Navigating the College Process

1. Navigating the College Process

2. Before we begin, I ask those students in the room - Why are applying to college? Then…………. What do you want from a college? and a campus? Why is this important to YOU?

4. Topics covered • Start Early • Academic Planning for each year • Standardized Testing Plan • College Visits • Extra Curricular Activities • NCAA Eligibility Center • Application Process • Financial Aid • National Honor Society Requirements • Naviance

5. Start Early Even if you are entering into your senior year, you still have time.

6. How an Admission Decision is Made • Overall performance • Level of Academic Rigor • Grades in courses • Standardized test scores • Letters of Recommendations • Essay(s) • Activities/Talents/Level of Involvement • Demonstration of interest in a college • Interview

7. ACADEMIC PLANNING North Resources A Game Plan - • Course Selection/Teacher Recommendation • 5 Major Academics (English, Math, Science, History, W.Lang. & Electives to Support Potential Career Choice (s) & Exploration • Academic Rigor • Upward Trajectory in levels for 4 years

8. Most IMPORTANT Factors in the College Admissions process are Grades in high school and the Strength of your high school courses How do you Compare? Review North School Profile http://www.nhvweb.net/guidance/files/2019/01/North-Hunterdon-HS-2018-2019-School-Profile.pdf

9. STARTING EARLY = LESS STRESS • Open dialogue about finances and cost • Being more informed leads to a better decision • Be realistic and do your research • The student should be taking the lead • Charts, spreadsheets, photos, folders, etc.

10. Standardized Testing • Develop a Plan: Calendar • Create an account with CollegeBoard.org • Junior Year: PSAT (Fall) • SAT/ACT (Spring) • Subject Tests • Practice, practice, practice - Khan Academy Free SAT Prep, County library books, CollegeBoard website • Test-Optional Colleges - https://www.fairtest.org North Resources

11. SAT VS. ACT SAT - College Board https://www.collegeboard.org/ ACT - American College Testing https://www.act.org/content/act/en.html Comparison Chart https://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/ACT-SAT-Concordance-Tables.pdf https://blog.prepscholar.com/act-vs-sat

12. When Should I take the SAT or ACT? Why are scores important to the admissons? https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/testing/8-things-to-know-about-how-colleges-use-admission-tests How many times?

15. SAT II SUBJECT TESTS https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat-subject-tests/subjects Click on for Link-Complete List: Colleges That Require SAT Subject Tests Scores can be Required by Competitive Colleges

16. The BEST PART The College Visit Have fun and make this an important part of the process!

17. College Visits • Check High School Calendar & College Calendar (they are different)& Develop a list of schools to visit A Nice College List: Probable, Target, Reach Apply to an average of 8-10 schools; 2-4 in each category • Foundation: Your GPA and test scores are above the average admitted student; likely acceptance. • Target: Your GPA and test scores are a close match to the average admitted student; 50/50 chance. • Reach: Your GPA and test scores are below the average admitted student.

18. Finding the Right Fit for YOU • Academic - Are you Successful Academically, Schools that meet your needs & goals • Social -Socially Involved and Active • Financial - Can you Afford Financially, Return on investment? Placement, Financial Aid/Merit Offers

19. Getting the Most Out of a College Visit: • Visit college when in session - maybe Spring Break • Register for a Tour, usually online and choose a date Rutgers U -https://admissions.rutgers.edu/visit • Take a detour (labs, classrooms, dininghall, recreational facilities, athletic fields, dorms, bookstore) • Student Union. The Campus Green. Look around, Listen, Observe.Think and visualize you on this campus. • Check out posters/fliers that are on bulletin boards. • Keep Business card of College AdmissionsCounselor from our area-email/make contact and send a THANK YOU!

20. Before the Visit Submit Form to Guidance 3 days prior to visit

21. Extra-Curricular Activities ASPEN http://www.nhvweb.net/guidance/ Log Service Hours https://drive.google.com/file/d/13Gazov6s-jOyOknFLxDOTBVBFLFXhD-o/view

22. Extra-Curricular Activities • Quality over Quantity • Summer Programs • Employment • Job Shadowing • Volunteer Work • Log all hours in ASPEN • Hours per week and weeks per year

23. Want to Play Sports in College? This is another added layer to the college process. North offers an evening program covering all aspects of the NCAA Guidance Website - NCAA Eligibility Requirements NCAA Evening Program at North - February 2020 at 7:00pm in the Theater

24. Application Process North Guidance is always available to help!

25. Application Process • Check College Requirements • Send Test Scores directly from College Board and ACT website(s) in a timely fashion • Application (Common App vs. Electronic Doc) • Essays • Letters of Recommendation (3-4) • Junior Questionnaire/Parent Brag Sheet • High School Transcript/GPA • Deadlines are Deadlines!!!!!

26. Common App & other delivery topics Common Application - https://www.commonapp.org Coalition Application - http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org

27. One transcript release form PER college - this is an official request to release records & must be signed by parent -unless 18 years old

28. Complete Junior Counselor Questionnaire You and your parents share with your school counselor all the great things you have accomplished and more to read and include in your college recommendation. These forms are found on the Guidance Website. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-egGZeYhgEe-pY0KmgR-2-i-gyR3NPpNZyZHHid2rNI/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S89V0x9sUEATHQ0lsOpEhTFrjv_JQ7k1EKK1hX7xQcg/edit

29. Financial Aid Information North’s Financial Aid evening set for Wednesday, October 23rd at 7pm in the theater. Please plan to attend this evening and learn from Greg Mitton, Director of Financial Aid, at Muhlenberg College.

30. How am I Paying for College? North Resources • FAFSA Website • CSS Profile • Local Scholarships • College Board Calculators • Financial Aid Night – Fall of 12th Grade or even sooner

31. Social Media Keep it clean!

32. Watch Your ONLINE Behavior • 27% of Admissions Officers Google prospective students • 26% check Facebook • 35% report finding information that negatively impacted acceptance to their college Source: Ivywise (Volume 8: 10)

33. Watch Your ONLINE Behavior • “De-Tag” yourself from any questionable photos or content. • Grandparent Test: if you would not want you grandparent to see it, don’t put it online. • Post positive content that illustrates your interests and strengths

34. COLLEGE FAIRS Get to know them so they know you!

35. Upcoming Events • College Fairs (2019-20) • Visits with Admission Counselors at North • Sign up on Naviance next Fall 2019 • Career Fair (Spring 2020)

36. 2019-20 College Fairs

37. Tips for a Successful College Fair Experience Before the Fair Consider all characteristics of colleges – location, size, admission statistics, student body, academic programs, clubs/organizations, athletics, job placement rates, and more. Use the search and comparison features on Naviance and College Board to narrow down your type of college. Review college websites before the fair to identify questions you may have for colleges. Review the list of colleges attending so you can plan to visit with those colleges and have an effective fair experience. What to Bring Bring a notepad and writing utensil to jot down thoughts about colleges and to keep track of important questions to ask, or take notes on your phone. OUR FAVORITE TIP: Make self-stick labels with information so you don’t have to fill out so many information cards in one evening. This way, you can use your time to chat, not write. Colleges will request your information on these cards so they can keep in touch with you. The following information should appear on your self-stick label, but please note that information cards may ask for more or less information. Any size self-stick label is fine, but you may need a larger label to fit all of the information. Name Mailing Address City, State, Zip Code Phone Number(s) and Email High School Name Graduation Year College Major/Area of InterestGPA and Test Scores, if taken

38. (con’t) During the Fair Make sure you pick up a map and a bag for handouts. Focus on the colleges you really want to know about, especially those colleges you may not have a chance to physically visit in the near future. Show your “demonstration of interest”. Ask questions and request materials and business cards from the representatives. Take a few minutes after each visit to jot down notes from your conversation. Plan to allow a few minutes at the end to stop by booths you didn’t plan on visiting – you never know which unexpected colleges could be a match for you. After the Fair Organize your thoughts, notes, and materials. Visit websites and take the “virtual tour” that may be offered on the website. Begin to consider which colleges you would like to physically visit – possibly those schools that really impressed you at the fair. If you had a very successful conversation with a representative, consider sending a note of thanks and appreciation. Continue showing “demonstration of interest”. Final Tip Students – you should be speaking with the representatives. While it is understandable and common for parents to ask questions, you should approach them first and start the conversation. Do not stand behind your parent(s), letting them do the talking. After all, this is your college education!

39. North Hunterdon School Counselors

40. How Can My Counselor Help Me? • Essay Topic & covered in English IV classes • College Interviews/Visits • Develop a Resume - Naviance • Applications(Probable - Target - Reach) • 4-year planning • Scholarship Opportunities • Extracurricular Activities • Standardized Testing Planning • And more…...

41. Junior/Senior Checklist ❑ Attend College Fair (September) ❑ Take PSAT (October) or SAT/ACT test ❑ STUDY! Maintain High Marks ❑ Research Schools on Naviance ❑ Develop Resume ❑ SAT Prep Plan ❑ Register for SAT, SAT II Subject Tests and/or ACT ❑ Identify Possible Majors or Undeclared

42. Junior/Senior Checklist (con’t) ❑ Refine Target College List Foundation Colleges (you exceed averages) Target Colleges (you are in the average range) Reach Colleges (your dream schools) ❑ Plan College Visits ❑ Early Decision (Binding) ❑ Early Action (Non-binding) ❑ List of Teacher Recommendations ❑ Summer Plans: Work Community Service

43. National Honor Society 3.5 GPA after Sophomore Year Apply Spring of Junior Year or Fall Senior Year 100 Hours of Community Service 100 Hours of Extra-Curricular 50 Hours of Leadership

44. Navigating through NAVIANCE WE WILL BREAK FOR THE NEXT SESSION TIME TO STRETCH

45. Naviance • Research Careers • Determine interests/strengths • Take the Career Interest Profiler • Develop a resume/list activities • Explore Job Outlook North Resources

46. Computer Log In Log in to Naviance http://www.nhvweb.net/guidance/college-and-career-resource/naviance/ https://student.naviance.com/nhhs

47. Studen log in Student’s last name and student ID with Student Log in password

48. Topics to Cover in Naviance • Research Colleges • Compare GPA and Standardized Test Scores (10+ years of data - 2008 to present) • Exploration of Majors and Careers • Interest Inventories • Resume Builder • College Admissions and Timelines • Planner • And much more……….

49. North Guidance Website College Forms http://www.nhvweb.net/guidance/college-forms/ Regularly check our Guidance Webpage for up-to-date information.

50. Questions?