Magnet College Information Night

1. Welcome Magnet College Information Night

2. Let's Start by... • Taking a deep breath... • This can be an anxiety-provoking process and we are here to help you through it • The two most important things you should take away tonight are that... • All of you, parents and students, will survive this process—WE PROMISE! • All of you applying to college WILL GET INTO COLLEGE

3. Points to remember about the college process • A student's grades in college prep courses are the most important factor in the process • SAT scores are just one piece of the process • The students who have the best outcomes in the process expand beyond the “usual suspects” to find colleges that fit them well • Ms. Ross and Ms. Taylor, as well as our Career Center staff, are here to support you and your son/daughter through this process

4. Factors currently affecting admissions • A peak in the number of students applying to college • Economic factors • An increase in the number of colleges students are applying to due to several factors: • Ease of online applications • Ease of using the Common Application to apply to multiple colleges • More students typically are applying to more colleges due to anxiety about “getting in”

5. Some Data to Consider • Extremely selective schools have huge numbers of highly qualified applicants for very few spots. A few numbers to consider from last year's applicants: • Princeton had 21,369 applicants and 1,976 students were offered admission • Stanford had 25,298 applicants and 2,400 students were offered admission • MIT had 13,396 applicants and 1,554 students were offered admission • Harvard offered admission to only 7.1 percent of the 27,462 applicants -- or, put another way, it rejected 93 of every 100 applicants

6. The Good News • There are more than 2500 four year institutions in the United States. • The average admission rate for 2500+ colleges across the country is about 70%--similar to what it was 20 years ago • Student surveys have shown that after the freshmen year 2/3 of students couldn’t imagine being at any school other than the one they are at (National Survey of Student Engagement) • Students who take the time to find colleges that are right for them, rather than going for popular brand names or where their friends are applying tend to do very well in the admissions process

7. More Good News • Magnet students can obtain great scholarship opportunities by expanding their search beyond the “usual suspects” • For over a decade the number of qualified applicants applying to the most selective colleges has increased. Schools cannot accept all qualified applicants, thus less selective schools are filled with high-quality students. Universities have responded to this reality and have strengthened their academic programs, hired prestigious faculty, improved their facilities…all to attract your children!

8. Things for Parents to Remember • This is the last developmental task your son or daughter has to complete before they leave home • College is a place for students to develop intellectually, personally, and towards a future career • What a student does in college is a better predictor of future success and happiness than where he or she goes to college • An admission decision, test score, or GPA is not a measure of a student's worth

9. From The Education Conservancy Responsibilities of Parents • Allow your child to take responsibility for the college application process. Support them in the process, but don't try to control it • Resist doing for your student what he or she is capable of doing for his or herself • Listen to, encourage and believe in your child. • Keep this process in perspective. Remember that student skills, self-confidence, curiosity, and a desire to learn are some of the most important ingredients in quality education and successful college admissions. Do not sacrifice these by overemphasizing getting into the “best” college.

10. From The Education Conservancy Responsibilities of Students • Know Yourself: Who are you and what are you about? What are your goals and ambitions? Applying to college involves thoughtful research. Plan to make well-considered applications to the most suitable colleges. • Remember that choosing a college is an important process, but resist the notion that there is one perfect college. Great education happens in many places. • Limit your applications to a well-researched and reasonable number. Generally, we recommend that you apply to 5-7 schools.

11. From The Education Conservancy Starting your Research

12. Types of programs Approaches to learning Availability of professors Research possibilities, internships, co-ops, job placement Non-academic needs and wants Choosing a College/UniversityThings for Students to Consider • Location • Size • Urban/Rural • Co-ed/Single sex • Facilities • Cost • Public/Private • Religious affiliation

13. Campus Visits… • Tour the campus preferably when classes are in session • Attend an information session • Interview if possible • Attend a class (arrange two weeks ahead) • Talk with students and faculty about special interests • Ask Questions about Dorm Life and Internships • Pick up a copy of campus newspaper. Students are permitted 3 excused absences for college visits. However, they must get pre-approval from Mr. Heidler.

14. Tips for A College Interview • Be Prompt – Call if you find you’ll be unavoidably late • Dress appropriately • Take along a handwritten summary of your grades or an unofficial transcript • Avoid asking questions clearly answered in the catalogue (you should have read it) • Be prepared with meaningful questions • Be ready to talk about yourself, your interests, accomplishments, goals • Ask questions – you want to interview the college to make sure it is right for you • Send a thank-you note!

15. College List • Reach Schools – These schools possess the majority of the features the student desires but admissions is very, very competitive or the student is slightly below the SAT/GPA range of students typically admitted. • Target Schools – Schools that possess the majority of the features a student desires and at which the probability of admission is slightly better than even and student is within the SAT/GPA range of students typically admitted. • Safety Schools – Schools that possess the majority of the features a student desires and at which the probability of admission is highly likely and students are at the high end of or above the SAT/GPA range of students typically admitted. Musts Students should be happy to attend any school on their list. Families should openly discuss financial considerations before a student creates a final college list.

16. Most Common Types of Admissions Programs • Regular Decision • Early Decision--Binding • Early Action--Non-binding • Priority Consideration--UMCP • Rolling Admissions

17. STANDARDIZEDTESTING • SAT Reasoning Test • SAT Subject Tests • Most took Math Level 2 at the completion of Precal C or Functions • Research specific requirements for particular colleges—not all colleges require Subject Tests, but those that do will not require more than 3 • Sometimes colleges request a specific Subject test—for example for Engineering they may require the Physics test • ACT Includes English, Reading, Math, and Science sections The Official SAT Online Course as well as an online course through Triumph College Admissions are free to Blair students. If students are interested in either course, they can pick up information in the Career Center.

18. Trailblazer Packet Includes: (1) Handouts with important college/career planning information (2) Getting Ready: Career/College Planning Guide (3) Forms to complete by June 1st so counselors can begin working on recommendations over the summer • Yellow Authorization Card (with parent’s signature) • Student Information & Compatibility Checklist • Student Self-Evaluation • Four-Year Summary of Activities & Experience • Parent Questionnaire (by parent) • Three blue teacher checklists (by teacher)

19. Teacher Recommendations Tips • Some colleges do not require teacher recommendations, but many require one or two • We recommend you ask for your teachers' commitment now for recommendations. • Both recommenders should be junior year teachers. If this is not possible, please discuss other options with your counselor. • One teacher should be a science, math, or computer science teacher • The other should be a humanities teacher (English, social studies, or possibly foreign language if the student has continued through junior year)

20. College/Career Conference With Counselor • We offer a college conference to all families. If you have not yet scheduled one, now is the time. Please see us at the end of the evening if you would like to schedule one tonight. • During this conference, we meet with parent/s and the student to discuss college/career options and answer questions you have regarding the college application process • Prior to the conference, students should have completed a preliminary college search either through the Career Center or through any of the various online searches

21. Career Center Resources • Human Resources—Ms. Kearney and Ms. Partlow are excellent resources for students and parents • College Fairs • College Selection and Guide Books • Blair Notes on Information from Visiting College Representatives • College/Career Inquiry Software including Bridges Interest Inventory • College/University Brochures • Computers for College and Career Searches • Job Information and Work Permits • Internship Information

22. FAMILY CONNECTIONS • The Family Connection is a valuable web-based tool available to both students and parents that can help students: • Search for colleges • Locate scholarships • Use scattergrams to see how other Blair students fared at specific colleges • Practice for standardized tests • Find out which colleges are visiting Blair • Stay up to date on current information through the Career Center Notes All students have a FC account. If students have any questions about FC login, they should go to the Career Center. Parents can also obtain an account by calling the Career Center at 301-649-2819.

24. 2009 MONTGOMERY COUNTY NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR • Day for Blair Juniors: Thursday, April 16, 2009 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Students should have already registered for the fair. • Over 300 colleges, universities and technical schools will be present. Students received a list of participating schools with their permission slip. You can also obtain a list through a link on the MCPS website. • If your student did not register, there is also a session for parents and students on Wednesday, April 15th 6:30-8:30 pm, and this session includes information on financial aid.

25. Research Financial Aid & Scholarships • Do your research and take advantage of the resources available to you! • FAFSA: File only after Jan. 1st of the student's senior year; deadline March 1st for State of MD • CSS Profile • College and University Scholarships • Family Connections Scholarship List • Other Sources: religious groups, private organization, work related • www.FAFSA4caster.ed.gov • Important: Know the difference between need blind admissions and need aware admissions

26. Tips for the Summer and Fall

27. The College Essay • The one place in a student's application where his or her voice is heard—who the student is beyond the transcript and test scores. Do not underestimate the importance of it. • The more selective and/or smaller the school, the more important it tends to be • Essay prompts are available over the summer and students should begin to work on essays then. • Have at least one or two adults (other than a parent) look over your essay • Your counselor • Career Center staff • Your English teacher

28. Extra recommendations and other materials • Sometimes students include a mentor or coach recommendation • Sending extras with your application: • Be careful: college admissions officers only have a few minutes to spend on each application • Admissions officers don't necessarily have the training to meaningfully evaluate things like musical performances • We encourage you to discuss any extras you might like to include with us—sometimes it might make sense for your counselor to incorporate the information into the counselor letter of recommendation

29. Transcripts • In the fall, counselors will meet with seniors to go over the specifics of requesting transcripts and recommendations for colleges • For now, keep in mind that we will require a month turn around time for sending out transcripts and recommendations. So, for a school that has a November 1st deadline, a student will turn in their transcript request by October 1st. • Students will only be able to request transcripts from the registrar's office if all of their Trailblazer forms are complete. • Students should also give teachers at least a month notification prior to their college deadlines.

30. Final Words • We hope this information has been helpful to you • Feel free to contact us if you have any questions at ANY point in this process either by phone at 301-649-2810 or by email: • Ms. Ross (A-K) Tia_S_Ross@mcpsmd.org • Ms. Taylor (L-Z) ms.jennifer.taylor@gmail.com