College PrepCollege PrepOr Preparing for Life Or Preparing for Life

after High Schoolafter High School

Eric DansonEric Danson(541) 301-9951(541) 301-9951

What Next???What Next??? It is YOUR choiceIt is YOUR choice Have a Have a reasonreason for going to College for going to College Other optionsOther options

Gap Year (Travel, Work, Experience)Gap Year (Travel, Work, Experience) Junior CollegeJunior College Trade SchoolTrade School WorkWork

Senior Year - College PrepSenior Year - College Prep Ongoing Ongoing

Write and Edit EssaysWrite and Edit Essays Research and Visit CollegesResearch and Visit Colleges Ask two teachers for Letters of RecommendationAsk two teachers for Letters of Recommendation Fill out Common App and any other Apps for schools Fill out Common App and any other Apps for schools

you plan to apply toyou plan to apply to Take and Retake SAT, ACT and SAT Subject testsTake and Retake SAT, ACT and SAT Subject tests

SAT/ACT PrepSAT/ACT PrepHow to prepareHow to prepare

and when to take testsand when to take tests

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

X. Y. Z.

In the figure below points X, Y, and Z are the centers of the three circles. If each circle has an area of 50, what is the area of the rectangle? 50/

50 - 8/

50

200/

400/

In the United States, the industrial use of plastics is A B C

greater than steel, aluminum, and copper combined. DNo error E

SAT Writing Example

SAT Test DatesSAT Test Dates October 1st (October 1st (LateLate deadline Sep 21st) deadline Sep 21st) November 5th (October 7th deadline)November 5th (October 7th deadline) December 3rd (November 8th deadline)December 3rd (November 8th deadline)

ACT Test DatesACT Test Dates October 22nd (October 22nd (LateLate deadline Sep 16th) deadline Sep 16th) December 10th (November 4th deadline)December 10th (November 4th deadline)

How to pick a CollegeHow to pick a College DoDo pick best fit for YOU pick best fit for YOU DoDo involve your parents involve your parents DoDo visit or research as visit or research as

much as possiblemuch as possible DoDo take into account take into account

cost and financial aidcost and financial aid DoDo choose some choose some

““safetysafety”” schools and schools and some some ““reachreach”” schools schools

DonDon’’tt pick based on pick based on where your friends gowhere your friends go

DonDon’’tt panic if you are panic if you are undecided on majorundecided on major

DonDon’’tt assume assume anything about a anything about a school - ASK school - ASK QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Research SourcesResearch Sources 1. College Websites1. College Websites 2. Collegeboard.com2. Collegeboard.com 3. Meritaid.com3. Meritaid.com 4. 4. http://www.collegedata.com

Predict your chances of acceptancePredict your chances of acceptance

How to Write a College EssayHow to Write a College Essay DonDon’’t tell who you are. Show who you are.t tell who you are. Show who you are. Show them something the rest of your Show them something the rest of your

application doesnapplication doesn’’t show.t show. Start with a Start with a ““HookHook””.. Let it Let it ““simmersimmer”” (give yourself time). (give yourself time). Proof Proof Proof - Absolutely NO errorsProof Proof Proof - Absolutely NO errors Most importantMost important - It should be in your - It should be in your

personal voice.personal voice.

Example of what not to do - don’t just tell about yourself

1st and last paragraph of an essay that “shows” who they are