1. Ramp-Up to Readiness TM Introduction Choose Rigor + Gain Access + Maintain Motivation + Practice Persistence = READINESS

2. Brainstorm Microsoft, 2011 What did we discuss last year that has helped you begin to prepare for success in high school and in college? What were some of the activities we did? What were some of the topics we discussed?

3. Discuss Read through the ideas you’ve brainstormed. Work together to choose the 3 ideas that you think are most important for being college ready. Microsoft, 2011

4. Share Choose a representative from your group to share your top 3 ideas for what it takes to be ready for college. What ideas do you have in common?

5. Objectives Learn about the following: Ramp-Up to Readiness TM What it means to be college ready What it takes to be college ready How you can start preparing now!

6. Review What is Ramp-Up to Readiness™? – A program to help all students develop the knowledge, skills, and habits for success in postsecondary education (college). Microsoft, 2011

7. What Does it Mean to Be Ready? Plan Foundation: Belief that all students need to be prepared for postsecondary education Goal: All students meet Ramp-Up Standards Academic Admissions Career Financial Personal/Social Pillars of Readiness

8. Academic Readiness Means graduating from high school ready to do first-year, credit-bearing college work. Some skills include: – Strong reading, writing, and math skills – Analyzing and solving complex problems – Critically evaluating claims – Asking and investigating important questions – Checking your work to make sure it’s correct Microsoft, 2011

9. Admissions Readiness Means meeting all of the requirements for admission into the college (2- yr or 4-yr) that you want to attend Skills: – Identifying the type of college that best fits your personality, career and personal goals, and strengths – Figuring out the requirements at the colleges you want to attend and coming up with a plan to meet them – Applying to at least 3 colleges that are good matches for you Microsoft, 2011

10. Career Readiness Means understanding: The relationship between education and income and opportunity Which types of jobs will: – Need skilled workers in the future – Will pay enough to support a family and your desired lifestyle – Be a good match for your interests and abilities. Microsoft, 2011

11. Financial Readiness Means you are able to cover the cost of your 1 st semester at college through savings, loans, work-study and financial aid To be financially ready, you need to: – Know how to budget – Know how families like yours pay for college – Make a plan to pay for college – Apply for financial aid Microsoft, 2011

12. Personal/Social Readiness Means you are ready for the personal and social challenges of college. Important skills include: – Setting educational goals – Monitoring progress toward achieving your goals – Putting your best effort into your schoolwork – Asking for help when you need it – Creating relationships with peers and adults that support academic success Microsoft, 2011

13. How Can You Prepare Now? Academic Readiness Admissions Readiness Career Readiness Financial Readiness Personal/Social Readiness Believe Plan Act Understand Postsecondary Plan Readiness Rubrics

14. This Year… Set SMART Goals Discuss Growth Mindset Explore careers, career clusters, career skills, and colleges Take the PLAN and learn about your score Develop a resume Learn more about the cost of college Work on financial planning for college Complete a GASP project

15. Ramp-Up Postsecondary Plan What do I want to do with my life after high school?

16. Ramp-Up Readiness Rubric Am I on track to meet my goals?

17. Why Start Now? The earlier the better! Keep your options open and avoid missing out on opportunities. – The more you do now to prepare, the more options you’ll have when it comes time to choose the college you want to go to. Make sure you can get into the college you want to get into and are able to succeed there!

18. Why Start Now? What you do now makes a difference in how prepared you will be for college. The following all impact your college readiness: – Courses you take – Grades you earn – Test scores – Knowledge, skills, and habits you develop now – Your Support Network – Savings and opportunities for financial aid Microsoft, 2011

19. Think-Pair-Share Why do you think it is important to start preparing for college now? What is one thing you can start doing now to prepare for college? Which area of college and career readiness (academic, admissions, career, financial, personal/social) do you think you need to work on the most right now?

20. Review In Ramp-Up to Readiness, we’ll work together to make sure you are: – Academically Ready – Admissions Ready – Career Ready – Financially Ready – Personally and Socially Ready for college! Preparing for college now will also ensure you develop the skills, knowledge, and habits you need to succeed in high school.

21. Assignment Take the Postsecondary Plan and Readiness Rubric forms home and share them with your family! Explain what you learned about Ramp-Up to Readiness and what you will be doing this year to become college and career ready. Ask for their help in preparing for college!

22. References Microsoft Office Images. (2011). Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/ http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/