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The Montgomery High School Guidance Department presents… January 2013
The Montgomery High School Guidance Department presents…
January 2013
MHS Guidance DepartmentMHS Guidance Department
Ms. ApelMs. Apel ext 6168ext 6168 [email protected]@mtsd.usMr. GlockMr. Glock ext 6164ext 6164 [email protected]@mtsd.usMs. HamptonMs. Hampton ext 6165ext 6165 [email protected]@mtsd.usMs. MusialMs. Musial ext 6166 ext 6166 [email protected]@mtsd.usMrs. Pino Mrs. Pino ext 6167ext 6167 [email protected]@mtsd.usMrs. RitsonMrs. Ritson ext 6172ext 6172 [email protected]@mtsd.usMs. WatsonMs. Watson ext 6163ext 6163 [email protected]@mtsd.us
Make an appointment through email, or speaking with a Make an appointment through email, or speaking with a secretary. secretary.
BEGINNINGBEGINNING THE COLLEGE THE COLLEGE SEARCH PROCESSSEARCH PROCESS
The Goal:The Goal:Find theFind thecolleges colleges that are that are the the
right fits right fits for you!for you!
DECISION FACTORSDECISION FACTORSSizeSizeLocationLocationCampus personalityCampus personalityEntrance RequirementsEntrance RequirementsMajors availableMajors availableThe school’s The school’s commitment to a commitment to a particular majorparticular majorDiversityDiversityAthletics/ActivitiesAthletics/ActivitiesReputation Reputation Cost…Cost…
CONSIDERING THE COST OF CONSIDERING THE COST OF COLLEGECOLLEGE
How much can your family afford?How much can your family afford? (including tuition, books, travel, spending money, etc)(including tuition, books, travel, spending money, etc)
Compare lower tuition at a public school with Compare lower tuition at a public school with the possibility that a private school may have the possibility that a private school may have more financial resources and be able to offer more aidmore financial resources and be able to offer more aid
Don’t let the initial cost of college dissuade you from Don’t let the initial cost of college dissuade you from applyingapplyingConsider applying for scholarships: Consider applying for scholarships: www.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.com is a great place to is a great place to
startstart
Going to college should Going to college should NEVER break the piggybank!NEVER break the piggybank!
Financial Aid and ScholarshipsFinancial Aid and ScholarshipsFederal Student Aid: Federal Student Aid: http://studentaid.ed.govhttp://studentaid.ed.govFree Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): www.fafsa.govwww.fafsa.govFAFSA4caster: FAFSA4caster: www.fafsa4caster.ed.govwww.fafsa4caster.ed.govCSS/PROFILE: CSS/PROFILE: https://profileonline.collegeboard.comhttps://profileonline.collegeboard.comThe Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid: The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid: www.finaid.orgwww.finaid.orgMHS Guidance WebsiteMHS Guidance WebsiteFastWeb: FastWeb: www.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.comFindTuition: FindTuition: www.findtuition.comwww.findtuition.comSallie Mae: Sallie Mae: www.salliemae.comwww.salliemae.com
TYPES OF COLLEGESTYPES OF COLLEGES4-Year Colleges and 4-Year Colleges and UniversitiesUniversitiesLiberal Arts SchoolsLiberal Arts SchoolsIvy League SchoolsIvy League SchoolsPrivate CollegesPrivate CollegesPublic CollegesPublic CollegesTechnical UniversitiesTechnical Universities
Specialized Institutions
Music conservatoriesArt schoolsCulinary schoolsHealth sciences
Two -Year Colleges
Two-year private schoolsCommunity collegesGuaranteed transfer programs
Getting StartedGetting Started
Begin in winter of Begin in winter of your Junior yearyour Junior yearTalk to older Talk to older friends/family about friends/family about their experiencestheir experiencesIdentify possibilitiesIdentify possibilitiesKnow your resourcesKnow your resourcesResearch and visitResearch and visit
YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE:SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE:
College visits!College visits!Best to go when Best to go when school is in sessionschool is in sessionTake a campus tourTake a campus tourAttend an open houseAttend an open houseOvernight stays Overnight stays
with a sibling or with a sibling or friendfriendVisit actual classes Visit actual classes while in sessionwhile in session Interview?Interview?
Helpful Websites for the College Helpful Websites for the College SearchSearch
CSO College Center: CSO College Center: www.CSOCollegeCenter.orgwww.CSOCollegeCenter.orgThe College Board: The College Board: www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.comKnowHow2Go: KnowHow2Go: www.knowhow2go.orgwww.knowhow2go.orgHobson’s CollegeView: Hobson’s CollegeView: www.collegeview.comwww.collegeview.comPeterson’s: Peterson’s: www.petersons.comwww.petersons.comThe Common Application Online: The Common Application Online: www.commonapp.orgwww.commonapp.orgColleges That Change Lives: Colleges That Change Lives: www.ctcl.orgwww.ctcl.orgCollege College VisitsVisits:: www.college-visits.comwww.college-visits.com
JUNIOR PLANNING MEETINGSJUNIOR PLANNING MEETINGSCounselors present to Counselors present to juniors in small groupsjuniors in small groupsCounselors meet with Counselors meet with each student each student individuallyindividuallyCounselors will meet Counselors will meet with students and with students and parents upon requestparents upon requestParents and students Parents and students can use Naviance at can use Naviance at homehome
What are colleges looking for?What are colleges looking for?
Grades in coreGrades in core academic classes – academic classes – strength of program strength of program SAT/ACT testsSAT/ACT testsOverall GPAOverall GPAEssay or writing sampleEssay or writing sampleTeacher/Counselor Teacher/Counselor recommendationsrecommendationsInterview/VisitsInterview/VisitsActivities/Special talentsActivities/Special talents
GIVING THE GIFT OF OWNERSHIPGIVING THE GIFT OF OWNERSHIPThe college admissions process calls for trust and The college admissions process calls for trust and
a new kind of teamwork “directing” needs to give way to a new kind of teamwork “directing” needs to give way to “guiding”“guiding”Getting to college, Getting to college,
despite your child’s despite your child’s inexperience and busy inexperience and busy schedule, is something schedule, is something she must do for herself she must do for herself
College admissions College admissions officers are eager toofficers are eager tohear about the student hear about the student from the studentfrom the student
You have done your jobYou have done your jobin that you have brought your child to the point where he can in that you have brought your child to the point where he can
begin begin speaking for himself - Now it’s his turnspeaking for himself - Now it’s his turn
New Trends …New Trends …Rutgers University Rutgers University policy of self-reporting policy of self-reporting gradesgradesAdmission policies like Admission policies like Restricted Early ActionRestricted Early ActionElectronic submission of Electronic submission of documents via Naviancedocuments via NavianceTest optional schools Test optional schools www.fairtest.comwww.fairtest.comACT – much more ACT – much more popularpopular
Standardized TestingStandardized Testing
Know what the colleges on your list are looking for…
SAT ?SAT II?ACT?
REGISTER FOR THE TESTREGISTER FOR THE TEST
Register online - Register online - www.collegeboard.orgwww.collegeboard.org for the for the SAT and SAT and www.act.orgwww.act.org for the for the ACTACTWebsites also have useful Websites also have useful resources such as practice resources such as practice tests, questions of the day, tests, questions of the day, study and test-taking tips, study and test-taking tips, college searches, etc…Take college searches, etc…Take advantage of themadvantage of them
SAT & ACTSAT & ACTSATSAT
Scholastic Aptitude TestScholastic Aptitude TestAptitude orientedAptitude oriented3 3/4 hours in length3 3/4 hours in lengthScore Range 200 – 800 Score Range 200 – 800 (2400 total)(2400 total)Critical Reading, Math, Critical Reading, Math, WritingWritingEssay (scored out of 12) Essay (scored out of 12) You choose which You choose which scores will be sent to scores will be sent to colleges.colleges.
ACTACTAmerican College TestAmerican College TestAchievement orientedAchievement oriented3 1/2 hours in length 3 1/2 hours in length Score Range 1-36Score Range 1-36English, Math, English, Math, Reading & Scientific Reading & Scientific ReasoningReasoningEssay optionalEssay optionalYou choose which You choose which scores will be sent to scores will be sent to collegescolleges
Which test is right for you?
SAT II – Subject TestsSAT II – Subject TestsSelective Colleges require Selective Colleges require Subject Tests for admissionSubject Tests for admission1 hour in length (take up to 1 hour in length (take up to three tests on one test date)three tests on one test date)Score Range 200 – 800 Score Range 200 – 800 All tests are not offered onAll tests are not offered on
all dates – all dates – be sure to plan ahead be sure to plan ahead
SAT TESTINGSAT TESTING – Dates to Remember – Dates to RememberDATE TEST/S REGISTER BY
March 9, 2013 SATFebruary 8
(February 22 Late)May 4, 2013 SAT/Subject tests April 5
June 1, 2013 SAT/Subject tests May 2ACT TESTINGACT TESTING – Dates to Remember – Dates to RememberFebruary 9, 2013January 11
April 13, 2013 March 8
June 8, 2013 May 3
Test Prep/Coaching Test Prep/Coaching ProgramsPrograms
PSAT Score Report Plus and test PSAT Score Report Plus and test booklet were recently returned and are abooklet were recently returned and are agreat way to identify specific strengths great way to identify specific strengths and areas of needand areas of need
CollegeBoard and ACT offer free test CollegeBoard and ACT offer free test preparation on their websites. Students can familiarize themselvespreparation on their websites. Students can familiarize themselveswith the tests and the directions for different sectionswith the tests and the directions for different sections
Many different individual, small and large classes, handbooks and computer programs on the marketMany different individual, small and large classes, handbooks and computer programs on the market– Effectiveness of books and classes is a hotly debated topicEffectiveness of books and classes is a hotly debated topic– Can be costly and time-consumingCan be costly and time-consuming– Results varyResults vary– Princeton Review and Revolution Prep programs offered at MHSPrinceton Review and Revolution Prep programs offered at MHS
TESTINGTESTING – Helpful Hints – Helpful Hints
Become familiar with Become familiar with the testthe testKnow how you learn Know how you learn best and invest time best and invest time into that strategyinto that strategyTake timed practice Take timed practice teststestsPeople who read well – People who read well – score wellscore wellREAD, READ, READ!READ, READ, READ!
YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH STARTS WITH:STARTS WITH:
Registering and logging in toRegistering and logging in to
What is it?What is it?Web-basedWeb-basedSupports high Supports high
school career and school career and college planningcollege planning
Specific to MHSSpecific to MHSAvailable Available onlyonly to to
registered usersregistered users(student and parent, (student and parent, and counselors)and counselors)
Easy registration, Easy registration, easy to useeasy to use
How does it help?How does it help?Shared resource linking home to schoolShared resource linking home to school
Organized and efficient “container” to compile a student’s data, Organized and efficient “container” to compile a student’s data, experiences, documents, etc., relevant to experiences, documents, etc., relevant to college admissioncollege admission with consideration for student information confidentialitywith consideration for student information confidentiality
Greater opportunity for parent Greater opportunity for parent participation in high school college participation in high school college planningplanning
Accurate, complete records about Accurate, complete records about student outcomes and admission student outcomes and admission decisions from our schooldecisions from our school
Realistic assessments of your Realistic assessments of your chances of admission to colleges chances of admission to colleges where prior graduates have appliedwhere prior graduates have applied
Family Connection Login Page
Do a College SearchDo a College Search
ScattergramsScattergrams
See When College Reps are Visiting See When College Reps are Visiting MHSMHS
• Registered users sign up to attend meetings online
• Meeting reminders e-mailed a day before college visit
FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE COLLEGE SEARCHCOLLEGE SEARCH
From all of your research, From all of your research, make a list of ten to twelve schoolsmake a list of ten to twelve schoolsthat are potential fitsthat are potential fits
Do more extensive research Do more extensive research on those schoolson those schools
Trim that list to eight to Trim that list to eight to ten by September of your ten by September of your senior year and begin applyingsenior year and begin applying
This is an exciting time!This is an exciting time! Remember to have Remember to have fun visiting campuses fun visiting campuses and learning about and learning about what makes each one what makes each one unique unique Remember that there Remember that there is more than one is more than one college out there for college out there for youyouTry to minimize stress Try to minimize stress by keeping all lines of by keeping all lines of communication open communication open and seeing your and seeing your counselor oftencounselor oftenGood luck!
