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Planning Ahead for Your College Career

Rich Quadrel, Ph.D.

Sage College Prep Services

October 19, 2016

Sage College Prep Services

Median Earnings of Full-Time Year-Round Workers Ages 25 and Older, by Education Level, 2008 Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009; Internal Revenue Service, 2008; Davis et al., 2009.

Unemployment Rates of Individuals Ages 25 and Older, by Education Level, 2009 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010c.

Obesity Among Adults Ages 25 and Older, by Age and Education Level, 2008 Sources: NCHS, 2008 National Health Interview Survey, calculations by the College Board.

School Readiness of Preschool Children Ages 3–5, by Parents’ Highest Education Level, 2007 Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2007.

Voting Rates Among U.S. Citizens Ages 18–24, by Education Level, 2008 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008.

When you graduate high school, you would like to

have as many college options as possible

It will take some planning!

5 Elements of Your College Plan

1. Academics

2. Extracurricular activities

3. College search and selection process

4. College applications

5. Paying for college

Academics

Choose your college prep curriculum• 3-4 credits in each of English, Math, Social

Studies, and Science• 2 years world language• Special requirements for your intended

major (e.g., Physics or Calculus)?• Stay on track with your counselor

Challenge yourself with a rigorous schedule –

strive for a high GPA

Sample 4-year Academic Plan

• 4 years of math & science (note the progression)

• 3 years of World Language

• 2 or 3 AP classes (additional AP courses can be substituted if offered)

• 24 credits

Academics

Choose your college prep curriculum• 3-4 credits in each of English, Math, Social

Studies, Science• 2 years world language• Special requirements for your intended

major (e.g., Physics or Calculus)?• Keep your curriculum on track – talk to

your counselor

Maintain a high GPA• Study hard; organize your time• Start a study group – network with other

college-bound students• Ask for tutoring if needed• Start strong in 9th grade! Each year, your

GPA becomes more difficult to change

Advanced Placement (AP) classes• Boost your GPA: An “A” in an AP class is

worth 5.0, compared to a 4.0• Take the AP test at the end of the term –

scoring well can earn college credits!

Challenge yourself with a rigorous schedule –

strive for a high GPA

What about Running Start?

Pros

• Reduces the time required to achieve

a college degree

• Saves a significant amount of money

• Broadens the students’ horizons – but

they must be sufficiently mature to

thrive in a college environment

• Class schedule may be more flexible,

allowing for a part-time job or other

activities

Cons

• Selective colleges may prefer AP

classes over Running Start classes

• Running Start class credits are not

transferable to all universities

• Students may miss some high school

and college experiences

• Students need to find their own

transportation to CBC or WSU Tri-

Cities

Running Start is a dual-enrollment program in Washington (and Hawaii) which allows high school juniors and seniors to attend college courses numbered 100 or above while completing high school.

Extracurricular activities

Quality over quantity• “Laundry lists do not impress”• Better to have 1-3 activities over a

number of years than 10-12 activities for shorter periods of time

Pursue your passion• Activities in which you have a genuine

interest• Choose activities in which you can excel

and demonstrate leadership• Start your own after-school club or

organize a community service project• Organize a school event or competition• Start your own mini-business

Who are you outside of the classroom?

Quality of the activity Examples

Productive & Meaningful • Have you made a difference?• Contributed to a worthwhile cause?• Learned something, or developed a new skill?• Reached a goal?

Leadership & Initiative • Been founder or president?• Served as a captain of a team?• Progressed from regular member status to leadership

status?• Changed the nature of the organization?

Outside recognition • Received awards or honors?• Publication of work?• Letters of acknowledgement?

Other specific qualities • Competent, high energy level, adventurous, curious, cooperative, sustained commitment, passion and focus

What college admissions officers look for

Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz, Founder, www.adMISSIONPOSSIBLE.com

Extracurricular activities

Quality over quantity• “Laundry lists do not impress”• Better to have 1-3 activities over a

number of years than 10-12 activities for shorter periods of time

Pursue your passion• Activities in which you have a genuine

interest• Choose activities in which you can excel

and demonstrate leadership• Start your own after-school club or

organize a community service project• Organize a school event or competition• Start your own mini-business

Keep a journal of your activities

Who are you outside of the classroom?

Internships can be a differentiator• Work closely with your high school’s

Career Center to find opportunities

College search and selection

Online Search Tools

CollegeView.com – Most comprehensive search criteriaBigFuture.com – Best summary profilesWOIS.org – Excellent search engine, and includes career exploration and portfolio management tools (by subscription)

Remember: college is a means to an end. The idea is to choose a college that will launch you into a successful

and fulfilling career

• Deadlines for admission, early decision, financial aid

• % applicants admitted

• Criteria used for admissions decisions

• GPAs and SAT/ACT scores of incoming freshmen

• Student-to-faculty ratio

• % students who return for their sophomore year

• Most popular majors

College profile report

College search and selection

Online Search Tools

CollegeView.com – Most comprehensive search criteriaBigFuture.com – Best summary profilesWOIS.org – Excellent search engine, and includes career exploration and portfolio management tools (by subscription)

Remember: college is a means to an end. The idea is to choose a college that will launch you into a successful

and fulfilling career

Talk to a college representative

National College Fairs – Over 150 colleges from across the U.S.• Oct 21-22: Seattle – WA State Convention and Trade Center• Oct 23-24: Portland – Oregon Convention Center• Oct 25: Spokane – Spokane Convention Center

Register at www.nacacnet.org/college-fairs/students-parents

• Schedule your visit while school is in session

• Talk to students

• Visit the admissions office. Collect information, pick up financial aid forms, sign up for

their mailing list

• Take the campus tour…

• …but take your own tour too (especially the library, dining hall, and freshmen dorms)

• Read the media (student newspaper, department newsletters). Check out the bulletin

boards.

• Be a student for a day (or night)

• Save the best college for last

• Keep a record of every visit

• Don’t rush to judgment

Make the most of your college visit

College applications

College Application• Know your application submission

deadlines, and create a schedule• The Common App – used by nearly 700

colleges • Get recommendations early• Your extracurricular activities journal will

come in handy now!

Standardized testing plan

Most students apply to 4-8 colleges, with a range of “safe” to “stretch”

schools

Your application essay can be a key differentiator

Fall semester, Junior year (October)

Spring semester, Junior year (4x)Fall semester, Senior year (3x)

• Generalization• Problem solving• Deeper Algebra• Reading – 13 min• No Science test• Slower pace (154 Q)

• Precision• Test of knowledge• Broader Math• Reading – 8½ min• Science!• Faster pace (215 Q)

Common App essay prompts

• Meaningful background, identity, interest, or talent

• Experience of failure and what did you learn?

• Time when you challenged a belief or idea

• Problem that you’ve solved or would like to solve

• Accomplishment that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood

Overused essay topics to avoid

• “The Big Game” or “The Big Orchestra Recital”

• Pet Death

• Religious Epiphanies

• Trials and Tribulations of Travel

• My Grandfather (or Grandmother)

• Achieving World Peace Through Mutual Understanding

College application essays

College applications

College Application• Know your application submission

deadlines, and create a schedule• The Common App – used by nearly 700

colleges • Get recommendations early• Your extracurricular activities journal will

come in handy now!

Standardized testing plan

What’s the difference between “Early Decision” and “Early Action?”

Most students apply to 4-8 colleges, with a range of “safe” to “stretch”

schools

Your application essay can be a key differentiator

Fall semester, Junior year (October)

Spring semester, Junior year (4x)Fall semester, Senior year (3x)

• Generalization• Problem solving• Deeper Algebra• Reading – 13 min• No Science test• Slower pace (154 Q)

• Precision• Test of knowledge• Broader Math• Reading – 8½ min• Science!• Faster pace (215 Q)

Early Decision

• If you’re sure about which college you want to attend:

• Students can apply early (before the usual deadline)

and get a decision early

• Some students have a better chance of getting in than

through the regular admission process

…but…

• You can apply to only one early decision college

• If the college accepts you and offers enough financial

aid, you must go to that college (“binding”)

• Think twice if you want to compare admission and

financial aid offers

Early Action

• You can apply to more than one early action college

• If you’re accepted you say yes right away or wait until

spring to decide

• You can also decline the offer

Early Decision / Early Action

Paying for College

Resource Options• Federal Government:

federal grants, student loans, federal work-study programs

• State Government• Colleges and Universities• Scholarships through local, regional, and

national non-profit organizations• Personal resources: savings, 529 plans,

summer jobs

Public schools vs. Private schools

FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (fafsa.gov)• NEW! Applications opened on Oct 1, 2016

for the 2017-2018 school year

Most students don’t pay “sticker price.”

• Supported by state funds

• Benefits for in-state residents

• Less expensive

• Supported by tuition, endowments, donations

• More expensive, but often more financial aid opportunities

3 Steps1. Submit the FAFSA2. Find out if other financial aid forms are

required3. Search and apply for private scholarships

Upcoming seminars on college prep

October 19Planning Ahead for Your College Career

October 18Finding Your Perfect College

November 17Assembling a Successful College Application

December 14Paying for College

Sage College Prep Services

TEST PREPARATION

Comprehensive test preparation for the SAT,

ACT, and PSAT

PRIVATETUTORING

One-on-one tutoring to help students with course

work and assignments

COLLEGE COUNSELING

Guiding students through the college search and

application process

SageCPS.com509.375.5555