Welcome to College Search Night

1. Welcome to College Search Night While you are waiting for the presentation to begin, please take a moment to complete the Criteria for College Admittance Warm Up Activity

2. The College Search Process December 6, 2012 Presented by: Irondequoit High School Junior School Counselors

3. Agenda • Criteria for College Admittance • College Search – Factors to Consider • College Admission Testing • Junior College Planning Timeline • Closing Thoughts/Questions

4. Criteria for College Admittance • Academic Record including courses taken and GPA • Test Scores and Selective Colleges • Difference Factors: Activities, Letters of Recommendation, Essays, and Interview

5. Next Steps – Admissions Decisions • Finish Year Strong • Senior Courses – Challenge and Balance Yourself • Letters of Recommendation • Extracurricular Involvement – Career Connections, Clubs, Volunteering, Athletics, Special Talents

6. The College Search • Number of Colleges? • Three Tier Approach: • Likely, Good Match, and Reach Schools

7. What am I looking for in a College? Factors to Consider • Type of School • Location/Campus Setting • Student Body • Admissions Selectivity • Co-Curricular Activities • Academics/College Major • Cost

8. Electronic Resources • connection.naviance.com • www.collegeboard.com Search Resources Print Materials • College Guidebooks • Specialty Books • Viewbooks & Mail at Home • Catalogs and Office Files

14. Narrowing the Search Visit the Campus! • Formal • Take a campus tour • Interview with an admissions representative • Sit in on a class or two • Talk to a professor • Talk to a student or counselor in the career center • Spend the night in a dorm room with a current student • Informal • Read the student newspaper • Eat in the cafeteria • Ask a student why he/she chose the college • Browse in the college bookstore • Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus • Read the bulletin boards in the academic department you are interested in

15. Narrowing the SearchAdditional Methods • Utilize Admission Representatives • College Fairs – National College Fair March 13 • Admission visits to Irondequoit High School College and Career Center • Virtual Campus Tours www.campustours.com • Individual College Websites Every college has their own website – Link from Naviance or do a simple search. Consider using Email or resources like Twitter to learn more about a college.

16. Admission Decision Options Application Options • Early Decision • Early Action • Regular Admissions Other Terms • Rolling Admission • Wait List

17. Special Considerations • Music/Art/Architecture Majors • NCAA Clearinghouse • Students with Disabilities • Military Academies/ROTC

18. Next Steps – College Search • Don’t Wait – Start Now! • Family Discussion of “Ground Rules” • Plan Ahead for College Visits • Counselor as a Resource

19. College Admissions Testing • SAT • Critical Reading, Math, and Writing • Scores range from 200 to 800 • Most colleges using only CR and Math • ACT • English, Math, Reading, and Science • Scores range from 1 to 36 • Composite score is average of 4 areas • Writing section is optional, but recommended

20. College Admissions Testing SAT Subject Tests • Required by some colleges (Such as Notre Dame, Ivy League, Boston College, etc) • Each test 1 hour long, can take 3 on test day • Score range 200 – 800 • Separate Test Day from SAT Reasoning

21. College Admission Testing Registration • Register Online • www.collegeboard.com • www.actstudent.org • Photo Upload Required • Fee Waiver Availability • Accommodations may be available for students with disabilities • Score Reporting

22. Test Preparation • Test Prep Classes – Community Education • Online: My College Quickstart www.princetonreview.com www.collegeboard.com www.actstudent.org • Test Preparation Books

23. Next Steps – College Admission Testing • Test in Late Spring of Junior Year – Deadlines! • Consider both SAT and ACT exams • Long Term Preparation is the Key • Research College Requirements • Optional Schools – www.fairtest.org

24. Junior College Planning Timeline • MEET WITH MY COUNSELOR TO DISCUSS POST HIGH SCHOOL PLANS • USE NAVIANCE TO ASSIST WITH MY COLLEGE SEARCH • ATTEND COLLEGE FAIRS, CAMPUS VISITS, AND SEE REPS IN THE CAREER CENTER • USE NAVIANCE TO ASSIST WITH MY COLLEGE SEARCH • USE PSAT RESULTS TO PREPARE FOR SAT • ATTEND COLLEGE FAIRS, CAMPUS VISITS, AND SEE REPS IN THE CAREER CENTER

25. Closing Thoughts • Counseling Department Activities • Junior Class Lessons – Fall and Spring • Junior Individual Conferences(post high school planning/course selection) • College Application Process Night – Fall 2013 • Financial Aid Night – November 2013 • Senior Class Lessons – September 2013 • Student Meetings in Fall • Parent Meetings available

26. Closing Thoughts College and Career Center Activities • College representative visits • Chronicle weekly publication • Computers available for college and scholarship research/applications • Tuesday Nights 6 – 7:30pm, please contact Nancy Pomeroy for details at 336-2935

27. Counseling Office 336-2921 Cheryl_Call@westiron.monroe.edu Dawne_Howe@westiron.monroe.edu Debbie_Pecchia@westiron.monroe.edu Scott_Steinberg@westiron.monroe.edu Ken_Eckman@westiron.monroe.edu Kevin_Mcdonald@westiron.monroe.edu Gretchen_Bush@westiron.monroe.edu College & Career Center 336-2935 Nancy_Pomeroy@westiron.monroe.edu Nancy_Russ@westiron.monroe.edu