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The College Process. Bishop O’Dowd High School Junior & Parent Meeting, January 25, 2012 . Four-Year Process. College Eligibility Choosing appropriate c oursework Working to ability Balancing courses Partnering with parents. Junior Year. PSAT – October
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The College Process Bishop O’Dowd High School Junior & Parent Meeting, January 25, 2012
Four-Year Process • College Eligibility • Choosing appropriate coursework • Working to ability • Balancing courses • Partnering with parents
Junior Year • PSAT – October • PSAT – Results back in January • SPRING – • Meet with students • Discuss college options • Sign-up for testing (SAT, ACT, Subject Tests) • Take prep course as appropriate • College search • Naviance – college planning tool for the family
College Questions • Location • Interests • Majors • City vs. rural • Weather • School size • College type • Gap year • Performance to date = List of schools to start researching
Four Year Colleges/Universities • 3500 Schools Nationwide • University of California System • 9 campuses • Cal State University System • 26 campuses • Catholic/Private Schools • Generally smaller, more personal • Out of State – Public Universities
Community Colleges • Community college advantages • Save money, raise GPA, participate in sports • Explore community colleges • Schedule a visit, consult admissions office • Applications are usually due in the early spring of senior year • Some community colleges have on-campus housing or college-related housing available • Community College Night – Spring each year
College Cost Comparisons • Community college: around $30 per unit, plus books and living expenses • CSU campuses: tuition and fees around $6,333, plus books, room & board, travel • UC campuses: tuition and fees $13,970, plus books, room & board, travel • Out-of-state public colleges: wide range of costs – usually more than two times the in-state tuition, plus books, room & board, travel • Private colleges: $40,000 - $60,000 per year
Gap Year • Opportunity for students to explore • travel, volunteer work, internships, paid work • Experience can be an advantage • May be geared toward interest areas (e.g. work for a magazine if interested in journalism) • Helps students mature
Researching college choices • Web • Campus visits • Start at local schools • Long weekend/Easter break • Sign up on-line -Admissions Office link • Record impressions in “My Journal” • Naviance/Family Connection • Books
Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011 • Edward Fiske • 2011 Edition • Paperback • $15.00 @ Amazon
The Insiders Guide • The Insiders Guide to the Colleges2011 • Yale Daily News Staff • Paperback • $14.95 @ Amazon
Colleges That Changes Lives • Loren Pope • Paperback • $10.00 @ Amazon
Suggested Testing Schedule • SAT Reasoning – March or May • SAT Subject Tests – June • ACT – Feb, April, or June • Test Prep – February-March • Summer SAT prep • Private tutoring test prep • College Board SAT test prep • Possible test in fall of senior year
SAT Tests – March, April, May, June • Register at www.collegeboard.com
ACT Tests –Feb, April, June • Register at www.ACT.org
SAT vs. ACTWhat’s the difference? SAT • No science • No Trig • Vocab important • Non-multiple choice questions • Guessing penalty • No English grammar • Math = 50% score • Questions go from easy to hard ACT • Science included • Trig included • Vocab less important • All multiple choice • No guessing penalty • English grammar included • Math = 25% score • Easy and hard questions mixed
Summer – Senior yr. • Continue to research • Check O’Dowd email often • Complete Senior Questionnaire(Including Parent page) • Practice college essay – rough draft • UC & Common Application essays • Visit colleges – record impressions • Enroll in College Boot Camp – 1st week of August
Senior Year “To Do List” • Register for additional tests • Complete Senior Questionnaire • Develop fall timeline • Complete applications • Write essays • Get letters of recommendation • Update Naviance consistently • Write thank you note to teachers
Naviance – College Planning • Online resource • Process management • BOD enters GPA and test scores • BOD now sends transcripts and letters electronically • Juniors start in Spring • Data input • College planning & tracking
Looking Ahead • College Fair – Sept • Senior Questionnaire • Senior & Parent College Night - October • Senior Financial Aid Night - January • Community College Night - February
College Planning • Q & A