Junior Parent Meeting

Junior Parent Meeting Coffee & Conversation December 1, 2016

Agenda • Advice for Junior Year Success • Post High School Planning Events • The PSAT and Standardized Testing 101 • Developing a Well Balanced List • Application Plans • College Planning Resources • Naviance • Financial Aid • Timeline/Keys to Success

Advice to Students • Take challenging classes junior and senior year • Be in the highest academic level where you can achieve the honor roll • Stay involved in extracurricular and community service activities • Form positive relationships with your teachers • Begin researching and planning for life after CHS

Post High School Planning Meetings • Junior Workshops will be held next week • Review and introduce key features of Naviance • Overview of testing and the college search and application process • College research and resume building • Counselors are currently available for individual student meetings • Review transcript • Brainstorm senior year course of studies • Discuss post high school plans • Develop a testing plan: SAT and/or ACT • Additional planning workshops will be held prior to the end of the school year

“Articulating the College Process” • Please mark your calendars for the evening of Thursday, March 2nd • This event will include • Q&A Panel with multiple college admissions representatives • Advice from parents and students who have experienced the process

PSAT as a Planning Tool • Results will be available this month • Students will receive an email with an online access code • PSAT score reports include detailed information • Understanding strengths, areas of weakness, and how to best prepare • Prepare! • Khan Academy • Private courses and tutors (see list of preparation programs on the guidance website)

Standardized Testing • ACT and SAT • Both are equally accepted at all colleges and universities • The new SAT was redesigned and is now quite similar to the ACT • Students should meet with their counselor to create an individualized testing plan • SAT Subject Tests • Measures your knowledge in a particular content area

Standardized Testing • Testing requirements can vary greatly between colleges • You must check the specific requirements for each school that you are interested in • Subject Tests tend to be required at more selective colleges • Work with your counselor to develop a testing plan that is right for you • Most students should not be testing prior to spring of junior year, with the exception of students taking the current SAT • There is a small but growing number of schools that are test optional. Visit www.fairtest.org for detailed information

Developing a Well Balanced List • A Safety school is a college that you will almost certainly get into because your test scores, and grades are well above average in comparison to the school's profile • At least two are recommended and it is important that you like your safety schools as much as your realistic and reach! • A Realistic school is a college that you have a good chance of getting into because your grades and test scores fall into the middle range of accepted students • A Reach school is a college in which chances of admission are unlikely but sometimes possible. Your grades and test scores are lower than the middle 50% of accepted students • Please note: There are a small number of highly selective colleges that are reach schools for every student. Admissions standards at these schools are so high that even perfect grades and SAT scores do not guarantee acceptance

Application Plans • Early Decision • Binding, early response • Early Action • Non-binding, early response • Rolling Admissions • Apply early, admission decisions are made as applications are received • Regular Decision • Standard application timeline

College Planning Resources • Naviance • College/University websites • Specific information, photos, virtual tours, statistics, etc. • College visits • Schedule a tour • Guidance webpage • College Board and ACT • Test registration and college planning • https://twitter.com/CHSguidancenews

Key Features of Naviance • Counselors • Track college admissions data • Communicate with students • Schedule college representative visits • Transmit documentation to colleges • Students • Explore careers and colleges • Organize the application process • Complete a resume and self evaluation • Sign up for college representative visits • Requests transcripts and teacher recommendations

Financial Aid • Federal Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) • Now available October 1 of senior year • CSS Profile (College Scholarship Search) • Community Scholarships • Local/Regional Scholarships • MEFA Financial Aid Nights are available at area schools • Locate a local seminar at: http://www.mefa.org/findaseminar.aspx

Abigail Adams/Koplik Awards • Recipients of the Abigail Adams Award and Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Tuition Waiver are eligible for a renewable tuition waiver at public universities in Massachusetts • Tuition ranges $1000-$1600 • Koplik notifications are mailed home in the spring of junior year and Adams are mailed home in the fall of senior year • The Adams award does not require any additional testing or achievements • To initially qualify for the Koplik students must score advanced in at least one grade 10 MCAS subject and proficient on the remaining section • Students eligible for the Koplik must fulfill additional requirements through one of the following combinations in order to receive the award: • Two AP exams with scores of 3 or better • Two SAT II exams. Minimum scores are dependent upon subject area • One SAT II exam and one AP exam with necessary scores • One SAT II or AP exam with one other academic achievement • Please note there are rules regarding the subject areas in which students are testing

Junior Year Timeline – Key Points December/January/February Register for AP Exams through the guidance office Create a testing plan Register online for SAT/ACT testing Meet with your counselor Begin or continue to research specific colleges March/April Develop a preliminary, well-balanced list of colleges Schedule tours and visit colleges Plan a challenging senior year course load May- June-Summer Continue college searching and visits Draft your college essay Explore early application plans Request a teacher recommendation

Keys to Success • NOW is the time for research and planning • Visit, Visit, Visit • Stay organized • Apply well before the deadlines • When questions arise, call/email the guidance office and look to Naviance and the guidance website

Any Questions?

Junior Parent Meeting