Junior Parent/Student College Info Night

Hilary Recknor – Sara WilliamsMarch 4th, 2015

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

Contact Information

Servite High School 714-774-7575

• Ms. Hilary Recknor A-D *1156• Mrs. Doreen Moore E-K *1133• Mrs. Megen Anspach L-Q *1457• Mrs. Sara Williams R-Z *1174

• Mrs. Deborah Blashaw, Support Services *1146• Ms. Lila Dulac will be filling in for Sara Williams

while on leave.

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

College Search: What are you looking for?

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• Identify the factors that are important to your son and to your family.

• What are your goals for the next four years?

• What do you hope your college experience holds?

• Suggestion: Select your most important factors and write a summary statement.

Some factors to consider

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• Majors, Programs, Minors• Location, Size & Setting• Large Research University, Small Liberal Arts College• Public, Private, “For Profit”• Art, Conservatory, Culinary• Academic Reputation• Religious Affiliation• Activities, Clubs, School Spirit, Athletics• Special Support Programs, “Combined” Programs• Housing Options, Commute• COST, Merit Aid, In-State Tuition, WUE

Finding the Fit: Where do Servite grads go?

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• UC (9%) – UCLA, UCI, UCR, Berkeley, Davis, UCSB

• Cal State (22%) – CSUF, CPSLO, CPPomona, SDSU

• Catholic (24%) – LMU, USD, ND, Portland, Gonzaga

• Other Private & Public Out-of-State (32%)

• USC, Geo Washington, Vanderbilt, Chapman, Emory, TCU

• Arizona, Nevada Reno, Washington, Purdue, Boulder, Iowa St

• Community College (13%)(Percentages are approximate)

Some Selective Public Universities

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• UC Campuses• Cal Poly San Luis Obispo• San Diego State• Long Beach State• U Michigan• U North Carolina, Chapel Hill• U Texas, Austin• U Washington• U Virginia• Penn State• U Connecticut

Some Selective Private Schools in California

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• Stanford University – Palo Alto, CA• California Institute of Technology – Pasadena, CA• Claremont McKenna College – Claremont, CA• Harvey Mudd College – Claremont, CA• Occidental College – Los Angeles, CA• Pomona College – Claremont, CA• University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA

Some Selective Private Out of State Schools

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• Notre Dame – Notre Dame, IN• Boston College – Chestnut Hill, MA• Brown University – Providence, RI• Dartmouth College – Hanover, NH• Georgetown – Washington, DC • U Penn – Philadelphia, PA • Vanderbilt University – Nashville, TN• NYU – New York, NY• Tufts University – Medford, MA• Emory University- Atlanta, GA• Rice University – Houston, TX

“Colleges Worth Considering in the West”

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

•U of Denver (CO)•Colorado College (CO)•Santa Clara U (CA)•Seattle U (WA)•Regis U (CO)•U La Verne (CA)•St. Mary’s College (CA)•Whitman College (WA)•Linfield College (OR)•U Portland (OR)

•Sonoma State (CA)

•U Puget Sound (WA)•U of the Pacific (CA)•Gonzaga U (WA)•Notre Dame de Namur (CA)

•U San Francisco (CA)•U Redlands (CA)•Concordia (CA) •Point Loma U (CA)•Lewis & Clark College (OR)

What is an effective strategy?

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• Consider Middle 50% ranges of GPA and SAT/ACT•Use Profiles of college’s most recent class

• Use Scattergrams in Naviance

• Apply Broadly •Reach•Target•Safety

College Search

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• NAVIANCE• Advanced Search• Scattergrams & Admission Stats• Direct Links to the college websites

• www.calstate.edu (Cal States)• www.universityofcalifornia.edu (UC)• www.aiccu.edu (Private CA)• www.cccco.edu (CA Community Colleges)• www.catholiccollegesonline.org (US Catholic Colleges)• www.commonapp.org (500+ Colleges & Universities)

CSU - Cal State University

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• 23 CSU Campuses

• Must complete 15 “core” courses with a grade of “C” or better

• Must meet minimum Eligibility Index •Formula for Elig. Index based on GPA and SAT or ACT •Many Campuses require higher Index for admission

• Apply via www.csumentor.edu

• Must Apply during Priory Filing Period•October 1st thru November 30th

CSU “a-g” Subject Requirements15 one-year Courses with a grade of “C” or better

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

a. 2 yrs Social Science/History (including 1yr US History)

b. 4 yrs English

c. 3 yrs Mathematics (Alg I, Geom, & Alg II)

d. 2 yrs Science w/Lab (1 yr Biological & 1 yr Physical)

e. 2 yrs Foreign Language (same language)

f. 1 yr Visual & Performing Arts (Art, Theatre, Music)

g. 1 yr College Prep Elective (from the subject areas

listed above)

UC – University of California

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• 9 UC Campuses (Undergraduate)

• Must complete 15 “a-g” courses with a grade of “C” or better

• Must have 3.0 minimum GPA for Eligibility

• Apply via www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply

• Must Submit November 1st thru 30th ONLY- Can now begin filling out application on October 1st

UC “a-g” Subject Requirements15 one-year Courses with a grade of “C” or better

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

a. 2 years Social Science/History (including 1year of U.S.

History)

b. 4 years English

c. 3 years Mathematics (4 recommended; Alg I, Geometry, &

Alg II)

d. 2 years Science w/Lab (3 recommended; Must have 2 of

these 3: Biology, Chemistry, Physics)

e. 2 years Foreign Language/LOTE (3 recommended; same

language)

f. 1 year Visual & Performing Arts (Art, Theatre, Music)

g. 1 year Elective (chosen from the subject areas listed above)

Private Schools

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

Wide range of optionsHighly selective (Harvard, Georgetown, Stanford, Penn)

Accessible (La Verne, Hawaii Pacific, Concordia, Whittier)

Most use Common App

Most require Official High School Transcript

Essay(s)

Letter(s) of Recommendation

Secondary School Report (Counselor Report)

Mid Year Report

Naviance

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• A comprehensive software/database that students & parents can use as a tool in planning for college

• Counselors will use Naviance to assist in managing the college application process and submitting forms on the students behalf. We cannot submit transcripts. letters of rec, etc. if the college list is not updated!

Naviance

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• Search for Colleges

• Build Prospective College List

• Manage College Applications (Must keep list current!)

• Career Exploration & Interest Inventory

• Learning Style Inventory

• Communicate with Counselor

Naviance

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

Naviance

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

•Identify the factors that are important to your son and to your family.

•What are your goals for the next four years?

•What do you hope your college experience holds?

•Suggestion: Select your most important factors and write a summary statement.

Naviance

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

•Identify the factors that are important to your son and to your family.

•What are your goals for the next four years?

•What do you hope your college experience holds?

•Suggestion: Select your most important factors and write a summary statement.

Naviance

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

Writing an Outstanding College Admissions Essay

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

Take It Personally!

Ms. Pat Ahern, M.A. Writing Coach

strongwriting@gmail.com

Colleges Want Students with…

•Proven academic abilities in challenging classes.

•Involvement in school activities and community service.

•Leadership and interpersonal experience.

•SAT and ACT scores.

•goals for the future.

Essays They’re Tired Of . . . •The Story of My Education (I forgot

you have my transcript)

•The Trip (how I broadened my horizons)

•My Favorite Things (a list of fluffy things that tell you I’m a nice person)

• Miss America (how I’ll work for World Peace)

•The Jock (how I learned to be part of a team, how I learned to deal with defeat)

What the Experts Say”• “Tell us about an experience that doesn’t

show on your transcripts: your passions and commitments, your hopes, a personal challenge faced, a hardship overcome, or the cultural awareness you’ve gained.” ---UW

• “Stand out from the swarm of applicants by being offbeat and daring, as long as you stay in control of your writing.”

• “Write as you would in a journal or a letter to a friend.” ---Essays That Worked

What the Experts Also Say…

• Do research on the college. Mention school colors, the mascot, and majors or programs you are interested in.

• Determine whether the college is liberal or conservative.

• State or imply how the incident you are writing about has added to your ability to succeed in college.

• Stay away from controversial topics and avoid direct persuasion.

Tell a Story Only You Can Tell

•a specific event in your life that changed the way you think

•one person who helped shape your character

•a specific challenge that demonstrates who you are and what you value

•a specific event that caused you to “walk in someone else’s shoes”

Your Primary Goals

•Make your essay stand out by making it unique.

•Make your admissions officer want to meet you and welcome you to the campus.

•How do you do all this?

ADD VOICE!

•Write about something for which you have a passion….and let that passion show

Draft One ~ Hook Options•Begin with an in medias res

scenario.

•Begin with a rhetorical question.

•Begin with a shocking statement.

•Begin with a refutation of conventional wisdom.

•Begin with a contrast ~ “There are two types of students…”

•Begin with a confession.

•Begin with what you learned.

Writer’s TricksMagic 3

Three examples in a series can create a poetic rhythm or at least add support for a point, especially when the three items have their own modifiers.

•The terror in his eyes, his trembling hands, and the hoarse words “Run!” all made me realize I was in danger.

Figurative Language

Connotative comparisons such as similes, metaphors, and personification add spice to writing and make thought-provoking connections.

•“My thoughts teetered around in my head like acrobats losing their balance.”

Repetition for Effect

Repeat strategic words or phrases to make a point or emphasize an idea.

•As I stood in front of the entire student body and raised the mike to my mouth, I knew this was the day. The day to end all days.

Expanded Moment

Emphasize an important moment by “expanding” the actions and making it slow-motion.

• The finish line slid closer and I realized I would never catch up to number 10. At that moment, the memories of sweat, pulled muscles and countless practices faded away and I stopped thinking of cross country as work. As I lost the final race of the season, I felt the hands of my teammates on my shoulders, I saw my friends still smiling and I realized that cross country, all along, had been fun.

Humor• Humor can turn an ordinary piece

into an interesting one.

When I set the basement on fire, I learned a valuable lesson: spider webs are very flammable. I’m sure there are no spiders in the dorms at West Point.

Full-circle EndingRepeat an idea, word, image, or

phrase from the beginning of the piece for a memorable, “feels complete” ending.

•“Anyone else letting out a screech like Andrew’s would have annoyed me, but I knew this little autistic boy was having the time of his life…”

•Last topic sentence: “Although Andrew can’t explain what he gets from the experience, I can…”

Re-envisioning • Put your essay away for awhile to let it

“ripen.”

• Be sure you are using description that helps your reader enter into your story

• Apply past learning to your future in your conclusion.

• Add transitions between paragraphs.

• Be sure your tone isn’t whiney, maudlin, accusatory or boastful. Stories about challenges should end with a solution. Sad stories should end with redemption.

Cut the Deadwood

•Needless restatements.

•Qualifiers: clearly, somewhat, rather, kind of, seems, sort of

•Extras: who, what, which, that

•Vague words: good, bad, nice

•Vague verbs: get, do, have, went

•Count to three: if you have three sentences in a row that start with “I,” reword one.

Common Conventions Errors•Its (a possessive pronoun) and it’s

(it is)

•Effect (the result) and affect (changes)

•There, they’re, their

•Choose/chose & loose/lose

•Semicolon misuse.

•Sentences run together without proper punctuation

•Commas misused.

Final Touches• Read your essay out loud.

• Does this sound like you? If it does, good!

• Ask yourself “What does this essay prove?” Do you make the impression you want to make?

• Proofread!

• Then proofread again.

• Show your essay to as many people as you can.

• Good luck!

Ways Parents Can Help•Assure your son he can do this!

•Encourage him to begin his essay

•Suggest he seek advice when/if comfortable

•Be sure whoever is helping him understands the role of the essay in the process

•Ensure you have not helped too much!

Common App Topics

(250-650 words)•Tell us about your background

•Recount one of your failures and what it taught you

•Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief

•Describe a place in which you are perfectly content

•Discuss an event that moved you into adulthood

Help Available•Pat Ahern, M.A.

•Published author

•Experienced English teacher

•Knowledgeable, encouraging advisor

•Email address:

strongwriting@gmail.com

What’s next up in the process?

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• Counselors will be visiting Classrooms on 3/9/15

• Continue to build Prospective College list (Colleges tab)

• Build Resume in Naviance (About Me tab)

• Complete Junior Self-Report form (About Me tab)

• Visit colleges

• Schedule and take SAT/ACT/Subject Tests

Continuing to look ahead…

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• Please communicate with your Counselor and set meeting

• Look for Summer Application Workshop Series • Invest NOW• Organize summer • Visit more colleges• Write your essay• Early Action/Early Decision?• Register for Fall SAT/ACT

Orange County

Mark your calendars…

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• Military Academy Night • Buena Park City Hall – Chamber Room• Monday March 16, 2015; 7:00 PM • Host by Congressman Ed Royce

• Tri-School Admissions Panel Night•Cornelia Connelly High School – Auditorium•Tuesday March 10th, 2015; 6:30 PM•RAAC – Regional Association of College Counselors

Orange County

Mark your calendars…

SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL 

• National College Fair • Anaheim Convention Center• Sunday, April 26, 2015; 1:30 - 4:30 PM • Over 225 Colleges & Universities

• Senior Parent/Student College Info Night • Early Fall 2014• School Forms, Transcripts & Recommendations• Naviance!

• Tri-School College Fair • Monday October 19, 2015