Class of Class of 20152015

Are You Preparing for Life Are You Preparing for Life after High School?after High School?

I can…I can…• Check my credits earned and those necessary to “walk Check my credits earned and those necessary to “walk

the stage” on May 28, 2015the stage” on May 28, 2015• Compare my record to the requirements for an Honors Compare my record to the requirements for an Honors

DiplomaDiploma• Meet the requirements and deadlines for admission and Meet the requirements and deadlines for admission and

scholarships for my desired post-secondary optionsscholarships for my desired post-secondary options• Identify where the common application is and use it if I Identify where the common application is and use it if I

need toneed to• Keep track of college applications and request Keep track of college applications and request

transcripts and required teacher recommendations transcripts and required teacher recommendations electronically (Naviance)electronically (Naviance)

• If I haven’t finished already, continue to explore college If I haven’t finished already, continue to explore college and career optionsand career options

• Register with and check my eligibility with NCAARegister with and check my eligibility with NCAA

Honors DiplomaHonors Diploma• 4 credits of English4 credits of English• 4 credits of Math4 credits of Math• 4 credits of Science4 credits of Science• 4 credits of Social Studies4 credits of Social Studies• 3 credits of 1 World Language or 2 credits of 2 different world 3 credits of 1 World Language or 2 credits of 2 different world

languageslanguages• 1 credit of Fine Arts1 credit of Fine Arts• 3.5 GPA3.5 GPA• 27 ACT or 1210 SAT (combined score of critical reading and 27 ACT or 1210 SAT (combined score of critical reading and

math sections math sections only)only)

* can only miss one of the criteria listed above* can only miss one of the criteria listed above

SAT Subject TestsSAT Subject Tests

How Colleges Use ThemHow Colleges Use Them• Make admission decisions. Make admission decisions. • Determine how well prepared you are Determine how well prepared you are

for different college programs. for different college programs. • Place you in appropriate-level courses. Place you in appropriate-level courses. • Advise you on subject course selection. Advise you on subject course selection. • NOT REQUIRED BY ALL COLLEGES, NOT REQUIRED BY ALL COLLEGES,

BUT CERTAINLY RECOMMENDED BUT CERTAINLY RECOMMENDED WHERE INDICATED!WHERE INDICATED!

Factors considered in admissions’ Factors considered in admissions’ offices across the countryoffices across the country

• Class rank (6-semester Class rank (6-semester cumulative) cumulative)

• Demonstrated leadership Demonstrated leadership • Employment status during high Employment status during high

school school • Extra- and co-curricular Extra- and co-curricular

involvement involvement • First-generation college student First-generation college student

status status • Grade point averageGrade point average• Legacy status (family members Legacy status (family members

that have graduated the school) that have graduated the school) • Letters of recommendation (if Letters of recommendation (if

required) required) • Life experiences Life experiences • Obstacles overcome Obstacles overcome • Potential contributions to Potential contributions to

diversity (breadth of experience, diversity (breadth of experience, geography, ideology, lifestyle, geography, ideology, lifestyle, race/ethnicity, socio-economic race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, world view)status, world view)

• Quality of high school (% of Quality of high school (% of graduates going to 4-year graduates going to 4-year colleges) colleges)

• Significant extenuating Significant extenuating circumstances circumstances

• Socioeconomic status Socioeconomic status • Special abilities, talents, and Special abilities, talents, and

achievements achievements • Standardized test scores Standardized test scores • Strength of high school Strength of high school

curriculum (depth in each curriculum (depth in each subject area, honors or subject area, honors or accelerated courses, AP/IB accelerated courses, AP/IB courses) courses)

• Strong, ongoing commitment Strong, ongoing commitment to social service and/or to social service and/or volunteer activities volunteer activities

• Writing ability Writing ability

College/Career Readiness College/Career Readiness FactorsFactors

(In order of importance)(In order of importance)• Grades in College Prep Courses Grades in College Prep Courses • Strength of CurriculumStrength of Curriculum• Admission Test Scores (ACT/SAT)Admission Test Scores (ACT/SAT)• Grades in All CoursesGrades in All Courses• Essay or Writing SampleEssay or Writing Sample

(can get you over the hump!)(can get you over the hump!)• Teacher Recommendation (only Teacher Recommendation (only

considered when required)considered when required)• Student Demonstrated InterestStudent Demonstrated Interest• Counselor Recommendation (only Counselor Recommendation (only

considered when required) considered when required)

Recommendation LettersRecommendation Letters

• Check with individual school for Check with individual school for requirementsrequirements

• Counselor will write one if required!!Counselor will write one if required!!• Give teachers at least 2 weeks noticeGive teachers at least 2 weeks notice• Request electronically in Naviance after Request electronically in Naviance after

you have completed “Senior Brag you have completed “Senior Brag Sheet” surveySheet” survey

• Follow-up with face-to-face requestFollow-up with face-to-face request

Resumes/Activity recordsResumes/Activity records(Use the resume program in Naviance to create)(Use the resume program in Naviance to create)

• Leadership roles/events plannedLeadership roles/events planned• Honors and AwardsHonors and Awards• Community ServiceCommunity Service• Summer Activities/InternshipsSummer Activities/Internships• EmploymentEmployment• Special research Special research

projects/independent studiesprojects/independent studies

Admissions TimelinesAdmissions Timelines

•Early DecisionEarly Decision• Ethical agreement signed by parent, counselor Ethical agreement signed by parent, counselor

and studentand student• Student MUST meet individually with counselor to Student MUST meet individually with counselor to

obtain signatureobtain signature

•Early ActionEarly Action• Apply early, will get an earlier responseApply early, will get an earlier response

•Rolling AdmissionRolling Admission• Once file is complete, response will take 4-6weeks.Once file is complete, response will take 4-6weeks.

College Selection College Selection ProcessProcess

• Know yourself and what is important Know yourself and what is important to you!to you!

• Know your credentials and the Know your credentials and the realistic choices you have earned!realistic choices you have earned!

• Take advantage of resources Take advantage of resources • College Fairs in the fallCollege Fairs in the fall• College rep visits (find on Naviance)College rep visits (find on Naviance)

College NightCollege Night

October 8, 2014October 8, 2014@ CVCC@ CVCC

6:00 – 7:30 PM6:00 – 7:30 PM

Writing EssaysWriting Essays

• Start early by creating ideas to write Start early by creating ideas to write aboutabout

• Essays are evaluated by interest and Essays are evaluated by interest and accuracyaccuracy

• Use specific examples in your Use specific examples in your compositioncomposition

• PROOFREAD AND GET IT PROOFREAD AND GET IT REVIEWED!!REVIEWED!!

Senior schedule Senior schedule recommendations, (direct from recommendations, (direct from

admissions counselors…)admissions counselors…)• Keep your grades up throughout the Keep your grades up throughout the

entire year!entire year!• Take strong and competitive classes Take strong and competitive classes

during your senior year i.e. math, during your senior year i.e. math, science, and world language classesscience, and world language classes

““acceptance is contingent on acceptance is contingent on performance throughout ALL performance throughout ALL

years of high schoolyears of high school.”.”

POLICE YOURSELF!!POLICE YOURSELF!!

What You Should Do What You Should Do Now!!Now!!

• finish campus visits and make a decision as to finish campus visits and make a decision as to which colleges you will applywhich colleges you will apply

• View applications, deadlines, and procedures View applications, deadlines, and procedures for prospective colleges and begin!!for prospective colleges and begin!!

• Get familiar with Naviance and Common App Get familiar with Naviance and Common App (if applicable)(if applicable)

• apply to 2-3 perfect fit colleges, 1 stretch, and apply to 2-3 perfect fit colleges, 1 stretch, and 1 safety net1 safety net

• Register and take/re-take ACT and/or SAT Register and take/re-take ACT and/or SAT (SAT Subject Tests if applicable)(SAT Subject Tests if applicable)

• Complete the mandatory Senior Fall Survey Complete the mandatory Senior Fall Survey (Naviance)(Naviance)

Common ApplicationCommon Application

•https://schoolforms.commonapp.org/CommonApp/FAQ.aspx

•You must link your Common App and You must link your Common App and Naviance accounts!Naviance accounts!