Welcome Juniors and Seniors and Parents We are

Welcome Juniors and Seniors and Parents!

We are ranked 166 of the top 500 high schools (out of 16, 000 evaluated) in the nation. We are one of five high schools from AZ that made the list and the only Chandler school.

Meet Mrs. Lake lake. teresa@cusd 80. com

Meet Mrs. Speciale Once we were a “house divided”… Now we are all WILDCATS!!! Bear DOWN! speciale. elizabeth@cusd 80. com

• • AGENDA General Information College Admissions College Entrance Testing Colleges/Universities/Community Colleges Scholarships Federal Financial Aid Tools and Resources

Student’s Role: • Plan • Research • Communicate • Know your resources • Be on time- watch deadlines • Ask for Help Parents’ Role: • Communicate • Support • Encourage • Hold on loosely Counselor’s and Career Center’s Role: • Guide • Support • Encourage • Provide Resources • Arrange speakers & off campus opportunities

What Post High School Options Do I have? • • • Workforce Military Trade School Community College University

How Do I Decide? • Talk with people working in different professions. • Have them describe to you what it is that they do. • If it sounds interesting to you, ask if you can “job shadow” for a day. • Spend time on college & career exploration web sites like: AZCIS or College Board’s Big Future (links can be found on ACP College & Career Center web site). • Attend career and admissions presentations from college representatives at ACP!

What is My Next Step? Juniors… • Using career exploration tools can help you make a list of potential career choices. • Research to see what colleges or universities offer degree programs that fit your career aspirations. • Narrow your list down to 3 -4 choices by the end of your junior year. • Spend time prepping for PSAT (Oct. 14 th), ACT (all juniors in April) & SAT (March 2016 or after). • Schedule campus visits. • Athletes- register with NCAA Clearinghouse.

What is My Next Step? Seniors… • College applications are opening SOON or are open now! • Be ready with your personal essay, letters of recommendation and resume. • Know upcoming dates and deadlines- Common App. Open now, Flinn app opens late August, Barrett Honors College app opens Sept. 9 th with early decision deadline Nov. 15 th. • APPLY EARLY!!!!! • Retake SAT (before March 2016) or ACT. • Revisit campuses. • Students who qualify for free or reduced lunches can qualify for fee waivers for applications. • Searching for and applying to scholarships is your JOB!!!

PSAT/NMSQT Test Date Wednesday, October 14 th. All freshmen, sophomores and juniors should take this test. Only tests taken in the junior year will be considered for National Merit Scholarship. Priority registration for juniors begins 8/31. Test fee $20 (tax credit may not be used.

Practice PSAT given by Kaplan When: Tues. , Sept. 8 th, 8 -11 AM Who: All juniors should register Cost: $10 per student (turn into Mrs. Speciale after online registration has been completed) How: Registration link on College & Career Center web site. Scores Back & PSAT/SAT Changes Parent Night. Wed. , 9/16 at 6 PM

COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS • SAT (new format beginning March 2016) or ACT-test score may be sent to 4 colleges at no charge. Should send to your “for sure” schools but students may want to wait to get scores back before sending scores to “reach” schools. • SAT Subject Tests- in state schools do not require them for general admission but certain schools within the university may. Check admission requirements on web site. • Community College placement tests- Accuplacer (used for dual enrollment & to qualify for President’s Scholarship). • Placement tests (ALEKS)- given online by the university.

Test Prep Resources • My College Quick Start- FREE to all students who took the PSAT (access code on score sheet). • College Board- http: //sat. collegeboard. org/practice • Khan Academy- http: //www. khanacademy. org/about • ACT- http: //www. actstudent. org/testprep/ • Private Test Prep Companies- Kaplan, Princeton Review, Beat That SAT Test online program.

DECIDING WHERE TO APPLY Final list should be a combination of: • “Reach” or “dream” schools where admission rates are between 7 -20%. • “Possible” schools-you closely meet the expectations in the school’s profile but competition for spaces can still be tight. • “Probable/likely admit”-chances for admission are very strong. • “Financial Safety”- a place that parents can afford if your financial aid package is not strong at other schools, or if your financial situation changes.

Letters of Recommendation • Required for many universities and scholarships. • Fill out Letter of Recommendation Information form (on C&CC web site). • Start asking for them BEFORE October break. • Give your teachers, counselors and/or coaches a two week notice.

College Admissions • • • ASU Applicants must have one of the following: 3. 0 GPA or higher in 16 core competency courses, ACT 22, SAT 1040 (math and critical reading). Admission may be granted with one deficiency in no more than two competency areas. All other students are “conditional” and are reviewed on a holistic approach which includes test sores, GPA and essay. Separate application for Barrett Honors College which opens on Sept 9 th. VIP deadline is Nov. 1 st (receive priority house registration & free stuff).

• • • UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Applicants must have an unweighted overall grade point average of 2. 0 in each subject area and may not have more than two deficiencies. No specific GPA, SAT or ACT score required. A Comprehensive Review Process is used to determine if a student will be admitted. Assured Admission for AZ residents-students must rank in the top 25% of graduating class, however, ACP does not report class rank on transcripts. 3 -in-1 Application- application is considered for admission, Honors College admission and merit scholarships. Wildcat Promise- submit app by 10/15 receive answer by 11/5

NAU • You will be offered admission if you have a 3. 0 or higher core GPA and have no deficiencies in the required core competency courses. • You will be considered for admission if you have a 2. 5 core GPA and have no more than one deficiency in any two areas in the core competency courses. • Honors Program admissions- online essay requirement, holistic evaluation, no deadline to apply to Honors, you are strongly encouraged to submit application materials prior to March 1 if you would like to live in Cowden Hall. • Lumberjack Scholarship- full tuition 4 yr. renewable scholarship if you have a 3. 5 core GPA and no grade lower than a “B” on high school transcript (only 3 replacement grades accepted).

GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY • Students who are interested in earning a bachelor's degree must have an unweighted GPA of 3. 0 or above or ACT 19 or SAT 920. • Admission requirements to some programs of study are more rigorous. Review the specific college for additional admission details and requirements. • Honors Program- qualifications for admission: GPA 3. 8 or SAT 1200 or ACT 27. There is a separate application for the honors program which requires an essay, resume and two letters of recommendation. 500 seats available for this program. Early decision app. 9/1/15 - 1/1/16.

MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES • Open admissions policy- apply in the 2 nd semester at my. maricopa. edu • The President’s Scholar Honors Program and scholarship - for incoming first-year college students who score appropriately on college reading, math and English placement tests.

PRIVATE AND OUT OF STATE COLLEGE • Check college website for admissions requirements. Each school may be different. • Application deadlines will differ from school to school. Always verify with each school. • Common Application-used by more than 560 schools. Once completed, the application can be sent to any number of participating colleges. • Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)- 140 2 & 4 year schools that offer residents of Western states 150% of in state tuition. • Texas- in state tuition for AZ students who earn merit-based scholarship. • HAVE AN IN-STATE BACK UP PLAN!!!

Don’t put the cart before the horse… Apply, get accepted, line up financial aid…THEN DECIDE!

Knowledge is an Investment If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the highest return. – Benjamin Franklin

Financial Aid • Scholarships- AIMS, institutional and private. • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)-opens Jan. 1 st • Loans • Work Study • Grants

New This Year! Parchment Transcript Ordering Service • First 5 transcripts are FREE, $5 each additional. • Parents & students can see exactly when transcripts is received by institution. • Students can research colleges, compare colleges to each other, matches colleges to your student credentials. • Students and parents can view unofficial transcript at any time (also on Infinite Campus).

UPCOMING EVENTS • PSAT Kaplan practice test- 9/8 at ACPE • PSAT Parent Night- 9/16 at 6 PM in the cafeteria • CUSD College Fair- Sept. 21 st at 6 P. M. at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Doors open at 5: 30 P. M. • NACAC College Fair at the Phoenix Convention Center Sunday, Sept. 27 th from 11 -3 P. M. • PSAT- given here at ACP on Wed. , Oct. 14. Registration will begin in Aug. 31 st. Cost $20. • ASVAB test Tues. , Nov. 10 th from 8 A. M. to noon. FREE • Financial Aid Night- Will be January 13 th at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Doors open at 5: 15 P. M.

College Representative Visits and Campus Tours • • • • • 8/24 during Success- Air Force Recruiting Officer Presentation 8/27 10 AM- Savannah College of Art & Design at CHS 9/3 8: 30 AM- Alabama University at CHS 9/8 8 AM- PSAT Practice Test- register in the College and Career Center 9/8 10: 30 AM- Boston University at CHS 9/14 9: 30 AM- Embry Riddle University 9/16 9: 30 AM- USC at CHS 9/18 - GCU Get On the Bus campus tour (tentative) 9/21 6 PM- CUSD College Fair at Chandler Center for the Arts (doors open at 5: 30 PM) 9/21 10 AM- Vanderbilt at CHS 9/22 during Success- NAU Admissions Rep visit 9/23 HBCU College Fair at Phoenix College 9/24 9: 45 AM- Harvey Mudd College Admissions Rep visit 9/25 8 AM- Oklahoma State University at CHS 9/25 9: 45 AM- Colorado State University at CHS 9/27 11 AM-3 PM NACAC College Fair at the Phoenix Convention Center 10/16 - University of Arizona Road Trip (tentative) 10/21 8: 30 AM- Colorado Mesa at CHS 11/18 8: 30 AM- NROTC Presentation at CHS 11/19 8: 30 AM- Enlisted Military Presentation at CHS Trips offered later in the year- ASU Poly Campus, NAU, Embry Riddle

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER… • Check the College & Career Center web site OFTEN!! • Don’t ever pay to apply for scholarships, for help with FAFSA or college applications. • Give a 2 week notice to teachers for letters of recommendation. • Students should set up a separate email address for college applications and scholarships. • Watch what you post on social media. . . it is there FOREVER! • Time management is crucial. Be process BEFORE Oct. break. ready for the application

Online Resources • Youniversitytv. com- video tour of college campuses. • Fastweb. com- scholarship search • AZCIS. intocareers. org-college & career research and scholarship resources • College. Board. org- test prep, college exploration

QUESTIONS? ? ? Please call or email to make an appointment. Mrs. Lake 480 -424 -8006 lake. Teresa@cusd 80. com Mrs. Speciale M-F after school until 3: 45 480 -424 -8011 speciale. elizabeth@cusd 80. com