MISSION VIEJO HIGH SCHOOL PSAT PARENT NIGHT For Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors It’s not the name on the gates that matters It’s how you take advantage of your education

TOPICS WHERE TO APPLY WHERE TO APPLY HOW TO APPLY HOW TO APPLY WHEN TO APPLY WHEN TO APPLY APPLY BROADLY APPLY BROADLY RESOURCES RESOURCES

Where do MVHS students go ? CSU – 87 (previous 65) CSU – 87 (previous 65) UC - 36 (previous 51) UC - 36 (previous 51) PRIVATE IN CALIFORNIA - 46 (previous 28) PRIVATE IN CALIFORNIA - 46 (previous 28) OUT OF STATE – 81 (previous 92) OUT OF STATE – 81 (previous 92)

FINDING A MATCH ACADEMIC RECORD ACADEMIC RECORD SIZE/LOCATION SIZE/LOCATION MAJORS/SPECIAL PROGRAMS MAJORS/SPECIAL PROGRAMS PUBLIC/PRIVATE PUBLIC/PRIVATE STUDENT LIFE STUDENT LIFE COST/FINANCIAL AID COST/FINANCIAL AID ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES 23 CAMPUSES 23 IMPACTION IMPACTION ADMISSIONS ADMISSIONS ELIGIBILITY VS SELECTION ELIGIBILITY VS SELECTION TESTING – SAT/ACT (send scores) TESTING – SAT/ACT (send scores) APPLICATION – Oct.1 to Nov.30 APPLICATION – Oct.1 to Nov apply - apply

CSU ADMISSIONS 2011 CAL POLY SLO (16) gpa 3.92 – sat 1298 CAL POLY SLO (16) gpa 3.92 – sat 1298 SAN DIEGO ST. (17) gpa 3.73 – sat 1132 SAN DIEGO ST. (17) gpa 3.73 – sat 1132 CSU SAN MARCOS (6) gpa sat 1015 CSU SAN MARCOS (6) gpa sat 1015 CSU FULLERTON (23) gpa 3.27– sat 1022 CSU FULLERTON (23) gpa 3.27– sat 1022 CAL POLY POMONA (5) gpa 3.41sat 1083 CAL POLY POMONA (5) gpa 3.41sat 1083

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA CAMPUSES/ADMISSIONS CAMPUSES/ADMISSIONS ELIGIBILITY vs SELECTION ELIGIBILITY vs SELECTION TESTING – SAT/ACT (last test date is Dec.) TESTING – SAT/ACT (last test date is Dec.) APPLY – Nov. 1 to Nov.30 APPLY – Nov. 1 to Nov.30 UC APPROVED COURSE LIST UC APPROVED COURSE LIST PERSONAL STATEMENT PERSONAL STATEMENT

UC ADMISSIONS UCB 4.14 SAT 2073 UCB 4.14 SAT 2073 UCLA 4.11 SAT 2038 UCLA 4.11 SAT 2038 UCSD 4.08 SAT 1966 UCSD 4.08 SAT 1966 UCSB 3.97 SAT 1889 UCSB 3.97 SAT 1889 UC DAVIS 4.00 SAT 1922 UC DAVIS 4.00 SAT 1922 UCI 3.97 SAT 1849 UCI 3.97 SAT 1849 UC SANTA CRUZ 3.75 SAT 1776 UC SANTA CRUZ 3.75 SAT 1776 UC RIVERSIDE 3.67 SAT 1710 UC RIVERSIDE 3.67 SAT 1710 UC MERCED 3.56 SAT 1623 UC MERCED 3.56 SAT 1623

Comprehensive Review Academic GPA in “a-g” courses Academic GPA in “a-g” courses Test Scores- ACT, SAT, Subj. Tests Test Scores- ACT, SAT, Subj. Tests Senior yr. courses Senior yr. courses # of & grades in Honors, AP, IB # of & grades in Honors, AP, IB Course beyond minimum “a-g” Course beyond minimum “a-g” Rank in top 9% (ELC) Rank in top 9% (ELC) Academic performance Academic performance Given opportunities available in HS Outstanding performance in academic subject Outstanding performance in special project Recent, marked improvement in academics Special talents, achievements, awards Completion of special projects with school events Academic accomplishments in light of life experiences Locations of High School

Personal Statement Prompts Prompt # 1 Prompt # 1 Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school – and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school – and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. Prompt #2 Prompt #2 Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you most proud and how does it relate to the person you are ? Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you most proud and how does it relate to the person you are ?

PERSONAL STATEMENT The most compelling statements often include discussion of: Your academic record, accomplishments, activities. Any unusual circumstances, challenges, or hardships and the ways you responded to them. Your initiative, motivation, leadership, persistence, service to others, special potential. Your achievements in light of opportunities available.

INDEPENDENT COLLEGES CAMPUSES – 76 colleges (review specific requirements) CAMPUSES – 76 colleges (review specific requirements) APPLY – Nov./Dec./Jan./Feb. (deadlines vary) APPLY – Nov./Dec./Jan./Feb. (deadlines vary) EARLY DECISION/EARLY ACTION EARLY DECISION/EARLY ACTION LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

INDEPENDENT COLLEGES U S C (3) gpa 4.04 sat 2060 U S C (3) gpa 4.04 sat 2060 U. of SAN DIEGO (4) gpa 3.90 sat 1240 U. of SAN DIEGO (4) gpa 3.90 sat 1240 BIOLA (11) gpa 3.54 sat 1104 BIOLA (11) gpa 3.54 sat 1104 AZUSA PACIFIC (9) gpa 3.67 sat 1085 AZUSA PACIFIC (9) gpa 3.67 sat 1085 VANGUARD (4) gpa 3.40 sat 1000 VANGUARD (4) gpa 3.40 sat 1000

THE ESSAY Pick something you know/trust your instincts Pick something you know/trust your instincts Some experiences important to you are too familiar to admissions i.e. Big trip/Big Game Some experiences important to you are too familiar to admissions i.e. Big trip/Big Game Avoid Big Issues – too many people save world Avoid Big Issues – too many people save world It doesn’t take big event for compelling essay It doesn’t take big event for compelling essay Essay isn’t reciting your resume Essay isn’t reciting your resume Admissions officers less interested in what you did than how it made you feel/what you took away from the experience Admissions officers less interested in what you did than how it made you feel/what you took away from the experience

THE ESSAY Part 2 DEFINE YOURSELF AS A BRAND DEFINE YOURSELF AS A BRAND ALLOWS ADMISSIONS TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN STUDENTS ALLOWS ADMISSIONS TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN STUDENTS CONVEY CLEAR MESSAGE WHY YOU SHOULD BE ACCEPTED CONVEY CLEAR MESSAGE WHY YOU SHOULD BE ACCEPTED WHAT WILL YOU CONTRIBUTE, WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT, WHAT DEFINES YOUR BRAND WHAT WILL YOU CONTRIBUTE, WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT, WHAT DEFINES YOUR BRAND

Letter of Recommendation Required by Private colleges Required by Private colleges Forms printed out from college website Forms printed out from college website Some colleges will ask for teacher letter Some colleges will ask for teacher letter Some colleges want teacher and counselor/administrator letter Some colleges want teacher and counselor/administrator letter Student who needs Counselor/administrator letter must meet with correct person for procedure to follow, allowing 4 weeks to do Student who needs Counselor/administrator letter must meet with correct person for procedure to follow, allowing 4 weeks to do

OUT OF STATE COLLEGES U. of Arizona (6) gpa 3.36 sat 1098 U. of Arizona (6) gpa 3.36 sat 1098 Arizona State (5) gpa 3.39 sat 1100 Arizona State (5) gpa 3.39 sat 1100 U. of Oregon (4) gpa 3.59 sat 1105 U. of Oregon (4) gpa 3.59 sat 1105 BYU (8) gpa 3.80 sat 1240 BYU (8) gpa 3.80 sat 1240 NAU (6) gpa 3.60 sat 1081 NAU (6) gpa 3.60 sat 1081 U. of Colorado (5) gpa 3.55 sat 1170 U. of Colorado (5) gpa 3.55 sat 1170 Boston U. (3) gpa A- sat 1993 Boston U. (3) gpa A- sat 1993

WHAT TO DO NOW ? KEEP GRADES UP KEEP GRADES UP SIGN UP FOR SAT/ACT/SUBJECT TEST SIGN UP FOR SAT/ACT/SUBJECT TEST GET TO KNOW COLLEGES – USE WEBSITES FOR COLLEGE SEARCHES GET TO KNOW COLLEGES – USE WEBSITES FOR COLLEGE SEARCHES ATTEND COLLEGE FAIRS ATTEND COLLEGE FAIRS VISIT COLLEGES BETWEEN NOW AND SENIOR YEAR VISIT COLLEGES BETWEEN NOW AND SENIOR YEAR