College 101 Jill Brown-Goetzmann, Counselor PTSA Meeting 10/14/08

Discussion Points College Process/Timeline College Selection Shorecrest Admission Facts Rankings, Lists and More! Family Role Student’s role

College Process and Timeline Freshman Year/Sophomore Year Encourage students to take rigorous courses Encourage student to get involved in sports, clubs or activities Start talking to your student about post- secondary goals Get to know your Counselor/Teachers!

College Process and Timeline Junior -- Fall Encourage students to take rigorous courses (AP/Honors Courses) Encourage student to take leadership roles in sports, clubs, activities Take PSAT - Fall Attend College Fairs and College Rep visits in Career Center Start Touring Campuses and talking to Alumni

College Process and Timeline Junior -- Spring Take SAT/ACT Meet with Counselor to discuss college options Find out if schools require SAT II (Subject Tests) Attend “Junior Weekends” Register for a rigorous Senior Schedule Have your “list” of colleges picked out Work on a personal statement - over summer Download Common Application (

College Process and Timeline Senior Year Take SAT again or for the first time Fall - Application Deadlines UW - December 1st deadline (Scholarship) FAFSA Form - January 1st Wait, Wait, Wait May 1st - universal decision day

Picking the “right” college Majors & Educational Programs Location and Size Costs & Financial Aid (WUE) College Religious Affiliation Accreditation Campus Activities/Student Life Support Services Admissions Policy, Retention, Graduation Rates

The Final List (open to modification!) College List 5 colleges 1 “dream” school 2-3 “mid-range” schools 1 “safety” school

Introspection helps to find the “fit” Who you are and what characteristics are you looking for? Do you like being an observer or a participant? Are you religious? Do you want to stay close to home or go somewhere new? Do you see yourself at a liberal arts college, or do you prefer the comparative anonymity of a major research university?

Introspection means finding the “fit” Do student-teacher ratios matter? Do you plan to join a fraternity or sorority? Apply to all schools regardless of budget (then determine if it fits the budget) Urban, rural, do you need a car?

Private vs. Public Washington Public Schools UW, CWU, EW, WSU, WWU, TESC Washington Private Schools SU, SPU, UPS, PLU, GU, Whitman - to name a few

Public vs. Private Differences Cost (Private schools may offer more financial aid) Class size Application procedures Professors vs. Grad Students

Where are Shorecrest students going? In State Public - 91 Private - 21 Specialty-7 Community College - 53 Out of State Private - 16 Public - 26 Undecided 42 students State School Breakdown UW - 45 (2-Bothell), (2- Honors) WSU - 11 WWU- 22 CWU - 7 EWU - 2 Evergreen - 4 Gonzaga - 2 SU-7, SPU - 2 Shoreline Community College - 35

Washington State Colleges CollegeAverage GPAAverage SAT CR Average SAT M UW - Seattle WSU CWU SU UPS

Some Good News Shorecrest Graduates 56% - 4- year college 22% - 2 year college

More Good News There are 2,533 Four Year Schools College acceptance rate is above 70% More selective institutions don’t guarantee a more satisfying college experience Students gain more through a solid student/teacher relationship and involvement in activities

Western Undergraduate Exchange 150 percent of the host institution’s regular resident tuition. Certain majors only Applies to State College only –States that participate Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

How can you support your student? Encourage them to take a rigorous curriculum Supportive environment Listen to fears, hopes, goals Discuss openly the family goals/expectations regarding college Encourage college visits or College Fairs Occasional reality checks Timelines

Be informed and realistic Major/minor offered In ball park on GPA, SAT/ACT scores Location Size of student body Activities/clubs/sports offered Cost for four years

Rankings, Lists, and more Rankings - USNWR, NCCE Comparing with others - “your kid is going where?” Stress, money and awaiting aid You are the consumer -make the choice that is best for you and your family

What students should be doing? Discuss college plans with counselor Attend college fairs/attend college representative meetings/tour campuses Ask questions Get a standardized testing plan Study hard - take challenging courses Get involved at school or community Participate in summer enrichment activities, leadership camps, volunteer!

Upcoming Events Shorecrest/Shorewood College Fair October 29 th 5-8pm Shoreline Center College Application Workshops November 12 th and 19 th 6:30-8:30pm Shorecrest Career Center Financial Aid Night December 2 nd 7-8:30pm Shorecrest Theater

Helpful Websites

Questions?