College Kick-Off La Jolla High School September, 2014

1. College Kick-OffLa Jolla High SchoolSeptember, 2014 A Presentation for LJHS seniors and their parents

2. Getting started… Goal: Be informed, not overwhelmed! - Resources - Requirements - Assessments - Priorities - Action

3. La Jolla High School Counselors • Mr. Conrado CastroAll students with last names beginning with A - E(858) 454-3081 x2211ccastro2@sandi.net • Ms.CarolineKaroczkaiAll students with last names beginning with F - L(858) 454-3081 x2212ckaroczkai@sandi.net • Ms.Cathy Hutchins - Director of GuidanceAll students with last names beginning with M - Q(858) 454-3081 x2213chutchins@sandi.net • Ms. Kristen SalehiAll students with last names beginning with R - Z (858) 454-3081 x2214ksalehi@sandi.net

4. At LJHS, Your Primary Resources:Naviance, Your Counselor, the Registrar

5. La Jolla High School RegistrarMs. Solberg • Desk located across from attendance • Responsible for transcripts and secondary reports • View “Registrar’s” Tab on LJHS website • Scholarship information/applications • NCAA information • See her before school, after school or at lunch • Or Email her at msolberg@sandi.net

6. Student Information Release Form • Complete and turn in to Ms. Solberg • Requires student and parent signatures • Must check the box agreeing to waive access to recommendations

7. Colleges Come to us at LJHS! • College Admissions Representatives come from all over to visit LJHS and provide students with information about the schools and programs. • There is a list on the College Bulletin Board in the Counseling Office • You may attend up to 5 college information sessions – sign up through Naviance • The representative presenting often reads applications from our area – so introduce yourself and come armed with good questions! • If there is a session you can’t attend (due to a test or other conflict) you can leave a note for the representative. • Attending these sessions is a great way to demonstrate interest (more on that later).

8. More things to do right now: • On Naviance – Under the “About Me” tab: • Students – answer questions from the student information survey so that your counselors can write recommendations for colleges or scholarships • Parents – answer the questions on the Parent Information Survey to help counselors craft letters for your students

9. Your timeline? 12th Grade College Calendar • Found on the LJHS website under “Counseling” then “College Planning and Information”

10. More LJHS Resources: • College Articles in Weekly LJHS PTA enews • These articles will be emailed to students Facebook – please “like” LJHS College Info page on Facebook and scroll through the many posts regarding the college search and admission process – and college life in general! Twitter – follow @LJHSCollegeInfo on twitter

11. Standardized Tests and www.fairtest.org • All colleges will accept either SAT or ACT • Most colleges will accept scores taken until December senior year. If applying early, check school’s policy and deadlines! • Still time to take needed SAT Subject Tests – check college websites • Upcoming Registration Deadlines: • SAT: Sept. 12 for October 11 test; October 9 for November 8 test; November 8 for December 6 test • ACT: September 19 for October 25 test; November 7 for December 13 test • You must send colleges your official scores from testing company • Don’t test well? Look up schools which don’t require SAT or ACT at The National Center for Fair and Open Testing – www.fairtest.org

12. Teacher Letters of Recommendation • Not all Colleges require them, so check your schools’ requirements • Not needed for UC or CSU schools • Most private schools and some out-of-state public schools require them • Number required varies by school – again, check • Speak to your teacher first, then request through Naviance • Be prepared to provide the teacher helpful documents such as resume and transcript • Speak to teachers immediately if you are applying early • Write them a thank you note after!

13. If you’re still researching schools, make sure you research yourself! • - Goals • - Interests • - Values • - Ambitions • - Achievements • - Academic Strengths • - Your Standout Talents – What sets you apart from the crowd

14. Choosing YourCollege Priorities: • What is important to you? • Location • Academics • Size • Campus Appeal • Social Life • Total Cost – Including Aid

15. CSearch Tools –Use These Resources! • Naviance Family Connection https://connection.naviance.com/family-connection/auth/login/?hsid=ljhs • College Board www.collegeboard.org • College Data www.collegedata.com • College Navigator http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ • Cappexwww.cappex.com • Common Data Set www.commondataset.org

16. A quick word about Community Colleges • They can make your dreams of attending a selective school come true! • Most affordable higher education option • No standardized tests required for admission; only a high school diploma or GED • Associates Degree offered • Great way to satisfy general education requirements and transfer to a 4-year college or university • You must have a plan when you go in – meet with an Academic Advisor to create one • Seek out your schools’ Transfer Coordinator to track your progress ensure transfer success

17. Four Types of College Applications 1. California State University - examples: San Diego State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Chico 2. University of California – examples: UCSD, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Davis • 3. Out-of-State Public Schools – examples: U of Arizona; U of Oregon; U of Indiana, Clemson • 4. Private Schools – examples: Stanford, USC, Harvard, Duke, Emory, Gonzaga, Tufts

18. What are the basic requirements?

19. California State University System • 23 Campuses • Online application – fill out one, check box (and pay) for multiple campuses ($55 for each campus) • No essays required • SAT or ACT with Writing required • No letters of recommendation required • No transcripts sent until you are accepted and decide to enroll • Application period Oct 1 – Nov 30 • Website: www.csumentor.edu

20. University of California System • 9 Undergraduate Campuses (UCSF is a Medical School only) • Online application – fill out, check box (and pay) for multiple campuses $70 application fee for each campus) • Two essays required (called Personal Statements) • SAT or ACT with Writing required • No letters of recommendation required • No transcript sent until you are admitted and decide to enroll • Application period Nov 1 – Nov 30 • Website: www.universityofcalifornia.edu

21. Public Schools -Out-of-State • Examples - University of Arizona, University of Colorado, University of Oregon, Rutgers, Auburn, Purdue, Georgia Tech, University of Michigan • More expensive for non-residents, but many offer merit money to attract high-achieving non-resident students • Admission Requirements vary – check the websites of the individual schools • Application requirements vary – some require LORs and transcripts, some don’t • Most have their own application, but a few use the Common App

22. Private Schools • Many use the Common Application (500+ Schools) or Universal Application • Require • Essay on Common Application, plus possible Supplemental Essays or Personal Statements • Teacher Letters of Recommendation • Counselor Letter of Recommendation • School Report (Registrar/Counselor) • Mid-Year and End of Year Reports • Official Transcript Note: Requirements vary from school to school!

23. Finances and Financial Aid • Have an open, honest discussion • Make budget part of the college search • Educate yourself about FAFSA and CSS Profile • Start taxes EARLY and file above forms ASAP • Use web resources: College Board for CSS and • www.studentaid.ed.gov for FAFSA information

24. When to Apply? • Early Decision – Your life-long dream school. You may only apply to one school ED. Should they admit you, you will attend. Pros? You find out early; statistics show higher admit rate. Cons? You must decide before you know what financial aid they will offer. • Early Action – You can apply to many schools Early Action. It is non-binding, and you have until May 1 (the National Decision Day) to tell them. Pros? You find out early. Cons? You need to be prepared early. • Rolling Admission – Whenever you apply (and usually you can submit applications fairly early) you will hear within a set amount of time – often 4-6 weeks. • Deadlines and requirements vary by school…some have ED1 and ED2 later; some have Single Choice Early Action – similar to ED, but you can still apply RD to other colleges.

25. Filling Out the Applications • Watch tutorial videos (search on youtube for help with UC, CSU and Common App) • Read “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs) • Use appropriate browser & allow pop-ups • Be thorough – know all parts of the application (supplemental essays, letters of recommendation, Secondary or School Report Forms) • Save as you go and log out • Proofread – with another set of eyes! • Print out copies for your files

26. Writing the Essays • Answer the prompt! • Don’t restate information shown elsewhere • Be genuine, authentic and passionate • Start early and revise often • Don’t forget about supplemental essays • Guidance in LJHS English classes

27. Essay Advice – words of wisdom from colleges: • “Consider your essay your interview on paper” – UC Berkeley • "Give careful thought to the questions asked, but don’t try to write the answers that you think we want to hear; give us the answers that tell us about you."    - Cornell University • "When writing your essay--focus on a blade of grass, not a whole field. Tell one good story, not a condensed mini-series."  - Dickinson College • "You don’t need to have had extraordinary experiences to write an extraordinary essay. You don’t need to have done incomparable things to be interesting."    - Wellesley College   • “Edit. Then edit again. Then again. There is no excuse for errors anywhere on your application or essay. None whatsoever. It should be flawless, people. Take the time to edit and review and revise your full application multiple times."   - Tulane University

28. The Importance of Demonstrated Interest • How to demonstrate your interest to colleges: • Sign up on their website to receive email updates • Visit, if possible, and always sign up for a tour and attend the information session • Join their student or admissions Facebook page • Email or call admissions office with questions (but don’t stalk them) • Attend college visits at LJHS and introduce yourself! • DON’T BE A STEALTH OR GHOST APPLICANT!

29. NCAA Eligibility Center • If you wish to participate in DI or DII athletics, you need to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. • You need to qualify academically and need to be cleared as an amateur student-athlete. • Go to www.ncaa.org and create a new account. • The cost to register is $70; transcript required • You will need to enter information for every team/club for which you have participated since you were 14, including such information as how much you paid to participate.

30. Things you should know about… • Western Undergraduate Exchange: http://www.wiche.edu/wue(Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education) - WUE Scholarship not automatic and applies only to certain majors. - Check the schools’ websites!

31. Colleges That Change Lives (www.ctcl.org) • Founded as a result of a book by the same name. • 44 Colleges with very student-centered philosophies. • “CTCL is dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process. Namely, we work to educate families that the criteria used by most college bound students and their counselors, such as name and prestige, do not acknowledge the importance of understanding an individual student’s needs and how they “fit” with the mission and identity of an individual college community.

32. Next Steps for Seniors School • Email your LJHS counselor if you are applying early and complete Naviance “about me” parent and student surveys • Stay focused on academics • Pay attention to counselor information when they visit your English classes later this month • Ask teachers for Letters of Recommendation Standardized Testing • Prepare for and register for ACT / SAT tests – one last effort to bring up those scores Researching Schools • If not complete, continue researching to finalize your “list” • Demonstrate interest by attending information sessions of colleges visiting LJHS (five maximum) and signing up on a college’s email list • Work on applications and essays

33. How can Parents Help? • Have candid conversations about expectations and finances • Help with organization (file folders, bulletin boards, spreadsheet, dedicated work space) • Assist with time management • Be a cheerleader • Do NOT take over the process It is not what we do for our children, but what we teach them to do for themselves which will allow them to be successful in life. - Unknown

34. School Philosophy – • There is a place for everyone! • A ton of college options – not only the 50 you have heard of! • Okay to be interested – but respect privacy. • Be kind of supportive of everyone’s choices! Big school, small school, community college, gap year, trade school, military…these are all legitimate options!

35. Senior Lunchtime Workshops • September 30, 2014 – Jump-Start – Utilizing Resources and Setting Priorities • Naviance, Finalizing College Lists, Dates and Deadlines • October 7, 2013 - Putting Your Best Foot Forward • Recommendation Letters, Campus Visits, Interview Tips • October 14, 2013 – Fine Tuning and Finishing Touches – Getting it All Together to Submit • Application Specifics, LJHS Protocol • October 21, 2013 – Which Road to Take – Considering the Alternatives • Community College, Apprenticeships/Trade Programs, Gap Year, Military

36. October 16 – Final Submission Details and Paying for College • For Seniors and Parents • 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., Parker Auditorium, LJHS • Essential information regarding how to pay for college; FAFSA, CSS Profile, Subsidized Loans, Merit Scholarships and more • Special speaker Michelle Mai of College Planning Source

37. Thank you for attending tonight!