Early College Planning

1. To insert your company logo on this slide • From the Insert Menu • Select “Picture” • Locate your logo file • Click OK • To resize the logo • Click anywhere inside the logo. The boxes that appear outside the logo are known as “resize handles.” • Use these to resize the object. • If you hold down the shift key before using the resize handles, you will maintain the proportions of the object you wish to resize. Early College Planning Michelle Cundiff, MA, PSC

2. Objectives Relieve anxiety about the college process—information about searching, testing, and paying for college Encourage thinking and planning—many options exist Learn what you can do to help your child get ready

3. Basics of College Planning Searching-Browse web resources • RHS Guidance website links • RHS Guidance resources • OCIS* http://ohcis.intocareers.org, (username – riverdale & password – ohiocis03) • Individual college websites • College fair

4. More Sources • Collegeresults.org • Collegeboard.org • Collegeprowler.org • Cappex.com • Collegedata.com

5. Basics of College Planning Testing • Timeline • Both tests? • Test preparation • Do something – free online practice tests, review PSAT, SAT & ACT question of the day • LearningExpressLibrary.com – free practice tests. • Classes and tutors for hire - time consuming & expensive • There are test optional schools – www.fairtest.org

6. Basics of College Planning Visiting campuses • Questions to ask • Make notes www.WelcomeToCollege.com • Notice student reactions • Don’t overdo it

7. Basics of College Planning Applying • Between August and February of 12th gr. • Application fees ($0-$90) • Electronic applications • Other parts of the applications • In process of trying to organize a RHS College Application Workshop in August of senior year

8. Basics of College Planning Paying • Apply for admission first • Financial aid form (FAFSA) – Jan./Feb. of 12th gr. • “Need” defined - “EFC” defined • Estimate your need now? www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov • Distribution of aid: gift aid and self-help aid

9. H.S. Course Preparation Minimum Selective • 4 English -- 4 English • 4 math -- 4 math • 3 science -- 4 science • 3 social studies -- 4 social studies -- 3-4 foreign lang. • 1 fine arts -- 1 fine arts -- STRONGEST CURRICULUM POSSIBLE

10. Admission Criteria - in order of importance • Grades in college prep courses • ACT/SAT scores • Grades in all courses • Class rank • Essay • Counselor Recommendation • Teacher Recommendation • Interview/documented interest • Extracurricular commitments

11. Academic Expectations • Personal responsibility for learning & managing time • Less class time but more school-related work • 40-50 hours/week on academics outside of class • Course material covered at a rapid pace • Faculty expect students to come to class prepared and ready to participate • Very few grades to average

12. What do colleges want? Colleges ask themselves these questions: • CAN the student succeed? • WILL the student succeed? • What will the student bring to the college community?

13. Top ten things “I wish I’d have known” • Keep a list of books you read • Choose one major community service project and stick with it. Log hours. • Quality, not quantity. Choose 2-3 clubs and get very involved. • Use college fairs wisely, not randomly • After campus visits, take notes and rate your visit (www.WelcomeToCollege.com)

14. Top ten things “I wish I’d have known” – cont’d • Beware of false lures related to scholarships and for-profit schools • Get a summer job or lead a service project • Get essay tips • Talk face-to-face with college admission reps • Focus on your passion instead of the superficial

15. What students fear about college • Am I smart enough? • Will my roommate be weird? • Where’s my new best friend? • Will I be ok without my folks, my dog, my car? • Peer pressure for drugs, alcohol, and sex. • Will there be enough money? • Will it be safe?

16. Future Trends • Tuition • Enrollment • Selectivity • Choices • “The Net Generation”

17. How good is the investment?

18. About college selectivity... • Over 2,000 four-year colleges in USA • 8 Ivy League schools • 50 colleges offer admission to LESS than half of their applicants • On average, four-year institutions nationwide accepted about 2/3 of all students who applied for admission. • Common Application has been a factor in the increase in applications submitted.

19. Practice Tests • PSAT -- Practice SAT and merit scholarship • $14 cost to students • Taken in mid Oct of 11th grade • PLAN—Practice ACT • $14 cost to students • Taken in Feb of 10th grade

20. Testing www.actstudent.org www.collegeboard.org ACT dates and registration deadlines left for this school year (6 dates a year): February 9 with a deadline of January 11 April 13 with a deadline of March 8 June 8 with a deadline of May 3 SAT dates and registration deadlines left for this school year (7 dates a year): January 26-deadline of December 28 March 9 -deadline of 2/8 (no subject tests) May 4 – deadline of April 5 June 1 – deadline of May 2 RHS code 363-525 –-- needed to register

21. What can a 10th grade student do NOW?

22. What can a PARENT do now? • Discuss career assessment and test results with your child • Help arrange a job shadowing experience • Help facilitate volunteer experiences • Visit campuses leisurely and record impressions • Save $$$ for college • Discuss college parameters that you choose to set (financial, distance from home, etc.) • Create a storage file for school records, test scores, and awards

23. Text Updates • Receive Guidance Updates by texting the words: Follow RHS_Guidance1 to #40404 ACT dates, scholarships, deadline reminders

24. Questions? Comments?