ELHS Counseling Department Junior Parent Night Thursday February

ELHS Counseling Department Junior Parent Night Thursday, February 1 st 6: 30 pm For updates and information… Like us: Follow us: East Lyme High School Counseling Office @elhscounseling 1

Counseling Office- A 200 Counselors: Elizabeth Maiese: A - Cho Emily Cacace: Chr - Go Allison Kosswig: Gr - L Christy Bryant: M - P Lisa Ramaccia: Q - Sm Nadine Barnes: Sn - Z Visit: http: //www. eastlymeschools. org/ East Lyme High School > School Counseling > College and Career > Family Connection by Naviance connection. naviance. com/eastlymehs Be sure we have your correct email address on Naviance! 2

Important Dates February- April Small group Junior meetings for postsecondary planning March 1 st- Financial Planning Presentation Electronic Registration 5 th-8 th Teacher Recommendations 9 th-20 th Online selection 19 th-29 th Selection with Counselors 21 st- SAT state testing April 14 th-Saturday ACTs at ELHS 14 -22 vacation for college visits! May/June SAT dates at ELHS May 5 th, June 2 nd September Senior classrooms Senior Parent Night ACT date at ELHS October FAFSA opens 3

Topics we will cover: ●Admissions Information ●Careers and Majors ●The College Visit ● Standardized Tests ● Preparing to Apply ● Naviance 4

Admissions Information 5

Profile of ELHS College Acceptances Based on a sample of ELHS students from the classes of 2013 -201 7 who reported a result of Accepte d, Denied, Deferred or Waitlisted to Naviance Some results are unknown Very Most Selective Tufts, UVA, BC, Bowdoin, Vanderbilt, Michigan, Amherst, Connecticut College, Middlebury Trinity, RPI, Univ. of Northwestern, William Delaware, Ohio State, Harvard, Yale, Cornell, & Mary, Wash American, Loyola Brown, Columbia, University, USC, Holy Maryland, WPI, Dartmouth, UPenn, Cross, Wellesley, NYU, George Washington, Villanova, BU, University of Miami Princeton, Duke, Rochester, Fordham, Syracuse, Providence, Stanford, Northeastern, Fairfield, Wheaton, Johns Hopkins Brandeis Clemson, Stonehill UConn NE State CT State Universities schools Storrs & Avery UMass, UNH, Point UVM, URI, UMaine Eastern, Central, Southern, Western Ave. GPA 3. 89 3. 68 3. 53 3. 44 3. 32 3. 19 Ave. SAT 1600 scale 1450 1323 1250 1214 1161 1068 32 30 28 27 25 23 11% 49% 72% 86% 87% 91% Ave. ACT % accepted 6

Most popular colleges attended by the class of 201 7 UConn (Storrs/Avery Point) Three Rivers 35 Eastern CT 11 44 Clemson, Hofstra, U of Maine, Central CT Mitchell, NYU, 4 Roger Williams, Sacred Heart, Salve Regina, Southern CT 3 Conn College, Fairfield U, U of Hartford, Marist, UMaryland, UNew England, Nichols, Northern Vermont, Penn State, Stonehill, Stony Brook, UVermont 2 U of Rhode Island, U of New Haven 5 In State: 120 Out of State: 105 Approx 53% of graduates are attending institutions in state 7

Exploring Careers and Majors: Beginning the Post-Secondary Search 8

Exploring Careers & Majors • Sophomore year, ELHS students completed a career inventory and personality inventory on Naviance • This fall, counseling staff reviewed the results, and the juniors and walked them through a preliminary college search • While some students know exactly what they will choose as a major, most do not. • Those who aren’t sure about their plans should research possible majors by reviewing, completing or restarting the Personality Inventory or Career Interest Inventory on Naviance. • Read about careers & majors at mymajors. com, collegeboard. com and princetonreview. com • Relax – many students apply “undeclared” and most students change their major at least once in four years of college. 9

Generating a List of Colleges ~ Super. Match Where? What state or region? What do you want to study? SAT, ACT and GPA 2 -year or 4 -year? How big or small? Rural, Suburban, small or large city? Public school (like UConn) or Private? Wide Open, selective, very selective? ROTC, clubs, arts, publications, etc. ? Will you need support or assistance? Playing a sport? Div 1, 2, 3? Sororities or Fraternities? Some of these answers become clearer after you visit some schools! 10

What else should be considered? ● What are the colleges admission requirements and is the ● ● ● ● right fit for students’ academics and testing? What % of students graduate in 4 years? and what % of freshmen return for their sophomore year? Student/professor ratio? Is housing guaranteed? What % of graduates are placed in jobs related to major? Safety? Opportunities for employment, study abroad, internships? Opportunities for study at other schools? Consortium? Athletics, activities, clubs 11

The College Visit 12

Narrowing the Focus: The College Visit • Check website/call for appointment at least 2 weeks before visit. Most schedule via website. – especially info sessions & tours. Interview, if available. • What to Wear: Look neat & clean. No hats. Casually nice acceptable for info sessions/tours. Nicer for interview. OK to show your own style. • Introduce Yourself. Shake hands, eye contact, student should take the lead. • See a Dorm Room. Eat in cafeteria. Sit with students. Stop students and ask “what do you think…” • Visit Library, Classroom Buildings & Student Center • Keep a Journal. Write down experiences, pros/cons ASAP after trip. Snap some pictures to cue memory. • Ask about Overnights 13

To How Many Colleges should you Apply? ● Two or Three “Reaches” Just meet the SAT & GPA Ranges ● Two or Three “Targets” Right in the Middle or Better than SAT & GPA Ranges ● Two or Three “Safeties” At the Far End or Beyond the SAT GPA Ranges & 14

What information are the colleges asking for? ● Strength in Subjects (transcript) ● (4 -5 Core Courses/Year) ● Grade Point Average (GPA) ● SAT I or ACT scores/possibly SAT II ● Admissions Essay/Interview ● Recommendations ● The Application ● Caliber of high school curriculum 15

More Competitive Colleges ● What makes a student stand-out? ● Is the student well-rounded? ● Leadership Qualities ● Did student successfully “take advantage of what the high school has to offer? ” APs, Honors, Leadership opportunities etc. ● What can student bring to them (Athletics, Music/Art Talents, service) ● Remember: Selecting a Class rather than Just an Individual. 16

Standardized Tests 17

Testing Timeline- School Based Grade 9: October- PSAT 9 Grade 10: October- PSAT March- PSAT 10 Grade 11: October- PSAT March- SAT 18

PSAT Timeline Oct 14 th, 2017 -Testing Date December 13, 2017 - Scores released online January 20 th-26 th- Scores sent home February 6 th Advisory- explanation of scores, PSAT hardcopy scores, and PSAT booklets returned September 2018 - schools notified about National Merit selection 19

New SAT vs. ACT ● The new test is more focused on the skills and knowledge at the heart of education. It measures: ●What you learn in high school ●What you need to succeed in college ● Test Time- 3 hours + 50 -minute essay (optional) Three Sections: Reading Writing and Language Test Math (calculator/no-calculator) + optional essay ● No test penalty ● Curriculum-based Testthat measure achievement in core content areas ● Test Time 2 hours, 55 minutes, including an optional 30 -minute Writing Section ● Four Sections: ● English ● Math ● Reading ● Science ● Optional: Writing (required by most) ● 1 Experimental section (only added to certain test dates) All colleges will accept either test. The ACT with writing is often accepted by schools who require SAT Subject Tests. Hundreds of colleges require neither.

SAT Subject Tests *required by some schools What: One hour Subject Tests designed to show knowledge in subject area & ability to apply that knowledge. Admission requirement for some schools. Check the school’s website. Subjects: English; Literature; U. S. History; World History; Math Level 1 & 2; Biology; Chemistry; Physics; Chinese; French; German; Italian; Modern Hebrew; Japanese; Korean; Latin & Spanish Some schools accept ACT with writing in place ofan SAT Subject Test. (Go to www. collegeboard. com for more info) Hundreds of colleges do not require SAT/ACT. For more information and a list of schools that do not require standardized tests, visit www. fairtest. org 21

Test Prep Free SAT/PSAT, ACT, AP Prep is available at: http: //www. learningexpresshub. com/collegecenter/libraryhome Information on tutors and classes can be found on the Naviance home page. 22

Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. PSAT and SAT scores can be linked through Khan Academy, and specific lessons can be customized based on the results. 23

Preparing to Apply 24

Preparing to Apply ● Prepare for and take standardized tests ● Extracurricular: Create a “resume” of accomplishments ● Complete Counselor Questionnaire on Naviance ● Complete Parent Questionnaire on Naviance ● Look at application essay questions and begin to brainstorm ideas ● Make sure you have an appropriate e-mail address ☺ 25

Early Decision, Early Action & Regular Admissions Early Decision (ED I & II): Students apply to one college 1 st semester senior year. Acceptance is binding. Early Action: Students may apply early and will be notified early but decision is not binding. Regular Admission: Single deadline – spring notification. Rolling Admissions: Application reviewed and notification upon receipt of complete application. 26

Common Application www. commonapp. org ● Over 700 colleges use the Common Application ~ including all of the state schools. ● Check to see whether the college requires supplement and what it entails. ● Application, supplement & payment are all submitted through Common App. ~ all supporting documentation is submitted via College Board/ACT or Naviance. ● Have a Facebook or Twitter account? Be sure to like or follow ELHS Counseling for updates and info from Common App, College Board, ACT and Federal Student Aid. ● http: //www. commonapp. org/application-dictionary ● https: //www. commonapp. org/ready 27

Recommendations? • Most Colleges Require 0 -2 Letters – some have specific requirements • Choose teachers/counselor who know you well and who can provide examples of your personality • Think about it now; ask now! Ask again in Sept. • Provide teachers/counselor at least 4 weeks to write your letter. 28

Special applications Military Academies ● ● Start now ~ process has many steps See individual websites for info on the process and to begin preliminary application. Visual & Performing Arts ● ● Portfolio or audition may be necessary to apply. Each school has different requirements – read website carefully and plan ahead. Athletics ● ● ● All Division I & II athletes must register with the NCAA eligibility center eligibilitycenter. org. Must meet GPA, test score and course requirements. Transcripts can be requested through Naviance. 29

What Can Parents Do to Help? ✓ Listen ✓ “So, How Can I Help? ” ✓ Encourage the best fit for your child. ✓ Discuss Strengths, Needs, Wants, etc. ✓ Be realistic about Money ✓ Hands-Off the Application (Proofing is OK) ✓ Stay Involved ✓ Be a Voice of Reason 30

And now for…. A Naviance Overview ● What do I want to do? : Personality Profile & Career Interest Inventory ● SAT Prep ● How do I find a college? College Search and College Super Match ● Other useful resources and links: NCAA, Military Academy information, financial aid information. *forgot your username/password or need to sign up? leave your name and email address on the sign up sheet and we will forward you the information*