FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE FIT: Promoting Good Decision-Making Skills for the College Selection Process February 20 th

1. FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE FIT: Promoting Good Decision-Making Skills for the College Selection ProcessFebruary 20th 2013 Hinsdale Central High School

3. Know Yourself &What is Important to You • The more you know about yourself (skills, abilities, like, dislikes) the better decisions you can make • Goals and values • Abilities and interests • High school courses & performance • Activities and interests – Show passion and leadership! • Personality and relationships • Educational preferences – Be aware of specific programs!

4. Importance of Junior Year • Check graduation credits • Continue to do your best in classes • Get to know your teachers • Get involved and take on leadership roles

5. Financial Aid • Do not let cost be the most important factor in selecting colleges • Attend the Financial Aid night in December • There’s no need to get anyone to help you get financial aid or scholarships • File Free Application for Federal Student Aid (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ NOT .com!) & CSS Profile • ( collegboard.com - usually selective schools) • Research both Need Based and Merit Based Scholarships • Use Financial Aid Estimator on finaid.org and/or on individual college sites.

6. Types of Colleges • Universities • Liberal Arts Colleges • Women’s Colleges • Historically Black Colleges / Universities • Technical Institutes • Fine Arts Schools • Community or Junior Colleges

7. College Entrance Tests ACT SAT Reasoning Test SAT Subject Tests

8. ACT Test Dates • REMINDERS: • = HCHS is a testing center • **The state has mandated not to include the writing section of the ACT on 4/23 – 24. Please make sure to register for another Saturday ACT test WITH writing! • Register at: www.act.org • Hinsdale Central ACT/CEEB Code: 142-300 • Free reports sent to colleges(up to 4) as you test or you pay a fee later ($10/per school). • It is the student’s responsibility to release “official” test scores from testing agency to colleges - check college websites if required!

9. SAT Test Dates Test Date / Registration Deadline *March 9th/ February 8th *May 4th/ April 5th *June 1nd/ May 2nd * = Offered at Hinsdale Central The SAT Reasoning and SAT Subject Tests may not be taken on the same day CEEB CODE 142-300  www.collegeboard.com

10. SAT and ACT Use your past test scores to help predict your scores: *PLAN helps predict your ACT *PSAT helps predict your SAT

11. Curriculum/Course Path, Grades, • Transcript • Test Scores, Essays, Activities & Leadership, Personal Qualities, Awards, Recommendations, Interviews, Resume. • Colleges want to see you do well in school every day! Colleges Evaluate:

12. Geographic Location • Size • Environment • Surrounding Community • Sports & Extra-curricular Activities • Social Atmosphere • Student Body • Diversity • Study Abroad • Religious Orientation College Criteria

13. College Criteria (cont.) • Research Opportunities • Reputation • Academic Atmosphere • Academic Programs & Majors • Honors / Accelerated Programs • Graduation Rate • Cost • Tuition / Financial Aid / Scholarships

14. Do I Need To Know My Major? • Knowing your interests can help narrow your college choice • As Sophomores and Juniors you did career interest inventories • As Sophomores you explored the Discover program • As Juniors you explored Careers in the Naviance program

15. Naviance • Scattergrams • E-mail messages • College Search • Careers • http://central.hinsdale86.org

17. ACT VS. GPA SCATTERGRAM

18. Think Outside the Box New Locations Different Opportunities Colleges you have heard of WHERE DO I FIT? Interesting People Unique Programs

19. The Competition Factor • Admission Requirements • Acceptance Rate • Academic Profile of Entering Freshmen • Hinsdale Central History

20. The Process • Junior Planning Conference • BRING YOUR COMPLETED SELF-SURVEY TO YOUR JPC! • Research • Application • Common Application / School Specific • Student Form • Counselor/SSR Form • Teacher Form • Transcript Request

21. Recommendations • Counselor Recommendations rely heavily on your Self-Survey. • Bring your completed Self-Survey to your Junior Planning Conference. • Recommendation letters are now uploaded electronically on Naviance.

22. Junior Year College Activities • Spend lots of time thinking about what YOU want in a college • Compile list of colleges to research • Use your legal name on all college and testing forms!!! • Visit different kinds of colleges over spring break or extended weekends – Make arrangements with the Dean’s Office! • Keep grades strong or improve grades • Take ACT/SAT • Attend College Planning Seminar on March 13th! • Attend College Night on April 16th at Central!

23. Visit colleges!! Locally, try Northwestern, Loyola, DePaul, Elmhurst, Dominican, Concordia, Roosevelt…. • Determine final list of colleges • Begin developing essay/personal statement • Do something productive that you are passionate about! • Summer Programs • Volunteer work • Part time job • Internship Summer Plans

24. New Common Application Essay Prompts • Choose the option that best helps you answer the question in an essay of no more than 650 words: • Share a personal story or your background if it is central to your identity • Recount a time when you experienced failure • Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea • Describe a place/environment in which you are perfectly content • Discuss an accomplishment/event that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood

25. Senior Year Activities • Retake ACT/SAT, if necessary • Complete applications EARLY • Write essay/personal statement • Decide if applying Early Action or Early Decision is right for you • KEEP GRADES STRONG • Don’t change your schedule – You will have to notify the schools you applied to!

26. Avoid External Influences • Media • Friends • Neighbors • Relatives