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Seniors:Planning for Life After High School!

Agenda

Life After High School: Why Plan?

Options for Life After High School

The College Selection Process

The College Application & Briar Woods High School College Application Procedures

Communication & Advice

Life After High School: Why Plan?

Post-secondary education opens doors Post-secondary education gives you options Post-secondary education can help you

make a difference Post-secondary education creates earning

power

Life After High School: Why Plan?

Median Earnings by Level of Education (2003):– High School Diploma: $30,800/year– Associate Degree (2-years): $37, 600/year– Bachelor’s Degree (4-Year): $49, 800/year– Master’s Degree: $59,500/year– Doctoral Degree: $79,400/year– Professional Degree: $95,700/year

Options for Life After High School

Trade-schools/Apprenticeships– Many “trades” have more earning potential than careers

that require a 4-year degree

Military– Enlisting in the military and earning a college degree are not

mutually exclusive– Enlisting in the military can help pay for college– Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is available at

many colleges– Recruiters can provide more information

Options for Life After High School

College– Associates Degree: 2-year degree (typically

earned at a community college or a junior college)– Bachelor’s Degree: 4-year degree– Master’s Degree: Typically 2 additional years after

earning a bachelors– Doctoral Degrees & Professional Degrees: PHD,

JD, MD, DC

Options for Life After High School

Community College– Students can earn an Associates Degree, or,

students can complete the first year or two of a Bachelors Degree

– Make sure the community college knows what your goals are!

– If you plan to transfer after a year or two, do your homework!

Options for Life After High School

Benefits of community college– NOVA is one of the best community colleges in

the country– Relatively inexpensive– Close to home– A “small step” into higher education– Usually “open” admissions

The College Selection Process

Ideally, students should begin their senior year with three or more colleges in mind

Consider what you are looking for in a college– Location – close to home or far away?– Setting – rural, suburban or city– Size of the college– Majors available– Sports – collegiate or intramural– Social opportunities– Unique opportunities – overseas programs, honors

programs, etc.

The College Selection Process

There are many college search tools available– Family Connection : Every senior has an account;

accessed through the internet– CollegeBoard website

The BWHS Career Center Your counselor & career specialist

The College Selection Process

College representative visits to BWHS– Sign-up in the Career Center or electronically using Family

Connection– Limit visits to 5– Avoid missing the same class twice– Your teacher is not obligated to release you from class

There is no substitute for a campus visit as a way to assess a school

The College Selection Process

College testing– SAT Reasoning Test (admissions)– ACT (admissions)– SAT Subject Tests (typically for placement)

Register now!!! The Loudoun test sites fill up quickly

CollegeBoard SAT Course Online

The College Selection Process

Traditional advice – Pick three to six colleges:– “Dream” schools– “Good chance” schools– “Back-up” schools

Balancing “Going for it!” with “Being realistic”– Apply to colleges that are a “good fit”– Look at GPAs, test scores, high school courses, admission

rates

The College Selection Process

What about the cost?– Talk to your family

– Financial Aid College funds – this is the most common source of the

“full-ride” scholarships you often hear about Loans & grants from the government Scholarships and awards from community and private

sources

The College Selection Process

– Financial Aid Night will be in December or January

– Focus on college first; then focus on the finances

The Application “Packet”

Application Essay Student Resume Secondary School Report Test Scores Transcript Letter of Recommendation

The Application

Most applications are submitted electronically over the internet

Print and review before submitting it! Seniors are responsible for completing and

submitting their own applications (not mom & dad!)

Seniors should make copies of all applications they submit

The Application

Seniors are responsible for being aware of application deadlines– Early Decision – binding– Early Action – non-binding– Regular Admission – traditional deadline; some

colleges have a priority date– Rolling Admission – applications accepted based

on space availability until the institution is “full”

The Essay

Most essays are submitted electronically along with the application

Seniors should make sure they are understand the essay topic Not all colleges require an essay Seniors are advised to print out and review (with help!) their

essays before sending them English teachers are more than happy to help students with

essays; some teachers incorporate this into their curriculum Seniors should save all essays because they may be modified

and reused Essay resources – BWHS library, BWHS Career Center, public

library, book store, internet

Student Resume

Many colleges accept student resumes Resumes can highlight your accomplishment both in

and outside of school An effective resume is EASY TO READ! Resumes are usually sent to the college

electronically along with the application and essay Use resume templates and samples to format your

own Information on resumes must be 100% accurate

Secondary School Report

Some colleges provide the student with a Secondary School Report form for the counselor to complete and send in

Test Scores

Seniors are responsible for determining the tests needed for the colleges they are applying to

– SAT Reasoning Test (typically for determining admissions)– ACT (typically for determining admissions)– SAT Subject Tests (typically used for placement)

Seniors are responsible for having their test scores sent to the colleges they are applying to

Requests are made directly through the CollegeBoard or ACT Seniors can request their scores be sent when they take the

tests; or they can have their scores sent after the test date by contacting the CollegeBoard or ACT

The Transcript

Seniors must submit a Transcript Release Form signed by a parent

Forms can be obtained in the guidance office and online

Seniors must submit the form in person to the counselor (along with the Secondary School Report if required)

We ask that seniors submit transcript requests a minimum of two weeks before the college application deadline

We track the process date and send date

Transcripts

We include a school profile with transcript We send colleges a postcard to be returned Transcript requests must be made before December

1st in order to be sent before winter break The first three transcripts are processed and sent at

no cost. Beginning with the fourth transcript, students are charged $3.00 per transcript

Please only request transcripts for colleges you are sure you are applying to

Letters of Recommendation

If a senior needs a letter of recommendation from the counselor, he/she can request it when he/she requests the transcript

Every senior will be provided with a Senior Information Packet to be turned into the counselor to receive a letter

If a letter of recommendation is requested from a teacher, the senior should make the request directly to the teacher and provide the teacher with a postage-paid envelope addressed to the college

In both situations, seniors should allow a minimum of two weeks

The Application “Packet”

Application Essay Student Resume Secondary School Report Test Scores Transcript Letter of Recommendation

The Application “Packet” - Summary

Senior submits application and essay electronically to the college

Senior may submit the resume electronically to the college Senior has test scores sent directly to the college

Senior meets with counselor directly to request transcript by submitting a Transcript Release Form

Senior may submit Secondary School Report (if provided by the college)

Senior may request letter of recommendation (if needed)

Communication

Every senior will meet with his/her counselor individually Every senior will receive a NACAC Guide Every senior will be provided with a Senior Information Packet

to be turned into the counselor Students and parents can log onto Family Connection to view

transcript send dates We automatically send mid-year transcripts to the colleges our

students apply to (no cost) Final transcripts are sent to the colleges our students plan to

attend (no cost) The infamous “we didn’t get your transcript” postcard

Some Advice

Complete applications one at a time– One by Halloween– One by Thanksgiving– The rest by Winter Break

Use a checklist – copies are online! Pay attention to deadlines!

HAVE FUN!