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Welcome!

Welcome!. College and careers – why now?? This is important We will help

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Welcome!

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  1. Welcome! • College and careers – why now?? • This is important • We will help (MEFA, founded in 1982 by the Massachusetts State Legislature, is a non-profit state authority that works to make higher education more accessible and affordable through community education programs, college savings plans, and low-cost financing options. )

  2. The Reality • Public Education in the United States (source – The College Board’s Report of the Commission on Access, Admissions and Success in Higher Education) • Rate at which American students disappear from school between grades 9 and 12 has tripled in the last 30 years with the loss of students between grades 9 and 10 being the greatest • High school graduation rates have fallen from about 77 percent in 1971-72 to 67 percent today • The USA, which led the world in HS completion rates throughout the 20th century, ranked just 21st out of 27 advanced economies in 2005 • We rank near the bottom of industrialized countries in completion rates after students have enrolled in college • While we are still 2nd among developed nations in the proportion of workers over the age of 55 with a postsecondary credential, we drop to number 11 among younger workers (age 25-34) • THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP- low-income student population

  3. The Reality • The good news… • While the national statistics seem ominous, particularly in urban areas, there is much to be optimistic about here in Plymouth • PPS graduation rate is historically between 85-90%, • 75% of our students go on to college (this includes tech students of which about 40% go directly to work) • Our students go on to some of the most selective colleges and universities in the country • Our Vocational-Technical Studies program is state-of-the art and provides a truly comprehensive education

  4. Why Go To College? • Over 60% of current Massachusetts jobs require education after high school. • College graduates have more career options. Source: College Board, Education pays 2007 and U.S. Census Current Population Survey, 2006

  5. What Are the Options? • 4 Year Private • 4 Year Public • Community College • Vocational/Trade School • Military There are over 3,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. and over 100 in Massachusetts!

  6. How To Prepare During Middle & High School • Academic preparation • Develop necessary skills for college and career • School and community involvement • Standardized tests • College explorations Meet with your school counselor!

  7. Academic Preparation in Middle School • Improve study and note taking skills • Develop organization and time management skills • Maintain extracurricular reading list • Stay after school for extra help

  8. Make An Academic Plan Course plan recommended by MA Department of Higher Education to prepare for college and career.

  9. At Our High Schools… 9th and 10th grade • Honors Classes • College Preparatory Classes (CP1, CP2) • Electives 11th and 12th grade • Honors, CP1, CP2 • Advanced Placement Classes • Virtual courses • Dual Enrollment • Clubs and Organizations

  10. A Sample Four-Year Plan

  11. Get Involved Joining a few extracurricular activities that you are interested in allows you to… Meet new people Learn new skills Make a difference Be a leader Have fun! School Newspaper, Sports, Student Government, Volunteering, Art, Theater, Music, After-School Job

  12. Standardized Tests • PSAT • SAT • SAT Subject Tests (SAT II) • ACT • MCAS Where are the tests offered? When? Which tests should I take?

  13. Learning About Colleges • Academic programs • Opportunities in activities and sports • Size & setting What’s important to me?

  14. Career Research & Searching for Colleges • Career Cruising – www.careercruising.com (8th ,10th and 11th grade) • Username- plymouth • Password- south • Mass CIS Jr – www.masscis.intocareers.org (7th graders) • www.plymouth.k12.ma.us • www.collegeboard.com • www.mefacounselor.org • College Fairs – local, regional, national • Plymouth College Fair at PSHS each fall • College guides, view books and websites • Friends and family

  15. Visiting Colleges • Informal vs. formal campus visit • Look beyond the publications. • Visit when students are on campus. • Ask questions of everyone!

  16. Introduction To Financial Aid • Grants and Scholarships • Need-based vs. Merit Based • Federal, State, College or University • Outside Scholarships • Loans • Must be repaid • May be a parent or student loan • Work-study • Student is asked to find a job on/off campus to earn funds • www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

  17. Some Final Thoughts… • Information overload • Harness technology effectively and usefully • Take some time to close the laptops, shut off the cell phones and ipods • Facebook/MySpace – pitfalls of social networking • Students need to engage in intentional learning • Find reliable on-line resources • Encourage off-line reading (books, research-based information) • Learn how to use the school and public libraries • Focus on depth of learning- mastery of learning objectives • How to think critically, analyze, respond, react and reason • *Your involvement in your children’s education is critical

  18. Our message to students Remember… • You can go to college! • You can find help paying for college! • You can pursue the career of your dreams!

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