Welcome to College Search Night While you are waiting for the presentation to begin, please take a moment to complete the Criteria for College Admittance Warm Up Activity

The College Search Process December 6, 2012 Presented by: Irondequoit High School Junior School Counselors

Agenda  Criteria for College Admittance  College Search – Factors to Consider  College Admission Testing  Junior College Planning Timeline  Closing Thoughts/Questions

Criteria for College Admittance Academic Record including courses taken and GPA Test Scores and Selective Colleges Difference Factors: Activities, Letters of Recommendation, Essays, and Interview

Next Steps – Admissions Decisions Finish Year Strong Senior Courses – Challenge and Balance Yourself Letters of Recommendation Extracurricular Involvement – Career Connections, Clubs, Volunteering, Athletics, Special Talents

The College Search  Number of Colleges?  Three Tier Approach: Likely, Good Match, and Reach Schools

Factors to Consider What am I looking for in a College?  Type of School  Location/Campus Setting  Student Body  Admissions Selectivity  Co-Curricular Activities  Academics/College Major  Cost

Search Resources Print Materials Electronic Resources connection.naviance.com College Guidebooks Specialty Books Viewbooks & Mail at Home Catalogs and Office Files

Narrowing the Search Visit the Campus! Formal  Take a campus tour  Interview with an admissions representative  Sit in on a class or two  Talk to a professor  Talk to a student or counselor in the career center  Spend the night in a dorm room with a current student Informal  Read the student newspaper  Eat in the cafeteria  Ask a student why he/she chose the college  Browse in the college bookstore  Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus  Read the bulletin boards in the academic department you are interested in

 Utilize Admission Representatives College Fairs – National College Fair March 13 Admission visits to Irondequoit High School College and Career Center  Virtual Campus Tours  Individual College Websites Every college has their own website – Link from Naviance or do a simple search. Consider using or resources like Twitter to learn more about a college. Narrowing the Search Narrowing the Search Additional Methods

Admission Decision Options Application Options Other Terms  Early Decision  Early Action  Regular Admissions  Rolling Admission  Wait List

Special Considerations  Music/Art/Architecture Majors  NCAA Clearinghouse  Students with Disabilities  Military Academies/ROTC

Next Steps – College Search  Don’t Wait – Start Now!  Family Discussion of “Ground Rules”  Plan Ahead for College Visits  Counselor as a Resource

College Admissions Testing SAT  Critical Reading, Math, and Writing  Scores range from 200 to 800  Most colleges using only CR and Math ACT  English, Math, Reading, and Science  Scores range from 1 to 36  Composite score is average of 4 areas  Writing section is optional, but recommended

College Admissions Testing SAT Subject Tests  Required by some colleges (Such as Notre Dame, Ivy League, Boston College, etc)  Each test 1 hour long, can take 3 on test day  Score range 200 – 800  Separate Test Day from SAT Reasoning

College Admission Testing Registration  Register Online  Photo Upload Required  Fee Waiver Availability  Accommodations may be available for students with disabilities  Score Reporting

Test Preparation  Test Prep Classes – Community Education  Online: My College Quickstart  Test Preparation Books

Next Steps – College Admission Testing Test in Late Spring of Junior Year – Deadlines! Consider both SAT and ACT exams Long Term Preparation is the Key Research College Requirements Optional Schools –

Junior College Planning Timeline October Register for and take the PSAT (10/20) November ASVAB 11/17 Parents attend Financial Aid Night – (11/29 – 7:00 pm) December Parents attend Information night – “The College Search Process” (12/6 – 7:00 p.m.) January Research SAT Prep Options February Visit prospective colleges during February Break (2/18-2/22). Registration deadline for 3/9 SAT (2/8) March Registration deadline for 4/13 ACT (3/8) SAT (3/9) Registration deadline for 5/4 SAT & SAT Subject Tests (4/5) National College Fair, 3/13, Riverside Convention Center Visit prospective colleges during Spring Break (3/29- 4/5). April ACT (4/13) Registration deadline for 6/1, SAT & SAT Subject Tests (5/2) Thinking about ROTC or the Military Academies? See your counselor ASAP. May SAT & SAT Subject Tests (5/4) AP Exams (5/6-5/17) Registration deadline for 6/8 ACT (5/3) June Consider teachers for letters of recommendation SAT & SAT Subject Tests (6/1) ACT (6/8) July/August Summer Jobs, Volunteer experiences, internships, and job shadows NCAA Clearinghouse Forms MEET WITH MY COUNSELOR TO DISCUSS POST HIGH SCHOOL PLANS USE NAVIANCE TO ASSIST WITH MY COLLEGE SEARCH ATTEND COLLEGE FAIRS, CAMPUS VISITS, AND SEE REPS IN THE CAREER CENTER USE NAVIANCE TO ASSIST WITH MY COLLEGE SEARCH USE PSAT RESULTS TO PREPARE FOR SAT ATTEND COLLEGE FAIRS, CAMPUS VISITS, AND SEE REPS IN THE CAREER CENTER

Closing Thoughts Counseling Department Activities –Junior Class Lessons – Fall and Spring –Junior Individual Conferences(post high school planning/course selection) –College Application Process Night – Fall 2013 –Financial Aid Night – November 2013 –Senior Class Lessons – September 2013 –Student Meetings in Fall –Parent Meetings available

Closing Thoughts College and Career Center Activities –College representative visits –Chronicle weekly publication –Computers available for college and scholarship research/applications –Tuesday Nights 6 – 7:30pm, please contact Nancy Pomeroy for details at

Counseling Office College & Career Center