Junior Parent College Night

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Junior Parent College Night

• Robert McAleese
• Spring, 2008

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Overview

• College Handbook
• College Guidance at Jesuit High School
• Testing
• Applications
• Public Schools
• Private Schools
• ROTC Academies

• NCAA Clearinghouse
• How to Choose A College
• Campus Visits
• Financial Aid
• Where to Get Help
• Questions

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College Handbook

• Distributed Recently
• Points of Interest
• SAT ACT Testing Dates
• Community Colleges, CSUs, UCs
• Private and Jesuit schools
• Military/ROTC
• Financial Aid
• Websites

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PSAT/NMSQT

• MyRoad College Board's Web-based career,
  majors, and college exploration tool.
• free information on student Score Report
• immediate access to college-planning information.
  
• Online Answer Explanations to every test question
  
• additional practice for the SAT
• Available at
• www.collegeboard.com/psatextra

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College Admissions Testing

• SAT Reasoning Test
• Required for all schools
• Three hours, forty-five minute test
• Take first test in spring of junior year
• Re-take as needed

• SAT Subject Tests
• Required for UCs and very selective schools such
  as Stanford, etc.
• Two (or three for some schools), one hour tests
• Take first tests in June
• Re-take as needed

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College Admissions Testing

• ACT
• Acceptable alternative to SAT Reasoning Test
• Based on achievement
• Recommend Optional Essay
• Some schools may require this option if taking
  the ACT
• Especially good for weaker math students
• Take first test in spring of junior year and
  others as needed

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The SAT Focuses on College Success Skills

• Critical Reading
• Sentence Completion
• Critical Reading Short and long reading passages
• Mathematics
• Multiple-choice items and student-produced
  responses measuring Number/Operations, Algebra
  I/II, Functions, Geometry, Statistics,
  probability, and Data Analysis
• Writing
• Multiple-choice Improving sentences and
  paragraphs, and identifying errors.
• Student-written essay communicate a point of
  view on an issue, supporting a position with
  reasoning and examples.
• The SAT tests students reasoning based on
  knowledge and skills developed through their
  course work. It measures their ability to
  analyze and solve problems by applying what they
  have learned in school.

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How Students Can Prepare

• Students should
• challenge themselves throughout high school by
  taking rigorous courses, including at least 3
  years of math
• read and write as much as possibleboth in and
  outside of school
• familiarize themselves with the SAT so they know
  what to expect on test day
• familiarize themselves with the different types
  of questions on the SAT, the directions for each
  type of question, and how the test is scored.
• Test Prep Courses
• Effectiveness and advantages are variable
• Prices range from 250 to 1,000 or more

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Applications

• Regular Decision
• Watch for deadlines
• UC CSU November 30th
• Privates varies among schools
• Early Action
• A non-binding action that requires an early
  deadline with no commitment if the student is
  accepted
• Early Decision
• A binding contract that requires an early
  deadline and commits the student to that school
  if accepted AND requires that all other
  applications be withdrawn only one Early
  decision application may be submitted
• Discuss this option with counselor!

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Public Schools

• University of California
• California State University
• Community Colleges
• Out of State Schools
• Out of State Tuition
• Residency
• WUI

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University of California

• Generally accepts the top 12.5 of each years
  graduating class in the state
• Application is completely self-reported requiring
  NO transcripts or recommendations unless
  requested
• A-G requirements (met or exceeded by all our
  graduates)
• Personal Statement is important
• Minimum eligibility acceptance into a campus
  but not necessarily the campus of your choice

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California State University

• Generally accepts top 1/3 of graduating seniors
  in the state
• Completely self-reported as UCs
• Same a-g requirements
• Application window is same as UCs, however, most
  will continue to accept applications until they
  meet limits
• Cal Poly, SLO and San Diego State are absolute on
  Nov 30th deadline
• Minimum eligibility acceptance to most CSUs
  and programs (see eligibility index)

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Community Colleges

• Cost Effective Education
• Excellent place to save money
• Good place if you are not ready academically or
  socially for the 4 year experience or moving away
  from home
• Good place to build your academic credentials to
  get into a more selective college
• Beware!
• To be successful at a CC, you must be focused and
  determined to follow through
• Roughly 1/3 of high school graduates who enter a
  CC with the intention for transferring to a 4
  year institution - DONT finish!

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Private Schools

• All have different application requirements,
  deadlines, and priorities
• Application package typically includes
• transcript
• test scores
• Essay
• School Report (Counselors Recommendation)
• Teacher Recommendation
• Resume of activities both on and off campus
• Midyear Reports

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Academies

• If interested in the Academies - BEGIN NOW!
• To secure an appointment, send for a
  Pre-Candidate questionnaire
• Write to each Senator and your Congressman for
  nomination
• Follow all procedures meticulously
• See handbook for details

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ROTC

• Applications are available from Air Force, Army
  and Navy/Marine ROTC Centers
• see handbook for details re the basic program
  and scholarship opportunities

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NCAA Clearinghouse

• Any student who wishes to be eligible for NCAA
  Division I or II athletics must register with the
  Clearinghouse
• Forms and NCAA Rules are available from
  ncaaclearinghouse.net

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College Search

• Finding the Path

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Myths and Anxieties

• The RIGHT School
• The Prestigious School
• The Rankings
• The Prep Courses

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Independent College Counselors

• Is there a true need?
• Consider Cost
• 2,000 to 10,000
• Consider the resources you already pay for at
  Jesuit High School!

• Be a Good Consumer
• Member of NACAC, WACAC, etc.?
• Adheres to ethical standards and best
  practices?
• Beware of promises, fraud, and anxiety/myth
  provoking hype!
• This is a largely un-regulated industry

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Tips to Help Your Search for a College

• Consider College Characteristics
• List, Compare and Visit Colleges
• Use your Jesuit College Handbook

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Consider College Characteristics

• Majors and Education Programs
• Type of School and
• Degrees Offered Admission Policy
• Location and Size
• Costs and Financial Aid
• College Affiliation and Accreditation
• Campus Activities Academic Reputation

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List, Compare and Visit Colleges

• Compile information from a variety of resources
• The Counseling Center
• Counselors
• Internet TCCi/Naviance, CollegeBoard
• College Representatives (many visit Jesuit each
  year)
• Teachers , Parents, Students, and Alumni
• Visit College Home pages and other web sites
• Plan a campus visit whenever
  possible.

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Naviance Family Connection

• A Web-Based College Guidance Management System to
  which Jesuit High School Subscribes
• Direct email communications
• College Search Program with a data base of over
  6,300 schools throughout the United States and
  other countries
• Scholarship Resource
• Admissions Data
• Direct Web-Site links to countless universities
• Educational data available only from JHS for each
  student
• Graphs to assist in determining possible
  eligibility
• Resume assistance
• Complete management of students college guidance
  process

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Financial Aid

• It may seem daunting, but its doable!
• File application (FAFSA) beginning January 1st
• CSS Profile
• Most aid for college comes from two sources
• The university the student attends
• State and Federal Government

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Financial Need Determination

• Cost of Attendance 34,000
• EFC - 11,000
• Need 23,000
• Package Meeting 100 of need
• University Grant 10,000
• Work Study 3,500
• Loans 10,500

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Where To Find Help

• Counselors and the Counseling Center
• Handbook
• Internet
• College Fairs
• UC Davis
• Jesuit College Fair
• Parochial/Private School College Fair Oct. at
  SFHS
• Family Connection

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Questions