JUNIOR COLLEGE PLANNING

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JUNIOR COLLEGE PLANNING

• What you need to know about college preparation

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The Name of the Game is
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What should you be doing your junior year?

• Talk to people about college
• Parents
• Counselors
• Aunts/Uncles
• Older Siblings
• The main idea is to figure out your wants and
  needs are from a college and the best way to do
  this is to listen to others experiences

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• If you are undecided on what you would like to go
  to college for or where you would like to
  go...Check out this website
• OCIS http//ocis.ode.state.oh.us/
• If you want to find quick information on
  collegesgo to this website
• www.collegeboard.com

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• Things to consider when looking into colleges
• Majors
• Cost of tuition
• Student population size
• Distance from home
• Private/Public
• Sports/extracurricular activities
• Study abroad program
• Honors programs

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• While you are looking into what you want from
  a college, you also need to work on things they
  want from you
• Standardized Tests
• ACT and SAT

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ACT

• www.act.org
• Score Range 1 to 36
• No penalty for guessing
• Subtests
• English 75 Questions
• Math 60 Questions
• Reading 40 Questions
• Science 40 Questions

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SAT

• www.collegeboard.com
• Score Range 400-1600
• Sections Critical Reading and Math
• Including Writing Score Range 600-2400
• Do get points deducted for wrong answers
• Do not get points taken off for omitted questions

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When should you take the 1st ACT and SAT?

• Spring of your Junior year

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• How often?
• You will want to take each test at least twice
• Why take it more than once?
• The first time students are nervous and do not
  know what to expect. Second time students are
  more relaxed and prepared.
• Second time scores usually increase
• How much do they cost?
• Around 45

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Registration for ACT and SAT

• On-line or Paper Form
• See guidance counselor for paper form and study
  materials
• Resource Room has study materials

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PrepHQ

• What should you be doing on PrepHQ your Junior
  year?
• Updating your resume
• Sports
• Work Experiences
• Volunteer Efforts
• Honors/Awards

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PrepHQ

• Important Information Listed
• Summer Programs
• Scholarships
• College Information
• College Admission Reps Visit
• Transcript Request

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College Visits

• Never too early to visit colleges
• Go on days Elder is off
• November 30th
• December 1st
• April 1st, 2nd, 5th
• Summer Vacation
• If you do go during a day Elder is in session
  then it will be counted as an unexcused absent

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Things you learn on a college visit

• Class room sizes
• Size of a dorm room
• Get to ask personal questions
• See athletic fields
• Meet professors
• See the buildings (library, student center,
  cafeteria, sit in on a class)

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What to do on your summer vacation before your
senior year
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What you should know when you walk into Elder
your senior year

• Top 5 college picks
• College deadlines
• Eligible Scholarships
• Who you would like to ask to do letter of
  recommendation for you
• Have PrepHQ updated (Resume, Profile)

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What to Expect your senior year

• Lots of DEADLINES!
• There is no reason to panic, if you are prepared

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• If you have done everything we told you then
  college applications should be a cinch.
• If not then you might panic about deadlines,
  filling out applications, letters of
  recommendations, and essays.

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The Main Idea

• Be Prepared
• Research, Research, Research

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The College Application

• 1. Application
• Grade Point Average
• Class Ranking
• High School Code 360-990
• ACT and SAT Scores
• Previous and Current Courses
• Sports/Clubs/Organization Involvement
• Volunteer Hours
• Leadership Roles
• Essays and/or Personal Statement

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Essays and Personal Statements

• An average length is 250 to 500 words Your essay
  needs to be informative and compact
• Take time to think about what you want to say and
  how you want to be portrayed
• This essay is a reflection of who you are

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Hints for Essays

• Reveal Yourself Make sure the reader has a sense
  of who you are
• Avoid Obvious Content (Dont write what you think
  others will discuss)
• Make your essay stand out what makes you
  different from the other 7,000 applicants
• Limit yourself to one strong point and everything
  should be clear and detailed examples
• Be direct and to the point

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Hints continued

• Use colorful words
• Ask someone to review your essay Take time to
  talk it over with them. Dont drop it off and
  leave
• Have a clear beginning, middle, and end

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The College Application Cont.

• 2. Transcript
• -Previous and Current Classes
• -Grade Point Averages (9th -11th)
• -Class Ranking (9th-11th)
• -Send ACT and SAT scores
• (Some schools want scores sent from testing
  centers)
• -OGT Scores
• Must request transcript on PrepHQ

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• 3. Letter of Recommendations
• -Who to ask?
• Teachers you did well in his/her class
• A coach
• Counselor
• Principal
• -When to ask?
• Early your senior year (Dont procrastinate)
• -How much time to give them?
• At least 3 weeks
• -Why do you need one?
• Different perspective of who you are as a
  person

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• Counselor Form
• - Can be found at each individual college
  website or some are located in the guidance
  resource room
• -Must be filled out and given to your counselor
• -Sent with transcript
• -Most colleges have a form, but some do not

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NCAA

• If you are going to play a sport in a Division I
  or Division II school you MUST register with the
  NCAA Clearinghouse!
• What is the Clearinghouse?
• Complete the Registration Process
• Complete the Amateur Status Form
• What are the requirements for the Clearinghouse?
• Sliding GPA/Test Score Scale

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• ANY QUESTIONS?