Senior Parent Presentation September 2014

1. Senior Parent PresentationSeptember 2014 Medford High and Vocational Technical High School Guidance Department

2. Welcome! • Our goal today is to make the stressful college search & application process easier by highlighting many of the key elements students & parents will need to know • We understand that every student’s needs are different, and as a department we feel it is our job to help ALL STUDENTS develop a plan for life after high school

3. Student’s Responsibilities • Involve parents in the conversation about post high school/ college/career plans • Research colleges using Collegeboard, Naviance, or any of the other web or printed resources available • Register and take (or retake) any standardized tests required for admission • Make an appointment to speak with counselor about post high school plans • Visit potential schools of interest to see if they might be a good fit • Know each school’s deadline and turn in all transcript request at least 2 weeks prior! (Brag sheets need to be submitted at least 1 month prior) • Maintain a rigorous senior year schedule & put forth your best academic effort (all year long)

4. Student’s ResponsibilitiesUse all the online resources available to youCollegeboard’s college comparison is a great tool!

5. Student’s ResponsibilitiesUse all the online resources available to youConsider student-faculty ratio & freshman year retention rate

6. Student’s ResponsibilitiesKnow your DEADLINES and whether or not the colleges on your list accept the Common App.

7. Student’s ResponsibilitiesUse Naviance to compare yourself to other Medford high students who have previously applied to a particular college!

8. Student’s ResponsibilitiesUse key features under the college tab in Naviance“Colleges I’m Thinking About / Colleges I’m Applying To”

9. Student’s ResponsibilitiesUse key features under the career tab in Naviance“Career interest profiler, Personality type, Cluster finder”

10. Student’s ResponsibilitiesVisit the Medford High/Voc-Tech guidance website for news, tips & advicewww.medfordhighguidance.com

11. Counselor’s Responsibilities What to expect from your counselor: • An individual meeting with or without parents present • Interest, support and encouragement • Suggestions for schools to look at (assistance fine-tuning your “list”) • Ongoing Feedback • Guidance through the college application process • Sharing of knowledge and resources with you • Suggestions for further independent college exploration What not to expect from your counselor: • Ability to read your mind/Know your thoughts • Keep track of deadlines and appointments for you • Apply to schools or scholarships for you • Write recommendations without notice or your completed Senior Brag Sheet • Financial aid consultation/advise (we ask that you seek outside experts or this)

12. Parent’s Responsibilities What parents can do to help: • Foster an open and ongoing dialog with your child about what they envision for their future • Be honest and realistic with your child about any financial concerns that may affect their college search or application process • As much as possible, try to let your child take the lead • Pick a time and place to bring up the “college” topic, (maybe once per week over coffee @ Starbucks, or at Sunday dinner, etc…) • Realize that for many teens, every day may feel too often to be talking about college or their “future” What parents should not be doing: • Applying to colleges ON BEHALF of your son or daughter • Writing application essays FOR your child • Visiting potential colleges solo, without your child present • Calling up admission offices to “explain” away a poor grade your child recently received

13. Class of 2015 Graduation Requirements • 112 credits minimum • Required courses: 4 English, 4 Math, 3 Social Studies, 3 Science, 4 Wellness, 1 Fine Art • MCAS (English, Math, and Science) • 60 Hours of Community Service (or 15 hours for each year enrolled in Medford) • +*4 years in an approved CTE program for MVTHS students (*with special exceptions for transfer students)

14. 4 Year College Requirements • 4 years of English • 3-4 years of Math (through at least Algebra II) • 3-4 years of Social Studies • 3-4 years of Science (2 years of lab sciences) • 2-4 years of the same foreign language* • *MVTHS students, your CTE course fulfills your foreign language requirement • MCAS (ELA, Math, & Science) • As you can see the MHS/MVTHS graduation requirements are closely aligned with most 4 year college requirements.

15. Post High School Options • 4 year colleges or universities • 2 year colleges • 2 + 2 colleges • Technical colleges/ Trade Schools • Military Academy • Military Service (www.military.com) • Post Grad Year • Gap or Service Year • Employment

16. Community College • The price is right • Students often take the same courses as they would at a 4 year college • Do not require SAT/ACT • Do not usually require letters of recommendation • Students are able to transfer to 4 year colleges after 1 or 2 years • Some community colleges have agreements with the state colleges (MassTransfer Program) • No housing on campus

17. Mass Transfer Program • MassTransfer has two main purposes: • Provide community college students who complete associate degrees (consisting of at least 60 college-level credits) and enroll in linked MassTransfer programs with the full transfer of credit, guaranteed admission, and a tuition discount (each based on final GPA) • Provide any student in the Massachusetts public higher education system who completes the MassTransfer Block (consisting of 34 college-level credits) with the benefit of satisfying the general education/distribution/core requirements at any other public higher education institution (with the receiving institution able to add no more than six additional credits or two courses). • For more information please visit: http://www.mass.edu/masstransfer/

18. UMass System & MA State Colleges • UMass Amherst • UMass Boston • UMass Dartmouth • Umass Lowell • Bridgewater State • Fitchburg State • Framingham State • Salem State • Westfield State • Worcester State • Mass Art • Mass College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) • Mass Maritime Academy

19. Massachusetts State SchoolsMinimum Admission Standards/ Sliding Scale UMass System State Colleges GPA SAT / ACT • 2.51-2.99 950/ 20 • 2.41-2.50 990/ 21 • 2.31-2.40 1030/22 • 2.21-2.30 1070/23 • 2.11-2.20 1110/24 • 2.00-2.10 1150/25 • GPA SAT / ACT • 2.51-2.99 920 / 19 • 2.41-2.50 960 / 20 • 2.31-2.40 1000 / 21 • 2.21-2.30 1040 / 22 • 2.11-2.20 1080 / 23 • 2.00-2.10 1120 / 24 This is simply the sliding scale. However, with college admissions getting more competitive every year, most of public 4 year school in the Massachusetts system are looking for around a 3.0 GPA and around a 1000-1100 combined SAT (math & verbal). Umass Amherst rarely takes a student with a GPA below a 3.5 (regardless of SAT scores).

20. Admissions Information

21. College Admissions Exams SAT: @ collegeboard.com • Duration: 3 hrs. 35 mins. • Cost: $52.50 • Three sections: Critical Reading, Math and Writing (total possible score-2400) • Loose ¼ of a point for any incorrect answers (random guessing will likely lower your score!) SAT Subject Area Tests: @ collegeboard.com • Duration: 1 hr. • Cost: $26.00 (basic registration fee), $16.00 (per test fee), $26 (per language test w/ listening) • Subjects include: English Lit., Bio., Chem., Math, History, Foreign Langs. (full list on website) ACT: @ actstudent.org • Duration: 3 hrs. 30 mins. • Cost: $38.00 or $54.50 with writing • Four sections: English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning (total possible score-36) • No points deducted for incorrect answers (So go ahead and answer ALL questions!) TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language): @ ets.org/toefl - $170*Any student who has taken an ELL class in 9-12th grade, please see guidance counselor for TOEFL info packet Scores MUST be sent to colleges directly from testing agency (www.collegeboard.com or www.act.org) Some schools no longer require admissions tests, see list @ www.fairtest.org/university/optional

22. Admission Factors Colleges Consider • GPA and Class Rank • SAT/ACT scores • Rigor of secondary school record (transcript) • Senior year academic performance • Extracurricular activities/ Community Service • College essay • Recommendations • Interview (if applicable) • “Demonstrated Interest”

23. Admission Categories • REACH – The student’s GPA and SAT / ACT scores fall below the historical averages for the college and / or past MHS students • MATCH– The student’s GPA and SAT / ACT scores fall within the historical averages for the college and / or past MHS students • HIGHLY LIKELY – The student’s GPA and SAT / ACT scores fall above the historical averages for the college and / or past MHS students

24. Reach Schools Everyone’s Reach Almost Everyone’s Reach • The 8 IVY League schools: Harvard, Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Columbia, UPenn, Cornell, • + MIT, Stanford, John Hopkins, Georgetown, Swarthmore, Duke, UC Berkeley, Olin, Amherst • (not a complete list) • Boston College, Williams, Middlebury, • Brandeis, Colby, Hamilton, Tufts, Vassar, • Connecticut College, Wesleyan, NYU, Northwestern, Rice, Vanderbilt, Colgate (not a complete list) • There are many more qualified applicants than there are spaces. Being an average to above-average candidate is no guarantee!

25. Admissions Options • Regular Decision: This is the most common admission option. It means that you turn in your application by the college’s deadline, and it lets you know by a specified date if you have been admitted or not. • Early Action: With Early Action, you send in your application earlier, and the college sends you its decision earlier. Make sure you read the instructions from each college carefully because some colleges have additional restrictions on their early action programs. Academically strong students will often apply to one Early Action school. • Early Decision: You can apply Early Decision to only one college. You are committing yourself to going to a particular school if you decide to apply Early Decision and are accepted (the bind can only be broken for proven financial hardship). You should only apply Early Decision if you have a clear idea of your first-choice college. If you are looking at several colleges and don't want to limit your choices yet, Early Decision is not for you. • Rolling Admissions: There is no deadline for this option. Schools review and make decisions on applications as they receive them.

26. Application Deadlines • Early Decision / Early Action - Usually Nov 1 or Nov 15 • Regular Admission - Often Jan 1st, but can be as early as Nov 30 or Dec 1st • Rolling Admission - Anytime - The earlier, the better • Application materials must be received by guidance department 2 weeks prior to application deadline

27. Admissions officers look for students who… • Think globally, and act locally • Challenged themselves academically during high school • Can handle the academic workload of college • Will contribute to college life (in a positive way) • Demonstrate the qualities of a well-rounded student • Think clearly, logically, creatively, and/or abstractly

28. Guidelines for the common application essay • You must submit only one essay. Your essay must be between 250-650 words. Essays under or over this word limit are not allowed. The essay prompts are as follows: 1) Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.  2)Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure.  How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn? 3)Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea.  What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again? 4) Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content.  What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you? 5) Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

29. Considerations for Special Education Students • UMass/State Colleges permit submitting IEP/Testing in lieu of SAT/ACT • Search for colleges that provide a Learning/Support Center or Tutoring in addition to accommodations • Community Colleges have special programs • MHS Guidance only submits IEP/Testing information when requested by the students due to confidentiality

30. Brief Summary of Financial Aid & Scholarships

31. Financial Aid • Financial Aid Night – Thursday, Nov. 6th @ 7:00pm ~Presented by MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority) Website: www.mefa.org • FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid Available January 1st @ http://www.fafsa.ed.gov • CSS Profile - College Scholarship Service Profile- Some private schools require this • Funding Your Education – See the list of websites in your packet

32. Scholarships • Start at MHS • Community scholarship applications are available starting in January • All scholarships will be posted in Naviance and updated frequently • Hard copies will also be available in the guidance office • Look Local- place of employment, community organization/affiliation, church, etc. • Check with your colleges • See websites in your packet

33. John & Abigail Adams Scholarship • Provides a tuition waiver for up to eight semesters of undergraduate education at a Massachusetts state college or university. The scholarship covers tuition only; fees and room and board are not included. • Students will receive this letter by mail in the fall of their senior year. This letter will need to be presented to college after you are accepted. • In order to use the scholarship, a student must: • be accepted at a Massachusetts public college or university; • complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); • send the Adams Scholarship award letter to the financial aid or bursars office at the college or university that he or she plans to attend; and enroll as a full-time student. • To continue receiving the Adams Scholarship, a student must • continue to enroll full-time at a public higher education institution; • maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on all college work; and • annually complete the FAFSA.

34. Student Athletes NCAA (Division I & II) • Must complete NCAA Clearinghouse Eligibility Form • Must send NCAA your SAT or ACT scores and a $20 fee • Must add NCAA to your Transcript Request Form and list of colleges in Naviance (to guarantee they receive an official transcript) • Minimum 2.0 GPA required • Should be in contact with coaches

35. APPLICATION PROCESS

36. Read Through Entire Packet • Important to know MHS/MVTHS Process • This packet helps to simplify applying to college!

37. Create Two Accounts!

38. Naviance created a great new video tutorial of this process! • Link: http://vimeo.com/102639828

39. 5 Step Process from video • STEP 1: Go to: www.commonapp.org • STEP 2: Register for the Common App • (* you must use the same email address/username as your Naviance account) • STEP 3: Complete Initial Common App tasks • Task 1: Complete the Education Section • (located under the Common App tab on left of page) • Task 2: Add at least one college to your My College List • Task 3: Read and sign the FERPA Release Authorization • STEP 4: Complete the account matching process on Naviance Family Connection • (located on the Colleges I’m Applying To screen, under the College tab) • STEP 5: Review Colleges I’m Applying to list in Naviance, indicate whether or not you will be using the Common App to apply to each college on your list

40. Request Supplemental Information • Request Letters of Recommendation • Give your brag sheet to teachers & counselors • Please allow at least 4 WEEKS • Ask teachers if they will do this electronically or if they need stamped envelopes & CommonApp forms • Request online that your SAT/ACT scores be sent directly to your colleges. Please note: This can take 6-8 weeks!

41. Meet With Your Counselor • Make an appointment with your counselor • September/October appointments for Early Action/Early Decision • November/December for Regular Decision • *MVTHS counselors meet with seniors on Mondays during academic week • Plan on bringing your parents if possible • Come Prepared- Bring a list of colleges, your college folder and all other materials you have

42. Turn in your Transcript Request Form • Fill out your transcript request form completely with all your colleges • Have your counselor sign the finished form • MHS students turn in your form to Ms. Bazile with your $15 fee • MVTHS students turn in your form to Ms. Fitzpatrick • Forms must be turned in 2 weeks before the deadline

43. Submit Your Application • Through the CommonApp or the college’s website, submit your applications • Be careful of deadlines! • Review your application checklist • Double check that your schools have received all materials • CELEBRATE!!!

44. REVIEW • Read the college packet • Create both the CommonApp & Naviance Accounts, and complete needed steps (as outlined in video) • Meet with your counselor • Request Letter of Recommendation • Send your SAT/ACT scores to the colleges and NCAA (for athletes) directly through Collegeboard or ACT.org • Turn in your transcript request form • Submit your application

45. Thank you! • Questions? • Review the step-by-step instructions in your packet! It’s fool proof  • Would you like more information? • Come Wednesday, Sept. 17th to the Senior Parent College Presentation held in the Caron Theater at 7pm • Forms, presentations, announcements, college resources & links will be available at www.medfordhighguidance.com • This presentation will also soon be available online

46. Presented by: The Medford High and Vocational Technical High School Guidance Department Director: Amelia Westmark Secretary: Andree Brazile MHS Counselors: Victoria Glasser Krista Grifoni Wendy Horne Jason Nascimento MVTHS Counselors: Alice Beth FitzPatrick Jenna Tarabelsi