Manual High School

1. Manual High School Senior Seminar Senior Class of 2014

2. Manual’s Deadlines: Oct. 1, 2013 Select Teacher and request recommendation Nov. 15, 2013 Recommended date for submission of college applications

3. SAVE THE DATE WHAT: Financial Aid Workshop WHEN: Monday, Dec. 2, 2013 @ 6:30 PM WHERE: Manual Auditorium WHO: All Seniors and at least one parent/guardian

4. To access this power point and other important information, visit www.dupontmanual.com • Counselors • Senior Seminar

5. School Info: duPont Manual High School 120 West Lee Street Louisville, KY 40208 Phone: (502) 485-8503 Fax: (502) 485-6280 Website: www.dupontmanual.com ACT School Code: 181-525

6. Counselor Information: Students A-G Marti Johnston Marti.johnston@jefferson.kyschools.us Students H-O Michelle Leslie Michelle.leslie@jefferson.kyschools.us Students P-Z Amy Medley Amy.medley@jefferson.kyschools.us

7. Are You Ready to Apply? • Have you decided what your college major will be? • Are you happy with the lifestyle and eventual pay scale you will be earning upon graduation? • Are you satisfied with your employability upon graduation? • Will you be happy doing this for the rest of your life? • Have you researched to find the schools that are strong in that area? • Have you found a Kentucky College you would happy attending? • Have you visited the college campuses, experienced the culture on campus, satisfied with safety concerns, checked out the dormitory and food services, explored the town or city, met with admissions counselors, and talked with your prospective primary teacher? • Do you know the entry requirements, audition repertoire you will be expected to perform, and have a good grasp of that material so it will be prepared by audition day? • If you have answered yes to all of these questions – you are ready to begin the college application process!!!

8. Academic Rigor, Talent, and/or Mastery of Skills Cumulative GPA Grades in Advanced Placement Courses Grades in College Prep Courses Grades in All Subjects ACT & SAT Test Scores Class Rank (JCPS does not rank) Essay or Writing Samples Honors, Awards, etc. Counselor Recommendations Teacher Recommendations Interviews (if required) Community Service Work and Extra Curricular Activities College Admissions Criteria by Importance

9. College Preparatory Curriculum JCPS Graduation Requirements • 4 years of English (English 1,2,3,4) • 4 years of Math (Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, or more advanced) • 3 years of Science (life, physical, earth/space, include at least one laboratory class) • 3 years of Social Studies (World Civilizations, US History, plus one of economics, government, geography, civics, or survey of social sciences) • .5 years of Health • .5 years of Physical Education (or 1 year of Fundamentals of Dance) Dance Majors do not have to take PE • 1 year of Humanities (or 4 years of specialization in the arts) • 2-3 years of the same Foreign Language • 21st Century Technology Proficiency, IC3 Certification, or Computer Applications • 4-5 credits of Electives (your YPAS classes are electives)

10. Graduation Requirements for Out of State Colleges • Here are just a few states that have different requirements from Kentucky • Alabama Colleges – 4 years of Social Studies • Georgia Colleges – 4 years of Science • Indiana & North Carolina – Require pre-calculus • Texas – .5 credits of Speech and .5 credits of Economics

11. Additional JCPS Diploma Requirements • Students must meet the minimum requirements of the Kentucky Department of Education program of studies which is 22 -23 credits • The ILP (Individual Learning Plan) must be 100% complete EACH YEAR you are in high school

12. Graduation Requirements for the Advanced Program • For those students that have tested into the Advanced Program – 12 credits must be earned in Advanced Program classes in at least 3 of the following areas: English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language • Advanced Humanities is also required (or specialization) • Students are also required to take 3 years of the same Foreign Language • A Cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to stay in the Advanced Program • The Advanced Program is unique to Jefferson County Public Schools – most out of state colleges are unaware of this program – Honors is the highest level at most high schools across the nation other than Advanced Placement Courses.

13. Commonwealth Diploma • Please see your counselor if you are working toward the Commonwealth Diploma • We must add your name to the list to order your Commonwealth Diploma in addition to your Manual Diploma • Required Coursework for the Commonwealth Diploma Includes: 1 AP English credit 1 AP Math or AP Science Credit 1 AP Foreign Language Credit 1 Elective AP Credit • Students must take the AP Exams for these courses and pass at least 3 with a score of 3 or higher • The Class of 2012 will be the last class to be able to earn a Commonwealth Diploma. The program will end at the conclusion of the 2011-2012 school year

14. NCAA Clearinghouse • 16 Core Credits • 4 Years of English • 4 Years of Math – Algebra 1 or higher • 2 Years of Physical/Natural Science • 1 Year of Social Science • 1 Additional Math, English, or Natural/Physical Science • 4 Years of any of the above or Foreign Language • Mrs. Marti Johnston is our NCAA Clearinghouse Expert located in the Manual Counseling Suite

15. NCAA Clearinghouse – cont. • Make sure you have taken the ACT or SAT and reported your scores to the Clearinghouse • Register online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net • The fee is $50.00 • Apply at the end of your junior year – Mrs. Johnston will send your transcript

16. Senior Status Report rec’d at registration • Student’s name, counselor, grade level • Magnet Program • Required Credits • Credits Earned • Credits Needed • GPA • Standardized Test Scores • College Ready? ACT Benchmarks

17. ACT Benchmarks for KY English 18 Reading 20 Math 19

18. ACT College Readiness Benchmark Scores • A benchmark score is the minimum score needed on an ACT subject area test to indicate a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher, or, a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit bearing college course • College English Composition 18 on ACT English Test • College Algebra 22 on ACT Math Test • College Social Sciences 21 on ACT Reading Test • College Biology 24 on ACT Science Test • Overall College Readiness 21 on ACT Composite Score These are the minimum scores you need to indicate to the average college you are ready for postsecondary work – More competitive colleges will require higher benchmark scores

19. ACT National Dates September 21, 2013 October 26, 2013 December 14, 2013 February 8, 2014 April 12, 2014 June 14, 2014 SAT National Dates October 5, 2013 November 2, 2013 December 7, 2013 January 27, 2014 March 8, 2014* May 3, 2014 June 7, 2014 *subject tests not given ACT & SAT Test Dates 2013-14

20. ACT/SAT Contact Information • To Register for the ACT or to send your score reports to a college go to: • www.actstudent.org • To register for the SAT or to send your score reports to a college go to: • www.sat.collegeboard.com • Manual’s School Code: 181525

21. What is a Transcript??? • The transcript is the report sent to colleges that reflects every semester of high school that you have completed • Courses you have taken and credits you have earned each semester are on the transcript • The level of rigor of each class is included on the transcript (AP, advanced, honors, etc.) • Your total cumulative weighted and un-weighted GPA is on the transcript • Your attendance record is on the transcript • Grades, including all pluses and minuses, A’s, B’s, C’s, D’s, and U’s!!! • Your name, address, phone, birth date, and student ID numbers are also on the transcript, as well as the name and address of Manual High School

22. Transcript Review • Check to determine that all courses are reported accurately (name, grade, credit) • Make sure you have all required courses for graduation or you are taking those courses your senior year • Look for Summer School, eSchool, and Ind. Study grades • Write in any corrections and see your counselor immediately for edits • Notice the GPA – weighted and un-weighted • Notice your attendance record • Check for correct name, address, birth date, phone number, etc.

23. Home Health Aides Network Systems & Data Communications Analysts Medical Assistants Physician Assistants Computer Software Engineers/Applications Physical Therapist Assistants Dental Hygienists Dental Assistants Personal and Home Care Aides Network and Computer Systems Administrators Database Administrators Physical Therapists Forensic Science Technicians Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Occupational Therapist Assistants Medical Scientists Occupational Therapists Preschool Teachers Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Postsecondary Teachers Hydrologists Computer Systems Analysts Hazardous Materials Removal Workers Biomedical Engineers Employment Recruitment and Placement Specialists Paralegals and Legal Assistants Top Occupations in the U.S.A. Based on Growth Rate to 2014

24. Top Ten Fastest Growing Careers • Biomedical Engineers 72% • Computer Network Architects 53% • Computer Network Support Specialists 53% • Telecommunications Engineers 53% • Home Health Aides 50% • Personal Care Aides 46% • Financial Examiners 41% • Medical Scientists 40% • Anesthesiologist’s Assistants 39% • Physician’s Assistants 39%

25. College Deadline October 1, 2013 October 15, 2013 November 1, 2013 November 15, 2013 December 1, 2013 January 1, 2014 January 15, 2014 Due Date to Counselor September 15, 2013 October 1, 2013 October 15, 2013 November 1, 2013 November 15, 2013 December 1, 2013 December 15, 2013 2013-2014 College Application Deadlines

26. 2013-2014 College Application Deadlines - continued • February 1, 2014 • February 15, 2014 • March 1, 2014 • March 15, 2014 • April 1, 2014 • January 15, 2014 • January 15, 2014 • February 1, 2014 • February 15, 2014 • March 15, 2014

27. Deadlines vary by institution: Examples: • State School #1 • application deadline 2/15 • Scholarship deadline 1/15 • State School #2 • Rolling admissions – deadline August 1st • Harvard – • Nov. 1 - Early Action Deadline • Jan. 1 – Regular Decision Deadline

28. Facebook, MySpace, Email Address, and College Applications • Your personal sites can be viewed by college admission counselors, college professors, employers, stalkers, as well as campus and local police • Make sure your email address is a professional or generic name and not something that causes one to pause and doubt your integrity or character

29. Time To Do Some Cleanup??? • Remove photos showing you doing anything that could be interpreted as inappropriate • Remove rude gestures, inappropriate comments, questionable photos, etc. • Unsubscribe to questionable groups • Remove contact information • Choose attractive/professional looking photos to post • Un-tag any unflattering photos your friends may have posted • Perhaps let your grandmother approve of what you have posted!!!

30. What Will Be Your First Impression??? The appearance of your college application is very important: • If you are completing your application on-line, make sure all the blanks are filled in and your application is complete • If submitting a hard copy – type the application or print VERY NEATLY in black ink. • Make sure all the components of the application are in the correct order • If you are mailing the application – address the envelope in a very professional way – typed address labels are great

31. How Many Colleges Should I Apply To??? • For most it will be a list of about six schools (more for theatre & musical theatre majors because of the “type” factor) • Aim for one or more “reach” colleges that are highly desired and highly selective. These “dream” schools will have about a 10% acceptance rate. If you don’t, you’ll always wonder, “what if?” • It is wise to include one or two “fit” schools where the odds are 50/50 that you will be accepted based on your talent, GPA, and test scores • Include at least one or two “safety” colleges where admission is highly likely and a college where you can afford to attend if you receive very little financial aid • The easy part is finding your dream and reach schools • The hard part is finding your safety schools that are also a really good match – keep an open mind about the many fine colleges that are not intensely competitive in admission • Two safety schools are preferable to guarantee a choice between two offers • The potential for heartache in April can be drastically reduced by a few good decisions in October and November

32. The Magic Number: • 5 - 6 college/universities • 1 reach (dream school) • 2 “fit” schools (odds 50/50) • 2 safety schools (admission likely, financial aid / scholarships / can afford)

33. The Academic Common Market • If the program you are interested in studying is not offered at a college in Kentucky, you may be able to pay in-state tuition at an out-of-state school through the Academic Common Market • Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia participate at the undergraduate levels • To use your KEES money for an out-of-state school they must offer a major not offered in Kentucky, be a member of the Academic Common Market, and, be approved by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) • Call Megan Cummins at 502-696-7397 to be sure

34. Most College Applications Are Completed Online • Students access the application through the college website, usually under “admissions” • Generally, a username and password will be provided that will allow you to save your work from multiple sessions • The final copy is transmitted through the Web – be prepared to pay the application fee with a credit card

35. Take Precautions!!! • Online applications can have a timed out feature – save your work often so as not to loose all your hard work • Resist the temptation to impulsively hit the “send” button until you have thoroughly proofread your application – have at least one other person also check for typos • It is advised that you compose essays and short answer questions offline and transfer them to your application after you have refined those responses • Review a printed copy of your work whenever possible before sending and keep it for your records

36. Take Precautions!!! - continued • Electronic filers should receive an acknowledgement via return mail • Don’t forget you may need to print and mail a signature page with a check for the application fee • Other parts of the application (recommendation page, counselor page, secondary school report, etc.) must be printed and given to your teacher or guidance counselor • If you print your application, make sure you sign it and enclose your check

37. The Old Fashioned Way • If you plan to stick with paper applications, make at least two photocopies of the original • Practice on them and get all the typos and coffee or pizza stains out of your system • A sloppy application is the quickest way to get a rejection letter • Proofread for spelling, spacing, word choice, and anything else you can think of • Type the final copy yourself – don’t worry about a “few” neatly corrected errors, but avoid a sloppy appearance • If you print instead of type (less professional looking), make sure your penmanship is neat and easily readable

38. Cultivating Colleges • Many colleges are reluctant to accept an applicant unless they have reason to believe that he/she is seriously interested. • Many colleges track every contact the applicant initiates and are more likely to accept students who have made multiple contacts A few ways to communicate interest include: • Visit the college – if you do not have a personal interview stop by the admissions office and let them know you came • If the college sends a rep to Manual or YPAS, go to their session and communicate your interest • Attend a college fair in your local area and speak to the representative • Get a business card from any college representative you meet and write or email that person to thank them and emphasize your interest • Note in your application that a particular college is your first choice school or one of your top choices • Make sure your email address stays the same throughout the college search process – if it changes tell the colleges

39. Listing Activities • Always list activities from most important to least important • The ones that are significant, as evidenced by leadership and time commitment, will be obvious • Marginal activities like membership in the Monogram Club should be de-emphasized • Don’t make a big production out of honors from companies that put your picture in a book and then ask you to buy it • Follow the college’s preferred format for listing activities • If the space is too small, attach extra sheets where necessary as supplemental material, especially when activities of in-depth involvement need further explanation – however, submit one of these in addition to filling out the college’s activities form

40. Explain Everything • If one of your activities was chairing the Founder’s Day Committee, it won’t mean anything to the admissions office unless you explain what you did and why the committee was important • If it was an honor bestowed on only one senior, say so • If it involved presentations to alumni and coordination of twenty volunteers for six months, spell that out • You could also have the sponsor, counselor, or principal write a letter outlining the significance • The same goes for a weak spot in your record like a suspension or failing grade – any reasonable explanation you can give without sounding bitter or whiny would be helpful • Even more impressive would be an account of how the experience helped you to mature as an individual

41. Strong Academic Program Directed the Gospel Choir at your Church Your Major is going to be Greek!!! You’re a Legacy Application Your wrote the essay of the year and your teacher passed it around the class for all to read First in your family to attend college You participated in a significant community project You are an Eagle Scout or earned a Gold Key Award You’re a Varsity Athlete All-County or All-State Ensemble Member You come from a single parent household and must work part time to help with expenses Your last name is the same as the college library to which you are applying and that is no coincidence! Emphasize Your Strengths!!!

42. Get It In Early • Keep on top of deadlines - there will be different ones for each college and for each part of the application process • Some deadlines are as early as Oct. 1st • If the college offers rolling admissions they admit the first good applicants that come along leaving fewer slots for later applicants • If the college evaluates in one big pool, applying early shows you are interested and they know that stronger applicants tend to file early – waiting later risks getting less consideration because of the flood of applications pouring in all at once

43. Early Decision vs. Early Action • Both require students to apply by an early deadline - usually between October 15th and December 1st • Decisions are usually rendered between December 15 and February 1 • Borderline students are usually deferred and considered with the regular applicant pool at a later date

44. Early Decision • Early decision involves a BINDING DECISION to enroll if accepted - you have to attend that school regardless of other offers and without knowing any financial aid package that may or may not be offered • You may only apply to one school through Early Decision and if accepted, you must withdraw your applications to all other schools • Early Decision offers a slight advantage of acceptance - colleges usually accept a higher percentage of applicants than those that apply for regular decision - colleges desire students that really want to attend their school • Early Decision is a good option for borderline students with LOW financial need who have a clear first choice school - others should be very CAUTIOUS!!!!

45. Early Action • Entails no commitment to enroll and therefore offers little advantage for admission • Early Action students, however, are often first in line for merit scholarships and housing • Competition in Early Action pools at highly selective schools is generally tougher than in the regular pool • Some Early Action colleges now ask that students apply early only to their institution, however, you may still apply regular decision to any other institution

46. Early Applications • It is difficult to give definitive advice regarding early decision and early action • Only students that have thoroughly investigated colleges and completed most standardized testing by the end of the eleventh grade with high test scores will be in a strong position to consider early application

47. Interviews • Try to relax • Dress nicely • Be on time • Be prepared to discuss 2 or 3 topics at length (your school, favorite subject, extracurriculars, current events, favorite book) • Do not misrepresent yourself - don’t tell them you like current events and then go blank when they ask you about the Supreme Court’s latest decision • Keep your cool and be yourself

48. Expect Probing Questions • What books have you read lately? • Why do you want to enroll here? • What are your most important activities and why are they valuable? • What would you add to the life at this college? • What other colleges are you considering?

49. Good Questions to Ask an Interviewer • What is distinctive about your school? • What sets students here apart from those at similar schools? • What percentage of entering students graduate within five years? • What are the most common career paths for your graduates? • What is the average time a student gains employment after graduation?

50. Your College Essay Can Make the Difference!!! • Admissions officers are looking for spark, vitality, wit, sensitivity, originality, and signs of a lively mind • They want to know how well you can express yourself in writing • Try to be as concise and specific as possible • Don’t waste words that aren’t essential to your point • Reread the essay several times for word choice and typos • If you have time - put your essay aside for a few weeks and reread again to see if it still makes sense • When talent, GPA, and test scores are equal - the essay will often determine who is chosen for admittance