Slide show for parents and students towards planning for college

1. Grace Mills
EDUC 7202

2.  Iseducation after high school in your plans?
 What work do you want to do after high
school?
 DREAM BIG – THINK BIG. Now is Your time.
 It is never too early to start thinking about
your life after high school.
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3.  College academic preparation
1. 9th and 10th Grades
2. 11th Grade
3. 12th Grade
 Standardized Tests
 1. preliminary tests
 2. SATs
 3. ACTs
 Financial Aid
 1. Scholarships
 2. Grants
 3. College work study
 Especially for Student Athletes
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4.  FinancialAid – what is available for you?
 The College Visit
 The College Application Process
 You’ve been Accepted! Now What?
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5.  What are they?
 Preliminary tests
 ACTs
 SATS
 Why are they given? What taking these tests
show a college admissions team
 When are they given?
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6.  Have you met with your Guidance Counselor?
 Honors/Extra Curricular Activities
 What classes will you take in high school to prepare for
college?
 Years of math completed
 Years of science completed
 Years of English completed
 Years of social/global studies completed
 Years of foreign language completed – specify language
 Talk with your counselor about the classes you are taking.
Can you take any AP/IB courses before you graduate High
School?
 Talk with your guidance counselor about your aspirations
after high school.
 Do you want to go to college after high school or are you
interested in cosmetology, mechanical or trade school or
the military service?
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7.  Why your Junior Year is Important
 Remember to meet with your Guidance
Counselor
 Are you on track academically for college?
 High School Education – what have you done
so far?
 Years of math completed
 Years of science completed
 Years of English completed
 Years of social/global studies completed
 Years of foreign language completed – specify
language
 Doyou have any Academic Honors?
 What are your Extra Curricular Activities?
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8.  Have you received any high school honors?
 Have you played in the band/orchestra, theater,
sports?
 Are you a member of any school clubs?
 Have you been active with any organizations
such as the Scouts/Rotary/4H?
 Have you gotten any awards from these
organizations?
 What do you enjoy doing? (A certain sport,
painting, working with animals - not your school
work)
 Are you interested in college? List colleges of
interest.
 Why are you interested in these colleges?
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9.  Location – where do you like living?
 Focus of college (is the college strong in the
sciences, math or languages?)
 Interested in options of another form of higher
education?
 Cosmetology school
 Mechanical school
 Trade school
 Military Service
 Visiting colleges - There may be groups that visit
several colleges, such as college tours of
Historically Black Colleges, so you may be able
to visit and not spend a lot of money.
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10.  Why your SENIOR YEAR is IMPORTANT
 Remember your High School Academic Checklist –
what courses have you taken?
 Any AP/IB courses?
 Any community college or college level courses?
 Remember your extra curricular activities –
colleges are looking for interest and commitment
 Start the College Application process
 Give your Guidance Counselor and Teachers advance
notice of your interest
 Note all of the dates when items need to be sent to
colleges of your choice
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11.  Public Colleges and Universities
 Private Colleges and Universities
 Specialized colleges and Universities
 Historically Black Colleges
 Hispanic Colleges
 Tribal Colleges
 Religiously Affiliated Colleges
 Technical and Trade Colleges
 Military Colleges
 US Air Force Academy (Air Force)
 West Point (Army)
 Merchant Marines
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12.  Beginning Your Search – factors to
ponder
 Type of college?
 Location?
 Usingthe Internet to your advantage
 The College Board web site,
www.collegeboard.com
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13.  You’vefound xx number of colleges – Now What?
 Narrowing your Search – considerations
 Is this college a ‘good fit’ for you?
 Academic specialty of college
 Recommendations received from others
 Recommendations by teachers/family members/people you
respect
 Recommendations by college friends
 Location of college – college visit possible?
 Tuition/fees (but don’t let this dissuade you – see
more about Financial Aid)
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14.  How you can use these to your advantage
 Plan in advance
 List your schools of interest
 Contact your schools – remember dates fill
up quickly and time passes fast
 Not Much Money? No Problem -- There may be
groups that visit several colleges, such as College
Tours of Historically Black Colleges, so you may
be able to visit and not spend a lot of money.
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15.  What is in a College Application?
 The College Application
 The Common application found online
 What if your college uses its own form?
 Your high school grades
 Your extra curricular activities
 Your Letters of Recommendation
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16.  The College Essay – Your Personal Statement –
what it is and why it is so important to YOU
 The College Interview
 Why it can be a part of the Application
 It it required for admission to the school you are
considering?
 Where you can show your interest in THIS
COLLEGE – this is a chance for you to shine!
 What does a college admissions team do with
your application?
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17.  Why a good letter is so IMPORTANT
 Determine the teacher reommendations – meet
the individual teacher by October
 List the teachers’ names/subjects and why you
want them to write for you
 Make sure to talk with the teacher to let teacher
know the names of each college, why you are
planning to apply there and anything you would
like the teacher to know when preparing their
recommendation.
 After the teacher has given the recommendation
make sure that you send the teacher a ‘thank
you’ note for writing the letter for you
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18. A word about the college admissions cycle
 Decisions, decisions – Early Decision, Early
Admission or Regular Admission
 What is Early Decision (ED)
 The PROS and CONS of ED
 REMEMBER -- THIS IS A BINDING DECISION
 What is Early Admission (EA)
 The PROS and CONS of EA
 April/May Madness – Regular Decision Time
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19.  Why consider them?
 How to use the visits to your advantage in
making your decision
 What to do if you cannot make another visit
to the campus
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20.  How to use financial aid to get into the
school YOU want to attend
 Filling out the FREE federal financial aid
forms, [FAFSA], www.fafsa.ed.gov
 Why you should complete this form
 Tips of what you can include
 Consider these options for college:
 Scholarships
 Grants
 College work/study
 Military funding
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21.  Additional concerns of a person interested in getting an
athletic scholarship
 Use the Internet!
 College Board - NCAA Course Work Requirements
http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/prepare/at
hletes/ncaa
 e-guidance counselor
http://www.eguidancecounselor.com/student_athletes.html
 NAIA - http://www.playnaia.org/index.php - National
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
 NCAA – www.ncaa.org - National College Athletics
Association
 Studentathleteworld.com -
http://www.studentathleteworld.com/
 Student athlete Foundation - http://www.student-
athlete.net/
 Student athlete Showcase - http://www.student-
athleteshowcase.com/
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22.  Evaluating your acceptance
 Financial Aid considerations
 Who are given you the best financial aid?
 Contacting the school if you have more financial
need
A word about telling others about your
acceptance
 Send in your deposit on time - Remember the
deadlines for acceptance
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23. If you are waitlisted
• Do you want to stay on the list?
• How to improve your chances to still get admitted
• What to do if you decide not to stay on the list
 If you are denied admission
1. It is not the end of the world
2. Reevaluate your situation
1. Consideration of your other acceptances
2. Consider the late admission situation
Above all please remember deadlines for contacting colleges – your
reputation AND your school’s reputation count!
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24.  Celebrate!
 Don’t slack off
 Keep up your grades
 Stay involved in your extracurricular activities
and your community
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