Welcome and Introduction

1. Welcome and Introduction Mrs. Patricia Raleigh Guidance Director

2. North Hunterdon High SchoolJunior College Workshop Guiding Your Child Through College Admissions Process

3. Some thoughts before we begin- Welcome to the First Night of a Two-Part Junior College Program. The Second Night of this Program will be held on Wednesday, February 9th at 7pm. Mr. Christopher Hooker-Haring from Muhlenberg College will address issues from the college perspective. Please plan to attend!

4. Tonight’s Power Point Presentation This Power Point presentation will be available on NHHS Guidance Webpage – www.nhvweb.net/NHHS/Guidance

5. Topics covered this evening– • Writing the College Essay, Mrs. Dolan • Deciding to go to College, Mr. Delorenzo • Recommendations • Naviance College Search • ASVAB testing • College Admission Tests, Ms. Kellum • Visiting Colleges • “THE” Junior Packet • Individual College Appts. w/Counselor • National Honor Society Criteria, Mr. Delorenzo

6. Writing the College Essay Without pulling your hair out …

7. Whatever you decide towrite about… It has to be about you!

8. Some topics are assigned: Discuss the role of Concordia in international or national or local affairs

9. How about this one? What is your favorite word in the English language?

10. Tell us about a book that has changed your life… • It is not easy to write this essay… • especially if you have never actually read a book.

11. Understand what they want… Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

12. What are they looking for? • Evaluate • Experience • Achievement • Risk • Ethical dilemma • Its impact on you

13. Write about a flaw… • “I party a bit too much.”

14. Sample Argument Topic Explain your position on whether or not to allow people in poor nations to legally sell their organs.

15. Short Essays • If you are told to write 300 words, do not write 305. • Online programs truncate your submission.

16. PERFECTION • Everything you submit to a college must be perfect. • Use spell check, but don’t depend on it.

17. Avoid the Amusement of Admission Committees • Your going to sea that IM a cape able person who follows threw with everything I say that I will do. • LESSON: Spell Check cannot think.

18. The Bottom LinePERFECTION PAYS OFF • Tell the truth. • Use specific examples. • Do not denigrate others in your essay—it is bratty. • Don’t write a funny essay unless you are really funny. • Plagiarism—no no no! • Catch the reader’s interest from the beginning . • If you have avoided learning how to write, now is the time… • PROOFREAD. • No wrinkles –no food stains . The essay must reveal who you are. The essay must be perfect

19. College is a Family Decision

20. You’re a Great Coach! • Discuss your values, expectations and concerns about college • Assist your child in determining critical factors when looking for schools • Help your child map out a plan that includes searching, visitations, applications, scholarships and decision making • Encourage your child to take ownership of the process

21. Have an open discussion about what factors are important to you and your child.

22. Parent No-No’s • Searching for the school of your choice • Filling out your child’s application • Writing your child’s college essay • Taking over the process when your child isn’t willing to do the work

23. Communication is KEY! • Preparation for college requires communication and planning between you, your child and your school counselor

24. Be careful to get accurate information!

25. Recommendations

26. College Recommendations • Ask a teacher who knows you well enough to write a recommendation. • Junior and Senior teachers are bombarded with requests for recommendations, SOOOOOOOOO • Ask your teacher of choice EARLY. • Choose a teacher who really respects the work you have done in his or her class.

27. Counselor Recommendations and Junior Packet • Why is the Junior Packet required? • Junior Packet due to your counselor by May 2, 2011 • Parents/Guardians can share information too!

28. Naviance Succeed a personalized, web-based resource for planning & advising

29. How do I access it? Your student is registered and can log in using their school username and school password. The web address is available from the NHHS Guidance Website. Click on ‘Juniors’ and click on the ‘Naviance tab. Or, visit: http://connection.naviance.com/NHHS Parents can request to have their own access. Parents may also access Naviance Family Connections as a guest, using the password: nhhs

30. What can I do with it? Share Plans Between Parent, Child & Counselor Career Exploration Conduct College Searches Compare Colleges Analyze Scattergrams on College Admissions Track Deadlines Complete Surveys Links to Colleges & Selected Third-Party Resources

31. Main Page/Sign-In ie, Smith2012000 School Password • http://connection.naviance.com/NHHS

32. Exploring College College Lookup College Search

33. College Search Search by location, student population, admissions difficulty, athletic involvement, majors… and much more!

34. College Search Results Click on each school for ‘College Lookup’

35. College Lookup Simply type College/University name here College Lookup

36. College Lookup Details

37. College Comparison College Compare

38. Scattergram

39. How does it help? In many ways…. Opens the lines of communication between home and school. Allows for collaboration among counselors, students, and parents. Encourages career & college exploration. Provides realistic assessments of your child’s chances of admission at a particular college where prior NHHS graduates have applied.

40. ASVAB TESTINGTest date - March 28, 2011 ARMED SERVICES VOCATIONAL APTITUDE BATTERY • Available to Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors • It is important to note that signing up for this test does not imply that a student is interested in the military and is not obligated to any of the armed services for taking the test!

41. Want to sign up for the ASVAB? • Sign ups will be in early March • Sign up in the Guidance Office • Test will be in the large gym – 3 hours • Over 150 students were tested last year. • EXTREMELY POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM OUR STUDENTS AND PARENTS • Contact Christal Rosenka for any additional questions. (crosenka@nhvweb.net) • Visit the ASVAB website • http://www.military.com/asvab

42. SAT, SAT II’s and ACT

43. College Admissions Testing Will review- • SAT • SAT II Subject tests • ACT

44. What is SAT I? Three scored areas- • Critical Reading (200-800) • Math (200-800) • Writing (200-800) 10 Sections and takes 3:45 mins. (including breaks) • CriticalReading section includes reading passages and sentence completions. • Mathematics section includes questions on arithmetic operations, algebra, geometry, statistics and probability • Writing section includes a short essay and multiple-choice questions on identifying errors and improving grammar and usage.

45. How to do well on the SAT? • Study and do well in your classes • Understand the structure of the test, how to take the test in a timely fashion and also what to expect • Take time to prepare and take several sample tests • Check out the College Board Website for free online practice tools & sample SAT ?’s • Choose from the list of available test prep courses – visit the Guidance Webpage for more information

46. When to take the SAT? • NHHS offers the SAT tests – • May and June • and again in October • SAT is offered elsewhere other months (Nov., Dec., Jan., March) • It is OK to take SAT’s more than once, better to prepare and do well the first time. • Cost is of test is $48.00

47. Subject Test(s) • Subjects: • Literature • Math Level 1 & 2 • Physics, Chemistry, Biology • World Languages (French, German, Spanish, Latin, Hebrew, Italian, Chinese, Japanese) • US History, World History Many colleges use the SAT Subject Tests – • Admission • Course placement • Advise students about course selection. Some colleges specify the SAT Subject Tests that they require for admission or placement ; others allow applicants to choose which tests to take - showcase academic areas.

48. Subject Tests continued • Each subject test is one hour long • A student can take up to 3 subject tests on one test date, but can be overwhelming • Scored 200-800 point range for each test • Who should take these? • Students applying to colleges that require or prefer scores • Students who want to show an area of strength • When? …..This spring and next fall (Oct, Nov)

49. ACT Test • The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions. Actual testing time is 2 hours and 55 minutes (plus 30 minutes if you are taking the ACT Plus Writing). • ACT test cost is $33.00 (w/o Writing) and $48.00 (w/Writing)

50. Let’s breakdown the ACT Test • Four-section exam and the Writing • English - 75-question, 45-minute test, covering punctuation, grammar usage and sentence structure • Mathematics - pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry. • Reading - 40-question, 35-minute test that measures your reading comprehension. • Science - 40-question, 35-minute test that measures the skills required in the natural sciences: interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem solving. • Writing (optional) -30-minute essay test that measures your writing skills—specifically those writing skills emphasized in high school English course • Make sure to sign up for the Writing portion of the ACT test – it • is optional!