1. Welcome Students and Parents College Planning Night for Juniors

2. Packet Materials Wyoming Profile Unofficial Transcript College Checklist/Questionnaires College Search Tools ACT/SAT Test Dates

3. …Where the process begins STUDENT - self-assessment Why college? REALLY? What do YOU want from your college experience? What are your interests and talents? It is your responsibility to communicate your wants and needs to your parents.

4. The college decision is YOURS! ◦ You gather the data ◦ You weigh your options ◦ You exercise your choices ◦ You develop coping skills YOU complete the applications, write the essays, and ask for the teacher recommendations. STUDENT (continued)

5. Parents: the copilots Parents ◦ EMPOWER your students and allow them to take the lead and use the skills learned from you! (Avoid pronoun confusion: We need to register for our SATs) ◦ Be a sounding board and give advice when asked. Go with students on college visits (Let students take the lead and ask questions.) Ask student’s opinion about the college before voicing yours.

6. Counselors: part of the team Counselors ◦ Provide information and guidance ◦ Provide individual college planning meetings as necessary (students and/or parents) ◦ Act as sounding boards ◦ Write letters of recommendation ◦ Send transcripts and secondary school reports

7. Search Priorities What is important to you? Size Location Cost Academic Programs Extra-Curricular Opportunities Atmosphere

8. Finding Information about Colleges Naviance www.succeed.naviance.com/wyominghs College Board – “College Matchmaker” www.collegeboard.org Cappex www.cappex.com WHS Counseling Website www.wyomingcityschools.org/HS/ Click on Guidance

9. Knowing What’s Important College Admission Factors Strength of curriculum Grades in those classes Test scores Essays Activities/Recommendations Other factors (legacies, etc.)

10. 1,950 colleges ranked 5 factors What criteria do college admission officers consider to be the most reliable indicators of success? School achievement 89% Test scores 85% Recommendations 48% Essay 43% Activities/Interviews 30%

11. Junior Year Choose a strong senior schedule Get good grades Standardized tests Get more deeply involved Have an interesting summer Continue developing your Profile Visit colleges Athletes - Register with the NCAA (www.eligibilitycenter.org)www.eligibilitycenter.org

12. Standardized Tests ACT www.actstudent.org SAT Reason Test www.collegeboard.org SAT Subject Test (College Board) Write down usernames and passwords Must now upload a current picture when registering Send Scores Four free and $12 to send additional score reports

13. Visit Colleges Attend college rep. visits here at WHS 6 days excused during HS Plan around family vacations Visit different kinds of schools Urban, Suburban, Rural Small, Medium, Large

14. Homework & Questions Students… your homework Research! Research! Research! Explore your interests and talents Determine what you want from your college experience Set a testing schedule Visit! Visit! Visit!

15. Thanks for coming! We’re so glad you came!