Tim SmithSchool Counselor (H-Kt, PVA)

Stephanie SwongerSchool Counselor (Dem-G)

Junior parent night

“You're off to Great Places!Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting,So... get on your way!” 

~Dr. Seuss

Program Content

Words of Wisdom The College Search The Visit College Testing/Test Preparation The Application Process

• Application• Recommendation• Essay

Financial Aid ECAP Program

Words of Wisdom

Relax…

You will get in.

70% of colleges accept an average of 70% of their

applicants.

Words of Wisdom

You don’t need to go far away.

Most high school students go to college in their home

state.

Words of Wisdom

If you don’t have a major, it’s OK.

More than half of new college students say a very important reason for going

to college is “to find my purpose in life.”

School Counselors are here to help!

We meet with your child many times…December: small groupsFebruary: course selectionMarch: college planning groupsApril: individual junior meetingsSeptember: small groups and individual senior meetings

Use Naviance/Family Connection!(ask your child to show you what they

learned)

Naviance/Family Connection

• Website available to all students with many college/career resources available

• Communication with counselors• Researching Colleges/careers• College Visits at BHS• Links to college websites, SAT/ACT

websites, AACC, etc.• Scholarship information• Document Library

Types of Colleges

Type Description Tuition Admission Requirements

Four year Degrees offered: Bachelors and beyond

Provides: A well-rounded college experience that includes an academic area of study.

State: Typically cost around $10,000/year (plus room & board)

Private: Typically cost $30-40k/year (plus room & board)

•SAT or ACT•GPA•Class rank•Essay•Extracurricular activities•Letters of recommendation•Transcripts

Types of Colleges

Type Description Tuition Admission Requirements

Two year

Degrees offered: Associates

Provides: A way to ease into college / take general college classes for credit.Typically have agreements with four year colleges to transfer credits.

Typically around $4,000/year

Open-door admission policy

The Search

• Who is your child?• What is a good match?• What is your role in the selection?• Tools for looking for schools - College Representatives (sign up on Naviance/Family Connection) - College Fairs - Internet resources

Know Your Child

• Values

• Ambitions

• Achievements

• Academic Strengths

• Interests

• Your Standout Talents

Factors for Consideration

• Geography• Cost• Size• Level of Competitiveness• Majors• Activities *A good match is one that addresses the

needs of your child and matches those needs with the factors for consideration. Is this a place your child can see themselves spending the next 4 years?

The Visit

• Call ahead • Ask to visit a class, see a department rep. • Take the college tour• Speak to other students• Visit the dining hall• Write down reactions as you leave campus• Compare and contrast college visits

Your Role in the Process

• Help your student understand the process

• Be realistic not judgmental

• Be open to dialogue

• Be aware of deadlines

• Be in the “back seat” not the driver

• Things have changed in the last 20 years!

• Celebrate success!

Tools for looking for colleges

• Visit the Colleges!

• College Admissions Representatives

• College Fairs

• Open Houses

• Virtual tours on college websites

• Call, write or email for information (MAKE CONTACT)

• Websites for searches…

Websites

• Naviance/Family Connection

• MDgo4it.org

• Cappex.com (college search)

• nacacnet.org (national organization)

• collegeboard.com (search and SAT registration and test prep)

• actstudent.org (ACT registration and test prep)

WHAT ARE COLLEGESLOOKING FOR?

Grades Level of Classes

*including senior year!

Test Scores (SAT/ACT) Essays Recommendations Leadership Activities and Service Interviews

Athletics Talent in the Arts Geography

About College Admission Tests• ACT (American College Test)

• Predominantly used by schools in middle-U.S. states• Consists of the following tests: English, Math, Reading, Science, and

Writing• Writing component is optional and recommended• Top composite score is 36

• SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test, College Board)

• NEW SAT starts March 2016• Predominantly used by east and west coast schools• Consists of two sections: Reading & Math• Each section is scored on a scale of 200-800 • Top score is 1600

• SAT Subject Tests

• Required for most competitive colleges

COLLEGE TESTING

2015-2016 Tests TestRegistration

DeadlineJanuary 24 SAT & Subject Test December 29February 6 ACT January 8*March 5 SAT Only February 5

April 9 ACT March 4

*May 7 SAT & Subject Test April 8*June 4 SAT & Subject Test May 5June 11

Fall 2016

ACT

SAT/ACT

May 6

Oct/Nov/Dec

•New SAT (1600) no writing section

Test Preparation

• Broadneck's SAT Prep Course• Kahn Academy, Kaplan, Princeton Review, Sylvan, Huntington• College QuickStart – from the PSAT score report• Books - 5 SATs, Up Your Score, etc.• Collegeboard.org

The Complete Application

1. Student’s Online Application (some use Common Application)

2. Broadneck’s School Information• Transcript• Teacher Recommendation• Counselor Recommendation/Form• School Profile

3. Test scores • Must be requested from College Board or ACT

Application Deadlines

General Timelines

Military Service Academies Spring/Summer

Early Action/Decision October/November

University of MD November 1st

Regular Admission January 1st

Early Action Regular Decision Rolling Admission

Apply early and receive a decision well in advance of regular response date.

Submit application by specified date and receive decision in clearly stated period of time

Review applications as they are submitted.

Non-BindingEarly Decision Restrictive Early Action

Students make a commitment to a first-choice school where if admitted they definitely will enroll. Early Deadlines.

Students apply to a school of preference and receive a decision early. They may be restricted from applying ED or EA or REA to other institutions.

BINDING Non-Binding

Admission Types

Financial Aid

• FAFSA (online form)• Need Based vs. Merit Based• Loans vs. Grants (scholarships)• Work Study• The Financial Package

Scholarship Resources on the Web

• Naviance/Family Connection – Local Scholarships

• Fastweb.com - Private scholarships

• fafsa.ed.gov - Free Application for Federal Student Aid

• Studentaid.ed.gov - The federal government’s website about paying for college

• MeritAid.com - $11 billion in merit scholarships

• Cappex.com - Scholarship matching

• finaid.org - Free student resource for learning about all types of financial aid

• Other web searches

Merit Scholarship Tips

Merit scholarships are where the money is.

• There are more than $11 billion in merit scholarships available to students directly from colleges

• Not just for “A” students• Many emphasize leadership or school involvement• Nearly all colleges offer merit aid scholarships• Scholarships can be small or cover full cost of

college• Many can be renewed year after year if the student

maintains minimum academic standards

STUDENT ATHLETES

• Go to NCAA Eligibility Center website for information and to register

• www.eligibilitycenter.org

• The Eligibility Center is responsible for determining the eligibility of every prospective student-athlete in Divisions I & II on a GPA/SAT sliding scale

• Students should register after their junior year and have a transcript sent to the Eligibility Center

• Students must be ‘cleared’ to be ‘officially recruited’ and to be eligible to compete in college

ECAP Program at AACC

• Available to seniors with at least a 2.0 GPA • Students should visit AACC and take placement exams

*SAT scores can be used for placement as well•Students need signed ECAP form to receive ½ price tuition

March 8th at 9:45am: Informational presentation for Juniors

*sign up on Naviance/Family Connection under “College” by clicking “college visits”

Next Steps for JuniorsIn SchoolStay focused on academicsDo not lighten your academic load for senior yearMeet with your school counselorStay involved in school activities

Standardized TestingPrepare for and register for ACT / SAT tests

College ExplorationExplore colleges on the WebVisit colleges Sign up for college representatives’ visits in the fallAttend college fairs

STAY ORGANIZED and MEET DEADLINES

Thank you!

“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and

the wings of independence.”

~Denis Waitley