Gig Harbor High Gig Harbor High SchoolSchool

Parent College Workshop Parent College Workshop

2006 - 20072006 - 2007

OverviewOverview

• Changing Job DemographicsChanging Job Demographics

• Post High School OptionsPost High School Options

• Academic PreparationAcademic Preparation

• TestingTesting

• College SearchCollege Search

• AdmissionsAdmissions

• Scholarship and Financial Aid Scholarship and Financial Aid InformationInformation

• Web SitesWeb Sites

Changing Career Changing Career DemographicsDemographics

• Steady increase in skilled workforceSteady increase in skilled workforce

• ““College” is for everybodyCollege” is for everybody

20% professional

20%

skilled

60%

unskilled

National Occupational Opportunities

1950

35% unskilled

45% skilled

20% professional

National Occupational Opportunities

1994

National Occupational Opportunities

2000

15% unskilled20%

professional

65% skilled

Post High School Academic Post High School Academic OptionsOptions

• Four year collegesFour year colleges - Public & Private - Public & Private– 50%50%

• Community CollegesCommunity Colleges– 29%29%

• Technical CollegesTechnical Colleges

• Specialty schoolsSpecialty schools - Cosmetology, Art, - Cosmetology, Art, Fashion, Culinary, Commercial Diving, etc.Fashion, Culinary, Commercial Diving, etc.

The Road to Success: Education The Road to Success: Education PlanPlan

2 Year Colleges

Professional Certificate Associate in Arts and Science Degree

Employment Opportunities Transfer to a 4 Year College

Employment Opportunities

The Road to Success: Education The Road to Success: Education PlanPlan

4 Year Colleges

Check Specific Admission Requirements

4 Year Bachelors Degree (BA or BS)Other Degree Options

Masters (MA-MS), Doctorate (Dr.), Professional (MD – DDS – etc.

Employment Opportunities

College Credits Earned in High College Credits Earned in High SchoolSchool

• Running Start CreditsRunning Start Credits

• AP CoursesAP Courses

• Articulated Agreement CoursesArticulated Agreement Courses

• Dual Credit CoursesDual Credit Courses– www.peninsula.wednet.eduwww.peninsula.wednet.edu– Go to Career Technical linkGo to Career Technical link

Running StartRunning Start

• Do Running Start credits transfer?Do Running Start credits transfer?

• What are the community college What are the community college transfer agreements with four year transfer agreements with four year colleges?colleges?

Dropout Trends Dropout Trends

• Two Year Public Two Year Public 47.2%47.2%

• Two Year PrivateTwo Year Private 33.0%33.0%

• Four Year PublicFour Year Public 31.8%31.8%

• Four Year PrivateFour Year Private 29.6%29.6%

Completion RatesCompletion Rates

• AA in three years or less.AA in three years or less. 30.1%30.1%

• BA/BS in five years or lessBA/BS in five years or less

Public CollegePublic College 41.2%41.2%

Private CollegePrivate College 54.5%54.5%

Where should students Where should students start?start?

• Self inquirySelf inquiry– What am I interested in?What am I interested in?– What am I good at?What am I good at?– What do I want from my college experience?What do I want from my college experience?

• What schools have appropriate majors?What schools have appropriate majors?

• What is the employment outlook for my What is the employment outlook for my Career Goals?Career Goals?

• This is a great discussion opener for parents.This is a great discussion opener for parents.

College SearchCollege Search

• Visualize the search as a funnel.Visualize the search as a funnel.

• Identify Important Broad ParametersIdentify Important Broad Parameters

• Do the ResearchDo the Research

• Visit and InterviewVisit and Interview

• Narrow to Six (6) or fewer schools by Narrow to Six (6) or fewer schools by the beginning of senior year.the beginning of senior year.

Choosing A UniversityChoosing A University

• Admission requirementsAdmission requirements• Courses of study offered Courses of study offered • Financial costs.Financial costs.• College reputation. (Be cautious of rankings and rumors.)College reputation. (Be cautious of rankings and rumors.)• College environment or College environment or PersonalityPersonality..

– SizeSize– ClimateClimate– Religious affiliationsReligious affiliations– Urban v/s ruralUrban v/s rural– Distance from homeDistance from home– Sports programsSports programs– Dorms v/s Greek system Dorms v/s Greek system – Class sizeClass size– Friend’s choices Friend’s choices – Impacted majors Impacted majors

Advantages/DisadvantagesAdvantages/Disadvantages

• Public vs PrivatePublic vs Private

• Large vs SmallLarge vs Small

• Community College vs Baccalaureate Community College vs Baccalaureate InstitutionsInstitutions

Parent’s Role in post high Parent’s Role in post high school planningschool planning

– Offer guidanceOffer guidance

– Recognize and encourage student’s right to Recognize and encourage student’s right to choose choose

– Set financial parametersSet financial parameters

– Seek “best fit” not “best college” Don’t look for Seek “best fit” not “best college” Don’t look for one “Best” match, look for several “Best” matches.one “Best” match, look for several “Best” matches.

– Continue to nurture even as they seek Continue to nurture even as they seek independenceindependence

– Do NOT do their work for them.Do NOT do their work for them.

Gap Years or Deferred Gap Years or Deferred EnrollmentEnrollment

• Deferred enrollment can be Deferred enrollment can be advantageous if the time is spent advantageous if the time is spent meaningfully and with purpose.meaningfully and with purpose.– Community Service ProjectsCommunity Service Projects– Travel AbroadTravel Abroad– Internships Internships

Academic PreparationAcademic Preparation• HEC Board requirements are minimal.HEC Board requirements are minimal.• Rigor is extremely important.Rigor is extremely important.• Four years of English & Math.Four years of English & Math.• Seven semesters of Social Studies.Seven semesters of Social Studies.• Three to Four years of Science and Three to Four years of Science and

Foreign Language.Foreign Language.• Two semesters of Art/Music. Two semesters of Art/Music.

• Choose AP and Honors courses when Choose AP and Honors courses when available and appropriate.available and appropriate.

TestingTesting• PLAN - Practice ACT test for SophomoresPLAN - Practice ACT test for Sophomores

Fall Sophomore year Fall Sophomore year

• PSAT - Practice SAT test for JuniorsPSAT - Practice SAT test for JuniorsFall Junior year Fall Junior year

(Also used for National Merit Scholarship Consideration.)(Also used for National Merit Scholarship Consideration.)

• ACT - Spring of Junior year/Fall Senior yearACT - Spring of Junior year/Fall Senior year

• SAT - Spring of Junior year/Fall Senior yearSAT - Spring of Junior year/Fall Senior year

• SAT 2 - Spring of Junior year or individual tests SAT 2 - Spring of Junior year or individual tests may be taken upon completion of may be taken upon completion of

coursework. coursework.

SAT and/or ACT?SAT and/or ACT?

• Revised SAT has three sections:Revised SAT has three sections:– Critical ReadingCritical Reading– WritingWriting– MathMath

• Revised ACTRevised ACT– EnglishEnglish– MathMath– Reading Reading – ScienceScience– Writing test is optionalWriting test is optional

• SAT 2 (subject specific tests)SAT 2 (subject specific tests)• Test requirements vary by school Test requirements vary by school

School and Community School and Community InvolvementInvolvement

• Depth not Breadth of involvementDepth not Breadth of involvement

• Demonstration of: Demonstration of: – Leadership SkillsLeadership Skills– CharacterCharacter– CompassionCompassion– CommitmentCommitment– Organizational SkillsOrganizational Skills– Self ConfidenceSelf Confidence

• Part time Employment is InvolvementPart time Employment is Involvement

College VisitationsCollege Visitations• When? Winter and Spring of Junior year.When? Winter and Spring of Junior year.

• InterviewsInterviews

• ToursTours

• Visit the Hub, Commons or Rec Centers - Visit the Hub, Commons or Rec Centers - Sample the food and visit with students. Sample the food and visit with students.

• Stay overnight if possible. Stay overnight if possible.

Campus InterviewsCampus Interviews• Do your research - Know the SchoolDo your research - Know the School

• Know yourself - Strengths & WeaknessesKnow yourself - Strengths & Weaknesses Goals & ValuesGoals & Values InterestsInterests• Be yourselfBe yourself• Be positiveBe positive• Be honestBe honest• Be On timeBe On time• Try and RelaxTry and Relax• Dress AppropriatelyDress Appropriately

Factors Influencing Factors Influencing Washington State Public Washington State Public

College AdmissionsCollege Admissions• HEC board requirements must be met. HEC board requirements must be met.

• Trend towards “whole student” Trend towards “whole student” consideration rather than Academic consideration rather than Academic Index (AI) only.Index (AI) only.

• Academic Index:Academic Index:– Used by public universities in Washington Used by public universities in Washington

State State – Grades weighted 3 to 1 over test scoresGrades weighted 3 to 1 over test scores– Recently recalculated for class of 2006Recently recalculated for class of 2006

Factors Influencing Factors Influencing Admission (cont)Admission (cont)

• Best Predictors of success:Best Predictors of success:– Course RigorCourse Rigor– Cumulative GPACumulative GPA

• Other factors considered:Other factors considered: ACT or SAT scoresACT or SAT scores

– EssaysEssays– ActivitiesActivities– TalentTalent– Diversity Diversity – Special circumstancesSpecial circumstances

Private College AdmissionsPrivate College Admissions• Additional factors considered after GPA, Additional factors considered after GPA,

Course Rigor, and SAT/ACT scores include:Course Rigor, and SAT/ACT scores include:• SAT2 SAT2

– Choose three or more subject areasChoose three or more subject areas

• Letters of recommendationLetters of recommendation• EssaysEssays• Activities and talentActivities and talent• InterviewsInterviews• Diversity Diversity

Placement TestsPlacement Tests

• Math and Foreign Language Math and Foreign Language Placement tests may be required Placement tests may be required prior to registration.prior to registration.

Community College & Community College & Technical College Technical College AdmissionsAdmissions

• Community Colleges: Community Colleges: – Some applications/information available in career Some applications/information available in career

center or on-line.center or on-line.– Placement exam required prior to entry.Placement exam required prior to entry.– Apply early.Apply early.– Know transfer requirements if seeking baccalaureate Know transfer requirements if seeking baccalaureate

degreedegree

• Technical Colleges: Technical Colleges: – Orientation meetingOrientation meeting– Compass/Asset entry assessmentsCompass/Asset entry assessments– Waiting lists likely.Waiting lists likely.– Contact directlyContact directly

Specialty School AdmissionsSpecialty School Admissions

• Criteria vary for each school. Criteria vary for each school.

• Information available on the web or Information available on the web or Career Center. Career Center.

• Transcripts, letters of Transcripts, letters of recommendation, interviews, recommendation, interviews, portfolios and auditions may all be portfolios and auditions may all be required. required.

Scholarship InformationScholarship Information

• Scholarship information posted in the Career Scholarship information posted in the Career Center and APB/Decisions classrooms.Center and APB/Decisions classrooms.

• Scholarship Notebooks Scholarship Notebooks • Contact individual schools and programs Contact individual schools and programs

– Most schools have their own scholarships Most schools have their own scholarships – Scholarship deadlines often differ from application Scholarship deadlines often differ from application

datesdates– some require supplementary financial aid info.some require supplementary financial aid info.

• Check parents’ place of employment & local Check parents’ place of employment & local credit unionscredit unions

• Check scholarship websitesCheck scholarship websites• Be cautious about paying for scholarship search Be cautious about paying for scholarship search

programs. programs.

Financial AidFinancial Aid

• FAFSA application required for financial aid.FAFSA application required for financial aid.– Draft copies available in late FallDraft copies available in late Fall– Complete on-line after January 1Complete on-line after January 1stst..– Sooner is better.Sooner is better.– Three means of assistance:Three means of assistance:

• GrantsGrants• LoansLoans• Work StudyWork Study

** Schools may add Merit Scholarship Money to Financial Aid ** Schools may add Merit Scholarship Money to Financial Aid PackagesPackages

• Profile form may also be required.Profile form may also be required.

• Loans can also be obtained through local lending institutions.Loans can also be obtained through local lending institutions.

• WUE – The Western Undergraduate Exchange Program WUE – The Western Undergraduate Exchange Program – reduced tuition at 150% of receiving schools state tuition ratereduced tuition at 150% of receiving schools state tuition rate– www.wiche.eduwww.wiche.edu

• Financial aid from private institutions can often neutralize the Financial aid from private institutions can often neutralize the costscosts

www.gigharborhs.psd.401.www.gigharborhs.psd.401.netnet

• Gig Harbor High School InformationGig Harbor High School Information

• Parent ConnectParent Connect

• Teacher WebsitesTeacher Websites

• Counseling Center NewsCounseling Center News

• Career Center NewsCareer Center News

Web ResourcesWeb Resources• College Search EnginesCollege Search Engines

– www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com– www.princetonreview.comwww.princetonreview.com– www.usnews.comwww.usnews.com

• Financial Aid & ScholarshipsFinancial Aid & Scholarships– www.finaid.orgwww.finaid.org– www.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.com– www.fafsa.ed.govwww.fafsa.ed.gov

• Admissions Test RegistrationAdmissions Test Registration– ACTACT www.act.orgwww.act.org– SAT & SAT 2 SAT & SAT 2 www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com

– GHHS School Code # 480-421GHHS School Code # 480-421