1. Admissions 101
Michele Brown – Senior Assistant Director, Undergraduate Admissions, The Ohio State University
Trip Hopkins – Admissions Counselor, Undergraduate Admissions, Ohio Dominican University

2. PEN (Public Education Network) Excerpted Article
High-tech, high-touch Despite tough zip codes and challenging students, Rocketship charter schools in San Jose have turned in strong results, writes Thomas Toch in The Atlantic Monthly. The network's schools outperform nearly all their impoverished California peers on standardized tests, and many of the state's more privileged school districts as well, using "blended learning," a combination of traditional teaching and computer-based instruction. This has led many reformers to herald Rocketship as the technology-driven future of education. But Toch says he took away a different conviction from his visit to Rocketship's Discovery Prep Elementary School: The school's success shows that younger and more disadvantaged students need adults supporting them in different ways, day in and day out. In the 640-student school, personal connections between adults and students are paramount. The school organizes meetings on curriculum, instructional strategies, and student behavior to enlist parents as educational partners. Read more:

3. The College Search Process
Choosing the right college is a process that students can start as early as middle school
First generation, low-income and minority students often start the process late and poorly prepared

4. College Success
Many students focus on the financial concerns and not on academic preparation
The ultimate goal is College Graduation!
This requires academic, social and financial preparation

5. Academic Preparation The College Prep Curriculum English: 4 years
Math: through Algebra 2, best: every year of HS
Science: 3 years
Social Science: 2 – 3 years
Foreign Language: 2 – 3 years
Visual/Performing Arts: 1 year

6. Academic Preparation Develop Good Study Habits Challenging Coursework
Reading and Math Skills
Note-taking and Organization
Test-taking
Challenging Coursework
Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Dual Enrollment

7. Social Preparation Time Management Leadership
Extra-curricular Activities
Support Services

8. Financial Preparation
Understand the Financial Aid Process
Savings Strategies
Sticker prices vs. actual costs

9. Helping Students at every level

10. College Planning for 9th & 10th Graders
Students can start to:
Identify goals, academic interests, and possible career interests
Identify strengths and interests, join related activities
Seek help to strengthen areas of weakness

11. How can you help 9th & 10th graders?
Assist with Self-Assessments
Understanding themselves, their talents, their interests is first step in the process
Tools:

12. College Planning for Juniors
Students can start through:
Research
College Characteristics – what type of college will fit them best?
Application/Scholarship procedures & deadlines
Visit college campuses
Narrow list of possible colleges based on visits

13. How you can help Juniors
Make sure students take the ACT or SAT before the end of Junior Year
Registration, practice questions, college searches available on their websites:

14. High School Senior time-line
Fall
Finalize list of college choices
Re-take the ACT or SAT if desired
Submit applications for admissions and scholarships
Campus Visits

15. High School Senior time-line
Winter
File the FAFSA
Admissions Decisions from colleges arrive
Campus visits

16. High School Senior time-line
Spring
Financial Aid Awards arrive
May 1 is National Candidates Reply Date
Housing, Orientation, scheduling materials sent

17. High School Senior time-line
Summer
Students attend Orientation/Scheduling programs
Summer Bridge Programs
Housing assignments, class schedules set

18. How to Help Seniors Stress importance of deadlines
Review applications and essays
Write letters of recommendation
Stress importance of deadlines some more

19. Special Focus: Visiting College Campuses
It’s not too early to start visiting college campuses
The visit is a college “test drive”
Students should
Take the campus tour
Meet with faculty
Ask lots of questions

20. The College Admission Process
What is it really all about?

21. Types of Admissions Open Enrollment Liberal Enrollment
Selective & Highly Selective
70% of all colleges have open or liberal enrollment

22. Selective Admission Factors
Grade Point Average
Class Rank
Standardized Test Scores
Essays
Extra-curricular Activities
Letters of Recommendation
Legacy Status
Race, Ethnicity

23. Questions? Michele Brown The Ohio State University brown.1112@osu.edu
Trip Hopkins
Ohio Dominican University