Senior Information Session September 17, 2015

Today we will cover:  Graduation requirements  Options after high school  Senior year timeline  Determining college fit  Meeting with college admission representatives  College admissions testing  Admission to 2 year colleges  Admission to 4 year colleges/universities  Application Basics  Important Dates  To Do List

South High Graduation Requirements 4 years Social Studies 4 years English 3+ years Math 3+ years (4 standards) Science 1 year Phy Ed 21.5 credits My Life Plan (MLP) 1 year Health 1 year Fine Arts

Options After High School  Service - Americorp-etc.  Apprenticeship/Work  Travel  Military  Trade or technical school  Two-year college  Four-year college or university

Senior Year Timeline… The College Process (Aug-Dec)  College Admissions Tests (SAT, SAT II, ACT? Retake?)  Narrow your college choices; 6 colleges average  Consider school’s requirements; Safety/Target/Reach  Look at Deadlines and “Fit”  Update your Naviance Account (Colleges I’m Thinking About, address)  College applications  Essays, if required  Letters of Recommendation, if required  Request transcripts

Senior Year Timeline… The College Process (Jan-June)  Apply for Financial Aid and Scholarships  FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Jan 1  MN State Aid App (for Dream Act students)  South General Scholarship Application (March 2014)  Search Naviance, CCC, and online databases  Continue examining your college options (if this, then that)  Review SAR (Student Aid Report); reply  Review acceptances and Financial Aid awards  Make your decision; send deposit(s)- May 1

Determining College “Fit”  Size  Location  Distance from home  Available majors and classes  Housing options  Makeup of the student body  Available extracurricular activities  Campus atmosphere  Cost of Attendance  Admissibility

Meeting with College Reps at South The cheaper way to “visit” prospective colleges. List of scheduled visits on:  Naviance (Colleges), (complete list)  Posted outside of CCC (room 246), (complete list)  In Monday newsletter, CCC Happenings (upcoming weeks visits)  In Pod Cast Announcements (daily and next day visits)  Students need to pick up a Rep Visit Pass from CCC or Counseling Clerks BEFORE hour of visit and obtain teacher permission (a signature on the Rep Visit Pass) in order to attend.

College Admissions Testing ACT October 24 ( Register by Sept 18) December 12 (Register by Nov 6) SAT October 3 (Register by Sept 3) November 7 (Register by Oct 9) December 5 (Register by Nov 5) Test Optional? Check out for schools with optional testing requirements STUDENTS NEED TO SEND SCORES FROM THEIR ONLINE ACCOUNTS (South High cannot send test scores to colleges. Students may have SAT/ACT scores sent at any time, at least 3 weeks prior to college deadline is recommended)

Admission to a Two Year Community or Technical College  High school diploma  Visit their program; ask good questions: What are your placement rates? Will my credits transfer if I do? How much will this cost per credit (and compare)?  If you transfer to a four year college and earn a bachelor’s degree it will say that college’s name (does not include that you went to a two year college first)  Can sometimes provide good opportunities to earn a good living in a fairly short time span. Not always transferrable skills or credits, though.  Accuplacer and/or ACT scores may be required (for class placement, not admission decisions)

Admission to a Four Year College or University PRIMARY: Grades in College Prep (rigorous) Courses Standardized Admission Tests (SAT, SAT II, or ACT) Grades in all Courses Class Rank ___________________________ SECONDARY: Community/school involvement/leadership/character Essays Letters of recommendation

College Application Basics  6 colleges is plenty (application fees, choices in spring)  Apply on-line  Common Application (CommonApp.org) 500+ colleges with a shared application, many colleges require supplements  Application account on College Admissions website  Longer applications will allow you to create an account, save and return later  Request Application Pieces (as needed) from South High:  Transcripts (most colleges require) First 2 are free then $2 per transcript cost  Letter of Recommendation (counselor and/or core teacher)  Request both of these AT LEAST 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO COLLEGE DEADLINE!

Who to see for each piece… ACT/SAT Registration Help and Information: Coordinators or Counselor College Choice: Coordinators or Counselor College Application Help: Coordinators College Essay Help: Writing Center, Coordinators or English Teacher Transcript: Counseling Clerks Fee waivers: Counselors and Counseling Clerks Letters of Recommendation: Teacher or Counselor Common Application Recommendation Section: Counselor

Websites  ng.html  mn    

Important Dates  September 22: Senior Planning Night  October 3: SAT Test  October 13: Visual and Performing Arts College Fair  October 14-16: No school, great time to visit a college  October 21-22: National College Fair  October 24: ACT  November 1: Frequent college application deadline  November 7: SAT  November 15: Frequent college application deadline  December 1: Frequent college application deadline  December 5: SAT  December 12: ACT  December 1: Financial Aid Night  December 15: Frequent college application deadline (U of M Twin Cities is Dec 15, 2014)  January 1: Frequent college application deadline  January 15: Frequent college application deadline

Keep up the Momentum!  Continue with most rigorous academic program possible - 4 years English, math, science (bio, chem. physics), social studies and world language. Most selective schools want great grades in the most rigorous academic program available at the student’s school  Your GPA matters ALL THE WAY TO THE END!  If you change your courses after you apply to a college and you don’t check it out with a college, they may rescind your offer of acceptance.

To Do List  Make sure your is accurate in Naviance  Test/Re-test ACT/SAT for admission to 4 year colleges/universities  If planning to play DI or DII athletics, register for NCAA clearinghouse, send transcript & test scores  Add all colleges you are interested in to “Colleges I am thinking about” in Naviance  Narrow your list down to 5-9 colleges that you will apply to  Keep in mind safety, target and reach  Talk to your parents about how you will pay for college  Keep in mind a “Financial Safety College”  Meet with your counselor to go over your list of colleges you are going to apply to  Create an activity list/resume  Complete the main application/common application  If your school requires a letter of recommendation  Counselor: Complete the “2015 Senior Counselor Questionnaire” in Naviance, make an appt, and complete interview  Teacher: Ask teacher face to face and provide them with a resume  If required, complete the college essay  Request transcripts  Send your ACT/SAT scores

Handouts  2016 Senior Handbook (excerpt): This document goes over the entire college application process in great detail. The entire copy is available on the website at. We have provided you with a couple important pages that include: intro to the handbook, general tips, request deadlines, contact information for south, critical dates, college app process (step by step) and information about determining fit.  FERPA Release Form: All seniors must get a parent signature and return this form to the counseling clerks. This allows us to send your information to your colleges/universities.

Your Questions? Student Last NameContact InformationCounselor/Coordinator/ Clerk Room 247A Marsha Gaulke Room 247A Marie Hassell Room 247A Joan Moyer (Lauren Lewis) Room 247B Don Dilla Room 247B Jackie Vertigan 11 th and 12 th graders 9 th and 10 th graders Room 246 Christina Rates Nneka Abdullah All Room 247A Richard Palmquist