GRADE 10 COLLEGE

NIGHT

ACHIEVEMENT FOR

COLLEGE ADMISSION AND

SUCCESS

Wednesday, January 23th – 7:00 p.m.

Agenda this evening

What does it really take to get in to college?

What do I do if my college test scores are not what I hoped for or wish to improve?

What support is in place for me as I move through the college search and application processes?

What should I be doing to stay on track to receive the best chances for success in getting to the college of my choice?

Does doing well on the PSAT really matter?

Group meetings with your counselor

Carroll Easterday, Director for College Readiness: easterdayc@wws.k12.in.us

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The current climate of college admission

College enrollment is high – typical in this economic climate

Indiana, public, four-year universities are focusing on attracting high achievers

Admission standards have increased nearly everywhere

Public universities are moving away from need-based aid to merit- based aid

Reputation and rankings are more important than ever

The cost of educating students for the 21st century forces cost of tuition to jump in larger increments

Community College option provides students with numerous benefits and growing in popularity with Indiana students – high quality certification

Popular Indiana, public colleges – Note* data represent WHS averages not minimum institution requirements

College Apps/Admits % WHS GPA SAT (CR +M)

Ball State 93/82 88% 3.33 1088

Indiana State 38/33 87% 3.15 978

Indiana Univ. 141/113 80% 3.83 1188

IUPUI 91/71 78% 3.37 1025

Ivy Tech 65/65 100% 2.25 optional

Purdue 98/82 84% 3.84 1180

Univ. of Southern Indiana 19/18 95% 2.98 933

Vincennes 8/8 100% 1.95 optional

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Automatic Scholarships at Indiana University –

Bloomington Campus

Excellence - $36,000 ($9,000 per year) The IU Excellence Scholarship is awarded to the best and brightest students in the state of Indiana who meet each of the following criteria:

Indiana resident

Minimum SAT score of 1350 or minimum ACT of 31

Minimum GPA of 3.80 on a 4.0 scale

Prestige - $12,000 ($3,000 per year) The IU Prestige Scholarship is awarded to Indiana resident students who meet each of the following criteria:

Indiana resident

Minimum SAT score of 1250 or minimum ACT of 28

Minimum GPA of 3.70 on a 4.0 scale

Why does the PSAT matter?

College and Career Readiness Benchmark: Research indicating a 65 percent likelihood of achieving a B- average or higher during the first year of college.

Typical score improvement – 130 points better on SAT for students who take PSAT in both Grades 10 & 11

National Merit competition is tied to Grade 11 PSAT

Skills typically improve between grades

Advises students on personalized skill development through My College QuickStart

Critical

Reading

Mathematics Writing Composite

Grade 11 45 47 45 142

Grade 10 42 44 42 133

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How can I better understand my PSAT

results?

Maximize your PSAT experience:

Register for the PSAT Scores Back Session: Next

Steps Live Webinar for WHS parents and students:

Wednesday, February 6th - 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, February 20th – Noon – 1:15 p.m. (parents only)

Registration link sent via email on Friday, February 1st

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How do most colleges review applications?

1. Number of academic classes taken & diploma track

2. Grades earned (weighted & un-weighted GPA) – Achievement to Rigor factor

3. Grade trend with emphasis on junior year

4. SAT or ACT scores – compared to the mid range of the overall applicant pool

5. If college reviews by major, how the applicant compares to others in the pool

6. Rigor of senior year schedule – review of 2nd, 3rd trimesters

7. Counselor Report

The additional key factors for some:

(i.e., Northwestern, Washington U., Stanford, etc.) colleges or programs:

Application essay (s) – extremely important

SAT Subject Tests – illustrates depth of content knowledge

Letters of recommendation from teachers – extremely important

Demonstrated excellence in a extracurricular activity

Distinctive leadership experiences

Auditions or Portfolios

Completed athletic questionnaire

How do I position myself to be as

competitive as possible?

1. Rigor and achievement in rigor are two sides of the same college readiness coin

2. Seek out a college interview or personal meeting if available – yes, even if you are in Grade 10

3. Learn about college majors by visiting college campuses – facilities, Showcases for specific majors, feedback from current college students

4. Take the career and college major inventory through your MCQS account and in Naviance - ID Me and Career Clusters

5. Make every meeting with counselor count – seek advice and share questions/concerns

6. At Westfield High School we see the college search and selection process as a three-way partnership between the counselor, the student, and the parent.

7. Colleges look favorably at “turn-around” performances – don’t despair !

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Your Path to Career and College Readiness

W.H.S.

W.H.S.

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What should I be doing to stay on track?

Academic Planning - type of diploma, exceed minimum requirements

Attend all of the college planning sessions sponsored by WHS

Build value into your meetings with your counselor – name the colleges you might consider

Parents: NPC (Net Price Calculator)

Visit college websites for information on admission requirements, campus visits, virtual campus tours, and scholarship information

Purchase one comprehensive college guide book – buy a used one!

Use summer months to learn more about a career, develop leadership

Build your capacity to lead – band, church youth group, service

Naviance: SuperMatch™, Scattergram, College Comparison

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Targets for 10th Grade Students

Realistic rigor

Summer immersion programs: Science, Journalism, Law, Medicine, Business, etc.

Build reading and vocabulary skills – Big impact on SAT & ACT scores

Leadership and building depth of skill

Socialization skills

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The College Search is a Process, Not an

Event

Determine criteria for college match

Academic Environment Major Location & Type of college People Admission Standards & Process Cost

Student & Parent separately create a list of important criteria by order of importance

Discuss & sort the similarities & differences in criteria

Clarify the student role, parent role, & high school counselor role throughout this process

Discuss the timing of: taking tests, campus visits, making applications, and the financial realties of your situation

• Grade 11 College Night

• The College Application Book

• College Presentations

• PSAT/NMSQT

• PSAT Scores Back Session

• Chyten ACT/SAT Practice

• Academic planning sessions & individual consult

• Financial aid education session

• Individual college advising

• College campus visitation allowance

• College Admission Boot Camp

• College application support

• Chyten ACT/SAT Practice

• Academic planning sessions & individual consult

• College Presentations

• Financial aid education session

• Individual college advising

• College campus visitation allowance

• Grade 10 College Night

• Chyten ACT/SAT Practice

• PSAT

• PSAT Scores Back Session

• Academic planning sessions & individual consult

• Financial aid education session

• Grade 9 College Night

• PSAT

• PSAT Scores Back Session

• Academic planning sessions & individual consult

• Financial aid education session

Grade 9

Grade 10

Grade 11

Grade 12

Naviance Family

Connection

constant core support

Summer immersion for high school students

Explore- a -College: http://www.earlham.edu/~eac

“OLAB” Opportunities to Learn About Business:

http://www.wabash.edu/olab/

CMC University of Indianapolis: http://music.uindy.edu/cmc/camps.php

IU School of Medicine Student Research Opportunities:

http://medicine.iu.edu/research/student-research-opportunities/

Ball State University Journalism Workshops:

http://bsujournalismworkshops.com/

Butler University Creative Writing Camp 2013:

http://www.butler.edu/english/writing-camp/2012-camp/

Purdue University Youth Programs:

http://www.purdue.edu/purdue/outreach_community/youth_programs.html

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College Guides

College Board College Handbook (The College Board)

Peterson’s Guide to Four Year Colleges (Thomson Peterson’s)

Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges (Barron’s Educational Series)

Colleges That Change Lives (Penguin USA)

Greene’s Guides (Harper Collins)

The Insider’s Guide to the Colleges (St. Martin’s Press)

The Fiske Guide (Sourcebooks)

The Best 376 Colleges (Princeton Review)

College Money Handbook (Thomson Peterson’s)

Scholarships, Grants, and Prizes (Thomson Peterson’s)

How to Go to College Almost for Free (Harper Collins)

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Favorite Web Resources

General Help

http://www.learnmoreindiana.org

http://collegeconfidential.com

http://www.collegeboard.com

http://www.collegedata.com

http://nacacnet.org

http://petersons.com

http://www.act.org/path/parent/

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Websites with specific focus

http://www.ncaa.org - Athletes

http://www.blackexcel.org – African American

http://www.hsf.net – Hispanic

http://www.bls.gov/oco - Occupational Outlook

http://www.commonapp.org – The Common App

http://www.fastweb.com – Scholarships

http://www.finaid.org – Financial Aid

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/eduhome.htm

http://www.in.gov/ssaci/ - Indiana Financial Aid

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you

have imagined. Henry David Thoreau

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