Life After High School

THE JOURNEY BEGINSSeptember 16, 2015

Post-Secondary Options Four year Institutions Two year Community Colleges Vocational Schools or Apprenticeship

Programs Arts Institutions The World of Work Military “Gap” Year

AmeriCorps, Study Abroad, Outward Bound

How Many Colleges Should I Apply To?

Apply to4-8 Colleges

Apply to4-8 Colleges

Identify 10 Colleges

Target

Safe

Reach

Make arrangements to visit college campuses and meet with admissions reps who visit Blake.

Four Year College Applications Application – Biographical Data Common Application (www.commonapp.org)

Application Fee – ranges from $0 - $75 Transcript – GPA & Courses Test Scores – SAT or ACT www.fairtest.org – Test optional colleges

Essay – Check prompts carefully Letters of Recommendation – teacher and

counselor Audition/Portfolio/Interview – specific to certain

colleges

Two Year College Applications(Montgomery College)

Complete online admissions application Oct 1, 2 & 5 during lunch in A101

Take Accuplacer Diagnostic & Official MCPS Accuplacer – Oct 14 Accuplacer Diagnostic – Jan 21 Final MC Accuplacer – April 13

No Essay or Recommendations Special application for: MC Scholars, Macklin

Business Scholars & scholarships essay, recommendations, test scores required

College Admissions Vocabulary

Early DecisionEarly Action or Priority

(Honors College or Scholarship Deadlines)

Rolling AdmissionRegular AdmissionOpen Admission

How are Admission Decisions made?Highly Selective (GPA, SAT/ACT)

Academic Rigor (course selection)

Recommendations (teacher/counselor)

Extracurricular Activities (resume)

EssayNeeds of the institution

Responses: Acceptance, Waitlist, Conditional Admit (spring/summer), Denial

What tests should I take?

Ask yourself…How did you do on the PSAT last year?

SATACT

Have you prepared for taking these tests?Are you considering community college?

Accuplacer(MCPS Accuplacer offered @ Blake – Oct 14

What’s the difference?

SAT–ACT Testing Recommendations

Prepare for the SAT using the free Khan Academy site: www.satpractice.org

Consider taking a prep class (Catalyst Prep Boot Camp, MC test prep, Kaplan, C2 Education, Princeton Review, etc)

SAT is changing in March 2016; get testing over with before then

ACT is accepted at all colleges; consider taking it

www.number2.com = free SAT or ACT prep

Score ReportingSend official scores (both*):

SAT (www.collegeboard.org)ACT (www.actstudent.org)

Your high school does NOTmail/fax test scores.

*Many colleges award scholarships based on SAT or ACT scores as well as GPA.

Accuplacer

MCPS AccuplacerOctober 14, 2015

Sign up TODAY (on Clipboards)

You may apply to Montgomery College ONLINE from Oct 1st to March 1st for FREE to obtain your “M-Number”

Computer lab A101 open during lunch from Oct 1-5 to apply online. Be there!

Only passing scores are forwarded to MC

ASVAB Testing(Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)

November 17th

7:45-10:45 amBlake Cafeteria

Permission forms due by November 12.

Score Interpretation meeting - Dec 15, 2015 (8:30-9:30am)

Career exploration test that helps students link their skills & aptitudes with related occupations.

The ASVAB is required for entrance in the military, but anyone can take it for career identification purposes without obligation to the armed services.

ASVAB is FREE!

Blake Career Center WebsiteAccess College Information, Scholarships, Financial Aid, College Testing and Preparation

Blake H.S. Code210959

Required for SAT or ACT registration and college applications

Use Naviance/Family Connections

(See or email your Counselor if you need your password reset)

College Visits in Career Center Sign up on Naviance and See Ms. Moore in the Career Center with your agenda book for a

pass in advance (subject to classroom teacher’s approval)

Search for Colleges in Naviance

School Type (2 or 4 yr)

Location

Student Body - Enrollment Size

Majors & Minors

Athletics

Cost + Financial Aid

Special Programs (clubs, newspaper, band, ROTC, etc)

Sally Bengal considers Towson University

Colleges I’m Thinking About

Move colleges to “colleges I’m applying to” once you have applied!

Colleges MUST be posted here to send your transcripts. Note the submissions type and deadline.Use the COMMON APPLICATION for all CA schools.

IMPORTANT: Link your Common Application account to your Naviance account

MATCH Common App to your Naviance/Family Connection account

Common App Matching Video

https://vimeo.com/102639828

How to Request a Recommendation

Ask Early in PERSON. Ask at a Convenient Time for the Teacher. Use the “Request for Recommendation Letter”

form with deadlines. Present the following materials to your Teacher:

A copy of your resume Request for Teacher Recommendation (form required) Addressed envelopes with postage (if college does

not accept electronic submissions)

Teacher Recommendations AFTER speaking to the teacher in person, you must

submit a REQUEST to the teacher on Naviance.

Click on add/cancel requests:

Select the teacher’s name and write them a note.

See the RegistrarMs. Marks

(15 school days in advance)

Permission to Release Records Form (1x) Transcript Request Forms (1 for each college)

1-3 transcripts = free 4 or more transcripts = $3 each

Envelopes w/postage stamps (if required) Addressed to college admissions office

Scholarship transcripts

Complete w/ parent signature(return to Ms. Marks, Registrar)

Permission to Release Student Records (1x)

Official Transcript Request Form Complete this form for each transcript required by a

college or scholarship. Turn forms into Ms. Marks 15 school days in advance.

Track the status of your APPLICATIONS

LET’S REVIEW

Transcript(Transcript Request Form)

Counselor Recommendation(Student/Parent Reflection Forms)

Secondary School Report

YOU SUBMIT online: BLAKE Registrar SENDS:

Blake School Profile

Application

SAT/ACT Scores

Application Fee

Did your teacher send/upload their recommendation letter separately?

Local College Fairs this Fall(See Career Center Webpage for Details)

Donna Edwards College Fair 10/10/15 Albert Einstein HS College Fair 10/12/15 Baltimore National College Fair 10/12-13/15 ALCANZA Latino College Fair 10/13/15 DC Performing and Visual Arts Fair 10/18/15 Washington Christian Academy Fair 10/21/15 Mt. Calvary Baptist Church HBCU Fair 10/24/2015 DC National College Fair 10/27–28/15

To be excused for a college-related absence, a parent note is required 5 days in advance of the event.

Upcoming College Fair - MCPS Field Trip

HISPANICCOLLEGE FAIR

November 11, 2015Bohrer Park Activity Center

Field trip permission form is required for participation.

FREE

Bring a bag lunch for the bus & dress appropriately.

On-the-Spot Admissions EventsWhat are on-the-spot admissions?

They are local events for students to apply for admission to certain colleges, face-to-face, and get an immediate acceptance decision.

How do I find out about them?

Students should listen for announcements, check the Naviance website, the Blake website or see Mrs. Moore in the College & Career Center for information.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial Aid WorkshopThursday

December 10 7:00 pm

Amphitheater – EnglishCareer Center – Spanish

Bring yourParent or Guardian

www.fafsa.gov www.fastweb.com www.scholarships.com www.wiredscholar.com Scholarships link

on the Career Center webpage

Scholarships Start NOW, don’t wait until the Spring Prepare an ESSAY

Discuss your personal financial need Have a RESUME ready There is MONEY out there, but you have

to find it Utilize links on Career Center webpageRemember to request transcripts & recommendations 15 days in advance

Scholarship Transcript Request Form

Request in advance

Include completed scholarship packet

Provide addressed envelope w/proper postage and transcript fee.

Notify Mrs. Moore of all college decisions & scholarships earned!

Bring in copy of acceptance letters Please report wait-list & denials, too

Acceptance data tracked by MCPS Scholarship data reported to Superintendent

Provide copy of scholarship award letters

Too Much Information?Check out the College and Career Bulletin Board

School Counseling StaffSee your counselor to discuss post-secondary plans

Mrs. Kiedrow A-Dh Ms. Hayes Di - Jom Mrs. Baer Jon - Ni Ms. Costenbader Nj - S Mr. Chan T - Z Ms. Smith Grade 9 Mr. Tolbert Grade 9

Ms. Moore College & Career CoordinatorMs. Marks School Registrar