1. College planning
FOR 9TH & 10TH GRADERS
October 25, 2018

2. OPTIONS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
College
Technical Training
Military
Employment

3. Simplify the College Planning Process
College opportunities exist for everyone. These 4 steps can help simplify the planning process:
Learn the “language” of college
Understand admission factors
Explore college options
Develop a financial plan

4. THE “LANGUAGE” OF COLLEGE
4-year vs 2-year
Public vs Private vs Proprietary
Selectivity

5. THE “LANGUAGE” OF COLLEGE
In-state vs Out-of-state Tuition
Early Decision vs Early Action vs Regular Decision vs Rolling Admission
Scholarships/Grants/Loans

6. Admission Factors – What Colleges Consider
Understand Admission Factors
Admission Factors – What Colleges Consider
The first part of planning for college is understanding what factors colleges consider when looking at a student profile.
Primary Factors
Quality/Rigor of Academic Courses
Academic Performance/ Grades
Test Scores (ACT, SAT, AP®, etc.)
Additional Factors
Cocurricular Activities
Essay(s)
Letters of Recommendation
Demonstrated Interest

7. Understand Admission Factors
Grades & Course Work
Understand Admission Factors
Your high school academic record is one of the most important factors in college admission. Colleges will look at a few aspects:
Course selection: Challenge yourself with a rigorous course load and high-level classes, including AP or Honors courses.
Grades: Every year counts, starting with freshman year.
GPA trends: Keep improving through every grade.
Class rank

8. Understand Admission Factors
Other Considerations
Understand Admission Factors
Positive recommendations from educators and mentors
Personal statement and essay(s) demonstrating writing ability and self-expression
A “demonstrated interest” that shows your enthusiasm for the colleges to which you’re applying
Extracurricular activities, including participation in sports, performing/visual arts, volunteering, etc.
Community involvement, part-time work or internship
Interview (if applicable)

9. Explore College Options – What to Consider
Size and diversity of student body
Location
Academic programs
Campus life — athletics, activities, housing
Graduation and retention rates
Financial aid and scholarship opportunities
Above all, think about where you will be the most happy and successful in your college life.

10. Explore College Options
Visit Campuses
Explore College Options
Get to know a school from the inside:
Take a campus tour.
Speak with an admission counselor.
Ask about financial aid opportunities.
Sit in on a class of interest.
Read the student newspaper.
Talk to students and faculty.
In addition to what’s on this slide, here are some other things to do when you visit a campus:
• Get business cards and names of people you meet for future contacts.
• Pick up financial aid forms.
• Participate in a group information session at the admission office.
• Spend the night in a dorm.
• Try to find other student publications — department newsletters, alternative newspapers and literary reviews.
• Scan bulletin boards to see what day-to-day student life is like.
• Eat in the cafeteria.
• Wander around the campus by yourself.
• Read for a little while in the library and see what it’s like.
• Search for your favorite book in the library.
• Browse in the college bookstore.
• Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus.
• Listen to the college’s radio station.
• Try to see a dorm that you didn’t see on the tour.
• Imagine yourself attending this college for four years.

11. SO . . . What Should WE be doing?
Choose challenging classes.
Focus on grades!!!!
Shoot for 3.0 QPA.
Volunteer – and document!
Get involved in school activities.
Begin college research using collegefortn, college websites, campus visits, etc.

12. Helpful websites actstudent.org collegeboard.org ecampustours.com
fastweb.com