College Admissions Information Night

1. College Admissions Information Night Kim Cullen, Guidance Counselor tuesday, January 18, 2011

2. Guidance Office/College Counseling Kim Cullen Upper School Guidance and College Counselor kimcullen@asmadrid.org Anna Pointing Upper School Guidance Secretary, CAS Coordinator UCAS support annapointing@asmadrid.org Juan Ortiz Director Técnico (Selectividad, LOGSE) juanortiz@asmadrid.org

3. Purpose of tonight’s presentation • Preview the college admissions process • Get students to start thinking about where you might like to go to college, and what you might like to study • Encourage parents and students to begin working with the Guidance Office on college-career plans • Answer questions

4. The importance of “fit” Fit is defined in college counseling as the degree to which the student and their choice of university “match”. As a college-preparatory school ASM Guidance Office focuses on helping to identify those colleges or universities that most closely match the individual student’s interests, needs, abilities, and potential. Finding the right fit will enable you to take full advantage of your university experience.

5. Ask Yourself • Do you want to go to college? • Why? • What do you hope to gain – personally and professionally? • How do you learn best? • Do you want to study anything that requires special facilities or programs? • What are your extracurricular interests/needs?

6. Characteristics of US Colleges: types University vs. College (larger research based institution with both undergraduate and graduate programs versus smaller undergraduate institution) Liberal Arts College (general knowledge and intellectual skills versus professional skills) Junior College (2 year college, leading to an Associate’s Degree versus a 4-year college, leading to a Bachelor’s Degree – in Spain: diplomatura versus licenciatura)

7. Characteristics of US Colleges: types Engineering or Technical College (those that focus on scientific or technical professional programs) Specialty Schools (for example): • Nursing • Military • Hotel Administration/Tourism • Business Special interest groups (Historically Black Colleges & Universities; single sex schools)

8. Characteristics: size • Small: usually under 2,500 students • Medium: generally 2,500 to 10,000 students • Large: any campus over 10,000 students.

9. Characteristics: selectivity • When choosing where to apply, you must face the toughest question of all: Will the college choose you? • Assess your own academic record and the colleges statistics. • Examine different levels of selectivity: most selective, highly selective, very selective, selective and other

10. Characteristics: selectivity Most Selective: Highly Selective: Accepted students have: • “A” average • SAT scores between 625 and 800 Admissions rates under 25% Accepted students have: • “B+” to “A” average in most difficult classes • SAT scores between 575 and 625 Admissions rates between 25% and 50%

11. Characteristics: selectivity Very Selective: Selective, Less Selective, and Non-Selective Accepted students have: • No grade lower than a B- in any course • SAT scores between 525 and 575 Admissions rates between 50% and 75%

12. Where to apply? It is important to give yourself options. • “Reach” or “Dream” Schools Colleges where your chances of admission are less than 50/50 • “Probable” or “Likely” Schools Colleges that possess the significant features you desire and at which the probability of admission is 50/50 or better • “Prudent” or “Safer” Schools Colleges that have most of the features you desire and at which the probability of admission is “highly likely” to “certain”. It is important that you would be willing to attend one of these schools.

13. Where to apply? How many? ASM average: 5-6 per student Range: 1-19 Optimum: max 10 It is recommended that you apply to +/- 3 in each of the following categories: “Reach/Dream” – 2/3 “Probable/Likely” – 4/5 “Prudent/Safer” - 3 Ideally, students will be in a position where they can choose.

14. The College Search Process • Catalogs in Guidance Office • Online www.asmadrid.org/guests/departments/guidance/guidance_home.htm www.collegeboard.com www.princetonreview.com www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php www.petersons.com https://connection.naviance.com

15. The College Search Process Alumni Network College Connections Program • Allows ASM student to contact ASM alumni at many different colleges and learn more from the unique perspective of the ASM graduate. • http://www.asmadrid.org/alumni/subpages/programs.htm#COLLEGE_CONNECTION_PROGRAM College Q&A Alumni Panel Program

16. The College Search Process College Visits Visits to ASM from college representatives Visits to college campuses There are organizations that offer tours, such as The Princeton Review, and www.College-Visits.com, www.tscollegetours.com, www.campusbound.com* Virtual Tours www.campustours.com free online www.ecampustours.comfree online www.collegiatechoice.com(walking tours, 15$ per video)

17. Creating the college list • It is recommended that juniors give themselves an extra hour of homework each week to research and explore the different options. • Once you have done your research, you’ll most likely find that a number of schools meet your needs and interests. You may have a top choice or two, but chances are, there will be a group of schools that will “fit the bill”.

18. What do colleges look at? Transcript • Quality of student’s course selection • Quality of high school program • Semester grades and grade point average Short answers and essays • Activities and interests • Give universities an idea of how a student presents him/herself Recommendation letters • Typically English/Math, also Humanities/Science • Counselor recommendation helps put a student into context Standardized test scores (if applicable) • How they compare with the typical profile of accepted students

19. Standardized Testing Colleges have different ways of assessing a student’s performance and potential. Standardized testing is ONE of these. SAT Reasoning: Measures aptitude and potential SAT Subject: Many schools require three SAT Subject tests (Literature, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math levels 1 and 2, US History, World History, French, Spanish, German, Modern Hebrew, Latin, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean) ACT: Curriculum-based; measures actual learned knowledge TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language – required of international students by a large number of universities

20. Standardized Testing – Which test? Different philosophies: • Some colleges have made standardized testing optional • Some will not require SAT or ACT if you submit SAT Subject Tests • Most will give you a choice: SAT or ACT. • Some scholarship programs will require specific SAT or ACT. • Most importantly – check each college’s individual requirements For information on which schools are SAT/ACT optional, see: www.fairtest.org/university/optional For information on the differences between the ACT and SAT exams, see the following link: http://www.asmadrid.org/guests/guidance/resources.htm

21. Standardized Testing – the TOEFL • If English is not your first language, then you should take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – even if you are taking IB English HL. • Students are encouraged to take the TOEFL before the end of 11th grade. This will take off some of the pressure in 12th grade. • Register at www.ets.org/toefl

22. Standardized Testing – Testing Prep? Consider the following: • Is the university testing optional? • How selective is the university? • How did you do on the PSAT? Add a “0” to your PSAT score to get a rough idea of how you would do on the SAT 50/50/50 on the PSAT would be more or less equivalent to 500/500/500 on the SAT Several options: • ASM-based SAT Prep course – Alpha Review • Spring session leads to May exam – will begin on March 8 (more information to come). • Fall session is intensive and leads to October exam. • Outside testing/prep course – e.g. Kaplan online, private tutoring, www.actstudent.org

23. Standardized Testing Dates SAT • May 7, 2011 • June 4, 2011 • October 1, 2011 • November 5, 2011 • December 3, 2011 • January 28, 2012 ACT • June 11, 2011 • October 22, 2011 • December 10, 2011 • February 11, 2012 • April 14, 2012

24. Final note on standardized testing HOW MANY TIMES CAN I TAKE THE SAT? No more than 4 times, typically 2 Reasoning tests and 3 different Subject tests taken only once each. WHICH SCORES WILL THE COLLEGES SEE? Default: All scores for all sittings are sent, and colleges will pick the highest in each sitting for each subject area e.g. May 09 590 CR 650 M 630 Wr Oct 09 650 CR 620 M 680 Wr Score Choice: Allows you to select the scores from a particular test date e.g. May 09 590 CR 650 M 630 Wr Oct 09 650 CR 620 M 680 Wr

25. Admissions Plans - USA Regular Decision • Most common plan. Apply in December/January, decisions are generally issued end March/early April. Early Decision • BINDING agreement between the student and school. Students admitted under this plan are obligated to attend and MUST withdraw all other applications. Apply by 1 November, decisions issued mid December. Early Action/Priority • This is a non-binding plan which allows students to keep other applications active. Apply by 1 or 15 November, decisions issued mid December. Rolling Admission: • Universities will accept applications at any time and will review candidates based on space available. Admissions decisions are generally issued 6 to 8 weeks after receipt of application.

26. Financial Aid - USA Financial Aid is money for education that comes from sources other than the family. It is meant to supplement what the family can contribute. Merit-Based Aid given to a student in form of grants and scholarships and is typically based on performance/talent. Need-Based Aid made available to families who cannot pay all of the post-secondary education costs on their own. Frequently includes loans and work-study opportunities.

27. Financial Aid - USA • For U.S. universities, Federal Financial Aid is available to U.S. Citizens and green card holders. • The important forms are: • The FASFA (Free form for Federal Student Aid) - www.fafsa.ed.gov • CSS/Profile - www.collegeboard.com • Applications for Financial Aid for students attending university in fall 2012 can be filed no earlier than January 1, 2012. • U.S. Federal Tax return (1040) is required for financial aid.

28. International Financial Support - USA • Financial aid for international students is not as readily available, but it is not impossible. • International students apply for aid directly to the college/university. • International applicants must demonstrate their ability to pay all tuition, fees and living expenses for the first year of study. • If you require financial aid – do your research and find out which schools have money for international students. • For more information on financial aid for international students, see ASM’s Guidance website.

29. Calendar & Important Dates Spring Junior Year: • Set up a college-appropriate email address (yourname@email.com) • Schedule appointment with College Counselor to discuss plans Feb/March • Standardized Test Preparation? • Attend Naviance and UCAS workshops (spring) • Register for April ACT and/or May & June SAT tests • Consider a summer program alternative to the beachside/poolside summer - http://www.internationalcounselor.org/summer2/Summer_Omnibus/Omnibus.html • If you are an athlete or performer, see the College Admissions Handbook for specific details on what you can be doing this semester to plan ahead.

30. Calendar & Important Dates During Summer Vacation: • Visit colleges, if possible. • Finish IB Extended Essay. • Fill out one college application a week for each school to which you plan to apply. This makes your senior year MUCH easier! Fall 2011: • College Application Presentation in September (usually 2nd week of school) • Meet with counselor to begin to finalize plans • Take the SAT in October/November or ACT in December • Work on applications!

31. Last but not least…BE AWARE OF DEADLINES App deadlines – US/Canada • Early deadlines – November 1, 15 • Regular deadlines – usually 12/31-1/1 or early February • Watch for ASM deadlines App deadlines – UK • Early deadlines – 10/15 for Oxford, Cambridge, Medical Specializations • Regular deadlines – usually end December/early January • Watch for ASM deadlines • Standardized Testing deadlines for US and UK • SAT/ACT/TOEFL registration deadlines. • UKCAT/BMAT/LNAT/HAT, IELTS, etc.

32. Questions?

33. British Universities Great option for European Citizens • Costs: As a EU Citizen, tuition & fees are equal to those of British citizens. • Proximity: Most British Universities are easily accessible by rail or bus to international airports.

34. UCAS What is UCAS? • University and Colleges Admission Service: The central application service for full-time undergraduate courses in the United Kingdom. • All students applying to the UK must apply via UCAS www.ucas.com • UCAS allows students to apply to 5 different universities or programs with a single application.

35. Oxbridge → Oxford and Cambridge • Application Deadline: • October 15th: Deadline for applications to Oxford or Cambridge. • Students apply to Oxford or Cambridge through UCAS. In addition, • Oxford applicants must fill out a separate Oxford application card. • Cambridge applicants need to fill out a Preliminary application form. • Students may not apply to both Oxford and Cambridge

36. Specializations in the UK Medicine (including dentistry and veterinary) - deadline October 15 • Because of the early deadlines students need to research their university choices carefully and make note of all registration deadlines for testing. • Students interested in the medical fields must sit the BMAT and/or the UKCAT – see UCAS website for information specific to each university • http://www.bmat.org.uk/index.html • http://www.ukcat.ac.uk/ Law – students must take the LNAT http://www.lnat.ac.uk/preparation/practice.html History at Oxford – students must take the HAT http://www.history.ox.ac.uk/prosundergrad/applying/hat_introduction.htm