Fairfield Area High School

September 25, 2013

You don’t have to go to college to be successful…

but you MUST HAVE A PLANMUST HAVE A PLAN.

What is a “PLAN”?CollegeMilitaryWork

For the purpose of this presentation, the word “college” will refer to

any post-secondary educational option.2 year schools4 year schoolsBusiness schoolsTech schoolsTrade schoolsCommunity colleges

certificate / diploma programs

It has been shown in data gathered by the U. S. Census Bureau that people who attend college will earn more income over the course of their lifetimes.

Average Annual IncomeProfessional degree $119,009 Doctoral degree $92,863 Master's degree $67,898 Bachelor's degree $54,689 Associate's degree $37,990 Some college $31,421 High school graduate $29,448 High school dropout $19,915

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005 data

Standardized TestHas been “normed” over time with many peopleConsidered “fair” to all involved

Pre-requisiteSomething required prior to future course

takenOfficial Transcript

Copy of student’s grades, credits, attendanceSigned by school official, never touched by

studentEarly Admission / Early Application process

Early action = not a binding agreementEarly decision = a BINDING agreement

FERPAFamily Educational Rights Protection Act

Although you can begin college at any age after high school, if you are considering going straight from high school to college, you need to be prepared and be competitive.

BUILD bridges….don’t BURN them.

October – Attend the Adams County College FairThursday, October 3rd – 7:00 – 8:30 PMGettysburg College campus

October – TAKE THE PSATOctober 16th, 2013

January – Attend Financial Aid Night Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014 6:30 – 8:30

pmFebruary – Take the ASVAB

Awesome career assessmentSpring – TAKE THE SAT or ACT – watch the

registration deadlines!!Spring/Summer – Visit college campuses

Keep your grades up or try to improve them!

Stay involved in your activities and get involved if you haven’t been

You are more than just your GPA

October – Attend the Adams County College Fair Thursday, October 3 – 7:00 – 8:30 PM Gettysburg College campus

Complete ALL applications by Halloween

Scholarship research (Fastweb.com, collegeboard.org., etc.)

October / November – TAKE THE SAT or ACT (again)

January – Attend Financial Aid Night Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014 6:30 – 8:30 pm

February – Take the ASVAB Awesome career assessment

Spring – Make your final decision, send in that deposit Summer – Get Packing! You are on your way!

www.educationplanner.org

www.actstudent.org

www.collegeboard.com

www.fafsa.ed.gov

www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov

www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

www.fastweb.com

Bigfuture.collegeboard.org Get Started

Tools for students and parents Find Colleges

College search tool (i.e. type of school, size, location, specific majors, cost, etc.)

It’s not too late! Explore Careers Pay for College

Scholarship searchStudents and parents

Get In Make A Plan

Great place to start! See what steps you still have left to complete

Your grade point average (GPA) is not the final determining factor.

If you are taking courses below your academic level, the college admission person will recognize this and your wonderful GPA will be negated.

Course selection – especially in your senior year – is carefully examined during the

admission process.Colleges can (and will) rescind their offer of admission if

they believe you’ve slacked off your senior year.

Besides just taking challenging, college prep classes…

Look at test scores and take classes that strengthen your weaker academic areas

Seek out tutoring to improve your skills

Establish personal goals and find support to meet them

Explore careers – internet, shadowing, talking to people

Never accept good if better is an optionNever accept good if better is an option

Courses / Extracurricular Activities: Honors English 12, POD/Econ, Calculus, Chemistry II or

Biology II, Spanish or French IV Continue playing sports – be a team captain, try out for the

lead in the school play, run for class president Goals:

Attend the Adams County Area College & Career Fair Visit your last two colleges by mid-September Take the SAT or ACT one last time in the fall Take the ASVAB test Complete all college applications by Halloween Maintain position on High Honor Roll all four marking periods Complete all scholarship applications on time Attend Financial Aid Night Complete the FAFSA by February 15th

Visit all colleges that offer admission before accepting any offers

Resources: High School Counselor Parents Teachers, Coaches

SAT – Scholastic Aptitude Test (College Board)Offered 7 times a school yearMath, Critical Reading, Writing – most people

are looking at the Math + Critical Reading score

Each section’s perfect score is 800A good average is 500 on each sectionRecommended that you take it twiceCost is $51 (late fee is $51 + $27.50)Register for the “Question of the Day”Best preparation….READ!! You canYou can’’t expect to finish the Boston t expect to finish the Boston

Marathon Marathon if the most you’ve ever run is in if the most you’ve ever run is in P.E. class.P.E. class.

Onlinewww.collegeboard.org

SAT Question of the Day! www.ineedapencil.comwww.princetonreview.com/college/free-sat-

practice-test.aspx

OfflineThe Official SAT Study Guide – availble to

borrow in the counseling officeTry to do at least one full-length practice test

before your test date Cracking the SAT, 2012 Edition –SAT for

Dummies

ACT – once called the “American College Test” but then went international so now it is just the ACT.Offered 6 times a school yearEnglish, Reading, Math, Science, optional WritingEach section’s perfect score is 36A good average is 25 on each sectionRecommended that you take it twiceCost is $52.50 (w/ writing) (late fee is $50.50 +

$22)Best preparation….READ!! You canYou can’’t expect to finish to Boston t expect to finish to Boston

Marathon Marathon if the most you’ve ever run is if the most you’ve ever run is in P.E class.in P.E class.

NCAA – much planning ahead neededwww.ncaa.clearinghouse.net

register in your Junior year.Military Service Academies – must be

outstanding in ALL areasPlan ahead to secure a nomination –

DUE by Oct 1 of senior year.Students with special needs

Ask very specific questions – get the complete answers

Very Specific Majors / ProgramsBe sure they have assistance for you to go on

from your undergraduate programHow many students actually make it?

So you know what you want to study…..now how do you go about figuring out which one of the over 4,000 post-secondary schools to look at?

Location – distance from “home”Environment – urban or rural? co-ed? religious?Academics – majors, special programs, study

abroadSize - number of students, acreage of campusActivities – athletics, clubs, organizations,

sororities / fraternitiesHousing – residence hall, freshman requirements

Apply to at least three schools – as many as five or sixOne “stretch” schoolOne “comfort” schoolOne “fall back” school

If it has all of your qualifications on the previous slide then make the visit

Look at the statistics on the College Board website for information about average admissions requirements and rate of return for college sophomore year

Your application allows them to decide if THEY like YOU

Your visit allows you to decide if YOU like THEMYour visit allows you to decide if YOU like THEM

Ask LOTS of questions (“interview” them!) How big are the classes? Ask to sit through one. How easy is it to meet with my professors? Where do most freshman live? Ask to see a dorm room. What is the food like? Eat in the dining hall. How user friendly is the tutoring center? Ask to see it. What do students do here on weekends?

Appropriate options, please…..and there are many! Where is the ____________ department? Ask to see it. How many students complete the program in four years?

Where do they typically go after they graduate? May I bring my car during my freshman year?

Where will I have to park it? Interview!

Make sure to prepare with knowledge about the school and questions

Mock interviews

You’ve done all of your college planning and preparing ….the deadline to send in your registration payment is getting closer….you’re having trouble sleeping at night because you can’t decide which one to choose…..

RELAX.

Go with the one your heart leads you to.

You can transfer…so this decision is not completely final.

Your boyfriend / girlfriend / best friend

goes there

It has a good party reputation

You like the school’s colors / mascot

Your parents or family members went there

Someone told you it is the best

It is too close / too far away from home

They have the program / major you are most interested in

Students who complete the program go on to things you want to do

They have a campus culture that fits who you are / who you want to be

You can “see” yourself actually studying in the library or learning center

There are activities on campus that you will actually participate in

You should be! This is a big deal. You are not alone.

Use the time during Parent Conferences to schedule a meeting with Mrs. Swope to go over where you are in the process and what you need to be doing next.

Gather a group of friends together and set up a meeting with Mrs. Swope during school to go over the process together.

Explore websites for more information.

Most importantly ---DONDON’’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS.T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS.

Thank you for your interest in this process. Whether you will use it this year, in

three years, or in ten years….it is important.

Please contact Mrs. Swope if you have any questions.

Email: swopeh@fairfield.k12.paPhone: 717-642-8228 ext. 2007

Adams County Area College & Adams County Area College & Career FairCareer Fair

Thursday, October 3rd 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Hauser Field House – Gettysburg College

Financial Aid NightFinancial Aid NightWednesday, January 22nd, 2014

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.Fairfield Area MS/HS Auditorium

FairfieldFairfield’’s CEEB Code is: 391-360s CEEB Code is: 391-360