Spring Into College Spring Into College ReadinessReadiness
Dr. Rebecca JosephDr. Rebecca Joseph@getmetocollege@[email protected]@gmail.com
What do competitive colleges What do competitive colleges look for…look for… GradesGrades Academic RigorAcademic Rigor Standardized Test ScoresStandardized Test Scores Application EssaysApplication Essays Counselor ReportCounselor Report Extracurricular ActivitiesExtracurricular Activities Teacher Letters of RecommendationTeacher Letters of Recommendation OtherOther
GradesGrades
Colleges look forColleges look for Continuous strong performanceContinuous strong performance Upward progressionUpward progression Particular strength in areas of Particular strength in areas of
interestinterest So…So…
Academic SuccessAcademic Success
Continue doing well in your coursesContinue doing well in your courses Do not drop core content areas unless you Do not drop core content areas unless you
are particularly challenged by them-- which are particularly challenged by them-- which means keep taking foreign language and means keep taking foreign language and math classes.math classes.
Do the best you can to keep your grades Do the best you can to keep your grades up…If you struggle, get help…sooner up…If you struggle, get help…sooner rather than later.rather than later.
DO NOT let grades drop during senior DO NOT let grades drop during senior year, especially the spring. year, especially the spring.
Junior year and fall senior year grades are Junior year and fall senior year grades are the MOST important of all.the MOST important of all.
Academic Rigor meansAcademic Rigor means
How difficult your course load is How difficult your course load is compared to options at schoolcompared to options at school
Academic reputation of your Academic reputation of your schoolschool
Particular strength and exploration Particular strength and exploration in particular content areasin particular content areas
Pushing Your Academic RigorPushing Your Academic Rigor
Take the most challenging courses Take the most challenging courses you can and keep your grades as you can and keep your grades as high as possiblehigh as possible
Take honors and AP classes in your Take honors and AP classes in your stronger content areas if you plan to stronger content areas if you plan to apply to very competitive collegesapply to very competitive colleges
Continue to increase rigor junior and Continue to increase rigor junior and senior yearsenior year
Understand that colleges will Understand that colleges will compare your academic choices to compare your academic choices to those offered at your schoolthose offered at your school
Take summer classes at local Take summer classes at local collegescolleges
Standardized TestsStandardized Tests
Colleges use these tests to Colleges use these tests to compare students across compare students across schoolsschools
They were never intended for They were never intended for the use they are giventhe use they are given
Nonetheless, understand your Nonetheless, understand your test options…test options…
The Test OptionsThe Test Options
The large majority of schools The large majority of schools requirerequire SAT I SAT I
oror ACTACT
And/orAnd/or Two to three SAT IIs (most Two to three SAT IIs (most
competitive test)competitive test) AP TestsAP Tests
Developing A Testing Developing A Testing ScheduleSchedule
The SAT is releasing a new test for class of The SAT is releasing a new test for class of 2017.2017.Juniors. You’re set with old SAT, ACT, AP Juniors. You’re set with old SAT, ACT, AP Tests, and Subject Tests.Tests, and Subject Tests.Sophomores. You can stay with ACT. You Sophomores. You can stay with ACT. You can try out new SAT.can try out new SAT.Freshmen and younger: You can choose.Freshmen and younger: You can choose.This spring---AP tests in May. SAT Subjects This spring---AP tests in May. SAT Subjects Tests May or Spring.Tests May or Spring.SAT and ACT are offered seven times a SAT and ACT are offered seven times a year. year.
Standardized Testing NotesStandardized Testing Notes
There are many colleges that do not There are many colleges that do not require tests!!! See this site for most up to require tests!!! See this site for most up to date list of schools that do not require testsdate list of schools that do not require testshttp://http://www.fairtest.orgwww.fairtest.org/university/optional/university/optional
The ACT allows you to choose which test The ACT allows you to choose which test date to send. You have to send out by test date to send. You have to send out by test date.date.
The SAT allows some score choice. The SAT allows some score choice. Colleges have preferences. Superscores.Colleges have preferences. Superscores.
See the following site for the most up to See the following site for the most up to date testing requirements of top colleges: date testing requirements of top colleges: http://http://www.compassprep.comwww.compassprep.com//admissions_req_subjects.aspxadmissions_req_subjects.aspx
Other Key Factors: Other Key Factors: Application EssaysApplication Essays Application essays are often the top Application essays are often the top
none academic component colleges none academic component colleges use in admissions use in admissions
These essays must be written by the These essays must be written by the applicant. Colleges can recognize applicant. Colleges can recognize adult written essays in a split secondadult written essays in a split second
Essays must have a sizzle, a Essays must have a sizzle, a message, a unique storymessage, a unique story
Essays can tip you in…Admissions Essays can tip you in…Admissions officer remember great, honest officer remember great, honest essaysessays
Essays: PreparationEssays: Preparation Spring-Keep track of any first person narratives you Spring-Keep track of any first person narratives you
write.write. Summer after Junior Year-Begin to think of core Summer after Junior Year-Begin to think of core
messages about yourself you want colleges to messages about yourself you want colleges to understand that may not come across any other understand that may not come across any other wayway
Summer after Junior Year-Begin drafting one to two Summer after Junior Year-Begin drafting one to two long autobiographical essays about yourself…Each long autobiographical essays about yourself…Each one should have a set of core values you want to one should have a set of core values you want to expressexpress
Fall Senior Year-Develop master list of all essaysFall Senior Year-Develop master list of all essays Fall Senior Year-Write the fewest essays possible. Fall Senior Year-Write the fewest essays possible.
Overlap them.Overlap them. Fall Senior Year-Make sure you follow Into-Fall Senior Year-Make sure you follow Into-
Through-Beyond approach.Through-Beyond approach. Fall Senior Year-Make sure all essays express Fall Senior Year-Make sure all essays express
different information yet complement each other different information yet complement each other with core messages about you.with core messages about you.
Counselor LettersCounselor Letters
Counselors letters are mandated Counselors letters are mandated component of most private school component of most private school applicationsapplications
Counselors have relationships with Counselors have relationships with collegescolleges
Counselors use different, yet similar Counselors use different, yet similar categories for ranking colleges for studentscategories for ranking colleges for students Reach-reach or challenge or unlikey---most Reach-reach or challenge or unlikey---most
difficultdifficult Reach, strength-difficultReach, strength-difficult 50-5050-50 LikelyLikely
Listen to your counselorListen to your counselor
Counselor Letters: TimelineCounselor Letters: Timeline
Junior Year-Get to know your counselor. Junior Year-Get to know your counselor. Drop into office, ask core questions. Drop into office, ask core questions. Develop a relationship.Develop a relationship.
Junior Year-Attend all programs offered by Junior Year-Attend all programs offered by counseling officecounseling office
Junior Year Spring-Develop preliminary Junior Year Spring-Develop preliminary college list with counselorcollege list with counselor
Senior Year-Complete Senior Year-Complete “brag” sheet for “brag” sheet for counselor. Give as much information as counselor. Give as much information as possiblepossible
Senior Year-Refine college list with Senior Year-Refine college list with counselorcounselor
Senior Year-Continue strong interaction Senior Year-Continue strong interaction with counselorwith counselor
Extracurricular ActivitiesExtracurricular Activities
Colleges want varied student Colleges want varied student populations. They want students who populations. They want students who enhance their campuses and take enhance their campuses and take advantage of resources.advantage of resources.
They look for students who They look for students who participate actively in school and participate actively in school and community activities.community activities. ConsistencyConsistency DevelopmentDevelopment LeadershipLeadership InitiativeInitiative
Extracurricular Activities: Extracurricular Activities: TimelineTimeline Freshman-Junior Year- Continue with your current Freshman-Junior Year- Continue with your current
activities. Do not stop. You can start an activity, but activities. Do not stop. You can start an activity, but plan to continue it through senior year.plan to continue it through senior year.
Junior Year- Take on leadership responsibilities in Junior Year- Take on leadership responsibilities in current activities.current activities.
Summer-Use your summer---Summer-Use your summer--- Get a jobGet a job Get an internshipGet an internship VolunteerVolunteer Take enrichment coursesTake enrichment courses Continue with camp, sports, and other activitiesContinue with camp, sports, and other activities
Senior YearSenior Year Take leadership positionsTake leadership positions Continue your participation in past activitiesContinue your participation in past activities
Teacher RecommendationsTeacher Recommendations
Most private colleges and many Most private colleges and many public colleges want letters of public colleges want letters of recommendations from teachers.recommendations from teachers.
They want core academic letters—They want core academic letters—English, SS, Math, Science, and English, SS, Math, Science, and ScienceScience
They prefer junior and senior year They prefer junior and senior year teachers or teachers you have had teachers or teachers you have had more than once.more than once.
They want teachers who know you They want teachers who know you wellwell
Recommendation TimelineRecommendation Timeline
Freshman-Junior Year-Continue Freshman-Junior Year-Continue developing strong relationships with developing strong relationships with teachersteachers
Junior Year-Do not throw away another Junior Year-Do not throw away another core graded assignmentscore graded assignments
Junior Year-If core teachers are planning to Junior Year-If core teachers are planning to leave school…get contact info.leave school…get contact info.
Senior Year Fall-Ask one to two teachers Senior Year Fall-Ask one to two teachers from junior year, senior year, or sophomore from junior year, senior year, or sophomore (academic strength) to write letters. Ask (academic strength) to write letters. Ask EARLY.EARLY.
Senior Year Fall-Give teachers packets Senior Year Fall-Give teachers packets with appropriate forms and envelopes and with appropriate forms and envelopes and brag sheets. Remind them of all the brag sheets. Remind them of all the wonderful things you did in class-written, wonderful things you did in class-written, oral, and more.oral, and more.
Other Readiness TimelineOther Readiness Timeline
Sports-follow all requirements set forth by Sports-follow all requirements set forth by NCAA. Attend summer camps. NCAA. Attend summer camps.
http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA_EMS.html?test=1http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA_EMS.html?test=1 Arts-Develop a portfolio, resume, audition Arts-Develop a portfolio, resume, audition
as required by each college. Fall and as required by each college. Fall and Winter Senior Year-Develop an audition or Winter Senior Year-Develop an audition or arts master listarts master list
Other special talents-Develop a portfolio Other special talents-Develop a portfolio and make sure you have someone who and make sure you have someone who really knows your talent help you convey really knows your talent help you convey that to college.that to college.
Other Core Readiness Other Core Readiness Timelines-College ResearchTimelines-College Research
College research takes timeCollege research takes time Read key books and websitesRead key books and websites Talk to friends who are seniors Talk to friends who are seniors
and recent gradsand recent grads Talk to friends and familyTalk to friends and family Check your student on Naviance Check your student on Naviance
and other school comparative and other school comparative offerings.offerings.
College Research TimelineCollege Research Timeline
Sophomore-Junior Year-Develop core list of Sophomore-Junior Year-Develop core list of what match colleges must havewhat match colleges must havelocation, size, cost, academics.location, size, cost, academics.
Sophomore Year-Visit local colleges. Sophomore Year-Visit local colleges. Spring Junior Year-Visit core colleges. Spring Junior Year-Visit core colleges.
Interview when possible. Visit classes, Interview when possible. Visit classes, meet students.meet students.
Spring Junior Year-Attend local college fairsSpring Junior Year-Attend local college fairsSummer Post Junior Year-Narrow down listSummer Post Junior Year-Narrow down listFall Senior Year-Attend more college fairs Fall Senior Year-Attend more college fairs
and attend all relevant college visits at your and attend all relevant college visits at your school or in local areaschool or in local area
Fall Senior Year-Visit more colleges and Fall Senior Year-Visit more colleges and narrow down list.narrow down list.
Demonstrated Interest Demonstrated Interest TimelineTimeline
Colleges care that you know Colleges care that you know them.them.
College VisitsCollege Visits High School VisitsHigh School Visits College FairsCollege Fairs Virtual VisitsVirtual Visits Social MediaSocial Media
ApplicationsApplications
There are many forms of There are many forms of applications. applications.
Most are now onlineMost are now online Unfortunately, public colleges Unfortunately, public colleges
have their own applicationshave their own applications Fortunately, the large majority Fortunately, the large majority
use the Common Application.use the Common Application. Fortunately, all require Fortunately, all require
overlapping features.overlapping features.
Applications TimelineApplications Timeline
Summer Post Junior Year-Start a master list of Summer Post Junior Year-Start a master list of college application deadlines and requirements and college application deadlines and requirements and passwordspasswords
Summer Post Junior Year-Start writing core essays Summer Post Junior Year-Start writing core essays and develop a resumeand develop a resume
Fall Senior Year-Begin completing formal Fall Senior Year-Begin completing formal applications. Devote one hour per day to applications. Devote one hour per day to applications. Remember, write fewest essays applications. Remember, write fewest essays possible.possible.
Fall Senior Year-Make sure you followFall Senior Year-Make sure you follow Test score submissions requirementsTest score submissions requirements School and teacher paperwork and transcripts School and teacher paperwork and transcripts
requirementsrequirements Complete all technical forms on applicationsComplete all technical forms on applications Develop outstanding essaysDevelop outstanding essays Meet all deadlines.Meet all deadlines.
Final WordsFinal Words
You are a work in progressYou are a work in progress Colleges want to know who you really areColleges want to know who you really are Yet they donYet they don’t read minds so don’t keep ’t read minds so don’t keep
anything core about youanything core about you But donBut don’t overwhelm them or scare them ’t overwhelm them or scare them
awayaway They want to know how you will enhance They want to know how you will enhance
and enrich their campusand enrich their campus There is so much you can doThere is so much you can do It is never too late...to develop a strong It is never too late...to develop a strong
college readiness plancollege readiness plan
YOU CAN DO ITYOU CAN DO IT
If you need my helpIf you need my help
Look at my website: getmetocollege.orgLook at my website: getmetocollege.org
Follow me on twitter: @getmetocollegeFollow me on twitter: @getmetocollege
Email me at [email protected] me at [email protected]