JUNIOR COLLEGE JUNIOR COLLEGE PLANNINGPLANNING

What you need to know about What you need to know about college preparationcollege preparation

The Name of the Game is…The Name of the Game is…

What should you be doing your What should you be doing your junior year?junior year?

Talk to people about college:Talk to people about college: ParentsParents CounselorsCounselors Aunts/UnclesAunts/Uncles Older SiblingsOlder Siblings

The main idea is to figure out your wants The main idea is to figure out your wants and needs are from a college and the best and needs are from a college and the best way to do this is to listen to other’s way to do this is to listen to other’s experiencesexperiences

If you are undecided on what you If you are undecided on what you would like to go to college for or would like to go to college for or where you would like to go...Check out where you would like to go...Check out this website:this website:

OCIS: OCIS: http://ocis.ode.state.oh.us/

If you want to find quick information If you want to find quick information on colleges…go to this website:on colleges…go to this website:

www.collegeboard.com

Things to consider when looking into Things to consider when looking into colleges:colleges: MajorsMajors Cost of tuitionCost of tuition Student population sizeStudent population size Distance from homeDistance from home Private/PublicPrivate/Public Sports/extracurricular activitiesSports/extracurricular activities Study abroad programStudy abroad program Honors programsHonors programs

While you are looking into what you While you are looking into what you want from a college, you also need to want from a college, you also need to work on things they want from you:work on things they want from you:

Standardized Tests:Standardized Tests:

ACT and SATACT and SAT

ACTACT

www.act.org Score Range: 1 to 36Score Range: 1 to 36 No penalty for guessingNo penalty for guessing Subtests: Subtests:

• English 75 QuestionsEnglish 75 Questions• Math 60 QuestionsMath 60 Questions• Reading 40 QuestionsReading 40 Questions• Science 40 QuestionsScience 40 Questions

SATSAT

www.collegeboard.com Score Range: 400-1600Score Range: 400-1600 Sections: Critical Reading and MathSections: Critical Reading and Math

Including Writing Score Range 600-2400Including Writing Score Range 600-2400 Do get points deductedDo get points deducted for wrong for wrong

answersanswers Do not get points taken off for Do not get points taken off for

omitted questionsomitted questions

Spring of your Junior yearSpring of your Junior year

When should you take the When should you take the 11stst ACT and SAT? ACT and SAT?

How often?How often? You will want to take each test at least twice You will want to take each test at least twice

Why take it more than once?Why take it more than once? The first time students are nervous and do not The first time students are nervous and do not

know what to expect. Second time students are know what to expect. Second time students are more relaxed and prepared.more relaxed and prepared.

Second time scores usually increaseSecond time scores usually increase

How much do they cost?How much do they cost? Around $45Around $45

Registration for ACT and Registration for ACT and SATSAT

On-line or Paper FormOn-line or Paper Form See guidance counselor for paper See guidance counselor for paper

form and study materialsform and study materials Resource Room has study materialsResource Room has study materials

PrepHQPrepHQ

What should you be doing on What should you be doing on PrepHQ your Junior year?PrepHQ your Junior year?

Updating your resumeUpdating your resume•SportsSports•Work ExperiencesWork Experiences•Volunteer EffortsVolunteer Efforts•Honors/AwardsHonors/Awards

PrepHQPrepHQ

Important Information Listed:Important Information Listed:•Summer ProgramsSummer Programs•ScholarshipsScholarships•College InformationCollege Information•College Admission Reps VisitCollege Admission Reps Visit•Transcript RequestTranscript Request

College VisitsCollege Visits

Never too early to visit collegesNever too early to visit colleges Go on days Elder is offGo on days Elder is off

• November 30November 30thth

• December 1December 1stst

• April 1April 1stst, 2, 2ndnd, 5, 5thth

• Summer VacationSummer Vacation

If you do go during a day Elder is in If you do go during a day Elder is in session then it will be counted as an session then it will be counted as an unexcused absentunexcused absent

Things you learn on a Things you learn on a college visit:college visit:

Class room sizesClass room sizes Size of a dorm roomSize of a dorm room Get to ask personal questionsGet to ask personal questions See athletic fieldsSee athletic fields Meet professorsMeet professors See the buildings (library, student See the buildings (library, student

center, cafeteria, sit in on a class)center, cafeteria, sit in on a class)

What to do on your summer vacation before your

senior year:

What you should know when you walk into Elder

your senior year:

Top 5 college picks College deadlines Eligible Scholarships Who you would like to ask to do

letter of recommendation for you Have PrepHQ updated (Resume,

Profile)

What to Expect your senior year:

Lots of DEADLINES!

There is no reason to panic, if you are prepared

If you have done everything we told you then college applications should be a cinch.

If not then you might panic about deadlines, filling out applications, letters of recommendations, and essays.

The Main Idea:

Be Prepared

Research, Research, Research

The College Application

1. Application Grade Point Average Class Ranking High School Code 360-990 ACT and SAT Scores Previous and Current Courses Sports/Clubs/Organization Involvement Volunteer Hours Leadership Roles Essays and/or Personal Statement

Essays and Personal Statements:

An average length is 250 to 500 words Your essay needs to be informative and compact

Take time to think about what you want to say and how you want to be portrayed

This essay is a reflection of who you are

Hints for Essays:

Reveal Yourself: Make sure the reader has a sense of who you are

Avoid Obvious Content (Don’t write what you think other’s will discuss)

Make your essay stand out: what makes you different from the other 7,000 applicants

Limit yourself to one strong point and everything should be clear and detailed examples

Be direct and to the point

Hints continued:

Use colorful words Ask someone to review your essay:

Take time to talk it over with them. Don’t drop it off and leave

Have a clear beginning, middle, and end

The College Application: Cont.

2. Transcript-Previous and Current Classes-Grade Point Averages (9th -11th)-Class Ranking (9th-11th)-Send ACT and SAT scores(Some schools want scores sent from testing centers)

-OGT Scores Must request transcript on PrepHQ

3. Letter of Recommendations:-Who to ask?

Teachers you did well in his/her classA coachCounselorPrincipal

-When to ask? Early your senior year (Don’t procrastinate)

-How much time to give them?At least 3 weeks

-Why do you need one?Different perspective of who you are as a person

4.4. Counselor FormCounselor Form - Can be found at each individual college website - Can be found at each individual college website

or some are located in the guidance resource or some are located in the guidance resource roomroom

-Must be filled out and given to your counselor-Must be filled out and given to your counselor

-Sent with transcript-Sent with transcript

-Most colleges have a form, but some do not-Most colleges have a form, but some do not

NCAANCAA

If you are going to play a sport in a Division I or If you are going to play a sport in a Division I or Division II school you Division II school you MUSTMUST register with the register with the

NCAA Clearinghouse!NCAA Clearinghouse!

What is the Clearinghouse?What is the Clearinghouse? Complete the Registration ProcessComplete the Registration Process Complete the “Amateur Status” FormComplete the “Amateur Status” Form What are the requirements for the What are the requirements for the

Clearinghouse?Clearinghouse? Sliding GPA/Test Score ScaleSliding GPA/Test Score Scale

ANY QUESTIONS?