SOPHOMORE COLLEGE PLANNING NIGHT Presented by Jeff Stahlman

SOPHOMORE COLLEGE PLANNING NIGHT Presented by Jeff Stahlman, College Counselor And Kelsey Tschanen, Ohio State

Guidance Office Your Tenth Grade Advisor Mr. Jacoby College Counselor – Mr. Stahlman ØStudents and parents are welcome! ØAcademic/College questions, assistance with other matters ØCollege Selection materials to review

Guidance Office Website https: //www. stcharlesprep. org/students/st-charles-guidance-office/ OR go to St. Charles website under “About St. Charles” and click on “Guidance office” Ø College links ØUpdated calendar of events ØTimelines and visit information and much more!

Guidance Office Website

NAVIANCE

NAVIANCE

A Few of my Guiding Principles about College Selection It’s about the “FIT” or “MATCH” – a school’s name is little solace if you are not happy there! FIT = GRADUATION Ø Think about “going” to college at least as much as you think about “getting in” Ø Ø Find schools where you will thrive! Ø Communicate! Ø A voyage of Self-Discovery

The College Selection Puzzle Size $ COST $ Reputation Social Life Study Abroad Distractions Programs Liberal vs. Conservative Major Diversity Grad Rate % Dorms % Returning Athletics/Activities Selectivity Campus Setting M/F Ratio Residential? Greek? Who Teaches Big Fish/Small Fish Geography

A Few Questions ØHow far away do I want to be? How adventurous are you? ØHow much personal attention do I want? ØWould I like to be in a city, near one, or in a college town? ØWhat would I like to study? ØWhat else matters to me? ØWhat College Experience do I want?

What Does College Cost? College Cost Per Year 60000 50000 40000 60000 30000 40000 20000 10000 25000 4, 000 0 Community College live at home In-State Univ. Private College/out of Selective Private College state, State Univ.

A Word About Cost Begin to discuss and plan now! Ø Will you qualify for financial aid? Ø look for “Net Price Calculator” on each college website Ø Will you qualify for college scholarships? How do scholarships work? Ø The more selective the school, generally the more financial aid and less merit-based money is provided Ø What are your cost parameters as a family?

How Can I Learn About Colleges ØVisit the Guidance Office ØGuidebooks (page 21) ØWebsites (pp. 19, 20) ØVisit Colleges! It’s not too early. ØCollege Visitors to SC in the fall – 125+ ØNAVIANCE! ØCollege Fair at Convention Center – 4/21 1: 00 pm

Selective Admissions Grades Recommendations SAT Class Rank Community Service Athletics Demonstrated Interest Activities Rigor ACT Interviews Subject Tests Early Decision Uniqueness Leadership EA Character

Selective Admissions ØSchools simply have more applicants than they can admit ØEvery SC Grad will get into college! ØThe better you do, the more college choices you will have ØIT DEPENDS! ØIn General: Grades = 50 -60% of admissions Testing = 20 -40% of admissions Other Factors = 10 -30%

What You Should Know About Grades/GPA ØGrades matter MORE than test scores! ØDo your best ØAt very selective colleges (Admission rates 40% or lower) you need a rigorous curriculum = AP ØHow many AP classes will you have next year? Upon completion of SC? ØGPA matters in CONTEXT! School, classes, etc. ØShould I get an “A” in a regular class or a “B” in an AP Class?

College Testing Why? PSAT ACT SAT Subject Tests Test Score Optional? (page 41) What if I have a Written Accommodation Plan?

PSAT Ø Scores range from 200 -760 in Math and ERW Ø You took it this year as a tenth grader, but it is a junior level test ØPractice Exam! What did you learn about yourself? ØJunior Year determines National Merit Qualifying ØBased on Selection Index Score = first two digits (Math + twice the ERW score), ex. M=65 + ERW=65+65 = SI 195 Last year cutoffs: Commended Scholar: 211 Semi-Finalist: 219

ACT Exam Ø 4 sections: English, Math, Reading, Science ØOptional Writing section ØScore 1 -36 ØMath includes Algebra 2 ØTest is fast! ØAlways Guess! ØSt. Charles average: 28. 9, national average: 21

The SAT ØERW (English/Writing Score) and Math ØWriting section is optional! Scores are on a 1600 scale, 800 each ØSC Avg. = 1320, National = 1070 ØNo penalty for wrong answers (now) ØFocus on relevant words ØScores have changed – scores now skew higher ØFocus on math that “matters most” – “heart of algebra”, data analysis, advanced math ØScience and social studies are included in critical reading section ØKhan Academy free online preparation

SAT Subject Tests Subject Area Tests in specific subjects: Ø 3 Tests at one sitting – one hour per subject ØFew schools require or recommend, BUT these are generally more selective schools ØCheck your schools carefully! Also in your handout on pages 38 -40 but keep checking for changes! ØIf in doubt, take them ØSpring 11 th Grade – May or June – are ideal test dates for SAT Subject Tests (SAT 2’s) after a subject area class

When? Ø PSAT: October 11 this year and October next year – National Merit Qualifier (11 th Grade) Ø ACT: Fall/Winter Junior Year Ø SAT: Fall/Winter Junior Year Ø Ø Select your best test – retest spring 11 th and fall 12 th Ø Subject Tests: Spring Junior Year (if needed) How Many Times?

Test Prep How can I prepare for ACT/SAT Exams? ØOn own – free online or books ØClass ØTutor Should I use a Test Prep Service? ØCan I afford it? Many price options/choices – I have listings of resources ØWill my son take it seriously? ØDoes it matter at the colleges I apply to?

How Can I Get Involved? Why should I get involved? 2 types of involvement: 1) for you 2) for others ØFind Clubs or Organizations at St. Charles ØFind Organizations in your community ØLook for ways to CONTRIBUTE to your community – Service ØLook for summer opportunities www. studenteducationprograms. com ØConsider Interning or Shadowing in an interesting career field ØLook for leadership opportunities ØSummer Research with St. Charles – Mr. Breckenridge Initiative!

A Word About Ultra Selective Colleges “HOOKS” = Interest Factor Ø Ø Ø Ø RECRUITED athletes Authentic students Legacy Unusual / Interesting Famous Early Decision National Level of Achievement How will you contribute? “Lottery Admissions” THE GOOD NEWS! There are more than 3, 000 colleges Quality does not equal selectivity! There will be many, many schools which are great matches for you! Ø Ø Ø Acceptance Rates 2017 Stanford Harvard Columbia Yale Princeton U Chicago MIT Cal Tech Brown Pomona Penn Northwestern Claremont-Mc. Kenna Duke Dartmouth Vanderbilt Swarthmore Johns Hopkins Harvey Mudd Pitzer Amherst Cornell Tufts Cal – Berkeley Wash U – St. Louis Georgetown 4% 5% 6% 6% 6% 7% 7% 7% 8% 8% 9% 9% 10% 10% 11% 12% 13% 15% 15%

10 th Grade Timeline Ø Ø Ø Ø Take PSAT – October 11 Do your best in the classroom Become involved in your school and community Begin to research colleges – websites, books VISIT Colleges! USE NAVIANCE Summers – what will you do? Discuss cost of college as a family and begin to formulate a finance plan.

11 th Grade Timeline October: Take PSAT for practice SAT and National Merit IF you are a college-bound D 1 or D 2 athlete, register with the NCAA! Late Fall/Early Winter: Begin College Testing – ACT/SAT Late Winter/Spring: Complete second ACT or SAT Spring: Complete SAT 2 -Subject Test if needed ALL YEAR: ØVisit colleges ØComplete research ØBuild College List – Likely/Possible/Reach

12 th Grade Timeline Fall: Apply to colleges and finish testing October 1 -December 1: Apply for Financial Aid April 1 st: Students will be notified of admission decisions no later than 4/1 May 1 st: Students will decide which college to attend FALL of 2020 – Leave for College!!

Kelsey Tschanen Program Coordinator/ Admission Counselor The Ohio State University