Preparing for Preparing for CollegeCollege

Where to begin?Where to begin?• Begins in Junior yearBegins in Junior year• Taking challenging coursesTaking challenging courses• Attending college fairs humble Attending college fairs humble

college night in Octobercollege night in October• Taking SAT/ACT testsTaking SAT/ACT tests• Researching colleges/college Researching colleges/college

visitvisit

This is the time to make important Decisions

Decide: What are your interests? What are your goals? What are your favorite subjects? What careers are available in certain fields? Where do I want to be 2..5..10 years from now?

Selecting a College

One of the best things you can do is:

Visit a College!

Be sure to apply to more thanone college:

#1- College should be your “Oh My Gosh” college. #2- Should be your “Maybe/Probably” college. #3- Should be your “No Problem” College.

College DaysCollege Days

2 for junior year 2 for senior year.2 for junior year 2 for senior year. Take before Spring Break.Take before Spring Break. Prior approval needed for:Prior approval needed for:

-2 consecutive days (1 college per -2 consecutive days (1 college per day)day)

-2 days to the same college-2 days to the same college

-any day after Spring Break-any day after Spring Break

Colleges look primarily at: GPA & Class rank Entrance Exams

Then they consider: H.S. course load, community service,

extracurricular involvement, projects, letters of recommendation

College Admissions

(ACT) www.actstudent.org Tests reading, English, math, science Writing is optional (depending on university) No penalty for guessing. Answer every question! Perfect score: 36

(SAT) www.collegeboard.com Tests critical reading, math, and writing Some colleges only look at verbal, math Penalizes for guessing. Don’t answer unless you

know! Perfect score: 2400 (800 + 800 + 800)

College Admissions TestingSchool Code 443603

99% of colleges will accept either/or

College Admission TestsCollege Admission Tests SAT- www.collegeboard.orgSAT- www.collegeboard.org

upcoming tests: 11/2, 12/7*,1/25/14 *at KHSupcoming tests: 11/2, 12/7*,1/25/14 *at KHS

ACT- www.act.orgACT- www.act.org

upcoming tests: 10/26, 12/14, 2/8/14upcoming tests: 10/26, 12/14, 2/8/14

*all at LSC-Kingwood*all at LSC-Kingwood

SAT prep classes offered at Lonestar CollegeSAT prep classes offered at Lonestar CollegeOct. 21-31, Feb 24-March 6, April 21-May 1Oct. 21-31, Feb 24-March 6, April 21-May 1

Mon- Thurs, 5:30pm-9:30pm $167.00Mon- Thurs, 5:30pm-9:30pm $167.00

SAT/ACT/TSI scores are SAT/ACT/TSI scores are notnot on your high school on your high school transcript. You will need transcript. You will need

to request that the to request that the testing agencytesting agency send send your official scores to your official scores to

the colleges.the colleges.

Ask yourself realistically……What program can I Start and

Finish?

•Certificate/License Program

• Military Career

• College: * 2+ years (Associate’s Degree) * 4+ years (Bachelor’s Degree) * 6+ years (Master’s /PhD

Can you get accepted?

Do you meet the requirements to get into the college to which you want to apply?

• GPA• Class Rank• SAT/ACT Score• Recommended Courses

Can check for qualifications: www.theharn.org

College Application StepsCollege Application Steps

Step 1: Complete Online Step 1: Complete Online ApplicationsApplications

Texas Common Application:Texas Common Application:

www.applytexas.orgwww.applytexas.org

National Common Application:National Common Application:

https://www.commonapp.orghttps://www.commonapp.org

Requesting TranscriptsRequesting TranscriptsSee Mrs. Phelps the registrar to:See Mrs. Phelps the registrar to: Order transcript(s) - $2 if out of state.Order transcript(s) - $2 if out of state. Turn in senior information Turn in senior information

sheet/resume’/ portfolio for your sheet/resume’/ portfolio for your counselor, if necessary.counselor, if necessary.

Turn in any forms that your counselor Turn in any forms that your counselor must complete.must complete.

*We recommend that you waive your *We recommend that you waive your rights to confidentiality on the rights to confidentiality on the application.application.

Counselor DeadlinesCounselor Deadlines

Two weeks are requiredTwo weeks are required for counselors for counselors to complete our portion. We need a to complete our portion. We need a “senior information sheet” in order to “senior information sheet” in order to complete the forms and/or write your complete the forms and/or write your recommendation.recommendation.

* Your failure to pay attention to deadlines * Your failure to pay attention to deadlines does not decrease our timeline for does not decrease our timeline for completing our portion of the application completing our portion of the application or recommendation.or recommendation.

College DeadlinesCollege Deadlines

Pay attention to deadlines for:Pay attention to deadlines for: Admission ApplicationsAdmission Applications Housing ApplicationsHousing Applications Scholarship ApplicationsScholarship Applications

*Your entire file must be complete by *Your entire file must be complete by the application deadline!the application deadline!

Teacher RecommendationsTeacher Recommendations If needed – arrange with teachers.If needed – arrange with teachers.

Teachers need:Teachers need: 2 weeks 2 weeks addressed envelope with stamp if addressed envelope with stamp if

mailedmailed your info sheetyour info sheet a THANK YOU note!a THANK YOU note!

Useful InformationUseful Information

College ResourcesCollege Resources link under Our School tab link under Our School tab – College and Career Section- links, sites, – College and Career Section- links, sites, and more!and more!

Ms. Williamson-Lowery will be here Ms. Williamson-Lowery will be here Tuesdays from 8:30-2 in the College and Tuesdays from 8:30-2 in the College and Career Room and at lunches.Career Room and at lunches.

Bridges Planner/Explorer Bridges Planner/Explorer (www.bridges.com)(www.bridges.com) – prep for SAT/ACT, find – prep for SAT/ACT, find majors, scholarship search, and much more!majors, scholarship search, and much more!

Important DatesImportant Dates

Oct. 18Oct. 18:: 9-week level change forms due9-week level change forms due

Nov. 15Nov. 15: : Pass/Fail forms due.Pass/Fail forms due.

Dec. 13Dec. 13:: Schedule changes due for 2Schedule changes due for 2ndnd semester. semester. Correspondence Courses/CBEs complete Correspondence Courses/CBEs complete

with final grade to SCHSwith final grade to SCHS..

ForFor more information be sure to visit more information be sure to visit the:the:

College and Career Coordinator College and Career Coordinator (Mrs. (Mrs. Goree)Goree)

College & Career room (1221)College & Career room (1221) SCHS College & Career website – for SCHS College & Career website – for

scholarshipsscholarships SCHS Counseling website: SCHS Counseling website: Our Our

School>CounselorsSchool>Counselors..