1. Welcome to College Search Night While you are waiting for the presentation to begin, please take a moment to complete the Criteria for College Admittance Warm Up Activity

2. The College Search Process December 6, 2012 Presented by: Irondequoit High School Junior School Counselors

3. Agenda  Criteria for College Admittance  College Search – Factors to Consider  College Admission Testing  Junior College Planning Timeline  Closing Thoughts/Questions

4. Criteria for College Admittance Academic Record including courses taken and GPA Test Scores and Selective Colleges Difference Factors: Activities, Letters of Recommendation, Essays, and Interview

5. Next Steps – Admissions Decisions Finish Year Strong Senior Courses – Challenge and Balance Yourself Letters of Recommendation Extracurricular Involvement – Career Connections, Clubs, Volunteering, Athletics, Special Talents

6. The College Search  Number of Colleges?  Three Tier Approach: Likely, Good Match, and Reach Schools

7. Factors to Consider What am I looking for in a College?  Type of School  Location/Campus Setting  Student Body  Admissions Selectivity  Co-Curricular Activities  Academics/College Major  Cost

8. Search Resources Print Materials Electronic Resources connection.naviance.com www.collegeboard.com College Guidebooks Specialty Books Viewbooks & Mail at Home Catalogs and Office Files

14. Narrowing the Search Visit the Campus! Formal  Take a campus tour  Interview with an admissions representative  Sit in on a class or two  Talk to a professor  Talk to a student or counselor in the career center  Spend the night in a dorm room with a current student Informal  Read the student newspaper  Eat in the cafeteria  Ask a student why he/she chose the college  Browse in the college bookstore  Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus  Read the bulletin boards in the academic department you are interested in

15.  Utilize Admission Representatives College Fairs – National College Fair March 13 Admission visits to Irondequoit High School College and Career Center  Virtual Campus Tours www.campustours.com  Individual College Websites Every college has their own website – Link from Naviance or do a simple search. Consider using Email or resources like Twitter to learn more about a college. Narrowing the Search Narrowing the Search Additional Methods

16. Admission Decision Options Application Options Other Terms  Early Decision  Early Action  Regular Admissions  Rolling Admission  Wait List

17. Special Considerations  Music/Art/Architecture Majors  NCAA Clearinghouse  Students with Disabilities  Military Academies/ROTC

18. Next Steps – College Search  Don’t Wait – Start Now!  Family Discussion of “Ground Rules”  Plan Ahead for College Visits  Counselor as a Resource

19. College Admissions Testing SAT  Critical Reading, Math, and Writing  Scores range from 200 to 800  Most colleges using only CR and Math ACT  English, Math, Reading, and Science  Scores range from 1 to 36  Composite score is average of 4 areas  Writing section is optional, but recommended

20. College Admissions Testing SAT Subject Tests  Required by some colleges (Such as Notre Dame, Ivy League, Boston College, etc)  Each test 1 hour long, can take 3 on test day  Score range 200 – 800  Separate Test Day from SAT Reasoning

21. College Admission Testing Registration  Register Online www.collegeboard.com www.actstudent.org  Photo Upload Required  Fee Waiver Availability  Accommodations may be available for students with disabilities  Score Reporting

22. Test Preparation  Test Prep Classes – Community Education  Online: My College Quickstart www.princetonreview.com www.collegeboard.com www.actstudent.org  Test Preparation Books

23. Next Steps – College Admission Testing Test in Late Spring of Junior Year – Deadlines! Consider both SAT and ACT exams Long Term Preparation is the Key Research College Requirements Optional Schools – www.fairtest.org

24. Junior College Planning Timeline October Register for and take the PSAT (10/20) November ASVAB 11/17 Parents attend Financial Aid Night – (11/29 – 7:00 pm) December Parents attend Information night – “The College Search Process” (12/6 – 7:00 p.m.) January Research SAT Prep Options February Visit prospective colleges during February Break (2/18-2/22). Registration deadline for 3/9 SAT (2/8) March Registration deadline for 4/13 ACT (3/8) SAT (3/9) Registration deadline for 5/4 SAT & SAT Subject Tests (4/5) National College Fair, 3/13, Riverside Convention Center Visit prospective colleges during Spring Break (3/29- 4/5). April ACT (4/13) Registration deadline for 6/1, SAT & SAT Subject Tests (5/2) Thinking about ROTC or the Military Academies? See your counselor ASAP. May SAT & SAT Subject Tests (5/4) AP Exams (5/6-5/17) Registration deadline for 6/8 ACT (5/3) June Consider teachers for letters of recommendation SAT & SAT Subject Tests (6/1) ACT (6/8) July/August Summer Jobs, Volunteer experiences, internships, and job shadows NCAA Clearinghouse Forms MEET WITH MY COUNSELOR TO DISCUSS POST HIGH SCHOOL PLANS USE NAVIANCE TO ASSIST WITH MY COLLEGE SEARCH ATTEND COLLEGE FAIRS, CAMPUS VISITS, AND SEE REPS IN THE CAREER CENTER USE NAVIANCE TO ASSIST WITH MY COLLEGE SEARCH USE PSAT RESULTS TO PREPARE FOR SAT ATTEND COLLEGE FAIRS, CAMPUS VISITS, AND SEE REPS IN THE CAREER CENTER

25. Closing Thoughts Counseling Department Activities –Junior Class Lessons – Fall and Spring –Junior Individual Conferences(post high school planning/course selection) –College Application Process Night – Fall 2013 –Financial Aid Night – November 2013 –Senior Class Lessons – September 2013 –Student Meetings in Fall –Parent Meetings available

26. Closing Thoughts College and Career Center Activities –College representative visits –Chronicle weekly publication –Computers available for college and scholarship research/applications –Tuesday Nights 6 – 7:30pm, please contact Nancy Pomeroy for details at 336-2935

27. Counseling Office 336-2921 Cheryl_Call@westiron.monroe.edu Dawne_Howe@westiron.monroe.edu Debbie_Pecchia@westiron.monroe.edu Scott_Steinberg@westiron.monroe.edu Ken_Eckman@westiron.monroe.edu Kevin_Mcdonald@westiron.monroe.edu Gretchen_Bush@westiron.monroe.edu College & Career Center 336-2935 Nancy_Pomeroy@westiron.monroe.edu Nancy_Russ@westiron.monroe.edu