HAVING A SUCCESSFUL SENIOR YEAR!

1. HAVING A SUCCESSFUL SENIOR YEAR! September 8, 2014

2. DEADLINES DON’T MISS THEM!

3. Welcome to Your Senior Year! • Take an active role in your plans after high school – it’s YOUR future! • Your parents aren’t going to campus or work with you – learn to advocate! • Ask questions • Respect experience • Consider a variety of options • Seek help

4. Senior Year Timeline Trimester 1 • September – November : Apply to colleges Trimester 2 • November – December : Apply for Scholarships • January - February: Complete FAFSA and as many scholarship applications as you can Trimester 3 • Continue to apply for scholarships • May: Respond to admission offers and MAKE A DECISION!!!! 

5. MEMORIZE THIS: 150290 BHS School Code

6. What You Should Be Doing Now • Senior meetings will begin after Labor Day • Finalize college selections – choose wisely! • Begin working on college applications • Update Academic Resume • Continue looking at possible majors • Go on college visits! • Register for the SAT / ACT • Meet with college reps when they visit

7. Dual Credit • Earn college credits while in High School • One of the requirements to earn an Academic Honors Diploma or Technical Honors Diploma • ACP (Advance College Project) • Ivy Tech • Courses transfer better if they are on CTL (Core Transfer Library) • Visit www.TransferIN.net for more detailed info.

8. ACP INFO • Check your email regularly for billing info • Billing will come directly from IUSB Bursar • Semester 1 – ACP Speech, ACP Comp, ACP Calculus, ACP Finite Math (Being billed SOON) (WAIVERS) • Semester 2 –, ACP Lit, ACP Business, ACP Personal Finance (be prepared – billed in January!) • $25 / Credit hour • Transcripts must come from IUSB at the end of the year- NOT FROM BREMEN!

9. ACP Tidbits • ACP and Academic Honors • There are several options for Acad. Honors • ONE of them is 2 Dual Credit classes • To meet this requirement, the DC classes must RESULT in SIX TRANSFERABLE college credits • This means you have to pay IUSB for the credits • Students CAN take an ACP class without paying for the credits, but not to qualify for Acad. Honors • Check out colleges before you pay – some colleges exempt students out of Comp. based on SAT score

10. AP Information • Another way to earn college credit • Rigorous coursework developed by College Board • Each course concludes with a standardized exam written and scored by college professors • Students usually need to score at least a 3,4, or 5 on test to receive college credit • Students pay for exam, except for Calculus • School may pay for exam if students are identified as High Ability • BHS has AP Spanish and AP Calculus / May Testing

11. What are my choices?

12. What is “College”? Some people think of college as a four-year bachelor’s degree, but college also includes two-year associates degrees and apprenticeship programs – in-demand skills that lead to great jobs that pay well!

13. Post-Secondary Options • College • 2 year • 4 year • Military (take ASVAB!) • Army • Navy • Marines • Coast Guard • Air Force • Proprietary Schools • Community College • Job training • Less Expensive • Smaller classes • Can transfer • Work • Apprenticeships • Vocational / Tech • Specialized Colleges

14. Find Your Way • 1 or 2 year College • Associate Degree or Workfore Certificate • Can earn MORE than those w/4 yr degrees • Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Radiation Technology, or Construction Management • Ivy Tech or Vincennes – can transfer to a 4 yr school • Apprenticeships • Construction, Electrical & Plumbing, Carpentry • 1-5 years, get paid while you work

15. What’s in Indiana? • More than 3000 colleges and universities across the country • In Indiana, more than 75 campuses across state • 31 Independent colleges and universities • 7 public university systems • Go online, Go Visit, Go for it and APPLY! • By 2018, 55% of all jobs in Indiana will require a degree or certificate

16. Things to think about when selecting a college or post-secondary school: • Majors and programs offered • Type of school • Size – large or small • Cost • Location • Atmosphere – Academic and Social • Social activities • Faculty reputation • Facility • Security • Religious preference • Job Placement / Graduate Study

17. The WRONG reasons to select a college or post-secondary school • My girlfriend / boyfriend goes there • My best friend goes there • It’s a party school • My parents went there (or brother, sister, etc) • It’s a pretty campus • It was the only school I visited • I liked the pictures I saw online or on the brochure

18. Declaring a Major: To do or Not to Do? • Know yourself • Strengths and weaknesses • Values and Beliefs • Interests • Take a personality profile • Match strengths with career options • Do the research! • Don’t fret if you don’t know yet  • Average student will have 7-10 jobs in their career (4 of which are not yet created!)

19. Some MYTHS About College • Good grades are better than challenging courses • SAT/ACT scores are more important than grades • I need to decide on a career before college • A lot of extracurriculars will compensate for poor grades • Big colleges are best if you haven’t decided on a major field of study • Only the best students get financial aid • If I did bad in 9th and 10th grade I won’t be admitted anywhere • Colleges need students so it’s easier to get admitted

20. College Visits • Call Admissions Office in advance to set up appt. • Research the school and think about questions ahead of time • Talk to the students on campus • Visit some classes if you can • Visit a dorm / cafeteria if you can • Schedule an interview • Tour the campus on your own • Keep notes / observations while there • Write thank-you notes to appropriate people

21. College Application Process

22. Before Applying • Update Academic Resume • What happened over summer to add • Can you add from senior year already? • Collect Letters of Recommendation (2-4) • Variety of people (i.e. teacher, coach, minister, counselor, sponsor, principal, etc) • Ask early and give enough time / specify directions • Write a Thank You note!  • Send both to Mrs. Manges: mmanges@bps.k12.in.us

23. College Application Process Where do I apply? Then what? Use Parchment to let the Guidance Office know to send a transcript If you don’t use Parchment, bring the Guidance Office a counselor form Send Mrs. Manges an email with your academic resume and any recommendation letters • Most applications are online • Some are free if done online • Some WILL be free during College Go! Week • Apply to a variety of schools • 1 in-state and 1 out of state • 1 Public and 1 private, etc • Apply to those you are serious about attending • 1 “safety” school

24. College Application Do’s and Don’ts (con’t) • Start Early! WATCH DEADLINES!!!!!!!!! • Don’t let $$$ scare you • Don’t be afraid to talk to the Admissions Office at the school • Don’t be afraid to talk to the Financial Aid Office • On-line Applications • Read all instructions • Keep copies! • Use spell and grammar check • Use Parchment to send transcripts!

25. Admission Options Non-Restrictive Application Restrictive Application Early Decision Only ONE institution Apply and hear back early If admitted, withdraw other apps Commitment to enroll at ED college • Regular Decision • Submit by regular deadline • Decision given in reasonable time • No comitment • Rolling Admission • Response in 2-6 weeks • Admission review is continuous • No commitment • Early Action • Can apply to multiple institutions • Apply early, hear back early • Can affect scholarship eligibility • No commitment

26. Other Common Admission Terms • Waitlisted • Acceptance based on # of committed students • Can improve chances by providing additional info. • Deferred • Usually for Early Action / Early Decision • Can improve chances by providing additional info.

27. Not all colleges are participating • Goal: Every senior complete a college application and submit transcript • Goals for other grade levels as well • Goals for middle school students too! September 22 – 26, 2014

28. Indiana College App Fees • Ball State - $55 • Goshen College - $25 • Huntington - $25 • Indiana State - $25 • IUPUI - $55 • IU Bloomington - $60 • IU East - $35 • IUPU Columbus - $50 • IPFW - $50 • IU Southeast - $35 • IUSB - $35 • Oakland City - $35 • (All Campuses) Purdue College of Technology - $60 • Purdue University Calumet - $25 • Purdue West Lafayette - $60 • Notre Dame - $65 • University of Southern Indiana - $40 • Vincennes - $20 • Wabash College - $40 • WGU Indiana - $65 * Schools in Black are FREE during College Go Week *

29. Parchment • Access 24 / 7! • It’s safe and secure • Transcript delivery to all colleges nationwide is free! • Create an account (should have already done) • If you DON’T have an account, you can set one up at www.parchment.com • I can also send resume and rec letters this way!

30. Questions for All Schools • Ask about 21st Century Scholar Programs • Indiana Covenant • Purdue Promise • Other in state schools also honor it • Ask about College Application Waivers • Ask about SAT / ACT Waivers • Ask about help if you have an IEP • Ask anything else you can think of! 

31. IUSB On-Site Admissions • MONDAY, Sept. 22, 2014 from 10:30am-12:30pm • Short meeting / transcript review at BHS with admissions counselor from IUSB • Students will know admission status on the spot: admitted, pending, or deferred to Ivy Tech • Application Fee of $35 waived !!! • Admitted students with Core 40 or above, “B” average, SAT or ACT scores above state average, and ranking in top ½ of class, will get $500 Titan Scholarship!

32. Additional Tips • Follow up with college if you get a rejection letter – sometimes they reconsider • If test scores or grades are low, send in application with a letter of explanation • Apply to at least one private and one public school

33. Admission Tests Needed

34. Registering for SAT / ACT • We don’t have any paper/pencil registration forms in the Guidance Office anymore – it’s all online! • Register for SAT at www.sat.collegeboard.org/register • Register for ACT online at www.actstudent.org • WRITE DOWN YOUR USERNAMES AND PASSWORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! • Be sure to send scores to Bremen – school code is 150290 • SEND SCORES TO COLLEGES – you get four for FREE (or you pay  )

35. FEE WAIVERS • Ask if you qualify for a fee waiver – based on family income and household size • 2 SAT / 2 ACT waivers per year • 4 College Application Waivers – need to get from Mrs. Manges in Guidance Office • Cannot register late with a fee waiver

36. SAT/ ACT Test Security • Must provide acceptable photo during registration • Clear, focused, and correctly exposed • Full face view, directly facing the camera • Must match how you look on test day and in photo ID • Photo will appear on Admission Ticket • Must present Admission Ticket WITH an acceptable Photo ID • No TICKET, No ID, NO ADMISSION! • Standby test takers no longer admitted

37. FREE SAT Practice Tools • The Offficial SAT Question of the Day • The Official SAT Practice Test • My SAT Online Score Report • SAT Practice Questions • SAT Skills Insight • MyCollegeQuickStart • SAT Study Plan • Answers Imagined

38. Affordable SAT Resources • The Complete SAT Study Guide • SAT Online Course • www.satonlinecourse.com • $69.95 / year Individually • Includes practice tests, auto essay scoring, guided self study, and more!

39. MyCollegeQuickStart • View all the PSAT answers and explanations • Get a personalized SAT study plan • Research colleges • Research careers and majors using MyRoad • Take a personality profile • Much More!!!!

40. Should I take an SAT Subject Test? • SAT subject Tests are college admission tests that allow you to differentiate yourself on your college application and showcase your achievements in specific subject areas like math, science, literature, foreign languages or history. • 1 hour long / approx $22 • Not required / check w/individual schools • Can be useful for placement purposes • More information available in Guidance Office

41. SAT Class w/ Mrs.Heiter • Who: Juniors & Seniors who want to take SAT • When: Wednesdays from 7 – 7:45 AM Sept 3rd– Nov 5th • Where: Room 314 • Cost: $60 to Mrs. HeiterASAP • Space is limited! Starts Sept. 3rd!

42. SAT / ACT Average Scores • SAT (3 components – 800 each - 2400 possible) • CR (550)- MATH (550)) - WR (500) *Average score is 1100 (not including Writing) • ACT (36 possible) *Average score is 22 composite CHECK WITH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS FOR SPECIFIC ADMISSION CRITERIA

43. SAT vs. ACT SAT (2400) ACT (36) Math Reading English Science Writing (Optional) No penalty for guessing Student selects which scores to report Only MC questions • Math (800) • Critical Reading (800) • Writing (800) • Essay included in Writing • ¼ pt taken off for wrong answer • All scores reported • Some math questions and essays are not MC

44. Admission Info from Indiana Colleges and Universities

45. Information from West Lafayette • Must send SAT / ACT scores directly to Purdue from College Board • GPA for Financial Scholarships – only based on Science, Math, English, Foreign Language, and Social Studies Grades • They do look at ALL four years – grade trends, etc. • Specifically look at your preparation for the program you wish to enter • Need 2 years (4 credits)Foreign Language • “No” at Purdue initially does not mean “No”forever

46. Purdue Application Info • NEW – PURDUE is now using THE COMMON APPLICATION • Must include one letter of recommendation • Includes an ESSAY! • Application fee is $60 – waivers are available • EARLY ACTION APPLICATION DEADLINE – NOVEMBER 1st! • Will be notified by December 13, 2014 • Deadline for receiving Merit-Based scholarships and for admission to Nursing and Veterinary Technology • February 1st is priority application deadline. Decisions will be made on a rolling basis. • Decision letters WILL NOT BE MAILED. • Check online application portal • Send transcripts through Parchment – preferred method

47. Scholarships Available at Purdue • Trustees Scholarship – 100 per year (Renewable) • $10,000 Indiana Residents ($40,000 for four years) • 2000 SAT (all 3 sections) or 30 ACT (Composite and Writing) • And 3.8 GPA • Presidential Scholarship (Renewable) • $4,000 - $8,000 / yr for Indiana Residents • 1850 – 1990 SAT (all 3 sections) or 27-29 (English/Writing) • Marquis Scholarship – NEW (Renewable) • $2,000 / yr if family income is b/w $40,000 - $100,00 + other criteria • Important Notes • Automatic Awards if student meets deadlines and criteria (Nov 1st!) EARLIER DATE • GPA calculates core GPA with final Junior year transcript • New test scores until Januray 1 (from testing agency) • Additional Need-Based awards available in spring • Cost of Attendance at Purdue/yr = $21,820 Resident • November 1stDeadline!!!!!

48. PURDUE UNIVERSITYAdmission Statistics • Fall 2013 • 30,903 applicants • Enrolled 6,291 residents • Average SAT (All 3 sections): 1600-1890 • Average ACT Composite: 24-30 • Average GPA: 3.6 – 4.0 • Average high school rank: Top 16% of class • Vast majority are Academic Honors Students

49. How Do I Pay?

50. Average Costs • Average debt of a college graduate is $33,000 (*Wall Street Journal, Sept. 4, 2014) • Tuition and Fees = 36% • Room and Board = 43% • Other = 21% • Books • Personal Expenses, etc. • Transportation