1. Sophomore College Planning Night
Presented by Jeff Stahlman, College Counselor

2. Your Tenth Grade Advisor College Counselor – Mr. Stahlman
Guidance Office
Your Tenth Grade Advisor
Mr. Jacoby
College Counselor – Mr. Stahlman
Students and parents are welcome!
Academic/College questions, assistance with other matters
College Selection materials to look over

3. Guidance Office Website OR
go to St. Charles website under “About St. Charles” and click on “Guidance office”
Many, many college links
Updated calendar of events
Timelines and visit information and much more!

4. Guidance Office Website

5. NAVIANCE

6. NAVIANCE

7. A Few of my Guiding Principles about College Selection
It’s about the “FIT” or “MATCH” – a school’s name is little solace
if you are not happy there! FIT = GRADUATION
Think about “going” to college at least as much as you think
about “getting in”
Find schools where you will thrive!
“Old” days of going to college vs. now
Communicate
A voyage of Self-Discovery

8. The College Selection Puzzle
Size $ COST $ Reputation
Social Life Distractions
Study Programs
Abroad Liberal vs. Conservative
Major
Diversity Campus Setting Selectivity
Grad Rate % M/F Ratio Who Teaches Dorms
% Returning Residential? Big Fish/Small Fish
Athletics/Activities Greek? Geography

9. How Can I Learn About Colleges
Visit the Guidance Office
Guidebooks (page 21)
Websites (pp. 19,20)
Visit Colleges! It’s not too early.
NAVIANCE!
National Conference College Fair at SC – 9/21 2:10pm
College Fair –Columbus Suburban College Fair – September 25th at Otterbein University – 1-3:30pm

10. What Matters in Admissions?
Rank the following Factors #1- #11
Admission Test Scores
Counselor Recommendation
Interview
Grades in College Prep Courses
Extra-curricular Activities
Essay
Strength of Curriculum
Demonstrated Interest
Grades in All Courses
AP scores
Teacher Recommendation(s)

11. From NACAC Survey 2016 #1 – Grades in College Prep Courses
#2 – Strength of Curriculum
#3 – Grades in All Courses
#4 – Admission Tests
#5 - Essay
#6 – Counselor Rec.
#7 - Demonstrated Interest
#8 – Teacher Rec.
#9 – AP Scores
#10 – Extra-Curricular Activities
#11 – Interview

12. College Testing Why? When? How Many Times?
PSAT: October 19 this year and October next year – National Merit Qualifier (11th Grade)
ACT: Fall/Winter Junior Year
SAT: Fall/Winter Junior Year
Select your best test – retest late spring 11th and/or 12th
SAT 2/Subject Tests: Spring Junior Year (if needed)
How Many Times?
Test Score Optional? (page 44)
What if I have a Written Accommodation Plan?

13. ACT Exam 4 sections: English, Math, Reading, Science
Optional Writing section
Score 1-36
Test is fast!
St. Charles average: 28.9, national average: 21

14. The Revised SAT The SAT has changed:
Writing section will be optional! Scores will revert to the 1600 scale
No penalty for wrong answers
Focus on relevant words
Scores have changed – now skew higher
Focus on math that “matters most” – “heart of algebra”, data analysis, advanced math
Science and social studies are included in critical reading section
Khan Academy free online preparation

15. Subject Area Tests in specific subjects:
SAT Subject Tests
Subject Area Tests in specific subjects:
3 Tests at one sitting – one hour per subject
Few schools require or recommend, BUT these are generally more selective schools
Check your schools carefully! Also in your handout on pages but keep checking for changes!
If in doubt, take them
Spring – May or June – are ideal test dates for SAT Subject Tests (SAT 2’s) after a subject area class

16. How Can I Get Involved? Why should I get involved?
2 types of involvement:
1) for you ) for others
Find Clubs or Organizations at St. Charles
Find Organizations in your community
Look for ways to CONTRIBUTE to your community – Service
Look for summer opportunities
Consider Interning or Shadowing in an interesting career field
Look for leadership opportunities
Summer Research with St. Charles – Mr. Breckenridge
Initiative!

17. A Word About Ultra Selective Colleges
“HOOKS” = Interest Factor
RECRUITED athletes
Authentic students
Legacy
Unusual / Interesting
Famous
Early Decision
National Level of Achievement
How will you contribute?
“Lottery Admissions”
THE GOOD NEWS!
There are more than 3,000 colleges
Quality does not equal selectivity!
There will be many, many schools
which are great matches for you!
Acceptance Rates 2015
Stanford %
Harvard 5.3%
Columbia 6.1%
Yale 6.5%
Princeton 6.9%
MIT 7.7%
U Chicago 7.8%
Brown 8.5%
West Point 9%
Penn 9.9%
Claremont-McKenna 9.9%
Duke 10%
Dartmouth 10.3%
Vanderbilt 11%
Swarthmore 12%
Johns Hopkins 12.8%
Northwestern 13%
Amherst %
Rice 14%
Cornell %
Bowdoin %
Georgetown U 16.7%
Middlebury 17%
Wash U – St. Louis 17.1%

18. What Does College Cost?

19. look for “Net Price Calculator” on each college website
A Word About Cost
Begin to discuss and plan now!
Will you qualify for financial aid?
look for “Net Price Calculator” on each college website
Will you qualify for scholarships? How do scholarships work?
The more selective the school, generally the more financial aid and less merit-based money is provided
What are your cost parameters as a family?

20. 10th Grade Timeline Take PSAT – October 19
Do your best in the classroom
Become involved in your school and community
Begin to research colleges – websites, books, visits
USE NAVIANCE
Summers – what will you do?
Discuss cost of college as a family and begin to formulate a finance plan.

21. 11th Grade Timeline October: PSAT to determine NMSC
IF you are a college-bound D1 or D2 athlete, register with the NCAA!
Late Fall/Early Winter: Begin College Testing – ACT/SAT
Late Winter/Spring: Complete second ACT or SAT
Spring: Complete SAT 2-Subject Test if needed
ALL YEAR:
Visit colleges
Complete research
Build College List – Safe/Possible/Reach

22. 12th Grade Timeline Fall: Apply to colleges and finish testing
October 1-December 1: Apply for Financial Aid
April 1st: Students will be notified of admission decisions no later than 4/1
May 1st: Students will decide which college to attend
FALL of 2019 – Leave for College!!

23. Director of Undergraduate Admissions The Ohio State University
Mr. Keith Gehres
Director of Undergraduate Admissions The Ohio State University

24. College Admission Trends
Ohio State – it has changed!
Where have the boys gone?
Decrease of students through 2020, in Midwest
Demonstrated Interest!!!!
ROI and Payscale.com
Early Decision and Late Decision
Rankings – look out for them!
Athletics – admission tool (especially for strong students)
Helicopter Parents/Snowglobe/ and whole lot of other names people are calling you!
Student concern with process rather than “is this a good fit?”

25. True or False: Selective Colleges
If I have good grades and test scores I will get in anywhere
If I have top grades and test scores I’ll get scholarship money anywhere
If I haven’t heard of a college, it must not be good
Selectivity = Quality
College Rankings are the best measure of quality for a college
You get the same college experience everywhere
Colleges often recalculate my GPA
Success in life depends on which college I select