Planning for College

1. Planning for College December 5, 2007 Rossford High School

2. Options After High School • Work • Military • Trades • Apprentice Program • College

3. You can organize the college planning process in six simple steps…

4. Six Steps • Know Yourself and Your Reasons for Attending College • Consider College Characteristics • List, Compare, and Visit Colleges • Apply for Admission and Observe Deadlines • Develop a Plan to Finance Your Education • Review and Finalize Your Plans

5. 1. Know Yourself and Your Reasons for Attending College • Recognize your strengths and weaknesses • Analyze your interests and values • Achieve a personal goal • Prepare for a career and expand learning • Extracurricular activities & social life • Influence of family and friends

6. Recommended College Core Curriculum • English 4 units • Mathematics 3 units • Alg. 1, Geom., Alg. 2 • Social Studies 3 units • Science 3 units • Foreign Lang 2 units

7. Recommended College Core Curriculum Many colleges also require, or strongly suggest, additional courses in: • Foreign Language 3 units • Mathematics 4 units • Sciences 4 units • Fine & Performing Arts

8. Why do extra? • Education in high school is free • Colleges look carefully at the courses taken • Some high school credits can count as college credits • PSO • AP classes • Take challenging courses your senior year • Avoid taking remedial classes at college

9. The Cost of Remedial Coursework • Remedial coursework is coursework a student must take to meet the minimum requirements to take entry-level classes • Ohio colleges require an ACT Math score of 22 to enter a college-level Algebra class • Students do not receive college credit for remedial classes, but you have to take them to get into classes needed to complete a program

10. The Cost of Remedial Coursework College $/Cr. Hr. Avg.# rem. courses Cost • Owens $123 1 Eng, 2 Math (11 hrs) $1,353 • BGSU $344 1 Eng, 1 Math (7 hrs) $2,408 • UT $330 1 Math, 1 Sci (8 hrs) $2,640

11. Majors & educational programs Type of school & degrees offered Admission policy Location & size Costs & financial aid College affiliation & accreditation Campus activities Support services 2. Consider College Characteristics

12. 3. List, Compare, and Visit Colleges • Compile information from several resources • College catalogs, bulletins, videos, etc. • Internet/Websites • College representatives & college fairs • March 5 @ Owens • Counselors and teachers • Parents, students, and alumni • Directories

13. List, Compare, and Visit Colleges • Prepare a college comparison checklist • Weigh advantages & disadvantages • Contact the office of admission • Schedule appointments for your campus visits

14. Checklist for a Campus Visit • Meet with an Admission Counselor • Verify admission requirements • Determine actual college costs • Ask about financial aid opportunities • Take a campus tour, see a dorm room • Investigate your academic program(s) • Attend a class • Talk with students and faculty • Discuss your chances for success: • Admission • Graduation • Placement

15. 4. Apply for Admission and Observe Deadlines • Narrow your choices • Review college admission test requirements • Know application fees and deadlines • Know scholarship requirements • Submit application materials (paper/ electronic) • Application for admission • High school transcript • Recommendations • Test results

16. Keep accurate records!

17. 5. Develop a Plan to Finance Your Education • Determine college costs www.FASFA4Caster.gov • Investigate ALL possible resources • Parents • Savings • Summer earnings • Financial aid: scholarships, grants, loans & work-study • Other sources • Secure necessary forms and note deadlines • Apply for financial aid as early as possible, usually January of your senior year

18. Don’t eliminate any college because of costs! Source: ACT College Planning Guide

19. 6. Review and Finalize Your Plans • Show initiative and be assertive • Talk with your parents and counselor • Select a college that meets your needs and preferences • Follow up with colleges to which you have applied Source: ACT College Planning Guide

20. College Sports • 9th grade • Concentrate on the core classes • Good grades • 10th grade • Core classes, good grades • Pick schools you’re are interested in • Contact coaches by email • Attend skills camps

21. College Sports • 11 grade • Contact coaches by letter • Take the ACT • Be alert. Coaches may contact you/show up to a game or practice • Attend college camps • Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse at end of junior year

22. College Sports • 12 grade • Observe recruitment rules (NCAA website) • Attend college exposure camps • Be in contact with coaches • Visit schools • File a FAFSA application (Jan)

23. College Sports • Coaches look for the whole person • They have a long view of what they need • Always demonstrate good sportsmanship/ team ethic, show your best side at all times • Think of it like a job; they pay your education for your performance

24. College Sports • A dose of reality • Basketball: 3% HS males, 3.3% HS females will play college basketball • Football: 5.7% HS males will play in the NCAA • Baseball: 6.1% HS males will play in the NCAA

25. Web Resources • Rossford Guidance Website • Ohio Higher Education Resource: www.ohiomentor.org • Scholarships: www.fastweb.com • www.finaid.org • Financial Aid: www.fafsa.ed.gov • Athletics: www.campuschamps.com