1. James Hubert Blake High School
College Daze Program
For 11th grade students & parents/guardians

3. Road to your Future AGENDA Upcoming events for juniors
Review and discuss various post-secondary educational & vocational options
Determine what factors will influence your decisions
Review college search process & procedures for college applications

4. National College Fair $5.00 bus fee (pay online)
Where? The Montgomery County Agricultural Center
16 Chesnut Street
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Field trip for students: Wednesday, April 5th (during school)
Register online:
Signed parent permission form required : Deadline 3/30
Bring a bag lunch for the bus and dress appropriately.
Fair hours for parents: Wednesday, April 5th from 6:30pm to 8:30 pm
$5.00 bus fee (pay online)

5. Which test should I take?
ALL juniors MUST take at least one of these tests by April 2017:
SAT, ACT or Accuplacer
Whatever test you choose, PREPARE well before test day!
Meet with your counselor to determine the best test that will fit your future plans.

6. SAT/ACT/Accuplacer SAT ACT ACCUPLACER – Community College
Critical Reading ( )
Mathematics ( )
SAT Total ( )
Aligned to Common Core
Math section includes student response/grid-in questions, including pre-calculus
NO penalty for wrong answers
Writing section (optional)
*SAT Subject Test
May be required for selective university admissions
Take at the end of course (June or October)
Can take up to 3 test in one sitting (1 hour each)
ACT
English (1-36)
*usage (1-36)
*rhetorical (1-36)
Reading (1-36)
Mathematics (1-36)
Science (1-36)
Measures Science Reasoning
Math up to trigonometry
Scores based on correct answers
NO penalty for wrong answers
Writing section (optional)
ACCUPLACER – Community College
Measures readiness for college level math, reading and writing

7. Register online for SAT and/or ACT If fees present a financial hardship, please see Mrs. Prochnow for fee waiver eligibility criteria.
ACT Test
Test date: June 10
Deadline: May 5
Late Deadline: May 19
Cost: $58.50
Late Fee: +$27.50
Standby Fee: +$51.00
SAT Test
Test date: May 6
Deadline: April 7
Late Deadline: April 25
Test date: June 3
Deadline: May 9
Late Deadline: May 24
Cost: $57.00
Late Fee: +$28.00
Wait-list Fee: +$46.00
Sign up:
Sign up:

8. Ways to Prepare TAKE A PREP COURSE: FREE WEBSITES:
CATALYST PREP WEEKEND BOOT CAMPS:
– April – Blake
(to prepare for May 6 SAT)
– May 20-21– Blake
(to prepare for June 10 ACT)
Other options can be found in the College/Career Center.
FREE WEBSITES:
www. satpractice.org (Khan Academy)
practice

9. Why Start Now? College visits: Absences:
Use spring break and summer to go on college campus visits; schedule a tour & interview, if possible
Absences:
Juniors and seniors are allowed up to 5 excused days for college visits with ADVANCED notice to Ms. Sheftell (Attendance Office)
Application Deadlines begin as early as Oct 15, with many due Nov 1st senior year
Prepare your list of schools and begin applying to colleges no later than 15 school days prior to deadline date. (most college apps online by Aug 1)

10. Log in to Naviance-Family Connection here.
Use the Web to Search for Colleges, Financial Aid, Scholarships, Career Information, and more!
H.S. CODE: for SAT or ACT registration and College applications

11. Post-Secondary Options
Four year Institutions
Two year Community Colleges
Vocational Schools or Apprenticeship Programs
Arts Institutions
The World of Work
Military
“Gap” Year
AmeriCorps, Center for Study Abroad, Outward Bound

12. Search Using Naviance School Type (2 or 4 year) Location
Student Body - Enrollment Size
Majors & Minors
Athletics
Cost + Financial Aid
Special Programs (clubs, newspaper, band, ROTC, etc.)

13. Using Naviance/Family Connection
PRINT: “Life after High School” packet
See or your counselor if you need your password reset.

14. Post Your Colleges Here
Colleges MUST be posted here or you will not be targeted for college rep visits or scholarships

15. Sally Bengal applies to Towson University

16. Sally Bengal applies to Towson University

17. Consider this…

18. How many colleges should I apply to?
Identify 10 colleges
Apply to 4-7 colleges
REACH
TARGET
SAFE

19. Admission Policy Vocabulary
Early Decision
Early Action, Priority, Early Notification
Regular Admission
Rolling Admission
Open Admission

20. College Application Components
Application Form – Biographical Data
Common Application (
Application Fee – ranges from $0 - $75
Transcript – GPA & Courses
Test Scores – SAT/ACT
– Test optional colleges
Essay – Check prompts carefully
Letter of Recommendations – teacher and counselor
Audition/Portfolio/Interview – specific to certain colleges
Resume – optional, include GPA/WGPA, SSL, leadership, extracurricular activities, work experience

21. Scholarship & Transcript Request Process Begins with Ms
Scholarship & Transcript Request Process Begins with Ms. Marks, the Registrar
Forms to be completed for EACH college or scholarship requiring a transcript
Allow 15 days for processing

22. Checklist before requesting transcripts
Did you…?
Complete Parent/Student Reflection forms
Ask for a teacher recommendation no less than 15 school days before deadline?
Do you…?
Know your deadlines?
Know how colleges accept documents?
-Edocs?
-Common Application?
-Coalition Application?
-Mail paper transcript and other documents?
(must bring a stamped, addressed envelope to process)

23. On-the-Spot Admission Events
What are on-the-spot admissions?
They are local events for students to apply for admission to certain colleges, face-to-face, and get an immediate acceptance decision.
How do I find out about them?
Students should listen for announcements, check the Naviance website, the Blake website or see Mrs. Prochnow in the College/Career Center for information.

24. Research your Schools Resource Books & Catalogs Computer Searches
Call or Admissions Offices
College Fairs
College Reps in the Career Center
College Campus Visits
*5 excused days from school with preapproval from Ms. Sheftell in the Attendance Office

25. No matter what road you take…
Contact your counselor to schedule a “Senior Commitment Appointment”
College/Career Center will also be open over the summer
Summer College Readiness Workshops are encouraged

26. It’s really all about fit
Be Confident – Take responsibility for your own college admissions search.
Be Deliberate – Do thoughtful research about programs and opportunities
Be Realistic and trust your instincts
Be Honest and be yourself
“College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.”
– Martha O’Connell with NPR

27. Too much information? Check out the College & Career Center bulletin board

28. Counseling Staff Mrs. Kiedrow A – Ek Mrs. Hayes El – La
Mrs. Baer Lb-Rex
Ms. Costenbader Rey- Z
Mr. Tolbert Gr 9
Ms. Smith Gr 9
Mrs. Prochnow College/Career Coordinator
Mrs. Marks School Registrar

29. Reminders Follow us on Twitter @BlakeCounselors
Daily tips, reminders and information from the Blake Counseling Department and College/Career Center.
This PowerPoint presentation will be posted on the Blake College/Career Center Webpage!