So, you want to go to college? Rockhurst High School February 23, 2016 Kyle Strothmann Assistant Director of Admission

GPA Game! Understanding selective college admission

The Goal of the College Search Find the college or university that is the BEST FIT for your student. College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.

High School Development  Similar to the development you will go through upon entering college.  Freshman Year – Transition  Sophomore Year – Acclimate  Junior Year – Leadership and Service  Senior Year – Leadership and Service  Focus on holistic and meaningful development for student as an individual.

Holistic Development  Academics  Extracurricular Activities  Service

Academics  Selecting the right classes.* -English – 4 years -Math – 4 years -Social Studies – 3 years -Natural Science – 3 years -Foreign Language – 2 years -Fine Arts – 1 year  GPA is just a number.  Freshman and sophomore years matters.  Challenge yourself! * Rockhurst requirements exceed this list since college prep electives are also required.

What do colleges consider?  High school curriculum  Grades  Test scores  Essay  Resume  Letters of Recommendation  Interview

Extracurricular Activities  Quality is better than quantity.  Cast a wide net, and step out of your comfort zone.  Find your passion.  Evolve in to a leader.

Leadership You do not have to be President of an organization, or Captain of a team, to be considered a leader!  Motivate others.  Encourage creativity.  Establish positive team relationships.  Influence the direction of an organization.

Service  Again, quantity is not the goal.  Service vs. Volunteerism.  Consistency.  Make an impact.

Sample Resume of a Rockhurst Applicant

The College Search Freshman and Sophomore Year  Research  Size  Location  Potential majors and admission requirements  This can influence your course selection!  Get organized. Junior Year  Standardized Testing  ACT/SAT prep courses  ACT/SAT exam during spring semester  Research scholarship opportunities and deadlines  Campus visits

Financial Aid Take a deep breath! It’s not as scary as it seems.

Financing a College Education  Scholarships: gift money that does not have to be repaid.  Grades  Test scores  Extracurricular activities, Talents  Financial Aid: need based awards determined by information provided on the FAFSA or the CSS Profile. Funds may or may not have to be repaid.  Grants  Loans  Work study

Scholarships  Institutional Scholarships:  Awarded by the individual college  Merit, talent, and need based  Student must apply and be admitted before you can receive institutional scholarships  Outside Scholarships:  The company you work for  Local and national organizations  Community organizations  College scholarship databases

Private Scholarships College Board: Fastweb: SallieMae Scholarship Search: Scholarships.com: School Soup:

Timeline Freshman YearEstablish your work ethic Sophomore YearJoin organizations or start your own Junior Year – FallResearch college size and location preferences Junior Year – SpringACT/SAT (with writing section) Finalize application list – check deadlines Campus Visits Senior Year – FallApply! Meet deadlines! Campus Visits Senior Year – SpringComplete the FAFSA May 1, 2019

Things to Remember:  The end goal is not college; it is what lies beyond college.  Students will change and evolve in high school, and then again in college.  Take a step out of your comfort zone.  Work hard. Stay focused.  Have fun!

Questions? Kyle Strothmann