junior parent meeting navigating the senior year
DESCRIPTION
Junior Parent Meeting Navigating the Senior Year. Southwest High School September 24, 2008 5 pm. Senior Year Preparation. Making this year count Grades matter 6 th Semester GPA/Class rank (College/Scholarship applications) Senior Year Registration November 18 th & 20 th - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Junior Parent Meeting Navigating the Senior Year
Southwest High SchoolSeptember 24, 2008
5 pm
Senior Year Preparation
• Making this year count– Grades matter– 6th Semester GPA/Class rank
(College/Scholarship applications)
• Senior Year Registration– November 18th & 20th
– Online registration– Graduation /college entrance requirements
Planning For The Future
• Allow your child to make his/her own decisions– Create an atmosphere of mutual trust &
respect• Explore options together
– College (4 Year or 2 Year)– Vocational/Trade Schools– Military– Work
Adapted From: College & Career Choices
Making An Educated Decision
• Explore career options– Identify career fields that match your
student’s interests
• Get a good academic fit– Find a college that matches academic
preparation• Consider GPA & ACT or SAT scores of
previous freshmen
Adapted from: Careers & Education in Nebraska
Types Of Education
• Universities– Made up of colleges or schools that teach
specialized areas– Usually offer graduate degrees at the master’s &
PhD level• Four-year colleges
– Offer wide range of programs• Liberal arts colleges
– College studies consist of fine arts, natural sciences, social sciences & humanities
– Utilizes understanding of past & concern for the future
Types Of Education Continued
• Community colleges– Prepares students for immediate employment– Many feature academic transfer programs
• Vocational or specialty schools– Usually specialized to a specific occupation or
career cluster– Credits seldom transfer to a 4-year school
• On the job training & apprenticeships– Training provided by employer or labor union
• Military service– Provides educational opportunities that transfer to
civilian occupations
Resources for College Information
• LPS Post High School Planning Guide &LSW Planning Guide at: http://lsw.lps.org/
(both listed under Publications)
• College Catalogs/View Books
• Web Sites for LSW Counseling Dept:http://isite.lps.org/pvolker/web/
& Colleges
• College Representatives
• Campus Visits
College Visitations
• Call admissions office in advance• Talk to as many students as you can
who attend the colleges of interest• Prepare for admissions interviews, if
applicable• Take time to look around on your
own• Inquire about acceptance of
Common ApplicationAdapted From: Associated Colleges of the Midwest
College Visitations:Questions To Ask
Financial Aid Timeline
• Ask about financial aid priority deadlines• Request supplemental forms from financial aid office (i.e.
scholarships)• Complete taxes early
– Collect tax returns, bank statements, records of income & benefits for parents & students from previous year
• Request FAFSA pin # at (www.pin.ed.gov)– Fill out Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Check for Student Aid Report (SAR) 4-6 weeks after submitting FAFSA– Submit SAR to financial aid office of schools that have been
applied to• Confirmation letter for financial aid package will be sent
from schools with applications for admissions
PSAT• ALL college-bound students should take
• Only way JRs qualify for National Merit Scholarship Program
• Saturday, Oct. 18th 8am-12:00pm NO MAKEUP testing
• Register in Counseling Center – October 1st-10th - $18 test fee (limited # of fee waivers)
ACT & SAT Tests
• Check with admissions office about ACT or SAT preference
• Inquire if SAT II subject tests or ACT Writing are required
• Many schools now accept both test scores– Harvard, Yale, & University of Pennsylvania
Adapted From: Wall Street Journal
ACT vs. SAT:How do the tests compare?
• SAT: 7 times per year– Recent changes include
• Critical reading passages, essay, & more challenging math
– Ten-section exam– Penalty for wrong answers– Scores range from 200-800
per section– 2400 highest possible
combined score– All scores will be sent to
requested schools
www.collegeboard.com
• ACT: 6 times per year– Recent changes include
• Optional writing section– Four-section exam– No penalty for wrong
answers– Scores range from 1 to 36
for each score– 36 highest possible
composite– Score choice option of
which scores schools will receive
www.act.org
Adapted From: The Princeton Review www.princeton.com
Don’t Get Scammed On Your Way To College
• Look for warning signs that a scholarship may be a scam– “This scholarship is guaranteed or your money
back.”– “You can’t get this information anywhere else.”– “May I have your credit card or bank account
number to hold this scholarship.”– “We’ll do all the work.”– “The scholarship will cost you some money.”– “You’ve been selected by a ‘national foundation’ to
receive a scholarship.”– “You’re a finalist in a contest”-that you didn’t enter.
Military Scholarships
• Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) www.armyrotc.com
• Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) www.afoats.af.mil
• Naval Reserve Training Corps (NROTC) • Opportunities for both Navy & Marines
www.cnet.navy.mil/nrotc.nrotc.htm
Thank You
The LSW Post-Secondary Counselorswould like to thank you for attending
tonight’s presentation.
Also, special thanks to theCollege Representatives and guest speakers from:
Doane CollegeNebraska Wesleyan University Southeast Community College University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Delmer Esters: Education QuestPat McBride: University of Nebraska-Lincoln