Welcome!

1. Welcome! College Night March 13, 2014

2. A G E N D A Greetings and Introductions- Mr. James Koutsos Message from the PTSA – Donna Pfeiffer Review Agenda and Handouts – Ms. Natoscha McKinnon Topics Covered by Clarksburg’s Staff PSAT – Ms. Bernie LeGrande SAT/ACT/ACCUPLACER - Mr. David Douglass Family Connection/Naviance/College Search – Ms. Sarah Patterson Junior/Senior Timeline – Ms. Mandy Rosado National College Fair - Ms. Mandy Rosado Campus Visits - Ms. Natoscha McKinnon Resources for Parents and Students – Ms. Natoscha McKinnon College Representatives Ms Wanda Colon-Canales, Washington Adventist University Mr. Josh Lubben, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Student Panel Emely Canaza, Josue Chavez, AndieDeCelis, Angel Graham, NitinThiruvengadam Questions for College Representatives/Counselors/Administrators/ Student Panel - Mr. James Koutsos, Moderator

3. PSAT The Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test PSAT/NMSQT Test Date: October 16, 2014

4. Why test? 9th and 10th Grade Students • It allows students to develop a level of comfort with the test. • It gives students an opportunity to see what questions are like on the SAT. • It gives students feedback on their readiness for the SAT. 11th Grade Students 1. Students continue to feel more at ease with the test. 2. It gives students a chance to enter the National Merit Scholarship Programs.

5. Feedback from the PSAT • Students will know how well they did in each category along with areas of strength and weakness. • MCPS data study finds that students who have a total score of less than 130 should take an SAT prep class. • Students with scores significantly lower than 110 should consider other test options such as the ACT. The ACT is accepted by most colleges. • Eleventh graders have the chance to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

6. Additional Information www.collegeboard.org www.nationalmerit.org CHS CEEB Code 210381

7. SAT /ACT/Accuplacer • What is the difference between the three test? The SAT is a test which assesses a student’s reading and reasoning skills, as well as his/her ability to write and perform basic geometry and algebra tasks.  The ACT is an assessment of the  knowledge a student has accumulated during his/her high school coursework.  The accuplacer is a diagnostic assessment used by Montgomery College to accurately place students in courses which might provide necessary remediation. 

8. SAT/ACT/Accuplacer CHS CEEB Code 210381

9. How Do ACT and SAT Scores Compare? ACT CompositeSAT Score 21 1500 22 1530 24 1650 25 1700 26 1760 27 1820 28 1860 29 1920 30 1980 31 2040 32 2130 33 2190 34 2260 35 2340 36 2400 2014 ACT Test Dates Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required) April 12, 2014 March 7, 2014 March 8-21, 2014 June 14, 2014 May 9, 2014 May 10-23, 2014 2014 SAT Test Dates Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required) May 3, 2014 April 4, 2014 April 21, 2014 June 7, 2014 May 9, 2014 May 28, 2014

10. FAMILY CONNECTION • Family Connection is a comprehensive website that you can use to help in making plans about courses, colleges, and careers. • Students can easily access information about colleges, compare institutions, and view scattergramdata showing acceptance rates of CHS graduating classes. • Students and parents registered will also receive emails from Ms. Williams, the College-Career Information Coordinator!

11. Contact sharon_w_williams@mcpsmd.org to register for family connection. Please add Ms. Williams to your contact list, so that her messages do not go to spam. As a freshman you need to complete the following things: • (Add your freshmen activities here) Take the Learning Style Inventory! This survey will help you better understand how you best learn. After you complete “My Learning Style” it will give you a report on how you learn best. Other things you can do on Family Connection that will benefit you in the next few years: • search for colleges (College Search) • Easy access to e-mail your counselor with any questions (Contact Us) • Look up scholarships (Scholarship List) • Request transcripts to be sent to colleges where you have applied (transcripts) • Sign up for visits with college representatives when they visit (Visit Schedule) (This is only for juniors and seniors) • And Much More! Please contact your counselor or the College-Career Information Coordinator, Ms. Sharon Williams @ Sharon_w_williams@mcpsmd.or or 301-444-3035 if you have any questions.

12. Using Family Connection • Get involved in the planning and advising process – Build a resume, complete online surveys, and manage timelines and deadlines for making decisions about colleges and careers. • Research careers – Research hundreds of careers and career clusters, and take career assessments like the Career Interest Profile, in the 10th grade.

14. Using Family Connection • Research colleges – Compare GPA, standardized test scores, and other statistics to actual historical data from our school for students who have applied and been admitted in the past. Students also have the opportunity to create their own college list in the 11th grade. • Create plans for the future –Build course plans, create goals and to-dos, and complete tasks assigned to you by the school to better prepare yourself for your future college and career goals. During their 12th grade year, students will complete a senior packet, update their college list, and request letters of recommendation from their teacher’s.

16. Generate a list of schools so you have all your deadline dates and delivery type at a glance

17. Getting ready for college in the spring of your junior year. April/May 2014 June/July 2014 Review your college list Log into Family Connection Only add colleges to colleges “I am thinking about” Work on your college essays Continue to visit colleges Attend College Readiness work shops at CHS. Check the website for dates/times. Make an appointment to see your counselor over the summer. Call the counseling office ahead of time to see when your counselor is available. • Attend the College Fair • April 9, 2014, see Ms. Williams for more information. • Schedule college visits while on spring break. • Attend assembly • April 29 re: college preparation • Use Family Connection to develop your college list • Start seeking scholarship information • Start evaluating your time management skills.

18. Getting ready for the start of your senior year. August 2014 September 2014 Counselors will meet with seniors the first full week of school to review the senior packet. Work on your senior packet. Request teacher recommendations Use Family Connection Students looking to improve their SAT/ACT score should register for the October test. • Aug. 1, 2014 • Using Family Connection, students can begin moving their colleges from, “colleges I am thinking about” to “colleges I am applying to.” • Students can begin submitting college applications for fall enrollment. • Students can use the common app. or apply via the college’s website. • Ask someone to read your college essays. • Ask someone to read your essay aloud, so that you can hear what you have written. • Continue to visit colleges.

19. During your senior year you will be trying to find a balance between:applications, academics, clubs, sports, work, SSL hours, etc. September 2014 October 2014 Pay attention to your college deadlines. Priority deadlines are Oct. 15 and Nov. 1 Submit the diploma form to the counseling office. By October 31, 2014 **Remember** All of CHS staff is available to help you with the college process. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK! • College reps. will be visiting CHS. • Sign-up using Family Connection • Visits occur from Sept. – May • 12th grade parent night • Time and date will be announced • Submit your senior packet to the counseling office 3 weeks before your application is due.

20. Before submitting your application(s), ASKa parent/guardian/aunt/uncle to review the information for accuracy. Many colleges/universities DO NOTallow you to make changes to a SUBMITTED application. Stop, breathe, save, walk away, and look it over again before hitting submit. CHS CEEB Code 210381

21. National College FairMontgomery County Agricultural CenterGaithersburg, MD • CHS 11th Grade Students attend: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 10:15 AM – 12:30 PM • Anyone welcome (FREE) Wednesday, April 9, 2014 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM To attend the fair, students must register on line at @ www.nacacnet.org/ncfstudent, select “Gaithersburg”, complete and submit printed registration form along with CHS permission form and $4.50 bus fee to Ms. Williams in the College/Career Center. Permission forms are due Friday, April 4, 2014 ($4.50/bus fee)

22. Hints for a Campus Visit • Meet with an admissions officer. • Verify admission requirements (tests and high school preparation). • Discuss your chances for success. • Obtain a school calendar and a catalog, if you don’t already have them. • Determine college costs. • Ask about financial aid opportunities as well as deadlines, forms required, etc. • Meet with faculty in your academic area of interest. • Ask questions about academic requirements/offerings. • Ask about student health services on campus.

23. Resources Subscribe to: Next Step (free magazine) www.nextstepmag.com Magazine – College Scoop – real world advice for college-bound students www.collegescoop.com Eight Steps for Preparing for College http://www.aie.org/aiemail/2013/january/28/eight-tips-for-preparing-for-college.cfm Paying for College – MD Higher Education Agency (MHEC) http://www.mhec.maryland.gov/financialaid/paying.asp Are you ready for College? Naviance Family Connection See Ms Williams in the College and Career Center to register. https://connection.naviance.com/family-connection/auth/login/?hsid=clarksburg Adventures in Education (AIE): Grade level tips for college prep http://www.aie.org/planning-for-college/index.cfm MCPS College and Career Planning Guides: “Getting Started” (Grade 9 students) and “Getting Ready” (Grade 11 students) http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/planningguides/ Peterson’s Time Line for College Planning http://www.petersons.com/college-search/planning-list-students-parents.aspx College Prep – US Department of Education http://studentaid.ed.gov/prepare-for-college Bridges (now XAP) for college and career exploration. Offers scareer interest inventory. See Ms Williams for password. www.Bridges.com

24. Scholarship Resources Kaarmehttp://kaarme.com/find_scholarships FastWebhttp://www.fastweb.com/ College-Scholarshipshttp://www.college-scholarships.com/ The SallieMae Fund http://www.thesalliemaefund.org/ College Answer https://www.collegeanswer.com/ The Hispanic Fund Scholarships www.hsf.net African American Scholarships www.uncf.org MCPSScholarships Page http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/careercenter/financialaid/scholarships.aspx NextStepU Scholarships http://www.nextstepu.com/college-scholarship.cat

25. Wanda Colon-Canales Director of Admissions & Recruitment wcanales@wau.edu

26. Josh Lubben External Communications Coordinator jlubben@umbc.edu

27. Student Panel The following seniors will share their perspective on the college application process during the question and answer session. Emely Canaza Josue Chavez AndieDeCelis Angel Graham NitinThiruvengadam

28. Questions and Answers CHS CEEB Code 210381