Keshequa Central School Junior Seminar • 2017-2018

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JUNIORS:

Prepare for your

SENIOR YEAR!

In this handbook:

Graduation preparation

timeline for job seekers,

military, college and tech

school

Choosing a college or Tech

school

Middle –Skill Jobs

SAT and ACT test dates

Comparison of the SAT and

the ACT

Writing a Resume

Requesting a letter of

recommendation

College Application nights

Financial aid

Writing a college Essay

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Timeline

Spring/Summer - Junior Year - Job Seekers

Create a resume

Look for websites with job postings in your area of interest

Post your résumé

Sign up for job alerts

Fall/Winter/Spring – Senior Year – Job Seekers

Check job websites

Update Resume

Apply for jobs

Prep for interviews

Spring/Summer- Junior Year - Military

Sign up for 3 sports in senior year

Contact recruiters

No tattoos on hands, neck or face

Fall/Winter/Spring – Senior Year – Military

Stay in contact with recruiters

Remain on athletic teams

Take the ASVAB

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Spring/Summer – Junior Year College bound

Visit colleges and tech schools

Take the SAT or ACT or both

File NCAA Clearinghouse registration if you may be participating in

Division I or II college athletics

Tech school apply this summer

Fall - Senior Year College bound

Complete College Visits

Senior interview with Mr. Houseknecht

Finalize your activity sheet (Resume) with Mr. Houseknecht

Re-take SAT or ACT if necessary, as early as possible

Request and gather letters of recommendation

Meet with college representatives

Prepare college essays

Arrange for interviews or auditions, if necessary

Note college application deadline dates and adhere to them

Be sure to let the Counseling Center know which colleges/tech

schools you are applying to

Apply to at least 3 colleges, use college application nights

Have your transcripts sent to the colleges you have applied to

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Complete your college applications by December 1!

Attend Financial aid meeting in October

Attend FAFSA meeting at GCC Dansville

Complete FAFSA in October

College Application nights – Wednesday nights - most weeks in October and November. You must sign up in the

counseling Center.

Winter - Senior Year College bound

Research and apply for scholarships – the Counseling Center has a

listing of all the scholarships sent to the school. There are also many

scholarships online. Apply to local scholarships.

Scholarship websites: WWW.HESC.com, WWW.fafsa.gov,

www.finaid.org, www.studentaid.gov, www.fastweb.com,

www.mappingyourfuture.org, www.collegeboard.org,

www.nasfaa.org,

Watch the mail and e mail, follow through with details

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Spring – Senior Year – College Bound

Re-visit schools, stay overnight if needed to make a decision

Make phone calls to colleges, for updated information.

Let your counselor know when you are accepted at a college!

Talk with the financial aid offices at the schools you are considering

Apply for local scholarships

Make a final choice, notify the college of your decision and make a

deposit. Note all deadlines. Your final decision usually takes place by

May 1.

Watch for deadlines regarding housing, financial aid, orientation etc.

Send thank you notes to all who have written letters of

recommendation for you

Stay in contact with the admissions and financial aid offices of the

school you have chosen. Take the name and extension of the person

you like working with.

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Things to consider when choosing a college

Admissions:

What factors do you consider when

making an admissions decision?

What is the average G.P.A. of an

entering freshman?

What kinds of courses should I be taking

in my senior year of high school?

Is the SAT/ACT required? What is the

average score of entering freshman?

What are the application and financial

aid deadlines?

Do you accept advanced placement or

college credit earned in high school?

What percentage of freshmen continues on to graduate from your institution?

Programs of Study:

Do you have my major?

What do you consider your top programs?

What unique programs does your institution

offer?

What additional academic services do you offer

students? (tutoring, career counseling, study skills)

How are faculty advisors assigned to students?

How effective is your institution’s honor code?

What is the penalty for cheating?

What types of internships/co-op experiences are available?

Financial Aid: 1. What is the basic cost for one year?

(tuition, room/board, fees)

2. What kind of financial aid programs are available?

3. What percentages of freshmen receive financial aid?

4. What is the average financial aid award?

5. What kinds of scholarship opportunities

are available?

Are work-study opportunities available?

Programs of Study:

Do you have my major?

What do you consider your top programs?

What unique programs does your institution

offer?

What additional academic services do you offer

students? (tutoring, career counseling, study skills)

How are faculty advisors assigned to students?

How effective is your institution’s honor code?

What is the penalty for cheating?

What types of internships/co-op experiences are available?

www.collegeboard.com www.collegeview.com

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Consider training for Middle – Skill Jobs

Middle-Skill Jobs – jobs which require education beyond high school but not a four year

degree.

Middle-skill Jobs make up the largest part of America’s and New York’s labor market.

Right now 51% of job openings in New York are middle-skill jobs.

Demand (job openings) for middle-skill jobs will remain strong for the next six years with

at least 46% of job openings being at the Middle-Skill level.

What jobs are Middle-Skill jobs? What are the Workforce Clusters?

Advanced Manufacturing

Skilled Trades

Information and Computer Technology

Hospitality and Tourism

Health Care

How do these Workforce Clusters break down into Occupational Groupings?

Advanced Manufacturing

Tooling and Machining

Optical Systems Technology

Applied Integrated Technologies/Mechatronics

Mechanical Engineering Technologies

Electrical Engineering Technologies

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Middle – Skill Jobs (cont.)

Skilled Trades

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

Automotive Technologies

Millwright

Construction Technologies

Welding

Information and Computer Technology

Computer Information Systems

Information Technology

Computer Systems Technology

Computer Science

Hospitality and Tourism

Travel and Tourism

Golf Management

Event Planning

Hotel Management

Health Care

Health information Technology

Clinical & Medical Laboratory Technician

Dental hygiene & Assisting

Nursing

Radiologic Technology

Schools that offer middle-skills degrees, certificates, training:

Alfred State

Morrisville

MCC

GCC

FLCC

ECC

Ohio Tech

CCC

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SAT and ACT test and registration dates 2017-2018-2019

Pick up test preparation books in the Counseling Center

SAT Registration Date Test Date May 3, 2018 June 2, 2018

July 27 August 25

September 7 October 6

October 4 November 3

November 1 December 1

February 8, 2019 March 9, 2019

April 5, 2019 May 4, 2019

May 2, 2019 June 1, 2019 sat.collegeboard.org

ACT Registration Date Test Date May 4, 2018 June 9, 2018

June 15 July 14

NA at this time September 8 “ October 27

“ December 8

“ February 9, 2019

“ April 13, 2019 actstudent.org School Code 334250

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Compare the SAT to the ACT

SAT vs. ACT

content-based test Type of Test content-based test

Reading: 1, 65-min section; Math: 1, 25-min section (no

calculator) & 1, 55-min section (w/ calculator); Writing

& Language: 1, 35-min section; Essay: 1, 50-min

section (optional)

Test Format English: 1, 45-min section; Math: 1, 60-min section;

Reading: 1, 35-min section; Science: 1, 35-min section;

Writing: 1, 40-min essay (optional)

reading, relevant words in context, math, grammar & usage, analytical writing

(optional)

Content Covered

grammar & usage, math, reading, science reasoning,

and writing (optional)

questions are evidence and context-based in an effort to

focus on real-world situations and multi-step

problem-solving

Test Style straightforward, questions may be long but are usually less

difficult to decipher

Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing are each

scored on a scale of 200-800. Composite SAT score is the

sum of the two section scores and ranged from 400-1600.

Scoring English, Math, Reading, and Science scores will each range between 1-36. Composite ACT

score is the average of your scores on the four sections;

ranges between 1-36

yes – you can choose which set(s) of SAT scores to

submit to colleges

Score Choice?

yes – you can choose which set(s) of ACT scores to submit

to colleges

questions increase in difficulty level as you move through

that question type in a section (except reading passage

questions, which progress chronologically through the

passage)

Difficulty Levels

difficulty level of the questions is random

Arithmetic, problem-solving & data analysis, heart of algebra, geometry, and

Math Levels arithmetic, algebra I and II, functions, geometry,

trigonometry; no formulas are provided

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trigonometry; formulas provided.

with private schools and schools on the east and west coasts; however, every four-

year college in the US accepts SAT scores

Tends to be more

popular?

with public schools and schools in the Midwest and south; however, every four-year

college in the US accepts ACT scores

seven times per year: March, May, June, August, October,

November, December

Offered when?

seven times per year: February, April, June, July, September,

October, December

(note that some states offer the ACT as part of their state

testing requirements; these tests are not administered on

the national test dates)

typically about four weeks before the test date

Registration deadline?

typically about five to six weeks before the test date

www.collegeboard.com More Information

www.act.org

REQUESTING A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION

Ask the teacher directly or with a written request.

Be sure to tell him/her how it is to be sent (e mail, to counselor, on Common

Application, etc.)

Include a short paragraph (or your resume/activity sheet) with your request

describing your strengths, interests and whatever you want the college to know

about you.

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Writing a Resume

Your objective: What is your goal? What academic/tech program are you looking for? What job do you want?

Skills: What skills or training do you have?

Your High School activities: Clubs, athletics, leadership positions

High School awards: Varsity letters, academic awards, attendance, community involvement

Volunteer activities: Anything done at school or in the community

Employment: Anything you have done on a consistent basis

Interests: Hobbies

Hardships

FINANCIAL AID FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENT

Parents and students must complete the FAFSA - “Free Application for Federal Student

Aid” form. Complete the form in October.

Attend the Financial Aid meeting here in the library in October for detailed information.

Some useful websites:

WWW.HESC.com

WWW.fafsa.gov

www.finaid.org

www.studentaid.gov

www.fastweb.com

www.mappingyourfuture.org

www.collegeboard.org www.nasfaa.org

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Writing a College Essay

The admission essay is an important part of the college application. If an

essay is required, it is going to be used in the admissions decision to some

degree. Use it to distinguish yourself from other students.

Do:

Choose the idea that best fits you and a topic that will be unique

Choose a topic that is specific then go in depth into one idea rather

than trying to cover a broad topic.

Write multiple drafts and get feedback.

Write as well as you can!

Don’t:

Don’t choose offensive topics.

Don’t write a negative essay, be positive.

Don’t be arrogant or pedantic.

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College and AP courses Available

2017-2018

GCC ENG 101 College Composition Karen Bugman

GCC ENG 105 Composition in the Humanities Karen Bugman

GCC SPE 108 Public Speaking Karen Bugman

GCC POS 101 American National Government Robert Hambridge

GCC BIO 104 Cell Biology Heather Pero

GCC MAT 129 Statistics Ronald Macomber

GCC MAT 140 Pre-calculus Gerald Goho

GCC MAT 141 Calculus 1 Gerald Goho

GCC MAT 142 Calculus 2 Gerald Goho (Also AP AB Calculus)

GCC PSY 101 General Psychology On line Schneider

GCC SOC 101 Sociology On line Schneider

AP AP AB Calculus Pete Goho (Also GCC MAT 142)

AP AP US History Kurt Schneider

AP AP Studio Art Kevin Raymond