East View Junior Checklist

Steps to prepare for life after High School

EVHS Guidance Counselors for 2012-2013

Counselor Assignment Phone(512)

943-1800

E-mail

Michelle Heckroth

CounselorA- G

ext 8022 heckrothm@georgetownisd.org

Lisa Saunders H-Q ext 8018 saundersl@georgetownisd.org

Paula Rodriguez

R-Z ext 8021 rodriguezp@georgetownisd.org

Benefits of higher educationA college degree, skilled

trade or certification increases

• Chances for employment in a rewarding field

• Flexibility in the types of jobs for which you might qualify

• Likely earnings

ADD“JOB A”“JOB B”“JOB C”Graphics

Examples of Post-Secondary Education

• Certificate/License programs

• Apprenticeship/ OJT• Military• Technical/Trade

Schools• 2 year college• 4 year college or

University

Preparing for a College Search

10 Tips for Parents1. Help your student understand the

college search process2. Be realistic and non-judgmental3. Be in the "back seat" - and not the driver - of the college search

process4. Be open to dialogue and responsive to questions5. Be aware of deadlines and fees due6. Know that things have changed since your college days7. Don’t overemphasize your own alma maters8. Don’t compare your student with others9. Don’t dwell on disappointments, like a rejection letter10. Celebrate successes!

Know Yourself

• Values• Ambitions• Achievements• Academic Strengths• Interests• Your Standout Talents

A Few Good Reasons to Venture:In general, students who attend school in another state enjoy

heightened independence, being out on their own. They benefit from proximity to career opportunities they might not get at home. They meet new people and experience new cultures through student housing. They tend to be very involved on campus and in academic/professional groups.

The Perks of Staying Put:On the flip-side, students who choose a school in their home state avoid the difficult transition and homesickness that can accompany a big

move. They share their residence status with the majority of the student body. They benefit from the often markedly lower cost of in-state tuition. They stay in close, personal contact with family, friends, and career networks.

Here or There? Choosing between In-State and Out-of-State Schools

• Hopefully, you will visit every college in your fit application pool.

• Every university has special “open house” events in the fall (UT – Longhorn Saturdays, SMU – Mustang Mondays, etc.) Visiting then makes information gathering easier.

Visit College Campuses

• Picking a college is like picking a second family - a home for the next 4 years! What’s right for one senior may not be right for another. It’s about “FIT”. Does the environment feel like a place where your child will be happy and grow?

• Prioritize what factors are most important to you: good dept. in your major big vs. little urban vs. ruralreligious location/ distance prestigious public vs. private Greek life athleticsschool spirit class size special programs cost in-state vs. out-of-statediversity male/female ratioliberal vs. conservative clubs & organizations

Which Colleges are Right for You?

Spring Opportunities

April 9th, 2013In the Evening

at theAustin Convention Center

Many colleges willbe in attendance!!

April 10th, 2013In the Evening

at CPHSChoose 3 workshops-

approximately 15 will be offered!

• Regular Decision – apply by the regular deadline; non-binding;

• Rolling Admission – applications reviewed and a decision is rendered as soon as possible after the application is submitted; non-binding;

• Early Action – apply early and receive a decision early, dates depend on college you have applied to…

• Early Decision – apply early to one first-choice college and receive a decision early; if accepted, the CONTRACT IS BINDING and all other applications must be rescinded.

Consider Types of Admission Decisions

• You must give your counselor at least 3 weeks notice for a letter of recommendation! Each counselor receives 50-100 requests during the fall semester.

• A teacher recommendation should also be requested 3 weeks in advance.

• The types of transcripts requested by a college vary. The registrars need adequate time to process each request.

Consider Our Deadlines

If the college sees that a schedule has “lightened” a senior load, this could affect your admittance to the college

Ask permission if you unsure whether or not the college will care if a course is dropped.

What is a Senior Schedule?

1. Transcript2. Senior Schedule3. SSR (Secondary School Report; if necessary)

4. EVHS School Profile5. (OPTIONAL) A Letter of Recommendation

from the Counselor IF REQUESTED AND NECESSARY

6. Note….ACT/SAT scores are NOT sent

Consider What a College Receives from EVHS

Deadlines are NON-NEGOTIABLE for admissions, scholarships or financial aid

Consider College Deadlines – Know When You Need to Choose a Fit College

- Scholarship deadlines can be different from application deadlines;- Is the deadline POST MARKED BY or RECEIVED BY ?

• Ideally, apply to 3-8 colleges, a full range of schools; all must be acceptable to you as your child’s fit future home: – 1-2 “stretch”/”dream” schools– mostly “good matches” in terms of rank/test scores– at least 1 “safety”/ “sure shot” school where you absolutely

know you will be accepted.

• Don’t waste time, money & effort applying to schools you know you’ll decline.

Making it Fit

• Every Junior has 2 college visitation days to use before May 1st.

• Pick up the “College Visit Form” in the attendance office. • Bring the completed “College Visit Form” back to the

attendance office. • You must provide proof of your visit to the campus within

48 hours of your return to EVHS. Failure to provide proof may result in loss of exemption.

• College visitation days do not count against exemptions for finals if you have followed these procedures.

Absences for College Campus Visits

Crucial Tip!

Write a thank you

note.

It may be noted in

the review process.

3. Choosing the wrong time to visit. (i.e., during summer vacation, when the campus is empty).2. Tuning out during the tour. Don’t just take in the scenery-engage the tour guide with questions about academics, dorm life, and student activities1. Not visiting at all.

You may love the photos in the view book and the videos online, but nothing replaces the in-person visit!

Top 3 College Visit Mistakes

• Only highly selective or private colleges regularly conduct interviews. Public universities do not.

• If an interview is possible, it is beneficial.

Interviewing During Your College Campus Visit

Make an appointment online or call the admissions office for an appointment two weeks beforehand.

6 Ways to Get the Most from a Campus Visit:

1. Put the U in University. Rank your criteria for the perfect school, factoring in things like labs, dorms, and off-campus fun.

2. Pull an All-Nighter. Considering on-campus housing? Ask the admissions staff if your student can spend a night in the dorms to get a feel for the after-hours vibe.

3. Stage a Sit-In. Auditing classes will give you a chance to hear lectures, observe interaction between student and teachers, and gauge the overall classroom environment.

4. Go Off Campus. Explore the shops, restaurants, and other spots surrounding campus.

5. Be Safe, Not Sorry. Be prepared in the unlikely event of an emergency by taking time to locate the campus security office as well as call boxes and other security features.

6. Time Travel. Keep an eye on your post-graduation future by researching graduate employment rates and career services for each prospective school.

Tips for College Campus Visits

• Hopefully, you will visit every college in your fit application pool.

• Every university has special “open house” events in the fall (UT – Longhorn Saturdays, SMU – Mustang Mondays, etc.) Visiting then makes information gathering easier.

Visit College Campuses

Here is an awesome search engine!Username: Georgetown

Password: Careers

www.careercruising.com

Select an assessment from the options below

Career MatchmakerAnswer questions about your likes and dislikes to find careers that match up with your interests.

My SkillsRate your level of skill in 45 key areas to see how your skills match up with the careers that you are interested in.

Ability ProfilerLearn more about your abilities and see how your abilities compare to those used in careers that interest you.

Learning Styles InventoryDiscover how you learn and retain information and find tips on how to improve your study habits to suit your learning style.

Testing Requirements• Criteria for exempting

College Readiness Exams (Asset, Compass, THEA)– ACT

• Composite score of 23 with at least a 19 on English and Math

– SAT• Critical Reading and

Math Combined score of 1070 with a 500 on each section.

– TAKS (Current 11th Graders)

• ELA – 2200 and a 3 on the writing sample

• Math – 2200

Entrance Exams• SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST (SAT I)

– Widely used by the more selective schools.– Divided into VERBAL and MATH parts.– Approximately 4 hours.– Annual test dates will normally occur on

Saturdays in October, November, December, January, April, May and June.

– Register at www.collegeboard.com

• AMERICAN COLLEGE TESTING PROGRAM (ACT)

– Widely used by junior colleges as well as universities.

– Divided into English, math, natural sciences, and reading.

– Approximately 4 hours.– Annual test dates will normally occur on

Saturdays in October, December, February, March and June.

– Note: Test dates do not conflict with SAT.– Register at www.actstudent.com

More info. About College Admission Tests

• ACT– Consists of four tests: English, Math, Reading, Science,

and Writing– Writing component is optional– Top composite score is 36

• SAT– Consists of three tests: Verbal, Math, Writing– Each test is scored on a scale of 200-800

Other Possible Testing• SAT II

ACHIEVEMENT TESTS– College Board– Same test dates as

SAT– Used for course

placement or credit

• APTITUDE TESTS– Used for assessment

of vocational or trade/technical skills

APPLY ONLINETexas public and selected private four year and two year schools:

www.applytexas.org

Private colleges and universities:

www.commonapp.org

Go online or visit your school counselor to find out about the requirements for Technical and Trade schools

PARTS OF THE APPLICATION:Personal Information

Directory informationWhat you have studied and are currently studying in high school

ResumeExtracurricularServiceWork

Essay

COLLEGES USE TWO SCORES TO DETERMINE ADMISSION

Academic score:RankGPAQuality of preparationTest Scores

Personal ScoreResumeEssayLetters of recommendation

THE RESUMEMany college use the resume as 60%-70% of a student’s personal score

This includes such things as being responsible for younger siblings or an older relative, trips in the summer with your family, tutoring, babysitting, extra-curricular activities and clubs or anything else that is productive, educational, and contributes to who you are and your determination.

Especially include activities that further your goals and build leadership and character.

THE ESSAY The essay becomes the most important part of the application, especially

when it is being read by the person determining college admissions, admission to a particular program, deciding scholarship recipients, or hiring for school jobs.

It should be:

100% technically correct Interesting Giving information not somewhere else on your application Not another list of activities

What information do college admission officers review?

•Grades / Overall GPA•Strength of high school course selections

•Admission Test Score

•Essay

•Teacher and counselor recommendations

•Class rank

•Student’s demonstrated interest

•Personal accomplishments•Personality characteristics•Courses in progress Junior and Senior year

HOUSINGAdvance Application for housing is not the same as application for admission.File a housing application.File the required deposit.Be aware of refund policies.Understand whether or not on-campus housing is required of freshmen. Where can I find this stuff:www.careercruising.com

PAYING!COLLEGE IS EXPENSIVEKINDS OF FINANCIAL AID:

ScholarshipsGrantsLoansWork Study

Scholarships

FINDING SCHOLARSHIPS#1 SOURCE OF SCHOLARSHIP MONEY IS THE

SCHOOL YOU ARE ATTENDING: Fill out all scholarship supplements on

applications for admission Go to the college of choice and department

websites to check for others.#2 check the counselor page on EVHS website for

numerous tips and search engines! #3 check local scholarship opportunities in the

local paper, organizations and school web-site, to name a few.

#4 National Scholarship searches (Fastweb, Zinch, Career Cruising, Scholarships.com)

Scholarship Resources

• Fastweb.com - Private scholarships

• fafsa.ed.gov - Free Application for Federal Student Aid

• Studentaid.ed.gov - The federal government’s website about paying for college

• MeritAid.com - $11 billion in merit scholarships

• Cappex.com - Scholarship matching

• finaid.org - Free student resource for learning about all types of financial aid

Merit Scholarship Tips

Merit scholarships are where the money is.• There is more than $11 billion in merit scholarships

available to students from colleges• Not just for “A” students• Many awards emphasize leadership or school involvement• Nearly all colleges offer merit aid scholarships• The average merit scholarship is $5,000• Many awards can be renewed year after year

Next Steps for JuniorsIn School Stay focused on academics Do not lighten your academic load for senior year Meet with your school counselor Stay involved in school activities

Standardized Testing Prepare for and register for ACT / SAT tests Register for AP tests as appropriate

College Exploration Explore colleges on the Web Visit colleges if you can Meet with college representatives Attend college fairs

We know it seems overwhelming. Don’t get stressed! Take everything ONE step

at a time….

This full Power Point presentationis already available

on the EVHS website!!

See the quick link to Guidance.

Refresh Yourself with This Information at Home