1. SENIOR RETREAT CLASS OF 2011

2. Objectives Students will review the options available after high school. Students will review the options available after high school. Students will receive information on the Students will receive information on the college admissions process.

3. Decision Making… Know yourself well--your strengths & Know yourself well--your strengths & weaknesses, likes and dislikes, hopes and dreams. Understand and accept the evidence of your grades and test scores. Research your options. Research your options. Consult people who can help you evaluate the situation. Consult people who can help you evaluate the situation. Consider your choices and set a goal. Consider your choices and set a goal.

4. Options After High School 4 Year College 4 Year College Community College Community College Technical School Technical School Trade School Trade School Apprenticeship Programs Apprenticeship Programs Military Military Work Work

5. Military See Lt. Colonel Marshall to take the ASVAB See Lt. Colonel Marshall to take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery), a career aptitude test.

6. Apprenticeship Programs Training on the job in a particular trade by a skilled worker as part of a planned program. Training on the job in a particular trade by a skilled worker as part of a planned program. Taking classroom instruction at a community college, or in regular school if on a part time job. Taking classroom instruction at a community college, or in regular school if on a part time job. Training anywhere from one to six years, Training anywhere from one to six years, depending on the trade.

7. Trade & Technical Training Private Trade and Technical Programs Private Trade and Technical Programs Howard County Community College, Baltimore Community College, and Anne Arundel Community College offer postsecondary education programs in: Howard County Community College, Baltimore Community College, and Anne Arundel Community College offer postsecondary education programs in: Automotive Technology Automotive Technology Network Operations Network Operations Architectural Design Architectural Design Construction Construction Electricity Electricity Hospitality Hospitality Allied Health Care Allied Health Care

8. Howard Community College Prepares students for entry into a 4- year college to complete a bachelor’s program. Prepares students for entry into a 4- year college to complete a bachelor’s program. Prepares students to enter the world of work in a skilled professional or paraprofessional capacity. Prepares students to enter the world of work in a skilled professional or paraprofessional capacity.

9. Four-year Colleges and Universities What do Colleges Look For? Your Academic Record Your Academic Record The difficulty and variety of courses you have taken. Cumulative GPA and Weighted GPA. Cumulative GPA and Weighted GPA. Please note that senior grades are important and can show improvement! Please note that senior grades are important and can show improvement!

10. Sign up NOW for fall testing! Stop And Think Stop And ThinkSAT ACT Now!

11. Reasons to take the SAT! 4 year colleges require entrance exams 4 year colleges require entrance exams Community colleges use SAT scores to place students Community colleges use SAT scores to place students Strong SAT scores may qualify students for $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Strong SAT scores may qualify students for $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Information gathered can be used to help plan for future classes Information gathered can be used to help plan for future classes The SAT is a strong predictor of student success in college The SAT is a strong predictor of student success in college

12. Additional tests… SAT Subject Tests (required by most SAT Subject Tests (required by most competitive schools) ACT ACT Acuplacer Acuplacer

13. Counselor and Teacher Recommendations Develop a resume. (include activities, accomplishments, aspirations) Develop a resume. (include activities, accomplishments, aspirations) Request letters of recommendation from your teachers. Request letters of recommendation from your teachers. (academic teachers from grades 11 and 12)

14. Where are the programs that you are interested in? Read about colleges and other programs! Read about colleges and other programs! Fiske, Insider’s Guide, college websites. Fiske, Insider’s Guide, college websites. Talk to your teachers and other adults that you know. Talk to your teachers and other adults that you know. Attend the HOWARD COUNTY COLLEGE FAIR in October. Attend the HOWARD COUNTY COLLEGE FAIR in October.

15. NCAA Students interested in participating in Division I or Division II college sports should see coaches, Mr. Duffy, Mr. Mindel, or counselors for information regarding the NCAA Clearinghouse registration. Students interested in participating in Division I or Division II college sports should see coaches, Mr. Duffy, Mr. Mindel, or counselors for information regarding the NCAA Clearinghouse registration.

16. Preparing for College: Senior Year Summer: Collect applications, create a filing system to organize materials. Work on essays. September: Sign up for fall SAT’s, ACT’s (October, November, December) Sign up for fall SAT’s, ACT’s (October, November, December) Begin scholarship search Begin scholarship search Senior Interviews w/Counselor Senior Interviews w/Counselor Request recommendations from teachers Request recommendations from teachers Complete Transcript Request Packet Complete Transcript Request Packet Finish essays Finish essays

17. Consider your future opportunities! There is a college and/or post-secondary There is a college and/or post-secondary program available for EVERY student. You are in charge of your future. You are in charge of your future. Take advantage of available opportunities! Take advantage of available opportunities!

18. Transcript packets! What are they and why do you need them?

19. Transcript Information We will need to receive these items from you: Parent Release Form Parent Release Form Senior Academic Resume Senior Academic Resume Student Questionnaire and Parent Questionnaire Student Questionnaire and Parent Questionnaire Secondary School Report or counselor section of your college application Secondary School Report or counselor section of your college application Envelopes addressed to each college with 2 stamps on each envelope. Envelopes should not have return address Envelopes addressed to each college with 2 stamps on each envelope. Envelopes should not have return address $4.00 per transcript packet $4.00 per transcript packet

22. The registrar’s office will mail: Copy of certified high school transcript Copy of certified high school transcript class rank, weighted and unweighted GPA class rank, weighted and unweighted GPA Senior schedule Senior schedule Howard High Profile Howard High Profile Academic Resume Academic Resume Secondary School Report from application Secondary School Report from application Secondary School Report from Howard Secondary School Report from Howard Recommendations from counselors and teachers Recommendations from counselors and teachers

23. SAT Score Reporting Howard County transcripts no longer include SAT or ACT scores. This is a change from previous policy. Students must order score reports from the College Board and/or ACT organization. Howard County transcripts no longer include SAT or ACT scores. This is a change from previous policy. Students must order score reports from the College Board and/or ACT organization. www.collegeboard.com www.collegeboard.com www.collegeboard.com www.actstudent.org www.actstudent.org www.actstudent.org

24. Student and Parent Questionnaires Please complete these questionnaires when requesting teacher and counselor recommendations! Please complete these questionnaires when requesting teacher and counselor recommendations!

25. Teacher recommendations Select two teachers Select two teachers Requests for letters should be typed Requests for letters should be typed Include a resume and input form with your request Include a resume and input form with your request Some colleges require teacher recommendation forms – you must provide the form Some colleges require teacher recommendation forms – you must provide the form Teachers need at least 30 school days advance notice Teachers need at least 30 school days advance notice Teachers will submit letters to the Registrar Teachers will submit letters to the Registrar

27. Mid-Year Reports and Final Transcript Reports Students are responsible for bringing in STAMPED business size envelopes addressed to the colleges. Students are responsible for bringing in STAMPED business size envelopes addressed to the colleges. The school will mail mid-year and end of year transcripts at no charge. The school will mail mid-year and end of year transcripts at no charge.

28. Towson University Office of Admissions 8000 York Road Towson, MD 21252-0001

29. HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2011