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College Info for Juniors
Metro High School
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College Info for Juniors
ACT & SAT
What are colleges looking for?
College exploration and visits
Naviance
Senior Comm
What should you be doing now?
+Sign up NOW for SAT and ACT tests! Take both tests! Most colleges will consider your highest score
from either test.
Compare your scores and focus on preparing to retake your best test one or two more times senior year.
Register NOW so that you don’t get closed out of your preferred testing site!
When you register to take tests, make sure to include any colleges you may be interested in applying to later. It’s free to send scores to 4 colleges before the test, but will cost about $10 per score report if you request these after the test.
Most colleges want scores to be reported directly from test companies!
+Other test info:
Fee waivers: For students who qualify for Free and
Reduced Lunch Program-2 per test Obtain from Ms. Mechling or the Student
Support Center Fill out lunch application next year
IEP or 504: If you have an IEP or 504 plan and qualify
for testing accommodations at Metro, please see your Intervention Specialist to apply for ACT/SAT accommodations ASAP
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Sections Scored Score Range
Critical 200-800
Mathematics 200-800
Writing 200-800
Total 600-2400
Multiple-Choice Subscore
20-80
Essay 2-12
Admission Testing - SAT
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Sections Scored Score RangeEnglish 1-36Mathematics 1-36Reading 1-36Science 1-36Composite (Average of four sections) 1-36
Writing Test 0-12Combined English/Writing 1-36
Admission Testing – ACT*Take the ACT WITH Writing!
+Score Reporting
Sending all scores- Some colleges will use your best scores from one test or sub scores from multiple tests. Don’t be scared to send your first set of scores!
Send 4 scores to colleges for free
Metro students should be sending scores to OSU
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One hour, multiple choice test on one of 20 different subjects.
Required by some selective colleges for admission. Note – most students do not need SAT Subject Tests.
Some colleges accept the ACT instead of the SAT Reasoning + Subject Tests
Offers you an additional opportunity to show colleges what you know.
SAT Subject Tests
SAT DeadlinesTEST DATE: May 3, 2014 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: April 4, 2014
(Late reg-April 18th)
TEST DATE: June 7, 2014 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 9, 2014
METRO HIGH SCHOOL CODE: 365-204
ACT DeadlinesTEST DATE: June 14, 2014 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 9, 2014
TEST DATE: September 13, 2014 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: August 8, 2014
TEST DATE: October 25, 2014 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: September 19, 2014
+Test prep
http://www.act.org
http://www.collegeboard.org
http://www.kaplan.com
http://www.princetonreview.com
+What should you consider?
Size and diversity of student body
Location
Academic programs
Campus life — athletics, activities, housing
Graduation and retention rates
Financial aid and scholarship opportunities
Above all, think about where you will be the most happy and successful in your college life!!!
+Sorting out colleges…
Public vs. Private
Public colleges are funded by local and state governments and usually offer lower tuition rates than private colleges, especially for students who are residents of the state where a college is located.
Private colleges rely mainly on tuition, fees and private sources of funding. Private donations can sometimes provide generous financial aid packages for students.
+Sorting out colleges…
Four-year colleges
Four-year colleges offer four-year programs that lead to a bachelor's degree. These include universities and liberal arts colleges.
Community college
Community colleges offer two year associate degrees that prepare you to transfer to a four year college to earn a bachelor’s degree. They also offer other associate degrees and certificates that focus on preparing you for a certain career. Community colleges are often an affordable option with relatively low tuition.
Vocational-technical and career colleges
Vocational-technical and career colleges offer specialized training in a particular industry or career. Possible areas of study include culinary arts, firefighting, and dental-hygiene. These colleges usually offer certificates or associate degrees
+What colleges Consider…
Primary Factors
Quality/Rigor of Academic Courses
Academic Performance/ Grades (upward trend)
Test Scores (ACT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests)
Additional Factors
Extracurricular Activities/Leadership
Essay(s)
Letters of Recommendation
Demonstrated Interest
Honors/Awards
+What are top schools looking for?
Four years of math
Three years of the same foreign language
One year of fine art
ACT of 28 or SAT of 1900 or 3.7 GPA
A little advice… ALL of your grades matter!
Finish your junior year strong
Retake courses and improve grades this summer if necessary
Colleges will review your senior schedule and grades carefully!
+Selective Schools
The fewer students a school accepts, the more likely it is to place emphasis on “tip” factors in the admissions process. Demonstrated Interest
On-campus visits Summer programs at the school Table visits at college fairs
Students unique strength/situation Particular musical instrument, sport, or other strength Major area of study interest First generation college student
Staff at those highly selective schools may want to see SAT Subject test scores in two to three of your strongest subjects. You can start taking those tests this spring too!
+Make your life easier…use the right tools!
College Board-http://www.collegeboard.org
ACT website - www.actstudent.org
Naviance / Family Connection - http://connection.naviance.com/metroechs
School Counselors
College Admissions Counselors
College fairs
Campus visits
+ Naviance / Family Connection http://connection.naviance.com/metroechs
+College Planning ToolsClick here to add the names of any colleges that you are already considering.
Many Ways to Research Colleges:•College Match•College Lookup•College Search
Scholarship Search
+Search Individual Colleges
Admission Requirements
Cost and Aid
Add schools to your list.
+College visits
Visit a variety of schools
Talk with faculty and students who can address your interests
Meet with an admissions counselor
Ask about financial aid opportunities
Ask about career placement in your field of interest
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All seniors take Senior Comm with Ms. Mechling about the college application process (essays, application process, scholarships, etc.)
1 credit (0.5 for Fall, 0.5 for Spring)
Metro uses NAVIANCE to send transcripts, secondary school reports, letters of recommendation etc. to colleges and universities. Students will use this website for colleges they are applying to via CommonApp as well as other applications.
What is senior communications?
+What should you be doing this spring and summer? Registering and taking the ACT/SAT
Studying for the fall ACT/SAT
Refining your college search
Visiting college campuses
Gaining internship/volunteer/work experience
Narrowing down colleges to short list Add 5 colleges to your “Colleges I’m Thinking About” list.
Developing/updating resume
Identifying who to ask for letters of recommendation 1 to 2 Metro teachers and other outside recommenders.
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College Info for Juniors: Part 2
Parts of an application
Safety, Match, Reach schools
Common App overview
Sample essay prompts
How to improve your college application this summer
Advice from the Class of 2014
+Parts of a College Application
•Your demographic information•Your activities and involvement•Essays (if applicable)•Application fee (if applicable)
Online Applications
•Students must request a letter of recommendation at least two weeks in advance•Request letter in person and also on Naviance•Not every school requires one. The application will specify this.
Test Scores
•Students must request transcripts on Naviance at least two weeks in advance•Ms. Mechling will send transcripts to the collegesOfficial Transcript
Metro School Profile
Letters of Recommendation
Secondary School Report
• Most colleges require these to be sent directly from ACT and SAT. • The scores are also on the high school transcripts.
• Helps colleges understand our school• Ms. Mechling will send it to the colleges
• AKA-School Report or Counselor Form• Ms. Mechling will send this to the colleges• Mid year and final reports will be automatically sent
+College applications
As part of the requirements for senior communications, seniors at Metro must apply to at least 5 schools.
Make sure that at least one of your schools is a safety school and one is a reach school.
Safety school = your scores, GPA, etc. are higher than the admission requirements and the averages for incoming freshman at that school
Reach school = your scores, GPA, etc. may be lower than the admission requirements and averages for incoming freshman, however, they are not too far off and the other parts of your application could be the push to get you in (resume, recommendations, extracurricular activities, etc.)!!
***Many schools will waive application fees now that they are online. For those who don’t, you can receive application fee waivers if you qualify for free or reduced lunch! See me if this pertains to you.
+Common Application
What is the Common Application?
The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member institutions by providing an admission application online that students may submit to over 500 members.
Is it treated fairly?
Yes! College and university members have worked together over the past 35 years to develop the application. All members fully support its use, and all give equal consideration to the Common Application and the college's own form. Many of its members use the Common Application as their only undergraduate admission application.
Once students have completed the Common Application, they may also need to complete supplemental requirements for each college/university.
www.commonapp.org
Dashboard: Shows the status of applications
+My Colleges: Individual requirements
+Common App: General Information for all applications
+Common App essay prompts350-650 words
• Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
• Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
• Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
• Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
+Strengthen your college application over the summer! EMPLOYMENT
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
INTERNSHIPS
SUMMER CAMP
COMMUNITY SERVICE
ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT
MINORITIES
ENVIRONMENTAL ENTHUSIASTS
TEEN TOURS AND TRAVEL
+What you should do this summer? Registering and taking the ACT/SAT
Studying for the fall ACT/SAT
Visiting college campuses
Gaining internship/volunteer/work experience
Working on a Common App essay
Get a Common App account-starting August 1st
Narrowing down colleges to short list Add 5 colleges to your “Colleges I’m Thinking About” list.
Developing/updating resume
Identifying who to ask for letters of recommendation 1 to 2 Metro teachers and other outside recommenders.
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Any questions?
Contact Ms. Meching if you have questions or need additional information.
