Kenmore West College Night

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Kenmore WestCollege Night

• Getting ready to take
• the next step
• A program for students parents

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Many decisions are neccesary when planning for
college

• The world beyond high school is full of
  opportunities and questions.
• Two year or four college?
• Stay at home or go away?
• What do I want to major in?
• How will I afford college?
• Where do I want to end up?
• What kind of career am I thinking about?
• How much money do I want to make?
• How do you sort it all out?
• Careful planning is the key

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What are colleges looking for?

• GPA and class rank
• Strength of transcript
• Community service, clubs and activities
• Involvement in athletics, arts, music, etc
• Standardized test scores (SAT, SAT II, ACT)
• College essay
• Personal interview
• Letters of recommendation

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Grade Point Average

• Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated during
  Sept/Oct of senior year. The GPA includes all
  grades for any high school class the student took
  in grades 8 11.
• Courses of higher levels (AP, Honors,
  Articulated) carry weighting with them for the
  purpose of computing GPA. AP 1.10, Honors
  1.05, Regents 1.0
• Students receive GPA in fall of their Senior Year.

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Class Rank

• GPAs are ordered numerically, and class rank is
  determined.
• Students are grouped according to percentiles.
• This rank will indicate to admissions counselors
  how well the student did in relation to their
  peers.

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Strength of transcript

• Colleges have suggested minimum academic
  requirements for applicants
• Look at college website.
• They typically have a page outlining these
  academic or admissions requirements

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• Students are always encouraged to achieve more
  than the minimum of the suggested requirements.
• We recommend challenging yourself as much
• as possible in order to stay competitive.
• Dont forget
• AP courses
• Articulated courses
• Other advanced courses or independent studies
• These all help strengthen your transcript

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Standardized Tests

• Register for SAT and/or ACT tests
• SAT To register www.collegeboard.com
• ACT To register www.act.org
• If you are a special education student planning
  to take either of these tests, you MUST see your
  IEP teacher and counselor before you register

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ACT

• Four parts to the test English, Math, Reading,
  Science Reasoning. There is also an optional
  writing section
• Each section is scored separately,
• with a total composite score of 36.
• The cost of the ACT is 34, with writing section
  is 49.50. Both include sending scores to 4
  schools at no additional cost.
• Upcoming test date December 10, 2011
• Registration deadline November 4, 2011
• More dates in the spring

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SAT

• Three parts to the test math, critical reading
  and writing. The writing section is not optional
• Each section is 800 points, with a total possible
  score of 2400
• The cost of the SAT is 49.00 (this includes
  sending scores to 4 schools at no additional
  cost)
• Dates deadlines
• Test date November 5 Deadline October 7
• Test date December 3 _at_ KE Deadline
  November 8

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SAT II

• Certain schools will require SAT II scores
• These are subject tests offered in the following
  areas US History, World History, Math, Biology,
  Chemistry, Physics, French, Spanish, Latin,
  Italian, German and modern Hebrew
• Recommend that students take these in June of
  junior year after preparing for AP exams
• Please check with college of interest to see
• if these are required.

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SAT/ACT Test Prep

• Students can prepare for these tests
• in a variety of ways.
• Prep classes
• Websites
• Books
• For a full list of test prep opportunities,
• see the KW Guidance website.

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Gather Information about Careers

• Use online resources such as
• The Occupational Outlook Handbook
• www.bls.gov/oco
• NY Career Zone
• www.nycareerzone.org
• Naviance website for career and college
  searches

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Naviance Family Connection

• Naviance is a website used by KW for all students
  to research college information careers, manage
  applications, create a resume, and more
• Students log in by using their KW Novell username
  and password
• All current 12th graders are registered on
  Naviance.
• All 9th, 10th, and 11th graders will be
  registered during this school year.

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Gathering Information

• Gather information from Career Center and
  websites on colleges of your interest.
• Look online at colleges and universities.
• Attend college fairs and visit colleges
• of your interest this fall.
• Meet with college representatives in Career
  Center this fall (see website for complete
  listing)

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Senior Presentations Review

• Counselors will present college information to
• students in their English 12 classes.
• Your school counselor will make an appointment
• for you to discuss your Senior Review in
  October.
• During the Senior Review, students will review
  all credits earned and those that are required to
  graduate.
• Students will also review post-high school plans
  with their counselor and review the college
  application process.

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Applications

• Majority of applications can now be
• completed online
• Students can go to individual college website to
  begin application process or use the Common
  Application or SUNY website. These sites can be
  used to fill out one application and have it sent
  to more than one school.
• www.commonapp.org
• www.suny.edu/suny

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College Applications

• SUNY
• Online application is secure, fast, easy and
  available whenever you want to apply. You can
  start the process, save your work, add campus
  choices at any time and come back to complete
  your application at a later date.

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Common Applications

• The Common Application is used by over 400
  colleges and universities.
• Complete one Common Application online, and it
  can be sent to numerous schools that participate.
• A college application fee is still required for
  each school you apply to.

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• Once a student submits a college application
  online, it is the students responsibility to
  tell their counselor so transcripts can be sent.
  
• Colleges do not notify us when an application is
  submitted. This is crucial to whether or not you
  will be accepted.

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(No Transcript)
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Letters of Recommendation and Essay

• Some colleges may require letters of
  recommendation and an essay.
• Ask 1-3 people to write a recommendation for
  college applications or scholarships and begin
  working on college application essay.
• Make sure to give your teachers enough time so it
  can get to the colleges on time. Give teachers
  your resume or brag sheet so that they can write
  a quality letter.

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Supplemental Applications

• Some schools are require a Supplemental or Part
  II application.
• This is an application that is in addition to the
  general application.
• Each individual school has its own procedures
  about additional requirements.

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Mid Year Reports

• Some schools may require a mid year report to
  check on your 12th grade classes and grades.
• Mid year reports from the college can be turned
  into your counselor at any time.
• KW will sent a copy of your 2nd marking period
  report card, if the college requires this.

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Other application materials

• Some schools may require additional materials.
  Check websites or contact admissions offices for
  more information.
• Some schools will mail a letter to the student
  asking for additional or missing information.

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NCAA

• If you are interested in participating in
  athletics during college, you must register with
  NCAA
• www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

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Scholarships

• Check the Scholarship file on a regular basis in
  the Career Center. The Scholarship Bulletin is
  also available on the Kenmore West Career Center
  website
• Talk to friends and relatives about scholarship
  opportunities through employers
• Look online for Scholarship opportunities.
  Obtain scholarship information through
  www.fastweb.com
• Pay attention to deadlines

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Financial Aid

• Attend Financial Aid Night
• Kenmore West Aud
• December 1st at 630 pm
• File FAFSA Form after January 1st
• www.fafasa.ed.gov
• You may create a username and password
• prior to January 1 on the FAFSA website

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College Acceptance

• Student should know whether they have been
  accepted by early spring
• (every college has a different timeline)
• Applicants may either be accepted, wait listed or
  denied admission
• Once all offers are on the table,
• weigh the pros and cons of each school,
• together with the financial packages offered
• and make the best decision for you

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Please feel free to call or email us at any
time with questions or concerns

• Mrs. Gourlay A-Ci
• Mr.Sedita Cj Go
• Mrs. Serio Gp-Le
• Mr. Panepinto Lf-Par
• Mrs. Handley Pas-Si
• Mrs. Flatau Sj-Z
• Use our website for additional help
• www.kenton.k12.ny.us
• Kenmore West Services - Guidance