1. 1 GET SET FOR © 2010 by ACT, Inc. All rights reserved. College

2. 2 Planning college Planning college for

3. 3 TYPICAL REASONS FOR ATTENDING COLLEGE ■ Increasing earning power ■ Career preparation ■ Learning opportunities ■ Studying new and different subjects ■ Involvement in extracurricular activities ■ Meeting new and interesting people ■ Achieving a personal goal ■ Influence of family and friends Take responsibility for your future

4. 4 Remember — decision making is a process, not an event. Let’s focus on college

5. 5 6 6 simple steps You can organize the college planning process in

6. 6  Recognize your strengths and weaknesses  Analyze your interests and values  Achieve a personal goal  Increase your earning power  Prepare for a career  Participate in extracurricular activities and social life  Consider the influence of family and friends 1 1 STEP Know yourself and your reasons for attending college

7. 7  Majors and educational programs  Type of school and degrees offered  Admission policy  Location and size  Costs and financial aid  College affiliation and accreditation  Campus activities  Support services Consider college characteristics 2 2 STEP

8. 8 List, compare, and visit colleges  Compile information from several resources: – Internet/Websites – College catalogs, viewbooks, videos, and computer-based services (DISCOVER ® ) – College representatives and college fairs – Counselors and teachers – Parents, students, and alumni – Directories and ACT score report 3 3 STEP

9. 9 Meet with an admission counselor Verify admission requirements Determine actual college costs Ask about financial aid opportunities Take a campus tour Investigate your academic program(s) Attend a class Talk with students and faculty Checklist for a campus visit

10. 10 Apply for admission and meet all deadlines  Narrow your choices  Review college admission test requirements (including the optional Writing Test)  Know application fees and deadlines  Submit application materials (paper/electronic) –Application for admission –High school transcript –Recommendations –Admission test results  Know scholarship requirements 4 4 STEP

11. 11 5 5 STEP Develop a plan to pay for your education  Determine college costs  Investigate ALL possible resources – Parents – Savings – Summer earnings – Financial aid: scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study – Other sources  Secure necessary forms and note deadlines  Apply for financial aid as early as possible

12. 12  Show initiative and be assertive  Talk with your parents and counselor  Select a college that meets your needs and preferences  Follow up with colleges to which you have applied 6 6 STEP Review and finalize your plans

13. 13  Study habits  Motivation  Course selection  Placement  Interests  Commitment College success factors Keep in mind... Making sound decisions will lead to satisfying and successful experiences.

14. 14  Why Should You Go To College? (Overview) 1. College is the pathway to success and a better life 2. College graduates earn more money and get better jobs 3. Unemployment rates are lower for college graduates 4. College will help you help your family 5. College is a lot of fun! 14

15. Pathway to Success and a Better Life  College opens doors to opportunity and expands your horizons. You will experience new points of view.  Graduating from college will be a source of pride because it is a great accomplishment.  You get to follow your dreams and determine your future! 15

16. College Graduates Earn More Money 16

17. College is Required for a Better Job  All of the highest paying jobs require a college degree.  Jobs for college graduates include better benefits, such as health insurance and retirement plans.  College graduates have half the unemployment rates of high school graduates and better job security.  There are many more jobs available for college graduates than high school graduates. 17

18. College Helps You Help Your Family  You will be able to support your family with a larger salary.  You will pave the way for your brothers and sisters and other relatives to go to college.  You will be able to help your children with their homework and give them a better life. As a result, they will be more likely to attend college. 18

19. College is a Lot of Fun!  You get to do amazing things and to train for a job you will enjoy. There are many activities on college campuses.  You will meet smart and interesting people and make lifelong friends.  At college, it is cool to be smart. You will learn how to think and express yourself more clearly and solve important problems. You will become more confident. 19

20. College is a Pathway to Opportunity In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a prerequisite. – President Barack Obama 20

21. Famous College Graduates  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – UCLA  Bill Clinton – Georgetown  Hillary Clinton – Wellesley  Bill Cosby – Temple University  Gloria Estefan – Univ. of Miami  Jodie Foster – Yale  Louis Gossett, Jr. – NYU  Hugh Hefner – Univ. of Illinois  Magic Johnson – Michigan St.  Tommy Lee Jones – Harvard  John F. Kennedy – Harvard  Martin Luther King Jr. – BU  Spike Lee – Morehouse, NYU  Jay Leno – Emerson College  David Letterman – Ball State  Bill Nye – Bridgewater State  Shaquille O'Neal – LSU  Barack Obama – Occidental  Natalie Portman – Harvard  Colin Powell – CUNY, GWU  Ronald Reagan – Eureka  J. K. Rowling – Univ. of Exeter  Sonia Sotomayor – Princeton  Julia Stiles – Columbia  Sigourney Weaver – Stanford  Oprah Winfrey – Tenn. State 21