Which Road Will You Take?

1. Which Road Will You Take? Senior Presentation

2. Options After High School Four year College or University Community College Vocational (Trade) School Military Employment

3. Four year College or University • Must meet minimum admission requirements (4 maths, 2 levels of the same foreign language • SAT or ACT • Strong GPA and class rank • Begin applying in the fall of senior year

4. Things to Consider When Looking for a College • Major • Location • Size • Cost (Public/Private) • Apply to at least three – a dream school, a competitive but reasonable match, a definite “admit” school • Go VISIT

5. CFNC College Week • November 15-19 • Many private colleges waive application fee for all students that week only • Students may apply to community colleges or four-year as well • Student must have a CFNC Account (if you don’t go to CFNC.org and create before that date) • Burns will participate • Seniors may sign up in guidance and complete applications in the career center during the school day that week

6. Attachments for College Applications • Transcripts – Must have a release form on file in guidance with a parental signature if under the age of 18; see Mrs. Norman; must allow 2 days; can be sent online • Test scores – SAT and/or ACT scores; must be sent directly from testing agency • Others (specific to the college) – example – school report, recommendations, essay questions

7. Blogging • Latest way for admissions to communicate • Goal is to connect the student rather than the parent as the central link in applications • Cover material from Open House dates to admissions deadlines • Facebook and Twitter are along places to check the latest of what’s going on • The comment told by admissions staff was, “Don’t put anything out there that you would not want your mother to see”

8. Discipline • Something that is requested on most admission applications is a list of several questions asking about previous discipline –out of school, in school, crimes, probation, etc. • Carries a lot of weight – especially violence or drug/alcohol related

9. Community College • Take the Asset test – NOT SAT; sign up with Mrs. Benfield or go to CCC – must register with Diane Greene • Talk with student services or your department of choice so you can meet requirements as soon as possible • Investigate 2 + 2 programs with 4-year colleges • Work with the CDC at your high school

10. Vocational (Trade) School • Usually no testing is required for admission • Scholarship opportunities at their site • Expensive but specialized

11. Military • Recruiters are present at school • Sign up for the ASVAB with the CDC (Mrs. Benfield • Military Service Academy Day 2010 is Saturday, Sept. 25 10 am – 1 pm at 2050 National Guard Dr., Morrisville, NC 27560 • More information email Academy_Nominations@Hagan.Senate.Gov

12. SAT • Late deadline for the October 9 test is Friday, Sept. 24 • Need to have two tests on file because best combined score can be used • Three areas – reading, math and writing • It or ACT are required for admission for NC 4-year colleges except Wake Forest • Cost - $47.00; late fee is an additional $24 • Paper registration forms in guidance or go online at www.collegeboard.com • Prep sessions after school begin Sept. 27 • Remember on this test wrong answers count against you • If you are planning to go to a community college a certain score will place you out, i.e. CCC 450 on R & M

13. SAT Subject Tests • Used mostly for placement • Only required for admission in a few select colleges – Davidson, Duke • Student can take 3 on a test day • Each just one hour long

14. ACT • An option to SAT • You must take the ACT Plus Writing, more expensive but the writing is required • Cost - $48 • Different scale • No points are taken off for wrong answers • Test date – Oct. 23 registration Sept. 17 • Test date – Dec. 13 registration Nov.5 • The score can serve as placement for the community college test

15. Scholarships • Look at the Burns High School webpage to see a list of what to expect year long and what is currently out • Look at the college websites in which you are applying, many are listed there and the applications are online • If you can’t hear the announcements, check them online or have your parents do so • More in area of nursing, education and agriculture • Applications must be neat, grammatically correct • Must meet deadlines • I will be glad to proof your applications but they must they must be in my office three days prior to the deadline for that to occur

16. Financial Aid • FAFSA can not be completed until after January 1 – This is for Pell grants, Stafford loans and NC lottery money • FAFSA Day Feb. 19 • Apply at www.fafsa.ed.gov NOT www.fafsa.com • Check CFNC on scholarships available in North Carolina • Check the Blue Book in guidance regularly and sign up early don’t wait

17. NCAA Clearinghouse • All athletes who play college sports must register • Division II SAT 820, 2.0 GPA • Division I sliding SAT and GPA • Register at www.ncaaclearinghouse.com • SAT or ACT score is required and scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to the Clearinghouse • The testing code with SAT is 9999

18. Items to Have On File in Guidance • Activity Sheet – Name, email address Categories – Honors, Extracurricular, Community Involvement, Hobbies/Interests (follow the outline in your packet) • Recommendations – 3 on file in the guidance office (2 from teachers, 1 from a community person) • It would be beneficial to provide each person writing a recommendation with an activity sheet to give them some guidance • Transcript release form • Both need to be completed ASAP

19. www.CFNC.org Scholarship applications College applications Electronic transcripts And Much More….

20. Parent Meeting for Seniors October 14 Library at Burns High School