1. Sherwood High School College and Career Planning
Excellence Is The Only Option
Sherwood High School College and Career Planning
Sherwood Counseling Department
Summer 2019
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2. Agenda Review Credit Check Options After High School
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Agenda
Review Credit Check
Options After High School
Senior Packet Review
Naviance
Next Steps
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3. High School Credit Status Evaluation (Credit Check)
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High School Credit Status Evaluation (Credit Check)
This form lists the courses and requirements that a student has completed.
Please note what is still required for graduation.
Please complete and sign. Return the GREEN Copy before you leave.
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4. Senior Packet Review Time line for 12th Grade
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Senior Packet Review Time line for 12th Grade
Summer
Meaningful activities
Narrow college list
Begin applications
Fall
Stay organized- be mindful of deadlines
Submit applications
Request transcripts
Complete the FAFSA/CSS Profile
Send test scores
Winter
Apply to additional colleges if needed
Maintain grades
Start scholarship searches
Send mid-year transcripts
Spring
Make sure you are meeting graduation requirements
Make admission decision and send deposit by 5/1
Take AP Exams
Request final transcript to be sent
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5. “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” (Identifying the Options)
Excellence Is The Only Option
“Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” (Identifying the Options)
Four Year College/University
Two Year College
Military
Trade/Technical School
Workforce
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6. Excellence Is The Only Option
Starting my list
Major
Does this school have it?
Location
Close to home?
In-state?
Once a semester.
Cost
Do I have a range that is affordable to me?
Admission Criteria
GPA
Foreign Lang?
SAT/ACT
Admission Rate
How competitive is the school?
Safety/reach ream
Size
Big/small classes?
Social impact?
What’s your comfort level?
To start, make a list of what is important to you and your family...
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7. Creating Your List of Colleges
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Creating Your List of Colleges
Reach school: Dream school (1 - 3 schools)
Target school: You fit right in! (2 - 4 schools)
Safety school: Your qualifications exceed the average. ( Schools)
Have a good mix of Reach, Target & Safety schools, as well as a mix of private and public (state) schools
Your list should be specific to you!
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8. Sherwood’s Most Popular Colleges
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Sherwood’s Most Popular Colleges
Taken from Naviance self-report data
Provides averages from Sherwood graduates in recent years, as well as national averages.
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9. What Are Colleges Looking For?
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What Are Colleges Looking For?
Top Admissions Factors:
Grades in College Prep/Core Courses
Strength of Curriculum
Grades in all courses
Test Scores (SAT/ACT)
Moderately Important Factors:
Essay
Counselor Recommendation
Teacher Recommendations
Demonstrated Interest
Extracurricular Activities
Class Rank (MCPS does not rank)
Some Colleges May Consider/require:
SAT Subject Test Scores
Portfolios or Auditions
Interviews
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10. SAT vs ACT SAT ACT Why Take It Test Structure Length Science
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SAT
ACT
Why Take It
Colleges use SAT scores for admissions and merit-based scholarships.
Colleges use ACT scores for admissions and merit-based scholarships.
Test Structure
Reading
Writing & Language
Math
Essay (Optional)
English
Science Reasoning
Length
3 hours (without essay)
3 hours, 50 minutes (with essay)
2 hours, 55 minutes (without essay)
3 hours, 40 minutes (with essay)
5 reading passages
4 reading passages
Science
None
1 science section testing your critical thinking skills (not your specific science knowledge)
Covers: Arithmetic
Algebra I & II
Geometry, Trigonometry and Data Analysis
Geometry, Trigonometry, and Probability & Statistics
Calculator Policy
Some math questions don't allow you to use a calculator.
You can use a calculator on all math questions.
Essays
Optional. The essay will test your comprehension of a source text.
Optional. The essay will test how well you evaluate and analyze complex issues.
How It's Scored
Scored on a scale of 400–1600
Scored on a scale of 1–36
SAT vs ACT
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11. 2019 – 2020 ACT & SAT Test Dates SAT ACT Excellence Is The Only Option
Registration Deadlines
Late Registration Deadlines
July 13, 2019
June 14, 2019
June 24, 2019
September 14, 2019
August 16, 2019
September 1, 2019
October 26, 2019
September 27, 2019
October 13, 2019
December 14, 2019
November 8, 2019
November 25, 2019
February 8, 2020
January 10, 2020
January 17, 2020
April 4, 2020
February 29, 2020
March 16, 2020
June 13, 2020
May 8, 2020
May 25, 2020
July 18, 2020
June 19, 2020
June 29, 2020
Test Dates
Registration Deadlines
Late Registration Deadlines
August 24, 2019
July 24, 2019
August 11, 2019
October 5, 2019
September 5, 2019
September 23, 2019
November 2, 2019
October 2, 2019
October 20, 2019
December 7, 2019
November 7, 2019
November 25, 2019
March 14, 2020
February 13, 2020
February 24, 2020
May 2, 2020
April 2, 2020
April 20, 2020
June 6, 2020
May 6, 2020
May 23, 2020
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12. Excellence Is The Only Option
Campus Visits
Visiting a college campus helps you get a sense of what a college – and life at that college – is like.
Do an official tour through admissions
If you can:
sit in on a class,
talk to students, professors & coaches (if interested in playing at the collegiate level)
Ask questions and take notes
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13. Definitions of Admissions Options Know which ones your colleges use
Excellence Is The Only Option
Definitions of Admissions Options Know which ones your colleges use
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14. The Admissions Essay Write in your own voice
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The Admissions Essay
Write in your own voice
Don’t repeat yourself –your essay should tell the college something they haven’t read in your application already
Take your time- write, revise, repeat – START NOW
Make sure you are answering the essay prompt
Have other people proofread it for easily missed errors
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15. Financial Aid Types of Financial Aid Sources of Financial aid Grants
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Financial Aid
Types of Financial Aid
Sources of Financial aid
Grants
Scholarships
Work Study
Loans
Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) – can be in the form of grants or federal loans
State Financial Aid (MHEC- Maryland Higher Education Commission)
Institutional Financial Aid (from the college/university
Private Sources (independent scholarships and private loans)
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16. Common Websites for Financial Aid
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Common Websites for Financial Aid
Naviance
mhec.maryland.gov
Collegeboard.org
FAFSA.gov
Studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa /estimate (FAFSA4caster
Myscholly.com
Salliemae.com/college- planning
Goingmerry.com
Raise.me
Fastweb.com
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17. Application Flow Chart
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Application Flow Chart
Student Responsibilities:
Completing Brag Sheets
Completing Applications
Sending Test Scores
Requesting letters of Recommendation
Submitting paper transcript request to registrar
School Responsibilities:
Send letters of recommendations, transcripts, school profile, etc. through Naviance
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18. Application Platforms and Essay Prompts
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Application Platforms and Essay Prompts
Common Application
commonapp.org
800+ Colleges/Universities
Opens August 1, but you can create an account now (some information may need to be re- entered after 8/1
Essay Prompts are available NOW
Coalition Application
mycoalition.org
140+ Colleges/Universities
Can start application at any time during high school (start adding information to the “Locker” early.
Essay Prompts are available NOW
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19. Application Platforms and Essay Prompts
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Application Platforms and Essay Prompts
Schools may use a combination of application platforms (Their own application, Common Application, , Coalition Application, Universal Application, etc.)
Some schools may only use one platform (UMD only uses the Coalition Application)
Maximize efforts and use the platforms that are most used by your schools.
Start early- the fall of senior year gets busy and early deadlines (Nov 1) come quickly. Do as much over the summer as you can.
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20. Excellence Is The Only Option
Request official transcripts and counselor/teacher letters of recommendation
Search for colleges and scholarships; register for career center visits
Complete student and parent brag sheets
Keep track of the college application process from any computer with internet connection
NAVIANCE PROGRAM
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21. Excellence Is The Only Option
Achievement * Civility * Engagement *Unity* Integrity

22. Excellence Is The Only Option
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23. Naviance Every student has their own account
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Naviance
Every student has their own account
Login is typically their address
Password is typically their 6 digit school ID number
Parents can access their student’s account, or get their own account
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24. Summer Offerings in the Career Center
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Summer Offerings in the Career Center
Boot Camp Topics:
College Application Process
The Common Application
Coalition Application
Naviance
Financial Aid
The College Essay
Practice College Admissions Testing
July 10 – Mock SAT
August 12 – Mock ACT
Boot-Camps
August 13 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
August 15 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
August 20 3:00 – 5:30 PM
August 23 3:00 – 5:30 PM
Contact Joe Hock in the Career Center to sign up
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25. Advice from the Class of 2019
Excellence Is The Only Option
Advice from the Class of 2019
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26. Advice from the Class of 2019
Excellence Is The Only Option
Advice from the Class of 2019
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27. REMINDERS Refer to the College Application Checklist
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REMINDERS
Refer to the College Application Checklist
Keep the lines of communication open
Start applications early
Be mindful of due dates and responsibilities
Students need to own the process (with support)
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