1. James Hubert Blake High School
College Daze Program
for 11th grade Students and Parents/Guardians
March 22, 2016

2. Road to your Future AGENDA Upcoming events for juniors
Review and discuss various post-secondary educational & vocational options.
Determine what factors will influence your decisions.
Review college search process & procedures for college applications.

3. Field Trip for Students:
National College Fair
The Montgomery County
Agricultural Center
16 Chestnut Street
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Field Trip for Students:
Tuesday, April 19th
during school
Fair Hours for Parents:
Wed 4/19 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Register online:
Signed Parent Permission Form Required
$6.00
Bus fee
(pay online)
Bring a bag lunch for the bus & dress appropriately.

4. College Essay Writing Clinic
Wednesday, June 1st (pending)
English classes report to AMP

5. Which Test Should I Take?
All JUNIORS MUST take at least one of these tests by April 2016:
SAT, ACT or Accuplacer
Whatever test you choose,
PREPARE well before test day!
Meet with your counselor to determine the best test that will fit your future plans

6. See Mrs. Moore for SAT or ACT Fee Waivers for
SAT/ACT/ACCUPLACER
See Mrs. Moore for SAT or ACT Fee Waivers for
low income families.
ACT
English (1-36)
*usage (1-18)
*rhetorical (1-18)
Reading (1-36)
Mathematics (1-36)
Science (1-36)
Measures Science Reasoning
Math up to trigonometry
Scores based on correct answers
No penalty for wrong answers
Writing section (optional)
SAT (redesigned March 2016)
Critical Reading (200 – 800)
Mathematics (200 – 800)
SAT Total (400 –1600)
Aligned to Common Core
Math section includes student response/grid-in questions; including precalculus
No Penalty for wrong answers
Writing section (optional)
SAT Subject Tests
- May be required for selective university admissions
- Take at the end of course (June or October)
- Can take up to 3 tests in one sitting (1 hour each)
ACCUPLACER – Community College
Measures readiness for college level math, reading and writing

7. Register for the SAT and/or ACT If fees present a financial hardship, please see Mrs. Moore for fee waiver eligibility criteria
SAT Test
Test date: May 7
Deadline: April 8
Late Deadline: April 26
Test date: June 4
Deadline: May 5
Late Deadline: May 25
Cost: $54.50
Late Fee: +$28.00
Wait-list Fee: +$46.00
ACT Test
Test date: April 9
Deadline: March 4
Late Deadline: March 18
Test date: June 11
Deadline: May 6
Late Deadline: May 20
Cost: $56.50
Late Fee: +$25.00
Wait-list Fee: +$49.00
Sign up:
Sign up:

8. Other options can be found in the Career Center.
WAYS to PREPARE
FREE WEBSITES:
www. satpractice.org (Khan Academy)
practice
TAKE MOCK TESTS:
New SAT/ACT Combo – January 9, Sat, Blake (to prepare for Jan 23 SAT or Feb 6 ACT)
Mock ACT – February 20 Sat, Blake (to prepare for April 9 ACT)
TAKE A PREP COURSE:
Catalyst Prep Weekend Boot Camps:
– April 30-May 1 – Blake
(to prepare for May 7 SAT)
-- May 21-22– Blake
(to prepare for June 11 ACT)
Other options can be found in the Career Center.

9. Why start now? College visits:
Use winter break, spring break and summer to go on college campus visits
Absences:
Juniors and seniors are allowed up to 5 excused days for college visits with ADVANCED notice to Ms. Sheftell (Attendance Office)
Application Deadlines begin as early as Oct 15, with most due Nov 1st senior year
Prepare your list of schools and begin applying to colleges no later than 15 school days prior to deadline date. (most college apps online by Aug 1)

10. Log in to Naviance- Family Connection here Use the Web to Search for Colleges, Financial Aid, Scholarships, Career Information, and more! H.S. CODE for SAT or ACT registration and College applications

11. Post-Secondary Options
Four year Institutions
Two year Community Colleges
Vocational Schools or Apprenticeship Programs
Arts Institutions
The World of Work
Military
“Gap” Year
AmeriCorps, Study Abroad, Outward Bound

12. Search using Naviance School Type (2 or 4 yr) Location
Student Body - Enrollment Size
Majors & Minors
Athletics
Cost + Financial Aid
Special Programs (clubs, newspaper, band, ROTC, etc)

13. Use Naviance /Family Connection
PRINT:
“Life after High School” Packet
(See or your Counselor if you need your password reset)

14. Post Your Colleges Here
Colleges MUST be posted here or you will not be targeted
for scholarships and college rep visits.

15. Benny Bengal applies to Towson University

16. How Many Colleges Should I Apply To?
Identify
10 Colleges
Apply to
3-6 Colleges
Target
Safe
Reach

17. Admission Policy Vocabulary
Early Decision
Early Action, Priority, Early Notification
Regular Admission
Rolling Admission
Open Admission

18. Components College Application
Application Form – Biographical Data
Common Application (
Application Fee – ranges from $0 - $75
Transcript – GPA & Courses
Test Scores – SAT/ACT
– Test optional colleges
Essay – Check prompts carefully
Letter of Recommendations – teacher and counselor
Audition/Portfolio/Interview – specific to certain colleges
Resume – optional, include GPA, SSL, leadership, extracurricular activities, work experience

19. Scholarship & Transcript Request Process begins with Mrs
Scholarship & Transcript Request Process begins with Mrs. Cunningham, Registrar
Forms to be completed for EACH college or scholarship requiring a transcript
Allow 15 days for processing

20. Checklist before requesting transcripts
Do you…?
Know your deadlines?
Know how colleges accept documents?
Edocs?
Common Application?
Mail paper transcript and other documents?
must bring a stamped, addressed envelope to process
Did you…?
Complete Parent/Student Reflection
Ask for a teacher recommendation no less than 15 school days before deadline?

21. On-the-Spot Admissions Events
What are on-the-spot admissions?
They are local events for students to apply for admission to certain colleges, face-to-face, and get an immediate acceptance decision.
How do I find out about them?
Students should listen for announcements, check the Naviance website, the Blake website or see Mrs. Moore in the College & Career Center for information.

22. Research your Schools Resource Books & Catalogs Computer Searches
Call or Admissions Offices
College Fairs
College Reps in the Career Center
College Campus Visits
5 excused days from school with preapproval from Ms. Bowser in Attendance office
College Fair

23. No matter what road you take…
Contact your counselor to schedule a “Senior Commitment Appointment” before final exams this year
Career Center will be open over the summer.
Summer Workshops are encouraged.

24. It’s Really All About Fit
Be Confident – Take responsibility for your own college admissions search.
Be Deliberate – Do thoughtful research about programs and opportunities
Be Realistic and trust your instincts
Be Honest and be yourself
“College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.”
– Martha O’Connell with NPR

25. Too Much Information? Check out the College & Career Center bulletin board

26. Counseling Staff Mrs. Kiedrow A – Dh Mrs. Hayes Di – Jam
Mrs. Baer Jan-Ni
Ms. Costenbader Nj - S
Mr. Chan T-Z
Mr. Tolbert Gr 9
Ms. Smith Gr 9
Mrs. Moore College and Career Coordinator
Mrs. Marks School Registrar

27. Reminders: Follow us on Twitter @BlakeCounselors
Daily tips, reminders and information from the Blake Counseling Department and College/Career Center.
This PowerPoint presentation will be posted on the Blake Career Center Webpage!