Junior College Conversation What You Need to Know Heading into Senior Year Presented by: Paramus Catholic Student Support Services

What can you do now? Self-Exploration Transcript Release Form Ask (2) teachers for letters of recommendation Standardized testing Build your resume Utilize the necessary technological resources

Exploration Goals, interests, hobbies, abilities, transferrable skills and even dislikes Career Inventories Ask yourself questions about your ideal college: Location Academic Programs Finances Social aspects What will make me happy at a school?

Letters of Recommendation Be sure to ask teachers for letters of recommendation before the end of the school year Fill out Letter of Recommendation Student Information Sheet This will guide your teacher’s letter Complete one copy, then provide this to your counselor After successfully completing these tasks: Request letters through NAVIANCE Colleges>Apply to College>Letters of Recommendation

Standardized Testing Two Most Popular College Entry Tests are: SAT I Measures academic aptitude (or potential to learn) Two main sections (Verbal and Math) with an optional essay Register through COLLEGEBOARD.ORG Recommended to take at least two times ACT Measures academic achievement (what you know now) Four sections (English, Math, Reading, Science) with an optional essay Register through ACT.ORG If you took ACT in Paramus Catholic, ask your counselor for your ACT ID number Student is responsible for sending their official score reports to their colleges (through ACT.org or CollegeBoard.org)

Standardized Testing (Continued) SAT II Also known as SAT Subject Test (Formally Scholastic Achievement Test) This takes a bit more research regarding your schools’ recommendations OR requirements (contact or look up your schools’ admissions offices for more information) English and Math are popular Subject Tests to take For more information go to: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat-subject- tests/subjects TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Most popular among ELL students Test for English proficiency (Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing) Who here is not a great test taker?

**Depending on your program- Research must be done for this** Test-optional These policies are becoming more present in schools state and nationwide Not required to send ACT or SAT scores to schools However, schools may put more weight on a student’s GPA and other credentials College Essay, Letters of Recommendation, Extra Curricular Activities NJ State Schools: William Paterson, Rowan, Stockton, NJCU, Montclair NJ Private Institutions: Saint Peter’s, Bloomfield, Saint Elizabeth, Drew, Rider **Depending on your program- Research must be done for this** For a complete list of schools, go to: FAIRTEST.ORG

Research your interested schools What are some ways to find out more about schools? Admissions websites College Fairs College Representative Visits (Autumn) VISIT CAMPUSES! Most recommended Set up college tours, open houses, visits College Visitation Form (Pink)

Create a Common App Account A way to use the same application for a variety of schools Many NJ schools are on here however, the following are not: Rutgers (any campus) Montclair Any school that does not accept Common App, must be applied to on their website You can fill out most of the Common Application during the summer, but you cannot fill out: Current G.P.A. Current Class Size Senior Year Schedule Create a Common App Account at: COMMONAPP.ORG

Naviance Tool for research, collaboration and document sharing (very important) Research Supermatch College Search Strong Interest Inventories (Interest Profiler) Exploring Careers Collaboration Colleges I Am Thinking About (you, your parents and your counselor have access) Compile a list of schools by the start of Autumn *this is NOT a final list* Complete Brag Sheet For your counselor’s written evaluation (letter of recommendation) Link your Common App with your Naviance account– under Colleges I am Applying To If you are applying to any non-Common App schools, the school must be added manually This can only be done if you Complete the FERPA Waiver on Common App Request letters of Recommendation from your Teachers

Naviance Document Sharing Prior to 2018-19 school year, students were responsible for providing counselors envelopes and stamps for all of the schools they applied to NOW- Because of Naviance, most of our document sharing is done digitally Official Transcript Letters of Recommendation Senior Year Schedule Common App Forms (if needed) Mid-year Report Card (if requested) For Next Year- let your counselor know if you have applied to a school using a TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORM and REQUESTING TRANSCRIPT THROUGH NAVIANCE

A few more comments COMMUNICATION is everything Your parents or guardians are also a very important component to all of this Your own independent research is imperative to this process Finish Junior Year out strong; this is your last chance to control your averages before senior year Start looking up topics for your College Essay (Common App has already provided them for next year)

Resources Career Exploration O*Net Occupational Outlook Handbook Naviance (school zipcode: 07652) Conversing with your counselor will help aid in your career exploration Standardized Testing (and sending scores) ACT College Board Information Regarding Colleges Naviance Common Application College Simply Admission websites

Any Questions? Thank you!