Welcome to Avon High Schools Class of 2016

Welcome to Avon High School’s Class of 2016 College Planning Night

Counselor Assignments 2014 -2015 School Year • • • A–B C – Go Gr – L M–R S–Z Ms. Bradley Mrs. Corya Mrs. Hatchett Mr. Binkley Mrs. Yoder Mr. Thompson (Sept-Dec)

PSAT/NMSQT § Wednesday, October 29, 2014 (blocks 1 and 2) All sophomores and juniors will take the exam in their SRT class § The Importance of the PSAT: § o Results from the PSAT are used by teachers and counselors for course placement and instructional decisions o The PSAT is the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Competition o The PSAT is the practice SAT exam

How to Prepare for the PSAT Read the PSAT Official Student Guide for test-taking tips and types of test questions. § Critical Reading o Math o Writing Skills o Take the Full-Length Practice Test inside the guide; answers are included, grade it and see what you missed. Review PSAT Score Report from 10 th Grade Use the test strategies on “My College Quickstart” at www. collegeboard. com/quickstart. § § § o Use Online Access Code from 10 th Grade PSAT Score Report or ask your counselor for your code.

PSAT Full Length Practice Test § Front cover of exam o o o Timing Scoring Guessing Marking Answers Checking answers Scoring (page 31) § Make time to take the practice test. It is the best way to get ready for the PSAT! §

SAT Test Dates 2014 -2015 Avon High School ID 151647 Register online at www. sat. collegeboard. org SAT Customer Service: 866 -756 -7346 **FREE SAT Prep materials are available in the ALC Media Center!** Test Date Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline (extra fee applies) Mail Phone/Online *October 11 September 12 September 30 November 8 December 6 *January 24 March 14 May 2 *June 6 October 9 November 6 December 29 February 13 April 6 May 8 October 28 November 24 January 13 March 3 April 21 May 27 SAT Registration and Test Fee = $52. 50 Students who receive lunch/book rental assistance and/or are See your guidance counselor. Late Registration = $80. 50 21 st Century Scholars may qualify for a fee waiver. Be sure to indicate 4 colleges/universities to have your scores sent to for FREE! Purdue and NCAA require SAT scores to be sent directly from testing agency (College Board). *Avon High School is a test site IU,

ACT Test Dates 2014 -2015 Avon High School ID 151647 Register online at www. actstudent. org ACT Customer Service: 319 -337 -1270 **FREE ACT Prep materials are available in the ALC Media Center!** Test Date Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline (extra fee applies) *September 13 August 8 August 9 – 22 October 25 September 19 Sept. 20 – Oct. 3 December 13 November 7 November 8 – 21 February 7 January 9 January 10 – 16 March 13 March 14 – 27 May 8 May 9 – 22 *April 18 June 13 ACT Registration and Test Fee = $36. 50 ACT Plus Writing = $52. 50 Students who receive lunch/book rental assistance and/or are 21 st Century Scholars may qualify for a fee See your guidance counselor. Be sure to indicate 4 colleges/universities to have your scores sent to for FREE! IU, Purdue and NCAA require ACT scores to be sent directly from testing agency (ACT). *Avon High School is a test site waiver.

SAT & ACT Comparison SAT ACT Measures academic aptitude in Measures academic terms of verbal and numerical achievement in English, reasoning Math, Reading, and Science No Science section Partial credit for incorrect answers No penalty for guessing Includes the writing section Writing section optional

College Rep Presentations College Representatives provide information about their college/university’s programs and majors, admission requirements, student life and scholarship/financial aid opportunities. College Rep Visits Scheduled as of 9/29/2014: 10/1 IUPUI – Onsite Admissions 10/9 University of Saint Francis 10/1 University of Chicago 10/9 Saint Mary’s College 10/1 University of Cincinnati 10/9 University of Southern Indiana 10/1 Eastern Illinois University 10/9 Williams College 10/1 Indiana State University 11/14 Kettering University 10/1 Olivet Nazarene University 11/19 Air Force Career Talk 10/1 Saint Mary of the Woods College 10/1 Vanderbilt University 10/9 Avant Gard 10/9 Bellarmine University 10/9 University of Evansville 10/9 Indiana Wesleyan University

Tips on Visiting Colleges Complete College/Military Visit Form: Two visits allowed junior year Plan your visit when students are actually on campus Fall break and spring break are good times to visit Ask questions of students that you see on campus. Most likely, your tour guide will be a college student § Complete Campus Visit Score Card § § § Design Your Own Visit: § Tour the campus § Meet with an admissions counselor § Meet with a financial aid officer § Observe a classroom lecture § Bring an unofficial high school transcript § Schedule an overnight visit (if possible)

How to Pay for College Financial aid and scholarship applications are generally not made available until a student’s senior year; however, the following are important resources to remember when thinking about financing your college education § Indiana College Costs Estimator http: //www. indianacollegecosts. org o Estimate college costs using personal financial/tax information o Learn about the financial aid process, including frequently used terms, various sources of aid and differences between grants, loans and scholarships § FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) www. fafsa. ed. gov o Must be completed in order to receive any type of scholarship, grant or loan for college o Cannot start FAFSA until January of the senior year o Financial aid informational meetings and workshops will be held in January/February of senior year to facilitate financial aid process o FAFSA must be completed between January 1 st and March 10 th of senior year! § Never Pay for Scholarship Search Services! o Naviance provides local and national scholarship information for FREE! o Other legit scholarship search websites: www. fastweb. com, www. scholarships. com

NEXT Magazine YOUR GUIDE TO: Plan o Prepare o Pay for college and career success! o HIGHLIGHTS: Page 18 – Map of Indiana Colleges o Page 26 – Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs o Page 41 – Directory of public, private, apprenticeship programs, proprietary schools (for-profit), and military o

Save the Date Spring Junior Parent Information Night § April 9, 2015 § The college application process § Choosing the right college § Paying for college § Life after high school

Naviance Succeed § Access Naviance through Avon High School Guidance website www. avon-schools. org/domain/4129 § First Time Using Naviance? o § Instructions are on the back of handout Important Info on Naviance: o o College Rep Visits “Super. Match” College Search Scattergrams Announcements about College Fairs and College Preview Days

Prepare, Plan & GO! Regina Atkins Regional Coordinator – Indianapolis Indiana State University

The Basics • Admission Lingo o Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Rolling Admissions vs. Open Enrollment • Application Process o o The Common App Institutional Applications for specific programs Deadlines • Applied or Admit by • Hard vs Soft

Prepare: Academics • Test Prep & Practice o o PSAT/NMSQT SAT ACT Career Assessment • Diploma Types o Core 40 o Academic Honors Diploma o Technical Honors • Specific Courses o AP & Dual Credit Courses o Classes related to your major

Prepare: Extracurriculars • Important Points o Longevity o Demonstrate a balanced life • Everything Counts! o o o Sports Performing Arts Community Service Work Church groups

Prepare: Yourself! • College Email Account o Example: firstname. lastname@email. com o Check often, parent/guardian access • Learn to self advocate o Students take the lead, parents be supportive • Network o Alumni, teachers, college reps

Plan: Your College Criteria • What Do You Want? o 2 year college vs. 4 year college o Public vs. Private o Size & Location • Soul Searching o Majors, student activities o Campus culture, amenities o Student services • College List o Safety: exceed admission requirements o Match: meet admission requirements o Reach: below admission requirements • Take advantage of fee waivers!

Plan: College Requirements • Holistic review o o o Cumulative GPA Test scores Resume & personal statements Letters of recommendation Rigor of classes • Student Type o Potential Ambassador, representative

Plan: Paying for College • Aid Types o Grants o Scholarships o Loans • FAFSA o Free Application for Federal Student Aid o Complete every year o Available Jan 1 senior year, due March 1 • Scholarship Search o o Searches are FREE Ex: Fastweb. com Look locally Awards from the institution • Junior Year Matters o Changes in GPA happen now

Go: College Exploration • College Visits o Research the school o Bring questions, test scores, transcript o Take notes • Summer Programs o College student w/o the commitment! o Indiana State Summer Honors • Tips & Tricks o o o Keep an open mind Talk to everyone! Walk around on your own Try the food Have fun!!

Questions? ? Thanks for Listening!