Gig Harbor High School

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Gig Harbor High School

• Parent College Workshop
• 2007 - 2008

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Overview

• Changing Job Demographics
• Post High School Options
• Academic Preparation
• Testing
• College Search
• Admissions
• Scholarship and Financial Aid Information
• Web Sites

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Changing Career Demographics

• Steady increase in skilled workforce
• College is for everybody

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National Occupational Opportunities 1950
20 professional
60 unskilled
20 skilled
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National Occupational Opportunities 1994
20 professional
35 unskilled
45 skilled
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National Occupational Opportunities 2000
15 unskilled
20 professional
65 skilled
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Post High School Academic Options

• Four year colleges - Public Private
• 50
• Community Colleges
• 29
• Technical Colleges
• Specialty schools - Cosmetology, Art, Fashion,
  Culinary, Commercial Diving, etc.

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The Road to Success Education Plan
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The Road to Success Education Plan
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College Credits Earned in High School

• Running Start Credits
• AP Courses
• Articulated Agreement Courses
• Dual Credit Courses
• www.peninsula.wednet.edu
• Go to Career Technical link

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Running Start

• Do Running Start credits transfer?
• What are the community college transfer
  agreements with four year colleges?

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Dropout Trends

• Two Year Public 47.2
• Two Year Private 33.0
• Four Year Public 31.8
• Four Year Private 29.6

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Completion Rates

• AA in three years or less. 30.1
• BA/BS in five years or less
• Public College 41.2
• Private College 54.5

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Where should students start?

• Self inquiry
• What am I interested in?
• What am I good at?
• What do I want from my college experience?
• What schools have appropriate majors?
• What is the employment outlook for my Career
  Goals?
• This is a great discussion opener for parents.

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College Search

• Visualize the search as a funnel.
• Identify Important Broad Parameters
• Do the Research
• Visit and Interview
• Narrow to Six (6) or fewer schools by the
  beginning of senior year.

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Choosing A University

• Admission requirements
• Courses of study offered
• Financial costs.
• College reputation. (Be cautious of rankings and
  rumors.)
• College environment or Personality.
• Size
• Climate
• Religious affiliations
• Urban v/s rural
• Distance from home
• Sports programs
• Dorms v/s Greek system
• Class size
• Friends choices
• Impacted majors

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Advantages/Disadvantages

• Public vs Private
• Large vs Small
• Community College vs Baccalaureate Institutions

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Parents Role in post high school planning

• Offer guidance
• Recognize and encourage students right to choose
  
• Set financial parameters
• Seek best fit not best college Dont look
  for one Best match, look for several Best
  matches.
• Continue to nurture even as they seek
  independence
• Do NOT do their work for them.

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Gap Years or Deferred Enrollment

• Deferred enrollment can be advantageous if the
  time is spent meaningfully and with purpose.
• Community Service Projects
• Travel Abroad
• Internships

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Academic Preparation

• HEC Board requirements are minimal.
• Rigor is extremely important.
• Four years of English Math.
• Seven semesters of Social Studies.
• Three to Four years of Science and Foreign
  Language.
• Two semesters of Art/Music.
• Choose AP and Honors courses when available and
  appropriate.

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(No Transcript)
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Testing

• PLAN - Practice ACT test for Sophomores
• Fall Sophomore year
• PSAT - Practice SAT test for Juniors
• Fall Junior year
• (Also used for National
  Merit Scholarship Consideration.)
• ACT - Spring of Junior year/Fall Senior year
• SAT - Spring of Junior year/Fall Senior year
• SAT 2 - Spring of Junior year or individual
  tests may be taken upon completion of
  coursework.

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SAT and/or ACT?

• SAT has three sections
• Critical Reading
• Writing
• Math
• ACT
• English
• Math
• Reading
• Science
• Writing test is optional
• SAT 2 (subject specific tests)
• Test requirements vary by school

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School and Community Involvement

• Depth not Breadth of involvement
• Demonstration of
• Leadership Skills
• Character
• Compassion
• Commitment
• Organizational Skills
• Self Confidence
• Part time Employment is Involvement

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College Visitations

• When? Winter and Spring of Junior year and Fall
  of the senior year.
• Interviews
• Tours
• Visit the Hub, Commons or Rec Centers - Sample
  the food and visit with students.
• Stay overnight if possible.

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Campus Interviews

• Do your research - Know the School
• Know yourself - Strengths Weaknesses
• Goals Values
• Interests
• Be yourself
• Be positive
• Be honest
• Be On time
• Try and Relax
• Dress Appropriately

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Factors Influencing Washington State Public
College Admissions

• HEC board requirements must be met.
• Trend towards whole student consideration
  rather than Academic Index (AI) only.
• Academic Index
• Used by public universities in Washington State
• Grades weighted 3 to 1 over test scores

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Factors Influencing Admission (cont)

• Best Predictors of success
• Course Rigor
• Cumulative GPA
• Other factors considered
• ACT or SAT scores
• Essays
• Activities
• Talent
• Diversity
• Special circumstances

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Private College Admissions

• Additional factors considered after GPA, Course
  Rigor, and SAT/ACT scores include
• SAT2
• Choose three or more subject areas
• Letters of recommendation
• Essays
• Activities and talent
• Interviews
• Diversity

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Placement Tests

• Math and Foreign Language Placement tests may be
  required prior to registration.

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Community College Technical College Admissions

• Community Colleges
• Some applications/information available in career
  center or on-line.
• Placement exam required prior to entry.
• Apply early.
• Know transfer requirements if seeking
  baccalaureate degree
• Technical Colleges
• Orientation meeting
• Compass/Asset entry assessments
• Waiting lists likely.
• Contact directly

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Specialty School Admissions

• Criteria vary for each school.
• Information available on the web or Career
  Center.
• Transcripts, letters of recommendation,
  interviews, portfolios and auditions may all be
  required.

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Scholarship Information

• Scholarship information posted in the Career
  Center and GHHS website under counseling.
• Scholarship Notebooks
• Contact individual schools and programs
• Most schools have their own scholarship programs
• Scholarship deadlines often differ from
  application dates
• Some require supplementary financial aid info
• Check parents place of employment local credit
  unions
• Check scholarship websites
• Be cautious about paying for scholarship search
  programs.

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Financial Aid

• FAFSA application required for financial aid.
• Draft copies available in late Fall
• Complete on-line after January 1st.
• Sooner is better.
• Three means of assistance
• Grants
• Loans
• Work Study
• Schools may add Merit Scholarship Money to
  Financial Aid Packages
• Profile form may also be required.
• Loans can also be obtained through local lending
  institutions.
• WUE The Western Undergraduate Exchange Program
• reduced tuition at 150 of receiving schools
  state tuition rate
• www.wiche.edu
• Financial aid from private institutions can often
  neutralize the costs

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www.gigharborhs.psd.401.net

• Gig Harbor High School Information
• Parent Connect
• Teacher Websites
• Counseling Center News
• Scholarship Listings
• Career Center News

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Web Resources

• College Search Engines
• www.collegeboard.com
• www.princetonreview.com
• www.usnews.com
• Careercruising.com Login psd401 Password
  - Tides
• Financial Aid Scholarships
• www.finaid.org
• www.fastweb.com
• www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Admissions Test Registration
• ACT www.act.org
• SAT SAT 2 www.collegeboard.com
• GHHS School Code 480-421