Preparing Students for College

1. Preparing Students for College Oglethorpe University Office of Admission South Atlanta School of Law and Social Justice

2. A Look at What’s Ahead . . . • What can I do as a teacher? • Standardized Tests 101 • College Prep Timeline • Writing letters of recommendation • Meet the FAFSA • Website Tour • Questions and discussion

3. What Can I Do as a Teacher? Support your school counselor – and your students

4. What Can I Do as a Teacher? • Build a college-bound culture • Be a basic knowledge source • Teach organization skills • Encourage extracurriculars • Help develop the college essay • Write letters of recommendation • Forecast what lies ahead

5. Standardized Tests 101 Register six weeks ahead of time Fee waivers come straight from high school counselor Test-optional colleges

6. The PSAT/NMSQT • Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test • Determines scholarship finalists • Junior year “counts”, but sophomores should try it too • October of each school year • $13 fee

7. The SAT • Three parts: Critical Reasoning, Math, and Writing • Used for college admission • Spring of 11th grade and/or Fall of 12th grade • Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar, May and Jun • $45 fee • www.collegeboard.com

8. The ACT • Four parts: Math, Reading, and Science with an optional Writing section • Used for college admission • 11th grade and/or Fall of 12th grade • Sep, Oct, Dec, Feb, Apr and Jun (usually) • $31 fee, or $46 with Writing section • www.actstudent.org

9. Other Standardized Tests • PLAN – pre-ACT • AP – Advanced Placement • TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language • SAT II Subject Tests

10. College Prep Timeline What to do year by year: 9th grade 10th grade 11th grade 12th grade . . . and during the summers in between!

11. 9th Grade Timeline • Talk about going to college • Establish college prep classes • Algebra or geometry and a foreign language • Options later start with good grades now • Think about which colleges interest you • Create a running file that includes: • Report cards • Awards and honors • School activities • Community activities • Work and volunteer jobs • Descriptions of what you do

12. 10th Grade Timeline • Does high school curriculum meet requirements of your college choices? • Explore AP • Update running file • Extracurriculars • The PSAT (and PLAN) • SAT IIs for 10th grade subjects • Summer afterward: • Workshops and camps • Project GRAD • Volunteer • Work to save money for college

13. 11th Grade Timeline • Keep up your grades! • “Talk business” with a counselor or teacher • The PSAT • Attend college fairs • Research your college interests – books and Internet • Research financial aid • Parents in the loop • SAT or ACT prep? • Narrow list of colleges: • “Reach” schools • “Target” schools • “Safe” schools • Campus visits and interviews • Identify deadlines • Teachers who will write recs • AP exams

14. Summer after 11th Grade • Update your running file • Report cards and test scores • Honors and awards • Recent activities • Visit colleges • NCAA Clearinghouse • Practice online applications • Gather ideas for your essay(s) • Decide about Early Decision (ED) • Read college mail

15. 12th Grade Timeline September • Check on credits • Register for SAT/ACT • Rec forms to teachers • Double-check deadlines • Request official copies of transcript October • Final list of schools • File folder for each • ACT or SAT • Polish essay November • Submit applications!

16. 12th Grade Timeline December • Early Decision response • ACT/SAT score reports • Schedule interviews • Required (with admission officer) • Optional (with local alumni) January • Parents – do income tax returns early • Start the FAFSA • GAcollege411.org • Other fin aid forms: • Institutional app • CSS/Profile • Mid-year reports • Check with admission office(s) on materials

17. 12th Grade Timeline February • Complete the FAFSA • Scholarship apps • Check with fin aid office(s) on materials March/April • Hear back! • All details on aid • Submit deposits May • May 1 – the “National Candidate Reply Date” • Make decision and notify college • AP exams • If on a waiting list: • Decide if you want to wait • Notify school that you are still very interested

18. Summer after 12th Grade • Final transcripts sent • Fee details on tuition, room, and board • Summer orientation programs • Student insurance? • Thank counselors, teachers, parents, and mentors • Get excited!

19. Teacher Recommendations A great way to support your students in the college process!

20. Writing Teacher Recs • Communicate clearly • Decline if you must • Write from the context of YOUR class • Focus on what YOU have seen: • Natural aptitude • Improvement • Initiative • Offer supporting details • Teachers = professional eye-witnesses

21. Writing Teacher Recs DO: DON’T: • Be honest, concise, conversational, and positive • Give context • Describe classroom “culture” • Use specific examples • Evaluate and compare • Use anecdotes and stories • Comment on appearance • Be generic • Discuss specific college • Give a laundry list of student’s extracurriculars • Explain what the student is NOT to make a positive point • Gush or “over-enthuse” without evidence

22. Meet the FAFSA A little information on financial aid

23. Meet the FAFSA • Free Application for Federal Student Aid • www.fafsa.ed.gov • “Free” is key! • January 1 – form goes live • Dept. of Ed formula determines the EFC • Must reapply each year • Absolutely necessary for every family

24. What is “need”? Cost of education (total cost of attending) -- Expected Family Contribution (EFC) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ = Financial Need What influences the EFC? • Parent income and assets • Student savings and earnings • Family size and circumstances

25. A Few Notes on Cost • “Sticker price” is not the same as affordability • Financial aid makes college affordable • EFC works in your favor • Don’t rule out colleges with higher costs Average costs, 2007-08: • Public, two-year: $2,361 • Public, four-year: $6,185 • Private, four-year: $23,712

26. Forms of Aid Scholarships • Gift aid • Based on merit • From the college; also outside or local • Georgia HOPE Grants • Gift aid • Don’t have to be earned or re-paid • Federal and state governments; also colleges • Pell, SEOG, GTEG Work • Federal Work-Study • Helps cover indirect costs • Part-time jobs on- or off-campus Loans • Aid that must be re-paid • Sponsored by feds, low interest rates • Repayment usually starts after graduation • Stafford, Perkins, PLUS, private loans

27. Website Tour My five top picks for websites that will help you and your students in the college exploration process

28. Website Tour • 1. www.KnowHow2Go.org link This is a tiny sampling of the excellent web resources that exist, so take advantage of links from these sites and others like them to discover new information. • 2. www.CSOCollegeCenter.org link • 3. www.CollegeBoard.com link • 4. www.EducationPlanner.orglink • 5. www.Petersons.com link

29. Questions and Discussion Thank you for helping out all of the students at South Atlanta SLSJ!