1. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
November 28, 2017 Pioneer High School

2. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
Presenters
Pioneer Counseling Department
Stephanie Carter
&
Chris Woods

3. Agenda for this evening:
Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
Agenda for this evening:
Timeline
College Search & Visit
Common Terms & Definitions
Questions

4. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
COLLEGE
IS A MATCH TO BE MADE
NOT
A PRIZE TO BE WON

5. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
11th Grade - 1st Semester
Begin College Lists
Attend College Visits at the PHS
Career Center
Research Colleges - Students & Parents-
Naviance
Internet & Catalogs

6. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
11th Grade - 2nd Semester
MORE College Research
On-Campus College Visits (while college is in session)
Attend the Ann Arbor College and Career Fair at Pioneer HS on Tuesday March 22, 2018
Review High School Transcript for Graduation Requirements
Fill out and turn in completed Student Profile and Parent Sheet by May 1
Junior Interviews with Counselor
Take SAT, ACT and MME exams
Request Teacher Recommendations before end of year if they’re required for the application

7. Standardized College Admission Exams
Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
Standardized College Admission Exams
SAT I – Reasoning Test – This SAT is a three-hour, primarily multiple-choice test that measures reading; writing and language; and math reasoning abilities. There is an optional essay. The test taken with the essay will cover 3 hours and 50 minutes. Many colleges require SAT scores for admission.
SAT II – Subject Tests – Subject Tests are one-hour, primarily multiple-choice tests that measure your knowledge of particular subjects and your ability to apply that knowledge. Check the requirements of the colleges you are considering. More selective colleges may require or recommend one or more Subject Tests for admission or placement.
ACT – Assessment Test – A group of tests administered by ACT and required or recommended by many colleges. The tests measure educational development in English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning and are given at specified test centers throughout the year.
Advanced Placement (AP) Exams – AP exams are available in May each year. They are not required for college admissions but may be used by some colleges for college credit or placement. Students register online at beginning January 16. Cost is $130 per exam.

8. Michigan Merit Exam Part I : SAT Part II: ACT Work Keys
Part III: Michigan components of exam
(Science and Social Studies)
During registration process, students can select up to 4 colleges for this
specific SAT score to be sent to. NO FEE. MME will be held at PHS
in April of 2018 for Juniors. It is required for graduation.

9. The New SAT
* All new essay * No penalty for guessing * Relevant vocabulary * Use of historical documents - 4 parts: Reading, Writing & Language, Math, and Optional Essay - Score Scale: hours and 50 minutes (w/essay)

10. SAT Practice through Khan Academy
www. khanacademy.org/sat
* 4 short, diagnostic quizzes that cover all the skills in a specific
SAT subject.
* 4 full length, timed SAT exams.
* Beginning in December, students can write an essay and
receive feedback.

11. PSAT/NMSQT A Practice Test for the SAT.
Given to all juniors in October of 2017.
Students will receive results through their Collegeboard account.
Results used by scholarship programs to look for eligible students (National Merit Scholarship Program).

12. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
Summer Before 12th Grade
Plan your work and work your plan
Fill out applications for colleges - find them online
Work on college application essays if they are required for the application
Have a couple people check them before you push the send button – cannot revise after sending
Read summer mailing from Pioneer HS
Be aware of upcoming deadlines!
Study for retaking early Fall SAT & ACT tests (optional)

13. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
12th Grade - 1st Semester
Students & Parents Attend Senior Parent Night in early September
Complete college applications. Most applications
will be done entirely online
Retake SAT & ACT tests (optional)
Remind teachers for letters of recommendation if required for the application. Make sure you give them at least 4 weeks before you need them.
Go to College Visits at Pioneer HS Career Center
Admissions Officers will be presenting and are available for questions - very helpful to meet these people! On-Site
Admissions at PHS is also an option.
For financial aid, fill out FAFSA after October 1.

14. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
12th Grade - 2nd Semester
Check Career Center website and use online scholarship search engines for scholarships
Receive acceptance/rejection letters from colleges
Continue to work hard academically: 2nd semester classes & grades count towards acceptance or “denial”!
Contact Financial Aid offices at proposed colleges
Develop a plan to finance college
Send in your deposit to selected college by their required deadline.

15. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
Researching Colleges

16. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
What Do I Look For?
What do you know about yourself?
Likes, Dislikes, Interests, Values
Environment - location, size, etc.
Admission Requirements
Academics
College Expenses & Financial Aid
Housing
Facilities
Activities
You are looking for a college that “fits” and will likely have a preliminary list of colleges to explore

17. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
How Do I Search?
Naviance
Career Center at Pioneer High School
College Visits at Pioneer High School
On-campus college visits
Online internet research (helpful websites on next slide)
Helpful books
Research - Research - Research!

18. Helpful College Search Websites
Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
Helpful College Search Websites

19. Career Center Jake McClouth, Career Advisor
Hours of Operation: 7:30 - 3:00 M-F
Location: Across from the Cafeteria
Students can spend lunchtime and 7th hour in the Career Center
Parents are more than welcome to utilize these resources!

20. What is in the Career Center?
Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
What is in the Career Center?
Online Searches
College Catalogs & DVD’s
PSAT, SAT & ACT practice tests
Resources on other Post-secondary planning: Military, Vocational Schools, Apprenticeships, Gap Year, etc.
Scholarship Opportunities
Summer & Internship Opportunities

21. On-Campus College Visits
Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
On-Campus College Visits
Sign up for an official college visit online through the individual college websites
Ask about procedures for a Campus Visit
Try to plan visits while college classes are in session
Inquire if college students will be available for questions
Try to attend a class or two & ask about eating in the dining hall
Try to spend a night in the dorm or see a dorm room during a campus tour

22. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
Scholarships
Students can begin applying for scholarships during the senior year. Check out the following websites:
Local and national scholarship opportunities can be found in the PHS Career Center.

23. Financial Aid
Students seeking help with college cost will need to apply for financial aid. For a student to be considered for federal aid, he/she will need to complete an online application at:
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FAFSA is processed free of charge. FAFSA is used by most state agencies and colleges to determine eligibility for financial aid. Students must complete this form in order to
be eligible for work study.
Registration opens October 1st of senior year.

24. Scholarship/Financial Aid
AAPS Financial Aid / Scholarship Night Thursday January 11, 2018, 6:30 PM Pioneer High School Cafeteria Annex Facilitated by a local university’s admission office

25. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
College Athletics
Student athletes seeking to play a
Division I or Division II college sport will
need to register at
Part of the NCAA registration process will
involve sending a transcript from parchment.com

26. Assisting Your Student in the Application Process
Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
Assisting Your Student in the Application Process

27. Selecting Prospective Colleges
The initial list of prospective schools may be a long list with schools.
Narrow down the list by further research including campus visits and identifying the best “fit” for the student.
After careful research, the larger list of prospective colleges should be narrowed down to 3-5 colleges where the student will apply. Consider colleges where the admission might be a stretch, pretty certain and guaranteed. Students SHOULD NOT apply to a school if they would never attend there.

28. Sending Standardized Test Scores
Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
Sending Standardized Test Scores
Students will be advised to send scores directly to four colleges (for free!) when they register for MME/SAT. Colleges use only the highest scores.
Pioneer does not send test scores. Scores are sent directly by the testing centers per your request. There is a fee to send scores after test registration.

29. Types of Applications
Most applications are exclusively online applications.
1) Applications directly to the college
2) Common App
3) Coalition App

30. Application Terms & Decision Plans
Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
Application Terms & Decision Plans
Early Action: An application process which permits students to make application to an institution of preference and receive a decision during the senior year well in advance of the normal response dates in the spring. The candidate is not committed to enroll at that particular institution.
Early Decision: An application process in which a commitment is made by the student to the institution that, if admitted, the student will enroll. Only a student who can make a deliberate and well-reasoned first choice decision should apply under an Early Decision plan because the institution will require a nonrefundable deposit well before May 1. This is a binding commitment from the student.
Regular Decision: Students submit an application by a speci ed date and receive a decision in a clearly stated period of time.
Rolling Admission: Institutions review applications as they are submitted and render decisions throughout the admission cycle.

31. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
Important Deadlines
Students need to be aware of their college application deadlines.
Many pieces need to come together such as counselor recommendation, teachers’ recommendations, student’s essay, standardized test scores, transcript, etc.

32. Where Do I Turn To Ask Questions?
Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
Where Do I Turn To Ask Questions?
COUNSELOR
CAREER CENTER
COLLEGE WEBSITES
NAVIANCE & ONLINE RESOURCES

33. What is Naviance?

34. Connecting Learning to Life
Introduction to Naviance
What is Naviance?
Connecting Learning to Life
Naviance is a comprehensive K-12 college and career readiness solution that helps districts and schools align student strengths and interests to postsecondary goals, improving student outcomes and connecting learning to life.

35. The K-12 Student Lifecycle
What is Naviance?
The K-12 Student Lifecycle
Post-Secondary Preparation
Self-Discovery
Career Exploration
Academic Planning
Broad to Narrow – Persisting through Grade Levels 7th – 12th
Opportunity to use self-exploration and the assessment results and the post assessment activities to move from broad to narrow in helping to shape college & career readiness
Assessments also move broad to narrow (Career Cluster Finder broad searching pathways/clusters to Career Interest Profiler by say Junior year, much more narrow career focused)
What do I want to be?
How will I get there?
Will I be successful?
Who am I?

36. What is Family Connection?
Introduction to Family Connection
Family Connection is the student and parent-facing portal for Naviance.
Newsfeed
Be sure to also point out each of the tabs:
Courses: Course Planning Tools (if you’re using course planner)
Colleges: College research and application tools
Careers: Career research and assessments
About Me: Journal, documents, and self-discovery assessments
My Planner: Tasks, goals, and to-dos.
Inbox
Customized HTML Pages
Customized Links
News Bulletins

37. What is Family Connection?
Students: Logging In
Students log into Naviance through the Clever portal:
Your student’s username for Clever is the ID they use to access the district computers.
Your student's password is the default provided at the beginning of the year.
Once logged into Clever, click the Naviance icon.

38. College Exploration and Awareness
College Research Tools
College
Profiles
College
Match
Naviance College Research tools are focused on helping students explore colleges and become aware of opportunities after high school graduation.
SuperMatch™ College Search
College Search
Feel free to jump into a demo to further highlight any of these tools!
SuperMatch College Search: students can get matched from over 20 search criteria that will help them find colleges that are the right fit for them. Then, they can research the resulting schools and add them to their “Colleges I’m Thinking About” list.
Scattergrams: Scattergrams are a visual representation of a school's applicant history and their admission results, plotted on a graph to share the intersection of GPA and standardized test scores. Scattergrams are used to analyze the history of applications to a college.
Acceptance History: This tool shows students a list of colleges that other students from the school have applied to and enrolled in over a certain period of time. From the acceptance history, students can link to a map that represents where alumni attend college or view college profiles.
College Visits: Counselors can create a schedule of colleges visiting the school, and students can see which visits are coming up and add them to their calendars. Students will also receive a reminder if the student has the school on their “Colleges I’m Thinking About” list.
College Match Tools: Three lists of potential colleges to research are provided: “Colleges Looking for Students Like You,” “Colleges Other Students Like,” and “Colleges That Have Accepted Students Like You.”
Scholarship Tools:
National Scholarship Search
Search Sallie Mae’s online database of over 3 million national scholarships worth more than $13 billion. Students can edit their profiles to find matches, add scholarships to the favorites lists, or delete scholarships they don’t want to apply for.
Scholarship List and Match
Schools can upload their own list of local or national scholarships for students to explore or match them directly with students in Family Connection based on qualifications such as gender, ethnicity, or minimum grades or test scores.
College Resources: A comprehensive list of web resources about colleges, financial aid and FAFSA, test preparation, college athletics, military options, and other key topics in the college admissions process.
Text Here
College Resources
College
Maps

39. Nuts & Bolts of College Planning
October 21, 2003
Thank you for coming!
We hope this makes the college planning process a little easier!