Junior Year & The College Process

1. Junior Year & The College Process

2. Tonight’s Plan • College application overview • College Research • Standardized testing • College and the Student Athlete Finding the right FIT

3. Update LMMHS sends out approximately 400 applications each year How Many Do I apply To? In 1990, only 9% of students applied to 7or more colleges. By 2011 it was 29%. LMMHS students apply to an average of 6 schools, Last year, 23% applied to 10 or more. The highest number was 18 applications. Let the FEES begin.. College application fees have risen as high as $90. However, hundred of schools have no application fee and most offer income eligible fee waivers. After Careful Consideration... Getting accepted to college is now harder. In 1990, the acceptance rate for Columbia University was 65%, now the acceptance rate hovers around 7%. The LMMHS UMASS acceptance rate dropped since 2011 from 94% to as low as 55%. Northeastern 78% has been as low as 30%. Overall LMMHS acceptance rate since 2011 - approximately 57%. The 4 (or 6) Yearly Bill In 1988, average private four-year schools cost $13,330. Current average cost for public schools is $24,000 and private schools is $49,000. NYU is among the highest, cost at almost $72,000. Ivies free for incomes $65,000 or less. UChicago no loan college. Many more….. Give Me The Money Wall Street Journal published the class of 2016 will have an average of $37,000 in debt. However in 2013, young adults, ages 25–34 with a bachelor's earned twice as much than those without a degree. The Boomerang 36.4% of women and 42.8% of men ages 18 to 34 lived with relatives in 2014. It is no longer believed to be just unemployment but delayed marriages and student loan debt as factors.

4. The College Application

5. College Application Deadlines Early Action/Decision October 15th November 1st November 15th Regular Decision January 1st

6. Application Requirements ALLrequire • The application • High school transcript MOSTrequire • SAT/ACT Scores • Application fee • The counselor recommendation and evaluation • Letters of recommendation • Personal essay SOME require • Subject tests • Supplemental essays • Interviews • Portfolio • Activities resume

7. School Profile

8. Academic Transcript • Most important part of the college application • Colleges receive final grades ONLY, except senior year quarterly grades • Students should enroll in the most challenging course available to them • If you can take honors or AP you should do so • Don’t drop your language class senior year • Bridge to College – free class offered to Seniors at BCC • Free online classes available: MOOC, Coursera, AcademicEarth

9. College Research

10. Research Focus

11. Chart your options: Spreadsheet EXCEL:– personal rating system • School • Academic program • Deadlines & password • Location/distance • Size • Interview • Audition/portfolio • Open House dates • Sat range • GPA range • Cost • Highs and lows • Merit aid qualifications (top 20%, SAT) *MIT student: College Application Organizer – Phone App

12. Research Tools Collegeboard.org Naviance.com Other Research Sources: • Apps • Virtual tours • Live chats • Virtual open house – live chats • Blogs, videos, reviews • Discussion communities

13. College Board

17. The College Visit & Interview Make arrangements in advance – schedule appointments • Open house • Campus tours • Visits with coaches • Meeting with departments • Interviews • Auditions • Portfolio reviews • Sitting in classes

18. DATES FOR COLLEGE VISITS

19. Preliminary College List

20. Smart List of Colleges Your academic achievement does not meet the admission criteria or it is a top tier school Your academic achievement exceeds the admission criteria Your academic achievement solidly meets the admission criteria

21. Factors that impact your odds for admission “There isn’t necessarily an applicant pool, but applicant puddles that make up an applicant pool.  You compete within the puddle.” - Tom Walsh • Program selection – Nursing, Engineering, Physician’s Assistant, etc. • Legacy status - Being the child of an alum • Underrepresented minority status  • First generation college student • Low income • Athletic ability or other special talent – women’s hockey or trombone? • International applicants • Influence: Political, Financial, Professor’s child • Unknown agenda – colleges are building a class

22. Schools You Never Count On EVER Amherst College Boston College Bowdoin College Brown University Carnegie Mellon University Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Duke University Georgetown University Harvard University John Hopkins University MIT Middlebury College Northwestern University Pomona College Princeton University Stanford University Swarthmore College Tufts University University of Chicago UNC at Chapel Hill University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Virginia Vanderbilt University Wake Forest University Williams College Yale University

23. Standardized Tests

24. Testing for College Admissions • PSAT • SAT • SAT Subject Tests • ACT • AP Tests • Fairtest.org: 900 colleges that are SAT/ACT optional

25. SAT/ACT TEST Registration • SAT online www.collegeboard.org • ACT online www.actstudent.org • Must upload a picture • Students must send scores directly to each college

26. SAT Subject Tests • Approximately 160 schools require or recommend subject tests • The most competitive colleges/universities • One hour test – take up to 3 on a test day • Given on the same date as the SAT Reasoning Test • Take May or June

27. Improve Test Scores • Practice Tests • Use PSAT results • Kahn Academy online • SAT Prep class • Use SAT or ACT review books and software • Computer Apps • Private and online tutorial programs

28. Parents Need Not Apply Broadly speaking, the role of parents in the college application process is financial. "Mrs. Jones must really want to go to school here. She calls every day with another 'interested student' question." • Don't call a school unless it is about paying • Don't do the application • Don't write the college essay • Don’t play the name game • Don’t ignore schools you have never heard of • Don’t count on merit or athletic scholarships • Don’t buy a sweatshirt on campus visits until it is official Do help organize, search for colleges, create spreadsheets and above all - prepare to support a stressed out, sometimes sad, sometimes happy, incredibly overwhelmed teenager.

29. Key Points to Remember • Avoid the name game. Understand this is about “fit” not “name.” • If you can’t answer the “why this school?” question, take it off the list. • Do not select schools you would be disappointed to attend. • College admissions is not a science. You will never know the college’s agenda. Do your best work, be yourself, control what you can and forget the rest.

30. Q & A Tara Romeo A – L tromeo@lenoxps.org Pam Ritrosky M – Z pritrosky@lenoxps.org Phone Number: 637-5560

31. NCAA National Collegiate Athletic Association • The NCAA is the governing body of most intercollegiate sports. • The NCAA Eligibility Center will certify all athletes are eligible for division I & II. • Athletes need to register online at https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/. • Certification Account or Profile Page • An NCAA Guide is available on line at http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/CBSA17.pdf • Eligibility is based on courses completed, grades and quality points and an SAT/ACT score.

33. The ODDS – College Athletes

34. What It Takes

35. Scholarship Facts vs Myth Facts • 3% of high school athletes receive a scholarship • Less than 1% receive a 4 year D1 scholarship • 26% of students who enter college on an athletic scholarship as a freshman are no longer on a scholarship entering their sophomore year • 80% of scholarship/financial aid opportunities are not on the D1 level • Myths • There is no such thing as a 4 year “Full Ride” • D1 schools now have the option to guarantee more than 1 year • All athletic scholarships are 1 year renewable deals for D2

36. Next Steps • Create an NCAA profile page/account. • Fill out student athlete questionnaires on college websites. • Contact coaches via email. • Watch MSSADA recruiting video at www.miaa.net.