COLLEGE PLANNING NIGHT FOR PARENTS OF JUNIORSAn Overview of Services Provided by the Dartmouth High School Guidance Department

Mr. Michael LynchDirector of Undergraduate Admissions

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Guest Speaker

THE COLLEGE PLANNING PROCESS

Requires good judgment, knowledge of admissions trends – nationally and at DHS

Honest, thoughtful guidance based on logic and facts

Requires students to devote time and effort in assessing their goals, values, preferences, and abilities

Often inconvenient, frustrating, stressful… but totally worth the hassle

THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PERSPECTIVE

What Selective Colleges Consider in the Admissions Process

TranscriptTest scoresSupporting elementsBest fit for student and school

TRANSCRIPT

Best predictor of college success Appropriately challenging courses Student performance

Consistent over four years

Four years of core subject areas English Math Science Social Studies World Language*

TEST SCORES

Scores are required by many colleges and universities

Not considered in admissions by more than 800 schools (www.fairtest.org)

One piece of the admissions puzzle

Do not stand alone in any application package

TEST OPTIONS

SAT Reasoning Test

SAT Subject Tests

ACT

SAT REASONING TEST

Offered seven times per year

Measures knowledge in three areas Critical reading Mathematics Writing

Test time is three hours and forty-five minutes

Collegeboard.org

SAT SUBJECT TESTS

Required by some highly selective schools

Subject-specific tests in five content areas English Mathematics Science Social Studies World Language

One hour in length

Students may take up to three in one day

SAT PREPARATION

PSAT/My College Quickstart

College Board practice tests

College Board SAT Question of the Day

College Board on-line course

Private SAT Prep Courses

ACT

Four multiple-choice tests English Reading Mathematics Science Writing – optional

Tests knowledge of trigonometryUsed in place of Subject Tests at some

colleges (with Writing)Preparation materials online:

www.actstudent.org

SUPPORTING ELEMENTS

Letters of recommendation

Personal Statement/Essay

Activities list/resume

SUPPORTING ELEMENTS

Other considerations: Athletics Special talents Gender Geographic location

GUIDANCE SERVICES FOR STUDENTS College search/choice of 4,000+ schools, including

Naviance

College representative visits to DHS54 schools 2014-2015

300+ students attended a visit

Goal-oriented course selection

College essay assistance

In-school opportunities for assistance with college applications

Common Application Bootcamp - August 2015

NAVIANCE

College and career readiness platform that helps students connect academic

achievement to post-secondary goals

SuperMatch college search tool helps

students prioritize preferences

Application management system helps students stay

organized

SPRING 2015

Group planning meetings

Course selection

Individual meetings

SPRING 2015

Individual Planning Meetings – March Develop initial list of schools (15-20) Review PSAT scores Review/plan spring testing timeline Letters of recommendation Refine course selection Plan campus visits – February/April vacation

SUMMER 2015

COMMON APPLICATION BOOTCAMPAugust 2015

Create Common Application account Complete application and supplements Refine personal statement/essay and

supplemental essays

A LOOK AHEAD…

College Planning Night for Seniors and Parents, September 2015

Financial Aid Night, December 2015

GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT

A–Clune Eric Silva, Ext. 7436

Co–F Leanne Soulard, Ext. 7435

G-K Nicole Heath, Ext. 7432

L-Perrault Melissa Fitzgerald, Ext. 7433

Ph–S Jodi Newbury, Ext. 7434

T-Z Dan Wright, Ext. 7431