Life After High School Class of 2014

1. Life After High SchoolClass of 2014 5/16/13 Parent Planning Night

2. Topics for today… • How do I decide where I want to go? -options rather than PSU? • How do I decide on a major? • Big School or Small School? • What do admissions committees really look at? • How do I find out more about the schools I’m interested in? • What should I be doing right now?

3. Options after High School • Employment • Military • College/Post Secondary Schools Statistics from Class of 2012 88% College/Post Secondary Schools 8% Employment 1% Military 3% Unknown

4. Post Secondary Educational Options • Career and Technical Schools • College/University • Community/Junior Colleges

5. Junior Year To-Do List • SAT or ACT • AP exams • Research colleges and majors • NCAA eligibility center • Plan at least one college visit in each category (small versus large) • Earn good grades • Begin your student resume

6. Entrance Exams • SAT • SAT Subject • ACT • AP Exams • ASVAB • Placement Tests for College www.Collegeboard.com www.actstudent.org Remember you must send your scores directly to colleges, NCAA etc.

7. NCAA Eligibility Center • Code for SAT/ACT is 9999 for the eligibility center • Register in May www.eligibilitycenter.org Request a transcript after you have registered from Mrs. Wolanski, Counseling Secretary after you have registered • Minimum Core Courses 16 core courses • Minimum SAT Scores, depends on GPA in core courses

8. How You Evaluate Colleges”Is a school a good match for me?” • Admissibility (chances of acceptance) • Size • Location • Environment • Facilities • Admission Requirements • Cost • Academics • Class Size • Activities • Sports

9. Determining Admissibility”What are my chances of being admitted?” Check out sites like collegeboard.comand Cappex.com • Compare your academic and personal qualifications to those of students typically admitted and attending. • Determine if each school is a: 1. Safety 2. Good fit 3. Reach

10. Determining Admissibility“What are my chances of being admitted?” 2012 College Handbook (College Board) Bucknell University Freshman Class Profile. 7,178 applied, 2,253 admitted, 929 enrolled. Mid 50% test scores: SAT critical reading: 590-670 Rank in top quarter: 89% SAT math: 630-710 Rank in top tenth: 65% SAT writing: 600-690 Return as sophomores: 94% ACT composite: 27-31 Out-of-state: 76% GPA 3.75+ 32% Live on campus: 100% GPA 3.5 - 3.74 21% International: 5% GPA 3.0 - 3.49 41% Safety Reach Good Fit 590 670 700 570 640

11. Entrance Requirements • Colleges require certain courses in order to be considered for acceptance • Examples: World Language, Math, Science • Particular majors within colleges may have special or additional requirements • Examples: Courses, auditions, portfolios, interviews • Military Academies • Call Congressman Thompson’s Office At 353-0215 • Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) • Example: Physical requirements

12. Selecting a Major Questions to ask yourself: • What do you like? • What do you do well? • What majors/careers complement your skills and abilities? • What is the projected job market? WhatcanIdowiththismajor.com or find it on the counseling webpage

13. Visiting Colleges • Plan to visit at least 2 colleges • Contact the Admissions Office of the schools you plan to visit • Take your unofficial transcript with you • Talk with students other than your tour guide • Evaluate the colleges after each visit

14. Don’t Forget to Visit ….. • A freshmandormitory • Classrooms (If possible, attend aclass) • The Student Center • Dining facilities • The Library • The Athletic facilities • The Music/Art studios

15. 2012 College Acceptance Data

16. If $$$ is the Biggest Factor… Should Penn State Be My Only Consideration?

17. Choosing a college is a big decision. The key is to remember that there are a bunch of "perfect" schools out there. It’s what you make of it.

18. Visiting Franklin & Marshall College 4,409 Visited F&M in 2012 - 2,320 Interviewed • Lesson: You are competing with others who are visiting campus and meeting with us one-on-one! • Daily Information Sessions • Daily Campus Tours • Fall Open Houses • Sept 17 & Oct 29 • Meet 1-on-1 with a Professor • Class Observations • Lunch with a Current Student • Athletic Recruitment Visits • In-person Interviews • Special Events and Lectures Take advantage of opportunities to learn more about the school!

19. Franklin & Marshall by the Numbers • Ave. SAT Math/Reading - 1306 • Ave. ACT 29 • SAT Optional Program • Undergraduate population • 2,132 Student • Students come from 36 states • 44 countries represented • Student/Faculty ratio: 10-to-1 • Average Class Size: 19 • F&M meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all 4 years Meet 100% of demonstrated need for all four years

20. Important Questions To Ask • % of students that return for their 2nd year • Ease of changing majors ie. hurdles to enter the major • Career services after college • Safety on campus • Minimum admission requirements • Internships • Read the small print regarding scholarships/financial aid • Length of service for military

21. How Colleges Evaluate You • Grades And Course Selection • Test Scores SAT Or ACT • Counselor Recommendation • Teacher Recommendations • Activities/Community Service • Essay And Application

22. Admissions Factors Selective colleges consider these factors for admission: * Courses taken * Grades / Grade point average * Admission test results * Counselor/teacher recommendations * Admissions questions and essays * Activities outside the classroom * Personal interview * Alumni relationship * Rank in class * Major/college applied to * Geographic location * Special talents and skills * Ethnicity * SES There's no general agreement about which of these factors are ranked more important. However, most admissions officers place the most weight on your high school record.

23. Types of Admission • Regular • Rolling • Early Decision • Early Action

24. Entrance Statistics PSU Freshman Class University Park Campus • GPA 3.52-3.97 • SAT 1750-1990 Commonwealth Campuses • GPA 2.98-3.5 • SAT 1470-1720 Schreyers Honors College Stats: Avg. 4.12 gpa and 1420 avg. on Math and Critical reading Spend a Summer Day 7/26, 7/29, 8/1, 8/2, 8/5 Registration @ http://admissions.psu.edu/sasd/campuses/?campusCode=UP

25. Entrance Stats @ PSU (UP) for State High Grads Fall Admissions • GPA 4.0-higher • SAT 1800-higher • EARLY application favored • Summer Admissions • Students are admitted with lower GPA’s and SAT’s compared to Fall.

26. Application Process • Most applications will be on-line in August or September 2013. We do NOT process applications in the summer. • Make sure that you request your transcripts, etc from Mrs. Wolanskiin the North Counseling Office (15 working days prior) • If appropriate, use the common application (www.commonapp.org) • Remember it costs $$ to apply to each college • Don’t EVER wait until the last day to apply • Apply to no more than 7 schools – 1 or 2 safety, 2 reach schools and some in the middle

27. Transcript Request Form

28. Recommendations • Some colleges require and some do not. • Some require only a counselor (composite) recommendation. • Some require both a teacher AND a counselor recommendation. • Student info packet (green) is available in counseling office (and sometimes L.E.) • If your counselor wrote a recommendation for you this year, please update your information in September

29. Counselor Composite Packet

30. Student Information for Letter of Recommendation

31. In-House Evaluations (4)

32. Make sure you pick up a college planning guide.

33. What Should I Be Doing Right Now? • Research your colleges and majors on sites like: , www.educationplanner.org, careercruising.com. collegeboard.com • Take the SAT and (and/or ACT) be sure to send your scores to • PSU if you plan to apply there. (2660) • Be sure your list identifies "safety" schools, as well • as good "match" and "reach" schools. • Register with the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse (if applicable). • Start scholarship searches like Fastweb.com • Bring in your request for any transcripts/ recommendations to Mrs. Wolanski • Finish the academic year on a strong note! • Get Good Grades! • Begin your student resume

34. Remember • Decide over the summer which colleges you will apply to for sure. • Take the appropriate tests this year and send your scores to the colleges you plan to apply to (take advantage of the four free scores) • Apply online in September • Bring in your request for transcripts/ recommendations to Mrs. Wolanski. • Pay attention to deadlines (different for all schools). • Start scholarship searches like Fastweb.com • Financial Aid starts with FAFSA 1/1/14

35. Mrs. Wolanski & Mrs. Dodson Counseling Support Staff

36. SCASD Counseling Resources • www.scasd.org/hscounseling • Tim Morgan (A-E) tjm24@scasd.org • Susan Brindle (F-K) smb11@scasd.org • Matt Lintal (L-Z) mdl17@scasd.org North Counseling Office: 814-231-1130

37. Questions????? • Any questions now? • Make an appointment with your counselor. • Talk to your parents/guardians. • Talk with brothers, sisters, and/or friends in college. • Talk with your teachers, coaches, etc.