Why is this percentage

important to each junior

today?

87%

Juniors Per-centage Com-plete

Time Left Before Graduation

Warm-up Question

Objectives: • Students will acquire knowledge regarding the

proper preparation that is essential in choosing from a wide range of substantial post-secondary options, including college.

• Students will be provided with information and materials that will enable them to employ strategies to achieve future career success and satisfaction.

PA Career Education and Work Standards 13.1.11.B, C, FASCA National Standards I.B, II.A

Looking Beyond: Career and College Planning

Your final year (s)• The college application process, the financial aid

process, the prom, and graduation are rapidly approaching!

• “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”• It is time to gather important information and use

your resources, including:– Ms. Lane, Counselor for White Team students – Mr. Sankey, Counselor Blue Team Students – Mrs. Stewart, High School Principal – Mr. Simcox, Assistant High School Principal– Mrs. Richardson, Administrative Assistant

Chapter 1: Getting Ready

When choosing and preparing for different career and college paths, you may be required to complete certain tasks in order to reach your goals.

These activities might include: •Conducting career research, including considering positive and negative aspects of a particular career/college path

•Taking standardized test (SAT, ACT)

•Preparing documents (essay, resume, recommendations)•Completing necessary applications

•Applying for scholarship and financial aid

Getting Ready Takes Some Time

Hint: Waiting until graduation to plan for this may not get you the results you want!

After graduation, you will have many options to consider:

•University

•College

•Community College•Vocational, Technical, or Career Training

•Armed Services

•Work Force

Post Secondary Choices: The Options

Education Pays

Jobs are constantly changing. What was true years ago regarding the types of jobs that are available may no longer be the case today.

On average, workers change jobs about seven to nine times during their careers.

Nearly 80% of jobs require some sort of post-secondary training. These jobs tend to be better paying than those that do not!

Employers want workers who possess “people skills” and who will fit into their organization.

Pennsylvania Job Outlook

Scheduling for your upcoming year is very important as institutions will be looking at schedules to see if students continue on a college preparatory track. Students

are encouraged to register for a challenging courseload as it may make

the difference in the admission decision.

Scheduling Your Courses

Course Selection Sheet

Electives

Determine what factors are important for your institution to have.

Do these factors matter to you?

Size LocationAcademic Program OfferingsReputationCostOther?

CHAPTER 2: THE COLLEGE SELECTION PROCESS

Dual Enrollment

• Speak with your counselor!• Use the Counseling Office • Attend the admission representative

visits • Use the internet, college websites, and

CHOICES to explore options.

Conducting Career and College Research

• If you are still undecided on a post-secondary school, you may attend the College Fair as a Senior.

• Over 55 post-secondary schools are represented.

• Date of Fair: October 2nd, 2014

CCCA College Fair

All students at POASD will become familiar with our Choices Program.

You will be able to use this program from any computer in the library, counseling office, or room 118.

• You can also save your career and college plans so you can come back and review.

• See your counselor if you would like to work individually on the Choices program.

CHOICES Computer Program

SAT-IRegistration is done through www.collegeboard.com.

Preparation:• All students in grades 10 and 11 can take the PSAT in October.• Official SAT online prepartion materials are available at

collegeboard.com. • SAT I prep books are available through the counseling office for loan.

Scoring:• Each section is scored from 200-800. A perfect score on the Critical

Reading, Mathematics Reasoning, and Writing is 2400.• Not every institution considers the writing. Check to see if they are

looking at CR + Math or all three tests!

Chapter 3: Standardized Testing

SAT Scores continued:• Students should select which institutions will

receive their scores when registering. • Some institutions will ONLY accept SAT I scores

directly from the Collegeboard.• Philipsburg-Osceola lists SAT and/or ACT

scores on transcripts.• Remember our school code: 393575!

SAT I Continued…

The SAT II measures a students’ level of knowledge in a specific content area. You should only take the SAT II if required by the institutions you are applying to.

SAT II

The ACT (American College Test) is another standardized test that institutions look at. In fact, some schools accept the ACT in lieu of the SAT. It differs from the SAT in the following ways:

• 4 sections on the ACT (Science is #4)• Scores range from 1-36. (A 36 is equal to a 2400

on the SAT.)• ACT is a test of knowledge. SAT is a test of ability.• Students register at www.actstudent.org.

THE ACT

Test Month Registration DeadlineACT September Mid-August

SAT-I and II October Early SeptemberACT October Mid SeptemberSAT-I and II November Late SeptemberACT December Early NovemberSAT-I and II December Early NovemberSAT-I and II January Late DecemberACT February Early JanuarySAT-I March Late FebruaryACT April Mid-MarchSAT-I and II May Early AprilACT June Early MaySAT-I and II June Early May

Offered at P-O

Test Dates

According to the National Association of College Admission Counselors, the factors that colleges usually consider for admission are:

Primary Factors• Academic Performance in College Prep Classes• Standardized Test Scores• Academic Performance in ALL courses• GPA

Additional Factors• Student Essay or Writing Sample• Teacher/Counselor Recommendations• Extracurricular Activities, Volunteerism, and Employment Activities• Interview• Awards and Recognition Programs

Chapter 4: The College Application Process

Transcript Release

Student athletes who are hoping to continue athletic participation at the Division I or II collegiate level must be declared eligible through the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Please alert your counselor and coach if this is your intent.

NCAA: Becoming a College Athlete

• Post-secondary institutions may use a variety of resources to learn about who your are. Please be aware of how you may be represented online. It is not unusual for colleges to do a search for your name on Google, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and other public sites. Be sure to represent yourself in a manner that will not affect the possibility of your acceptance.

• Be sure that your email address will not hurt your chances for admission. Many schools ask you to provide this and you don’t want a joke to cost you admission. (Example: Indicating an email like “bigjohnstud21@verizon.net” may not endear yourself to the admission committee.)

• “Every single component of information can, and will, give some type of personal message. Take a moment and think about it. Would you be prepared to work with an individual for your organization who sent applications for a job using an e mail address similar to drunkensquirl@, HtoTHEhizzy03”

Final Notes: Representing Yourself Online

• Misspellings and grammatical• Applying online, but the application isn't actually submitted• Forgotten signatures• Not reading carefully• Listing extracurricular activities that aren't• Not telling your school counselor where you've applied• Writing illegibly• Using an email address that friends might laugh about, but

colleges won't• Not checking your email regularly• Letting Mom or Dad help you fill out your application

Top 10 College Applicati on Mistakes

Keeping track of all of this information can be difficult. • You are strongly encouraged to use and

regularly refer to the “Looking Beyond” booklet, and the Junior + Senior Year Timelines to assist you with this.

• Please make your parent/guardian’s aware of this booklet and checklist. Post it somewhere prominent (refrigerator?) so that you are reminded to adhere to deadlines.

Final Notes: Junior and Senior Timelines

Preparation and organization are key to setting yourself up for success after high school. No matter what path you will pursue after graduation, proper planning during your senior year can maximize your chances for being successful in whatever endeavor you choose.

Please access your school counselor and the Counseling Office with any questions!

Don’t “Fail to Plan…”

Question and Answer Session