9 th Grade College Planning Night

1. 9th Grade College Planning Night George C. Marshall HS Student Services Department

2. Agenda Welcome, Cindy Blakeley, DSS College Admissions Factors Academic Skills and Courses Family Connection and College & Career Search SAT / ACT Q & A

3. College Admission Decision Factors – Jim Rixse • Admissions test scores • Grades in core courses • Counselor/Teacher recommendations • Essay • Grades in all classes • Demonstrated interest • Extracurriculars • Interview • Strength of curriculum at school • Work • SAT II scores What do you think are the most important parts of a college application?

4. College Admission Decision Factors: Actual Ranking Grades in core classes Strength of curriculum at school SAT/ACT scores Grades in all courses Essay Demonstrated interest* Counselor/Teacher recommendations Interview* SAT II scores Extracurriculars Work Source: NACAC “Sate of College Admissions 2012”

5. Academic Skills and Course Types Gina Fajardo

6. Academic Readiness “Freshman Year Counts”Gina Fajardo Habits developed during freshman year set the tone for future yearsUse Learn time appropriatelyDevelop an organizational system that makes senseStrive for a challenging course load that is manageableDevelop a pattern of good study habitsSet rigorous but realistic goals for academic success

7. Academic Readiness & Course OfferingsAVID-- an elective designed to support motivated students that provides study skills instruction, motivational activities, and career and college exploration. Students must be concurrently enrolled in an honors or IB class.Other Programs: *College Partnership Program (CPP) ---a program designed for students in any grade level who are the first in their families to attend college, or who are new to the college process in the United States, and need the extra support. This includes monthly meetings on various college-related topics at the school level, and also college field trip opportunities at the county level.*Pathway---a partnership program between NOVA and some FCPS schools , which offers extra support to those seniors who are applying to NOVA by having them meet periodically with a NOVA counselor.

8. Family Connection andCollege & Career Searching Gardner Humphreys • Sign up for Parent View: fcps.blackboard.com

9. College Exposure & Search

10. Try Something New… • Dental Office in Vienna • seeks student to help with daily tasks… • Democratic Combined Campaign and Young Republicans of Fairfax • want you to intern for the next election… • Alternative House Teen Shelter • looking for young leaders for Youth Advisory Council… • ForLandsandWater.org • needs volunteers to prepare living classrooms in parks…

11. GCM College & Career CenterGardner Humphreys • College Research & App Help • Test Prep: GCM Library > Databases > College/Career • Scholarships & Aid: Fridays Learn & Nov. 19 • Jobs - After School and Summer • Volunteering and Internships • Study Area: Learn, after school • Stay Informed: • https://www.facebook.com/mstatesmen & Twitter • Blackboard Parent View account created at home, activated in school • http://fcps.blackboard.com

12. Search for: “GCMCollegeCareer”

13. College Testing • Role of Tests • What is a “Good Score”? • ACT Explore and PSAT; ACT v SAT • When to Take • Preparation • GCM Testing Info Night – January 14 • Big Picture

14. Q & ASurvey:www.gcmcollegecareercenter.weebly.comorsearch: “gcmcollegecareer”