web sites for sign- up information… CHECK IT OUT!!

Don’t Eliminate any college because of costs ! (Public vs. private)

Marquette Minimums… English – 4 years Social Studies – 2-3 years Foreign Language – minimum 2 years Math – 3-4 years Science – 1-2 years Additional – 2-5 years of core Avg. ACT Mean Class Rank is top 20%

UW-Washington County “A Great Option…” Lowest tuition in the UW System A University of Wisconsin education Guaranteed transfer program Small class sizes, dedicated professional staff Modern classrooms, science and computer labs Continuing education, Fine Arts, Lecture series Located in beautiful Kettle Moraine; free parking Over 17, 000 students have benefited from various programs

Core Curriculum/ACT Score Study National Core or More National Ave. (Total) National Less than Core Core Curriculum: 4 Units – English 3 Units – Math 3 Units – Social Studies 3 Units – Nat. Sciences Source: 2004 ACT High School Profile

College Success Factors Test scores and high school grades are important However, they measure only part of your “potential” Source: ACT College Planning Guide

THE APPLICATION PROCESS Tips to Remember! The 3 “B’s”: Be on time, Be careful, Brag! Stay in touch with the admissions office regarding your application and changes to it… The Essay: what does it contribute? How well you write… What and how you think… Gives voice to the application… Lets the admissions committee see that you took the application seriously…

Factors in Admissions Decisions THE ESSAY: Can it make a difference? oMore competitive=more important oCan be a factor for “gray zone” applicants oCan provide insight to explain an unusual or extraordinary situation

Factors in Admissions Decisions (cont.) Extracurricular Activities: oBe thorough; it’s OK to brag! oShow us your commitment – list hours of involvement and leadership roles. oParents are the best publicists!

Dates to Remember! ACT test dates for 2010: 04/10/10, 06/12/10, 09/11/10, 10/23/10 & 12/11/10 SAT test dates for 2010: 05/01/10, 06/05/10 September 1st, 2010: First date that UW-System and many private institutions begin accepting applications online (won’t process until September 15 th !) MATC, etc… other 2-year schools… check with the particular institution about when you should apply as some programs require early application  ***If questions, check with that particular institution January 1 st, 2011: FAFSA applications can begin to be submitted. DO THIS ONLINE!!! March 2011: Local Scholarship period; check in the School Counseling Office

College can be GREAT!! MAKE SURE YOU CHOOSE THE ONE THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU AND OFFERS YOU THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED IN WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO!!

GOOD LUCK! MAKE SURE TO GET ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE… YOUR FUTURE is your responsibility!!