The document provides information about early college planning for students at OCHS Guidance Department. It discusses the importance of early planning to help students prepare academically, financially, and with activities and campus visits. It outlines the key components of a student's academic record that colleges consider, including GPA, class rank, course rigor, and test scores. Minimum requirements for 4-year colleges and selective college admissions are presented. Information is provided on standardized tests, athletic requirements, the college search process, campus visits, and sample college admission profiles.

1. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
The OCHS Guidance Department
Welcomes You To:
Planning for College
JANUARY 30, 2013

2. Early College Planning ­ January 2013

3. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
Why Now?
• Helps you plan academically
• Helps you plan financially
• Helps you plan your activities
• Helps you plan your vacations
(for visits to college campuses)

4. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
The Academic Record
Admissions Criteria
“The Meat and Potatoes”
• Grade Point Average
• Class Rank
• Strength of Schedule
• SAT / ACT scores

5. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
“ The Dessert”
• RECOMMENDATIONS
• ACTIVITIES/SPORTS/AWARDS
• PERSONAL ESSAYS
• INTERVIEWS

6. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
THE OCHS STUDENT TRANSCRIPT
Will show the student’s first
semester and final grade in each
class by year in school
Will show the student’s Wt. GPA
and Rank (computed at mid­semester
and at the end of the year)
Will show the student’s attendance

7. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
TRANSCRIPT CONTINUED...
Will NOT show the student’s
SAT/ACT scores
Will NOT show student activities
(student activity list should be sent
with transcript and generated by the
student)

8. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
SAMPLE (in 3 pieces)

9. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
SAMPLE (in 3 pieces)

10. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
SAMPLE (in 3 pieces)

11. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
MINIMUM 4­YEAR COLLEGE
REQUIREMENTS
4 years of English
3 years of math including Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2
– NOTE: many now requiring 4 years.
3 years of science (with lab experience)
2­3 years of the same world language
3 years of social studies
1 year of fine or performing arts
These represent the minimum requirements – many colleges
will have requirements that far exceed these.

12. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
SELECTIVE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
General rule of thumb is to take the
strongest schedule you can handle – fine
balance between GPA and schedule strength
• 4 units of English
• 4­5 units of mathematics
• 3 units of science
• 3­5 units of world language ­ finish if possible
• 4 units of social studies
Electives that show you are experimenting in different
areas or those that relate to your intended major
Honors and AP courses should be a part of
your program

13. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
TWO YEAR COLLEGE
ADMISSIONS
Open Admissions ­ must graduate from high school
and take placement test – The Accuplacer
NJ Community Colleges require proficiency in Math
and Language Arts before taking classes for credit
Some more competitive programs may require
certain course­work or SAT testing
Less expensive way to get your first two years
NJ STARS ­ (top 15% of graduating class)

14. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
COLLEGE TESTING OVERVIEW
PSSS – Preliminary SAT Scoring
th
Service – given to all 9 graders
WHY?
• Practice for the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT
• Flexible testing schedule and administration
• Early college awareness for younger students
• Benefits for all students, including English
language learners

15. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
PSAT – Preliminary Scholastic
th
Assessment Test – October of 10
th
and 11 grades
WHY?
• The best preparation for the SAT
• The entry point to compete for National Merit
Scholarships (for juniors only)
• The option to receive information from
colleges and scholarship services.
• Personalized feedback on critical reading,
mathematics and writing skills.

16. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
How does the PSAT compare to the SAT?
• Same question types, except the SAT
includes an essay assignment that does not
appear on the PSAT
• The PSAT is 2 hours, 10 minutes; the SAT
is 3 hours, 45 minutes.
• The SAT may have some math questions
from third year math (Algebra II); the PSAT
will not.

17. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTS
The SAT ­ Scholastic Assessment Test
www.collegeboard.com
(Big Future)
offered 5 times at OCHS during school year
The ACT ­ American College Test
www.actstudent.org
offered in February at OCHS­otherwise ACHS good option
General Guidelines
• Take SAT twice junior year
• Consider taking the ACT 1­2 times
• Prepare before taking
• Send scores after viewing ­ $$$$$

18. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
ACT/SAT Comparison
ACT SAT
3 hrs, 25 min 3 hrs, 45 min
(with Writing Test)
10 Sections
4 Sections (3 Critical Read, 3
(Eng, Math, Read, Math, 3 Writing, and 1
Sci) + optional Writing Experimental, which is
Test unscored)
th
Math: up to Math: up to 9 grade
trigonometry Geometry and Alg II

19. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
ACT/SAT Comparison
Composite of 1­36 Total score range of
based on average 600­2400 based on
scores from the 4 test adding scores from
sections; 4 scores of 1­ 3 subjects; 3 scores
36 for each test; of 200­800 for each
Optional Writing Test subject; Score of 0­
score of 0­12 (not 12 for the Essay
included in the overall
score) ¼ point subtracted
for each wrong
No penalty for wrong
answer (except for
answers
Math Grid­Ins)

20. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
SAT Subject Tests
Used for placement most of the
time and for admission at the most
selective institutions
Before deciding to take the tests, make a list of the
colleges that you are considering. Then find out if
the school requires the Subject Tests.

21. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
Requirements for Athletes
• Go to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
to register
• OCHS CEEB Code – 311045
• Division 1
• 16 CORE courses completed (2008 and
beyond) with a minimum GPA and test score
• Example – 2.50 GPA / 820 SAT
• Consult with your counselor

22. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
THE COLLEGE SEARCH
SELF­ANALYSIS
• Goals in life – examples – idea of
success, why college?, where do you want
to be 10 years from now?
• Values – what’s important? Earnings,
economic security, power, independence,
altruism, etc.
• Interests/Abilities – careers/majors that
relate to your interests – artistic,
investigative, enterprising, social, etc.

23. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
SEARCH CRITERIA
Location
Size
Majors/Programs/Activities
Admissions Requirements
Reputation/Selectivity
Facilities
Environment – Urban vs. Rural
Ethnic breakdown
Cost/Financial Aid/Scholarship
Opportunities

24. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
RESOURCES
• Your Guidance Counselor
• Books and other printed literature
• College web­sites
• Internet based searches
• Naviance – “ TCCI Family Connection”
(see handout)
• MY Road or Big Future– through The College
Board site
• Other search programs

25. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
FAMILY CONNECTION
• Personality Type – “Do what you are”
• Career Interest Profiler
• Explore Careers
• College
• College Look­up
• College Search
• Acceptance History
• Scattergrams
• Visit Schedule
• Scholarships

26. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
Campus Visit
• VERY important – enables
students to see the difference
between large and small
campuses/ between urban and
rural / to judge the distance from
home, etc.

27. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
Campus Visit
• If possible, visit while school is
in session. Students get to see if
the students on campus look,
dress and sound like them. A
level of comfort for the campus is
established.

28. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
Campus Visit
• When? Anytime is good, but
sometime near the end of the
sophomore year is appropriate for
ambitious students and parents to
start. Spring of junior year is great
after more credentials are
established.

29. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
Campus Visit
• You are encouraged to discuss
visiting colleges with your
counselor, however the college
web­sites have this information
readily available along with tour
schedules. If possible take a
formal tour ­see and learn much
more.

30. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
Sample College Admissions
Profiles
In­State Public
The Richard Stockton College of NJ
Middle 50% SAT – CR 470­570 M 490­600
56% in top quarter – 96% in top half
65% of 5,089 applicants offered
admission
30% (992) accepted actually matriculated

31. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
The College of New Jersey
Middle 50% SAT – CR 550­650 M 580­680
89% in top quarter – 99% in top half
46% of 10,150 applicants offered
admission
29% (1359) accepted actually
matriculated

32. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
Out­of­State Public
Penn State University
Middle 50% SAT – CR 530­630 M 560­670
87% in top quarter – 98% in top half
52% of 45,502 applicants offered
admission
31% (7,334) accepted actually
matriculated

33. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
University of Delaware
Middle 50% SAT – CR 540­640
M 560­660
79% in top quarter – 98% in top half
58% of 23,647 applicants offered
admission
28% (3840) accepted actually
matriculated

34. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
Private
Saint Joseph’s University
Middle 50% SAT – CR 510­600
M 520­610
53% top quarter –86% top half
78% of 7,401 applicants offered
admission
20% (1155) accepted actually
matriculated

35. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
Princeton University
Middle 50% SAT – CR 700­790
M 710­800
99% top quarter – 100% top half
8% of 27,189 applicants offered
admission
57% (1240) accepted actually
matriculated

36. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
SAMPLE COLLEGE COSTS
Tuition plus Room and Board
• Richard Stockton College of NJ $19,862
• The College of NJ $25,700
• Penn State University $38,644
• University of Delaware $38,286
• Saint Joseph’s University $50,470
• Princeton University $51,280

37. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
FINANCIAL AID OVERVIEW
WWW.FAFSA.GOV

38. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
All Federal Aid is tied to NEED!
• Need is established by
subtracting the Expected Family
Contribution (EFC) from the Total
Cost of the college

39. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
• The EFC is determined by
completing the FAFSA ( Free
Application for Federal Student
Aid) ­ Uses the Federal
Methodology
• www.fafsa.gov – check out
FAFSA4caster (student + parent
info)

40. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
THE EXPECTED FAMILY
CONTRIBUTION (EFC) equals the
sum of four separate
calculations:
1) Contribution from Parental Income
(parental income minus taxes minus the
income protection allowance minus child
support paid minus education tax credits)
X 22% to 47%.

41. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
2) Contribution from Parental Assets
(parental assets – asset protection) X 5.6%
3) Contribution from Student Income
(student income minus taxes minus income
protection allowance) X 50%
4) Contribution from Student Assets X 20%

42. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
The Financial Aid Package
After receiving the family’s EFC the college
develops a package that MAY consist of:
• Grants
• Scholarships
• Work­study
• A variety of Loans
The family decides
to accept or reject
any of the above.

43. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
• Awarded for some special talent, ability or to recruit
desirable students
• Private vs Institutional (College­Based)
• Help those families the most that have a high Expected
Family Contribution
• Student and/or family can do their own searches using
various web­sites or printed materials– Don’t Need a
Financial Aid advisor to do this

44. Early College Planning ­ January 2013
Financial Aid Resources
Don’t Miss Out” ­ by Anna and Robert Leider
“The A’s and B’s of Academic Scholarships”
– by Anna Leider
www.hesaa.org
www.njbest.com

45. Early College Planning ­ January 2013

46. Early College Planning ­ January 2013