Preparing for College! Neshaminy High School March 12, 2019 Intro self Give short overview Why we need to start ASAP
What do colleges look for? GPA Class Rank Standardized Test Scores High School Curriculum Community Service Activities & Athletics Letters of Recommendation College Essay Different colleges emphasize different things
Where do I begin preparing? 9th GRADE GPA and Rank Get Involved (clubs, sports, and community) Begin to think about post-secondary options Create 4-year Academic Plan Be Responsible & make Good Choices! Establish good study habits NCAA eligibility Get to know your school counselor Use Naviance/Family Connection to start exploring careers and building a resume 9th grade is where momentum begins Need to set self up for most success
Pennsylania Career Readiness Standards All students in Grades 9-11 will complete 6 Career readiness tasks as part of the state requirements 9th grade Complete a Future Plans Survey with the counselor Watch a video about post secondary options and write a reflection 10th grade Complete the Strengths Explorer in Naviance Complete a survey about the Habits of Mind 11th Grade Meet with Counselor and discuss plans for post graduation and complete a survey Entrepreneurship activity
Set a goal & work backwards! Write your goal down and set smaller benchmarks What courses should you take to reach your goal? How can you improve your GPA? What activities should you be involved with? Where can you complete community service? Set up a profile on Naviance
Keep a log of EACH, INDIVIDUAL activity Community Service Hospitals Nursing Homes Red Cross Interact Club & Service Learning Club www.buckscountyalive.com (Click on “Volunteer Opportunities” under “Community”) Religious Organizations Keep a log of EACH, INDIVIDUAL activity
10th Grade GPA and Rank Get Involved (clubs, sports, community) Keep your Grades up Career Exploration in Naviance PSAT’s (October) Challenge yourself
11th Grade The Most Important Year! Take the PSAT in October (NMSQT) Start compiling a Resume Register for and take the SAT’s (Spring) Consider taking the ACT Meet with colleges that visit your high school Visit, Visit, Visit!! Attend a college fair
11th Grade Factors to Consider The College Search Location (Close to home or far away) Size (# of students) Cost (Public vs. Private) Majors Offered Interests / Activities / Athletics
Standardized Test Options SAT ACT Test (with writing) SAT II Subject Tests So… what’s the difference and which is right for me?
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ACT SAT Math 1 test 1 test, 2 sections Reading 2 tests: Reading Test, Writing & Language Test Science Cross-test score reported using results from Math, Reading & Writing tests Essay Optional Scoring 4 answer choices No penalty for wrong answers Math Emphasis Application of knowledge Problem solving & application of knowledge Calculator Yes No Math skills Basic trigonometry Pre-Calculus Reading Emphasis Comprehension Comprehension and analysis Reading Content Grammar, usage, mechanics and rhetoric Grammar, usage, mechanics and “expression of ideas Writing Construct an argument Analyze a passage’s argument
SAT Subject Tests Not required by all schools but becoming more popular with more competitive schools 3 subject tests can be taken at one test date Can NOT take subject tests and reasoning test on the same day Ideally should be taken at end of course
More information available at www.collegeboard.org SAT Subject Tests French German Spanish Modern Hebrew Italian Latin Chinese Japanese Korean Literature US History World History Math Level 1 Math Level 2 Biology Chemistry Physics More information available at www.collegeboard.org
REGISTRATION DEADLINE SAT Test Dates TEST DATE REGISTRATION DEADLINE SCORE RELEASE May 4, 2019 April 5, 2019 6 weeks after test June 1, 2019 May 3, 2019 August 24, 2019 July 26, 2019 2 weeks after test October 5, 2019 September 6, 2019 2 weeks after tests Nov 2, 2019 October 4, 2019 December 7, 2019 Nov 8, 2019 March 14, 2020 Feb 14, 2020 May 2, 2020 Apr 3, 2020 June 6, 2020 May 8, 2020
Registration Deadline ACT Test Dates Test Date Registration Deadline Score Release April 13, 2019 March 8, 2019 April 23, 2019 June 8, 2019 May 3, 2019 June 18, 2019 July 13, 2019 June 14, 2019 July 23, 2019 Sept 14, 2019 Aug 16, 2019 Oct 10, 2019 Oct 26, 2019 Sept 27, 2019 Nov 26, 2019 Dec 14, 2019 Nov 8, 2019 Jan 7, 2020 Feb 8, 2020 Jan 10, 2020 Mar 3, 2020 Apr 4, 2020 Feb 29, 2020 Apr 28, 2020 June 13, 2020 May 8, 2020 July 7, 2020 July 18, 2020 June 19, 2020 Aug 11, 2020
12th Grade Meet with your Guidance Counselor to go over procedures and expectations! - How do I request transcripts? - Review application deadlines and transcript request deadlines - How much time should it take? - Are any colleges planning to visit the school? - What scholarships are offered?
12th Grade Narrow down college choices to 4-7 Safety - exceed all application requirements Comfort – meet all application requirements Reach - meet only some of the admission criteria **Can apply to Financial Aid expectations as well
Letters of Recommendation 12th Grade Become familiar with the specific application requirements of the colleges you wish to apply, including deadlines! Common Application SAT/ACT scores Letters of Recommendation Essay(s)
Types of Admission Early Decision (Binding): Deadline in October or November, if accepted, you must attend Early Action (Non-Binding): Deadline in October or November, not required to attend school if accepted Rolling: Applications reviewed upon receipt and responses sent; usually 6-8 weeks Regular: Fixed deadline for applications, all applications reviewed after that date and all decision letters are sent at one time
Letters of Recommendation At least one should be from an academic teacher from a high school course. Others can come from anywhere- manager, coach, tutor, Clergy, Activities Supervisor Give at least 4 weeks notice Complete the Recommendation Data Sheet in Naviance
12th Grade Now that my applications are submitted, I can just sit back and wait for the acceptance letters to start rolling in, right? WRONG
12th Grade FOLLOW UP Contact schools to discuss your applications Send thank you notes (not emails) to anyone you meet with or talk to on campus Schedule campus visits
12th Grade Financial Aid & Scholarships OCTOBER- Fill out the FAFSA online Look for Scholarship Opportunities Don’t let a big price tag scare you away!
Breaking down the numbers School Tuition (room & board) Up to $30,000 $30,000- 48,000 $48,000- 75,000 Penn State $29,000 $19,268 $21,229 $25,028 Ursinus College $58,000 $17,7590 $20,585 $25,254 Kutztown University $19,000 $14,850 $16,066 $19,800 Swarthmore College $60,750 $10,800 $14,362 $18,174 Join us this Fall for Financial Aid Night
Application “Bootcamp” AUGUST 2019 Overview of Naviance and how to request transcripts and submit applications Opportunity to have counselor assistance while completing Common App or other college applications Limited seats available- Sign Up Information Coming Soon!
Helpful websites College Research NAVIANCE/Family Connection http://connection.naviance.com/neshaminyhs SAT Registration www.collegeboard.org ACT Registration www.actstudent.org Financial Aid (FAFSA) www.fafsa.ed.gov Scholarships NAVIANCE/FAMILY CONNECTION www.studentscholarships.org NCAA Athletic Eligibility www.NCAAClearinghouse.org College Reviews / Info http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/higher-education/college-score-card Career Exploration NAVIANCE http://student.naviance.com/neshaminyhs Pennsylvania Schools www.pennsylvaniamentor.org Community Service www.buckscountyalive.com Naviance/Family Connection- Enrichment Programs