Junior Planning Presentation Jill Britton and Sarah Cunningham
Junior Planning Presentation Jill Britton and Sarah Cunningham, School Counselors
Tonight’s Agenda ● ● ● ● Junior Planning Activities & Timeline College Search Process & College Visits Post-Secondary Options Components of the College Application College Admissions Tests Admissions Options Roles/Responsibilities in College Application Process Sites and Programs to Become Familiar With
Important Upcoming Events Mark your calendars! March 5 th, 9 th & 12 th: Free SAT Prep Classes in WHS library from 9: 30 am to 11 am March 23 rd: Career Day at Middlesex Health Shoreline Clinic March 25 th: SAT School Day March 26 th: Manufacturing Industry Panel 8: 30 -9: 30 am March 31 st & April 1 st: Hartford National College Fair April 22 nd: Haddam-Killingworth Annual College Fair
Post-Secondary Options Technical School. Career specific, hands-on training, cost effective, certificate upon completion Four Year College ● ● Preparation for professional occupations BA or BS degrees upon completion Usually require you to take out loans Traditional classroom setting Community College ● ● Cost effective: PACT Program Associate degrees or certificates upon completion Option to transfer to state schools after Usually have programs that align with local employment needs Gap Year Travel, community service work, Ameri. Corps Military Options. Combine education and training for the armed forces in large, structured institutions Employment Typically start with entry-level positions and/or Apprenticeships
The College Search… Where to start? ● Search via Naviance and add schools to “Colleges I am Thinking About” ○ Develop a broad list of schools: safety, fit and reach. Find colleges that are Predictable with clear entrance criteria. ● Start visiting colleges! ● Search considerations: ○ Size of school ○ Type of school: 2 -year, 4 -year, community, public, private ○ Level of competitiveness ○ Cost of tuition & board ○ Majors, minors and specific programs offered ○ Learning opportunities (i. e. internships, study abroad) ○ Location and distance from home: rural, urban, suburban campus
7 Reasons to Consider Community College 1. Affordability and Access 2. You are not sure about college. 3. You are not sure what kind of program you want to pursue. 4. Your GPA is not so great and you want to build your skills before transferring 5. You’d like a career-oriented degree, such as a computer-certification program. 6. You work or have commitments and need a flexible schedule. 7. PACT… see next slide!
Attend Community College Debt-Free with PACT Beginning in the fall of 2020, qualified Connecticut residents can pursue a degree or certification tuition and fee-free. The Pledge to Advance Connecticut, or PACT, will support full-time students who are entering Connecticut community colleges in the fall 2020 semester. To qualify, students must: ● ● ● Go to ct. edu/pact for more information. Be a graduate of any CT high school, GED or home school program Be a first-time college student Complete the FAFSA and accept all available financial aid Enroll and stay enrolled as full-time students (12 credits per semester) Participate in a degree or credit-bearing certificate program Maintain satisfactory academic progress
Anatomy of a College Application ADMISSION TEST SCORES: Some colleges require SAT and/or ACT scores. Scores need to be sent directly from testing organization. HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT: Your record of courses and grades you earned; includes GPA and class rank. One of the most important components of application. INTERVIEWS/AUDITIONS/ PORTFOLIOS: It is a good idea to ask for an interview, even if optional. If you are applying for a specific program, a college may want to see samples of your work. APPLICATION FORM: Often asks information about self and parents (most schools use Common. App, some have their own application portals). APPLICATION FEE: Varies from $35 -$75 per college. Fee waivers are available for students in financial need--see your school counselor for more information. SECONDARY & MIDYEAR SCHOOL REPORTS: Filled out by counselor; includes information about the school, graduating class, and specific information about you. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: Often comes from teachers & counselors. Ask references well in advance of deadlines. ESSAYS: Many colleges require an essay or personal statement. This can give admissions reps a better idea of your character/strengths.
Making Contact with Colleges… Take the Initiative Campus Visits Rep Visits ● Try to visit when the ● Admissions reps from school is in session… you over 60 schools come will get a more accurate to WHS in the fall and feel for the campus. Take they want to meet you advantage of April break! ● Opportunity to show ● Research school prior to interest with visit admissions rep ● Sign up for info sessions, ● Check into Naviance tours and interviews on over the summer and college’s website sign up for visits College Fairs ● Local and National ● Opportunity to show interest with admissions rep--collect business card ● Haddam-Killingworth Annual College Fair April 22 nd ● Hartford National College Fair March 31 st & April 1 st
SAT ● 3 Sections: Reading and Writing Language, Math, Essay (Optional) ● Broken down into two scores: EBRW & Math ● Not all colleges require testing ● SAT School Day: March 25 th ○ Free ○ State-mandated ○ No essay ○ Administered during school hours ACT ● Five sub-tests: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science and Writing ● Scoring is different from SAT ● Typically not an admission requirement for schools in the east, more popular for schools out west
Admissions Options Visit www. nacacnet. org for more information. Regular Decision Rolling Admission Definition: Apply by a Definition: School specified date & reviews apps as they receive a decision in a are submitted & clearly stated time releases decisions period. throughout admission Commitment: Noncycle binding Commitment: Non. Typical deadline: binding Early January Typical deadline: N/A Early Action Early Decision Definition: Apply early & receive a decision well in advance of regular response date. Commitment: Nonbinding Typical deadline: Early November Definition: You commit to a firstchoice school. If admitted, you must enroll and withdraw all other apps. Commitment: Binding Typical Deadline: Early November
Roles/Responsibilities in the College Application Process Student (& Parents) ● ● ● ● ● Attend college visits Add colleges in Naviance Create Common. App account and complete application Send test scores Request transcripts Pay application fees Complete FAFSA Ask teachers for letters of recommendation and request via Naviance Pay attention to deadlines! ● ● ● Both School Counselor Familiarize student with Naviance and the role it plays in college application process Develop and refine college list based on interests, strengths, academic standing Help student understand requirements for specific schools/programs ● ● ● Send transcripts Send letters of recommendation Send school profile Send mid-year reports and transcripts Write letter of recommendation, if requested
Sites You Should Familiarize Yourself With Now. . . COLLEGEBOARD: Sign up for SAT tests, receive score reports, send scores to schools ($12/school) send scores to colleges, research schools NAVIANCE: Research schools, sign up for college rep visits, find scholarship information, build a resume, add schools to “Colleges I’m Interested In” and eventually add schools to “Colleges I'm Applying To, ” request letters of recommendation, request transcripts, review results of career inventories COMMONAPP: Add schools you will apply to, fill out generic application and apply to multiple schools with one application FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid, will assess your financial need and provide packages that include loans and/or grants
Individual Junior Planning Meetings Juniors will be scheduled for individual planning meetings during the school day with their school counselor during the 4 th quarter. We encourage students to speak with their parents about what was discussed at the meeting, but parents are also welcome to join. Topics to be covered include: ● ● Planning for senior courses Review SAT scores High school reflection and transcript review College and career planning
Where should students be by the fall? Know which post-secondary option you would like to pursue and what requirements you must meet. If you plan to attend college… ● Narrow down a list of 5 -8 prospective schools ○ Add to “Colleges I’m Thinking About” in Naviance ○ Visit at least three colleges ○ Have taken the SATs (and ACTs, if interested) ○ Completed resume ○ Know who you will request letters of recommendation from and be prepared to make those requests ○ Start thinking about potential college essay topics--you will write these in English
Things to keep in mind as you enter the final stages of your high school career. . . Study hard but also make sure you have fun. Begin the process early so you don’t get overwhelmed. Do not close the door on any opportunities--think hard about what you want, and pay attention to deadlines. Remember that there are many potential matches for you… you don’t have to find “the one” You do not have to have the whole journey mapped out. Get a good idea of the direction you would like to take, and map out the next few steps.
Questions? This powerpoint will be uploaded to our Guidance page on the school website as well. Thank you!
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