SENIOR CLASS PRESENTATIONLIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL!

LEARNING TARGETS

• Counselor breakdown

• Discuss options for life

• Explore college options

• Discuss salaries related to education levels

• Discuss general college and scholarship procedures• ACT VS SAT

• What should you be doing right now

VISTA PEAK COUNSELORS

Mrs. Lyle A-G

Ms. Berry H-P

Ms. Husk Q-Z

Subject Required Credits

English 4.0 units of credit

Math 4.0 units of credit

Science 3.0 units of credit

Social Science 1.5 units of credit

US History 1.0 units of credit

Civics 0.5 units of credit

World Language 2.0 units of credit

Electives 6.0 units of credit

Minimum credits to

Graduate 22.0 units of credit

Subject Required Years

English 4 Years

Math (must include algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II or equivalents)

4 Years

Natural/Physical Science (two units must be lab based)

3 Years

Social Science 1.5 Years

US History 1 Year

Civics 0.5 Years

Foreign Language 1 Year

Academic Electives 2 years

ARE YOU ON TRACK TO GRADUATEVP Graduation Requirements HEAR Graduation Requirements

HOW MANY GRADUATION CREDITS SHOULD I HAVE?

CLASS 2015Subject Credits

English 3.0 Credits

Math 3.0 Credits

Science 3.0 Credits

Social Science 1.0-1.5 Credits

Civics .5 Credits

US History 1.0 Credits

Electives/World Language 1.0-2.0 Credits

Total credits that you should have now!

Minimum of 15 credits to graduate on time!

WHAT OPTIONS DO I HAVE AFTER VP

• Not finishing High School

• Working at a job after graduating high school• Save $$ for college

• Take a gap year

• Gain real world experience

• Apprentice Programs• Training for a specific job

• Earn while you learn

• Career and Technical Training

• Military

• Two-Year College (Community College)

• Four-Year College

• Branches

• ARMY

• NAVY

• AIR FORCE

• MARINES

• COAST GUARD

• RESERVES

• Benefits

• Serving Country

• Learn skills and a Trade

• Earn money $$$$ for College

• Start a Career

• Minimum commitment of 2 Years

MILITARY

• Low cost

• May take longer than other Career Schools

• Quality instructors that have worked in specific career field

• Hands on career specific training

• Job placement (sometimes)

• Emily Griffith Opportunity School

• Pickens Technical College (Aurora Public Schools)

• Wyotec

CAREER & TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

Local Schools Facts

• Promise faster completion

• Higher tuition with more loan debt

• Credits usually do not transfer to Community College or 4-year University

Schools you see on TV

OTHER CAREER & TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

BEAWARE!!!!!!

• Smaller Class size

• Affordable tuition

• You do not have to live on-campus

• Guaranteed admission

• May work with undocumented students

• Community College of Aurora

• Community College of Denver

• Red Rocks Community College

• Arapahoe Community College

• Front Range Community College

COLORADO TWO YEAR COLLEGES

Local Community Colleges Community College Facts

• Low cost tuition

• Located in Rural or Mountain area across Colorado

• On-campus housing

• looser admission requirements

• May have low to no wait-list for programs

• Aims Community College

• Colorado Mountain College

• Colorado Northwest Community College

• Lamar Community College

• Pikes Peak Community College

COLORADO TWO YEAR COLLEGE CONT.

Other Two-Year Colleges Two-Year College Facts

• Career and Vocational focused

• Guaranteed admissions

• Smaller classes than traditional 4 year colleges

• two –year college with on campus housing

• Opportunity to participate in NCAA sports

• Otero Junior College, La Junta

• Trinidad Junior College, Trinidad

• Blair Junior College

• Northeastern Junior College, Sterling

COLORADO JUNIOR COLLEGES

Junior Colleges Junior College Facts

• Larger class size

• Harder admission requirements

• More options for Majors

• Usually provide good Financial Aid options

• Options to participate in NCAA sports (competitive)

• Adams State College, Alamosa

• Colorado School of Mines, Golden Colorado

• Colorado State University,

• - Fort Collins (Main Campus) & Pueblo

• Fort Lewis College

• Mesa University, Grand Junction

• Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver

FOUR YEAR COLORADO COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES

Four Year Colleges/Universities Four Year College/University -Facts

• Higher tuition than Community College

• Competitive admission requirements

• More major options

• Larger campuses

• May offer good Financial Aid package

• Opportunity to participate in NCAA sports (competitive)

• University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder (main campus)

• University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs

• University of Colorado at Denver, Denver

• University of Colorado Health and Science Center, Aurora

• University of Northern Colorado, Greeley

• Western State College of Colorado, Gunnison

FOUR YEAR COLORADO COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES CONTINUED

Four Year Colleges/Universities Four Year College/University Facts

• Smaller college

• Tuition is higher

• Some give more Financial Aid and large scholarship endowments

• No COF requirement and may work for undocumented students

• Opportunity to participate in NCAA college sports

• Colorado College, Colorado Springs

• Colorado Christian University, Lakewood

• Johnson & Wales, Denver

• Regis University, Denver

• Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Denver

• University of Denver

PRIVATE COLORADO FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES

Colorado Private Colleges Private Institution Facts

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current population Survey, March 1998,1999,and 2000

AVERAGE ANNUAL EARNINGS FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES AND NON-GRADUATE

• Visit schools that you may be interested in attending

• Apply to at least five schools. Make sure you have two safe schools

• Talk to your family about Post-Secondary plans (Financial Aid, Colleges)

• Check Naviance and the Counseling Center for upcoming Events, Scholarships and Post –Secondary information

• Talk to Counselors to discuss options to make up credits.

• Examine you ACT score, Look at upcoming ACT retest dates.

• Check for Scholarship and College Application deadlines. (research)

• Apply for scholarships that meet your qualifications

• Talk to your counselor to see if you are on track

• Talk to teachers about recommendation letters

WHAT STEPS TO TAKE NEXT

ADDITIONAL APPLICATION PROCEDURESCollege Application

• Complete your college application online

• Keep a Copy and communicate with Counselors and let them know if you need fee waivers ( you must receive free and/or reduced lunch to qualify)

Transcripts

• Request Official transcripts

• Allow 10 days for transcript request to be processed

Recommendation Letter Requests

• Please fill out Letter of Recommendation Request Form for recommendation letters

• Please allow two weeks for letters to be completed

Scholarship

• Pay attention to scholarship guidelines and deadlines

• Make sure applications are completes and sent off in a timely manner

IMPORTANT DATES

Event Date

October 25, 2014 ACT Deadline for registration is September 19, 2014

October Power Session October 20-24

Concurrent Enrollment Registration

November 2014

College Goal Sunday February 2015 TBA

FASFA Priority Deadline March 1, 2015

Graduation May 27, 2015

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACT & SAT?

• ACT – measures what you currently know. It is an achievement test. (approx 3 hrs)

• SAT – measures your potential (critical thinking ability). It is an aptitude test. (approx 3.5 hrs)

ACT• The ACT is a national college admission examination that consists of subject area tests in

English, Math, Reading and Science.

• The ACT Plus Writing includes the four subject area tests and a 30-minute Writing Test.

• The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete with breaks (or just over four hours if you are taking the Writing Test). Actual testing time is 2 hours and 55 minutes (plus 30 minutes if you are taking the Writing Test).

SAT• The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills you'll need for academic

success in college.

• The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems—skills you learned in school that you'll need in college.

• The SAT includes a Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing section. The 25-minute essay will always be the first section of the SAT, and the 10-minute multiple-choice writing section will always be the final section. The remaining six 25-minute sections can appear in any order, as can the two 20-minute sections.

GRANTS VS SCHOLARSHIPS

Grants = Free money you don’t have to pay back

Scholarships=Free money-academic, athletic, service

Application, essays, interviews

(more to come)

Loans= must pay back once you graduate

FAFSA

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid

• Is FREE on fafsa.edu.gov-you should not pay for it!!!

• Need based

• Can start applying Jan 1, 2015

• College Goal Sunday Feb 2015 CCA

• Apply early

• More on this topic to come

COLLEGE ESSAY

• Needs to reflect who you are NOT what you did

• Make it personal-how did you feel, what did you think,what did you learn

• Be honest

• Leave people with hope

• What is your message to the world

• We will explore topics

WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING NOW• Keeping your GPA Solid

• Be involved

• Looking at Colleges- Dream school, Likely, For sures

• Talking to College Reps/College Fairs/College Visits

• Looking at College Index Score

• Write your College Essay/Personal Statement

• Get 2 good letters of recommendation from people who say good things about you and know you!

• Talk to your parents-really

• Look for scholarships and start applying

QUESTIONS