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College Info for Juniors

Metro High School

+College Info for Juniors

ACT & SAT What are colleges

looking for?College exploration and

visitsNavianceSenior CommWhat should you be

doing now?

+Sign up NOW for SAT and ACT tests!   Take both tests! Most colleges will consider your highest score

from either test. Compare your scores and focus on preparing to retake your best

test one or two more times senior year. Register NOW so that you don’t get closed out of your preferred

testing site! When you register to take tests, make sure to include any

colleges you may be interested in applying to later. It’s free to send scores to 4 colleges before the test, but will cost about $10 per score report if you request these after the test.

Most colleges want scores to be reported directly from test companies!

+Other test info:Fee waivers:

For students who qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch Program-2 per test

Obtain from Ms. Mechling or the Student Support Center

Fill out lunch application next yearIEP or 504:

If you have an IEP or 504 plan and qualify for testing accommodations at Metro, please see your Intervention Specialist to apply for ACT/SAT accommodations ASAP

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Sections Scored Score RangeCritical 200-800Mathematics 200-800Writing 200-800Total 600-2400Multiple-Choice Subscore

20-80

Essay 2-12

Admission Testing - SAT

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Sections Scored Score RangeEnglish 1-36Mathematics 1-36Reading 1-36Science 1-36Composite (Average of four sections) 1-36

Writing Test 0-12Combined English/Writing 1-36

Admission Testing – ACT*Take the ACT WITH Writing!

+Score Reporting

Sending all scores- Some colleges will use your best scores from one test or sub scores from multiple tests. Don’t be scared to send your first set of scores!

Send 4 scores to colleges for free Metro students should be sending scores to OSU

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One hour, multiple choice test on one of 20 different subjects.

Required by some selective colleges for admission. Note – most students do not need SAT Subject Tests.

Some colleges accept the ACT instead of the SAT Reasoning + Subject Tests

Offers you an additional opportunity to show colleges what you know.

SAT Subject Tests

SAT DeadlinesTEST DATE: May 3, 2014 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: April 4, 2014

(Late reg-April 18th)

TEST DATE: June 7, 2014 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 9, 2014

METRO HIGH SCHOOL CODE: 365-204

ACT DeadlinesTEST DATE: June 14, 2014 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 9, 2014

TEST DATE: September 13, 2014 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: August 8, 2014

TEST DATE: October 25, 2014 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: September 19, 2014

+Test prep

http://www.act.org http://www.collegeboard.org http://www.kaplan.com http://www.princetonreview.com

+What should you consider? Size and diversity of student body Location Academic programs Campus life — athletics, activities, housing Graduation and retention rates Financial aid and scholarship opportunities

Above all, think about where you will be the most happy and successful in your college life!!!

+Sorting out colleges…Public vs. Private

Public colleges are funded by local and state governments and usually offer lower tuition rates than private colleges, especially for students who are residents of the state where a college is located.

Private colleges rely mainly on tuition, fees and private sources of funding. Private donations can sometimes provide generous financial aid packages for students.

+Sorting out colleges…Four-year colleges

Four-year colleges offer four-year programs that lead to a bachelor's degree. These include universities and liberal arts colleges.

Community college Community colleges offer two year associate degrees that prepare

you to transfer to a four year college to earn a bachelor’s degree. They also offer other associate degrees and certificates that focus on preparing you for a certain career. Community colleges are often an affordable option with relatively low tuition.

Vocational-technical and career colleges Vocational-technical and career colleges offer specialized

training in a particular industry or career. Possible areas of study include culinary arts, firefighting, and dental-hygiene. These colleges usually offer certificates or associate degrees

+What colleges Consider…

Primary Factors Quality/Rigor of Academic

Courses Academic Performance/

Grades (upward trend) Test Scores (ACT, SAT, SAT

Subject Tests)

Additional Factors Extracurricular

Activities/Leadership Essay(s) Letters of Recommendation Demonstrated Interest Honors/Awards

+What are top schools looking for? Four years of math Three years of the same foreign language One year of fine art ACT of 28 or SAT of 1900 or 3.7 GPA

A little advice… ALL of your grades matter! Finish your junior year strong Retake courses and improve grades this summer if necessary Colleges will review your senior schedule and grades carefully!

+Selective Schools The fewer students a school accepts, the more likely it is

to place emphasis on “tip” factors in the admissions process. Demonstrated Interest

On-campus visits Summer programs at the school Table visits at college fairs

Students unique strength/situation Particular musical instrument, sport, or other strength Major area of study interest First generation college student

Staff at those highly selective schools may want to see SAT Subject test scores in two to three of your strongest subjects. You can start taking those tests this spring too!

+Make your life easier…use the right tools! College Board-

http://www.collegeboard.org ACT website - www.actstudent.org Naviance / Family Connection -

http://connection.naviance.com/metroechs

School Counselors College Admissions Counselors College fairs Campus visits

+ Naviance / Family Connection http://connection.naviance.com/metroechs

+College Planning ToolsClick here to add the names of any colleges that you are already considering.

Many Ways to Research Colleges:•College Match•College Lookup•College Search

Scholarship Search

+Search Individual Colleges

Admission Requirements

Cost and Aid

Add schools to your list.

+College visits Visit a variety of schools Talk with faculty and students who can

address your interests Meet with an admissions counselor Ask about financial aid opportunities Ask about career placement in your field of interest

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All seniors take Senior Comm with Ms. Mechling about the college application process (essays, application process, scholarships, etc.)

1 credit (0.5 for Fall, 0.5 for Spring) Metro uses NAVIANCE to send transcripts, secondary

school reports, letters of recommendation etc. to colleges and universities. Students will use this website for colleges they are applying to via CommonApp as well as other applications.

What is senior communications?

+What should you be doing this spring and summer? Registering and taking the ACT/SAT Studying for the fall ACT/SAT Refining your college search Visiting college campuses Gaining internship/volunteer/work experience Narrowing down colleges to short list

Add 5 colleges to your “Colleges I’m Thinking About” list.

Developing/updating resume Identifying who to ask for letters of recommendation

1 to 2 Metro teachers and other outside recommenders.

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College Info for Juniors: Part 2

Parts of an application Safety, Match, Reach schools Common App overview Sample essay prompts How to improve your college

application this summer Advice from the Class of 2014

+Parts of a College Application•Your demographic information•Your activities and involvement•Essays (if applicable)•Application fee (if applicable)

Online Applications

•Students must request a letter of recommendation at least two weeks in advance•Request letter in person and also on Naviance•Not every school requires one. The application will specify this.

Test Scores

•Students must request transcripts on Naviance at least two weeks in advance•Ms. Mechling will send transcripts to the collegesOfficial Transcript

Metro School Profile

Letters of RecommendationSecondary School

Report

• Most colleges require these to be sent directly from ACT and SAT. • The scores are also on the high school transcripts.

• Helps colleges understand our school• Ms. Mechling will send it to the colleges

• AKA-School Report or Counselor Form• Ms. Mechling will send this to the colleges• Mid year and final reports will be automatically sent

+College applications

As part of the requirements for senior communications, seniors at Metro must apply to at least 5 schools.

Make sure that at least one of your schools is a safety school and one is a reach school.

Safety school = your scores, GPA, etc. are higher than the admission requirements and the averages for incoming freshman at that school

Reach school = your scores, GPA, etc. may be lower than the admission requirements and averages for incoming freshman, however, they are not too far off and the other parts of your application could be the push to get you in (resume, recommendations, extracurricular activities, etc.)!!

***Many schools will waive application fees now that they are online. For those who don’t, you can receive application fee waivers if you qualify for free or reduced lunch! See me if this pertains to you.

+Common Application

What is the Common Application?

The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member institutions by providing an admission application online that students may submit to over 500 members.

Is it treated fairly?

Yes! College and university members have worked together over the past 35 years to develop the application. All members fully support its use, and all give equal consideration to the Common Application and the college's own form. Many of its members use the Common Application as their only undergraduate admission application.

Once students have completed the Common Application, they may also need to complete supplemental requirements for each college/university.

www.commonapp.org

Dashboard: Shows the status of applications

+My Colleges: Individual requirements

+Common App: General Information for all applications

+Common App essay prompts350-650 words• Some students have a background or story that is so

central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

• Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?

• Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

• Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?

• Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

+Strengthen your college application over the summer! EMPLOYMENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP INTERNSHIPS SUMMER CAMP  COMMUNITY SERVICE ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT MINORITIES ENVIRONMENTAL ENTHUSIASTS TEEN TOURS AND TRAVEL

+What you should do this summer? Registering and taking the ACT/SAT Studying for the fall ACT/SAT Visiting college campuses Gaining internship/volunteer/work experience Working on a Common App essay Get a Common App account-starting August 1st Narrowing down colleges to short list

Add 5 colleges to your “Colleges I’m Thinking About” list.

Developing/updating resume Identifying who to ask for letters of recommendation

1 to 2 Metro teachers and other outside recommenders.

+Any questions?

Contact Ms. Meching if you have questions or need additional information.

mechling@themetroschool.org