1. Freshman College Planning Meeting
Jeff Stahlman, College Counselor
Jesse Yeager, Admissions, Denison University

2. Freshman Counselor, Mr. Wright
The Guidance Office
Freshman Counselor, Mr. Wright
Sophomore Counselor, Mr. Jacoby
College Counselor (Jr/Sr), Mr. Stahlman
Students and Parents always welcome
College visits to our office
Guidebooks and other resources
Application clearinghouse for seniors
Evening meeting series
Individual meetings and workshops

3. Naviance http://connection.naviance.com/scharlesps
One Stop College and Career Website designed for
St. Charles students and families.
career searches
college research
View college acceptance data from previous St. Charles students (anonymous of course)
Many, many more features

4. Guidance Office Website

5. College Selection – TRUE or FALSE
Selectivity = Quality
All colleges are difficult to get into
Students with all “A’s” and good test scores get in everywhere!
Admission %age at Yale over time:
1980 – 26.4%; –20.1%; – 18.3%; – 8.6%
2017 – 6.7%
If I haven’t heard of a college it must not be a “Good” college
College rankings are the best measure of a college
What I want to study will determine where I go to college
There is more academic scholarship money available than athletic scholarship money

6. College Selection – TRUE or FALSE
You get the same college experience everywhere
Grades don’t matter, activities do
Grades don’t matter, test scores do
Colleges only look at GPA
All GPAs are equal
Playing a sport is very important to college admissions
Success in life depends on where you go to college
It pays financially to go to college
(IF YOU GRADUATE!)

7. Purpose of College Selection
Find schools that match you
Find schools you will graduate from
Increase VALUE, decrease cost
This process requires time, research, and communication as a family.

8. The College “Match” or “Fit”
There is a college for everyone
The Fit = Happiness = Thriving in College = Graduation
What is a “Good” college for me?
Personal Attention Facilities Major/Career
Location City/small town Greek Life
Reputation My Needs My Wants
Study Abroad SIZE OF CLASSES Diversity Selectivity
Professors vs. TA’s Student Activities
Dorm Life Liberal vs. Conservative
$$ Cost $$

9. Selective College Admissions
More students apply than can be accommodated
Admissions offices must decide how to admit some students and deny others
Not all schools have selective admissions
A few schools are “Ultra-Selective”
Not a one size fits all answer to college questions –
IT DEPENDS!

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 2017 #1 – Grades in College Prep Courses
#2 – Grades in All Courses
#3 – Strength of Curriculum
#4 - Admission Test Scores
#5 - Essay
#6 – Counselor Rec.
#7 - Demonstrated Interest
#8 – Teacher Rec.
#9 – AP Scores
#10 - Extra-Curricular Activities
#11 - Interview

12. Selective Admissions – Relative weight of admission factors
#1 – GRADES/Curriculum – 50-60%

13. What Every 9th Grader Should Know About Grades/Classes
Your cumulative GPA is based on your Year End Grades.
St. Charles Prep does NOT Rank Students.
Make your teachers your allies! See them for help!
Do your best – effort matters.
CURRICULUM MATTERS! Challenge yourself wisely – AP / Honors / Core
Best predictor of success at college.
Your semester exams count 20% of your semester grade = 4 ½ weeks of class.
It’s still about learning!

14. Selective Admissions – Relative weight of admission factors
#1 – GRADES/Curriculum – 50-60%
#2 – College Testing – usually 25-40%,
but may be 0% = Test Optional

15. College Testing Why? Which Test, When?
Pre-ACT - 9th Grade – October test, results provided Dec. grade
PSAT – 10th and 11th Grade: 11th Grade = National Merit Qualifying
ACT – Generally 11th Grade - late fall/early winter / 11th grade (1st)
SAT - Generally 11th Grade – late fall/early winter
SAT Subject Tests – Additional test used at some more selective universities/ 11th Grade end of year OR end of subject
Test Score Optional?

16. Selective Admissions Relative Weight of Admission Factors
#1 – Grades/Curriculum 50-60%
#2 - College Testing %
ACT, SAT, PSAT, PLAN, SAT SUBJECT TESTS
#3 - Your Other Strengths 30-0%
Activities, Leadership, Talent, Essays, Recommendations

17. How Can You Contribute? For Yourself vs. For Others
Involvement in Your Community
Involvement in School
Summer Opportunities
Self-Defined Involvement
Explore Your Talents
What are you passionate about?
In-depth rather than surface involvement
For Yourself vs. For Others

18. Summer STEM Opportunities
COSI Summer Internships
New Program for SC students
5-7 students accepted
Application details TBD
8-12 week commitment/20-29 hours per week
OSU Summer Research Internships (11th and 10th Grades)
Mostly Engineering, science, & medical experiences
8 weeks – 20 hours per week
3.5 GPA and completion of Algebra 2 (requirements may be waived for students who participate in COSI program)

19. A Word About Ultra Selective Colleges
Acceptance Rates 2017
Stanford 4%
Harvard 5%
Columbia 6%
Yale 6%
Princeton 6%
U Chicago 7%
MIT 7%
Cal Tech 7%
Brown 8%
Pomona 8%
Penn 9%
Northwestern 9%
Claremont-McKenna 9%
Duke 9%
Dartmouth 10%
Vanderbilt 10%
Swarthmore 10%
Johns Hopkins 11%
Harvey Mudd 12%
Pitzer 12%
Amherst %
Cornell 13%
Tufts 15%
Cal – Berkeley 15%
Wash U – St. Louis 15%
Georgetown 15%
Rigor
Top Grades
Test Scores
Authenticity
Hooks!
Contributions
“X” Factor / Unique
Athletic Recruitment
Luck
The Good News!

20. How Can I Learn About Colleges
Visit the Guidance Office
Guidance Office Website
Websites – pp. 26,27 of booklet
College Guidebooks
Visit Colleges
Naviance!

21. Timeline – 9th Grade
Take the Pre-ACT Test and review scores –taken October 11th – completed
Work hard at your grades and build strong work habits
Begin to look into colleges
Look for summer opportunities
Discuss finances as a family
Get involved in activities that you ENJOY!

22. Timeline - Grades 10-12 Decide – May 1st Grade 10/11 Grade 11 Grade 12
Take PSAT
Get involved, find activities you enjoy and want to become more involved in
Look for summer opportunities
Grade 11
Take PSAT/ACT/SAT/maybe SAT Subject Tests
Research Colleges and build your list of schools – see Mr. Stahlman often!
Grade 12
Finish Testing
Apply
Seek Scholarships and Financial Aid
Decide – May 1st

23. How to NOT Stress About College (at least your Freshman Year)
Jessica Leary Yeager ’10
Denison University
Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

24. As a St. Charles 9th grader …
…you should know
what types of colleges exist
how to prepare academically
yourself!
about small liberal arts & large public schools
proactivity + reflection = success

25. As a 9th grader you should know…
…what types of colleges exist
public, private, liberal arts, military
go beyond rankings!
Colleges that Change Lives
don’t forget Ohio!
Ohio ranks 5th nationally for most number of colleges
behind CA, TX, NY & PA

26. As a 9th grader you should know…
…how to prepare academically
WHAT courses you take matter (as well as how you do in them)
AP, Honors, Accelerated
academic planning
Calculus, AP Spanish V
keep the challenge in perspective, we will!
school profile, grading scale,
available courses, your strengths

27. As a 9th grader you should know…
…yourself!
what is your learning style?
what general areas interest you?
Natural Sciences, History, English, Fine Arts
what do you like being involved in?
sports, radio, theatre, environmental club

28. As a 9th grader you should know…
…about small liberal arts schools
24 Liberal Arts schools in Ohio
emphasis on community living/learning
undecided/multi-interested
strong desire for involvement, personalized attention
beware of the sticker price!

29. As a 9th grader you should know…
Liberal arts student profile
Wants academic challenge, small classes
Major is undecided/multi-interested
Small community, accountability to peers
Member of nationally ranked sports team
Learns best through discussion, writing
Desire to live on-campus
Cost & scholarships are important
State-school student profile
Wants academic challenge, large classes
Knows their intended field of study
“campus” feel, more anonymity
Cheers for a nationally ranked sports team
Learns best through lecture, note-taking
Desire to live off-campus
Cost & scholarships are important

30. As a 9th grader you should …
…start preparing and reflecting now!

31. Senior Assistant Director of Admissions
Jesse Leary Yeager
Senior Assistant Director of Admissions
Denison University