1 / 17

Got College Plans?

Got College Plans?. How to Use Each Year of High School to Best Prepare for Getting into College. Let Others Help.

lalo
Download Presentation

Got College Plans?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Got College Plans? How to Use Each Year of High School to Best Prepare for Getting into College

  2. Let Others Help This is a family process. Students should consult with parents every step of the way, from talking about school choices to visiting colleges. There is a lot to absorb and a lot to manage. Choosing the right college can be a difficult decision and involving those who know you best will be very helpful.

  3. Freshman Year This is your MOST important year. You are setting the tone for the remainder of your high school career. • Get Comfortable with High School • Grades are important from the very beginning • Course Rigor a college preparatory path should be planned • Study Habits & Time Management both are critical and are learned skills requiring practice and monitoring • Community Service 40 hours are required to graduate; more is better

  4. Freshman Year • Extracurricular Activities – Quality over Quantity Clubs, Sports, Church, Scouts, Music, Theater, Cultural School, Independent Research, Significant Family Obligations, Jobs, etc. • Document Achievements - Start a File/Create an Activities Record Keep any forms of special recognition; notes from teachers, sports awards, offices held, community service, EVERYTHING you get from high school or outside activities. • Use Your Summer– starting the summer before high school Consider jobs, volunteer opportunities, athletics, summer learning programs; start building that resume!

  5. Sophomore Yeara continuation of Freshman year plus… • Review Academics Are your classes challenging enough? • Review Activities Update your activities record. • Identify Leadership Opportunities Lead group projects, sports and club leadership roles, lead by example, do tutoring, etc. • Start Visiting Colleges Get a feel for the different options; large/small, urban/rural, public/private, etc. These will be informal visits. Formal visits begin in Junior year. Visiting nearby schools or schools that are near places you are traveling to will allow you to get a feel for the different options.

  6. Sophomore Year • Evaluate Yourself Do you learn better in a large or small class setting? Are you an independent learner or do you prefer more individualized attention? What are your academic interests? Math/Science? Liberal Arts? Fine Arts? Do you want to commute or live on campus? Do you need (for financial or emotional reasons) to be close to home? • Use Your Summer Consider jobs, volunteer opportunities, athletics, summer learning programs, internships; continue to build that resume!

  7. Junior YearTake a deep breath…this is a really big year! Continue with your good habits from freshman and sophomore year or re-evaluate where you are if needed. Are there classes you should consider re-taking to improve grades? Should you expand your participation in an activity? Junior year grades are very important. Your GPA and the activities you have accumulated at the end of this year will be what you use to complete your college applications in the fall of your Senior year.

  8. Junior Year - Get Organized!! • Discuss College Financing with Your Parents • Be Prepared for Testing PSAT, ACT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests (where needed), AP Identify where & when SAT & ACT tests are offered and register early! Take ALL tests seriously; get sleep the night before and eat well that morning Take preparation classes if possible. Your high school likely offers some test preparation classes for a fee plus there are many private options. Find out what other options are available. Some, such as on-line or via the library, may be for free. Visit your high school Counseling/Career Center to find out more. Note: Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch are eligible for SAT and ACT test waivers. Please see your counselor.

  9. Junior Year • Create a Resume of Your Accomplishments Academic Accomplishments, Activities & Work Experiences Keep Your Resume Up to Date • Visit Colleges of Interest Utilize your high school breaks. Try to visit while the college is in session. Take the campus tour, have an admissions interview; is the school a “fit”? Does it offer what you want to study? Admissions interviews are often considered optional but are a great way to show them your interest, enthusiasm and initiative. Take advantage of these wherever possible and be prepared with your questions. Keep re-evaluating your list. Eliminate schools you are no longer interested in and add ones you are.

  10. Junior Year • Utilize the College Reps Visiting Your High Schools These are the actual Admissions representatives for your area from these schools. Visiting with these folks will better inform you and will let them know you are actually interested in their school. They are happy to be your point of contact for follow-up questions or for visiting their campus. • Attend Local College Fairs • Investigate Special Programs & Their Requirements Sports, Music, Art, etc. you should prepare writing samples, portfolios, audition tapes, sports film and other applicable materials for the upcoming college application “season”. Athletes – if you plan to play your sport in college talk to your current coaches and/or high school athletic director for guidance.

  11. Junior Year • Request Teacher Letters of Recommendation in May or June if needed Give the teachers a copy of your resume. Make note of things you would like them to remember about you. • Start your College Essays during Summer Break You likely have already had the experience you want to write about so why wait? Go to the web-site of the college you want to apply to for the writing prompts. Keep checking until they are posted. NOTE: This is not a formal high school essay; it is a means to let admissions know more about who you are. • Use Your Summer Consider jobs, volunteer opportunities, athletics, summer learning programs, internships; continue to build that resume!

  12. Junior Year By the end of the summer between Junior and Senior year your list should be narrowed down to 5 - 8 schools. There are many great schools out there. Look for schools that are the right fit, not just the right name! Make a checklist of each school’s application requirements and deadlines – this is very important – schools have little or no sympathy for missed application deadlines. Create a timeline for each of the schools you are interested in. Get the deadlines on your calendar with ample reminders of where you should be in the process. Watch for hidden deadlines such a Merit Scholarships and Fine Arts. Go to each school’s web-site to confirm deadlines and application requirements. Watch for the SAT Subject Test requirement.

  13. Senior Year – Almost There! • Get VERY Organized!! Set up a Folder System Set up a Calendar of important dates • Review College Financing with Your Parents • Request Letters of Recommendation from Teachersif Needed - follow up on requests • Request a Letter of Recommendation from your Counselor if Needed • If You are Still Deciding Where to Apply - Continue to Meet with College Reps Visiting your school Continue to Attend College Fairs • Take or Retake the ACT, SAT and/or SAT Subject Tests to improve your scores

  14. Senior Year • Complete Your Essays/Personal Statements Do not wait for the Application Deadlines Plan on Doing Re-Writes Proofread…Proofread…Proofread… • Complete Your Applications Meet those Deadlines!!! Proofread…Proofread…Proofread… • Complete Your Financial Aid Applications • Finish Your Senior Year Strong! Colleges may withdraw admission to students whose grades drop significantly.

  15. Financing College Don’t rule out applying to a school just because of costs. Many “expensive schools” have very generous financial aid packages that can put them well within reach. Parents – work with your kids on this! • After January 1st apply for the FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid. All persons eligible should consider applying for the FAFSA regardless of financial status. If you are not eligible for need-based aid this may alert the college to consider you for merit money • If your college requires the CSS Profile for Financial Aid it should be completed not long after submitting the school’s application. See the specific school’s web-site for more information.

  16. Financing College • Scholarship and Grants are money grants that do not need to be repaid. They are awarded by colleges or private parties for outstanding achievement, talent, and/or financial need. Merit Scholarships are awarded based on your college application and do not require an additional scholarship application. See your college’s web-site for information on these. Note: Some colleges do have specific scholarships that require a separate application so check your college’s web-site. Private Scholarships do require a specific application. Visit your high school Counseling/Career Center for private scholarship information. • College Loansdo need to be repaid and can be either private or federally funded via the FAFSA. College loans can be considered “good debt”, an investment in your future, so you may want to consider them.

  17. Questions?

More Related