DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL. College Planning Night 2015

Transcription

1 DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL College Planning Night 2015

2 Guidance Department Vice Principal for Student Affairs and Guidance Adam Wright Guidance Counselors Kathy Cevera Kristin Henderson Kristina Sterbenc Aimee Thomson Scott Woodland Guidance Secretaries Colleen LeBoeuf Nancy Marciniak

3 Overview of the College Search Begin early (juniors now!) Parents and students: Communicate and know each others expectations Identify possibilities Use Resources: Naviance Family Connection, open houses, information sessions, websites, guidance counselors, admission counselors Research and Visit schools Refine down to schools

4 Decision Factors Size of school Location Distance from home Surrounding community Campus personality Academic fit Athletics/Activities Majors available Reputation of the school Cost

5 Naviance Family Connection Web based tool for college and career planning Data specific to Del Val Each student has an account and each parent is entitled to an account Students will receive an introductory or refresher lesson this Spring.

6 How does it help? Shared resource linking home to school Organized and efficient holding place for student s data, experiences, documents, etc related to career and college planning and admission. Greater opportunity for parent participation in college planning Provides better data tracking about student outcomes and admission decisions from our school Allows Guidance to submit more materials electronically

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8 Individual School Profile Page

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10 How can I start? Handout available outside. Then, see Mrs. Thomson tonight for your access information. Naviance Parent Workshops will be held this Spring. Watch your for an announcement!

11 Information Needed to Apply Narrow down to 5-6 schools Primary resource: Individual college and university websites Organize Personal Timeline Calendar of important dates Requirements of top choices Who else do you need to involve?

12 The Application Process Online application or Common Application ( Fee? Essay? Resumé? Letters of Recommendation (2 + counselor) Which teachers to ask? Test Results (SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests) Other Enclosures?

13 Some Recent Essay Topics Please reflect on what you consider to be an important personal experience related to your talents, interests, or commitments. Using this experience, please tell us what you learned about yourself. How will this experience prepare you for success at Rutgers? You just completed your visit to Lehigh. What would you tweet about us and why? List five books you have read (with authors) that piqued your interest. Discuss an idea from one of these works that influenced you. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again? 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.

14 What Delaware Valley Provides To Colleges Official Transcript See Next Slide for Example of DVRHS Transcript Secondary School Report Confidential counselor recommendations Confidential teacher recommendations Delaware Valley School Profile

15 Course title Actual grade earned Credits Senior Course List Weighted GPA

16 What Del Val Does NOT Provide Official SAT/ACT/Subject Test scores Must request through College Board or ACT Use freebies on/before test day! List of your high school activities Start developing a resume now Resume tool available in Naviance Rank in Class Not reported

17 Admissions Tests PSAT Freshman/Sophomores/Juniors Not considered for college admission PSAT will be modified for October 2015 SAT Reasoning Test Some schools use CR+M; Some use all 3 ASK! The newest version will be available in March 2016: ACT An alternative to the SAT; More curricular based Can submit instead of or in addition to SAT Scores Usually consider the composite score (average of all other section scores)

18 Current SAT vs. ACT Math SAT Up to basic geometry and algebra II ACT Up to trigonometry (7% of section) Science None Charts, experiments (not memorized facts!) Reading Sentence completion, critical reading passages, reading comprehension, stresses vocabulary Four passages, one each of prose fiction, social science, humanities and natural sciences English N/A Stresses grammar Writing Other MC questions re: grammar, usage and word choice One essay (first!) Mostly MC, Difficulty increases through section One essay (last!) (optional, but recommended) All MC, Constant difficulty

19 SAT/ACT Test Dates SAT March 14 May 2 (at DV) Register by 4/6 June 6 (HC, NH, E, PB) ACT April 18 (BR, E) Register by 3/13! June 13 (HC, HVC, BR) October 3 (at DV) * November 7 (at DV) * December 5 * September 12 October 24 December 12 * anticipated dates

20 More Testing SAT Subject Tests One hour, content based exams (e.g. Physics) Requirements vary by school AND program Some schools require for admission, some recommend, some don t consider Take after you have completed highest level of that course (often Spring of junior year May/June) Some schools will use ACT w/ writing instead of SAT Subject Tests AP Exams Scores may be looked at in admission process May receive credit for strong scores (3 or better)

21 Financial Concerns Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) Tuition, Fees, Room & Board, Commuting Costs, Books Types of Aid: Merit vs Need-based Scholarships, grants, loans, work study Applications FAFSA: CSS Profile College-specific forms Deadlines

22 Financial Concerns Other sources of money Bogus websites The FAFSA is *FREE* to submit! Be cautious about paying to apply for scholarships Del Val s Financial Aid Night (held annually in December timeframe)

23 College Athletics Levels of Competition: Division I, II, III, Club, Intramural NCAA Eligibility Center Division I and II only Sign up at the end of Junior year Send Transcript and Test Scores Academic core courses 16 college-prep NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete

24 College Athletics NCAA Recruiting Guidelines (Juniors) D I and II only Vary by sport Different rules for printed information, phone calls, s, off campus contact Generally, coaches can t call you in the junior year, but you can call them See NCAA Guide pgs 20-27

25 Upcoming Events RVCC Open House Saturday, March 28 th, 9:30am-12:30pm Hunterdon County College Hunterdon Central Tuesday, April 21 st, 6:30pm NACAC National College Meadowlands Exposition Center Wednesday, April 22 and Thursday, April 23

26 Questions?