9 th Grade College Guidance Night

9th GradeCollege Guidance Night March 18, 2014 Mrs. Ah Young Chi, College/Career Counselor Mr. Luke Sferra, HS Counselor (A-K) Mrs. Katie Dahm, HS Counselor (L-Z)

Resources for college planning • College/Career Center website click to connect • College/Career Center calendar on the web click to connect • MHS eNews mailing list click to connect • Naviance Family Connection click to connect • MHS College Counseling Guidebook ($15) • Counseling team at MHS!

Graduation requirements

Postsecondary options • 4-year college or university (Bachelor degree) • Public: UC or CSU • Private: over 70 in California • Out of state public or private: over 3,000 • 2-year college (Associate degree, career training or transfer) • Career technical education (varying degrees and certificates) • Military • Work • Gap year (concrete plan with a destination in mind for 2nd year, usually)

College entrance requirements • Subject/A-G courses • Standardized tests • SAT or ACT • SAT Subjects • Extracurricular activities and/or job experience • Essay or personal statement • Interview and/or portfolio or audtion • Recommendation letters = “holistic” review of application

Subject requirements • English – 4 years • Social Science – 3 years • Mathematics – 3 years (4 years recommended) • Lab Science – 2 years (3-4 years recommended) • Foreign Language – 2 years of the same language (3-4 years recommended) • Visual & Performing Art – 1 year of the same genre • UC/CSU minimum eligibility – 15 units • UC average for Fall 2011 class (enrolled) – 24.1 units

What are colleges REALLY looking for? • Success in challenging curriculum • Have you taken advantage of the opportunities at your school? • This doesn’t mean taking EVERY Honors and AP courses that we offer • Meet other entrance requirements • Are you and the college a good match for each other? • Institutional priority • Legacy • Athletics • Other talents • Diversity • Money • Well rounded class

So many different colleges & universities • Private vs. public • Research vs. liberal arts (university vs. college) • Size • Location • Selectivity • Specialty- academic, gender, culture, faith • Services- learning disability, transportation, special housing, dietary restrictions What do you mean by fit?

Extracurricular activities • In school: ASB, yearbook, journalism, sports, music, theater, art, clubs, etc • Community service • Work experience, paid or unpaid • Internships, paid or unpaid • Summer programs and activities • Helpful tips • Quality over quantity; take leadership roles • Start “resume” now • Plan summer activities wisely; do SOMETHING • You don’t have to cure cancer to be admitted to college!

So what should I be doing NOW?~STUDENT~ • Do well in your classes - #1 goal • Your transcript (grades and coursework) is the most important factor in admission decisions • Nothing replaces the importance of your transcript • Make up all D and F grades • Challenge yourself by taking H/AP courses • Read, read, read! – best way to prep for the SAT & ACT • Explore your interests • Do something productive over the summer • Get familiar with Naviance Family Connection (start resume) • Prep for College Checklist for Sophomores

So what should I be doing NOW?~PARENTS~ • Sign up for MHS eNews mailing list to receive CCC emails • Stay in touch with your child’s academic progress • Encourage your child to explore their interests • Coffee with the Counselors • Attend other evening presentations with your students • Get familiar with Naviance Family Connection

Looking ahead to Sophomore year… • PSAT (October) • 10th Grade College Guidance Night (Fall semester) • Full length practice SAT and ACT (Fall semester) • PSAT Score, Now What? (January) • Classroom guidance lessons for students (one each semester) with interest inventory and taking a closer look at post-secondary options and college entrance requirements • Spring College Night (Spring) • Coffee with the Counselors for parents (monthly)

Looking ahead to Junior year… • PSAT (October) • 11th Grade College Guidance Night (Fall semester) • Full length practice SAT and ACT (Fall semester) • PSAT Score, Now What? (January) • Classroom guidance lessons for students (one each semester) to talk about college entrance requirements and the college search process in order to build a good college list • Individual appointments for college advisement (starts in January) • Spring College Night (Spring) • Coffee with the Counselors for parents (monthly)

Looking ahead to Senior year… • College rep visits to MHS • College counselor visit to classrooms • More individual meetings with college counselor • Senior Parent College Night • College essay review sessions • College application workshops (lunch time) • Coffee with the Counselors for parents continues • Financial Aid Night • LOTS of individual attention to the college application process!

Questions? Mrs. Ah Young Chi, College/Career Counselor, achi@smmusd.org Mr. Luke Sferra, HS Counselor (A-K), lsferra@smmusd.org Mrs. Katie Dahm, HS Counselor (L-Z), kdahm@smmusd.org

9 th Grade College Guidance Night