Welcome Parents

1. Agenda • Planning for the Future • Graduation Requirements • 4-Year College Requirements • SATs and Other Tests • Naviance: Family Connection • College Application Process • Service, Military & Employment Welcome Parents

2. Planning for the Future • Options after high school • College/University (4-year colleges) • Technical College/Trade School (2-year schools) • Prep School/Post–graduate programs • Military Service • Employment • What do NQHS grads do after high school? Class of 2011: Education: 4-year college: 79.7% 2-year college and Career/Technical Education: 15.7% Military: 1.4% Work: 3.1%

3. Promotion & Graduation Requirements Promotion Requirements Most high school subjects are worth 5 points each 20 points (4 classes) to become a sophomore 45 total points to become a junior 70 total points to become a senior Graduation Requirements 4 years of English 4 years of history 3 years of science 3 years of math 2 years of a foreign language 4 years of PE Pass Math, ELA & Science MCAS 100 total points to graduate

4. 4-Year College Admissions Requirements Most 4-year colleges require 16 units of college preparatory courses within the following disciplines: English: 4units Math: 3 units or more (Algebra 1, 2 and Geometry) Social Studies: 2units or more, including U.S. History Science: 3 units (2 units of lab science) Foreign Lang.: 2units or more in one language Additional units from college preparatory electives

5. Typical 4-year College Admission Criteria • Courses taken and grades achieved • Grade point average (GPA) • Rank-in-class • Admission test results (SAT I, ACT, SAT II, TOEFL) • Counselor/teacher recommendations • Application questions and essays • Major/college applied to • Activities outside the classroom • Personal interview • Special talents, skills, and interests • Alumni relationship • Geographic location

6. U Mass and State University Minimum Admission Standards Freshman Applicants to any of the state colleges or UMass campuses must meet the following admissions standards: • Have the 16 required academic courses (units). • Have the minimum required grade point average (GPA) earned in college preparatory courses completed at the time of application. • Submit an SAT or ACT score.

7. UMass Minimum Admission Standards Sliding Scale for Freshman Applicants to a UMass: High School GPA Minimum SAT I score (1600 scale – CR & Math) 3.00- 4.00 N/A 2.51- 2.99 950 2.41- 2.50 990 2.31- 2.40 1030 2.21- 2.30 1070 2.11-2.20 1110 2.00-2.10 1150 Less than 2.0 Not admissible

8. State University Minimum Admission Standards Sliding Scale for Freshman Applicants to a State College: High School GPA Minimum SAT I score (1600 scale – CR & Math) 3.00- 4.00 N/A 2.51- 2.99 920 2.41- 2.50 960 2.31- 2.40 1000 2.21- 2.30 1040 2.11-2.20 1080 2.00-2.10 1120 Less than 2.0 Not admissible

9. Tests to Take • ACTwww.act.org • ACT Registration Booklets and study guides are available in the Guidance Office or you may access this information on-line. • SAT www.collegeboard.com • SAT Registration Booklets and study guides are available in the Guidance Office or you may access this information on-line. • TOEFL www.ets.org • TOEFL is required by some colleges for whom English is not the primary language spoken at home and/or if English was not the first language learned. •  CEEB CODE # is 221660 • How do I prepare for these tests? • On-line resources • Prep courses • Books

10. More information aboutthe SATs/ ACTs • The SAT I or ACT is required of allstudents planning to apply to a4-year college or university. • Students planning to apply to selective private 4-year colleges may need to take the SAT II subject tests as well. State colleges and universities do not require the SAT II. • If you are applying to a 2-year junior or community college you may not have to take the SAT or ACT.

11. Naviance: Family Connection • Web-based resource that supports career and college planning • Specific to our school • Linked with the guidance office • Both parents & students can have accounts • http://connection.naviance.com/nqhs

12. Naviance - What can it do? • Share plans • Complete surveys • Compare colleges • Links to other resources • Track deadlines • Produce scattergrams • Show schedule of college visits

13. 4-year College Application Process • All schools accept applications beginning mid-October • Visit schools by November • Ask 2 teachers to write a letter of recommendation • College essay-writing presentations in all senior English classes. • Complete applications beforeDecember vacation • Meet with your counselor regularly • Submit Financial Aid forms byValentine’s Day

14. Common Application • Common Application provides both online and print versions applications. There are more than 400 institutions representing the full range of higher education institutions in the US: public and private, large and small, highly selective and modestly selective, and East Coast, West Coast, and every region in between. • Students must create a profile and then submit their application, supplements and fees online. • Teacher recommendations and school forms are submitted electronically via Naviance.

15. Early Action/ Early Decision • Early Decision is a binding agreement that students are required to attend that college if accepted. • Early Action is an option for students to apply early to colleges and find out if they are accepted earlier.

16. 2-Year Colleges and Career Education/Trade Schools • Most 2-year colleges (Associate degree programs) require a minimum of proof of a high school diploma or a GED • Community Colleges do not require the SATs • Less expensive than four year colleges • Offer shorter certificate programs • Assist you in preparing for a career • Assist you in preparing you for transfer to a 4-year college

17. Research your Schools • Attend local career and college fairs advertised on the “college visit” tab on Naviance website. • Attend the Quincy Public Schools College Fair on October 20, 2011 at North Quincy High School gymnasium from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. • Visit the schools. • Narrow your list of schools, begin contacting schools, or visiting websites of the colleges for the schools that you are interested in. • Find out what the specific application materials are required by the colleges you want to apply to. • Be aware of deadlines!

18. Post-Graduate Planning Appointments • Seniors should make an appointment with their counselor early in the school year. • Confirm that they meet the graduation requirements. • Counselors will write letters of recommendation for students who ask for them. They need to fill out counselor recommendation request forms. • Let us know if your student is the first generation in your family to go to college.

19. Meet with College Admissions Representatives • An opportunity to meet with college admissions counselors during their visits to our school. • Seniors only may register on Naviance and pick up their passes in Guidance by 8 a.m. on the day of the visit.

20. Teacher Recommendations • Students are recommended to ask only 2 teachers for a letter of recommendation. • Should your student waive his/her rights to the letter recommendation? • Need to provide a résumé or Senior Activity Sheet (available in Guidance) to the teacher. • Give the teacher ample time to write your letter (3 to 4 weeks). • Students should think carefully about who they will ask. • Teachers have the right to refuse to write a letter.

21. Transcripts • First quarter transcripts are completed by early December. • Request your transcripts through your counselor. • There is a $3.00 fee for each college application transcript requested. • Like us on Facebook to print a coupon for 1 free transcript. • Students should check their transcripts for accuracy. • Two weeks prior to admission deadlines: Students should meet with their counselor to request transcripts and put together their application materials.

22. Financial Aid and Scholarships • Financial Aid Night is on January 12, 2012 at 6:30 at Quincy High • College-bound students must file a FAFSA and may need to file a CSS profile. • The FAFSA website is www.fafsa.ed.gov Other sites that make you pay are a scam!!! • On January 24, 2012 we will have a workshop to help families fill out the FAFSA form. • Parent meeting to review Scholarship procedures on October 27th at 6 p.m. in the Media Center

23. Scholarships • Awards by the United States Government • Awards by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Financial Aid packages offered by colleges and universities • National, Regional, and Statewide scholarships • Local and Sponsor Scholarships offered by businesses, churches, fraternal organizations, trade unions, veterans’ organizations, alumni, and schools (these scholarships vary from year to year)

24. Résumé • There is a résumé builder on the Naviance website. • Résumés are needed for employment opportunities, and should be sent with college applications.

25. Tips • Please remind students to create an appropriate email address for résumés, job applications and college applications. • Students should be aware of what is posted on Facebook and other social networking sites. College admissions representatives, as well as employers, will search candidates’ internet content.

26. Questions?