College Planning

1. College Planning IB Counselor: Ms. Alyssa Simmons Senior Counselor: Mrs. Olivia Calloway

2. Fall of Senior Year • Sign-up for Free & Reduced lunch. • Register for SAT/ACT • Current dates and registration deadlines are on the IB website, College Board Site and the ACT web page • Meet with your School Counselor to discuss college choices. • Sign up with your counselor on their meeting calendar • Request/pick-up teacher letters of recommendation. • Complete and submit all college applications (by Thanksgiving). • Early Action: non-binding • Early Decision: binding • Complete Bright Futures (December 1) and FAFSA (January 1). • CONTINUE to challenge yourself – GRADES do matter Senior year!

3. ACT To register for the ACT, students can complete their registration online at www.actstudent.org .  Remember to register for the Writing Section of the exam as many colleges require it.

4. SAT • To register for the SAT or SAT II Subject Tests, students can complete their registration online at http://sat.collegeboard.org/home.  • Remember to register for the SAT Writing Section of the exam as many colleges require it.

5. Where to Begin: Spring of Junior Year • Make a list of schools that interest you • Categorize them • Safety School – my SAT/ACT scores & GPA are in the top 25thpercentile accepted at the college • Target School – my SAT/ACT scores & GPA are in the middle 50 % (between 25th and 75th percentile) accepted at the college • Reach School – my SAT/ACT scores & GPA are the lower 25thpercentile accepted at the college. Note: Ivy League Universities are considered DREAM schools, NOT REACH schools. • Determine your areas of interest • http://www.iseek.org/careers/clusterSurvey • Determine cost of each school • Compare Choices

6. How to Compare your choices • Cost • Financial Aid • Housing • Meal Plan Options • Facilities • Admissions Requirement • Size • Location • Environment • Academics • Retention and Placement

7. Contact an Admissions Counselor • Some colleges and universities want to see that you are interested in them • Ask them questions about their school • Set up a campus visit • Ask to speak with a current student • Inquire about scholarship opportunities

8. The Application Process

9. Typical Application • Who: Students complete all applications • What: Undergraduate application for admissions • Transcripts, resume, recommendations, essays, test scores…etc • Where: Colleges/Universities admissions page or Common App • When: Fall of Senior year • Pay attention to deadlines, each school is different! • Major Deadlines: • October 15 • November 1 • January 15

10. The Common AppLICATION • 2013-2014: paper application no longer available • Counselor Information needed for Common App • IB - Alyssa Simmons: asimmons6@escambia.k12.fl.us • Traditional - Olivia Calloway: ocalloway@escambia.k12.fl.us • Website: • https://www.commonapp.org • What schools are members: • https://www.commonapp.org/Login#!PublicPages/AllMembers • Over 500 colleges and universities are members • Roughly 200 are exclusive members

11. All Schools using Common App Schools that only use the Common App

12. Must have Applicants tab selected Click here to start your account

14. Teacher Recommendation Letters • Make sure to look at the college application and be certain of the number of recommendations needed • Provide teachers with resume • Ask your teachers if they can meet with you for 5 – 10 minutes concerning your rec letter • Ask teachers from core Junior year classes • Science • English • Math • History

15. Transcripts • Official Transcripts: • Mid year and final may be requested by the school • College and Universities look at • GPA (weighted and un-weighted) • Freshman – Junior Year Grades • Did they fluctuate? • Demonstrates what type of student you are • How many Honors, AP, and IB courses • Class Rank • Graduating class size

16. What Are Colleges Looking For? • Grades • What types of courses are they taking • IB, AP, Honors • Test Scores • 20% of what schools consider • Essays • No such thing as an OPTIONAL question • Proof of mind at work • Express yourself well • Highlight skills that have been learned Teacher Recommendations • If requested by the college or university • Holistic Approach!!

17. Grades, Test Scores, and Course Load Sports/ Clubs Essays Community Service

18. How Do Colleges and Universities Value the IB Program

19. Provides outstanding preparation for university work • Earning college credits with passing scores on AP and IB exams • Scholarship opportunities • Well rounded students • Higher research and critical thinking skills

21. “A student’s high school courses and curriculum is the most important factor in the selection process complimented by all of the other pieces in the application.  We see the IB as a challenging curriculum, with higher and standard level courses as well as the TOK and extended essay.  As a staff, we respect IB very muchand see applicants from all over the world in the IB curriculum.  The community service component of the IB is also highly respected as students engage in outreach to their communities as a part of their holistic school requirements.  We also note the extended essay subject and the opportunity for students to research and write in a way they have not been challenged to do so before or in other types of curriculums.  The IB is a wonderful program. ” Jodi Robinson, Director of Admissions

22. College Visits to PHS • Dates and Times will be posted on the IB website, as well as outside the School Counseling Office • www.phsibsupport.org • Vanderbilt Visit • Monday , October 13, 2014 : 9:00 am • This is a non student day!

23. Making Achievement Desirable: NCAA Eligibility Standards Pensacola High School Presented by Olivia Calloway

24. OVERVIEW • What is the NCAA? • What is the NCAA Eligibility Center? • Initial-Eligibility Rules • Registration Process • Final Preparations

25. What is NCAA? • The NCAA, or National Collegiate Athletic Association, was established in 1906 and serves as the athletics governing body for colleges, universities, conferences and organizations. • NCAA colleges and universities are divided into three divisions; Division I, Division II and Division III. • Difference between Divisions • Mission/Philosophy • Typically the size of school • Emphasis on competition (i.e., national, regional) • Athletic scholarships and grants in aid available

26. What is the NCAA Eligibility Center? • To certify a student-athlete’s initial eligibility to practice, compete and to receive institutional aid during his/her first year of enrollment at a NCAA Division I or II school. Departments include: • Admissions & Registration • High School Review • Certification for Prospective Student Athletes • Initial Eligibility Requirements Register at: • www.eligibilitycenter.org

27. Four Parts of Initial Eligibility • High School Graduation • Minimum core grade-point average – 2.0 • Minimum ACT or SAT test score must be met • Completion of 16 core course distribution

28. High School Portal • First and foremost, the Resources page on the High School Portal. FAQ for nontraditional coursework. Many different resources that help to understand the new academic requirements for Division I 2016 and beyond. Many helpful resources for you to use to help your student-athletes through the eligibility process. PowerPoint presentation for high school counselors to learn about the initial-eligibility process. Follow us on Twitter! @NCAA_EC

29. Core Curriculum Division II • 16 core requirement: • 3 years English • 2 years Math (Algebra 1 or higher) • 2 years Science (including 1 lab, if offered) • 3 years AdditionalEnglish, Math or Science • 2 years Social Science • 4 years Additional Core Division I • 16 core requirement: • 4 years English • 3 years Math (Algebra 1 or higher) • 2 years Science (including 1 lab, if offered) • 1 year Additional English, Math or Science • 2 years Social Science • 4 years Additional Core

30. Example of Approved Courses (Pensacola HS) MATHEMATICS • Algebra 1 • Algebra 2 • Alg 1-A/Alg 1-B • Geometry • Calculus • Calculus AB • Calculus BC • Pre-Calculus Math • Statistics • College Algebra NAT/PHYS SCIENCE • Biology • Biology/AP/IB • Biology/H • Chemistry • Chemistry/AP/IB • Chemistry/H • Anatomy & Physiology • Integrated Sc - 1,2,&3 • Earth Science • Physical Science • Physics • Marine Science 1 &2 • Zoology ENGLISH • English 1 • English 1/H • English 2 • English 2/H • English 3 • English 3/H • English 4 • English 4/AP/IB • AP English Literature • AP English Language • Debate 1 & 2

31. Final Preparations • Early Senior year • Students should request a transcript to determine individual progress in satisfying the NCAA core-course requirements. • Report all ACT and/or SAT to the NCAA Eligibility Center.  • It is best for students to list the NCAA Eligibility Center as a score recipient at the time of exam registration to avoid additional fees.  • Only official test scores sent from the testing agency (ACT/SAT) are acceptable.  Test scores on your high school transcript will not be used. 

32. Scholarships • Apply Early! • Scholarships are available for ALL high school grade levels. • Where to find scholarships? • There are scholarships for everything! • List of Scholarships posted on the IB website under the college tab • Local banks, clubs, companies, and community organizations • http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/finding-scholarships • College Financial aid webpages • http://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarships-by-state/florida-scholarships/ • www.fastweb.com • www.collegenet.com/mach25/app

33. Scholarships • Questions to ask yourself when applying to scholarships • What are the requirements and do I meet them? • How do I apply? • How does my scholarship effect my other financial aid? • What is the deadline? Do I have time complete the application? • Is this application something I am willing to do? Am I capable? • Is this scholarship state or college specific? • Plan ahead, be organized • Make a list of scholarships that you are eligible for and want to apply • Organize the deadlines/decision release dates in calendar and check it • often! • Request alerts for approaching deadlines • Ask for recommendation letters in advance – DO NOT request recommendation letters from your teacher the day before the deadline.

34. Finding Scholarships • Make sure scholarship information and offers you receive are legitimate; and remember that you don't have to pay to find scholarships or other financial aid. • You can learn about scholarships in several ways, • contacting the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend • checking information in a public library or online.. • Try these free sources of information about scholarships: • the financial aid office at a college or career school • the U.S. Department of Labor’s FREE scholarship search tool federal agencies • your state grant agency • your library’s reference section • foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic groups • organizations (including professional associations) related to your field of interest • ethnicity-based organizations • your employer or your parents’ employers

35. BrightFutures • http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/bf/ • Students must apply during their last year in high school (after December 1 and prior to graduation) • Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) – GPA/Test Scores • 4 year school • $77 per semester hour = 1,155 – 1,386 dollars a semester • Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) – IB Diploma • 4 year school - • $103 per semester hour = 1,500 – 2,000 dollars a semester

36. Helpful Resources

38. Parent/Student Resource

39. Exploring College Options Student/Parent Session • Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Stanford, and Penn • Hosting information session for prospective students and their parents • Where: Mobile, Alabama • Wednesday, October 1, 7:30 p.m. • 251-338-2000 • The Battle House Renaissance 26 North Royal Street Mobile, AL 36602 • www.exploringcollegeoptions.org • Register online

40. Click on Alabama

41. TRiO Educational Opportunity Center Student Services Specialist Obi Kalu, MPH akalu@pensacolastate.edu (850) 484-2357 educationalopportunitycenter.org

42. Q and A Alyssa Simmons: IB College Counselor asimmons6@escambia.k12.fl.us (850) 595–1500 ext. 292 • Olivia Calloway: Senior Counselor • ocalloway@escambia.k12.fl.us • (850) 595 – 1500 ext. 235