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Steps for Post Secondary Planning

Steps for Post Secondary Planning . Counselor Appointments. Parents should encourage students to initiate meetings. Learn about resources that are available for you and your child. Ask what your role as a parent will be in the process. Discussion Topics. Transcript review of grades

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Steps for Post Secondary Planning

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  1. Steps for Post Secondary Planning

  2. Counselor Appointments • Parents should encourage students to initiate meetings. • Learn about resources that are available for you and your child. • Ask what your role as a parent will be in the process.

  3. Discussion Topics • Transcript review of grades • Converse about goals • On-line resources • Course Selection • The better we get to know your child, the more we can help him/her with their planning.

  4. Course Selection • Choose courses that will help your child meet their goals and interests. • Take challenging courses. • Be prepared to exert maximum effort in all they do. • Consider vocational talents.

  5. Exert Maximum academic effort • It is never too late to improve grades. • Take the more challenging courses offered if appropriate. • Balance challenging themselves with ability to be successful. • Become involved with extracurricular activities.

  6. College Admissions Tests • PSAT’s • Administered to sophomores and juniors in October only. • NMSQT opportunity for juniors only • Utilize the My College Quick Start (free!)

  7. SAT • What is this? • Critical Reading, Math, and Writing • Evaluates thinking & problem solving abilities • Three hours and 5 minutes in length • Quarter credit deducted for wrong answer. • 140 questions • Writing includes and essay and focuses on grammar and punctuation.

  8. SAT Subject tests • SAT Subject Tests • Specific to a variety of areas • Selective schools may require or recommend them. • Given on various dates, but may not be offered each time the SAT is offered. • An hour in length, may take up to three on one test date.

  9. ACT • Evaluates overall educational development • 4 multiple choice subject tests (English, Math, Reading, and Science). • Optional Writing component should be taken. • 2 hours and 55 minutes. • 215 questions • Primary focus is on vocabulary.

  10. Where do we start looking for colleges ? • What is realistic for the family? • Cost? • Location? • Size of a school? • Resident or commuter student? • Two year versus four year? • Trade Technical School? • Military opportunities?

  11. Review Admission Requirements • What are the minimum requirements? • General range of Grade Point Averages? • Special Talents? • Be Realistic! Reach/Match/Safety • What tests are required? • SAT • SAT Subject Tests • ACT

  12. Develop List of Schools • Decide which area is being considered, example: 4 year/2 year, vocational/technical or the military • Websites • College Handbooks/catalogs/online • Start with a large list of options • Look at internships, CO-OPS, Practicum's, Study Abroad, etc.

  13. Visit College Campuses • Take the time to visit places of interest! • Spring of junior year is best, summer is second, the fall of senior year may be stressful • Call ahead for an interview (some allow) • Visit, Visit, Visit!!! • Open House invites versus casual visits • Your child will get a “feel” for a campus when visiting

  14. Refine List of Colleges • Begin to narrow down list of colleges based on research and visiting colleges during the summer/fall of senior year. • College Reps that visit Methacton. • Which campuses can be visited now? Later?

  15. Completing Applications • Online • Common Applications • Counseling Office- requires 12 school days for processing the requests • Open House Dates • During an interview • We will review this with parents and seniors in the fall.

  16. Request recommendations • Teachers, Employers, Counselors, Clergy • Who knows the student best? • Work habits, motivation, etc. • Give person a two week notice & student should follow up with person to ensure mailing. • Provide a list of activities and names of colleges applying to. • Provide stamps & envelopes addressed to the colleges. Do not have them brought to the counseling office. • Ask early! Before summer may work for some.

  17. Can U Rd This • hi  r u ok wtg a letter 4 me • hey, theres a prob w/ my sch • dear ms levin r u ok to c me tday • sup? idk if u can c me 2day

  18. Review Scholarships and Financial Aid Plans • Begin early • Check with school counselors and various web sites for possibilities (Ex. www.fastweb.com and www.finaid.org) • Discuss options as a family • Ask questions of local college financial aid officers • Local service organizations • Counseling Office Email lists • Consider area financial experts (personal )

  19. File Financial Aid Statements • January of senior year • Attend financial aid night • www.fafsa.ed.gov • BE AWARE OF DEADLINES – each college is different! • Complete taxes early during your students senior year, if possible

  20. Acceptance/Rejection • Finding out options • Revisit campuses if necessary • May 1 deadline • Other options for rejections • Meet with counselor • Be realistic choices • State school selectivity • Community college

  21. Example Websites • Search career and college websites • www.methacton.org (go to the counseling link) • http://connection.naviance.com/methacton(currently open to juniors and soon to sophomores) • www.collegeboard.com • www.actstudent.org • www.bls.gov/oco/ • www.educationplanner.com • www.fafsa.ed.gov • www.careercruising.com (user name: methactonhs and password: warriors)

  22. Resume • Purpose is for students to highlight things they have done during high school. • Can be shared with letter writers. • Should be included in some form on the applications. • www.careercruising.com • www.educationplanner.org

  23. Trends In College Admissions • What the counselors have learned from attending various workshops. • Visiting Campuses can not be stressed enough • Working a part time job will not hurt a student • Examples from PSU, West Chester, and Temple • This is the first year of a decline in high school graduates for colleges. • Large schools and smaller schools have obvious differences. • GPA Calculations

  24. How likely are you to be admitted to Penn State?

  25. Admission to PSU - University Park

  26. TOP 20 COLLEGES WHERE METHACTON STUDENTS HAVE APPLIED (From 2008-2010)

  27. In Closing • Share what you learned with your child. • Questions and Answers

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