College College PreparednessPreparedness

Whether you are a Whether you are a Junior or a SeniorJunior or a Senior

Plan ahead!!!Plan ahead!!!

SeniorSenior

SeptemberSeptember Should be registered for the SAT/ACT Should be registered for the SAT/ACT

(or have already taken it)(or have already taken it)SATSAT Oct. 6Oct. 6thth

Late registration Sept 14Late registration Sept 14thth

cost- $43.00cost- $43.00ACTACT Sept. 15Sept. 15thth

cost $30.00 without writingcost $30.00 without writing $44.50 with$44.50 with

Use our ETS code 210570Use our ETS code 210570

JuniorsJuniors

Prepare for PSATPrepare for PSAT

Look at results and prepare to take Look at results and prepare to take SAT or ACTSAT or ACT

Sign up to take either test in the Sign up to take either test in the SpringSpring

Narrow down college Narrow down college choiceschoices

Where to start looking..Where to start looking..

There are many websites to start There are many websites to start searchsearch

MyRoad.com- www.myroad.comMyRoad.com- www.myroad.com

Xap.com- www.xap.comXap.com- www.xap.com

Petersons- www.petersons.comPetersons- www.petersons.com

Campustours- www.campustours.comCampustours- www.campustours.com

Go college- www.gocollege.comGo college- www.gocollege.com

What are you looking forWhat are you looking for

Do they offer your major?Do they offer your major?(Do you know what you want to major in?)(Do you know what you want to major in?)

• Location, location, locationLocation, location, location

climateclimate

distance between college and homedistance between college and home

• Student population-sizeStudent population-size

BigBig

SmallSmall

School climateSchool climate

Is there school Is there school spirit?spirit?

Is there sororities, Is there sororities, fraternities?fraternities?

Extracurricular Extracurricular activitiesactivities

Division _ SportsDivision _ Sports

DiversityDiversity

Political ActivitiesPolitical Activities

Is it a party Is it a party school?school?

Opportunities to Opportunities to study abroad?study abroad?

How do you know if it is a How do you know if it is a right fit?right fit?

Start with a virtual tourStart with a virtual tour

Visit the schoolVisit the school

There is no better way to see if the There is no better way to see if the school feels right for you or your child, school feels right for you or your child, then to go to campus and take a tour.then to go to campus and take a tour.

Make sure you make a list Make sure you make a list of questions.of questions.

What are the dorms like?What are the dorms like? What type of security does campus What type of security does campus

offer?offer? What type of problems has there been in What type of problems has there been in

the past?the past? Can Freshman drive? Where do they Can Freshman drive? Where do they

park?park? Are tutoring or learning labs available?Are tutoring or learning labs available? Graduation statistics?Graduation statistics?

What are requirements for What are requirements for acceptance?acceptance?

SAT/ACT scoreSAT/ACT score Avg. GPAAvg. GPA Any special SAT II or other testAny special SAT II or other test What Division sports are there?What Division sports are there? Financial Aid available through Financial Aid available through

schoolschool

When you visit the school, When you visit the school, prepare questions.prepare questions.

Call and schedule a tour of the Call and schedule a tour of the campuscampus Juniors-colleges are set up for this over Juniors-colleges are set up for this over

the summer.the summer. Seniors-college visits are not excused, Seniors-college visits are not excused,

plan them on school holidays.plan them on school holidays.• Research your college choices to see if Research your college choices to see if

you should schedule an interviewyou should schedule an interview• If interviewed, send a thank you If interviewed, send a thank you

note after the interviewnote after the interview

QuestionsQuestions

Are the dorms in Are the dorms in one area.. Do you one area.. Do you need to catch a need to catch a shuttle bus to shuttle bus to school?school?

Is there an effective Is there an effective security system in security system in the dorms?the dorms?

What services are What services are offered by campus offered by campus health?health?

Do fraternities and Do fraternities and sororities dominate sororities dominate campus life?campus life?

What are the What are the strongest majors?strongest majors?

Do you feel Do you feel comfortable and comfortable and safe?safe?

What is the core What is the core curriculum?curriculum?

Top reasons NOT to pick a Top reasons NOT to pick a collegecollege

I like this college because my friends want I like this college because my friends want to go here.to go here.

I like this college because I don’t have to I like this college because I don’t have to take math.take math.

I like this college because it has great I like this college because it has great sports teams.sports teams.

I like this college because it is close to I like this college because it is close to home.home.

I like this college because it is far from I like this college because it is far from home.home.

Cont’dCont’d

I like this school I like this school because it is a because it is a party school.party school.

I like this school I like this school because it is close because it is close to to mountains/beach.mountains/beach.

I like this school I like this school because my because my parents went here.parents went here.

I like this school I like this school because it looks because it looks like a great place like a great place to meet guys/girls.to meet guys/girls.

Lastly, I like this Lastly, I like this school because my school because my boyfriend/girlfrienboyfriend/girlfriend wants to go d wants to go there.there.

In reviewIn review

Establish your goalsEstablish your goals If you know your career interests If you know your career interests

find the best college for that major find the best college for that major that fits the rest of your needs.that fits the rest of your needs.

Make sure you fit academically.Make sure you fit academically. Decide what characteristics you are Decide what characteristics you are

looking for in a college.looking for in a college. Make a short list.Make a short list. Apply for admissionApply for admission

Applying to CollegeApplying to College Check application deadlinesCheck application deadlines

Early decisionEarly decision Early actionEarly action

Work on your resumeWork on your resume

Request recommendation letters from Request recommendation letters from teachers who will write a good teachers who will write a good recommendation letter.recommendation letter.

Important !!!Important !!!

Students should make sure they give Students should make sure they give the Counseling Office enough time (5 the Counseling Office enough time (5 days) to process at transcript request days) to process at transcript request and college recommendations.and college recommendations.

Students should send the entire packet Students should send the entire packet to the college at the same time.to the college at the same time. If they apply on line then all other items If they apply on line then all other items

that need sent should go at the same time.that need sent should go at the same time.YOUR EMERGENCY IS NOT OUR YOUR EMERGENCY IS NOT OUR

EMERGENCY!!!EMERGENCY!!!

Calendar for SeniorsCalendar for Seniors

SeptemberSeptember Register for Register for

SAT/ACT SAT/ACT Ask teachers for Ask teachers for

recommendationsrecommendations Update resumeUpdate resume Narrow list of Narrow list of

collegescolleges Sign up for Sign up for

meetings with meetings with college college representativesrepresentatives

OctoberOctober Work on college Work on college

essays and essays and applications (make applications (make copies)copies)

Attend college fairsAttend college fairs Talk to counselor Talk to counselor

about early decision about early decision and early action.and early action.

Check scholarshipsCheck scholarships

NovemberNovember

Pay attention to Pay attention to deadlinesdeadlines

Some colleges Some colleges have a Priority have a Priority Deadline of Dec. Deadline of Dec. 11stst. (UMCP is one). (UMCP is one)

Financial Aide Financial Aide Night is Nov. 29Night is Nov. 29thth at 7PMat 7PM

Check scholarshipsCheck scholarships Thanksgiving Thanksgiving

holiday-good time holiday-good time for students to for students to finish applications.finish applications.

DecemberDecember

Remember schools are closed for the Remember schools are closed for the holidays: get applications done early holidays: get applications done early to meet January 1to meet January 1stst deadline. deadline.

Pick up FAFSA form or go online to Pick up FAFSA form or go online to create your PINcreate your PIN They are accepted Jan. 1They are accepted Jan. 1stst -Mar. 1 -Mar. 1stst..

Check scholarships in Guidance.Check scholarships in Guidance.

JuniorsJuniors Go to either Meade or Broadneck College Go to either Meade or Broadneck College

Fair in October.Fair in October. Make sure to apply yourself for the PSATMake sure to apply yourself for the PSAT Take Prep class or study for SAT or ACTTake Prep class or study for SAT or ACT Investigate career paths and majorsInvestigate career paths and majors Consider what type of college you wantConsider what type of college you want

Large, smallLarge, small Urban, ruralUrban, rural Private, publicPrivate, public

Cont’dCont’d

Work on improving your GPAWork on improving your GPA Plan for a rigorous academic schedule Plan for a rigorous academic schedule

for Senior yearfor Senior year Work toward a leadership position in a Work toward a leadership position in a

club or sport activity.club or sport activity. Participate in community service Participate in community service

activitiesactivities Work on your resumeWork on your resume There are a few scholarships Juniors There are a few scholarships Juniors

can apply for.can apply for.

RememberRemember

Get organized and stay organizedGet organized and stay organized Checklists are goodChecklists are good• Know your time linesKnow your time lines• Work with your counselorWork with your counselor• Ask questionsAsk questions

Remember we are here to help through Remember we are here to help through this processthis process