Overview of the College Process

1. Overview of the College Process January 2014

2. MHS Guidance Department • Ms. Apel ext 6168 kapel@mtsd.us • Mr. Glock ext 6164 kglock@mtsd.us • Ms. Hampton ext 6165 champton@mtsd.us • Ms. Musial ext 6166 pmusial@mtsd.us • Mrs. Pino ext 6167 hpino@mtsd.us • Mrs. Ritson ext 6172 jritson@mtsd.us • Ms. Watson ext 6163 cwatson@mtsd.us Make an appointment through email, or speaking with a secretary.

3. BEGINNINGTHE COLLEGE SEARCH PROCESS The Goal: Find the colleges that are the right fits for you!

4. DECISION FACTORS • Size • Location • Campus personality • Entrance Requirements • Majors available • The school’s commitment to a particular major • Diversity • Athletics/Activities • Reputation • Cost…

5. CONSIDERING THE COST OF COLLEGE • How much can your family afford? (including tuition, books, travel, spending money, etc) • Compare lower tuition at a public school with the possibility that a private school may have more financial resources and be able to offer more aid • Don’t let the initial cost of college dissuade you from applying • Consider applying for scholarships: Going to college should NEVER break the piggybank!

6. Financial Aid and Scholarships • Federal Student Aid: http://studentaid.ed.gov • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): www.fafsa.gov • FAFSA4caster: www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov • CSS/PROFILE: https://profileonline.collegeboard.com • The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid: www.finaid.org • MHS Guidance Website • FastWeb: www.fastweb.com • FindTuition: www.findtuition.com • Sallie Mae: www.salliemae.com

7. TYPES OF COLLEGES • Two -Year Colleges Two-year private schools Community colleges Guaranteed transfer programs • 4-Year Colleges and Universities Liberal Arts Schools Ivy League Schools Private Colleges Public Colleges Technical Universities • Specialized Institutions Music conservatories Art schools Culinary schools Health sciences

8. Getting Started • Begin in the winter of your Junior year • Talk to older friends/family about their experiences • Identify possibilities • Know your resources • Research and visit

9. YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE: College visits! • Best to go when school is in session • Take a campus tour • Attend an open house • Overnight stays with a sibling or friend • Visit actual classes while in session • Interview?

10. Helpful Websites for the College Search • CSO College Center: www.CSOCollegeCenter.org • The College Board: www.collegeboard.com • KnowHow2Go: www.knowhow2go.org • Hobson’s CollegeView: www.collegeview.com • Peterson’s: www.petersons.com • The Common Application Online: www.commonapp.org • Colleges That Change Lives: www.ctcl.org • College Visits:www.college-visits.com

11. JUNIOR PLANNING MEETINGS • Counselors present to juniors in small groups • Counselors meet with each student individually • Counselors will meet with students and parents upon request • Parents and students can use Naviance at home

12. What are colleges looking for? • Grades in coreacademic classes – strength of program • SAT/ACT tests • Overall GPA • Essay or writing sample • Teacher/Counselor recommendations • Interview/Visits • Activities/Special talents

13. TAKING OWNERSHIP • The college admissions process calls for trust and a new kind of teamwork “directing” needs to give way to “guiding” • Getting into college, despite your inexperience and busy schedule, is something you must do for yourself • College admissions officers are eager to hear about the student from the student • It’s time to be your own advocate!

14. New Trends … • Admission policies like Restricted Early Action • Test optional schools:   www.fairtest.com • ACT – much more popular

15. Standardized Testing Know what the colleges on your list are looking for… SAT ? SAT II? ACT?

16. REGISTER FOR THE TEST • Register online: www.collegeboard.org for the SAT and www.act.org for the ACT • Websites also have useful resources such as practice tests, questions of the day, study and test-taking tips, college searches, etc…Take advantage of them • Question of the Day SAT App!

17. SAT & ACT SAT • Scholastic Aptitude Test • Aptitude oriented • 3 3/4 hours in length • Score Range 200 – 800 (2400 total) • Critical Reading, Math, Writing • Essay (scored out of 12) • You choose which scores will be sent to colleges. ACT • American College Test • Achievement oriented • 3 1/2 hours in length • Score Range 1-36 • English, Math, Reading & Scientific Reasoning • Essay optional • You choose which scores will be sent to colleges Which test is right for you?

18. SAT II – Subject Tests • Selective colleges require subject tests for admission • 1 hour in length (take up to three tests on one test date) • Score Range 200 – 800 • All tests are not offered on all dates – be sure to plan ahead

19. SAT TESTING – Dates to Remember DATE TEST/S REGISTER BY March 8 SAT February 7 May 3 SAT/Subject Tests April 4 June 7 SAT/Subject Tests May 9 ACT TESTING – Dates to Remember February 8 January 10 April 12 March 7 June 14 May 9

20. Test Prep/Coaching Programs • PSAT Score Report Plus and test booklet were recently returned and are a great way to identify specific strengths and areas of need • CollegeBoard and ACT offer free test preparation on their websites. Students can familiarize themselves with the tests and the directions for different sections • Many different individual, small and large classes, handbooks and computer programs on the market • Effectiveness of books and classes is a hotly debated topic • Can be costly and time-consuming • Results vary • Princeton Review and Revolution Prep programs offered at MHS

21. TESTING – Helpful Hints • Become familiar with the test • Know how you learn best and invest time into that strategy • Take timed practice tests • People who read well – score well • READ, READ, READ!

22. YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH STARTS WITH: Registering and logging in to

23. What is it? • Web-based • Supports high school career and college planning • Specific to MHS • Available only to registered users (student, parent, and counselors) • Easy registration, easy to use

24. How does it help? • Shared resource linking home to school • Organized and efficient “container” to compile a student’s data, experiences, documents, etc., relevant to college admission with consideration for student information confidentiality • Greater opportunity for parent participation in college planning • Accurate, complete records about student outcomes and admission decisions from our school • Realistic assessments of your chances of admission to colleges where prior graduates have applied

25. Family Connection Login Page

26. Do a College Search

27. Scattergrams

28. See When College Reps are Visiting MHS • Registered users sign up to attend meetings online • Meeting reminders e-mailed a day before college visit

29. FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE COLLEGE SEARCH • From all of your research, make a list of ten to twelve schools that are potential fits • Do more extensive research on those schools • Trim that list to eight to ten by September of your senior year and begin applying

30. This is an exciting time! • Remember to have fun visiting campuses and learning about what makes each one unique • Remember that there is more than one college out there for you • Try to minimize stress by keeping all lines of communication open and seeing your counselor often Good luck!