EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FUTURE PLANNING FOR PARENTS

Transcription

1

2 Dear Crosby Scholar, Welcome! We are very happy that you are a high school Crosby Scholar. Our primary focus is to help you graduate from high school and prepare for post-secondary education. We expect that you will follow the terms of the Partnership Agreement that you have signed when you applied stating you will make education a priority, develop leadership skills through community involvement and remain drug free. This program has over 1,700 students from Rowan County, North Carolina, who plan to enroll in colleges throughout the United States. We want you to complete all of the program requirements each year so that you graduate as a Crosby Scholar! This manual outlines tips and strategies that will help you to be more successful as a high school Crosby Scholar. Additionally, you can access many of our online documents by clicking on the embedded links throughout the document. Please take a moment to read the information included in this manual as well as the linked documents: 1. Requirements of the High School Crosby Scholars Program 2. A copy of the Partnership Agreement signed by you and your parents/guardians 3. Violations of the Partnership Agreement and the respective Disciplinary Actions 4. A High School College Planning Timeline 5. High School Crosby Scholars checklist The Crosby Scholars staff looks forward to working with you through your high school career. For program information, forms, events, and community service updates, we encourage you to visit our website at Please contact us at info@crosbyscholarsrowan.org or at if you have any questions about information contained in this manual or about the program in general. Best wishes for a great year, The Crosby Scholars Staff Please use this manual as a reference for grades You will receive a Senior Manual the summer before your senior year, during your mandatory rising senior meeting. Like us on Facebook & follow us on Twitter! 2

3 As a Crosby Scholar, you understand the importance of early college planning. Here are a few tips to help you stay on course when preparing for college. ACADEMICS Meet your guidance counselor at the beginning of the school year. Explore your personal, career, and college interests with him or her. Discuss your class schedule with your counselor. Begin making a four-year plan for graduation. Enroll in advanced level classes if you can succeed in them. Develop good study habits and test-taking strategies. You can learn many of these skills during Crosby Academy. REMEMBER Good grades matter! Even freshman year, first semester grades count in calculating your grade point average (GPA). NOTE: High school level courses taken in middle school will be displayed on your high school transcript although they are not calculated in your GPA. Begin talking to your counselor about the possibility and availability of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, International Baccalaureate programs, or dual enrollment classes. These discussions will help you select the most challenging courses you are able to complete during your sophomore year. REMEMBER Admissions counselors view a strenuous course load through High School to be quite important when they are considering how to evaluate a somewhat lower grade point average. They often prefer students who have taken a demanding set of courses, but who have average GPAs, over students with high GPAs, but who have taken easy courses. 3

4 EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Most universities and colleges seek to enroll students with a wide range of skills, interests and backgrounds. Plan to participate actively in in-school and out-of-school clubs, activities, and sports. Select extracurricular activities and community service opportunities that interest you. Begin to work on your activities resume listing extracurricular activities and community service involvement. Create a physical folder or online portfolio to keep track of your involvement and awards. NOTE: Learn more about the Activity Resumes at your Crosby Scholar Grade Advisor meetings beginning in November. FUTURE PLANNING Develop good relationships with your teachers and remember their names. When you are applying to college you may need letters of recommendation. Open a CFNC account at This account can be used to plan, apply, and pay for college. Use the Internet to visit college websites, take their virtual tours, learn what majors are offered, and discover what makes them different from one another. Research the differences between scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. This research will allow you to begin planning financially for college. FOR PARENTS Provide support: Keep up regular conversations with your child about his or her academic progress. Grades should be up to par and course levels appropriate. If not, perhaps your child could use your help in establishing better study habits or creating a better study environment. Be a motivator: Develop an improvement plan together if your child is struggling and remember that the best motivation is encouragement. Remain open to change: One of the purposes of high school is for students to explore their interests. Determine if your child is enjoying what they re doing and if any chances need to be made. 4

5 ACADEMICS Start thinking about types of colleges you would like to attend. Take classes that correspond to the most demanding requirements of the colleges to which you are thinking about seeking admission. REMEMBER: Keep up your grades! REMEMBER: Attendance matters! Not only do grades show up on your transcript, attendance records do also. Being in class makes it easier to be successful in your academic studies, and colleges will know that your education is a priority to you. Don t discount the impact this detail can have on your college applications. Challenge yourself to have perfect attendance. Sign up early for the PSAT offered, free of charge, at your school. Take this test seriously and prepare for it. Use resources such as My College Quickstart to analyze your PSAT score report and to get suggestions on ways to improve your score for the SAT. Meet with your counselor to evaluate your post-high school plans and your academic progress toward graduation. Change your plans, if necessary. Research the differences between the SAT and the ACT to see which test best matches your abilities. Most schools accept either test, but check websites of the schools to which you would like to apply to make sure. Find a trusted adult who can serve as a mentor. This individual can provide advice on academic, career, and personal issues. Plan your junior year carefully. Again, consider registering for advanced level classes if you are able to be successful in them. 5

6 EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Look for leadership roles and opportunities to take on responsibilities in these organizations. Leadership roles include heading committees or organizing events, in addition to having named roles (i.e. President, Vice-President, etc.) Use your summer wisely! Work, volunteer, or take a summer course at a local community college or recreation center. One helpful book, The Ultimate Guide to Summer Opportunities for Teens by Sandra L. Berger, may point you in the right direction. Other resources include the internet, your guidance counselor, and family friends. FUTURE PLANNING Attend a college and/or career fair. Be sure to ask LOTS of questions. Not sure what to ask? Check out this link for some suggestions: Sallie Mae College Fair Checklist. Continue thinking about majors and careers. Ask people in the community about their education and profession. Conduct informational interviews with these individuals to learn more about the day-to-day operations on their job. Pick some questions from this sample list of informational interview questions. Visit college and university campuses and collect information about schools you may want to attend. FOR PARENTS Encourage preliminary testing: Make sure your child talks with the school counselor about taking the PSAT. This is a great way to get familiar with the SAT. Your child should do a little prep work for this test but remember that this is a practice run. Stay coordinated: Mark important dates in big red letters on the wall calendar! You will teach your child how to plan while reducing stress around the house. Get a head start: It s also time to start checking out college fairs and possibly meeting with school representatives that come to town. Encourage your child to start investigating schools by attending one fair and a session or two with representatives at school. But don t push it he or she may need to take this process slowly. Make the break a productive one: Encourage your child to have a job or participate in constructive activities throughout the summer. Summer study, jobs, and volunteer work always rate high with admission officials. If your child has a career goal in mind, see if you can help arrange a day where he or she can shadow someone who works in that field. 6

7 In the 11th grade, the Crosby Scholars program will help guide you by providing you with a timeline, discussing the college admissions process in more depth, reviewing the SAT and ACT test dates, sending a newsletter to students and parents via , and by helping you develop your activities resume and your target list of colleges. Don t forget: Attending grade advisor meetings is especially important during your junior year of high school. ACADEMICS Continue taking advanced level courses, making good grades, and attending school regularly. REMEMBER: Grades received during junior year are very important in college admissions. For some application deadlines, these may be the final grades that the admission counselors will see. If you are having trouble with your schoolwork, be sure to ASK FOR HELP! Meet with your guidance counselor to recheck your high school courses. Will you meet graduation and/or college admission requirements? Make sure you ask any questions you have about college. Register for the PSAT. REMEMBER: You must take the PSAT during your junior year to qualify for scholarships and awards through the National Merit Scholarship Program. Take Advanced Placement (AP) exams in May. Check the websites of the schools to which you plan to apply to learn the passing scores in order to receive college credit. Register for the spring SAT or ACT. If you are concerned about paying for the test, see your guidance counselor about a fee waiver. NOTE: Register on time for your test. Late registration fees can cost you an extra $26 (SAT) or $21 (ACT), and a fee waiver cannot be used for late registration. Be sure you sign up for challenging courses for your senior year. Don t take an easy senior year colleges want to know that you ve challenged yourself during your entire high school career. 7

8 EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Stay involved in activities. Genuine involvement in one activity is better than sporadic participation in several. Take on leadership roles whenever possible. Keep a record of awards you receive as well as of important events you participate in. If you plan to participate in college athletics, meet with your counselor to learn more about the NCAA Clearinghouse process. FUTURE PLANNING Make a list of possible colleges to attend and visit their websites. Consider criteria that are important to you like size, location, majors, etc. Attend a college fair to find out more about colleges and their requirements. Throughout the year (and during the summer) visit colleges in which you may be interested. NOTE: Consider visiting nearby colleges in order to get a better understanding of different types of schools (small private universities, large public universities, two-year colleges, etc.) Talk with graduates of your high school who are home from college to see what they have learned from their college experiences. Attend the Crosby Scholars Junior Bus Tour for a FREE opportunity to visit North Carolina colleges. These trips take place during Spring Break. Review the information about financial aid options from your freshman year. NOW is the time to begin researching scholarships. There are some scholarships available for juniors in high school. Practice writing personal essays before you need one for college applications. See examples and get tips for writing a successful college admissions essay and/or personal statement. More advice on writing a successful personal statement. Read examples of student s personal essays, before and after. Learn how to write a resume, interview for a job, and network with people who work in your field of interest. These skills come in handy in the near future. 8

9 FOR PARENTS Start thinking dollars and cents: Attend with your child, financial aid planning programs to learn more about the process of applying for and obtaining financial assistance for college. Encourage your child to ask questions about financial assistance when meeting with college representatives. Kick it up a notch: Make sure your child registers for the October PSAT. Students must take the test during their junior year to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program and it is great practice for the SAT. Go to the fair: Check into college fairs and college representative visits to the school. (The school counselor should have a schedule.) Encourage your child to attend and to start becoming very familiar with the college resources available at school. Get out of town: Schedule a day trip to visit nearby colleges. Don t worry if these are places where your child won t apply. The goal is to explore different types of schools. Aim for variety. Discuss where characteristics of schools are attractive and which aren t. Get organized: Have your son or daughter start a College Binder by making an early list of target colleges in a notebook. Visits to college websites should increase and he or she should begin calling, writing, or ing target colleges to request publications. Set aside an area where all the marketing materials can be organized and easily referenced. NOTE: Your child can learn more about making a list of target colleges at his or her Junior Grade Advisor meetings beginning in January. Think scholarships: Take advantage of the summer slow-down by visiting scholarship search and financial aid websites with your child, or by checking out comparable library resources. MeritAid.com a comprehensive directory of merit scholarships and academic scholarships from colleges across the country CollegeData.com look at the Scholarship Finder section FastWeb.com a leading scholarship search provider offers a list for HS junior scholarships Go.SallieMae.com offers a scholarship search, with a free account USNews.com/Education tools, tips, and articles to stay up to date on the best ways to pay for college CFNC.org plan, pay, and save for college through the College Foundation of NC SavingforCollege.com compare 529 savings plans across the country 9

10 NOW AND LATER Learn how to access and use online resources. Check out these websites to get started: College.gov information about preparing for college, and interviews with current students BlackExcel.org a wealth of information for minority black students and first-generation college students and parents StudentAid.gov college preparation checklists and financial aid preparation with tips for students and parents ED.gov a resource book for parents on preparing your child for college ACT.org a list of college planning articles through the ACT website The following books might also be of interest: What High Schools Don t Tell You (And Other Parents Don t Want You to Know) From the author of What Colleges Don t Tell You, a plan to help parents of middle and early high school students prepare their kids for the best colleges In order to succeed in the fiercely competitive college admissions game, you need a game plan and you have to start young. In this empowering guide, Elizabeth Wissner- Gross, a nationally sought-after college packager, helps parents of seventh to tenth graders create a long-term plan that, come senior year, will allow their kids to virtually write their own ticket into their choice of schools. Parents should start by helping their kids identify their academic passions, then design a four-year strategy based on those interests. The book details hundreds of opportunities available to make kids stand out that most high school guidance counselors and teachers simply don t know about or don t think to share. This indispensable guide should be required reading for any parent whose child dreams of attending one of the country s top colleges. First in the Family: Advice About College from First-Generation Students If we can do it, so can you! That's the message sent to students in this advice book, written with college students who were the first in their families to go past high school. It's tough to aim for college if other family members have not--so this book offers the kind of encouraging, practical guidance that an older sibling would give. Inspiring stories of the diverse student contributors--who end up at institutions from community colleges to elite universities--combined with warm and well-organized counsel and checklists. 10