CLASS OF CAREER and COLLEGE JUNIOR YEAR PLANNING

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1 CLASS OF 2016 CAREER and COLLEGE JUNIOR YEAR PLANNING If you have any questions contact Mrs. Dolejs! (216) , x1 School Code:

2 JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE Fall (September-November) Register for and taking the PSAT Feeling overwhelmed with the application process for next year? Meet with your Counselor about your testing plan and college and/or career plans Research 3-10 colleges, tuition costs, majors, types of schools Create an organization system for all of your college documents It s not too late to get involved, plan to join an extracurricular or service project and jump in Winter (December-February) Junior year grades matter study HARD Research Careers Go to the Careers tab in Naviance Look up careers by name (can link to related college majors, colleges that offer those majors, etc) Take the career interest profile assessments Save careers to your profile Research Colleges Go to the Colleges tab in Naviance Look up colleges by name (can link to websites, get contact info, etc) Add colleges to the Colleges I m Thinking About List Complete a Supermatch College Search Attend College Fairs Attend college visits at Independence High School Go to the Colleges tab in Naviance Click on Upcoming College Visits to see which colleges are coming to HIS Sign up and attend Testing Sign up to take the ACT and/or SAT (typically after January) test dates attached Spring (April-May) Take the ACT and SAT Ask your teachers for a Letter of Recommendation Familiarize yourself with specific entrance requirements for the colleges you are interested in, such as are Subject Area Test required? Contact perspective colleges to schedule interviews and visits and TALK TO CURRENT STUDENTS Create a strong senior schedule it all matters It s a big summer for college visits, create your summer plan Update your resume Summer (June-August) Begin working on your college essays ACT/SAT dates are coming up again, are you registered and prepared? Develop a Financial Aid Plan for college, how will it be paid for? Have serious conversations with your parents and look into community and well as college specific scholarships Work your summer job; you will want the good references from your employer, as well as the extra money! Visit colleges

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4 COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM DATES School Code: ACT: Test Date: Registration Deadline:* Late Reg Period:* Photo Upload Deadline: (Late fee required) February 7, 2015 January 9, 2015 January January 30 April 18, 2015 March 13, 2015 March April 10 June 13, 2015 May 8, 2015 May 9-22 June 5 **If you miss the regular deadline, you can register during the late period but must pay the additional non-refundable late fee. Note that all materials sent by mail must be RECEIVED by the last date of the late period, regardless of when they are postmarked. TEST FEES: Check the website to see if the colleges you are ACT No Writing: $38.00 considering require or recommend the ACT Writing Test. ACT Plus Writing: $54.50 If you cannot afford the test fee, ask your counselor if you are eligible for a fee waiver. SAT: If you miss the late registration deadline for a test Date, you can still try to test standby. Test Date: Registration Deadline: January 24, 2015 December 29, 2014 March 14, 2015 February 13, 2015 May 2, 2015 April 6, 2015 June 6, 2015 May 8, 2015

5 EARLY DECISION VS EARLY ACTION Early Decision COMMITS a student to go to that school Is a contract between the student and the school Student promises, with acceptance to this school, to withdraw all other applications Student can apply Early Decision to only one school Early Action Student applies to an institution of preference Not a contract between student and school Student is not obligated to accept school s offer Student will typically receive decision well in advance of school s regular response date Restrictive Early Action Same as Early Action but can only choose it for that ONE school

6 COLLEGE APPLICATION INFORMATION Independence High School 6001 Archwood Road Independence, OH / (Phone) 216/ (Fax) School Code: Class Size: 79 Rank: We Do Rank GPA Scale: 4.0 (Regular); 4.5 (Honors); 5.0 (AP) GPA Type: Weighted Mrs. Mary Dolejs Guidance Counselor 216/ , x1

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8 INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL Freedom to Excel William P. McGuinness, Principal 6001 Archwood Road Mary L. Dolejs, Counselor Independence, OH Dr. Mel Termini, Counselor fax: November 2014 Dear Junior Parents: On Wednesday, November 20, I will be in your daughter/son s English class to disseminate some important information regarding career exploration resources, college/post high school planning and resources, financial aid, and our college application procedures. Due to the importance of this information I will be holding a follow up informative meeting for parents on November 20 6:30 in the IHS Library. I will be discussing the exact same information that your child hears during their English classes. If you plan to attend, please call me (216) , x1 or me at mdolejs@independence.k12.oh..us (we need to have an accurate count for seating). All students will receive an important College/Career Informational Packet. Students who took the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) will receive their Score Report (if indeed scores have arrived to IHS). Listed on the PSAT Score Report in the bottom right hand corner, is the student s access code to My Road, an individualized, interactive college major and career exploration online program at Students taking the PSAT will receive an additional packet My College QuickStart and MyRoad. Parents, please ask your child to bring both the Informational Packet and the PSAT Score Report home. I believe the informational packet will have a wealth of post high school pertinent information that will be helpful this academic year and through the summer and into the beginning of their senior year. It will also help with college application procedures for next year. We will have another meeting at the beginning of next academic year regarding the application process. No matter what your child s plans are for after high school, there are three important tasks for college/post high school preparation to be undertaken this academic year: 1. Do well in current classes this is the best preparation for college; grades are on a transcript; one of the most important documents a college will look at. 2. Take the ACT and/or SAT in April, May or June of this academic year. I recommend taking them both. This will allow plenty of time to take either or both tests again if it is advantageous to the student (September-December of Senior year). 3. Set up some college admission tours during this summer prior to senior year. Sincerely, Mary Dolejs Counselor

9 Scholarship Matches College Resources Financial Aid Tips

10 August 2014 Class Meetings To the Class of 2016: 1. Do well in your classes this is the best preparation for study after High School. You are learning the fundamentals. 2. We recommend all Juniors take the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Achievement Test) on Wednesday, October 15, Check some college websites. It certainly is not too early to explore colleges via their website, look up scholarships, visit or an admissions counselor. 4. The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) is an excellent source of concise, accurate, unbiased information on specific jobs and sources of additional information. It would be well worth a few hours over the summer to research what you might want to do occupationally. The OOH includes the necessary training for each occupation, so that would help with what you would want to do after High School. 5. Listen to the morning announcements and sign up in the Guidance Office for College Admissions Counselors presentations. These are held primarily in September and October. 6. On October, there will be an excellent College Fair at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center (CVCC). I will be there and it is strongly recommended for all Juniors.

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