Freshman College Planning Meeting Jeff Stahlman, College Counselor Jesse Yeager, Admissions, Denison University

Freshman Counselor, Mr. Wright The Guidance Office Freshman Counselor, Mr. Wright Sophomore Counselor, Mr. Jacoby College Counselor (Jr/Sr), Mr. Stahlman Students and Parents always welcome College visits to our office Guidebooks and other resources Application clearinghouse for seniors Evening meeting series Individual meetings and workshops

Naviance http://connection.naviance.com/scharlesps One Stop College and Career Website designed for St. Charles students and families. career searches college research View college acceptance data from previous St. Charles students (anonymous of course) Many, many more features

Guidance Office Website

College Selection – TRUE or FALSE Selectivity = Quality All colleges are difficult to get into Students with all “A’s” and good test scores get in everywhere! Admission %age at Yale over time: 1980 – 26.4%; 1990 –20.1%; 2000 – 18.3%; 2010 – 8.6% 2017 – 6.7% If I haven’t heard of a college it must not be a “Good” college College rankings are the best measure of a college What I want to study will determine where I go to college There is more academic scholarship money available than athletic scholarship money

College Selection – TRUE or FALSE You get the same college experience everywhere Grades don’t matter, activities do Grades don’t matter, test scores do Colleges only look at GPA All GPAs are equal Playing a sport is very important to college admissions Success in life depends on where you go to college It pays financially to go to college (IF YOU GRADUATE!)

Purpose of College Selection Find schools that match you Find schools you will graduate from Increase VALUE, decrease cost This process requires time, research, and communication as a family.

The College “Match” or “Fit” There is a college for everyone The Fit = Happiness = Thriving in College = Graduation What is a “Good” college for me? Personal Attention Facilities Major/Career Location City/small town Greek Life Reputation My Needs My Wants Study Abroad SIZE OF CLASSES Diversity Selectivity Professors vs. TA’s Student Activities Dorm Life Liberal vs. Conservative $$ Cost $$

Selective College Admissions More students apply than can be accommodated Admissions offices must decide how to admit some students and deny others Not all schools have selective admissions A few schools are “Ultra-Selective” Not a one size fits all answer to college questions – IT DEPENDS!

What Matters in Admissions? Rank the following Factors #1- #11 Admission Test Scores Counselor Recommendation Interview Grades in College Prep Courses Extra-curricular Activities Essay Strength of Curriculum Demonstrated Interest Grades in All Courses AP scores Teacher Recommendation(s)

From NACAC Survey 2017 #1 – Grades in College Prep Courses #2 – Grades in All Courses #3 – Strength of Curriculum #4 - Admission Test Scores #5 - Essay #6 – Counselor Rec. #7 - Demonstrated Interest #8 – Teacher Rec. #9 – AP Scores #10 - Extra-Curricular Activities #11 - Interview

Selective Admissions – Relative weight of admission factors #1 – GRADES/Curriculum – 50-60%

What Every 9th Grader Should Know About Grades/Classes Your cumulative GPA is based on your Year End Grades. St. Charles Prep does NOT Rank Students. Make your teachers your allies! See them for help! Do your best – effort matters. CURRICULUM MATTERS! Challenge yourself wisely – AP / Honors / Core Best predictor of success at college. Your semester exams count 20% of your semester grade = 4 ½ weeks of class. It’s still about learning!

Selective Admissions – Relative weight of admission factors #1 – GRADES/Curriculum – 50-60% #2 – College Testing – usually 25-40%, but may be 0% = Test Optional

College Testing Why? Which Test, When? Pre-ACT - 9th Grade – October test, results provided Dec. grade PSAT – 10th and 11th Grade: 11th Grade = National Merit Qualifying ACT – Generally 11th Grade - late fall/early winter / 11th grade (1st) SAT - Generally 11th Grade – late fall/early winter SAT Subject Tests – Additional test used at some more selective universities/ 11th Grade end of year OR end of subject Test Score Optional?

Selective Admissions Relative Weight of Admission Factors #1 – Grades/Curriculum 50-60% #2 - College Testing 20-40% ACT, SAT, PSAT, PLAN, SAT SUBJECT TESTS #3 - Your Other Strengths 30-0% Activities, Leadership, Talent, Essays, Recommendations

How Can You Contribute? For Yourself vs. For Others Involvement in Your Community Involvement in School Summer Opportunities Self-Defined Involvement Explore Your Talents What are you passionate about? In-depth rather than surface involvement For Yourself vs. For Others

Summer STEM Opportunities COSI Summer Internships New Program for SC students 5-7 students accepted Application details TBD 8-12 week commitment/20-29 hours per week OSU Summer Research Internships (11th and 10th Grades) Mostly Engineering, science, & medical experiences 8 weeks – 20 hours per week 3.5 GPA and completion of Algebra 2 (requirements may be waived for students who participate in COSI program)

A Word About Ultra Selective Colleges Acceptance Rates 2017 Stanford 4% Harvard 5% Columbia 6% Yale 6% Princeton 6% U Chicago 7% MIT 7% Cal Tech 7% Brown 8% Pomona 8% Penn 9% Northwestern 9% Claremont-McKenna 9% Duke 9% Dartmouth 10% Vanderbilt 10% Swarthmore 10% Johns Hopkins 11% Harvey Mudd 12% Pitzer 12% Amherst 13% Cornell 13% Tufts 15% Cal – Berkeley 15% Wash U – St. Louis 15% Georgetown 15% Rigor Top Grades Test Scores Authenticity Hooks! Contributions “X” Factor / Unique Athletic Recruitment Luck The Good News!

How Can I Learn About Colleges Visit the Guidance Office Guidance Office Website Websites – pp. 26,27 of booklet College Guidebooks Visit Colleges Naviance!

Timeline – 9th Grade Take the Pre-ACT Test and review scores –taken October 11th – completed Work hard at your grades and build strong work habits Begin to look into colleges Look for summer opportunities Discuss finances as a family Get involved in activities that you ENJOY!

Timeline - Grades 10-12 Decide – May 1st Grade 10/11 Grade 11 Grade 12 Take PSAT Get involved, find activities you enjoy and want to become more involved in Look for summer opportunities Grade 11 Take PSAT/ACT/SAT/maybe SAT Subject Tests Research Colleges and build your list of schools – see Mr. Stahlman often! Grade 12 Finish Testing Apply Seek Scholarships and Financial Aid Decide – May 1st

How to NOT Stress About College (at least your Freshman Year) Jessica Leary Yeager ’10 Denison University Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

As a St. Charles 9th grader … …you should know what types of colleges exist how to prepare academically yourself! about small liberal arts & large public schools proactivity + reflection = success

As a 9th grader you should know… …what types of colleges exist public, private, liberal arts, military go beyond rankings! Colleges that Change Lives don’t forget Ohio! Ohio ranks 5th nationally for most number of colleges behind CA, TX, NY & PA

As a 9th grader you should know… …how to prepare academically WHAT courses you take matter (as well as how you do in them) AP, Honors, Accelerated academic planning Calculus, AP Spanish V keep the challenge in perspective, we will! school profile, grading scale, available courses, your strengths

As a 9th grader you should know… …yourself! what is your learning style? what general areas interest you? Natural Sciences, History, English, Fine Arts what do you like being involved in? sports, radio, theatre, environmental club

As a 9th grader you should know… …about small liberal arts schools 24 Liberal Arts schools in Ohio emphasis on community living/learning undecided/multi-interested strong desire for involvement, personalized attention beware of the sticker price!

As a 9th grader you should know… Liberal arts student profile Wants academic challenge, small classes Major is undecided/multi-interested Small community, accountability to peers Member of nationally ranked sports team Learns best through discussion, writing Desire to live on-campus Cost & scholarships are important State-school student profile Wants academic challenge, large classes Knows their intended field of study “campus” feel, more anonymity Cheers for a nationally ranked sports team Learns best through lecture, note-taking Desire to live off-campus Cost & scholarships are important

As a 9th grader you should … …start preparing and reflecting now!

Senior Assistant Director of Admissions Jesse Leary Yeager Senior Assistant Director of Admissions Denison University