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Fall College Information Night for Juniors
Presented by theBriar Woods High SchoolCounseling Department,Fall 2013
Fall College Information Nightfor Juniors
This presentation is online: Follow the School Counseling drop-down link, “Presentations”
Counselors continue to present similar information to juniors through English classes
Every junior will be emailed/have access to an “electronic index”
Fall College Information Nightfor Juniors
What are colleges looking for?
What should I be doing right now?
What are Colleges Looking For?
“The College Admissions Funnel”example: Christopher Newport, 2012
Freshman class = 1,150Freshman class = 1,150
Inquiry Pool (PSAT, Inquiry Pool (PSAT, Search pieces, Search pieces, campus visit, college campus visit, college fairs, HS visits)fairs, HS visits)
“ “Tens of Thousands”Tens of Thousands”
Thousands of Thousands of
applicationsapplications
7,4927,492
Accepted studentsAccepted students
4,5144,514
What are Colleges Looking For?
How does Christopher Newport go from 7,492 applicants to a freshman class of 1,500????
The numbers might be different, but the concept applies to all colleges!
National Association of College Admission Counseling, 2011 Summary
Percent of all colleges rating specific factors in the college admissions decision as being of
“considerable importance”
Factors of “Considerable Importance”
Class Rank Counselor Recommendation Essay or writing sample Extracurricular Activities Grades in All Courses Grades in College Prep Courses Standardized Admissions Tests (SAT and/or ACT) Strength of Curriculum Student’s Demonstrated Interest Teacher Recommendation
Factors of “Considerable Importance”
The Top Four:Grades in College Prep Courses, 84%Strength of Curriculum, 68 %Standardized Admissions Tests, 59 %Grades in All Courses, 52%
Factors of “Considerable Importance”
Grades in College Prep Courses, 84% Strength of Curriculum, 68 % Standardized Admissions Tests, 59 % Grades in All Courses, 52% Essay or writing sample, 25 % Student’s Demonstrated Interest, 21% Class Rank, 19% Counselor Recommendation, 19% Teacher Recommendation, 17% Extracurricular Activities, 5% (however…)
What are colleges looking for?
“There is no secret to getting in...Stop looking for a gimmick.
Tune out the hype.Study hard.
Take the toughest curriculum that you can.The heart of the application is
– and has always been –One’s academic preparation.”
-- UVA Magazine
What should I be doing now?
What Should I be Doing Now?
We start with a goal! We are going to give you six big areas to
focus on this year >>>> For each area of focus, we will give you 1 - 3
actions to take immediately! Take action this week! This will help you get started and build
momentum!
Goal
Focus Focus Focus Focus Focus Focus
Actions Actions Actions Actions Actions Actions Actions Actions
The Junior Year Goal!
Begin your senior year knowing where you want to apply to
college!
What Should I be Doing Now? – Areas to focus on this year
1. Stay on track using checklists & calendars
2. Concentrate on your academics
3. Plan & prepare for the admissions tests
4. Participate in extracurricular activities
5. Research colleges & narrow your list
6. Behave appropriately online
Focus #1: Stay on Track UsingChecklists & Calendars
Use the a monthly checklist – this is SUPER IMPORTANT!
Use the resources available on CollegeBoard.com
ACTION: Print-out a monthly checklist – BWHS website or CollegeBoard.com
Focus #2: Concentrate on Your Academics
Take the most challenging classes you can reasonably handle.
Work Hard! You can’t “make up for” poor academics
ACTION: Set goals for the grades you plan to earn this year
Focus #3: Plan & Prepare for the Admissions Tests
SAT Reasoning Test (“aptitude” test – designed to predict success the freshman year in college)
– Critical Reading– Math– Writing
ACT (“achievement” test – designed to test “what you have learned”)
– English– Math– Science– Optional Writing section
Plan & Prepare for the Admissions Tests
SAT Subject Tests (your parents might remember these as “SAT Two’s”)– Usually used for placement purposes only– Not used for admissions– Subject test requirements vary greatly among
different colleges
2013-2014 SAT Dates
October 5 November 2 December 7 January 25 March 8 - BWHS May 3 June 7
2013-2014 ACT Dates
September 21 October 26 December 14 - BWHS February 8 April 12 June 14
Plan and Prepare for theAdmissions Tests
Hard copy registrations materials are available in the Career Center, or
Register for the SAT at www.collegeboard.com
Register for the ACT at www.act.org
Register early!
See the BWHS Guidance website for details
Preparing for the Tests
Long-term v. Short-term preparation
Get free practice tests for the SAT & ACT in the Career Center – Don’t just take it… have a “dress rehearsal”
Free online CollegeBoard SAT course
BWHS SAT course - .5 credit, pass/fail
Free SAT Prep at CollegeBoard.Com
Official SAT Question of the Day SAT Skills Insight My SAT Study Plan SAT Essay strategies Math and Writing reviews
SAT/ACT Prep – Private Sources
Books & Manuals – look for materials created by the testing companies themselves
Private courses (PTSO)
Other outside private courses
Plan and Prepare for the Admissions Tests
ACTION: Register for the SAT and/or ACT exams
ACTION: Register for the SAT Online Prep Course through the BWHS website
What Should I be Doing Now? – Areas to focus on this year
1. Stay on track using checklists & calendars
2. Concentrate on your academics
3. Plan & prepare for the admissions tests
Focus #4: Participate in Extracurricular Activities
Participate in the extracurricular activities that are meaningful to you – not what you think others want to see.
Extracurriculars include activities inside and outside of school! Community activities are important too!
Don’t be tempted to spread yourself too thin – academics come first!
Be a leader!
ACTION: If you don’t participate in an activity, sign-up for one. Get into a leadership position.
Focus #5:Research Colleges & Narrow Your List
College search programs – we recommend two online resources
– CollegeBoard programs– Family Connection
Research Colleges & Narrow Your List
CollegeBoard resources:
– My Road – general college & career planner
– My College Quickstart – personalized feedback, practice and college planning based on your child’s PSAT
– Big Future – very advanced college explorer
• One-stop resource for all the information and tools needed to help students make the best
college decisions
• All new College Search- with integrated guidance- “Fit Check” to help find the best college options- Step-by-step and advanced flows
• Profiles on more than 3,9000 colleges
• Integrated Academic Tracker to help students understand college course requirements
• Customized Action Plans
Feature Highlights
Benefits
• Helps guide more students to college• Helps motivate students of all backgrounds • Helps to get students more engaged in
college planning and to stay on track• Helps steer students toward colleges where
they have the best chance of success• Provides reliable best practices and effective
tools
MY COLLEGE QUICKSTART
What’s next?
Use the access code on your report to log in to My College QuickStart, a personalized college and career planning kit. There you can:
•Search for colleges•Get a personalized SAT study plan•Take a personality test to find majors and careers that fit you
www.collegeboard.org/quickstart
Next StepsNext Steps
My College QuickStartMy College QuickStart
My College QuickStartMy College QuickStart
My Online Score Report
• Projected SAT® score ranges
• State percentiles
• You can filter questions
• Questions and answer explanations
Family Connection program
Family Connection– College searches– Personality type inventories– Career interest inventories– Resume builders– Colleges where our students have been
accepted/where our students are attending– Scattergrams – GPA’s and SAT scores of BWHS
graduates who are attending specific colleges
42
College Compare
43
Scattergram
My Applications
44
Research Colleges & Narrow Your List
College Visits:– Classes– Students– Campus– Dorms– Dining Halls– Surrounding Neighborhoods– Extracurricular Activities– Take notes!!!
Research Colleges & Narrow Your List
ACTION: Complete an online college search using CollegeBoard or FamilyConnection
ACTION: Schedule a visit on your family’s calendar
ACTION: Contact a college about tours and programs
What Should I be Doing Now? – Areas to focus on this year
1. Stay on track using checklists & calendars
2. Concentrate on your academics
3. Plan & prepare for the admissions tests
4. Participate in extracurricular activities
5. Research colleges & narrow your list
Focus #6: Behave Appropriately Online
Appropriate email address Facebook, Youtube, forums, etc. If you wouldn’t put it on a resume, job
application, or college application – don’t post it online!
ACTION: If you need to clean anything up, do it now
The Junior Year Goal!
Begin your senior year knowing where you want to apply to
college!
What Should I be Doing Now?Areas to focus on this year
1. Stay on track using checklists & calendars
2. Concentrate on your academics
3. Plan & prepare for the admissions tests
4. Participate in extracurricular activities
5. Research colleges & narrow your list
6. Behave appropriately online
What Should I be Doing Now? – Actions you can take immediately
Print-out a monthly checklist Create a CollegeBoard.com account Establish goals for your grades Register for the SAT and/or ACT Register for the SAT Online Prep Course Sign-up for an extracurricular activity Complete a college search Schedule a college visit Contact a college about a tour Clean-up your online presence
What Should I be Doing Now? – Actions you can take immediately
Use the monthly checklist to make sure your are keeping FOCUS and taking action!
What’s Next?This Year
Fall classroom presentations
Every junior will be emailed an “e-index”
Scheduling & post-secondary student/counselor conferences in the Spring
Career Fair – March 29, 2014
What’s Next?Senior Year
Fall College Information Night for Seniors Senior classroom presentations in early Fall Individual student/counselor conferences in
the Fall Senior transcript request policy Financial Aid Night in the winter (but you are
welcome to attend this year too!)
The Junior Year Goal!
Begin your senior year knowing where you want to apply to
college!
