Fall College Information Night for Seniors and Juniors

1. Fall College Information Night for Seniors and Juniors Tuscarora High School Guidance Department

2. Welcome • Guidance Department Staff: Guidance Director: Gabrielle Carpenter Administrative Guidance Secretary: Ingrid RojasGuidance Secretary: Michelle VockeGuidance Counselors Directory 2011-2012Counselor, Abb - Cov: Kimberly BurnettCounselor, Cow - Hernandez: R. Keegan BarrCounselor, Hernandez - Mer: John HanCounselor, Meri - Sau: Christine GuanuCounselor, Sbi - Zyg: Cynthia ConnellCareer Center: Michael NewkirkTesting Coordinator: Marsha Hermes

3. Naviance/Family Connections • Keep track of the process – Build a resume, complete on-line surveys, and manage timelines and deadlines for making decisions about colleges and careers • Research colleges – Compare GPA, SAT scores, and other statistics • Sign up for college visits – Find out which colleges are visiting our school and sign up to attend those sessions

4. Tuscarora High School Scheduled College Visits

5. National Honor Society Ms. Susan Courtney

6. Fall College Information Night for Juniors Tuscarora High School Guidance Department

7. Postgraduate Options • Vocational Education • 2-year/Community Colleges • Career and Technical Schools • 4-year Colleges and Military Academies • Military • Apprenticeships • On-the-job Training

8. WHERE DO I TURN TO ASK QUESTIONS? • COUNSELOR • CAREER CENTER • COLLEGE WEBSITES

9. What are Colleges Looking For or How Do You Measure Up?

10. 11th Grade - 1st Semester Discover new colleges: • Family Connection college search function – every senior has an account • CollegeBoard website • You Can Go (ycg.org) • Career Center Attend College Visits at Tuscarora High School Attend College and Career Fair in September

11. 11th Grade - 2nd Semester • Meetings with Counselor • Plan completion of graduation requirements • Study and take SAT and ACT exams • On-Campus College Visits (go to class, stay overnight, speak to professor, etc) • Attend Diversity Fair/College Career Fair • Finish Strong (Junior year grades are critical)

12. ACT/SAT Comparison ACT • Achievement test, measures English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing (optional) • Score 1-36 SAT • Aptitude test, measures Critical Reading, Math, and Writing (optional) • Score 600-2400

13. SAT Test and Registration Dates 2011-2012

14. ACT Test and Registration Dates 2011-2012

15. Glossary of College Terms • Early Action-A program that gives special consideration to a student who applies for admission by a specified date, usually in early fall. Students are not obligated to enroll if admitted (also called early notification) • Early Decision-A program that gives special consideration to a student who applies for admission by a specified date, usually in early fall. Students are obligated to enroll if admitted, and to withdraw application from other schools. • Deferral-When a student’s application for early decision or early action is postponed, and will be considered with the regular applicant pool. • Regular Decision-Where colleges/universities review most of the applications before notifying the majority of candidates for admission. There is an application deadline and colleges will respond to completed applications by a specified date. • Rolling Admissions-Admissions procedure by which the college considers each student’s application as soon as all the required credentials have been received. The college usually notifies applicants of its decision without delay. • Waitlist-A list of applicants who may be considered for acceptance if there is still space after admitted students have decided whether or not they’ll attend. Students who are waitlisted should maintain contact with the school to demonstrate continued interest. Send any new information, updated transcript, inquire how the waitlist is managed, etc. • Open Admission-Acceptance is granted to all who apply

16. What to Look For In a College… • Size-Would you feel comfortable on a large campus with a lot going on but also large classes (sometimes a few hundred in a lecture hall)? Would you like a smaller school with more individualized attention and smaller classes? Or are you looking for something in the middle? • Location-Do you want to be in a large city, small town, suburbs or rural area? Do you care what the weather is like year-round? • Major-Do you know what you want to major in? If so, look for schools that offer it. If you are undecided look for schools that have many options. • Distance-How far from home do you want to be? Think about how often you want to come home during the school year and the costs involved with that. • Academic and special programs-Do you want to study abroad? ROTC? Do you need support services? It makes no sense to apply to a school that does not offer what you want/need. • Student body and student life-What kind of extracurricular activities are offered? Do the students have similar interests as you? • Cost-Talk with your family about what is realistic for financing your college education.

17. What should NOT be a factor in your decision… • Applying because your friends are • Your girl/boyfriend is going there • There is only one school right for me • It’s as far away from home as I can get • All colleges are the same • Going to College X because someone in your family went there • College Y costs too much

18. QUESTIONS