College 101:Getting Ready for College in High School

1. College 101:Getting Ready for Collegein High School “Empowering today to achieve a better tomorrow”

2. Carie Allen, Last Names A-B Nicole Wilson, Last Names C-F Alicia Day, Last Names G-K Paula Buckmaster, Last Names L-O Ranae Summers, Last Names P-S Kristi Stephens, Last Names T-Z Brieana Cooper,Student Assistance Welcome ParentsWho we are-MHS Counseling Staff

3. To inform parents of ways to help your child be prepared for their post high school goals and education. • To provide relevant information on high school graduation. • To inform parents on resources for college bound students. College 101 Purpose:

4. What are the high school graduation requirements? • What do colleges look for in a prospective student? • What is the ACT and SAT? • What is an AP Course? • What is concurrent enrollment? Step One – Know where you are going

5. Graduation Requirements -for the Class of 2015 and beyond ACE-College Prep Diploma

6. In order to meet graduation requirements every student must pass 4 of 7 EOI Tests. All students Must Pass: English 2 and Algebra 1 Any 2 of the following: Biology, Geometry, US History, English 3 or Algebra 2 Attendance on Test Days is Very Important! End of Instruction (EOI)Testing Requirements

7. VALEDICTORIAN • 4.0 GPA, weighted • 7 Semester Transcript • B minimum grade SALUTATORIAN • 3.97 GPA, weighted • 7 Semester Transcript • B minimum grade

8. Students in the sophomore, junior or senior classes who have attained a cumulative grade point average of 3.8 or higher are academically eligible to apply for membership. NHS Advisor: Tom Garner MHS National Honor Society

9. ScholarshipUpon completion of the program’s requirements, you will earn:Free tuition at an Oklahoma public two-year college or four-year university. OR a portion of tuition at an accredited Oklahoma private college OR a portion of tuition for courses at public technology centers that are approved for credit toward an Associate in Applied Science degree at a public college. (The Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship does not cover fees, books, supplies, or room and board.)For more information see your counselor or go to www.okpromise.org

10. Establishing good study habits, learning to ask for help from teachers, turning in assignments. = Good Grades • Get involved in clubs, organizations, and volunteer in the community. Keep a record of all activities, awards and honors. • Sign up for the PSAT, given every October. What should a Freshmen be doing?

11. Students are continuing to complete courses required for graduation. • Plan Test- Taken Sept. 25th & PSAT October 16th • Students may apply to attend Canadian Valley Technology Center as juniors in December & January. • February – Pre enrollment for junior year and CVTC interviews this month. Sophomore Year

12. Upcoming Dates for Sophomores CVTC Recruitment Visit- Wednesday , November 20th -in the auditorium during English 2 Classes Open House Night at CVTC Monday, December 9th Deadline to apply for 2014-2015 school year is -January 24, 2014

13. Register for the PSAT, Given at MHS on October 17th$14. National Merit Qualifying Test for Juniors. Register with Mrs. Dillard in Media Center. • “Sophomore of the Year” and Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) are leadership opportunities for sophomores, applications available in the counseling office. Getting College Ready

14. PLAN Test Day – Wednesday, September 25 What is the PLAN Test?- Practice ACT, made by ACT company with a career interest assessment included in the test. Go to: www.actstudent.org Getting Ready for the ACT Test

15. Take the ACT by spring of junior year or upon completion of Algebra 2. • Sign up for the PSAT- Qualifying year for National Merit Scholarship • Take Advanced Placement courses. • Concurrent enrollment Junior Year

16. The ACT is a college entrance exam required by most colleges for admission. Admission scores vary by college. Student should sign up for the ACT no later than junior year if planning to go to college. Sign up at www.actstudent.org Fee waivers are available to juniors and seniors on the free/reduced lunch program. *Students may receive up to 2 waivers. ACT Test

17. The PSAT test will be held October 16th at Mustang High School. This test is given for National Merit Scholarship eligibility. The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT®. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools. PSAT

18. The PSAT/NMSQT measures: • Critical reading skills • Math problem-solving skills • Writing skills PSAT

19. The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are to: • Receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study. You can then focus your preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice. • See how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college. • Enter the competition for scholarships from NMSC (grade 11). • Help prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT. • Receive information from colleges when you check "yes" to Student Search Service. Reasons to take the PSAT

20. Freshman and sophomore students may sign up for this test for practice. Junior year is when scores count for National Merit eligibility. The cost of the test is $14.00. Contact Joni Dillard, testing coordinator, at dillardj@mustangps.org or call 376-6930 to sign up. Deadline to sign up is September 26th. PSAT

21. Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) courses are college-level courses offered in high school. AP courses reflect what is taught in top introductory college courses. At the end of course, students take AP Exams—standardized exams that measure how well students have mastered college-level course work. Students who do well on AP Exams can earn credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college. Basics of Advanced Placement

22. AP courses can be challenging, but it’s work that pays off. • AP courses are often the most interesting and fulfilling courses a student takes in high school. • AP teachers are among the most prepared, dedicated, and inspiring teachers at their schools. • Students develop confidence, and learn the study habits and time management skills essential for success in college. Benefits of taking AP Courses

23. AP courses typically demand more of students than regular or honors courses. • Classes tend to be fast-paced and cover more material than typical high school classes. • More time, inside and outside of the classroom, is required to complete lessons, assignments and homework. • AP teachers expect their students to think critically, analyze and synthesize facts and data, weigh competing perspectives, and write clearly and persuasively. What are AP Courses Like

24. AP Exams are administered by schools worldwide on set dates each May. • Exams usually last around three hours. • Each AP Exam contains: • Multiple-choice questions • Free-response questions (essay, problem-solving, oral response AP Exams

25. AP Exam fees for 2013 were $94.00 per exam. • Students enrolled in the free/reduced lunch program pay only $14.00. • All test registration is done online at: • www.mustangps.org -click on the high school page -at the top left side of the high school page is the link to register Registration begins in January AP Exams Fees

26. 1. Impress College Admission Counselors • At nearly every college in the country, your academic record is the most important part of your college application. The folks in the admissions office want to see that you've taken the most challenging courses available to you. Success in difficult courses is the surest sign of your preparedness for college. The most challenging courses, of course, are college-level Advanced Placement classes. Reason to Take AP Courses

27. 2. Develop College-Level Academic Skills • AP classes require the type of high-level calculating and critical thinking that you'll encounter in your first year of college. If you can write essays and solve problems successfully for an AP class, you've mastered many of the skills that will lead to success in college Reason to Take AP Courses

28. 3. Early Graduation from College • If you take enough Advanced Placement classes, you can potentially graduate from college a semester or even a year early. Early graduation isn't always a good idea, but for a student who isn't receiving financial aid, it can save tens of thousands of dollars. Reason to Take AP Courses

29. 11th & 12th Grade students may qualify with required ACT score to take college classes while enrolled in high school. • Students may earn credits for high school graduation and college. • Students may take up to 18 credit hours TUITION FREE! • Please see your counselor for details. Concurrent Enrollment

30. OKcollegestart.org includes the following features: • Explore Colleges and Careers • Discover the colleges and universities in the state. • Determine the careers that best match your skills and interests. • Match schools with your career interests. • Plan and Pay for College • See which high school classes are needed to meet admission requirements. • Learn about ways to pay for college. • Apply online for Oklahoma's Promise — OHLAP. • Create a personal portfolio to track your college planning. • Apply to College • Gather information about the admission requirements at all Oklahoma colleges and universities. • Apply online to most of the colleges and universities in Oklahoma. Check out : Okcollegestart.org

31. OKCOLLEGESTART.ORG- FOLLOW ON Facebook & Twitter. • The College Board- @CollegeBoard • ACT Student- @ACTSTUDENT • FastWeb.com • UcanGo2.org • Federal Aid- FAFSA.gov Resources for Students & Parents

32. Thank you for attending.