Fall College Information Night for Juniors Presented by the Briar Woods High School Counseling Department, Fall 2013

Fall College Information Night for Juniors This presentation is online: Follow the School Counseling drop-down link, “Presentations” Counselors continue to present similar information to juniors through English classes Every junior will be ed/have access to an “electronic index”

Fall College Information Night for Juniors What are colleges looking for? What should I be doing right now?

What are Colleges Looking For?

“The College Admissions Funnel” example: Christopher Newport, 2012 Freshman class = 1,150 Inquiry Pool (PSAT, Search pieces, campus visit, college fairs, HS visits) “Tens of Thousands” “Tens of Thousands” Thousands of applications 7,492 7,492 Accepted students 4,514 4,514

What are Colleges Looking For? How does Christopher Newport go from 7,492 applicants to a freshman class of 1,500???? The numbers might be different, but the concept applies to all colleges!

National Association of College Admission Counseling, 2011 Summary Percent of all colleges rating specific factors in the college admissions decision as being of “considerable importance”

Factors of “Considerable Importance” Class Rank Counselor Recommendation Essay or writing sample Extracurricular Activities Grades in All Courses Grades in College Prep Courses Standardized Admissions Tests (SAT and/or ACT) Strength of Curriculum Student’s Demonstrated Interest Teacher Recommendation

Factors of “Considerable Importance” The Top Four: Grades in College Prep Courses, 84% Strength of Curriculum, 68 % Standardized Admissions Tests, 59 % Grades in All Courses, 52%

Factors of “Considerable Importance” Grades in College Prep Courses, 84% Strength of Curriculum, 68 % Standardized Admissions Tests, 59 % Grades in All Courses, 52% Essay or writing sample, 25 % Student’s Demonstrated Interest, 21% Class Rank, 19% Counselor Recommendation, 19% Teacher Recommendation, 17% Extracurricular Activities, 5% (however…)

What are colleges looking for? “There is no secret to getting in... Stop looking for a gimmick. Tune out the hype. Study hard. Take the toughest curriculum that you can. The heart of the application is – and has always been – One’s academic preparation.” -- UVA Magazine

What should I be doing now?

What Should I be Doing Now? We start with a goal! We are going to give you six big areas to focus on this year >>>> For each area of focus, we will give you actions to take immediately! Take action this week! This will help you get started and build momentum!

The Junior Year Goal! Begin your senior year knowing where you want to apply to college!

What Should I be Doing Now? – Areas to focus on this year 1. Stay on track using checklists & calendars 2. Concentrate on your academics 3. Plan & prepare for the admissions tests 4. Participate in extracurricular activities 5. Research colleges & narrow your list 6. Behave appropriately online

Focus #1: Stay on Track Using Checklists & Calendars Use the a monthly checklist – this is SUPER IMPORTANT! Use the resources available on CollegeBoard.com ACTION: Print-out a monthly checklist – BWHS website or CollegeBoard.com

Focus #2: Concentrate on Your Academics Take the most challenging classes you can reasonably handle. Work Hard! You can’t “make up for” poor academics ACTION: Set goals for the grades you plan to earn this year

Focus #3: Plan & Prepare for the Admissions Tests SAT Reasoning Test (“aptitude” test – designed to predict success the freshman year in college) – Critical Reading – Math – Writing ACT (“achievement” test – designed to test “what you have learned”) – English – Math – Science – Optional Writing section

Plan & Prepare for the Admissions Tests SAT Subject Tests (your parents might remember these as “SAT Two’s”) – Usually used for placement purposes only – Not used for admissions – Subject test requirements vary greatly among different colleges

SAT Dates October 5 November 2 December 7 January 25 March 8 - BWHS May 3 June 7

ACT Dates September 21 October 26 December 14 - BWHS February 8 April 12 June 14

Plan and Prepare for the Admissions Tests Hard copy registrations materials are available in the Career Center, or Register for the SAT at Register for the ACT at Register early! See the BWHS Guidance website for details

Preparing for the Tests Long-term v. Short-term preparation Get free practice tests for the SAT & ACT in the Career Center – Don’t just take it… have a “dress rehearsal” Free online CollegeBoard SAT course BWHS SAT course -.5 credit, pass/fail

Free SAT Prep at CollegeBoard.Com Official SAT Question of the Day SAT Skills Insight My SAT Study Plan SAT Essay strategies Math and Writing reviews

SAT/ACT Prep – Private Sources Books & Manuals – look for materials created by the testing companies themselves Private courses (PTSO) Other outside private courses

Plan and Prepare for the Admissions Tests ACTION: Register for the SAT and/or ACT exams ACTION: Register for the SAT Online Prep Course through the BWHS website

What Should I be Doing Now? – Areas to focus on this year 1. Stay on track using checklists & calendars 2. Concentrate on your academics 3. Plan & prepare for the admissions tests

Focus #4: Participate in Extracurricular Activities Participate in the extracurricular activities that are meaningful to you – not what you think others want to see. Extracurriculars include activities inside and outside of school! Community activities are important too! Don’t be tempted to spread yourself too thin – academics come first! Be a leader! ACTION: If you don’t participate in an activity, sign-up for one. Get into a leadership position.

Focus #5: Research Colleges & Narrow Your List College search programs – we recommend two online resources – CollegeBoard programs – Family Connection

Research Colleges & Narrow Your List CollegeBoard resources: – My Road – general college & career planner – My College Quickstart – personalized feedback, practice and college planning based on your child’s PSAT – Big Future – very advanced college explorer

Big Future My Road College Quickstart

One-stop resource for all the information and tools needed to help students make the best college decisions All new College Search - with integrated guidance - “Fit Check” to help find the best college options - Step-by-step and advanced flows Profiles on more than 3,9000 colleges Integrated Academic Tracker to help students understand college course requirements Customized Action Plans Feature Highlights

Benefits Helps guide more students to college Helps motivate students of all backgrounds Helps to get students more engaged in college planning and to stay on track Helps steer students toward colleges where they have the best chance of success Provides reliable best practices and effective tools

MY COLLEGE QUICKSTART

What’s next? Use the access code on your report to log in to My College QuickStart, a personalized college and career planning kit. There you can: Search for colleges Get a personalized SAT study plan Take a personality test to find majors and careers that fit you Next Steps

My College QuickStart

My Online Score Report Projected SAT® score ranges State percentiles You can filter questions Questions and answer explanations

Family Connection program Family Connection – College searches – Personality type inventories – Career interest inventories – Resume builders – Colleges where our students have been accepted/where our students are attending – Scattergrams – GPA’s and SAT scores of BWHS graduates who are attending specific colleges

42 College Compare

43 Scattergram

My Applications 44

Research Colleges & Narrow Your List College Visits: – Classes – Students – Campus – Dorms – Dining Halls – Surrounding Neighborhoods – Extracurricular Activities – Take notes!!!

Research Colleges & Narrow Your List ACTION: Complete an online college search using CollegeBoard or FamilyConnection ACTION: Schedule a visit on your family’s calendar ACTION: Contact a college about tours and programs

What Should I be Doing Now? – Areas to focus on this year 1. Stay on track using checklists & calendars 2. Concentrate on your academics 3. Plan & prepare for the admissions tests 4. Participate in extracurricular activities 5. Research colleges & narrow your list

Focus #6: Behave Appropriately Online Appropriate address Facebook, Youtube, forums, etc. If you wouldn’t put it on a resume, job application, or college application – don’t post it online! ACTION: If you need to clean anything up, do it now

The Junior Year Goal! Begin your senior year knowing where you want to apply to college!

What Should I be Doing Now? Areas to focus on this year 1. Stay on track using checklists & calendars 2. Concentrate on your academics 3. Plan & prepare for the admissions tests 4. Participate in extracurricular activities 5. Research colleges & narrow your list 6. Behave appropriately online

What Should I be Doing Now? – Actions you can take immediately Print-out a monthly checklist Create a CollegeBoard.com account Establish goals for your grades Register for the SAT and/or ACT Register for the SAT Online Prep Course Sign-up for an extracurricular activity Complete a college search Schedule a college visit Contact a college about a tour Clean-up your online presence

What Should I be Doing Now? – Actions you can take immediately Use the monthly checklist to make sure your are keeping FOCUS and taking action!

What’s Next? This Year Fall classroom presentations Every junior will be ed an “e-index” Scheduling & post-secondary student/counselor conferences in the Spring Career Fair – March 29, 2014

What’s Next? Senior Year Fall College Information Night for Seniors Senior classroom presentations in early Fall Individual student/counselor conferences in the Fall Senior transcript request policy Financial Aid Night in the winter (but you are welcome to attend this year too!)

The Junior Year Goal! Begin your senior year knowing where you want to apply to college!