1. Presented by: Ms. Tracey Marek Lead School Counselor Grades 11 & 12
JUNIOR PARENT NIGHT
SEPTEMBER 27, 2018

2. WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?
Work
Military
Technical/Trade School
Apprenticeship programs
Community or Junior College
guaranteed transfer agreement w/ 4 year schools in Virginia
4-year College or University
Public or Private
Information on ALL of these options is available in the junior planning guide on the KWHS website:

3. JUNIORS, IT’S TIME TO GET READY….
Class visits Sept. 21 & 24
Develop a plan for after HS
Junior Planning Guide
(on KWHS website)
PSAT test (Oct 10)
Options after high school
SAT/ACT testing
College Representative visits
GRASP meetings
Upcoming Dates

4. KWHS WEBSITE- GUIDANCE PAGE

5. HOW TO DECIDE?? KNOW YOURSELF
Consider Values
Ambitions
Achievements
Academic Strengths
Interests
Standout Talents
Help your child recognize their strengths- guide, don’t steer

6. What are your skills? What are your passions?
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CAREER & MAJOR IS THE ONE THAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT!
What are your skills?
What are your passions?
Find a career / major that fits here

7. ASVAB TEST
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (FREE Career Assessment)
Does NOT mean you are enlisting
November 8th at 8am and April 16th at 8am- sign up in the guidance office
4tests.com/asvab- free practice!

8. THERE ARE OTHER GREAT OPTIONS BESIDES A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE
Great need in the US for middle-skill jobs (examples include- paralegal, nursing, security, police and fire, technology, dental hygienists, communications, skilled labor, mechanics, electricians etc)
WHY? Baby boomers- experience is retiring, Companies used to train workers themselves but not anymore
Apprenticeships still exist- great option- have to seek them out

9. GUARANTEED TRANSFER AGREEMENT
23 OF VIRGINIA’S COMMUNITY COLLEGES
OVER 30 VIRGNIA 4 YEAR COLLEGES
MUST SIGN AGREEMENT EARLY
GPA EXAMPLES:
ODU 2.5
W & M 3.6
UVA 3.4
VT 3.4 *ENGINEERING 3.2!
CNU 3.5
VCU 2.5 *ENGINEERING & NURSING 3.0

10. Trade-schools.net Great website to search for
technical and trade schools
for careers that require
2 years or less of
post high school education

11. COLLEGE TESTING
SAT I’S AND SAT II’S (only select colleges want SAT II’s) ($64.50)
($47.50 w/o essay)
ACT’S ($62.50)
($46 w/o essay)
SIGN UP ONLINE- or
Fee waivers available for both tests
KWHS is a testing site! SAT on Dec 1, March 9, May 4 and ACT on Oct 27, Feb 9, April 13
Scores must be sent directly from ACT or collegeboard- FREE when you register

12. SAT ACT ACT OR SAT? * NO SCIENCE SECTION * SCIENCE SECTION
* QUESTIONS IN ORDER *QUESTIONS IN RANDOM OF DIFFICULTY ORDER
* MATH-CALC ON HALF, * MATH- CALC ON ALL
61% ALGEBRA % GEOMETRY
* ESSAY OPTIONAL * ESSAY OPTIONAL
* NO PENALTY FOR * NO PENALTY FOR
WRONG ANSWERS WRONG ANSWERS

13. MORE SAT/ACT HELP: COLLEGES WILL TAKE SCORES FROM EITHER OR BOTH TESTS
PREPARE FOR THE
TESTS
SELF REPORTING NOW
TEST OPTIONAL
SCHOOLS
TAKE BOTH TESTS TO PRACTICE AND SEE WHICH IS BETTER SUITED FOR YOU

14. OTHER TESTING… www.fairtest.org- test scores optional colleges
CLEP TESTING- COLLEGE LEVEL EXAM PROGRAM- $87 PER TEST- HS GRADUATES- check with each college to see what tests and scores they accept, and how many credits you can earn (English, Math, Science, History, Business, Language)
SAT SUBJECT TESTS- $26, plus $22-26 per test- TAKE THEM ALONG WITH AP TESTS OR CAN TAKE OTHER SUBJECTS
SHOWS YOUR STRENGTHS, SAVE MONEY, SKIP LOWER LEVEL CLASSES

15. FREE COLLEGE FAIRS KWHS Career & College Fair Nov 1st 9:00am-11:00am
National College Fair in
Washington DC on Sat.
Nov 3rd 2pm-5pm - FREE! –
220+ schools- list is on the table
Infinitescholar.org- Oct. 6 on site admissions
Collegeweeklive.com- virtual college fair

16. SPRING/SUMMER TASKS SIGN UP ONLINE FOR SAT’S/ACT’S
NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER SIGN UP- berecruited.com
ROTC/ MILITARY ACADEMY APPLICATIONS
DOWNLOAD COLLEGE APPLICATIONS AND START WORKING ON THEM
START WORKING ON ESSAYS
CREATE a Résumé (go to for resume builder or see counselor for samples)
DECIDE ON EARLY ACTION/EARLY DECISION
Early Action – not binding
Early Decision - binding

17. SUMMER TASKS (CONT.)
BY SEPTEMBER, PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF SCHOOLS YOU WANT TO APPLY TO
INCLUDE IN YOUR LIST…
Safety School = 100% sure you will get in (check average test scores and GPA)
Probably School = good chance of getting in, but not 100%
Reach School = grades and test scores SLIGHTLY below the school’s averages
WE RECOMMEND STUDENTS APPLY TO 4 SCHOOLS.
SEARCH FOR SCHOLARSHIPS- LIST OF WEBSITES IN BOOKLET & ON KWHS WEBSITE

18. FREE RESOURCES FREE resources- Opportunities Guide College Handbook
CCC, GRASP & Ms. Marek
Handouts from tonight
Next Step U magazine-
nextstepU.com

19. www.imfirst.org- for first generation students
DID YOU KNOW??
Academic Common Market- Provides in-state tuition for programs not available in a student’s home state-More than 1,900 programs available- Go to or for more information
Beacon College-
Only 4 year college exclusively for students with learning disabilities & ADHD
Center for Student Opportunity-
for first generation students

20. MORE OPTIONS THAT SAVE TIME…
Common Black College Application
One application for 53 HBCU’s for $35
Choose your top 4 but application is sent to all 53 schools
Common Application
One application for over 700 colleges- free application; however, there are some individual college supplement fees per college ($25 - $140)

21. FINANCIAL AID BOOKS IN CAREER CENTER SPREADSHEET ON KWHS WEBSITE
GRASP- Yvonne Crenshaw- every other Thurs. between 9am-2pm- call for appointment x.607
Students and/or parents can meet with her.
COLLEGE & OTHER WEBSITES (I.E. FINAID.ORG, MERITAID.COM, FAFSA.ED.GOV)
OPPORTUNITIES BOOKLET- ecmc.org
FAFSA- FREE!- October 1st- new mobile app:  myStudentAid

22. FINANCIAL AID CONTINUED:
MOST PARENTS OVERESTIMATE COLLEGE COSTS BY 300%
STICKER PRICE IS NOT USUALLY THE ACTUAL PRICE YOU PAY
NEVER RULE OUT A SCHOOL BECAUSE OF COST ALONE
COMPARE COSTS BEFORE APPLYING
GET ADVICE FROM COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID OFFICES

23. FINANCIAL AID RESOURCE
Jodi Okun #collegecash
There is no one complete
list of scholarships that
are available- it doesn’t
exist.
Many scholarships are not
awarded because no one
applies for them.

24. JUNIOR PACKET
AVAILABLE ON THE KWHS WEBSITE OR PAPER COPIES IN THE COUNSELING OFFICE
FOR ANY STUDENT NEEDING A RECOMMENDATION FROM MS. MAREK (COLLEGE, SCHOLARSHIPS, EMPLOYMENT)
STUDENTS FILL OUT THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY & Résumé
PARENTS FORM
TEACHERS/OTHER ADULTS FORM
PEER FORM
EVERYTHING DUE BY JUNE 2019

25. MYCOALITION ACCOUNT http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/
Free online college-planing tool to house documents, photos, essays, etc. to assist with college applications.
One-stop-shop to house pieces of the applications that can be shared with member schools (over 140)
MyCoalition Counselor is a directory of informative articles and free expert advice on all aspects of the college application process

26. AVOID THE PARENT TRAP Guide, don’t steer
Books recommended by the Dean of Admissions at VT:
Be aware of “WE”- by allowing your child to take ownership of this process, you are giving them the opportunity to learn important problem-solving skills.

27. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!
NEWSLETTERS AND OTHER RESOURCES TO TAKE HOME WITH YOU
QUESTIONS?
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL OR IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AFTER TONIGHT