Life After High School

1. Life After High School Oh No, It’s Time to Figure Out What’s Next!!!

2. You Need More Than Your HS Diploma Studies by the U.S. Department of Education prove that your effort pays off. • In 2007, the Census Bureau reported the following statistics: • Annual Earnings Estimates: • $19,405 Less than a high school diploma $26,894 High school diploma $32,874 Some college or associate's degree $46,805 Bachelor's degree $62,287 Graduate or professional degree

3. Education Pays http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2001/June/wk4/art03.htm

4. At the same time skill needs are growing… This is what high school data is saying Out of 100 high school students: • 75 graduate from high school • 27 enter the workforce with HS diplomas • 48 continue on to college • 30 seek bachelor’s degrees • 11 graduate in 4 years • 18 enter two-year institution • 11 do not complete a degree ….and 25 drop out!!! • S. Stimart - Director, Work Force Development - ACT

5. Military The military can train you for a job/career and can offer tuition assistance. • www.todaysmilitary.com • Joining the Military is a big decision, and one we hope will inspire discussion among family, friends and trusted advisors. While not meant as a source of current military news (you can find that at www.defenselink.mil), the information on this site will help you carefully weigh the opportunities and benefits service has to offer.

6. College 101 – Undergraduate Degree • What are the different types of degrees? • Certificate – Not a full degree, but a select group of courses that may allow you to join the workforce at the entry level. • Associate’s Degree – A degree that can be obtained at the Community College – usually 62-65 credits. (AS, AA) • Bachelor’s Degree – A degree that can be obtained at the College or University Level – usually 124-128 credits. (BS, BA)

7. College 101 – Graduate Degree What are the different types of graduate degrees? • Master’s Degree – An additional degree obtained after a Bachelor’s Degree. Usually an additional two years. (MSN, MBA) • Doctorate – A professional degree obtained after three -four additional years of college. (MD, DDS, DVM, PhD)

8. College 101, continued • What is a full-time student? • A minimum of 12 credit hours per semester. But you need 14-16 each semester to graduate in four years. • What is a credit hour? • Math class = 4 credits (Meet 4 hours each week) For every hour in class add two hours for homework. 4 credits = 8+ hours of homework, weekly or 12 hours for this class. • Some classes (such as gym = 1 or 2 credits)

9. College vs. University • Community College is a great start • Chance to improve your GPA • Save time, money • HAVE A PLAN IF YOU WANT A BACHELOR DEGREE • Know which college or university you plan to transfer to after MCC to make sure everything transfers. Talk with advisors at both schools. • College • An educational institution offering a Bachelor Degree and possibly a few graduate degrees. • University • An educational institution offering Bachelor, Master and/or Doctorate Degrees.

10. How to Choose Your College • Not sure what you want to study? • Make sure the college has several majors that interest you – students often change their major 3-5 times. REMEMBER, NOT ALL SCHOOLS OFFER ALL MAJORS! • Don’t follow your friends • Make sure it is “the right fit” for you • Campus visit is crucial • Narrow down your choice and talk with admission counselors • Sign up for Fall College visits at Utica High

11. Major vs. Minor? • What is a Major? • A subject (biology) or field of study (pre-med) chosen by a student to represent his or her principal interest • On average a major requires 50 or more credits About 80% change their major at least once. On average, college students change their major three times over the course of their college career. The most popular major today is “undecided.” • What is a Minor? • A subject or field of study chosen by a student that directly correlates to their Major selection, or it could be something in a completely different study or subject • On average, a minor requires 20-30 credits Additional credits are taken in general education and electives to meet the graduation requirements

12. How To Be Successful in College • The Secret • Good Time Management • For every hour in class, expect 2 hours of homework • Full time student (at least 12 credit hours) should expect about 20-24 hours of homework weekly • Time for studying • Time for fun • ASK FOR HELP if you need it • Get involved

13. What Are Colleges Looking For? All Schools Some Schools have additional requirements • GPA (from 9-11th grade) • ACT score (some colleges require the writing portion) • Strength of your schedule – finish STRONG (AP, Honors classes are important) • Grade trends • Have your grades improved since freshman year? • May require two years of a foreign language • May require a college essay • May require letters of recommendation • May look at leadership/volunteer activities

14. What Should I Be Doing Now? • Gather information – College Fairs • Learn Admission Requirements • Campus Visits • Talk with Admission Advisors • Make sure the college offers your major • Talk with your parents about finances • Work on your college essay • Narrow down your choices • Look for scholarships

15. When Do I Apply? • You can start applying as soon as mid-August and up through Halloween, no later than Thanksgiving. • The earlier you apply, the better your opportunities. • Register with Docufide – www.uticahigh.org – click on “Register with Docufide” – Check mark by Utica High. It will ask for your Social Security Number. This allows your transcripts to be sent electronically.

16. How Do I Apply? • APPLY online. All four year college websites are available at www.uticahigh.org or www.careercruising.com. • Go to the admissions page • Apply to 3-5 colleges • It may take up to 12 weeks to receive a response from the more competitive schools such as MSU and U of M.

17. Essays • Essays • Required vs. Recommended • Make sure you have another person read your essay! • Spell check is fine, but there’ s a difference between “Knight” and “night”. • You are NOT texting. “You” is not “u”. • This could be your opportunity to explain a bad turn in your grades, your personal goals and more. This is your “voice” on the application and it may be used for scholarships.

18. Letters of Recommendation • Letters of recommendation • If the college does not require it, do not let it delay completing your application. • More letters are coming in via email. • Have the person put your full name, date of birth and date of enrollment. NEVER put your social security # on any electronic correspondence. • The best teachers to ask are your junior teachers. They know you. • Allow at least three weeks for them to write a letter and provide them with a list of all your volunteer/extracurricular activities.

19. Admission Decisions • Accepted – Congratulations! • Denied - This is why we recommend applying to at least 3 schools • Deferred – A college may want to see your seventh semester (first semester senior year) grades to determine if you meet admission requirements • Wait Listed - You will only be accepted for enrollment from a waitlist if a significant number of students who are admitted choose not to enroll.

20. When Do I Decide? • May 1st is the deadline to make a non-refundable deposit to hold your spot – but don’t wait that late. • Once you send in a deposit you can select your housing and arrange for orientation.

21. Paying for College • FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid • Complete the form online in January-February of your senior year. And every year before March 1st while you are in college. • www.fafsa.ed.gov

22. Paying for College • Scholarships = your time and effort • Set up a separate email account @ yahoo or hotmail • www.uticak12.org– Check the scholarship listing often. • www.fastweb.com • www.findtuition.com • www.careercruising.com– Financial Aid Selector • www.going2college.org • www.careersandcolleges.com • www.finaid.com • www.collegeanswer.com

23. NCAA Requirements • Potential College athlete? • Talk with your counselor OR • Visit www.ncaa.org • Make sure you meet ALL requirements.

24. Need Help? See your counselor • Mrs. Peterson A-Gol • Mr. Perry Gom-Og • Mrs. Carabelli Oh-Z See Mrs. Wynn, Career Development Facilitator Talk with your parent or family members

25. Tips from a college admission advisor • ESPN’s football/basketball rankings should not be used when choosing a college—your admission has no bearing on the team’s performance. • The longer you wait to apply, the longer it takes to hear back. • Don’t ask Admissions Counselors about getting on the (insert sport) team—we do not work for them. Only 3% of all high school athletes in the U.S. get any form of athletic scholarship to a division II school or higher. • You are responsible for YOU—Make all the calls, ask the questions---not Mom and Dad. • Your application essays are important, they may be used for scholarship purposes, so invest some time in them. • Do not buy into “College Rankings”—There are just as many good schools as there are good students—it’s about the “fit” of the school. • There is a misperception that plagues Community Colleges; how you get to college will be different, but everyone graduates the same way. • Have your own reasons for choosing a college—your parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles all had their own—so should you.