James Hubert Blake High School College Daze Program For 11th grade students & parents/guardians

Road to your Future AGENDA Upcoming events for juniors Review and discuss various post-secondary educational & vocational options Determine what factors will influence your decisions Review college search process & procedures for college applications

National College Fair $5.00 bus fee (pay online) Where? The Montgomery County Agricultural Center 16 Chesnut Street Gaithersburg, MD 20877 301-926-3100 Field trip for students: Wednesday, April 5th (during school) Register online: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/blakehs/ https://www.gotomyncf.com Signed parent permission form required : Deadline 3/30 Bring a bag lunch for the bus and dress appropriately. Fair hours for parents: Wednesday, April 5th from 6:30pm to 8:30 pm $5.00 bus fee (pay online)

Which test should I take? ALL juniors MUST take at least one of these tests by April 2017: SAT, ACT or Accuplacer Whatever test you choose, PREPARE well before test day! Meet with your counselor to determine the best test that will fit your future plans.

SAT/ACT/Accuplacer SAT ACT ACCUPLACER – Community College Critical Reading (200-800) Mathematics (200-800) SAT Total (400-1600) Aligned to Common Core Math section includes student response/grid-in questions, including pre-calculus NO penalty for wrong answers Writing section (optional) *SAT Subject Test May be required for selective university admissions Take at the end of course (June or October) Can take up to 3 test in one sitting (1 hour each) ACT English (1-36) *usage (1-36) *rhetorical (1-36) Reading (1-36) Mathematics (1-36) Science (1-36) Measures Science Reasoning Math up to trigonometry Scores based on correct answers NO penalty for wrong answers Writing section (optional) ACCUPLACER – Community College Measures readiness for college level math, reading and writing

Register online for SAT and/or ACT If fees present a financial hardship, please see Mrs. Prochnow for fee waiver eligibility criteria. ACT Test Test date: June 10 Deadline: May 5 Late Deadline: May 19 Cost: $58.50 Late Fee: +$27.50 Standby Fee: +$51.00 SAT Test Test date: May 6 Deadline: April 7 Late Deadline: April 25 Test date: June 3 Deadline: May 9 Late Deadline: May 24 Cost: $57.00 Late Fee: +$28.00 Wait-list Fee: +$46.00 Sign up: www.collegeboard.org Sign up: www.actstudent.org

Ways to Prepare TAKE A PREP COURSE: FREE WEBSITES: CATALYST PREP WEEKEND BOOT CAMPS: – April 29-30 – 9-1 @ Blake (to prepare for May 6 SAT) – May 20-21– 9-1 @ Blake (to prepare for June 10 ACT) Other options can be found in the College/Career Center. FREE WEBSITES: www. satpractice.org (Khan Academy) http://www.number2.com http://www.collegeboard.com/ practice http://www.act.org/testprep http://www.actexampracticetests.com https://www.march2success.com/index.cfm

Why Start Now? College visits: Absences: Use spring break and summer to go on college campus visits; schedule a tour & interview, if possible Absences: Juniors and seniors are allowed up to 5 excused days for college visits with ADVANCED notice to Ms. Sheftell (Attendance Office) Application Deadlines begin as early as Oct 15, with many due Nov 1st senior year Prepare your list of schools and begin applying to colleges no later than 15 school days prior to deadline date. (most college apps online by Aug 1)

Log in to Naviance-Family Connection here. Use the Web to Search for Colleges, Financial Aid, Scholarships, Career Information, and more! H.S. CODE: 210959 for SAT or ACT registration and College applications

Post-Secondary Options Four year Institutions Two year Community Colleges Vocational Schools or Apprenticeship Programs Arts Institutions The World of Work Military “Gap” Year AmeriCorps, Center for Study Abroad, Outward Bound

Search Using Naviance School Type (2 or 4 year) Location Student Body - Enrollment Size Majors & Minors Athletics Cost + Financial Aid Special Programs (clubs, newspaper, band, ROTC, etc.)

Using Naviance/Family Connection PRINT: “Life after High School” packet See or email your counselor if you need your password reset.

Post Your Colleges Here Colleges MUST be posted here or you will not be targeted for college rep visits or scholarships

Sally Bengal applies to Towson University

Sally Bengal applies to Towson University

Consider this…

How many colleges should I apply to? Identify 10 colleges Apply to 4-7 colleges REACH TARGET SAFE

Admission Policy Vocabulary Early Decision Early Action, Priority, Early Notification Regular Admission Rolling Admission Open Admission

College Application Components Application Form – Biographical Data Common Application (www.commonapp.org) Application Fee – ranges from $0 - $75 Transcript – GPA & Courses Test Scores – SAT/ACT www.fairtest.org – Test optional colleges Essay – Check prompts carefully Letter of Recommendations – teacher and counselor Audition/Portfolio/Interview – specific to certain colleges Resume – optional, include GPA/WGPA, SSL, leadership, extracurricular activities, work experience

Scholarship & Transcript Request Process Begins with Ms Scholarship & Transcript Request Process Begins with Ms. Marks, the Registrar Forms to be completed for EACH college or scholarship requiring a transcript Allow 15 days for processing

Checklist before requesting transcripts Did you…? Complete Parent/Student Reflection forms Ask for a teacher recommendation no less than 15 school days before deadline? Do you…? Know your deadlines? Know how colleges accept documents? -Edocs? -Common Application? -Coalition Application? -Mail paper transcript and other documents? (must bring a stamped, addressed envelope to process)

On-the-Spot Admission Events What are on-the-spot admissions? They are local events for students to apply for admission to certain colleges, face-to-face, and get an immediate acceptance decision. How do I find out about them? Students should listen for announcements, check the Naviance website, the Blake website or see Mrs. Prochnow in the College/Career Center for information.

Research your Schools Resource Books & Catalogs Computer Searches Call or Email Admissions Offices College Fairs College Reps in the Career Center College Campus Visits *5 excused days from school with preapproval from Ms. Sheftell in the Attendance Office

No matter what road you take… Contact your counselor to schedule a “Senior Commitment Appointment” College/Career Center will also be open over the summer Summer College Readiness Workshops are encouraged

It’s really all about fit Be Confident – Take responsibility for your own college admissions search. Be Deliberate – Do thoughtful research about programs and opportunities Be Realistic and trust your instincts Be Honest and be yourself “College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.” – Martha O’Connell with NPR

Too much information? Check out the College & Career Center bulletin board

Counseling Staff Mrs. Kiedrow A – Ek Mrs. Hayes El – La Mrs. Baer Lb-Rex Ms. Costenbader Rey- Z Mr. Tolbert Gr 9 Ms. Smith Gr 9 Mrs. Prochnow College/Career Coordinator Mrs. Marks School Registrar

Reminders Follow us on Twitter @BlakeCounselors Daily tips, reminders and information from the Blake Counseling Department and College/Career Center. This PowerPoint presentation will be posted on the Blake College/Career Center Webpage!