College Information Night for Freshmen & Sophomores For Students & Parents! January 25, 2017 Las Lomas High School Presented by Counseling Department and College/Career Center

Welcome Students & Parents! Presentation Overview Student Responsibility/Parent Responsibility Understanding yourself Post-High School Options Resources

??????? What do you want to know? White boards: write down what parents/students want to know about - no answering questions

Where to Start? Student Responsibility Students! Get to know yourself! How can I help my child? Student Responsibility What classes do I take? Students! Get to know yourself!

What’s the magic recipe to get into a “good” college? Search Yourself Be Yourself Prepare Yourself Challenge Yourself Show Resilience Of the top 20 Fortune 500 Companies – where did they go? What is the most common college among Bay Area CEOs? (University of Missouri)

Student’s Responsibility Think about classes you like Explore extracurricular activities Maintain a healthy BALANCE (there are 24 hours in a day) Continue to appropriately challenge your educational interests and be successful in them This is about learning, not just about the grades. There is a fit for everyone Extracurriculars are not boxes to be checked, but a means to explore interests/passions What do you want to major in?

Parent’s Responsibility Help your student with a sense of confidence and excitement about the journey Listen Provide support Remember college is a means to an end and not an end itself Make a plan for college finances Accept kids for who & where they are How many of you know where your dentist, doctor, attorney or student’s teacher went to school? Talk to you kids about your journey – many of you likely didn’t have a counselor. What about finances? Think about who is going to fill out the forms – you can stand over your kids at the computer, but don’t do the typing for her!

Post High School Options Specialty School (career focused) Community College 4-year College/University Work force Military Gap year Lots of options for students. Each year we have more students opting for a Gap Year.

Specialty Schools Schools in dedicated fields Admission policies vary Health Care Culinary Arts Automotive Technology Arts Admission policies vary Accreditation Many of our students choose to enter into a specialty school.

Video What to look for in a college…

Timeline February – Pick classes for next year October – PSAT (optional) Spring Junior year Junior appointment with counselor; colleges recommended Complete self-assessments on Naviance Standardized tests: SAT and/or ACT Practice ACT Spring/Summer – College visits Fall Senior year – apply to colleges

Choosing Classes What to consider? Are AP classes required to get into colleges? Does one need to take language every year? Are more science classes better? GPA requirements?

UC/CSU Required “A-G” Courses a) History/Social Science – 2 years required b) English – 4 years required c) Mathematics – 3 years required, 4 years recommended d) Laboratory Science – 2 years required, 3 years recommended e) Language Other Than English – 2 years required, 3 years recommended f) Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) – 1 year required g) College Preparatory Electives – 1 year required *View LLHS “A-G” approved course list: https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist#/list/details/491/

What about extracurricular activities? Community service Volunteer Work Summer programs Sports Clubs

Video Quality vs Quantity Jeff Brenzel, former Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Yale University

What is Naviance? A web-based program offering a database of post-high school programs, summer programs, self-exploration http://connection.naviance.com/laslomas A communication tool Self-assessments Summer programs Research college options Order transcripts Alerts for up-and-coming workshops, presentations, and important information Scholarship Information Kara’s show.

Stay Informed Read the PTSA eBoletin Subscribe to the Daily Bulletin http://www.laslomasptsa.com/ Class specific pages Subscribe to the Daily Bulletin Naviance School Loop LAST SLIDE

LIFE AFTER LAS LOMAS Where do Las Lomas students go after graduation?

Counseling Department Counselors and Staff Las Lomas High School (925) 280-3920 Beth Chastain (Registrar) Ext. 2119 Ellen Smith (College/Career Advisor) Ext. 2117 Allison Ridenhour (Testing Coordinator) Ext. 2116 Counselors: Amelia Whalen (A-D) Ext. 2126 Hanalee Washburn (E-K) Ext. 2124 Kara Bloodgood (L-Pa) Ext. 2127 Marilyn Lewis-Hampton (Pe-Ree + ELL students) Ext. 2123 Valerie Wright-Smith (Ren-Z) Ext. 2125