JUNIOR CLASS MEETING PRESENTATION FALL 2009

WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS PRESENTATION ? I am here to talk to you about activities in your Junior year that relate to the college process.

Objectives: As a result of this presentation you will: Be able to identify significant college-related events in the Junior Year Be able to identify important standardized tests

Objectives (continued) Be able to access Standardized Test information on the RM Counseling Website Be able to utilize Family Connection to access college information and learn about college representative visits to RM

TIME LINE

I will present a timeline for your Junior year. This timeline as well as this entire power point presentation may be accessed by doing the following: Go to the RM Website Click on the Counseling Tab Click on “Related Links” Click on “Junior Presentation Power Point”

TIMELINE CONT. In your Junior year, you will take the PSAT. In the winter or Spring, you should take the SAT and/or the ACT. You can register online through and Keep your grades up as well as extra-curricular activities.

TIMELINE CONT. Attend college programs at RMHS, such as the College Fair in the Spring. Start collecting information about colleges that interest you. Visit colleges in the Spring – Spring Break is a good time. Attend the Junior meeting your counselor will hold with you and your parents in the Spring.

TIMELINE CONT. Start developing a resume listing your academic honors and awards, extra-curricular activities and employment experiences. You can do this on Naviance. See your counselor for your access code and directions.

STANDARDIZED TESTS A list of standardized tests that most colleges require, dates they are given as well as registration deadlines are accessible by logging onto the RM Website, clicking on the Counseling tab, and clicking onto “College & Career Center” link, then clicking onto “Test Dates ”

PSAT

TAKE THE PSAT WHY? Important to take as a Junior because the test results contain a predictor of your SAT scores. Also used to identify National Merit Scholars, as well as African American and Hispanic scholars, which can potentially translate into scholarship money for you!

Held at RMHS this year, on October 14 th. You need to register for it, and pay a fee of $13. (For a fee waiver, please see Ms. Hull in the Career Center.) If your cumulative GPA for the past five semesters (including this semester) is 3.7 or above, consider taking the SAT this academic year, prior to March Your scores can be used for consideration of the Maryland Distinguished Scholars program. TAKE THE PSAT CONT.

JUNIOR YEAR GRADES

JUNIOR YEAR GRADES ARE IMPORTANT! Colleges pay close attention to them – you’ve had a chance to develop study, organization and time management skills, and colleges are expecting to see the results in your Junior year grades.

JUNIOR YEAR GRADES ARE IMPORTANT! CONT. Colleges look for trends and take this into consideration when reviewing your college application. Upward trends are positively received. Downward trends create a negative impression of your abilities and desire to pursue a college education.

THE FAMILY CONNECTION

In this part of the presentation you will learn to: Identify a college and get information from it Utilize the Scattergram See what colleges will visit RM this year and when they will visit

Visiting the Family Connection Log into Family Connection (If you are experiencing difficulty logging in, relax! At the end of this presentation, one of us will assist you!) Identify your name under “Students”

Visiting the Family Connection Once in Family Connection look at the sections Find the “About College” section Find the title “College Lookup” Click onto “College Lookup” Under lookup by letter, Click “M”

Visiting the Family Connection Find and click onto “University of Maryland, College Park” Scroll down and click onto area titled “Add to List.” Do more lookups at home!

Visiting the Family Connection Other features of “About College.” a. Scattergrams-Graphs your grades and scores of recent applicants to a given college with “admissions line” to indicate your chances of admissions

Visiting the Family Connection College Visits Under “About Colleges” go to “Visit Schedule” Identify a college visit you wish to attend Click on “information” Sign up if you wish to attend, but… Don’t forget to follow through!

QUESTIONS?