1. Career/College Planning 2013 Northwood High School Michelle Reid, School Counselor Kris James, Teacher Librarian

2.  Recognize your strengths & weaknesses  Analyze your interests  Identify your values  Consider all options, regardless of cost  Take responsibility for your future  Check out KnowHow2Go (http://www.knowhow2go.org) for self-http://www.knowhow2go.org assessment tools. The most important factor to consider in planning for your future is understanding yourself.

3.  Community Resources, upcoming guidance events, scheduling information etc.  You can access ACT & SAT materials, the Campus Visit Checklist, and Financial Aid support from this page too.  If you don’t see something that you need, just let me know! Website

4.  OCIS: Ohio Career Information System (http://ocis.ode.state.oh.us). Career, college, financial aid & scholarship informationhttp://ocis.ode.state.oh.us  Students have previously completed several assessments which can be accessed through My Portfolio at OCIS  Log-in info for student portfolios will be provided  https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/ https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/ Resources

5.  NHS Guidance Office: College catalogs, applications, scholarship applications, and testing resources Campus visit forms and access to visiting college reps is also available Students can also request Letter of Recommendation forms from Mrs. Reid Resources

6.  Internet: Colleges/Universities provide information regarding admissions/campus visits on their homepages  College Insight (http://college-insight.org) provides data on college affordability, diversity, and student success for over 10,000 colleges and universities.http://college-insight.org Resources

7. Based on responses from over 2,000 institutions, the following criteria are of “considerable importance”: Source: Annual Survey of Colleges of the College Board What are Colleges Looking For? * School Achievement 73% * Test Scores 59% * Grades in all courses 53% * Class Rank 31% * Essay/Writing Sample 23% * Recommendation 16% * Interview 8.6% * Activities 8%

8.  Attend college rep visits at Northwood  Attend College fairs especially March 6 th College Preview Night at Owens 6:30-8:30 open-house format Features representatives from over 100 colleges and universities Presentations on a range of topics from ‘Cybersearch’ to ‘Preparing for the ACT’ Ask for a brochure College Search

9. * Consider using Learning Express Library (available through http://www.infohio.org/ PreparingOhioLearners/student.html – username: northwood, password: rangers) to practice for these tests.http://www.infohio.org/ PreparingOhioLearners/student.html College Application Overview

10.  ACT Test Dates April 13, 2013 (PROM) June 8, 2013 September 21, 2013 October 26, 2013 December 14, 2013 * SAT Test Dates May 4, 2013 June 1, 2013  Registration Deadline March 8, 2013 May 3, 2013 TBA * Registration Deadline April 5, 2013 May 2, 2013 ACT/SAT Tests

11.  Take and Retake – Only take Writing one time  Don’t wait for scores to apply  Send your scores!  NCAA Clearinghouse code #9999 ACT/SAT Tests

12.  Prepare -- practice under timed conditions Use free practice tests available at http://www.actstudent.org/ and http://www.collegeboard.com/student/index.html?stud ent. http://www.actstudent.org/ http://www.collegeboard.com/student/index.html?stud ent Consider using Learning Express Library (available through http://infohio.org/ PreparingOhioLearners/student.html - username: northwood, password: rangers) to practice for these testshttp://infohio.org/ PreparingOhioLearners/student.html STARS program ACT/SAT Tests

13.  Make arrangements in advance  Campus Visit Form must be completed and signed one week before the visit.  Meet with an admissions officer  Discuss costs, financial aid, and scholarships  Attend a class, meet with faculty  Explore campus life Checklist for a Campus Visit

14.  Not necessary unless requested by university/ scholarship committee  Provide recommender with resume, transcript, and information for letter  Allow several weeks for letter to be completed Letters of Recommendation

15.  Purpose: allows college to evaluate your communication skills & enables school to learn more about you than GPA, class rank & test scores provide  DO: Be yourself, capture your reader’s attention and have someone help you edit and proofread your essay  DON’T: Repeat information that is already apparent in your application College Essay

16.  National Scholarships  Merit Scholarships  College Specific Scholarships  Local Scholarships  In-House Scholarships Scholarships

17.  A good beginning step is to identify possible scholarship options specific to you by using the internet.  High money rewards, competing against all students nationally.  http://www.fastweb.com http://www.fastweb.com  Never pay money to get money! National Scholarships

18. Merit Scholarships (UT example)

19. Local Scholarships * APPLY! * Check NHS Guidance webpage regularly for scholarship opportunities. Use the URL www.northwoodschools.org to locate the district home page. * From there, click on the Guidance drop- down menu. * Click on Scholarship Opportunities.

20.  All scholarships reviewed with students in the Spring of their senior year.  Essays required.  Only compete against other Northwood Students.  Sometimes less money but higher chance of winning!  All Scholarships will be awarded at the Senior Awards Ceremony. In-House Scholarships

21.  Attend Northwood’s Financial Aid Night in November 2013  Register for PIN at www.pin.ed.govwww.pin.ed.gov  Complete FAFSA (available at fafsa.ed.gov) -- after January 1, 2014fafsa.ed.gov  Meet with college financial aid representative Financial Aid

23. Honors Diploma * Writing sections of either standardized test are not included in the ACT/SAT test score. * All regular high school diploma requirements still apply including: ½ unit physical education ½ unit health ½ unit in American History ½ unit in government

24.  Consider college characteristics such as majors, admissions, policy, location, size, cost, etc.  List, compare and visit colleges  Apply and observe deadlines  Take/Retake ACT/SAT  Utilize websites mentioned for help. Senior Timeline: March - October

25.  Complete applications - observe deadlines - but have completed by Thanksgiving of senior year  Request a transcript  Advise Mrs. Reid each and every time that you apply  Celebrate all acceptance letters with Mrs. with Mrs. Reid November

26.  Develop a plan to finance your education  Attend Financial Aid Night at Northwood  Schedule additional college visits if necessary  Be aware of deadlines! November -- February

27.  Review and finalize your plans  Apply for scholarships  Send acceptance letter to first choice college; notify Mrs. Reid February -- April

28.  Make your decision and notify college(s) of your choice  Register for orientation  Enjoy your last days at Northwood May -- June

29.  If you have additional questions or want to make an appointment for follow-up, contact Mrs. Reid at NHS (419-691-4651). For More Information