SENIOR CLASS PRESENTATIONLIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL!
LEARNING TARGETS
• Counselor breakdown
• Discuss options for life
• Explore college options
• Discuss salaries related to education levels
• Discuss general college and scholarship procedures• ACT VS SAT
• What should you be doing right now
VISTA PEAK COUNSELORS
Mrs. Lyle A-G
Ms. Berry H-P
Ms. Husk Q-Z
Subject Required Credits
English 4.0 units of credit
Math 4.0 units of credit
Science 3.0 units of credit
Social Science 1.5 units of credit
US History 1.0 units of credit
Civics 0.5 units of credit
World Language 2.0 units of credit
Electives 6.0 units of credit
Minimum credits to
Graduate 22.0 units of credit
Subject Required Years
English 4 Years
Math (must include algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II or equivalents)
4 Years
Natural/Physical Science (two units must be lab based)
3 Years
Social Science 1.5 Years
US History 1 Year
Civics 0.5 Years
Foreign Language 1 Year
Academic Electives 2 years
ARE YOU ON TRACK TO GRADUATEVP Graduation Requirements HEAR Graduation Requirements
HOW MANY GRADUATION CREDITS SHOULD I HAVE?
CLASS 2015Subject Credits
English 3.0 Credits
Math 3.0 Credits
Science 3.0 Credits
Social Science 1.0-1.5 Credits
Civics .5 Credits
US History 1.0 Credits
Electives/World Language 1.0-2.0 Credits
Total credits that you should have now!
Minimum of 15 credits to graduate on time!
WHAT OPTIONS DO I HAVE AFTER VP
• Not finishing High School
• Working at a job after graduating high school• Save $$ for college
• Take a gap year
• Gain real world experience
• Apprentice Programs• Training for a specific job
• Earn while you learn
• Career and Technical Training
• Military
• Two-Year College (Community College)
• Four-Year College
• Branches
• ARMY
• NAVY
• AIR FORCE
• MARINES
• COAST GUARD
• RESERVES
• Benefits
• Serving Country
• Learn skills and a Trade
• Earn money $$$$ for College
• Start a Career
• Minimum commitment of 2 Years
MILITARY
• Low cost
• May take longer than other Career Schools
• Quality instructors that have worked in specific career field
• Hands on career specific training
• Job placement (sometimes)
• Emily Griffith Opportunity School
• Pickens Technical College (Aurora Public Schools)
• Wyotec
CAREER & TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
Local Schools Facts
• Promise faster completion
• Higher tuition with more loan debt
• Credits usually do not transfer to Community College or 4-year University
Schools you see on TV
OTHER CAREER & TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
BEAWARE!!!!!!
• Smaller Class size
• Affordable tuition
• You do not have to live on-campus
• Guaranteed admission
• May work with undocumented students
• Community College of Aurora
• Community College of Denver
• Red Rocks Community College
• Arapahoe Community College
• Front Range Community College
COLORADO TWO YEAR COLLEGES
Local Community Colleges Community College Facts
• Low cost tuition
• Located in Rural or Mountain area across Colorado
• On-campus housing
• looser admission requirements
• May have low to no wait-list for programs
• Aims Community College
• Colorado Mountain College
• Colorado Northwest Community College
• Lamar Community College
• Pikes Peak Community College
COLORADO TWO YEAR COLLEGE CONT.
Other Two-Year Colleges Two-Year College Facts
• Career and Vocational focused
• Guaranteed admissions
• Smaller classes than traditional 4 year colleges
• two –year college with on campus housing
• Opportunity to participate in NCAA sports
• Otero Junior College, La Junta
• Trinidad Junior College, Trinidad
• Blair Junior College
• Northeastern Junior College, Sterling
COLORADO JUNIOR COLLEGES
Junior Colleges Junior College Facts
• Larger class size
• Harder admission requirements
• More options for Majors
• Usually provide good Financial Aid options
• Options to participate in NCAA sports (competitive)
• Adams State College, Alamosa
• Colorado School of Mines, Golden Colorado
• Colorado State University,
• - Fort Collins (Main Campus) & Pueblo
• Fort Lewis College
• Mesa University, Grand Junction
• Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver
FOUR YEAR COLORADO COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
Four Year Colleges/Universities Four Year College/University -Facts
• Higher tuition than Community College
• Competitive admission requirements
• More major options
• Larger campuses
• May offer good Financial Aid package
• Opportunity to participate in NCAA sports (competitive)
• University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder (main campus)
• University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs
• University of Colorado at Denver, Denver
• University of Colorado Health and Science Center, Aurora
• University of Northern Colorado, Greeley
• Western State College of Colorado, Gunnison
FOUR YEAR COLORADO COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES CONTINUED
Four Year Colleges/Universities Four Year College/University Facts
• Smaller college
• Tuition is higher
• Some give more Financial Aid and large scholarship endowments
• No COF requirement and may work for undocumented students
• Opportunity to participate in NCAA college sports
• Colorado College, Colorado Springs
• Colorado Christian University, Lakewood
• Johnson & Wales, Denver
• Regis University, Denver
• Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Denver
• University of Denver
PRIVATE COLORADO FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
Colorado Private Colleges Private Institution Facts
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current population Survey, March 1998,1999,and 2000
AVERAGE ANNUAL EARNINGS FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES AND NON-GRADUATE
• Visit schools that you may be interested in attending
• Apply to at least five schools. Make sure you have two safe schools
• Talk to your family about Post-Secondary plans (Financial Aid, Colleges)
• Check Naviance and the Counseling Center for upcoming Events, Scholarships and Post –Secondary information
• Talk to Counselors to discuss options to make up credits.
• Examine you ACT score, Look at upcoming ACT retest dates.
• Check for Scholarship and College Application deadlines. (research)
• Apply for scholarships that meet your qualifications
• Talk to your counselor to see if you are on track
• Talk to teachers about recommendation letters
WHAT STEPS TO TAKE NEXT
ADDITIONAL APPLICATION PROCEDURESCollege Application
• Complete your college application online
• Keep a Copy and communicate with Counselors and let them know if you need fee waivers ( you must receive free and/or reduced lunch to qualify)
Transcripts
• Request Official transcripts
• Allow 10 days for transcript request to be processed
Recommendation Letter Requests
• Please fill out Letter of Recommendation Request Form for recommendation letters
• Please allow two weeks for letters to be completed
Scholarship
• Pay attention to scholarship guidelines and deadlines
• Make sure applications are completes and sent off in a timely manner
IMPORTANT DATES
Event Date
October 25, 2014 ACT Deadline for registration is September 19, 2014
October Power Session October 20-24
Concurrent Enrollment Registration
November 2014
College Goal Sunday February 2015 TBA
FASFA Priority Deadline March 1, 2015
Graduation May 27, 2015
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACT & SAT?
• ACT – measures what you currently know. It is an achievement test. (approx 3 hrs)
• SAT – measures your potential (critical thinking ability). It is an aptitude test. (approx 3.5 hrs)
ACT• The ACT is a national college admission examination that consists of subject area tests in
English, Math, Reading and Science.
• The ACT Plus Writing includes the four subject area tests and a 30-minute Writing Test.
• The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete with breaks (or just over four hours if you are taking the Writing Test). Actual testing time is 2 hours and 55 minutes (plus 30 minutes if you are taking the Writing Test).
SAT• The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills you'll need for academic
success in college.
• The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems—skills you learned in school that you'll need in college.
• The SAT includes a Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing section. The 25-minute essay will always be the first section of the SAT, and the 10-minute multiple-choice writing section will always be the final section. The remaining six 25-minute sections can appear in any order, as can the two 20-minute sections.
GRANTS VS SCHOLARSHIPS
Grants = Free money you don’t have to pay back
Scholarships=Free money-academic, athletic, service
Application, essays, interviews
(more to come)
Loans= must pay back once you graduate
FAFSA
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Is FREE on fafsa.edu.gov-you should not pay for it!!!
• Need based
• Can start applying Jan 1, 2015
• College Goal Sunday Feb 2015 CCA
• Apply early
• More on this topic to come
COLLEGE ESSAY
• Needs to reflect who you are NOT what you did
• Make it personal-how did you feel, what did you think,what did you learn
• Be honest
• Leave people with hope
• What is your message to the world
• We will explore topics
WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING NOW• Keeping your GPA Solid
• Be involved
• Looking at Colleges- Dream school, Likely, For sures
• Talking to College Reps/College Fairs/College Visits
• Looking at College Index Score
• Write your College Essay/Personal Statement
• Get 2 good letters of recommendation from people who say good things about you and know you!
• Talk to your parents-really
• Look for scholarships and start applying
QUESTIONS