1. One SIZE does not FIT all College Planning Night for Students & Parents February 24, 2015

2. Tonight Target How to assist your student in researching post-secondary options and identifying best FIT.

3. Review: Did you know? For the NCHS class of 2014: 81% enrolled in 4-yr college; 17% in 2-yr 2% joined Military or Vocational or GAP Top 5 college choices for Class of 2014 –College of DuPage (117) –Illinois State University (67) –University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (51) –Indiana University (20) –University of Missouri (19)

4. Testing State ACT (March 3) –Illinois State Test – ACT w/ writing –Students registered on FEB 19th with counselors ACT (NCHS Class of 2014 average 25.2) –Remaining spring dates: 4/18 & 6/13 SAT Reasoning Test –Remaining spring dates: 3/14, 5/2, 6/6 SAT Subject Test –Some highly selective schools will require 2-3 –Taken concurrently with subjects –Remaining spring dates: 5/2, 6/6 AP: Advanced Placement –Not an admissions test –May be accepted by colleges to award college credit

5. Best School? Best Fit?

6. To generate a plan, consider... Size Location –Distance from home –Urban, Suburban, Rural Admissions Selectivity Private vs. Public –Two Year –Four Year Major – Academic Programs Campus Activities Cost

7. NCHS College & Career Center Located in Student Services Open 7:30-3:30 daily. Several Thursdays evenings 6:30-8:30PM. Remaining Dates: 3/5 & 4/9 Coordinator: Mrs. Jean Childers Visit with College RepresentativesVisit with College Representatives One on One AssistanceOne on One Assistance Help with Naviance accountsHelp with Naviance accounts Scholarship InformationScholarship Information College Applications, Catalogs & GuidesCollege Applications, Catalogs & Guides

8. College Visits College Presentation Pass Name _______________________ Student ID __________ __________________________ Name of College Date ____________________ Period __________________ Please sign below to indicate you are aware that this student will be attending this college presentation. _______________________________ Teacher Signature NAVIANCE SIGN-UP LINK NEW COLLEGE VISIT PROCEDURE Sign up for visits on Naviance Fill out Pass and get teacher to sign Visits are in College & Career Center Sign upCollegeDate sign upNorthern Illinois University2/27/2014 11:32 sign up College of DuPage 3/4/2014 7:45 sign upUniv. of Illinois - Chicago3/4/2014 9:40 sign up Iowa State University 3/4/2014 10:36 sign up Benedictine University 3/5/2014 10:36 sign up Univ. of Illinois at Urbana 3/5/2014 14:20 sign up Eastern Illinois University 3/6/2014 9:40 sign up Columbia College 3/10/2014 13:24 sign up University of Nebraska 3/18/2014 10:36 sign up Southern Illinois University 3/18/2014 11:32 sign up University of Minnesota 3/24/2014 11:30 sign up Bradley University 3/26/2014 10:36 sign up Western Illinois University 3/27/2014 11:32 sign up Marquette University 4/16/2014 10:49 sign up Purdue University 4/17/2014 14:20

9. Naviance Tasks Junior Year Sign up for College Rep. Visits in CCC Complete tasks under My Assessments within About Me tab Search for College, Careers and Scholarships Senior Year Manage College applications Request transcripts

10. A Realistic College Search Includes “Reach” school “Target” school At least one “safety” school –Academic safety –Financial safety How many applications –Varies by student! –Ideally, 3-6 schools

11. Scattergrams: Show GPA & ACT scores of past NCHS graduates who were accepted, denied, or waitlisted (example: Southern Illinois University - Carbondale)

12. Profile for 5th semester GPA Data for the Class of 2016 725 student in class Highest GPA = 4.811 90% = 4.189 75% = 3.889 50% = 3.441 25% = 2.938

13. There is no substitute for seeing a college yourself! Prepare questions Schedule a Tour Sit in on a class Take advantage of long weekends, spring break & summer vacation Eat in the cafeteria Stay overnight Talk to students

14. Schedule Visits

15. Tips for Parents Do’s Take them to see colleges. Proofread applications and essays without re-writing. Research financial aid and contact the financial aid offices. Fill out FAFSA with Tax return information. Don’t Don’t do their applications for them. Don’t write their essays for them. Don’t force them to apply to colleges “to see if they can get in”.

16. Tips for STUDENTs Treat college search and college application process like a part time job Start college applications early in senior year Maintain CORE academic classes to be competitive for college admission Take senior year seriously: –Senior GRADES COUNT

17. Upcoming Junior Events Junior Conference with Counselor –February through May College Planning Guide National College Fair, Monday 3/23/14 Illinois Regional College Fair Hosted by North Central College State ACT w/ writing –March 3 2015 Feedback for tonight’s event requested –Survey Monkey

18. 1) Selective Colleges/Universities University of Notre Dame Rm. 82 – Orchestra Exit Front Auditorium Doors 2) Big 10 Public Universities University of Nebraska - Lincoln Auditorium Remain Seated 3) Small Private Colleges/Universities Illinois Wesleyan University Rm. 84 – Choir Exit Auditorium Back Doors 4) Community College College of DuPage Rm. 86 Exit Auditorium Back Doors Breakout Sessions – SELECT THREE sessions to attend throughout the evening 7:25 - 7:50 p.m.Breakout Session I 7:55 – 8:20 p.m. Breakout Session II 8:25 – 8:50 p.m. Breakout Session III 5) State Universities in Illinois Western Illinois University Rm. 83 - Band Exit Front Auditorium Doors 6) Music / Performing Art University of Illinois Rm. 85 – Black Box Theatre Exit Front Auditorium Doors 7) Arts & Visual Media Colleges School of Art Institute Chicago Rm 75 Exit Front Auditorium Doors 8) Military Academies College and Career Center Exit Auditorium Back Doors Dismissal to Breakout Sessions