GETTING READY FOR UNIVERSITY

Today’s Program Looking at the Big Picture of University Search Process Breakout Sessions Large group session recap Q & A

CHOOSING A UNIVERSITY

Students reflecting on…. – What are my interests? – What do I want to learn? – What have been my dreams and passions? – What motivates and inspires me outside of the classroom? – What careers most interest me and why?

Students ideally have supportive teammates Parents & Relatives Counselors Teachers Mentors Professionals

R ECOMMENDATION FROM YOUR COUNSELORS For each university to which you apply, you should have completed at least 10 hours of research. Each student may submit up to 10 university applications.

D ESIRED O UTCOME Admissions to a university that is a “good fit” with the student. Academically challenging Experience success Program that meets goals Allows for balance in life.

U NIVERSITY S ELECTION P ROCESS Starts with a few universities that you know about. List increases as you learn about more universities and investigate options. List decreases as you find universities that match your criteria Finalized when short list of universities to which you will apply is set.

W HAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT A U NIVERSITY Type: public/private/religious/liberal arts/ traditional Enrollment: student body/international students/ single sex/ coed/residential Location: geographic/weather/ town/ city/close to family and friends Academics: competitiveness/academic pressure/ availability of professors/ teaching/research/ majors Entrance Requirements: prerequisites/ admissions tests/ deadlines/ admissions rate/student profile Expense: tuition/room and board/books supplies/ financial aid/ work programs Campus: city or campus university/residences /meal plans/ recreational facilities/clubs

W HAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOURSELF Strength of academic program Grades Test Scores IB Predictions Goals for future Type of learner What activities do you consider necessary Financial situation

C ATEGORIES OF U NIVERSITIES Safety: A student’s academic record (courses, IB predicted grades, SAT scores, academic competitiveness) easily surpasses the accepted student profile. Admissions rate is close to or greater than 60% Strong likelihood of gaining admissions

M ATCH ( LIKELY TO POSSIBLE ) ◦ A student’s academic record (required courses, IB predicted grades, SAT scores, academic competitiveness) is comparable or close to the accepted students profile. ◦ Admissions rate close to or above 50% ◦ Likely to be offered admissions

Reach/Stretch A student’s academic record does not meet the accepted students profile. OR Because of the low admissions rate (below 30%) Most students with similar records are not admitted to the university. (9% of the kids who apply to Princeton DO get in!) Unlikely to receive admissions to the university.

R ESEARCH T OOLS Naviance ( mswa) My Colleges Compare Me Scattergrams Overlap Schools UCAS ( Stamford Test Entry Profiles Search by Course or Code College Board ( Previous Graduates Counselors, Parents, other Adults Visiting University Campus University Reps on Campus

Do your research early Learn about programs, admission requirements, financial aid, etc. – University websites, Internet & virtual tours – College Fairs – Counseling Office books & materials – Campus Visits- This summer? – Communicate with college students – GWA Counselors

Things to Consider

Curriculum Cost & Financial Aid Location Weather Housing

Things to Consider Size Programs & Activities Demographics Hobbies & Interests Do I fit in?

Selectivity Less selective: Minimum requirements More selective: Above average grades, tests, recommendations & essays; challenging courses, involved in activities & service Very selective: School record of high caliber from academics to athletics to extra-curricular activities.

Colleges and Universities Aren’t they the same thing?

TESTING WHAT TESTS WILL BE NEEDED FOR UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS? – IELTS/TOEFL – SAT/SAT II or ACT – OXFORD/CAMBRIDE admissions test SPECIFIC TESTS BASED ON PROGRAM APPLYING TO.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS Student responsible for: Application and Fee Well thought out Essay Letters of rec. from your teacher (if needed) Test Scores sent Secondary School (counselor form) to counselor Sign all copies Airway bill – completely addressed Any other requirements from your university Counselor is responsible for:  Transcript  IB Predicts, if needed  School Profile  Recommendations letters in your file (teacher/counselor)TOGETHER WE mail/send the completed documents and you keep a copy of the waybill.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS VERY IMPORTANT GWA TRANSCRIPTS ONLY REFLECT GRADES FROM GWA If a student has not been at GWA since grade 9 it is their responsibility to get official transcripts/ grades/reports from their previous schools

GWA uses Naviance exclusively to manage the University Application Process. Students are expected to: Complete surveys Search for Universities Update Prospective & Active Applications Request Letters of Recommendation

Benefits of Naviance Students can begin to identify their interests and personalities using Naviance inventories and then explore careers that are well suited to their interests and abilities Students organize college preferences and majors and search colleges worldwide!

Benefits of Naviance Students and parents can communicate with the counselor through Naviance Students in G.12 send requests for teacher recommendations to teachers Counselors can electronically send the documents to the university

NAVIANCE Family Connection by Naviance Type into your web browser: m/gemswa You will type in a registration code, that connects you to your accout

Enter this address into your browser: The screen below will show

Type in your registration code here:

Enter your GWA address ( first name).(1 st letter of

Student clicks on the “about me” tab and then on the “personality type”

US UNIVERSITY SEARCH ENGINES

SEARCH ENGINES FOR UNIVERSITIES IN CANADA ndex.jsp

SEARCH ENGINES FOR UNIVERSITIES IN CANADA – Ontario Universities Application Center (Ontario universities common application) – Post-Secondary Application Service of British Columbia (British Columbia common application) – This website spotlights post secondary education in British Columbia. – This site links to the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC. Although it is primarily aimed at US students going to Canada it is still a comprehensive site. Remember that they look at our school as a US school! – Ontario Ministry of Education- this site includes information about all levels of education in the province of Ontario.

UK UNIVERSITY SEARCH ENGINES

University Search Engines for EU netherlands/ Netherlands netherlands/ Sweden index.en.html Germany index.en.html y-in-europe/ Overall European Search y-in-europe/ merican_universities_europe.php American Universities in Europe merican_universities_europe.php

University Representatives…

Workshop Sessions UK Personal Statements…Planetarium Application Essay…Auditorium YOU MUST ATTEND ONE OF THE SESSIONS!

M AKE SURE YOUR PARENTS SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO MEET WITH YOUR COUNSELOR – YOU MUST BE AT THIS MEETING AS WELL !

Junior checklist- Spring KEEP UP WITH YOUR ACADEMICS Keep in mind that for students applying to universities early (in October or November) the end of 11th grade year grades are considered one of the most important indicators in admissions decisions! 2. CONSIDER TAKING THE SAT'S OR THE ACT'S Both university readiness tests are widely accepted in the United States, Canada and Europe. Typically asked for if you are classified as an “international student”. Some universities do not require the test. Check with the university directly to see if it is required. The majority of students will take one of the tests in the spring of their junior year and then, depending on how they perform, take it a 2nd time in the early fall (of 2015) Consider taking a prep course. Check out the College Board and ACT websites for upcoming test dates and registration deadlines.

Junior checklist-Spring GET FAMILIAR WITH NAVIANCE Complete the personality/career (“Do What You Are”) survey-found under the About Me tab. Gain more insight into yourself, what you enjoy learning about, career possibilities and connections to university majors (programs). Start to record the universities that you are “thinking about” in the colleges section universities should be listed here by September 1, GET (OR STAY) INVOLVED with a club, sport, volunteer activity or any kind of activity that you enjoy doing. Do things that you are passionate about and do it well. Record all of your activities in Naviance for use in filling in your future applications.

Junior checklist-Spring RESEARCH AND VISIT UNIVERSITIES Spend a bit of your down time on the university websites, watch videos of the school, visit if at all possible, read blogs, facebook, etc. Begin to imagine yourself attending that campus, would you like it, how would you fit in? Research the university entrance requirements. Use Naviance or UCAS 6. TALK WITH THE UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVES THAT VISIT GWA! This is an excellent source of knowledge and honest discussion about their school, would you qualify and, if you like them, showing that you are interested in their school by signing their university interest card at the table. 7. PRACTICE WRITING ESSAYS AND PERSONAL STATEMENTS. SAVE ON WORD. Common app essays questions are posted for next year! 8. CONSIDER WRITING A RESUME

EXIT TICKET “Strengths Explorer” &

First draft of essay/personal statement due… JUNE 18 th !!! By to your counselor!