1. INSTRUCTIONS Materials Needed:
Power Point Presentation + Computer + Projector
1 checklist/participant (students, parents or educators) oregongoestocollege.org/itsaplan/educators/downloads
Approximate Time: 30 minutes (includes time for participant think-pair-shares and activities)
Delete this slide before you begin.

2. INSTRUCTIONS
This power point presentation walks through Oregon Goes To College’s It’s A Plan checklists for 11th grade for students and parents (also useful for staff, as well).
Use the talking points as a basic script in the notes provided below each slide. Refer to any printed checklists that you provide the audience (or have them access it on their personal device at oregongoestocollege.org/itsaplan).
Depending on your audience, you won’t need all of the talking points. Delete what you won’t need.
Delete this slide before you begin.

3. 11TH GRADE CHECKLISTS FOR STUDENTS & PARENTS
College: It’s A Plan
11TH GRADE CHECKLISTS FOR STUDENTS & PARENTS
Welcome!
Today we’re going to be talking about the steps that 11th grade students need to take in order to be ready for education after high school and the ways that parents and educators can support them.
Oregon Goes To College offers free resources to help students, parents and educators prepare for education after high school and is a statewide initiative of Oregon GEAR UP, a federally-funded program that helps students prepare for and succeed in college. We will be walking through Oregon Goes To College’s checklist – you can find checklists for middle school through 12th grade on their website, oregongoestocollege.org.
The checklist is broken down into three sections: Achieve, Engage and Explore. We’ll cover the basics in this presentation – more details are available on the printed checklists as well as on the website.
oregongoestocollege.org

4. WHAT IS
COLLEGE?
College = any type of formal education or training after earning a high school diploma or GED. This can be a certificate or an Associates Degree from a community college, a Bachelor’s degree from a 4-year public or private college or university, or an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.

5. ACHIEVE
How to be successful in school.

6. Time to play! GET ORGANIZED
Break participants into groups of no more than 10.
Round 1: Groups must organize themselves in a straight line alphabetical by first name from left-to-right. They may talk! When the group completes the task, they should sit in their line – make it a competition with the winning group receiving a small prize (be sure to confirm they are in alphabetical order!)
Round 2: WITHOUT TALKING, groups must organize themselves in a straight line in order of birthday (month and day) from left-to-right. When the group completes the task, they should sit in their line – make it a competition with the winning group receiving a small prize (be sure to confirm they are in correct order!)
Debrief: Spend a few minutes discussing with the group the importance of organization and communication in academic success. Ask the students: what was helpful in playing the game? What wasn’t? What are some strategies that they use to stay organized?

7. Do well in school.
Academic preparation is the most important thing in being ready for college. Key tips:
Set and share goals/expectations. What do you want to accomplish and how will you get there?
Build good habits – learn how to take notes, make outlines and do research.
Go to all of your classes – if you’re not in school, it’s hard to do well.
Read! Reading improves your focus, concentration, imagination and knowledge – in short, it makes you smarter!
Practice writing college and scholarship essays.
Parents: Ask questions about your student’s teachers, classes, homework etc. Keep track of grades and reach out to teachers or the school if there are questions or concerns.
Note: If you have provided a copy of the checklist to your audience, point out each of the specific tasks as they appear on the checklist and let them know they’ll find more detail and links to resources on the website. If you have a mixed audience (students and parents), show them how their checklists are similar – they address the same topics, but that they are also different – they provide information and resources that are specific to their audience. If you have parents in your audience, show them the ‘Conversation Starters’ and encourage them to use these as a way to communicate.

8. Take the right classes.
Make sure you’re on the right track to graduate from high school and go on to college.
Take advanced or honors classes.
Take a foreign or world language – Oregon public universities require two years of the same foreign/world language.
Take math all four years of high school.
Earn college credit in high school with dual credit or AP classes.
Take a full schedule – try out new electives if you are able.
Review your transcript with a counselor to make sure you’re track to graduate and go to the type of postsecondary education you’re interested in.
Parents: Talk to school staff to make sure your student is on track.

9. Get organized. What works for you?
Use a paper or digital planner or calendar to keep track of assignments and deadlines.
Find a system that works for you to keep notes and papers organized like a binder or folders.
Practice good study habits. Determine the place that you study best (at home or at the library, for example).
Create/update a file for important documents – report cards, awards, activities. This will be helpful when applying to college and for scholarships.
Create a resume of your activities and accomplishments.
Create a professional to be used for all college correspondence.

10. Prepare for college admission tests.
FALL: Take the PSAT/NSMQT to qualify for scholarships.
FALL: Take practice tests and learn helpful tips for the SAT or ACT.
SPRING: Sign up for and take the SAT or ACT.  

11. ENGAGE
Pursue out-of-school activities and hang out with the right people.

12. Time to play! FOLLOW THE LEADER
Arrange participants in a circle. One person (the guesser) leaves the room for a minute while the group chooses who will be the leader. The leader will begin a doing some type of movement (clapping, waving, etc.) that everyone else in the group must follow. The leader changes their movements as often as they would like. The guesser comes back in and stands in the middle of the circle, attempting to guess who the leader is. Give the guesser 3 tries.
Depending on the size of the group, you can also ask for a smaller set of volunteers to play.
Debrief the game by discussing what it means to be a leader or a follower and when each role can be both positive or negative.

13. GET INVOLVED
Take on a leadership role in school activities – club, sport, student government.
Volunteer!
Make a plan for the summer – volunteer, get a job, or find a summer program.

14. SPEND TIME WITH GOOD PEOPLE
Choose to hang out with friends that have positive goals and interests.
Find a trusted adult (parent, teacher, coach, religious leader, older student) that you can trust and talk to.
Serve as a role model and mentor to younger students.
Parents: Get to know your student’s friends and their parents.

15. MAKE GOOD CHOICES Google yourself to see what colleges/employers see.
Delete any unused accounts and set privacy settings.
Be safe online and on your phone.
Avoid risky behaviors like drinking, drugs, and having sex.
Be kind; treat others with respect.

16. EXPLORE
College and career search!

17. THINK  PAIR  SHARE
What career are you interested in? What education will you need for that career?
Participants can draw a picture, briefly write some words or a poem, and/or discuss with someone sitting near them.
What career are you interested in? What education will you need for that career?
Have participants share out if time allows.

18. EXPLORE COLLEGE & CAREER OPTIONS
List 3-5 careers that interest you and the education you will need.
Consider volunteering or a job shadow to learn more.
Review what is most important to you in a college.
Refine your list to 5-10 colleges and universities that interest you.
Think broadly: include two-year and four-year options as well as in-state and out-of-state choices.
Confirm that these colleges have the program or major for your chosen careers.
Research admission requirements for each college to make sure you’re on track.
SPRING: Make list of deadlines for each college.
Research special requirements and deadlines for the arts, military or playing sports or if you are an undocumented student.
Get to know your top colleges.
If possible, visit your top colleges on a field trip with your school or your family. Sign up with the admissions office to take an official tour and go to an information session and sit in on a class if possible. In the spring, participate in a campus interview if available.
Explore colleges online with virtual tours or on their websites and social media.
Attend a college fair if there is one in your area.

19. LEARN ABOUT PAYING FOR COLLEGE
College is affordable. Financial aid (grants, loans, scholarships, work-study) can help.
Understand college costs – net price v. sticker price.
Fill out the FAFSA4Caster with your family to determine how much financial aid you may be eligible for.
Set up a college savings account and contribute to it regularly.
Search and apply for scholarships.
photo: Sal Falko

20. oregongoestocollege.org/itsaplan
oregongoestocollege orgoestocollege
As a final reminder, if you lose the printed checklist or just want to get a jump on what’s next, checklists for students and parents are available (with helpful links) on oregongoestocollege.org/itsaplan. As a school, we will be helping remind students and parents as well to make sure everyone is on track.
oregongoestocollege.org