Planning for College

1
Planning for College

• Where do I start?
• A plan for 10th,11th 12th grade

2
10th Grade

• Be sure you have a letter from the College Board
  acknowledging the testing modifications stated
  on your IEP
• BE AWARE that it is at the discretion of the
  College Board whether to grant modifications
• Additional testing may be required-be informed

3
11th Grade Testing

• Take PSATs
• Consider benefits of SAT prep
• School sponsored classes
• SAT Prep Courses
• Community sponsored(library)
• National Franchises
• Private tutoring
• Check SAT test date(s)
• Consider and check ACTs test date(s)

4
11th GradeResume

• Start developing a profile

5
11th GradeCollege Search

• Exploration of Potential Colleges
• Consider geography
• What location are you interested in?
• Northeast,Southeast, Midwest, West
• Local (consider your commute)
  
• Type of campus
• City location
• College town

6
11th GradeCollege Search

• Consider size of the total student population
• Is it?
• Small-under 2,000 students
• Medium-2000-7000 students
• Large-7000-12000 students
• Extra Large-Greater than 12,000

7
11th Grade Find the Comfortable Fit

• Meet with Guidance Counselor
• Develop a list of potential colleges
• Research using the internet
• When visiting college websites consider
• College admission requirements
• Majors offered
  
• Prospective students link
• Other helpful websites
• Petersons Actstudent
• Princetons College-o-matic CollegeBoard
• Remember to provide identifying information (SS)
  if requested by the college. This allows colleges
  to keep track of each and any type of contact
  that a potential student initiates. This
  demonstrates intent and interest.

8
11th GradeFind the Comfortable Fit

• Attend College Fairs
• Get applications and brochures
• Be sure to get the business card from the college
  representative for future contact
• Remember the tracking process
• Consider visiting colleges keeping in mind
• Special services program and level of service
  provided
• Comprehensive-more intensive
• Supportive-less contact time
• How many LD specialists do they employ? Who
  provides tutoring services?
• Size of student body (student/teacher ratio)
• Sign up for orientation and informational tours

9
11th Grade Considerations Applying as a
Classified Student

• Be able to describe your learning disability
• Communicate strengths and weaknesses
• Describe assistance needed to compensate for
  disability
• Match your needs to the services provided at
  potential colleges

10
11th GradeOther Considerations

• Consider any special talents or interests
• Athletics
• Remember you must meet NCAA requirements and
  deadlines
• Seek the advice of your school or club coach
• Music/Art/Drama program
• Remember to plan and organize your portfolio
• Participate in performances
• Seek the advice of your program director or
  teacher

11
Classified Students and College Requirements

• Colleges are NOT required to waive any
  requirement
• Example Tom was not required to take a foreign
  language in high school. Tom may be required to
  take a language at his college.
• BEWARE!! Some schools may waive an admissions
  requirement , but not an exit requirement.
• It is possible for a student to get into a
  school without a language, but be required to
  take one to graduate.

BE SURE TO ASK BEFORE YOU CONSIDER A SCHOOL
12
Summer/Fall of Senior year

• Consider potential topics for your college essay
  (you may want to request applications for any
  schools you are interested in)
• Possible writing topics
• -a person who had an influence on you
• -an event or circumstance and its personal or
  academic impact
• -Describe a challenge you have faced and what
  it taught you
• Colleges want to get to know who YOU are
• Remember to write from the HEART

13
12th Grade

• When you have narrowed your interests and college
  choices
• Attend orientations and open houses
• Remember the tracking process
• Consider Teacher Recommendations
• Seek advice from your guidance counselor
• Provide
• an addressed stamped envelope for each college
  you are applying to
• Be sure to communicate your social security to
  the teacher so it can be included

14
12th GradeTesting

• Check to see if your potential colleges require
  specific testing to justify special services,
  program/testing modifications language
  exemptions
• WAIS
• Achievement testing
• Request evaluation from your school psychologist

15
12th GradeOrganization of Applications

• Set up a folder for each college you are applying
  to
• Read through the application first before filling
  in
• See if an essay is required
• Make a checklist to include the following
• application due date
• SATs and other scores sent out from College Board
  
• ACTs sent out from actstudent
• FAFSA form sent (only sent once to all colleges)
• teacher recommendations
• interviews (if suggested or required)
• send essay (if suggested or required)
• completed application, with attached resume, to
  guidance with application fee

16
12th GradeFacts to Know

• Colleges are not mandated to follow the
  modifications and accommodations of an
  Individualized Educational Plan (IEP)
• Beyond high school,unless a students asks, no
  special arrangements are provided, even if they
  are available
• Self-Advocacy skills will be your key to success
• Identify yourself to faculty
• contact your learning specialist
• Be prepared to make your own arrangements
• for testing accommodations