Welcome to Avon High School’s

Class of 2016

College Planning Night

Counselor Assignments 2014-2015 School Year

• A – B Ms. Bradley• C – Go Mrs. Corya• Gr – L Mrs. Hatchett• M – R Mr. Binkley• S – Z Mrs. Yoder• S – Z Mr. Thompson (Sept-

Dec)

PSAT/NMSQT

Wednesday, October 29, 2014 (blocks 1 and 2)

All sophomores and juniors will take the exam in their SRT class

The Importance of the PSAT:o Results from the PSAT are used by teachers and

counselors for course placement and instructional decisions

o The PSAT is the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Competition

o The PSAT is the practice SAT exam

How to Prepare for the PSAT

Read the PSAT Official Student Guide for test-taking tips and types of test questions.

o Critical Readingo Math o Writing Skills

Take the Full-Length Practice Test inside the guide; answers are included, grade it and see what you missed.

Review PSAT Score Report from 10th Grade Use the test strategies on “My College Quickstart”

at www.collegeboard.com/quickstart. o Use Online Access Code from 10th Grade PSAT Score

Report or ask your counselor for your code.

PSAT Full Length Practice Test

Front cover of examo Timingo Scoringo Guessingo Marking Answerso Checking answers

Scoring (page 31)

Make time to take the practice test. It is the best way to get ready for the PSAT!

Register online at www.sat.collegeboard.org

SAT Customer Service: 866-756-7346

**FREE SAT Prep materials are available in the ALC Media Center!**

Test Date Registration Deadline

Late Registration Deadline (extra fee applies)Mail Phone/Online

*October 11 September 12 September 30

September 30

November 8 October 9 October 28 October 28 December 6 November 6 November

24November 24

*January 24 December 29 January 13 January 13 March 14 February 13 March 3 March 3 May 2 April 6 April 21 April 21*June 6 May 8 May 27 May 27

SAT Test Dates 2014-2015 Avon High School ID 151647

SAT Registration and Test Fee = $52.50 Late Registration = $80.50Students who receive lunch/book rental assistance and/or are 21st Century Scholars may qualify for

a fee waiver. See your guidance counselor.

Be sure to indicate 4 colleges/universities to have your scores sent to for FREE! IU, Purdue and NCAA require SAT scores to be sent directly from testing agency (College Board).

*Avon High School is a test site

ACT Test Dates 2014-2015Avon High School ID 151647

Register online at www.actstudent.orgACT Customer Service: 319-337-1270

Test Date Registration Deadline

Late Registration Deadline (extra fee applies)

*September 13 August 8 August 9 – 22

October 25 September 19 Sept. 20 – Oct. 3

December 13 November 7 November 8 – 21

February 7 January 9 January 10 – 16

*April 18 March 13 March 14 – 27

June 13 May 8 May 9 – 22

ACT Registration and Test Fee = $36.50 ACT Plus Writing = $52.50

Students who receive lunch/book rental assistance and/or are 21st Century Scholars may qualify for a fee waiver. See your guidance counselor.

Be sure to indicate 4 colleges/universities to have your scores sent to for FREE! IU, Purdue and NCAA require ACT scores to be sent directly from testing agency (ACT).

*Avon High School is a test site

**FREE ACT Prep materials are available in the ALC Media Center!**

SAT & ACT Comparison

SAT ACTMeasures academic aptitude in terms of verbal and numerical reasoning

Measures academic achievement in English, Math, Reading, and Science

No Science section Science section

Partial credit for incorrect answers

No penalty for guessing

Includes the writing section Writing section optional

College Rep Presentations

College Rep Visits Scheduled as of 9/29/2014:

10/1 IUPUI – Onsite Admissions 10/9 University of Saint Francis

10/1 University of Chicago 10/9 Saint Mary’s College

10/1 University of Cincinnati 10/9 University of Southern Indiana

10/1 Eastern Illinois University 10/9 Williams College

10/1 Indiana State University 11/14 Kettering University

10/1 Olivet Nazarene University 11/19 Air Force Career Talk

10/1 Saint Mary of the Woods College

10/1 Vanderbilt University

10/9 Avant Gard

10/9 Bellarmine University

10/9 University of Evansville

10/9 Indiana Wesleyan University

College Representatives provide information about their college/university’s programs and majors, admission requirements,

student life and scholarship/financial aid opportunities.

Tips on Visiting Colleges Complete College/Military Visit Form: Two visits allowed junior year Plan your visit when students are actually on campus Fall break and spring break are good times to visit Ask questions of students that you see on campus. Most likely,

your tour guide will be a college student Complete Campus Visit Score Card

Design Your Own Visit: Tour the campus Meet with an admissions counselor Meet with a financial aid officer Observe a classroom lecture Bring an unofficial high school transcript Schedule an overnight visit (if possible)

How to Pay for CollegeFinancial aid and scholarship applications are generally not made available until a student’s

senior year; however, the following are important resources to remember when thinking about financing your college education

Indiana College Costs Estimator http://www.indianacollegecosts.org o Estimate college costs using personal financial/tax informationo Learn about the financial aid process, including frequently used terms, various sources

of aid and differences between grants, loans and scholarships

FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) www.fafsa.ed.gov o Must be completed in order to receive any type of scholarship, grant or loan for collegeo Cannot start FAFSA until January of the senior yearo Financial aid informational meetings and workshops will be held in

January/February of senior year to facilitate financial aid processo FAFSA must be completed between January 1st and March 10th of

senior year!

Never Pay for Scholarship Search Services!o Naviance provides local and national scholarship information for FREE!o Other legit scholarship search websites:

www.fastweb.com, www.scholarships.com

NEXT MagazineYOUR GUIDE TO:o Plano Prepareo Pay

for college and career success!

HIGHLIGHTS:o Page 18 – Map of Indiana Collegeso Page 26 – Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs o Page 41 – Directory of public, private,

apprenticeship programs, proprietary schools (for-profit), and military

Save the Date

Spring Junior Parent Information Night April 9, 2015 The college application process Choosing the right college Paying for college Life after high school

Naviance Succeed Access Naviance through Avon High School Guidance

websitewww.avon-schools.org/domain/4129

First Time Using Naviance?o Instructions are on the back of handout

Important Info on Naviance:o College Rep Visitso “SuperMatch” College Searcho Scattergrams o Announcements about College Fairs and

College Preview Days

Prepare, Plan & GO!

Regina AtkinsRegional Coordinator – Indianapolis

Indiana State University

The Basics• Admission Lingo

o Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Rolling Admissions vs. Open Enrollment

• Application Processo The Common Appo Institutional Applicationso Applications for specific programso Deadlines

• Applied or Admit by• Hard vs Soft

Prepare: Academics• Test Prep & Practice

o PSAT/NMSQTo SATo ACTo Career Assessment

• Diploma Typeso Core 40o Academic Honors Diplomao Technical Honors

• Specific Courseso AP & Dual Credit Courseso Classes related to your major

Prepare: Extracurriculars

• Important Pointso Longevityo Demonstrate a balanced life

• Everything Counts!o Sportso Performing Artso Community Serviceo Worko Church groups

Prepare: Yourself!• College Email Account

o Example: firstname.lastname@email.com o Check often, parent/guardian access

• Learn to self advocateo Students take the lead, parents be supportive

• Networko Alumni, teachers, college reps

Plan: Your College Criteria

• College Listo Safety: exceed

admission requirements

o Match: meet admission requirements

o Reach: below admission requirements

• Take advantage of fee waivers!

• What Do You Want?o 2 year college vs. 4

year collegeo Public vs. Privateo Size & Location

• Soul Searchingo Majors, student

activitieso Campus culture,

amenitieso Student services

Plan: College Requirements

• Holistic reviewo Cumulative GPAo Test scoreso Resume & personal statementso Letters of recommendationo Rigor of classes

• Student Typeo Potential Ambassador, representative

Plan: Paying for College

• Scholarship Searcho Searches are FREEo Ex: Fastweb.como Look locallyo Awards from the

institution

• Junior Year Matterso Changes in GPA happen

now

• Aid Typeso Grantso Scholarshipso Loans

• FAFSAo Free Application for

Federal Student Aido Complete every yearo Available Jan 1 senior

year, due March 1

Go: College Exploration

• Tips & Trickso Keep an open mindo Talk to everyone!o Walk around on your

owno Try the foodo Have fun!!

• College Visitso Research the schoolo Bring questions, test

scores, transcripto Take notes

• Summer Programso College student w/o the

commitment!o Indiana State Summer

Honors

Questions??Thanks for Listening!