The College Planning Process at Solon High School SHS College Counselors Cindy Russell A-C 349-6242 cynthiarussell@solonboe.org Rick Nowak D-Ho 349-6243 ricknowak@solonboe.org Ann Trocchio Hp-Mc 349-7407 anntrocchio@solonboe.org Kathleen Kinney Md-See 349-7307 kathleenkinney@solonboe.org Brad Sims Sef-Z 349-6241 bradsims@solonboe.org SHS College Planning Support Staff Laura Gordon Secretary Valerie Harrell Financial Aid Advisor Guest Speakers Tracy Shuman The Ohio State University Andrew Cruse Case Western Reserve University

The College Planning Process at Solon High School The College Night 2017 PowerPoint can be accessed online: Visit: www.solonschools.org Select “Solon High School” Click on “Guidance” Click on “Handouts” Click on “COLLEGE/CAREER PLANNING: College Night 2017 PowerPoint”

Senior Assistant Director Undergraduate Admissions Tracy Shuman Senior Assistant Director Undergraduate Admissions The Ohio State University

Ohio’s Public Universities Advantages of attending Ohio’s public universities: Wide variety of academic programs Broad range of student life experiences and opportunities Diverse type of institutions to choose from Metropolitan, urban, rural, selective, moderately selective, open, large, medium, small

Ohio’s Public Universities Advantages of attending Ohio’s public universities, cont. Broad range of opportunities to participate in research Affordable tuition options Financial assistance (merit and need based) Ability to transfer credit from community college

Ohio’s Public Universities Advantages of attending Ohio’s Public Universities, cont. Opportunities for graduate and professional studies Regional campus options Major sports programs

Ohio’s Public Universities Admission Completion Requirements: www.opuac.org Application Form (online or hard-copy) Application Fee (ranges from $60 to no fee) High School Transcript ACT/SAT The ACT Writing Test is recommended by the University of Akron, but required by no public colleges in Ohio. Some universities will require: Essay Recommendation College Prep Form

Ohio’s Public Universities Recommendations Consider college characteristics that are important to you and your family Request information from the university Schedule a campus visit Apply for admission by the appropriate deadline Develop a plan to pay for your education

Private University Education Andrew Cruse Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission Case Western Reserve University

Characteristics of Private Universities Size; typically smaller universities Selectivity Graduation Rates Geographic Diversity Values Liberal Arts Alumni Cost/Value

Finding the right fit Size of University Location: city, rural and/or urban area Academic majors interest Student involvement Athletics Visiting the campus Internships/job placement

Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio (AICUO) Ohio’s independent institutions include research universities, traditional liberal arts colleges, comprehensive universities, single-purpose institutions, religiously affiliated colleges, and historically black universities. There are nearly 50 private institutions in Ohio.

Why is there a difference in price between public and private institutions? The cost of providing a higher education is generally the same at independent colleges and universities as at public universities. For example, both types of institutions incur costs associated with building and maintaining classrooms, residence halls, computer facilities and libraries; paying faculty salaries; and providing career and counseling services. However, private institutions charge a higher price, or tuition, because they do not receive an educational subsidy from the state.  

Apply to colleges that best fit personal needs, regardless of price The ability to pay for a college education is likely to be an important factor in selecting a college or university. However, the price of a particular institution should not prevent a student from applying to the schools of his or her choice. Every student should apply to the colleges that best suit his or her academic, social and personal needs, regardless of the price, because financial aid can make it affordable to attend.

Complete the FAFSA. www.fafsa.gov Ohio’s independent colleges and universities require prospective students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To qualify for some state and federal grant and loan programs, students should complete the FAFSA as soon after October 1 as possible of their senior year. www.fafsa.gov

Ohio Private Colleges and Universities Antioch University Midwest Art Academy of Cincinnati Ashland University Baldwin-Wallace College Bluffton University Capital University Case Western Reserve University Cedarville University Columbus College of Art & Design University of Dayton Defiance College Denison University The University of Findlay Franciscan University of Steubenville Franklin University Good Samaritan College of Nursing Heidelberg University Hiram College John Carroll University Kenyon College Kettering College Lake Erie College Lourdes University Malone University Marietta College Mercy College of Ohio Mount Carmel College of Nursing College of Mount St. Joseph University of Mount Union Mount Vernon Nazarene University Muskingum University University of Northwestern Ohio

Ohio Private Colleges and Universities Union Institute & University Urbana University Ursuline College Walsh University Wilberforce University Wilmington College Wittenberg University The College of Wooster Xavier University Notre Dame College Oberlin College Ohio Christian University Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine Ohio Dominican University Ohio Northern University Ohio Wesleyan University Otterbein University University of Rio Grande Tiffin University

Next Steps Continue Your Research Campus Visits Guidance Office School/Public Library Government & Association Websites IPEDS – nces.ed.gov/IPEDS College Navigator – nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator AICUO – www.aicuo.edu Net price calculator Campus Visits Open Houses, Campus Tours, Personalized Visits

What We’re Doing at SHS The process that your child has already begun: Enrolling in the Solon City Schools College and Career Readiness K-12 School Counseling collaborative meetings K-12 High School Counselors transition 8th grade students for high school success

What We’re Doing at SHS 9th 10th 11th 12th Monitor academic progress Review course selections and credits toward graduation ACT Practice AP Exams State Testing PSAT Practice Testing PSAT ACT SAT Meet with students monthly in the Freshman Mentoring Program Classroom counseling Naviance registration and Career Interest Profiler Assist students in updating resume Introduce EXCEL TECC Naviance investigation of colleges and careers Assist students in completing resume Continue career and college planning Naviance use for college preparation Implement the college and post-SHS planning process Applications, essays, and scholarship information Individual meetings to create college, career, and academic success plans Individual meetings to create college, career, and academic success plans. Individual meetings to finalize college, career, and academic success plans Transition support

What We’re Doing at SHS

Steps That You Can Take

Naviance

Naviance: College Tools

Naviance: SuperMatch

Naviance: Career Tools

SHS College Data (CWRU)

SHS College Data (CWRU)

SHS College Data (OSU)

SHS College Data (OSU)

SHS College Data (Yale)

SHS College Data (Yale)

Evaluating Applications Primary importance placed on: High school grade point average ACT/SAT scores Strength and depth of high school curriculum Other important factors in the application process: Student Essay Teacher and counselor recommendation letters Extracurricular Activities

Reality Check There are 37,000 high schools in the United States, each with a top ten list of students. 370,000 seniors apply to the same group of eight Ivies and highly selective schools. Top SHS students become “typical” looking in this group. Perfect scores on the ACT/SAT are not unusual in this group.

No Guarantees for the Most Selective Colleges No one is entitled to admission to an Ivy League or Highly Selective School. This process is an art, not a science. There is no perfect equation that will equal guaranteed admission. Many top students across the country are denied admission to the most selective colleges each year.

College Counseling News at Solon High School Last year, the SHS Guidance Department processed over 1788 applications to almost 400 different college and universities. Last year the average number of applications per SHS senior was five. Last year’s graduates can be found on over 100 different campuses this year, approximately 40 of which are in Ohio.

College Entrance Recommendations (Minimum) 4 years of English 4 years of Math (including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II) 3 - 4 years of Science (including Biology, Chemistry, Physics) 3 - 4 years of Social Studies 2 - 3 years of Foreign Language 1 year of fine, applied or performing arts

SAT RESULTS ELA + Math National Average 1002 SHS Class of 2016 1232 SHS Top 10% 1400-1600

ACT RESULTS Composite Scores National Average 20.8 SHS Class of 2016 26 SHS Top 10% 34.7

College is not a prize to be won . . . but rather a match to be found.