Junior Parent Night

1. Junior Parent Night Bunn High School April, 2011 This presentation has been posted on Moodle Under BHS/Guidance/11th Grade

2. Program Overview • Graduation Requirements • Post Secondary Options • Senior Course Planning • Resources and guidelines for college planning

3. College Tech Prep or Career Prep- Community College or Workforce English – 5 units Math – Alg. I, Geom., Alg II or -Alg. I, Tech Math I, Tech Math II (Tech Prep Diploma) -Pre-Alg, Foundation of Alg, Alg I (Career Prep Diploma) Science – 3 units Social Studies – 3 units HPE – 1 unit Career Technical – 4 credits in a pathway. College Prep-Required for 4-yr College English – 4 units Math – Alg. I, Geom., Alg. II, & AFM or Pre-Calculus Science – 3 units Social Studies – 3 units HPE – 1 unit Foreign Language – 2 units Graduation Requirements

4. NC Scholars Class of 2012 • 4 units of English • 4 units of Math – Alg. I, Geom., Alg. II, plus Adv. Functions or Pre-Cal, Statistics, or Calculus • 3 units of Science – Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry • 3 units of Social Studies • 2 levels of the same Foreign Language • 1 unit of Healthful Living (Health and PE) • 1 Career/Technical Education Course • 1 Arts Education Course (selected from Dance, Music, Theatre Arts or Visual Arts) • 4 electives to include at least 2 second level or advanced courses • Minimum Unweighted GPA: 3.5 (Unweighted GPA does not include extra points for honors or AP classes.)

5. Post Secondary Options • Community College- Associate and Certificate Programs/College Transfer • Military • Work • 4 year University – Public or Private • Job Corp

6. Senior Planning • Consider abilities, interests and career goals • Maintain balance of challenging courses to achieve success • Review senior schedule. • Discuss options with counselor, teachers (senior meetings held in the Fall) • Senior Self-Assessment: Students need to gather information about colleges/career plans and do a self-evaluation of their strengthens, weakness, goals, likes, and dislikes.

7. Basic Considerations When Thinking About College • Why are you going to college? What are your alternatives? • What is your primary concern in choosing a college? • How strong is the school in your prospective major? • How do you want to spend those 4 years? (consider academics, activities, social life, part-time jobs, etc.) • How far from home are you willing to live? • What type of setting do you want? • How large a school are you seeking? • How challenging an academic environment are you seeking?

8. Student’s College Selection Worksheet • #1 mistake most college-bound students make when choosing a school is going where they don’t fit • Over 50% of all college students do not graduate from where they start college • Students should use the college comparison worksheet to determine what is important to him/her and parents should do the same – compare results and discuss them openly

9. What is the Parent’s Role? • Too much or too little influence can negatively affect the decision making • Your involvement in choosing a college is vital • Begin a discussion with your child and consider the following: Does your child have a desire to further his/her education? What area(s) of interest does he/she have regarding possible careers? What are your parameters in terms of cost (public vs. private colleges)and geography (in-state vs. out-of-state)? What type of environment would be most helpful for your child to reach his/her goals? • Remain open minded, supportive and realistic in your discussions with them.

10. Selectivity of admissions Chances of admission Accredited programs Location and size Public vs. private Cost/financial aid Living conditions/safety Honors programs Placement after grad. Study abroad programs Student body/faculty Campus Visits College interview Pointers for Parents and College-Bound Juniors – Checklist for Selection

11. Academic record/high school transcript Standardized Tests/SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests Ability to communicate Personal statement High school standing/ class rank Recommendations Extracurricular activities/ volunteer work – depth and commitment Number of applicants Geography and residence Decisions are Based on the Following: There is no one factor that will determine your acceptance or rejection!

12. Survey Says… According to a recent College Board Survey of four-year colleges, the following criteria are “very important” • School achievement – 83% • Test scores – 59% • Recommendations – 19% • Essay – 17% • Interview – 14% • Activities – 4% *Note: Some colleges do not use all of the above criteria

13. College Admission Testing • Most four year colleges require an entrance exam • SAT Reasoning Test • SAT II Subject Tests • ACT • Community Colleges-SAT/ACT Not Required • Placement Test: Accuplacer/CPT, ASSET, COMPASS • Health Science program may require SAT for entry. • May use SAT scores to waive taking the placement test (Critical Reading: 500; Math: 600)

14. How Many Colleges Should You Apply? • Safety-Apply to at least one school that student is sure to get in to. • Target Application Deadline Dates • Early Decision: Early Nov. • Regular Decision: Early March Apply to 4-6 Colleges Based on student profile Most application fees are around $50. Fee waivers are available for students who for qualify free or reduce lunch.

15. Test Dates October November December January March May 7, 2011 June 4, 2011 Cost -$48 – 2010/2011 Limited fee waivers available for students who qualify for free/reduce lunch. Test Details Critical Reading Math Writing Juniors are encouraged to take it once and then again as seniors SAT II (Subject Tests) required for admission to some schools and as placement test at other schools Score scale 200-800 on each test Average score 1000 Critical Reading and Math – only! With 1600 perfect score The SAT

16. ACT • Test Details • Reading • Writing • Math • Science Reasoning • Social Studies • Score scale 0-36 on each test • Average score 20 with 36 perfect score • Juniors are encouraged to take it once and then again as seniors • Test Dates • September • October • December • February • April • June 11, 2011 • Cost $47.00 • Limited fee waivers available for qualified students

17. SAT & ACT Information • When college advertise their average SAT and ACT scores, the scores do not include the writing test score. (SAT: Critical Reading & Math; ACT: Composite Score Only) • The writing test on the ACT is optional. Writing test is not optional on the SAT. • Colleges take either the SAT or ACT. • Juniors who have not taken Alg II by the end of 2nd semester should take the ACT.

18. Other Tests • ASVAB – Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (November@ BHS) • AP Exams –Advanced Placement (May @ Mitchell Media Center)

19. College Foundation of North Carolina (WWW.CFNC.org) • Available to all students • Easy-to-use, interactive website • Specific to North Carolina • Apply to College and for Financial Aid • Send transcripts to any NC 4 yr College & Community Colleges • Students can: Identify interests, explore majors, research careers, plan for the future, and gain insight • All juniors will have a CFNC account by June 2011. • CFNC College Application Week held in November. Most private colleges will waive their application fee. Students may do applications online through CFNC at home or at BHS that week.

20. Campus Visits • The best way to see for yourself what a college is like • Make the most of your visit by planning in advance • Call the admissions office for an appointment • Take a tour, talk with students, visit a class, and ask lots of questions!

21. Suggestions for College Athletes • Send a letter of interest in your junior year • Check with your high school coach or athletic director on the level of play you should consider and ask them to make a contact for you • Prepare a highlight film to forward to the coach • Complete the NCAA Eligibility Clearinghouse registration online at www.NCAA.org. • SAT Code for NCAA: 9999

22. Financial Aid Overview: Sources of Aid • Financial Aid Workshop – Dec. 2012 • Federal Government – grants, work-study and loans • State Government • Colleges and Universities – scholarship, grant and loan programs • Private Sources – organization scholarships, educational allowances, financial institutions All seniors should complete the FASFA form.

23. Scholarship Research • Awards are usually based on need, merit, community service, athletics or a talent • Contact financial aid offices of colleges you are applying to and find out about scholarships • Check BHS Moodle Page. • Visit web sites provided on handout • Check with your employer – sometimes businesses offer scholarships

24. North Carolina Scholarships Early Fall Scholarships NC Teaching Fellows: available to students who wish to be teachers. This scholarship is paid back in service as a teacher in NC Public Schools. (Nov) Morehead/Cain Scholarship: pays for student to attend UNC-Chapel Hill. Scholarship is based on leadership, moral force of character, scholarship and physical vigor. (Sept) Park Scholarship: provides full tuition and other expenses at NC State. Scholarship is based on leadership, character, scholarship and service. (Sept)

25. Extracurricular Resume • Students should complete a resume of activities • This can be submitted to colleges with applications, given to teachers for use in writing recommendations, and when applying for scholarships. • Resumes should be one page in length

26. Personal Statement/College Essay • Three Types of College Essays -Tell us about yourself -Why is college X a good choice for you? -The creative question • Helpful websites: -http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/108.html -http://www.princetonreview.com/college/essay.aspx

27. Schedule of ActivitiesWhat Juniors Should Be Doing • Focus on grades and course selections. • Get involved in extracurricular activities and volunteer in the community • Register to take the SAT or ACT in June if they have not taken one of these tests yet. Students the should retake either the SAT or ACT in the fall • Think about what they want to do following graduation and what colleges they are interested in. • Visit colleges and go to college fairs. • Work on extracurricular resume and personal statement/college essays.

28. Summer Opportunities • Jobs • Internships • Enrichment Programs (on BHS Moodle) • Travel • Camps-Church, Athletic, Scouts, 4-H • Job Shadowing • Volunteer

29. Questions and Contact Information • Tara Southerland: School Counselor for students with last names A-K 496-3975 x227 • tarasoutherland@fcschools.net • Guy Edwards: School Counselor for students with last names L-Z 496-3975 x226 • guyedwards@fcschools.net