A Night to

Explore the Possibilities

EmpowermentEmpowerment Students must become Students must become responsibleresponsible for their own for their own

success, their own grades, rigorous class success, their own grades, rigorous class schedule, and progress with the support of schedule, and progress with the support of parents and teachers.parents and teachers.

OrganizationOrganization-Try different organizational tools, -Try different organizational tools, expect to try and discard multiple personal expect to try and discard multiple personal organization devices.organization devices.

Students must become involved.Students must become involved.

Empowerment-Empowerment-PreparationPreparation

Take the Most Rigorous courses Take the Most Rigorous courses available in your school and through available in your school and through your school.your school.

AP CoursesAP Courses Advanced CoursesAdvanced Courses Dual Credit CoursesDual Credit Courses

Empowerment-Empowerment-PreparationPreparation

Create a Resume, update it 2 times a year.Create a Resume, update it 2 times a year. Consider the resume audience to be any Consider the resume audience to be any

individual writing a letter of recommendation.individual writing a letter of recommendation. Include volunteer and extracurricular Include volunteer and extracurricular

activities.activities. Include any leadership roles.Include any leadership roles.

Empowerment-Empowerment-PreparationPreparation

Mock Interviews.Mock Interviews. Practice selling yourself.Practice selling yourself. Work with a guidance counselor, Work with a guidance counselor,

teacher, youth group leader.teacher, youth group leader. Research college interview questions.Research college interview questions. Research colleges. College Board has Research colleges. College Board has

a terrific College Searcha terrific College Search Utilize the ILP.Utilize the ILP.

Involvement-Involvement-ExtracurricularExtracurricular

Become involved in a sport, drama, a club, a musical instrument, and/or a community of faith based organization.

Involvement-Community Involvement-Community ServiceService

Volunteer-Develop a sustained relationship with some Volunteer-Develop a sustained relationship with some non-profit organization based upon the students interest.non-profit organization based upon the students interest.

Non-Profit participation allows you to practice leadership Non-Profit participation allows you to practice leadership skills.skills.

You have the opportunity to give back to your You have the opportunity to give back to your community. Colleges expect this.community. Colleges expect this.

Involvement-InternshipsInvolvement-Internships Look for internships or opportunities to Look for internships or opportunities to

develop a mentor-mentee relationship with develop a mentor-mentee relationship with professionals in your field(s) of interest.professionals in your field(s) of interest.

Business and Technical professionals are Business and Technical professionals are interested in working with Gifted Students. interested in working with Gifted Students. Most are complimented by becoming mentors.Most are complimented by becoming mentors.

Many colleges encourage professors to Many colleges encourage professors to mentor potential students.mentor potential students.

Many colleges actively recruit students to join Many colleges actively recruit students to join research teams.research teams.

Involvement-SummerInvolvement-Summer Be active. Be active. Participant in summer community Participant in summer community

programs. Learning a new sport (golf, programs. Learning a new sport (golf, tennis), learning a new skill (photography, tennis), learning a new skill (photography, etc.), writing workshops.etc.), writing workshops.

Participate in WKU Gifted Studies Participate in WKU Gifted Studies programs, NKU gifted summer programs, programs, NKU gifted summer programs, UK engineering summer programs.UK engineering summer programs.

Summer camps, CIT programs.Summer camps, CIT programs. Reading Clubs.Reading Clubs.

Involvement-SummerInvolvement-Summer Sophomores-Juniors can apply to the Sophomores-Juniors can apply to the

Kentucky GovernorKentucky Governor’’s School for the Arts.s School for the Arts. Juniors can apply for the Governors Juniors can apply for the Governors

Scholars Program. Scholars Program. 99thth, 10, 10thth, 11, 11thth can apply for Governor can apply for Governor ’’s s

School for Entrepreneurs.School for Entrepreneurs. Juniors can apply for the Murray University Juniors can apply for the Murray University

Commonwealth Honors Academy a 3 week Commonwealth Honors Academy a 3 week residential program.residential program.

Work. Volunteer.Work. Volunteer.

GSP, GSA, GSEGSP, GSA, GSE

GSP-Juniors, Application available GSP-Juniors, Application available now, Need test score, PSAT, ACT now, Need test score, PSAT, ACT (Oct.), SAT (Oct. or Nov.) 5 weeks, (Oct.), SAT (Oct. or Nov.) 5 weeks, Bellarmine, Murrary, MoreheadBellarmine, Murrary, Morehead

GSA-Sophomores or Juniors. Apps go GSA-Sophomores or Juniors. Apps go live early Oct. Due 13/31, 3 weeks, live early Oct. Due 13/31, 3 weeks, CentreCentre

GSE-freshmen, sophomores, juniors. GSE-freshmen, sophomores, juniors. Apps available Dec., make own video, Apps available Dec., make own video, app, recommendations. 3 weeks. app, recommendations. 3 weeks.

Involvement-Be OriginalInvolvement-Be Original Be creative, develop solutions to community problems. Be creative, develop solutions to community problems.

Become involved in community organizations, city-Become involved in community organizations, city-county government. county government.

National school based organizations FFA and/or FBLA National school based organizations FFA and/or FBLA offer great scholarship possibilities.offer great scholarship possibilities.

Kids Guide to Service Projects by Barbara LewisKids Guide to Service Projects by Barbara Lewis Original research, original major projects make a major Original research, original major projects make a major

difference in acceptance into the most selective schools.difference in acceptance into the most selective schools.

Curriculum-SchedulingCurriculum-Scheduling Work with your school counselor taking the Work with your school counselor taking the

most challenging, rigorous curriculum that most challenging, rigorous curriculum that your school offers.your school offers.

Carefully craft a four year high school course Carefully craft a four year high school course schedule.schedule.

Encourage AP courses. Encourage AP courses. Dual Credit-Be carefulDual Credit-Be careful College CoursesCollege Courses

Boyle County High SchoolBoyle County High School

AP- How many is AP- How many is considered to be considered to be rigorous?rigorous?

18 AP Courses available18 AP Courses available Dual Credit courses offered from 5 Dual Credit courses offered from 5

different colleges and universitiesdifferent colleges and universities

Testing-FreshmenTesting-Freshmen Freshman should take the Preliminary Scholastic Freshman should take the Preliminary Scholastic

Attitude Test in October. The PSAT is shorter and Attitude Test in October. The PSAT is shorter and cheaper than other college type tests. When taken cheaper than other college type tests. When taken as a freshmen it is practice. When taken as a as a freshmen it is practice. When taken as a junior it is the qualifying exam for the National junior it is the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation Scholarships.Merit Scholarship Corporation Scholarships.

Wait to take ACT and SAT tests, unless you Wait to take ACT and SAT tests, unless you

missed taking the PSAT.missed taking the PSAT.

PSAT/NMSQT®

Testing-SophomoresTesting-Sophomores Kentucky sophomores take the PLAN test in Kentucky sophomores take the PLAN test in

September, accurate predictor of ACT scores.September, accurate predictor of ACT scores. Take the PSAT in October as practice.Take the PSAT in October as practice. If you cannot wait, consider taking the ACT If you cannot wait, consider taking the ACT

and/or SAT in May or June, do not send scores and/or SAT in May or June, do not send scores to schools, colleges do not consider these to schools, colleges do not consider these scores for admission.scores for admission.

www.number2.com free test prep site. free test prep site.

Testing JuniorsTesting Juniors Prepare for and take the PSAT test in Prepare for and take the PSAT test in

October.October. Prepare for and take the ACT in March, Prepare for and take the ACT in March,

required of all KY juniors.required of all KY juniors. Take the ACT and/or SAT in April or June. Take the ACT and/or SAT in April or June.

Avoid May-concentrate on AP tests in May.Avoid May-concentrate on AP tests in May. Take 2-3 SAT Subject tests in June, based Take 2-3 SAT Subject tests in June, based

upon which AP tests student is prepared for upon which AP tests student is prepared for in May. The most selective colleges require in May. The most selective colleges require 2-3 SAT Subject Tests.2-3 SAT Subject Tests.

A 30 ACT opens most doors, a 32 opens major A 30 ACT opens most doors, a 32 opens major scholarships.scholarships.

Testing-SeniorsTesting-Seniors

Review ACT and/or SAT with a school counselor.Review ACT and/or SAT with a school counselor. Design a plan to prepare to retake ACT and/or Design a plan to prepare to retake ACT and/or

SAT.SAT. All colleges accept either the ACT or SAT.All colleges accept either the ACT or SAT. Most selective and highly selective schools Most selective and highly selective schools

require a score from either the ACT or SAT essay.require a score from either the ACT or SAT essay. Three times is the max anyone should take a test.Three times is the max anyone should take a test. Take any needed SAT Subject tests.Take any needed SAT Subject tests. Colleges require scores to be sent from the Colleges require scores to be sent from the

testing agency.testing agency.

Boyle County High SchoolBoyle County High SchoolHelpful LinksHelpful Links ACT Student Site

College Board KHEAAFast WebGoHigher KentuckySelective Service SystemFAFSAKentucky Department of EducationOccupational Outlook Handbook

Contact UsContact Us Amy. Rhinehart@boyle.kyschools.usAmy. Rhinehart@boyle.kyschools.us

Dana.Stigall@boyle.kyschools.usDana.Stigall@boyle.kyschools.us

College Visits-Freshmen College Visits-Freshmen and Sophomoresand Sophomores

College Drive BysCollege Drive Bys Drive by campusDrive by campus Walk into the Student CenterWalk into the Student Center Eat at a restaurant near campusEat at a restaurant near campus Take few pictures as a memory joggerTake few pictures as a memory jogger Formal visits to with the Admissions Office Formal visits to with the Admissions Office

is not necessaryis not necessary

College Visits-JuniorsCollege Visits-Juniors

Make appointment with Admissions Staff-meet Make appointment with Admissions Staff-meet the individual responsible for your geographical the individual responsible for your geographical area.area.

Research College. Come prepared with Research College. Come prepared with questions, if considering a specific major asked questions, if considering a specific major asked about the course of study.about the course of study.

Avoid organized tour days.Avoid organized tour days. Sit in on a class.Sit in on a class. Take a copy of your resume and/or transcript.Take a copy of your resume and/or transcript. Try to visit during the school term.Try to visit during the school term. Follow up visit with a thank you note to Follow up visit with a thank you note to

admissions.admissions.

College Visits-SeniorsCollege Visits-Seniors Make an appointment with the Make an appointment with the

Admissions OfficeAdmissions Office Consider an overnight stay to 2-3 Consider an overnight stay to 2-3

college.college. Trim the college application list to 6-Trim the college application list to 6-

8 schools. 8 schools. Try to visit the 6-8 schools on the Try to visit the 6-8 schools on the

list.list.

College FairsCollege Fairs Attend. Regional College Fairs are held in Louisville, Attend. Regional College Fairs are held in Louisville,

Lexington, Cincinnati, and Nashville during October.Lexington, Cincinnati, and Nashville during October. Go Prepared.Go Prepared. Attend during the freshman, sophomore and junior Attend during the freshman, sophomore and junior

years.years.

Applying for CollegeApplying for College Most colleges accept the Common Most colleges accept the Common

Application. It is available on-line August Application. It is available on-line August 1. Some school supplements will go on-line 1. Some school supplements will go on-line at a later date.at a later date.

Begin working on the Common Application Begin working on the Common Application as soon as it is available, August 1.as soon as it is available, August 1.

Between the Common App essays and the Between the Common App essays and the supplement essays, seniors will write more supplement essays, seniors will write more essays during their senior year than they essays during their senior year than they will write in any HS class.will write in any HS class.

Applying for CollegeApplying for College UL, Western, Murray, Eastern, Northern UL, Western, Murray, Eastern, Northern

Kentucky are not part of the Common Kentucky are not part of the Common Application.Application.

Each public university and community colleges Each public university and community colleges in Kentucky have their own application.in Kentucky have their own application.

UK, Centre and Transylvania are the only KY UK, Centre and Transylvania are the only KY Common Application members.Common Application members.

Campbellsville, KY Wesleyan, Brescia, Campbellsville, KY Wesleyan, Brescia, Williamsburg, Berea, Asbury, Bellarmine, Williamsburg, Berea, Asbury, Bellarmine, Union, Lindsey Wilson, Pikeville, Georgetown Union, Lindsey Wilson, Pikeville, Georgetown and more have their own applications and more have their own applications

State University ACT State University ACT RequirementsRequirements

50% between50% between University of KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky 23-2823-28 University of LouisvilleUniversity of Louisville 22-2822-28 Murray State UniversityMurray State University 21-2521-25 Morehead State UniversityMorehead State University 19-19-

2525 Northern KY UniversityNorthern KY University 19-2519-25 Eastern State UniversityEastern State University 19-2419-24 Western State UniversityWestern State University 18-2518-25

Kentucky Private College Kentucky Private College and University ACT and University ACT

RequirementsRequirements

Centre CollegeCentre College 26-30 26-30 Transylvania University 24-30Transylvania University 24-30

Selective College and Selective College and UniversitiesUniversities

HarvardHarvard 32-35 32-35 Yale 32-35Yale 32-35 Princeton 31-35Princeton 31-35 Stanford 31-34Stanford 31-34 Vanderbilt 31-34Vanderbilt 31-34 Duke 30-34Duke 30-34 University of Pennsylvania 30-34University of Pennsylvania 30-34

Minimum ACT-Compass Minimum ACT-Compass ScoresScores

If your ACT scores are below 19 in Math, If your ACT scores are below 19 in Math, 18 in English, or 18 in English, or below 20 in Reading, below 20 in Reading, youyou’’ll need to take the COMPASS test. ll need to take the COMPASS test. Compass test is part of ACT Family of tests-Compass test is part of ACT Family of tests-

Go to Go to www.act.org/compass for test practice for test practice KY seniors without a qualifying ACT will KY seniors without a qualifying ACT will

have the opportunity to take the have the opportunity to take the COMPASSCOMPASS

Application RequirementsApplication Requirements

Example:Example:

Brown University- Brown University- Providence , Rhode IslandProvidence , Rhode Island

11/0111/01-Early Decision Date-Early Decision Date

01/0101/01-Regular-Regular Decision Date Decision Date

$75 $75 –Application Fee –Application Fee

SupplementSupplement-Additional information and essay -Additional information and essay

SAT w/Writing and 2 SAT Subject Tests or ACT SAT w/Writing and 2 SAT Subject Tests or ACT w/Writingw/Writing-tests-tests

Teacher recommendationsTeacher recommendations-Two teacher recs -Two teacher recs

School reportSchool report-Counselor completes, rec, -Counselor completes, rec, transcripttranscript

Applying for CollegeApplying for College Apply to 6-8 colleges, more than Apply to 6-8 colleges, more than

that, students are delaying that, students are delaying decisions.decisions.

2 reach schools, 2 realistic, 2 safety2 reach schools, 2 realistic, 2 safety Make every application count.Make every application count. The Perfect School does not exist.The Perfect School does not exist.

Applying for College-Applying for College-RecommendationsRecommendations

The Common Application requires one school The Common Application requires one school counselor recommendation and two teacher counselor recommendation and two teacher recommendations. recommendations.

Ask recommenders early. Give a minimum of Ask recommenders early. Give a minimum of two weeks.two weeks.

Provide recommenders a resume.Provide recommenders a resume. Remind recommender of due dates.Remind recommender of due dates. For non-Common Application schools, For non-Common Application schools,

recommenders will need addressed, stamped recommenders will need addressed, stamped envelopes if application is a hard copy.envelopes if application is a hard copy.

Applying for College-Due Applying for College-Due DatesDates

Due Dates-Watch Due Dates, design a Due Dates-Watch Due Dates, design a format to organize required paperwork and format to organize required paperwork and due dates.due dates.

Most colleges-January 1Most colleges-January 1 Early Action-Early Decision-November 1 Early Action-Early Decision-November 1

Research and know the difference Research and know the difference Most schools notify students of acceptance Most schools notify students of acceptance

on April 1, April Foolon April 1, April Fool ’’s Day!s Day! Rolling admission-Notified usually within 2 Rolling admission-Notified usually within 2

weeks of applicationweeks of application Must accept by May 1.Must accept by May 1.

ScholarshipsScholarships Most scholarships are awarded by the colleges, >10% come from Most scholarships are awarded by the colleges, >10% come from

private sources.private sources. Register with fastweb.com This is free!Register with fastweb.com This is free! https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search This is free! This is free! Make a game out of scholarship applications, but be organized, Make a game out of scholarship applications, but be organized,

diligent, and intentional. diligent, and intentional. Kentucky and county Farm Bureaus and Rural Area Electric Kentucky and county Farm Bureaus and Rural Area Electric

Cooperatives offer scholarships.Cooperatives offer scholarships.

Financial Aid PackagesFinancial Aid Packages Parents are welcome to ask the CollegeParents are welcome to ask the College’’s s

Financial Office to reevaluate their studentFinancial Office to reevaluate their student’’s s financial aid package. No money is ever financial aid package. No money is ever removed from the package, most time the removed from the package, most time the school adds $500-1500 a year to the package.school adds $500-1500 a year to the package.

Parents should always let the Financial Aid Parents should always let the Financial Aid Office know if there are extenuating situations Office know if there are extenuating situations within the family that warrants substantial within the family that warrants substantial additional financial aid. additional financial aid.

Parents need to complete the FAFSA Parents need to complete the FAFSA beginning 1\1.beginning 1\1.

Beyond High SchoolBeyond High School Honors ProgramsHonors Programs External Scholarships-Gates, External Scholarships-Gates,

Fulbright, Rhodes,Truman, Fulbright, Rhodes,Truman, Roosevelt, etc.Roosevelt, etc.

Semesters AbroadSemesters Abroad InternshipsInternships Explore all optionsExplore all options

Student SupportStudent Support

October 2October 2 3:30-4:30 PM 3:30-4:30 PM

GSP parent-student information sessionGSP parent-student information session October 15October 15 All day support for Juniors All day support for Juniors October 28-29October 28-29 All day support for All day support for

Senior College Applications Senior College Applications November 5November 5 Visit Junior classes Visit Junior classes March 25March 25 12:00-5:00 PM Support for 12:00-5:00 PM Support for

JuniorsJuniors

Contact InformationContact InformationPeggy WorkmanPeggy Workman

321 Lakeshore Drive321 Lakeshore Drive

Lexington, KY 40502Lexington, KY 40502

859-269-2443859-269-2443

Pegrw@aol.comPegrw@aol.com