SOPHOMORE PARENT NIGHT

1. SOPHOMORE PARENT NIGHT Vanessa Montorsi, Director of Pupil Services & Counseling Joanna Caserta, School Counselor March 14, 2018

2. Tonight's Agenda • Post-secondary Options • Opportunities & Experiences • PSAT/SAT/ACT • College & Career Center • Naviance • Timelines ***Discussion of the elimination of mid-terms***

3. Preparation to Date

4. Summer Experiences & Opportunities  • Develop Your Interests • Jobs • Volunteer work/community service • Sports • Summer programs • Courses, classes, camps • Travel • Campus visits • Contact info-emails

5. Junior Year Activities • Get Involved in FLHS and the community • PSAT/NMSQT • College Panel Night • NAVIANCE • Junior Appointments • College Visits • Other standardized tests • College & Career Center • General timelines

6. PSAT/NMSQT • Math/Evidence-Based Reading & Writing • TEST AT FLHS Wednesday, OCTOBER 10, 2018 • Results in Mid-December • Specific answers • Levels of difficulty • Study opportunities for SAT's (Khan Academy) • College Board Resources • National Merit Scholarship Qualifications

7. Naviance • Web-based service • Career inventory • Career search • Signing up for college rep visits • Researching colleges • Checking FLHS history and data • Scholarships

8. College Career Center -Resources for Post High School Planning • College Listings • Alumni Ambassadors • Choosing a Major • Scholarship/Financial Aid • Test Prep Programs & Practice Materials • PSAT, SAT, ACT Registration Information • Summer Programs • Gap Year Options • Military Programs • Career Information • Job Searches

9. College Career Center • Coordinate College Visits • Start in mid-September • Listed on Naviance • Register on-line to visit with a representative • Explore many other options • Part Time Job Bank • Register for job opportunities Alice Gorman-coordinator Agorman@fairfieldschools.org

10. College Panel NightJanuary 2019 • Several Speakers from colleges • Overview of admissions process • Differences among colleges • What's important • How to present applications • Timelines • How are admissions decisions made • Focus on grades and activities

11. Additional Programs • Art School Fair—tentatively scheduled for Fall • Area College Fairs • Dozens of Colleges visiting in the State • April 4, 2018 4:00—8:00 p.m. • Webster Bank Arena—200+ Schools • Gap Year Fair • Community College Fair • Apprenticeship Program • Military Day • Career Schools & Colleges Fair All information posted on FLHS website, in Infinite Campus and FLHS School Counseling newsletter.

12. What Is The Right College? • Someone else’s choice? • The college with the best basketball team? • US News & World Report’s #1? • The college I can afford? REMEMBER: • The answer will be different for each student.

13. Finding the Right Fit • It’s not about finding the best college… • It’s about finding the right college • The right college is where students can be happy and successful • There are more than 3,000 schools in U.S. • Average of 7-9 applications per student. REMEMBER: Each student’s choice will be different.

14. Junior Appointments • Student and parent both attend • Second Semester—between Feb and April break • FLHS Post-High School Planning Guide • Overview of colleges • Starting to sort:  • Size, location, majors, extra-curricular activities • Developing a "list" • Testing timelines • Communication • Responsibilites

15. Standardized Tests SAT AND SUBJECT TESTS • March-Connecticut School Day Administration • MAY, JUNE-Additional SAT Dates • Reading, Writing & Language, Math • Essay (Optional) ACT • DIFFERENT SCORE RANGE • English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning Essay (Optional) ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMS —MAY • Scores for credit or placement

16. College Campus Visits • Any time you travel-stop in! • Plan ahead and decide what to see and what to ask • Visit while in session  • Take a tour • Stay over if possible • Register with admissions office for visits/open houses • Talk with students and professors • Get a "feel" for campus • Picture yourself here • Sort what is import and what is not • Don't go simply because of "the name"

17. TIMELINE 2018-2019 • SEPTEMBER • Colege rep visits • Visit college career center • Register on Naviance-explore options • OCTOBER • PSAT ON Wednesday October 10, 2018 • Continue college rep visits • Attend Financial Aid Night-Optional for Juniors • NOVEMBER • Alumni Day • Continue college rep visits • DECEMBER • Continue college rep visits and exploring Naviance • Review PSAT results • Begin using Khan Academy if want to improve SAT scores

18. TIMELINE 2018-2019 • JANUARY • Attend College Panel Night • Continue preparing for SAT using Khan Academy • Visit colleges • FEBRUARY • Course registration for senior year • AP exam registration • Individual junior planning meetings • Visit colleges • MARCH • Individual junior planning meetings • SAT/ACT exams • Visit colleges

19. TIMELINE 2018-2019 • APRIL • College Fair at Webster Bank Arena • SAT/ACT exams • Individual junior planning meetings • Visit colleges • MAY • AP exams • SAT/ACT exams • Visit colleges • Plan letters of recommendations • JUNE • SAT/ACT exams • Visit colleges • Plan summer visits/activities • Plan development of colleges to visit-consider early applications • Final exams

20. Communication • Stay in touch with counselor • First initiallastname@fairfieldschools.org • emails are on the FLHS website on School Counseling Tab         • Udpate Infinite Campus Info • Emails, texts             • FLHS Counseling Website • Newsletter READ, READ, READ TALK, TALK, TALK

21. Questions?