Welcome to College Process Night

1. Welcome to College Process Night Fairfield Area High School September 22, 2016

2. Dr. Swope’s Philosophy… • You don’t have to go to college to be successful… but you MUST HAVE A PLAN. • What is a “PLAN”? • College • Military • Work

3. What is “College”? • For the purpose of this presentation, the word “college” will refer to any post-secondary educational option. • 2 year schools • 4 year schools • Business schools • Tech schools • Trade schools • Community colleges • certificate / diploma programs

4. Why go to college?

5. Definitions • Standardized Test • Has been “normed” over time with many people • Considered “fair” to all involved • Pre-requisite • Something required prior to future course taken • Official Transcript • Copy of student’s grades, credits, attendance • Signed by school official, never touched by student • Early Admission / Early Application process • Early action = not a binding agreement • Early decision = a BINDING agreement • FERPA • Family Educational Rights Protection Act

6. Why plan ahead? • Although you can begin college at any age after high school, if you are considering going straight from high school to college, you need to be prepared and be competitive. • BUILD bridges….don’t BURN them.

7. What’s the Plan? • Decide what you want to study. • Decide what type of college you need to attend. • Take the ACT or SAT twice (spring of 11th / fall of 12th) • Make a list of what you want your college to have. • Sports? Greek life? Size? Rural/Urban? Far away? • Visit colleges that have what you want. • Narrow down the list of possible schools. • Apply to at least 3 schools, meeting all deadlines. • Complete the FAFSA in October. • Decide which offer to accept by the college’s deadline.

8. How to Explore Colleges • So you know what you want to study…..now how do you go about figuring out which one of the over 4,000 post-secondary schools to look at? • Location – distance from “home” • Environment – urban or rural? co-ed? religious? • Academics – majors, special programs, study abroad • Size - number of students, acreage of campus • Activities – athletics, clubs, organizations, sororities / fraternities • Housing – residence hall, freshman requirements

9. But where do I find college ideas? • Big Future through the College Board website • Click on the “College Search” tab at www.collegeboard.com • Local College Fairs • Ask people who work in the field you are interested in where they went to college or where they would recommend you to go

10. BigFuture • Bigfuture.collegeboard.org • Get Started • Tools for students and parents • Find Colleges • College search tool (i.e. type of school, size, location, specific majors, cost, etc.) • It’s not too late! • Explore Careers • Pay for College • Scholarship search • Students and parents • Get In • Make A Plan • Great place to start! • See what steps you still have left to complete

11. What To Do On the Visit • Ask LOTS of questions (“interview” them!) • How big are the classes? Ask to sit through one. • How easy is it to meet with my professors? • Where do most freshman live? Ask to see a dorm room. • What is the food like? Eat in the dining hall. • How user friendly is the tutoring center? Ask to see it. • What do students do here on weekends? Appropriate options, please…..and there are many! • Where is the ____________ department? Ask to see it. • How many students complete the program in four years? Where do they typically go after they graduate? • May I bring my car during my freshman year? Where will I have to park it? • Interview! • Make sure to prepare with knowledge about the school and questions • Mock interviews

12. Narrowing It Down to Five or Six…. • Apply to at least three schools – as many as five or six • One “stretch” school • One “comfort” school • One “fall back” school • If it has all of your qualifications then make the visit • Look at the statistics on the College Board website for information about average admissions requirements and rate of return for college sophomore year • Your application allows them to decide if THEY like YOU • Your visit allows you to decide if YOU like THEM

13. Standardized Tests – the ACT • ACT – (www.actstudent.org) • Offered 6 times a school year • English, Reading, Math, Science, and optional Writing • Each section’s perfect score is 36 • A good average is 25 on each section • Composite score is the average of the four sections • Recommended that you take it twice (spring, then fall) • Cost is $58.50 with writing or $42.50 without writing (late fee is $27.50) • FOUR FREE SCORE REPORTS each time you register!!

14. Standardized Tests – the SAT • SAT (www.collegeboard.org) • Offered 7 times during the school year • 2 Sections: Math & Reading/Writing with an optional Essay • Each section’s perfect score is 800 – for a total perfect score of 1600 • A good average is 500 on each section • Recommend that you take it twice – once in the spring & once in the next fall • Cost is $45.00 without the Essay or $57.00 with the Essay • Late fee = $28.00 • FOUR FREE SCORE REPORTS each time you register!!

15. You can’t expect • to finish the • Boston Marathon • if the most • you’ve ever run • is in P.E. class.

16. SAT Prep Resources • Online - Resources available at College Board • www.collegeboard.org  satpractice.org • SAT Question of the Day! • www.ineedapencil.com • www.princetonreview.com/college/free-sat-practice-test.aspx • PSAT – when you get your score report in December, it will have test prep help!!

17. Making the Most of High School • Besides just taking challenging, college prep classes… • Look at test scores and take classes that strengthen your weaker academic areas • Seek out tutoring to improve your skills • Establish personal goals and find support to meet them • Explore careers – internet, shadowing, talking to people • Never accept good if better is an option

18. The Time Line of Your Junior Year • September – Attend Financial Aid Night • TONIGHT! • October – TAKE THE PSAT (all juniors are required to do this & the school pays) • October 19th, 2016 • November – Take the ASVAB – if you are interested in military service • Thursday, November 17, 2016 • Awesome career assessment • Spring – TAKE THE SAT or ACT – watch the registration deadlines!! • Spring/Summer – Visit college campuses • Take challenging courses and do well

19. The Time Line of Your Senior Year • Complete ALL applications by Halloween • Visit campus one more time to make your final decision • Scholarship research (raise.me, Fastweb.com, collegeboard.org., etc.) • September – Attend Financial Aid Night • October / November – TAKE THE SAT or ACT (again) • Take the ASVAB again, if necessary • Spring – Make your final decision, send in that deposit • May 1st • Summer – Get Packing! You are on your way!

20. Halloween???? • Are you crazy, Dr. Swope? I have WAY too much to do right now to spend time on college applications! • Reasons behind the Halloween deadline: • You get them DONE. D – O – N – E. • Some schools have application deadlines in November. • Some schools have MERIT SCHOLARSHIP deadlines in November. • Because if you think you are busy now…..just you wait! • This is Dr. Swope’s deadline. The world will not end if you don’t meet it….but life might be easier if you do.

21. 11th / 12th Grade • Courses / Extracurricular Activities: • AP English Literature & Composition, AP US Government & Politics, Calculus, AP Statistics, Chemistry II or Biology II, Human Anatomy & Physiology or Organic Chemistry, Spanish IV • Continue playing sports – be a team captain, try out for the lead in the school play, run for class president • Goals: • Attend the Adams County Area College & Career Fair • Visit college campuses • Take the SAT or ACT (once in the spring AND once in the fall) • Take the ASVAB test • Complete all college applications by Halloween of senior year • Maintain position on Distinguished Honor Roll all four marking periods • Complete all scholarship applications on time • Attend Financial Aid Night • Complete the FAFSA by November 1st of senior year • Visit all colleges that offer admission before accepting any offers • Resources: • High School Counselor, Career Counselor • Parents • Teachers, Coaches

22. Other Important Considerations • NCAA – much planning ahead needed • www.ncaa.clearinghouse.net • Register in your Junior year. • Military Service Academies • Must be outstanding in ALL areas • Plan ahead to secure a nomination • DUE by Oct 1 of senior year. • Students with special needs • Ask very specific questions – get the complete answers • Very Specific Majors / Programs • Be sure they have assistance for you to go on from your undergraduate program • How many students actually make it?

23. The GPA Myth • Your grade point average (GPA) is not the final determining factor. • If you are taking courses below your academic level, the college admission person will recognize this and your wonderful GPA will be negated. • Course selection – especially in your senior year – is carefully examined during the admission process. • Colleges can (and will) rescind their offer of admission if they believe you’ve slacked off your senior year.

24. The Final Decision • You’ve done all of your college planning and preparing ….the deadline to send in your registration payment is getting closer (May 1st)….you’re having trouble sleeping at night because you can’t decide which one to choose….. • RELAX. • Go with the one your heart leads you to. • You can transfer…so this decision is not completely final.

25. Bad Reasons to Choose a School • Your boyfriend / girlfriend / best friend goes there • It has a good party reputation • You like the school’s colors / mascot • Your parents or family members went there • Someone told you it is the best

26. Good Reasons to Choose a School • They have the program / major you are most interested in • Students who complete the program go on to things you want to do • They have a campus culture that fits who you are / who you want to be • You can “see” yourself actually studying in the library or learning center • There are activities on campus that you will actually participate in

27. Resources www.educationplanner.org www.actstudent.org www.collegeboard.org www.fafsa.ed.gov www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov www.fastweb.com www.raise.me

28. You’re still nervous about the process… • You should be! This is a big deal. You are not alone. • Schedule a meeting with Dr. Swope to go over where you are in the process and what you need to be doing next. • Gather a group of friends together and set up a meeting with Dr. Swope during school to go over the process together. • Explore websites for more information. • Most importantly --- DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS.

29. Upcoming Events Aviation Careers Expo - (Juniors & Seniors) Friday, October 28, 2016 7:30 am – 3:30 pm Leesburg, Virginia Base Camp Summit - (Juniors & Seniors) Monday, November 7, 2016 7:30 am – 3:30 pm Central Penn College, Summerdale, PA JUNIORS - Overnight College Visit Trip Monday & Tuesday, March 27 & 28, 2017 6:00 am Monday – 6:00 pm Tuesday Visit three colleges - yet to be determined.

30. THANK YOU Thank you for your interest in this process. Whether you will use it this year, in three years, or in ten years….it is important. Please contact Dr. Swope if you have any questions. Email: swopeh@fairfield.k12.pa.us Phone: 717-642-8228 ext. 2007