early college planning night - january 2013

Early College Planning January 2013

The OCHS Guidance Department Welcomes You To:

Planning for CollegeJANUARY 30, 2013


Why Now?• Helps you plan academically

• Helps you plan financially

• Helps you plan your activities

• Helps you plan your vacations (for visits to college campuses)


The Academic RecordAdmissions Criteria

“The Meat and Potatoes”

• Grade Point Average• Class Rank

• Strength of Schedule• SAT / ACT scores


“ The Dessert”• RECOMMENDATIONS

• ACTIVITIES/SPORTS/AWARDS

• PERSONAL ESSAYS

• INTERVIEWS


THE OCHS STUDENT TRANSCRIPT

Will show the student’s first semester and final grade in each class by year in school

Will show the student’s Wt. GPA and Rank (computed at midsemester and at the end of the year)

Will show the student’s attendance


Will NOT show the student’s SAT/ACT scores

Will NOT show student activities(student activity list should be sent with transcript and generated by the student)

TRANSCRIPT CONTINUED...


SAMPLE (in 3 pieces)


MINIMUM 4YEAR COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS

4 years of English

3 years of math including Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2 – NOTE: many now requiring 4 years.

3 years of science (with lab experience)

23 years of the same world language

3 years of social studies

1 year of fine or performing arts

These represent the minimum requirements – many colleges will have requirements that far exceed these.


SELECTIVE COLLEGE ADMISSIONSGeneral rule of thumb is to take the

strongest schedule you can handle – fine balance between GPA and schedule strength

• 4 units of English• 45 units of mathematics

• 3 units of science• 35 units of world language finish if possible

• 4 units of social studiesElectives that show you are experimenting in different

areas or those that relate to your intended major

Honors and AP courses should be a part of your program


TWO YEAR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

Open Admissions must graduate from high school and take placement test – The Accuplacer

NJ Community Colleges require proficiency in Math and Language Arts before taking classes for credit

Some more competitive programs may require certain coursework or SAT testing

Less expensive way to get your first two years

NJ STARS (top 15% of graduating class)


COLLEGE TESTING OVERVIEW

PSSS – Preliminary SAT Scoring Service – given to all 9th graders

• Practice for the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT• Flexible testing schedule and administration• Early college awareness for younger students• Benefits for all students, including English language learners

WHY?


PSAT – Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test – October of 10th and 11th grades

• The best preparation for the SAT • The entry point to compete for National Merit Scholarships (for juniors only)• The option to receive information from colleges and scholarship services.• Personalized feedback on critical reading, mathematics and writing skills.

WHY?


How does the PSAT compare to the SAT?

• Same question types, except the SAT includes an essay assignment that does not appear on the PSAT• The PSAT is 2 hours, 10 minutes; the SAT is 3 hours, 45 minutes.• The SAT may have some math questions from third year math (Algebra II); the PSAT will not.


The SAT Scholastic Assessment Testwww.collegeboard.com

(Big Future)offered 5 times at OCHS during school year

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTS

The ACT American College Testwww.actstudent.org

offered in February at OCHSotherwise ACHS good option

General Guidelines• Take SAT twice junior year

• Consider taking the ACT 12 times• Prepare before taking

• Send scores after viewing $$$$$


ACT/SAT ComparisonACT SAT

3 hrs, 25 min(with Writing Test)

3 hrs, 45 min

4 Sections(Eng, Math, Read, Sci) + optional Writing Test

10 Sections(3 Critical Read, 3 Math, 3 Writing, and 1 Experimental, which is unscored) Math: up to 9th grade Geometry and Alg II

Math: up to trigonometry


Composite of 136 based on average scores from the 4 test sections; 4 scores of 136 for each test;Optional Writing Test score of 012 (not included in the overall score)

ACT/SAT ComparisonTotal score range of 6002400 based on adding scores from 3 subjects; 3 scores of 200800 for each subject; Score of 012 for the Essay

No penalty for wrong answers

¼ point subtracted for each wrong answer (except for Math GridIns)


SAT Subject TestsUsed for placement most of the time and for admission at the most selective institutions

Before deciding to take the tests, make a list of the colleges that you are considering. Then find out if the school requires the Subject Tests.


Requirements for Athletes

• Go to www.ncaaclearinghouse.netto register

• OCHS CEEB Code – 311045• Division 1

• 16 CORE courses completed (2008 and beyond) with a minimum GPA and test score

• Example – 2.50 GPA / 820 SAT• Consult with your counselor


THE COLLEGE SEARCHSELFANALYSIS

• Goals in life – examples – idea of success, why college?, where do you want to be 10 years from now?

• Values – what’s important? Earnings, economic security, power, independence, altruism, etc.

• Interests/Abilities – careers/majors that relate to your interests – artistic, investigative, enterprising, social, etc.


LocationSize

Majors/Programs/ActivitiesAdmissions RequirementsReputation/Selectivity

FacilitiesEnvironment – Urban vs. Rural

Ethnic breakdownCost/Financial Aid/Scholarship

Opportunities

SEARCH CRITERIA


• Your Guidance Counselor• Books and other printed literature• College websites• Internet based searches• Naviance – “ TCCI Family Connection”

(see handout)• MY Road or Big Future– through The College Board site• Other search programs

RESOURCES


• Personality Type – “Do what you are”• Career Interest Profiler• Explore Careers• College • College Lookup• College Search• Acceptance History• Scattergrams• Visit Schedule• Scholarships

FAMILY CONNECTION


Campus Visit• VERY important – enables students to see the difference between large and small campuses/ between urban and rural / to judge the distance from home, etc.


Campus Visit• If possible, visit while school is in session. Students get to see if the students on campus look, dress and sound like them. A level of comfort for the campus is established.


Campus Visit• When? Anytime is good, but sometime near the end of the sophomore year is appropriate for ambitious students and parents to start. Spring of junior year is great after more credentials are established.


Campus Visit• You are encouraged to discuss visiting colleges with your counselor, however the college websites have this information readily available along with tour schedules. If possible take a formal tour see and learn much more.


Sample College Admissions Profiles

InState PublicThe Richard Stockton College of NJ

Middle 50% SAT – CR 470570 M 49060056% in top quarter – 96% in top half65% of 5,089 applicants offered admission30% (992) accepted actually matriculated


The College of New JerseyMiddle 50% SAT – CR 550650 M 580680

89% in top quarter – 99% in top half46% of 10,150 applicants offered

admission29% (1359) accepted actually

matriculated


OutofState PublicPenn State University

Middle 50% SAT – CR 530630 M 56067087% in top quarter – 98% in top half52% of 45,502 applicants offered admission31% (7,334) accepted actually matriculated


University of DelawareMiddle 50% SAT – CR 540640 M 56066079% in top quarter – 98% in top half58% of 23,647 applicants offered admission28% (3840) accepted actually matriculated


PrivateSaint Joseph’s University

Middle 50% SAT – CR 510600 M 52061053% top quarter –86% top half78% of 7,401 applicants offered admission20% (1155) accepted actually matriculated


Princeton UniversityMiddle 50% SAT – CR 700790 M 71080099% top quarter – 100% top half8% of 27,189 applicants offered admission57% (1240) accepted actually

matriculated


SAMPLE COLLEGE COSTS

Tuition plus Room and Board • Richard Stockton College of NJ $19,862• The College of NJ $25,700

• Penn State University $38,644• University of Delaware $38,286

• Saint Joseph’s University $50,470• Princeton University $51,280


FINANCIAL AID OVERVIEW

WWW.FAFSA.GOV


All Federal Aid is tied to NEED!

• Need is established by subtracting the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the Total

Cost of the college


• The EFC is determined by completing the FAFSA ( Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Uses the Federal Methodology

• www.fafsa.gov – check out FAFSA4caster (student + parent info)


THE EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION (EFC) equals the

sum of four separate calculations:

1) Contribution from Parental Income(parental income minus taxes minus the

income protection allowance minus child support paid minus education tax credits)X 22% to 47%.


2) Contribution from Parental Assets(parental assets – asset protection) X 5.6%

3) Contribution from Student Income(student income minus taxes minus income

protection allowance) X 50%

4) Contribution from Student Assets X 20%


The Financial Aid Package

• Grants • Scholarships• Workstudy • A variety of Loans

The family decides to accept or reject any of the above.

After receiving the family’s EFC the college develops a package that MAY consist of:


• Awarded for some special talent, ability or to recruit desirable students

• Private vs Institutional (CollegeBased)

• Help those families the most that have a high Expected Family Contribution

• Student and/or family can do their own searches using various websites or printed materials– Don’t Need a Financial Aid advisor to do this


Financial Aid Resources

Don’t Miss Out” by Anna and Robert Leider

“The A’s and B’s of Academic Scholarships” – by Anna Leider

www.hesaa.org

www.njbest.com

early college planning night - january 2013

Documents