1. The Montgomery High School Guidance Department presents… January 2012

2. MHS Guidance Department Ms. DeBow ext 6168kdebow@mtsd.us Ms. DeBow ext 6168kdebow@mtsd.us Mr. Glock ext 6164kglock@mtsd.us Mr. Glock ext 6164kglock@mtsd.us Ms. Hamptonext 6165champton@mtsd.us Ms. Hamptonext 6165champton@mtsd.us Ms. Musial ext 6166 pmusial@mtsd.us Ms. Musial ext 6166 pmusial@mtsd.us Mrs. Pino ext 6167hpino@mtsd.us Mrs. Pino ext 6167hpino@mtsd.us Mrs. Ritson ext 6172jritson@mtsd.us Mrs. Ritson ext 6172jritson@mtsd.us Ms. Watson ext 6163cwatson@mtsd.us Ms. Watson ext 6163cwatson@mtsd.us Make an appointment through email, or speaking with a secretary.

3. BEGINNING THE COLLEGE SEARCH PROCESS The Goal: Find the colleges that are the right fits for you!

4. DECISION FACTORS Size Size Location Location Campus personality Campus personality Entrance Requirements Entrance Requirements Majors available Majors available The school’s commitment to a particular major The school’s commitment to a particular major Diversity Diversity Athletics/Activities Athletics/Activities Reputation Reputation Cost… Cost…

5. CONSIDERING THE COST OF COLLEGE How much can your family afford? How much can your family afford? (including tuition, books, travel, spending money, etc) (including tuition, books, travel, spending money, etc) Compare lower tuition at a public school with Compare lower tuition at a public school with the possibility that a private school may have more financial resources and be able to offer more aid Don’t let the initial cost of college dissuade you from applying Don’t let the initial cost of college dissuade you from applying Consider applying for scholarships: Consider applying for scholarships: www.fastweb.com is a great place to www.fastweb.com is a great place to www.fastweb.com start Going to college should NEVER break the piggybank!

6. Financial Aid and Scholarships Federal Student Aid: http://studentaid.ed.gov Federal Student Aid: http://studentaid.ed.gov Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): www.fafsa.gov Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): www.fafsa.gov FAFSA4caster: www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov FAFSA4caster: www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov CSS/PROFILE: https://profileonline.collegeboard.com CSS/PROFILE: https://profileonline.collegeboard.com The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid: www.finaid.org The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid: www.finaid.org FastWeb: www.fastweb.com FastWeb: www.fastweb.com FindTuition: www.findtuition.com FindTuition: www.findtuition.com Sallie Mae: www.salliemae.com Sallie Mae: www.salliemae.com

7. TYPES OF COLLEGES 4-Year Colleges and Universities 4-Year Colleges and Universities Liberal Arts Schools Ivy League Schools Private Colleges Public Colleges Technical Universities Specialized Institutions Music conservatories Art schools Culinary schools Health sciences Two -Year Colleges Two-year private schools Community colleges Guaranteed transfer programs

8. Getting Started Begin in winter of your Junior year Begin in winter of your Junior year Talk to older friends/family about their experiences Talk to older friends/family about their experiences Identify possibilities Identify possibilities Know your resources Know your resources Research and visit Research and visit

9. YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE: College visits! Best to go when school is in session Best to go when school is in session Take a campus tour Take a campus tour Attend an open house Attend an open house Overnight stays Overnight stays with a sibling or friend with a sibling or friend Visit actual classes while in session Visit actual classes while in session Interview? Interview?

10. Helpful Websites for the College Search CSO College Center: www.CSOCollegeCenter.org CSO College Center: www.CSOCollegeCenter.org The College Board: www.collegeboard.com The College Board: www.collegeboard.com KnowHow2Go: www.knowhow2go.org KnowHow2Go: www.knowhow2go.org Hobson’s CollegeView: www.collegeview.com Hobson’s CollegeView: www.collegeview.com Peterson’s: www.petersons.com Peterson’s: www.petersons.com The Common Application Online: www.commonapp.org The Common Application Online: www.commonapp.org Colleges That Change Lives: www.ctcl.org Colleges That Change Lives: www.ctcl.orgwww.ctcl.org College Visits: www.college-visits.com College Visits: www.college-visits.com

11. JUNIOR PLANNING MEETINGS Counselors present to Juniors in small groups Counselors present to Juniors in small groups Counselors meet with each student individually Counselors meet with each student individually Counselors will meet with students and parents upon request Counselors will meet with students and parents upon request Parents and students can use Naviance at home Parents and students can use Naviance at home

12. What are colleges looking for? Grades in core academic classes – strength of program Grades in core academic classes – strength of program SAT/ACT tests SAT/ACT tests Overall GPA Overall GPA Essay or writing sample Essay or writing sample Teacher/Counselor recommendations Teacher/Counselor recommendations Interview/Visits Interview/Visits Activities/Special talents Activities/Special talents

13. GIVING THE GIFT OF OWNERSHIP The college admissions process calls for trust and The college admissions process calls for trust and a new kind of teamwork “directing” needs to give way to “guiding” Getting to college, Getting to college, despite your child’s inexperience and busy schedule, is something she must do for herself College admissions College admissions officers are eager to hear about the student from the student You have done your job You have done your job in that you have brought your child to the point where he can begin speaking for himself - Now it’s his turn

14. Trends in 2012 to Consider… Rutgers University policy of self-reporting grades Rutgers University policy of self-reporting grades Admission policies like Restricted Early Action Admission policies like Restricted Early Action Electronic submission of documents via Naviance Electronic submission of documents via Naviance Test optional schools www.fairtest.com Test optional schools www.fairtest.comwww.fairtest.com ACT – much more popular ACT – much more popular

15. Standardized Testing Know what the colleges on your list are looking for… SAT ? SAT II? ACT?

16. REGISTER FOR THE TEST Register online - www.collegeboard.org for the SAT and www.act.org for the ACT Register online - www.collegeboard.org for the SAT and www.act.org for the ACT www.collegeboard.orgwww.act.org www.collegeboard.orgwww.act.org Websites also have useful resources such as practice tests, questions of the day, study and test-taking tips, college searches, etc…Take advantage of them Websites also have useful resources such as practice tests, questions of the day, study and test-taking tips, college searches, etc…Take advantage of them

17. SAT & ACT SAT Scholastic Aptitude Test Scholastic Aptitude Test Aptitude oriented Aptitude oriented 3 3/4 hours in length 3 3/4 hours in length Score Range 200 – 800 (2400 total) Score Range 200 – 800 (2400 total) Critical Reading, Math, Writing Critical Reading, Math, Writing Essay (scored out of 12) Essay (scored out of 12) You choose which scores will be sent to colleges. You choose which scores will be sent to colleges.ACT American College Test American College Test Achievement oriented Achievement oriented 3 1/2 hours in length 3 1/2 hours in length Score Range 1-36 Score Range 1-36 English, Math, Reading & Scientific Reasoning English, Math, Reading & Scientific Reasoning Essay optional Essay optional You choose which scores will be sent to colleges You choose which scores will be sent to colleges Which test is right for you?

18. SAT II – Subject Tests Selective Colleges require Subject Tests for admission Selective Colleges require Subject Tests for admission 1 hour in length (take up to three tests on one test date) 1 hour in length (take up to three tests on one test date) Score Range 200 – 800 Score Range 200 – 800 All tests are not offered on All tests are not offered on all dates – all dates – be sure to plan ahead be sure to plan ahead

19. SAT TESTING – Dates to Remember DATETEST/S REGISTER BY March 10, 2012SATFebruary 10 (February 24 Late) May 5, 2012SAT/Subject testsApril 6 June 2, 2012 SAT/Subject tests May 8 ACT TESTING – Dates to Remember February 11, 2012January 13 April 14, 2012March 9 June 9, 2012May 4

20. Test Prep/Coaching Programs PSAT Score Report Plus and test PSAT Score Report Plus and test booklet were recently returned and are a great way to identify specific strengths and areas of need CollegeBoard and ACT offer free test CollegeBoard and ACT offer free test preparation on their websites. Students can familiarize themselves with the tests and the directions for different sections Many different individual, small and large classes, handbooks and computer programs on the market Many different individual, small and large classes, handbooks and computer programs on the market –Effectiveness of books and classes is a hotly debated topic –Can be costly and time-consuming –Results vary –Princeton Review and Revolution Prep programs offered at MHS

21. TESTING – Helpful Hints Become familiar with the test Become familiar with the test Know how you learn best and invest time into that strategy Know how you learn best and invest time into that strategy Take timed practice tests Take timed practice tests People who read well – score well People who read well – score well READ, READ, READ! READ, READ, READ!

22. YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH STARTS WITH: Registering and logging in to

23. What is it? Web-based Web-based Supports high Supports high school career and college planning Specific to MHS Specific to MHS Available only to Available only to registered users (student and parent, and counselors) Easy registration, easy to use Easy registration, easy to use

24. How does it help? Shared resource linking home to school Shared resource linking home to school Organized and efficient “container” to compile a student’s data, experiences, documents, etc., relevant to college admission with consideration for student information confidentiality Organized and efficient “container” to compile a student’s data, experiences, documents, etc., relevant to college admission with consideration for student information confidentiality Greater opportunity for parent participation in high school college planning Greater opportunity for parent participation in high school college planning Accurate, complete records about student outcomes and admission decisions from our school Accurate, complete records about student outcomes and admission decisions from our school Realistic assessments of your chances of admission to colleges where prior graduates have applied Realistic assessments of your chances of admission to colleges where prior graduates have applied

25. Family Connection Login Page

26. Do a College Search

27. Scattergram

28. See When College Reps are Visiting MHS Registered users sign up to attend meetings online Meeting reminders e-mailed a day before college visit

29. FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE COLLEGE SEARCH From all of your research, From all of your research, make a list of ten to twelve schools that are potential fits Do more extensive research Do more extensive research on those schools Trim that list to eight to Trim that list to eight to ten by September of your senior year and begin applying

30. This is an exciting time! Remember to have fun visiting campuses and learning about what makes each one unique Remember to have fun visiting campuses and learning about what makes each one unique Remember that there is more than one college out there for you Remember that there is more than one college out there for you Try to minimize stress by keeping all lines of communication open and seeing your counselor often Try to minimize stress by keeping all lines of communication open and seeing your counselor often Good luck!