Junior College Guidance Night May 31, 2011

1. Junior College Guidance NightMay 31, 2011 Mr. Luke Sferra, High School Counselor (A-K) Mrs. Katie Dahm, High School Counselor (L-Z) Mrs. Ah Young Chi, College/Career Counselor

2. Your resources for college planning • CCC website • CCC calendar on the web • MHS eNews mailing list to sign up • Naviance Family Connection • College and Career Center!

3. 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) • Trade or technical school (varying degrees and certificates) • Military • Work • Gap year (concrete plan with a destination in mind for the 2nd year, usually)

4. By now… • You have begun the college search process and have a working list of colleges to apply to • You are researching these schools and refining your college list • You have taken the SAT or ACT (and maybe even the SAT Subject exams) • You have visited a couple of schools over winter or spring breaks • You have met with Mrs. Chi at least once to discuss your post-secondary plans

5. College Admission Testing Timeline

6. College Applications & Requirements Simple Guidelines for Applying to Colleges

7. Application Deadlines • Rolling Admission • Regular Decision • Early Action • Restrictive Early Action • Early Decision

8. 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 at MHS • MESSAGE: FINISH STRONG THIS SEMESTER!!! • Meet other entrance requirements • MESSAGE: PAY ATTENTION TO REQUIREMENTS & DEADLINES • Are you and the college a good match for each other? • MESSAGE: YOU HAVE MUCH OF THE CONTROL

9. Letters, Forms & Deadlines for MHS • Most private schools require at least 1 letter of recommendation, from teacher or counselor • Many private schools require Secondary School Report form to be completed by the high school counselor • Before students can request letters and forms, students and parents must complete the Brag Sheet • What is a Brag Sheet? • Brag Sheet is available for download in Naviance • Find instructions on Guidelines for Requesting Counselor and Teacher Recommendation Letters also in Naviance

10. Counselor Packets • Students must provide counselor with the following: • Completed Brag Sheet • Secondary School Report form, signed and waived, for each school • Official transcript for each school (get transcript from Ms. Morgan) • 9”x12” envelope, stamped (3) and addressed, for each school • Paper clip materials into appropriate piles and submit them together to Mr. Sferra or Mrs. Dahm • DUE: Oct 1 for Early Applications & Nov 1 for Regular Decisions • Counselors will send following materials to each college: completed Secondary School Report, official transcript, letter of recommendation, and MHS Profile

11. Teacher Recommendation Letters • Students must provide each teacher with the following: • Completed Brag Sheet • 1 unofficial transcript for teacher’s review (Ms. Morgan) • Teacher Evaluation form, signed and waived, for each school • regular size envelope, stamped and addressed, for each school • MHS Request for Letter of Recommendation form (in Naviance) • Paper clip materials into appropriate piles and submit them together to each teacher • DUE: Oct 1 for Early Applications & Nov 1 for Regular Decisions • Teachers will send following materials to each college: completed Teacher Evaluation form and letter of recommendation

12. 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 • Junior Year “Prep for College” Calendar • Make sure you have an appropriate email address • Make sure your email address is correct/updated in Naviance • Get on the mailing lists of colleges you’re interested in • Remember that YOU are in charge of this process; vast majority of colleges want YOU more than you want them

13. So what should we be doing NOW?~ PARENTS~ • Sign up for MHS eNews mailing list • Allow your student to take the lead • Offer positive support • Stay in touch with their progress • Remind your student of deadlines • Get familiar with Naviance Family Connection • Coffee with the Counselors

14. Looking ahead to the Senior year… • College rep visits to MHS • College counselor visit to classrooms • More individual meetings with college counselor • 12th Grade College Night • College essay review sessions (individual and free) • College Essay Workshop (evening, fee required) • College application workshops (lunch time) • Coffee with the Counselors for parents continues • Financial Aid Night

15. Scheduled Events

16. Naviance Family Connection • Detailed information on Naviance Family Connection: • www.malibuhigh.org/naviance • To log into NFC account: • https://connection.naviance.com/malibu • NFC Quick Reference Guide is available after you log in

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