planning for college planning for college source: act’s college planning guide copyright 2004 by...

Planning for CollegePlanning for College Planning for CollegePlanning for College

Source: ACT’s College Planning Guide Source: ACT’s College Planning Guide Copyright 2004 by ACT, Inc.Copyright 2004 by ACT, Inc.

Planning for CollegePlanning for College

You can organize the college You can organize the college planning process inplanning process in

six simple stepssix simple steps

Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

Wor

kW

ork MilitaryMilitary Trades

Trades

Apprentice Apprentice ProgramProgram

Proprietary Proprietary SchoolsSchools

COLLEGECOLLEGE

Options After High SchoolOptions After High School

Let’sLet’s FocusFocus on Collegeon College

Remember...decision making Remember...decision making is a PROCESS, not an event!is a PROCESS, not an event!

SourceSource: ACT College Planning Guide: ACT College Planning Guide

Know Yourself and Your Know Yourself and Your Reasons for Attending CollegeReasons for Attending College

Recognize your strengths and Recognize your strengths and weaknessesweaknesses

Analyze your interests and valuesAnalyze your interests and values Achieve a personal goalAchieve a personal goal Increase your earning powerIncrease your earning power

11

Know Yourself and Your Know Yourself and Your Reasons for Attending CollegeReasons for Attending College

Prepare for a career and expand Prepare for a career and expand learninglearning

Extracurricular activities & social lifeExtracurricular activities & social life Influence of family and friendsInfluence of family and friends

11

Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

Take responsibility Take responsibility for your future!for your future!

Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

Recommended High School Recommended High School Curriculum for CollegeCurriculum for College EnglishEnglish 4 units4 units MathematicsMathematics 3 units3 units Social StudiesSocial Studies 3 units3 units ScienceScience 3 units3 units

Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

Recommended High School Recommended High School Curriculum for CollegeCurriculum for College

Many colleges also require Many colleges also require additional additional coursescourses in: in:

– Foreign Language Foreign Language

– MathematicsMathematics

– Fine & Performing ArtsFine & Performing Arts

Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

Core Curriculum/ACT Score StudyCore Curriculum/ACT Score Study

21.921.7

22.3

21.721.5

20.920.921.3

20.720.4

19.419.6

19.8

19.118.7

17.0

18.0

19.0

20.0

21.0

22.0

23.0

English Math Reading Science Composite

National National Core or MoreCore or More

National Ave. National Ave. (Total)(Total)

National National Less than Less than CoreCore

Core Curriculum:Core Curriculum: 4 Units – English4 Units – English3 Units – Math3 Units – Math3 Units – Social 3 Units – Social StudiesStudies3 Units – Nat. Sciences3 Units – Nat. Sciences

Source: 2004 ACT High School ProfileSource: 2004 ACT High School Profile

ACT Test PreparationACT Test Preparation The best preparation is a solid high The best preparation is a solid high

school curriculumschool curriculum ACT includes four curriculum-based tests ACT includes four curriculum-based tests

-- English, Math, Reading, and Science -- English, Math, Reading, and Science Become familiar with the ACT test content Become familiar with the ACT test content

and formatand format Review your PLAN results to identify Review your PLAN results to identify

academic weaknessesacademic weaknesses

ACT Test PreparationACT Test Preparation

Learn appropriate test-taking Learn appropriate test-taking strategiesstrategies

Use ACTive PrepUse ACTive Prep®® – ACT’s test – ACT’s test preparation software programpreparation software program

Take ACT’s free practice testTake ACT’s free practice test Visit the ACT website at www.act.orgVisit the ACT website at www.act.org See your counselor for other test See your counselor for other test

preparation materialspreparation materialsSource: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

Remember, test scores are Remember, test scores are only ONE factor used for only ONE factor used for college admission and college admission and scholarship decisionsscholarship decisions

Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

Consider College Consider College CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Majors & Majors & educational educational programsprograms

Type of school & Type of school & degrees offereddegrees offered

Admission policyAdmission policy

Location & sizeLocation & size Costs & financial Costs & financial

aidaid College affiliation College affiliation

& accreditation& accreditation Campus activitiesCampus activities Support servicesSupport services

22

Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

List, Compare, and Visit List, Compare, and Visit CollegesColleges

Compile information from several Compile information from several resources:resources:– Internet/WebsitesInternet/Websites– College catalogs, bulletins, videos, and College catalogs, bulletins, videos, and

computer-based services computer-based services (DISCOVER(DISCOVER))

– College representatives & college fairsCollege representatives & college fairs– Counselors and teachersCounselors and teachers– Parents, students, and alumniParents, students, and alumni– Directories and ACT score reportDirectories and ACT score report

33

List, Compare, and Visit List, Compare, and Visit CollegesColleges

Prepare a college comparison Prepare a college comparison checklistchecklist

Weigh advantages & disadvantagesWeigh advantages & disadvantages Contact the office of admissionContact the office of admission Schedule appointments for your Schedule appointments for your

campus visitscampus visits

33

Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

Every campus has a Every campus has a “personality” “personality”

Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

Checklist for a Campus VisitChecklist for a Campus Visit

Meet with an Admission CounselorMeet with an Admission Counselor Verify admission requirementsVerify admission requirements Determine actual college costsDetermine actual college costs Ask about financial aid opportunitiesAsk about financial aid opportunities Take a campus tourTake a campus tour

Checklist for a Campus VisitChecklist for a Campus Visit

Investigate your academic program(s)Investigate your academic program(s) Attend a classAttend a class Talk with students and facultyTalk with students and faculty Discuss your chances for success:Discuss your chances for success:

– admissionadmission

– graduationgraduation

– placementplacement

Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

Apply for Admission and Apply for Admission and Observe DeadlinesObserve Deadlines

Narrow your choicesNarrow your choices Review college admission test Review college admission test

requirementsrequirements Know application fees and deadlinesKnow application fees and deadlines Know scholarship requirementsKnow scholarship requirements

44

Apply for Admission and Apply for Admission and Observe DeadlinesObserve Deadlines

Submit application materials (paper/ Submit application materials (paper/ electronic)electronic)

– Application for admissionApplication for admission

– High school transcriptHigh school transcript

– RecommendationsRecommendations

– Admission test resultsAdmission test results

44

Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

Keep accurate records!Keep accurate records!

Develop a Plan to Finance Develop a Plan to Finance Your EducationYour Education

Determine college costsDetermine college costs Investigate Investigate ALLALL possible resources possible resources

– ParentsParents– SavingsSavings– Summer earningsSummer earnings– Financial aid: scholarships, grants, Financial aid: scholarships, grants,

loans & work-studyloans & work-study– Other sourcesOther sources

55

Develop a Plan to Develop a Plan to Finance Your EducationFinance Your Education

Secure necessary forms and Secure necessary forms and note deadlinesnote deadlines

Apply for financial aid as early Apply for financial aid as early as possibleas possible

55

Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

Don’t eliminate any college Don’t eliminate any college because of costs before because of costs before

receiving financial receiving financial assistance information!assistance information!

Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

What Does Postsecondary What Does Postsecondary Education Cost?Education Cost?

Budget Items Colleges – Estimated Costs2-Year Public Private

Tuition & Fees

Room & Board

Books &SuppliesTransportation

Miscellaneous

Total Budget

Review and Finalize Your Review and Finalize Your PlansPlans

Show initiative and be assertiveShow initiative and be assertive Talk with your parents and counselorTalk with your parents and counselor Select a college that meets your Select a college that meets your

needs and preferencesneeds and preferences Follow up with colleges to which you Follow up with colleges to which you

have appliedhave applied

66

Source: ACT College Planning Guide

College Success FactorsCollege Success FactorsTest scores and high Test scores and high school grades are school grades are important . . .important . . .

. . . However, they . . . However, they measure only part of measure only part of your “potential”your “potential”

Source: ACT College Planning Guide

Keep in mind…Keep in mind…making sound decisionsmaking sound decisions

will lead to will lead to satisfying and successful satisfying and successful

experiences! experiences!

Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide

Planning for CollegePlanning for College Planning for CollegePlanning for College