1. Match Matters Kickoff Event

2. The Process - Four Keys to College Match
Know Your Numbers
Get an Early Start
Build a Smart Wish List
The starting point for acting on a college and career plan is knowing your academic numbers. From there, counselors help students create a wishlist with reaches, matches, and likely schools. As we all know, at every point, the investment that higher education requires – and the potential return on that investment – has to be carefully considered. At all points in this process, early engagement leads to more options and potentially better outcomes.
Prepare for the Cost of College
More applications, especially more match and reach apps ➔
better outcomes for kids
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3. KNOW YOUR NUMBERS!
Students will be able to evaluate the implications of their GPA and SAT/ACT scores, and understand how and when it is possible to improve those numbers.
POP Quiz! Your Senior Year GPA Matters-T or F and Why?

4. This is where we will use the Match Tool!
BUILD A SMART WISHLIST
Students will build a Smart Wish List of colleges, giving them the opportunity to matriculate to a match or better institution.
This is where we will use the Match Tool!

5. PREPARE FOR THE COST OF COLLEGE
Students and families will understand the financial aid basics, including EFC, scholarships, loans, and SAR.
POP Quiz: What’s the difference between a grant and a loan?

6. What’s the difference between a grant and a loan?
POP QUIZ
What’s the difference between a grant and a loan?

7. GET AN EARLY START
Students will get started early on the application process to develop a strong and on-time application to each college.

8. DEFINING REACH, TARGET, LIKELY
Reach – You have a 1/3 chance, at best, of being admitted to this school. [3-pointer]
Target – More than half the time (50%), students like you are admitted to this school. [Field Goal]
Likely– Most of the time (75% or more), students like you are admitted to this school. [Free Throw]
Career Totals:
3P: 32%; FG: 49%; FT: 84%

9. Test Scores vs. GPA College Competitiveness
Getting into a certain type of school is largely based on your GPA and Test Scores. The more selective a school is (meaning, the harder it is to get accepted into a certain school), the higher likelihood you have of graduating from that school.

10. Likelihood of Acceptance
You Make the Wish List
A SMART Wish List has at least:
3 likely, 3 target, 3 reach schools
Sample SMART Wish List for a student with a 3.2 GPA and 1100 SAT Score
Likelihood of Acceptance
School Name
Likely/Likely+
FAMU
Rutgers-Camden
Saint Peter’s University
Target
Lycoming College
Ithaca College
The College of New Jersey
Reach
Rutgers-New Brunswick
Pepperdine University
Syracuse University

11. Narrow Down the List Factor Things to Consider Net Cost
Sticker Price-Financial Aid=Net Cost
Graduation Rate of Underrepresented Students
# of African American and Latino Students who graduate in 6 years; Even if you do not fit into this category, it likely means the school supports/promotes diversity and inclusion
Best -Fit
Is the location, school size, majors offered, etc. a good for my personality and preferences?
DREAM BIG!
Push yourself to choose at least 2 schools outside of your state
Pop Quiz:
Grad rate of African American and Latino Students?
FSU 78%
FIU 57%
UM 82%
Miami-Dade 46%

12. Next Steps Use the Student Match Tool to Create a List
Let’s look at it together now!
Print the SMART Wish List and give it to your counselor
Link everything to Naviance
Work with your counselor to apply