Kenmore West College Planning presentation September 23, :30 pm

Many decisions are neccesary when planning for college  Two year or four college?  Attend a local school or go away?  What do I want to major in?  How will I afford college?  What kind of career am I thinking about?  How much money do I want to make?  Where do I see myself in 5-10 years?

What are colleges looking for?  GPA  Strength of transcript  Standardized test scores (SAT, SAT Subject test, ACT)  College essay  Letters of recommendation  Community service, clubs and activities  Involvement in athletics, arts, music, etc

Grade Point Average  Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated in the fall of senior year. The GPA includes all grades for any high school class the student earned credit for in grades 8 – 11  Courses of higher levels (IB, AP, Honors) carry weighting with them for the purpose of computing GPA. IB = 1.10, AP = 1.10, Honors = 1.05, Regents = 1.0  Students receive their GPA in fall of their senior year

Strength of transcript Colleges have “recommended” minimum academic requirements for applicants. Look at college websites under their Admissions section for requirements Students are always encouraged to achieve more than the minimum of the required high school requirements. We recommend challenging yourself as much as possible in order to stay competitive: Honors & AP courses Articulated courses Other advanced courses Challenging electives Full high school schedule

Register for SAT and/or ACT tests SAT – To register: ACT – To register: ACT – To register: **If you are a special education student planning to take either of these tests, you MUST see your IEP teacher and counselor before you register Standardized tests are not required for admission to a two-year community college Standardized Tests

ACT Four parts to the test: English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning The Writing section is optional Each section is scored separately, with a total composite score of 36. The cost of the ACT is $39.50, with writing section is $56.50 Both include sending scores to 4 schools at no additional cost. Next test date: December 12 Registration deadline: November 6 Fee waivers are available to students who receive free or reduced lunch Check the ACT website or KW Counseling Ctr website for dates & information

SAT Three parts to the test: Math, Critical Reading and Writing The Writing section is not optional Each section is 800 points, with a total possible score of 2400 The cost of the SAT is $54.50 (this includes sending scores to 4 schools at no additional cost) Dates & deadlines: Next test date: November 7 Registration deadline: October 9 Fee waivers are available for students who receive free or reduced lunch Check the College Board website or KW Counseling Ctr website for test dates & information for test dates & information

SAT Subject tests SAT subject tests are one hour long, content-based tests that allow you to showcase achievement in specific subjects where you excel. Students choose the test(s) that best show achievement & interest. Certain schools will require a SAT subject test for specific majors Subject tests are offered in the following areas: Literature, US History, World History, Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, Spanish, Latin, Italian, German, Latin, and modern Hebrew Recommended that students take these in June of junior year (after AP exams) Cost of a subject test is $26, each additional test is $18 Please check with college of interest to see if these are required.

Sending your scores Many colleges prefer you send your SAT and/or ACT scores directly from the testing company (for security purposes) When you register for either test, you can send your scores to FOUR colleges for free ACT and College Board will charge a fee to have your scores sent to additional colleges SAT & ACT score report fee: $12 per school

Colleges & your scores When most colleges look at your SAT/ACT scores from different test dates, they will look at your top score for each section, or your “Super Score.” Example: May 2015 SAT scores: Writing – 500, Reading – 550, Math – 600 October 2015 SAT scores:Writing – 550, Reading – 500, Math 650 Colleges will use the 550 for Writing, 550 for Reading, and 650 for Math to determine acceptance or placement in a Math or English course

Gathering Information Look at college and university websites under Admissions or Prospective Students Use the S.U.N.Y. website, Naviance, & Common Application website for information on colleges (admission requirements, financial aid, etc.) Attend college fairs this fall Meet with college representatives in Career Center this spring & fall Visit schools this fall - you won’t know if it’s a good fit for you until you step foot on campus

Information about Careers Use online resources such as: Naviance – website for career and college searches Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Department of Labor N.Y. Department of Labor Look for more resources on the KW Counseling webpage → Career Planning

Naviance Family Connection Naviance is a website used by KW for all students to research college information & careers, manage applications, create a resume, & more Students log in by using their KW Novell username and password Parents can also access their own account. Please contact your student’s counselor for a registration code. All current students are registered for Naviance.

Students must use their Naviance account to request transcripts be sent to the colleges they’ve applied to. From Naviance, their transcripts will be sent electronically to the colleges. Transcripts will only be sent electronically from Kenmore West to colleges beginning in Fall Colleges do not notify us when an application is submitted online. Students must be sure their list of college applications in Naviance is accurate. Colleges will NOT review a student’s application until he/she has submitted all required documents (transcript, SAT/ACT scores, letters of recommendation, essay, etc) Counselors will hand out more specific information about the college application process during classroom presentations & individual Senior Review meetings.

Common Application The Common Application is used by over 600 colleges and universities Complete one Common Application online, and it can be sent to numerous member schools Students must MATCH their Common Application account with their Naviance account There is a separate section in Common App for each individual school if they require different documents (essay or the number of required letters of recommendation) An application fee is still required for each school you apply to

College Acceptance Students should know whether they have been accepted by early spring (every college has a different timeline) Applicants may either be accepted, wait listed or denied admission Once all offers are on the table, weigh the pros and cons of each school, together with the financial packages offered & make the best decision for you

Your school counselor will make an appointment for you to discuss your Senior Review in September or October. During the Senior Review, students will review all credits earned & needed for graduation, including diploma type. Students will also review post-high school plans with their counselor and review the college application process. Counselors will follow up with seniors through the year as needed Senior Review appointments

Letters of Recommendation and Essay Some colleges may require letters of recommendation and an essay. Ask 1-2 people to write a recommendation letter for college applications or scholarships and begin working on college application essay. Be sure to give your recommenders enough time so the letter will get to the college on time. Complete the resume section on Naviance so recommenders can write a quality letter. You may be able to use a general essay you’ve already written but some colleges may want you to write an essay on a specific topic. Ask your current English teacher for help with your essay.

Mid Year Reports Some colleges may require a mid year report to check on your 12 th grade classes and grades. Mid year report requests must be submitted to your counselor. If the college requires these, KW will send a copy of your 2 nd marking period report card.

Other application materials: Some schools may require additional materials (ie. art schools may require submitting a portfolio) Check websites or contact admissions offices for more information Students interested in a health or medical field must apply early because these programs fill up quickly

NCAA If you plan on participating in Division I or Division II athletics during college, you must register with NCAA, prior to senior year It is the student’s responsibility to register

Scholarships Check the Scholarship file on a regular basis in the Career Center. The Scholarship Bulletin is also available on the Kenmore West Career Center website Talk to parents about scholarship opportunities through their employers Look online for Scholarship opportunities. Obtain scholarship information through Scholarships require most of the following: application, transcript, essay, or letter of recommendation Pay attention to deadlines

Financial Aid Attend Financial Aid Night Kenmore West Auditorium December 9, :30 pm A financial aid office representative from a local college will guide you through the financial aid process. File FAFSA Form between Jan You may create a username and obtain a PIN prior to January 1 on the FAFSA website *Do not let the tuition cost of a private college prevent you from applying. Private colleges often offer comparable financial aid & scholarship packages for students vs. public colleges

Please call or us at any time with questions or concerns Last name Mr. Gourlay:A-Ci Mr. Gourlay:A-Ci Mrs. Sedita:Cj – Go Mrs. Sedita:Cj – Go Mrs. Serio:Gp-Le Mrs. Serio:Gp-Le Mr. Panepinto:Lf-Par Mr. Panepinto:Lf-Par Mrs. Handley:Pas-Si Mrs. Handley:Pas-Si Mrs. Flatau:Sj-Z Mrs. Flatau:Sj-Z Use our website for additional help: Kenmore West → Services → Counseling & Career Ctr