Junior Year College and Career Planning

1. Junior Year College and Career Planning West Forsyth High School

2. Finding the right college for you… • Look for a MATCH between you and colleges • Decide what you want out of the college experience • Do your research and explore options • In the end, it’s you, not the school you choose, that will make the biggest difference

3. How do you get started? • Do your research—visit college websites (some listed in handout) and college handbooks • Talk to college representatives at West during lunch or before/after school • VISIT college campuses (Spring Break or teacher workdays are great times)

4. What are your chances of admission? Colleges will consider your: • Transcript • Rigor of courses, grades, GPA, rank • Academic course selection. What does West Forsyth offer and what did the student choose to take? • Senior Year Schedule • Test Scores SAT/ACT/CPT/AP You are responsible for submitting • Extracurricular activities • Essays • Recommendations/Interviews • Test Scores SAT/ACT/CPT/AP • You are responsible for submitting • Extracurricular activities • Recommendations/Essays/Interviews

5. Different Schools Fit Different Students: Examine Your Priorities • Location • School Size • Diversity of Student Activities and Academic Offerings • Cost of Attendance • Class Size

6. Schedule a visit: go online to obtain campus tour info

7. Campus Visits • Good questions to ask: • What do students like most about the college? Like least? • Retention rate for freshmen • Graduation rate • Most popular major and why? • Housing • Safety • Role of fraternities and sororities on campus • Availability of classes • Read the student newspaper/visit a class

8. Which colleges should I apply to? • What do you want to study? • The career interest inventory on CFNC can help you answer these questions. Your counselors will help you with this. • Make sure colleges offer your major. • Knowing what you want to major in can make the college search easier, but you do not need to pick a major before you start college.

9. More competitive college admissions Why? More students. More applications. Majority of students chasing the minority of schools. UNC Chapel Hill- 23,000+ applied7,342 admitted (32%)3,960 enrolled (54%) Average GPA 4.47 (weighted). Average SAT (CR+Math) 1300

10. College Admissions NC State- Applied 18,000+ Accepted 10,000. Avg. GPA 4.19 Avg. SAT (CR+M) 1184. North Carolina A&T Avg. GPA 3.11 Excellent resource for admissions criteria for all public colleges: www.collegeportraits.com and Handout-Freshman Profiles for UNC Universities • Rather than “the one” perfect school, look for several good matches

11. Counselors are available • We encourage you to meet with your counselor if you need help with college and career planning.

12. Testing • You need to have SAT or ACT test scores if you plan to go to a four year college directly after high school. Register online at www.collegeboard.com or www.actstudent.orgBe sure to identify 4 schools you want scores to be sent for free at the time of registration. • To prepare for the tests, you can use your PSAT score report for a personalized SAT study plan. Free test preparation on CFNC.org and IneedAPencil.com

13. More of an aptitude test- tests reasoning and verbal abilities Verbal, Math, Writing (Required) Penalty for wrong answers $47 (Seven times a year) Achievement-measures what student has learned English, Math, Reading, Science,Writing(optional) No penalty for wrong answers $47 (Six times a year) SAT vs. ACTRegister online at least six weeks before test

14. Upcoming SAT Test Dates • January 22 (Registration Deadline: Dec 23) • March 12 Offered at West (Deadline: Feb 11) • May 7 • June 4 We recommend Juniors take the SAT twice in the spring of their junior year and possibly once in October senior year.

15. . If you are planning on entering the military, take the ASVAB. West plans to offer it in the spring. Read the announcements or check with guidance.

16. Extracurricular Activities • Develop a list of all activities. • Include summer enrichment, awards recognition. Save list on CFNC or personal computer • Utilize list during application, recommendation and scholarship process. • Your organization will save you time later!

17. Enrichment Activities • Summer Ventures in Science and Math (GPA 3.85) 4 weeks on UNC campus • Martha Guy Business Appalachian University • Architecture Summer Program UNC Charlotte • Wake Forest Summer Volunteer Program • NC State Design Camp • www.volunteermatch.org

18. Extracurriculars: Balance is key • Emphasize quality instead of quantity • Do something you are passionate about • Through your involvement, make a positive difference • Enjoy your activities, but remember they may only give you a slight edge over a student with equal academic standing

19. Cost of College • NC Public College (Tuition, room/board, expenses) Approx. $15,000 year • Private NC College (Tuition,Room/Board) • Elon Univ. $33,600 • Wake Forest $53,000 Forsyth Technical Community College $2000 per year (Tuition, Fees)

20. Don’t rule out a community college • 33% of West’s 2010 graduating class planned to enter a community college • You can complete the first two years of college and then transfer to a four- year college as a junior saving thousands of dollars • Class sizes are typically smaller • Limited enrollment in some areas, like health careers. Apply early!

21. Three Main Types of Financial Aid • Grants and Scholarships - don’t have to be repaid. Grant aid usually comes from government. Scholarships usually awarded based on merit. • Loans- Must be repaid. Most loans awarded based on need are low-interest subsidized by government (no interest until graduation). • Work-Study

22. Expected Family Contribution (EFC) The EFC is calculated by considering the family's financial strength -- their income and assets. Other factors: number of family members and the number of family members in college.

23. Financial Aid • Don’t rule out colleges based on sticker price alone • EFC remains the same regardless of college; therefore, you may qualify for more aid at a more expensive college

24. Financial Aid • Expected Family Contribution-assumes families will meet contribution through a combination of savings, current income, and borrowing • There are limited funds –Submit FAFSA application as early as possible (February of senior year)

25. ScholarshipsWest Forsyth Class of 2010 awarded $5.6 million

26. ScholarshipsTake a multi-directional approach Colleges You Plan to Attend Community/Work Websites www.CFNC.org www.fastweb.com www. West Forsyth Scholarship Newsletter Daily Announcements

27. Scholarships • Mock Interview Committee- contact Mrs. Widle in Guidance • Park Scholarship Program “We note when the applicant is not the one calling about his/her application.” Be your own advocate. • Read the announcements. Read the announcements. Read the announcements.

28. CFNC ActivityTomorrow • West counselors will help you complete an interest inventory and find a college that offers a major related to your interest • For homework tonight, you must set up a CFNC account Your username should be your first initial, middle initial and last name. Use your NC Wise # as your password.

29. Counselors C. Zimmerman A-Br Czimmerm@wsfcs.k12.nc.us B. Freidinger Bfreidin@wsfcs.k12.nc.us Bu-Gh R. Downs rpdowns@wsfcs.k12.nc.us Gi-Ka T. Winchester Ke-N twinches@wsfcs.k12.nc.us K. Widle kwidle@wsfcs.k12.nc.us O-Sl F. Youngman Fyoungma@wsfcs.k12.nc.us Sm-Z