Let’s Get College-ReadyLet’s Get College-Ready

Riverside High SchoolRiverside High School

A planning list for parents of ninth- and 10A planning list for parents of ninth- and 10th - gradersth - graders

You CAN go to college!You CAN go to college!Your GPA is looking Your GPA is looking good!good!You show a desire You show a desire to go!to go!You have You have supportive parents supportive parents and adults to help and adults to help you!you!You can find You can find money to attend!money to attend!

Median Annual Household IncomeMedian Annual Household Income

Look at the difference going to Look at the difference going to college can make!college can make!

Fall 2010 Average SAT of First-Time FreshFall 2010 Average SAT of First-Time Freshmen and Is Community College Right For Ymen and Is Community College Right For You?ou?

There is a college out there for There is a college out there for everyoneeveryone

Open Enrollment – anyone can attend (no Open Enrollment – anyone can attend (no GPA requirement)GPA requirement)– All community collegesAll community collegesSelective Colleges – admission is Selective Colleges – admission is competitive (3.5+ GPA)competitive (3.5+ GPA)Highly Selective Colleges – admission is Highly Selective Colleges – admission is HIGHLY competitive (4.0+ GPA)HIGHLY competitive (4.0+ GPA)Some colleges fit into the gap between Some colleges fit into the gap between selective and open enrollment (2.0+ GPA)selective and open enrollment (2.0+ GPA)All colleges in the UNC System require a All colleges in the UNC System require a 2.5+ GPA2.5+ GPA

Keep these questions in mind when Keep these questions in mind when making decisions in high school:making decisions in high school:

What are you good at?What are you good at?

What are you interested in?What are you interested in?

What is your career interest?What is your career interest?

Where do you want to go?Where do you want to go?

What steps do you need to take to reach What steps do you need to take to reach your goal?your goal?

Choose classes, activities, and colleges Choose classes, activities, and colleges based on your answers to these questions.based on your answers to these questions.

AcademicsAcademics

Know the Future-Ready CoreKnow the Future-Ready Core

Work on your Grade Point AverageWork on your Grade Point Average

Take a rigorous course of studyTake a rigorous course of study

Improve your class rankImprove your class rank

Excel on your college entrance Excel on your college entrance examsexams

Future-Ready CoreFuture-Ready CoreGraduation RequirementsGraduation Requirements

4 English4 English4 Math 4 Math – Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Advanced Math beyond Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Advanced Math beyond

Algebra IIAlgebra II3 Science – A Physical Science, Biology, 3 Science – A Physical Science, Biology, Earth/EnvironmentalEarth/Environmental3 Social Studies – World History, Civics and Economics, US 3 Social Studies – World History, Civics and Economics, US HistoryHistory2 Levels of the same Foreign Language2 Levels of the same Foreign Language2 Courses in a specified area – Band, Art, Agriculture, 2 Courses in a specified area – Band, Art, Agriculture, Health Sciences, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business, Health Sciences, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business, etc…etc…4 Courses in a specified area are recommended4 Courses in a specified area are recommended1 Computer Course1 Computer Course1 Health/PE1 Health/PE

Calculating Your GPACalculating Your GPA

GPA – Grade Point AverageGPA – Grade Point AverageEach grade is awarded a point value. Each grade is awarded a point value.

#1 Criteria in College Admissions

UnweightedUnweighted

Unweighted GPA is your TRUE Unweighted GPA is your TRUE GPA. GPA.

Unweighted GPA is important Unweighted GPA is important for NC Scholars – you have to for NC Scholars – you have to have a 3.5 unweighted to be have a 3.5 unweighted to be consideredconsidered

Unweighted GPA is also Unweighted GPA is also important in some important in some scholarshipsscholarships

WeightedWeighted

Weighted GPA averages in 1 Weighted GPA averages in 1 extra grade point for each extra grade point for each honors class and 2 extra honors class and 2 extra grade points for each grade points for each Advanced Placement (AP) Advanced Placement (AP) class. class. Colleges look at weighted GPAColleges look at weighted GPAWeighted GPA is important Weighted GPA is important when deciding marshals, when deciding marshals, National Honor Society, Honor National Honor Society, Honor Graduates, and many Graduates, and many scholarshipsscholarshipsWeighted GPA shows colleges Weighted GPA shows colleges that you took the most that you took the most rigorousrigorous course of study that course of study that you couldyou could..

Rigorous CoursesRigorous Courses

Rigorous Course of StudyRigorous Course of StudyRigor - Rigor - :: a condition that makes life difficult, a condition that makes life difficult, challenging, or uncomfortable (M-W.com)challenging, or uncomfortable (M-W.com)

Rigorous = Challenging!Rigorous = Challenging!

A rigorous course of study A rigorous course of study means taking the most means taking the most challenging courses that challenging courses that you can. It can include you can. It can include Honors and AP classes and Honors and AP classes and college classes if possiblecollege classes if possible

Rigor does not end your Rigor does not end your junior year. Colleges want junior year. Colleges want to see you taking to see you taking challenging academic challenging academic subjects your senior year. subjects your senior year.

Class RankClass RankWhere you fall in the Where you fall in the class based upon your class based upon your weighted GPA.weighted GPA.

Given great Given great consideration by most consideration by most collegescolleges

Highly selective Highly selective schools only want the schools only want the top studentstop students

Selective schools also Selective schools also want the top 10.want the top 10.

College Entrance ExamsCollege Entrance ExamsSATSAT

– Predicts how well you will Predicts how well you will do in college – there will do in college – there will be lots on this test that be lots on this test that you have not seen or you have not seen or done. They want to test done. They want to test your ability to problem-your ability to problem-solve or “reason”solve or “reason”

– Reading, Math, and Reading, Math, and Writing sectionsWriting sections

– Take in the spring of your Take in the spring of your junior year and in the fall junior year and in the fall of your senior yearof your senior year

– College Board offers this College Board offers this testtest

ACTACT

– Unlike the SAT, the ACT Unlike the SAT, the ACT tests what you should tests what you should have already learned at have already learned at a certain point.a certain point.

– Tests English, math, Tests English, math, science, and readingscience, and reading

– Take along with the Take along with the SAT.SAT.

– Offered by ACT – Offered by ACT – American College American College TestingTesting

Preparing for College Entrance ExamsPreparing for College Entrance Exams

#2

Read, Read, Read challenging

texts

#3

Take practice tests and do

practices on-line. You can alsopurchase practice test books

#1

Take a rigorous Course of study

ActivitiesActivitiesExtracurricular

ActivitiesSportsClubs

Career Interest Activities

Community Service

Look for a need in your community

and organize a way to meet it

LeadershipTake leadership roles

and initiate activities in the organization

EnrichmentTake advantage ofopportunities for

summertime enrichment

College Eligibility Requirements: College Eligibility Requirements: Playing College SportsPlaying College Sports

To play sports at a college, To play sports at a college, you have to be able to you have to be able to accepted at that school!accepted at that school!There are different divisions There are different divisions of athletics. Division I is the of athletics. Division I is the most selective in academics most selective in academics and athletics.and athletics.There may be Division II There may be Division II schools that you could qualify schools that you could qualify for, too, if your athletic ability for, too, if your athletic ability is not what Division I is is not what Division I is looking for.looking for.All colleges look at your core All colleges look at your core GPA and your SAT to GPA and your SAT to determine eligibility. Core determine eligibility. Core GPA is your GPA in your GPA is your GPA in your English, Math, Science, and English, Math, Science, and Social StudiesSocial Studies

Financial Aid Handouts and ScholarshipsFinancial Aid Handouts and Scholarships

Paying for CollegePaying for CollegeScholarshipsScholarships

Merit Scholarships Merit Scholarships – Offered by universities; based on Offered by universities; based on

GPA, rank, community service, GPA, rank, community service, and leadershipand leadership

General Scholarships General Scholarships – Have different criteria depending Have different criteria depending

upon who is offering them; local upon who is offering them; local scholarships are usually generalscholarships are usually general

Scholarship opportunities are endless! Scholarship opportunities are endless! – CFNC.orgCFNC.org– Riverside High School websiteRiverside High School website– Other school websitesOther school websites– Google searchesGoogle searches– List of scholarships advertised List of scholarships advertised

herehereMost scholarships are competitive in Most scholarships are competitive in naturenature

Financial AidFinancial Aid

Grants, scholarships, and loans Grants, scholarships, and loans obtained by filling out the Free obtained by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)Aid (FAFSA)This is money offered by the This is money offered by the federal government and state federal government and state government through colleges and government through colleges and universitiesuniversitiesThe amount you are eligible for is The amount you are eligible for is based on your EFC (expected based on your EFC (expected family contribution)family contribution)

Getting College-ReadyGetting College-Ready

Your Goal

Activities: Community

Service, Leadership, and

Enrichment

Academics: Rigorous Course of Study,

GPA, Class Rank, and Testing

Permission Slip, Itinerary, and Emergency Permission Slip, Itinerary, and Emergency FormForm

College Tours!College Tours!

11stst Tour – East Carolina University Tour – East Carolina University and Pitt Community Collegeand Pitt Community College

March 23March 23rdrd. Depart at 8:00 A.M. and . Depart at 8:00 A.M. and return around 4:00 P.M.return around 4:00 P.M.

Wear school uniformsWear school uniforms

Lunch and snacks will be providedLunch and snacks will be provided

Sign permission slips and leave here Sign permission slips and leave here with us.with us.