January 2014

MHS Guidance Department Ms. Apel ext Mr. Glock ext Ms. Hamptonext Ms. Musial ext 6166 Mrs. Pino ext Mrs. Ritson ext Ms. Watson ext Make an appointment through , or speaking with a secretary.

BEGINNING THE COLLEGE SEARCH PROCESS The Goal: Find the colleges that are the right fits for you!

DECISION FACTORS Size Location Campus personality Entrance Requirements Majors available The school’s commitment to a particular major Diversity Athletics/Activities Reputation Cost…

CONSIDERING THE COST OF COLLEGE How much can your family afford? (including tuition, books, travel, spending money, etc) Compare lower tuition at a public school with the possibility that a private school may have more financial resources and be able to offer more aid Don’t let the initial cost of college dissuade you from applying Consider applying for scholarships: Going to college should NEVER break the piggybank!

Financial Aid and Scholarships Federal Student Aid: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): FAFSA4caster: CSS/PROFILE: The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid: MHS Guidance Website FastWeb: FindTuition: Sallie Mae:

TYPES OF COLLEGES 4-Year Colleges and Universities Liberal Arts Schools Ivy League Schools Private Colleges Public Colleges Technical Universities Specialized Institutions Music conservatories Art schools Culinary schools Health sciences Two -Year Colleges Two-year private schools Community colleges Guaranteed transfer programs

Getting Started Begin in the winter of your Junior year Talk to older friends/family about their experiences Identify possibilities Know your resources Research and visit

YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE: College visits! Best to go when school is in session Take a campus tour Attend an open house Overnight stays with a sibling or friend Visit actual classes while in session Interview?

Helpful Websites for the College Search CSO College Center: The College Board: KnowHow2Go: Hobson’s CollegeView: Peterson’s: The Common Application Online: Colleges That Change Lives: College Visits:

JUNIOR PLANNING MEETINGS Counselors present to juniors in small groups Counselors meet with each student individually Counselors will meet with students and parents upon request Parents and students can use Naviance at home

What are colleges looking for? Grades in core academic classes – strength of program SAT/ACT tests Overall GPA Essay or writing sample Teacher/Counselor recommendations Interview/Visits Activities/Special talents

TAKING OWNERSHIP The college admissions process calls for trust and a new kind of teamwork “directing” needs to give way to “guiding” Getting into college, despite your inexperience and busy schedule, is something you must do for yourself College admissions officers are eager to hear about the student from the student It’s time to be your own advocate!

New Trends … Admission policies like Restricted Early Action Test optional schools: ACT – much more popular

Standardized Testing Know what the colleges on your list are looking for… SAT ? SAT II? ACT?

REGISTER FOR THE TEST Register online: for the SAT and for the ACT Websites also have useful resources such as practice tests, questions of the day, study and test-taking tips, college searches, etc…Take advantage of them Question of the Day SAT App!

SAT & ACT SAT Scholastic Aptitude Test Aptitude oriented 3 3/4 hours in length Score Range 200 – 800 (2400 total) Critical Reading, Math, Writing Essay (scored out of 12) You choose which scores will be sent to colleges. ACT American College Test Achievement oriented 3 1/2 hours in length Score Range 1-36 English, Math, Reading & Scientific Reasoning Essay optional You choose which scores will be sent to colleges Which test is right for you?

SAT II – Subject Tests Selective colleges require subject tests for admission 1 hour in length (take up to three tests on one test date) Score Range 200 – 800 All tests are not offered on all dates – be sure to plan ahead

SAT TESTING – Dates to Remember DATETEST/S REGISTER BY March 8SATFebruary 7 May 3SAT/Subject TestsApril 4 June 7 SAT/Subject TestsMay 9 ACT TESTING – Dates to Remember February 8January 10 April 12March 7 June 14May 9

Test Prep/Coaching Programs PSAT Score Report Plus and test booklet were recently returned and are a great way to identify specific strengths and areas of need CollegeBoard and ACT offer free test preparation on their websites. Students can familiarize themselves with the tests and the directions for different sections Many different individual, small and large classes, handbooks and computer programs on the market –Effectiveness of books and classes is a hotly debated topic –Can be costly and time-consuming –Results vary –Princeton Review and Revolution Prep programs offered at MHS

TESTING – Helpful Hints Become familiar with the test Know how you learn best and invest time into that strategy Take timed practice tests People who read well – score well READ, READ, READ!

YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH STARTS WITH: Registering and logging in to

What is it? Web-based Supports high school career and college planning Specific to MHS Available only to registered users (student, parent, and counselors) Easy registration, easy to use

How does it help? Shared resource linking home to school Organized and efficient “container” to compile a student’s data, experiences, documents, etc., relevant to college admission with consideration for student information confidentiality Greater opportunity for parent participation in college planning Greater opportunity for parent participation in college planning Accurate, complete records about student outcomes and admission decisions from our school Accurate, complete records about student outcomes and admission decisions from our school Realistic assessments of your chances of admission to colleges where prior graduates have applied Realistic assessments of your chances of admission to colleges where prior graduates have applied

Family Connection Login Page

Do a College Search

Scattergrams

See When College Reps are Visiting MHS Registered users sign up to attend meetings online Meeting reminders ed a day before college visit

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE COLLEGE SEARCH From all of your research, make a list of ten to twelve schools that are potential fits Do more extensive research on those schools Trim that list to eight to ten by September of your senior year and begin applying

This is an exciting time! Remember to have fun visiting campuses and learning about what makes each one unique Remember that there is more than one college out there for you Try to minimize stress by keeping all lines of communication open and seeing your counselor often Good luck!