JAMESVILLE-DEWITT JUNIOR POST-SECONDARY PLANNING Spring 2015

THE COLLEGE PLANNING PROCESS RESEARCH&INFORMATION

Research & Information about... Possible Careers/Areas of Interest Possible Careers/Areas of Interest The options The options  Military Service  Technical Training  2-year colleges  4-year colleges Finances Finances

students gain knowledge by …  Talking with  Parents  Counselor  Teachers  Career mentors  College students  College Visits  Websites about colleges and careers  Books & articles

THE BEST COLLEGE The Best College is the one that fits The Best College is the one that fits  academically  socially  financially  emotionally  athletically

CONSIDER Location Location  distance from home  geographic area of the country  urban/rural/suburban  campus safety issues  availability of opportunities  campus environment

Size Size  total undergraduate population  availability of enough major areas  availability of activities  class sizes-largest, smallest, average  who teaches freshmen?  who grades papers? CONSIDER

think about… Academic rigor/competition Academic rigor/competition How to judge academic quality How to judge academic quality  Naviance  College Guides/Catalogs  Opinion Guides & Lists  Input from Admissions Counselors, Alumni, college students, people in career field  STATS - freshman retention, graduation rates

Will I be Admitted? Typical College Options Typical College Options  Community Colleges - open admission  2-year residential colleges - (75-83) GPA  less competitive 4-year colleges - (80-84)  traditionally selective 4-year colleges - (85-90)  highly selective 4-year colleges - (88-93)  most selective 4-year colleges - (93+)  Ivy League + related colleges - (??) Impossible to predict applicant pool!

Selection Criteria High School Average High School Average Strength of Academic Program Strength of Academic Program Standardized Tests Standardized Tests  SAT, ACT, Regents exams Extracurricular Activities Extracurricular Activities College Essay(s) College Essay(s) Recommendations Recommendations  Counselor & Teachers

THE BEST SOURCES FOR COLLEGE INFORMATION Admission Representatives Admission Representatives  Visits to JD Career Center  College Fairs  /phone contacts Campus Visits Campus Visits  Information Sessions/Open Houses/Tours  Meetings with Professors/Class observations  Overnight Visits

Have a Strategy! PLAN A - Reaches PLAN A - Reaches PLAN B - Middle 50% PLAN B - Middle 50% PLAN C - Safeties PLAN C - Safeties

Decision Plans Regular Decision Regular Decision Rolling Decision Rolling Decision Early Decision - Binding Early Decision - Binding Early Action Early Action single choice early action

College Costs Average College Costs Average College Costs  PUBLIC COLLEGES (SUNY) $23,342  OCC-on campus $18,086  OCC-tuition & fees only $ 4,884  PUBLIC COLLEGE (out of state)$37,150  PRIVATE COLLEGES(vary widely)$46,272  e.g. SU: $59,320; LeMoyne: $46,200 INCLUDES: Tuition, Room, Board, Fees, Books, Travel, Personal Expenses

Paying for College Merit-based Grants (Scholarships) Merit-based Grants (Scholarships)  Academics/special talent  Athletics Need-based Grants Need-based Grants  Federal-PELL  NY State-TAP  College Loans Loans Federal Work Study (need-based) Federal Work Study (need-based)

WHAT TO DO NOW! Spring of Junior Year Spring of Junior Year  College Visits – local, long distance  Activity Resume  Teacher recommendations  SAT – May 2 rd, June 6 th  SAT Subject Tests  ACT – April 18 th, June 13 th

What to do this summer College Visits College Visits Keep track of important facts Keep track of important facts Think about essay topics Think about essay topics Continue to research career interests Continue to research career interests Continue to build on Activity Resume Continue to build on Activity Resume

What to do next fall Finalize college list Finalize college list  more visits/Open Houses SAT, SAT Subject tests, ACT retakes SAT, SAT Subject tests, ACT retakes College Essay & Activity Resume College Essay & Activity Resume Complete Applications Complete Applications

…Spring 2016 January 2016 January 2016  FAFSA & PROFILE by Jan. 31 January-May January-May  Visit, Compare & Evaluate Colleges  Admissions & financial aid packages received  Family decision time May 1 May 1  Tuition & Room Deposits Due May-June May-June  GRADUATE!! –Don’t jeopardize admissions decision!!

Thank you for coming! Have a great evening! Diane Ennis - Diane Ennis - Laura Bond - Laura Bond - Clete Gualtieri - Clete Gualtieri - Amy Heveron LeStrange - Amy Heveron LeStrange - Denise Becher - Denise Becher -