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An hour of college knowledge focusing on types of colleges, what colleges look for, choosing and paying for college, and essential steps for juniors. Prepare for college admissions and understand the process to make informed decisions.
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Overview • College Knowledge • What Do Colleges Look For? • Choosing a College • Paying For College • Getting It Done “An hour of information designed to help juniors begin the transition to college”
College KnowledgeTypes of Colleges • 2-year vs. 4-year • Public vs. Private • Single Sex vs. Coed • Religious Affiliations • Liberal Arts
College KnowledgeSources of Information • Friends & Family • College Night • Counseling Office • Internet
Internet Resources • www.cfnc.org • (NC colleges only) • www.collegeboard.com • At these websites, you can do a “college search” for information about a specific school, or you can use a “matching assistant” to find colleges that match your preferences. • See “Surf the Net” handout for other useful websites.
What Do Colleges Look For?High School Transcript • Course Selection • GPA & Class Rank • SAT/ACT Scores • See handout for sample transcript
What Do Colleges Look For?Testing for College • ACT • SAT Reasoning Test • SAT Subject Tests • ACCUPLACER • ASSET
Testing for CollegeTest Preparation Options • Practice booklets for ACT & SAT • Websites: www.actstudent.org, www.collegeboard.com, www.cfnc.org, www.number2.com • ReTaP lab • SAT Prep workshops • SAT Prep classes • Books & CDs
What Do Colleges Look For?School & Community Involvement • Items to include on a resume: • Participation in school activities • Participation in community activities • Paid or volunteer experience • Honors & awards received • Show evidence of leadership • Show dates/years of items on resume
What Do Colleges Look For?College Selectivity • The laws of supply & demand • affect college admission! • Definitions: • Highly selective: narrow range of students • Minimally selective: wide range of students • Medium/moderately selective: in between • Open admissions: anyone w/ GED or diploma
Choosing a CollegeKnow Your/Your Teen’s Preferences • What type of college? • How far away from home? • Big school or smaller school? • Rural or urban setting? • What majors are of interest? • What activities are of interest?
Choosing a CollegeNarrowing It Down • Choose 3-5 colleges that are the best fit by: • Using the college match feature on websites • Talking to admissions representatives • Visiting!!!
Choosing a CollegeVisiting Colleges • Why visit colleges? • When should I visit? • How do I set up a visit? • What should I do when I get there?
Paying for CollegeLearning the Basics • Two types of “discounts”: • Need-based • Merit-based • Encouraging words: • The majority of students who attend college receive a “discount off the sticker price”. • In most cases, the more expensive the college, the more money they have for aid.
Paying for CollegeGetting Started • Need-based • FAFSA after Jan. 1, 2010 • PROFILE ? after Oct. 1, 2009 • Merit-based • College-based scholarships • Local, state, & national scholarships • Counseling Office Newsletter • Internet search
Getting It DoneWhat Juniors Should Already Have Done • If interested in 4-year college: • Taken the PSAT • Taken any SAT Subject Tests related to HS courses if required by your colleges (e.g. Math Level IIC after Pre-calculus) • Finalized a spring 2009 testing plan: test type, test date, registration deadline, preparation
Getting It DoneWhat Juniors Should Already Have Done • If interested in 2- or 4-year college: • Attended “College Night” • Begun identifying 5-10 schools that match student interests • Begun career/major exploration • Finalized a spring 2009 college visit plan: who? when?
Getting It DoneNext Steps • Visit colleges! • Look for summer activities related to college/career interests • Continue to explore colleges and narrow down the list of potential schools • Register for senior courses that will maximize college admission chances
Getting It DoneSenior Year Snapshot • Fall • Work on & complete college applications • Take 2nd round of SAT/ACT • Winter • Complete FAFSA form • Spring • Receive financial aid packages • Make final decision about where to go
Summary • Know your family’s college preferences • Do your research • Choose 3-5 colleges that will be a good fit • Watch your deadlines • Enjoy the ride!