1. Avon High School Junior Planning Night November 20, 2014

2. Welcome Your School Counseling Team Counselors Ms. Cara Boland Mr. Andrew Ellrod Ms. Lissa Irvine Ms. Diane Lieberfarb Ms. Laura Sullivan Ms. Heather Toyen Ms. Deborah Schwager, Director of School Counseling Administrative Assistants Ms. Pamela Shand Ms. Barbara Barone cboland@avon.k12.ct.us aellrod@avon.k12.ct.us lirvine@avon.k12.ct.us dlieberfarb@avon.k12.ct.us lsullivan@avon.k12.ct.us htoyen@avon.k12.ct.us dschwager@avon.k12.ct.us pshand@avon.k12.ct.us bbarone@avon.k12.ct.us

3. Tonight’s Agenda  Welcome  College Research  Standardized Testing  Junior Timeline  Naviance Tour  Sharon Brennan, guest speaker

4. Roles and Responsibilities/ Who’s Who in College Planning  Student  Takes ownership of the process, “does” the tasks.  Parents  Provide support and guidance  Time, patience, gas, and your credit card.  Counselor  Advises and facilitates  Provides for planned individual and group support for the process

5. Getting Started: Begin with Self-Assessment Important factors to consider:  Why do I want to go to college?  Do I know what I want to study?  How do I learn best?  What environments will set me up for success?

6. Beginning the College Search Learn about schools  Public colleges: funded by local/state governments. Usually offer lower tuition rates. Two or four year.  UCONN, Tunxis Community College, University of Massachusetts  Private colleges: rely mainly on tuition, fees and private funding. Two or four year.  Fairfield University, University of Hartford, Goodwin College  For-profit colleges: career focused; lead to certifications. Credits may not be transferable. Varying program lengths.  Porter and Chester, Lincoln Technical Institute

7. Where Do Avon Students Go? Class of 2014  85% attend a four year school  7.5% of students attend a two year school  7.5% chose a gap year, the military, or the workforce  Of the 92% attending college:  42% chose publicly funded (“state”) schools:  12%: UCONN Storrs or West Hartford  6%: Other CT public universities  19%: Out-of-state public schools  5%: In- or out-of-state public community colleges Students make their final college choice based on a variety of factors. Return on investment has become more important.

8. A few words about UCONN Admission Class of 2014 Of Avon students who applied to UCONN: 55% were admitted to the Storrs campus. 3.87: Average weighted GPA 1327: Average SAT score (Critical Reading + Math) 1130: Minimum SAT score (Critical Reading + Math) 45% were admitted to the West Hartford Campus. 3.12: Average weighted GPA 1135: Average SAT score (Critical Reading + Math) Data represents Avon students, not the overall UCONN applicant pool

9. What are Colleges Looking For? ​ Factor ​ Considerable importance ​ Moderate Importance ​ Limited Importance ​ No importance Grades in college prep courses ​​ 84.3% ​ 11.9% ​ 2.3% ​ 1.5% Strength of curriculum ​​ 67.7 ​ 20.4 ​ 5.8 ​ 6.2 ​ Admission test scores (SAT, ACT). ​ 59.2 ​ 29.6 ​ 6.9 ​ 4.2 ​ Grades in all courses ​ 51.9 39.26.9 ​ 1.9 ​ Essay or writing sample ​ 24.9 ​ 37.5 ​ 17.2 ​ 20.3 ​ Student's demonstrated interest ​ 20.5 29.7 ​ 24.7 ​ 25.1 ​ Counselor recommendation ​ 19.2 39.8 ​ 27.2 ​ 13.8 ​ Class Rank ​ 18.8 ​ 31.0 ​ 31.4 ​ 18.8 ​ Teacher recommendation ​ 16.5 ​ 41.9 26.5 ​ 15.0 ​ Subject test scores (AP, IB) ​ 6.9 ​ 31.2 ​ 31.5 ​ 30.4 ​ Portfolio ​ 6.6 ​ 12.8 ​ 30.2 ​ 50.4 ​ Interview 6.2 ​ 25.4 ​ 25.8 ​ 42.7 SAT II scores ​ 5.4 ​ 9.7 ​ 22.6 ​ 62.3 Extracurricular activities ​​ 5.0 ​ 43.1 38.1 ​ 13.8 ​ State graduation exam ​ 4.2 ​ 14.9 ​ 23.8 ​ 57.1 ​ Work ​ 2.3 17.0 ​ 43.2 ​ 37.5 Percentage of colleges attributing importance to these admissions factors (2011):

10. Where Do I Start? Tried and True College Research Resources  Naviance/Family Connection: http://www.naviance.com/http://www.naviance.com/  College Board Big Future: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/ https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/  Collegedata: http://www.collegedata.com/http://www.collegedata.com/  Fairtest: http://www.fairtest.org/http://www.fairtest.org/  Petersons: http://www.petersons.com/http://www.petersons.com/  Kiplinger: www.kiplinger.com/fronts/special- report/college-rankings/ Kiplinger: www.kiplinger.com/fronts/special- report/college-rankings/  Money Magazine: http://time.com/money/collection/moneys-best-colleges/ Money Magazine: http://time.com/money/collection/moneys-best-colleges/

11. What if I’m not a “typical” student? Special Interests  Arts: Auditions, Portfolios, Supplements  Key partner: your teacher/instructor Resource: www.portfolioday.net/  Athletics: NCAA Eligibility Center  Key partner: your coach  Resource: www.eligibilitycenter.org  Specialized Services and Instruction  Key partner: your case manager/counselor  Resource: www.wintergreenorchardhouse.com

12. What about financial aid? Do your homework now.  Net Price Calculators  Fafsa.ed.gov (not “.com”)  CSS profile: private colleges  www.fastweb.com  Cautionary advice  Local scholarships  Avon Dollars for Scholars  www.avon.dollarsforscholars.org  Other community scholarships

13. How do I build an initial list of colleges? Fit: First & Foremost  Academic Fit  Is this a likely, realistic, or reach school?  Do they have my major?  What if I change my mind?  Social Fit  What do I love to do and want to c c continue?  What do I want to try?  Financial Fit  What is realistic for my family?

14. Rest Stop Enjoying the process

15.  Types of Tests  SAT, SAT Subject Tests  ACT  AP Exams  TOEFL  Test Preparation  Naviance PrepMe:  Private classes: individual, small group, classroom. Virtually all colleges and universities will accept either the ACT or SAT without a preference for one over the other. Standardized Testing

16. Standardized Testing General Guidelines (your situation may vary)  If you have completed Algebra II:  Think about an early spring test (March SAT, April ACT)  If you have not completed Algebra II:  Think about a late spring test (May or June SAT, June ACT)  What if I don’t do well?  Test optional/test flexible  Concordance charts  Fairtest.org Students are responsible for sending official test scores to individual colleges. The School Counseling office does NOT send score reports. Remember: You’re more than a score!

17. Suggested Readings  About the big business of college rankings http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/14/the- order-of-things, Malcolm Gladwell http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/14/the- order-of-things  About money The College Solution, Lynn O’Shaugnessy Malcolm Lynn

18. Naviance Tour One Stop Shopping with Family Connection  College Research  Test Preparation  Career and Personality Inventories  Resume Builder  Junior Questionnaire

19. Junior Planning Meetings  Topics  Individualizing your college search  College application components  Deadlines, the Common Application, letters of recommendation, resume, activities, essays, etc.  Scheduling  January 5 - March 5 (no appointments 2/9-2/13)  8:00, 9:00, 1:00; M, T, Th, F  Juniors responsible for consulting with parent(s), making the appointment  Meetings scheduled through Mrs. Shand/ Mrs. Barone in the School Counseling office.

20. In Summary Student To-Do List: November-February  Schedule your Junior Planning meeting.  Begin your online research.  Make a testing plan, sign up, and begin PrepMe.  Create/update your resume.  Think about letters of recommendation.  Don’t ask yet. It’s way too soon.  Visit two or three schools: think local.  Think about an appropriately rigorous senior year curriculum.  Complete your Junior Questionnaire in Naviance BEFORE your Junior Planning Meeting.

21. In Summary Parent To-Do List: November-February  Research alongside your child.  Have an honest conversation about college costs and limitations.  Help your student sign up for testing.  Help your student make college visit appointments.  Encourage and support a rigorous senior year curriculum.  Attend Junior Planning Meeting.  Encourage, support, cajole as needed- but DON’T do your student’s work.

22. Guest Speaker Sharon Brennan  Higher education and college admissions  Reality versus myth  How to have a great campus visit  How to support your student through the college admissions process….without taking over  College Scorecard and College Reality Check  Two real life student stories

23. Thank you for coming.