College and Career Planning Series:

Transcription

1 College and Career Planning Series: Two-Year College Planning for the Class of 2016 Presented by: The Tantasqua Guidance Department

2 The Guidance Department Staff Mrs. Cantrell Guidance Director Caseload Last Names A-B, K, N Mrs. Coonan Academic Guidance Counselor Caseload Last Names C-J Mrs. Hollingworth Academic Guidance Counselor Caseload Last Names L, M Mr. Hinckley Academic Guidance Counselor Caseload Last Names O-Z Mrs. O Neil Technical Guidance Counselor Caseload All Technical Students

3 Senior Graduation Requirements In order to graduate from Tantasqua Regional High School in June 2015, you must: Earn a total of at least 140 credits Meet all of the distribution requirements: 4 English courses, 3 math courses, 3 lab science courses, 3 history courses, 7.5 credits PE, 2.5 credits Health, and 5 credits Art Pass MCAS tests in ELA, Math, and Science

4 This Could Be You! Met Requirements Ignored Requirements

5 Post Secondary Options What Comes Next? Typically, 8 out of 10 Tantasqua High School seniors attend some type of post-secondary education, such as: Technical School or Certificate Program Two Year Associates Degree Four Year Bachelors Degree Attending a Two-Year College will dramatically increase your future earning potential, so let s get started!

6 THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS The First Step to the Next Step

7 The College Process: An Overview A typical four-year college application includes: College Admissions Testing Scores SAT, SAT Subject, ACT Specific College Application or Common Application Essay(s) and possibly Supplements Letters of Recommendation Guidance Counselor and Teacher High School Transcript and Schedule of Courses Senior Year A typical two-year college application includes: Specific College Application High School Transcript

8 College Admissions - Testing All students who are considering attending a four-year college should have already taken or be registered for college admissions tests: SAT Reasoning Critical Reading, Math and Writing Recommendation: Take the SAT Reasoning Test two to three times. SAT Subject 1 Hour exams in one subject Recommendation: Take SAT Subject Tests if you are applying to most selective schools. ACT English, Math, Reading, Writing, and Science Reasoning Recommendation: Take in place of or in addition to SAT Reasoning Test, based on your strengths and weaknesses.

9 College Admissions - Testing Upcoming Test Dates: SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests: October 3 rd (at TRHS) September 3 rd Registration Deadline November 7 th (at TRHS) October 9 th Registration Deadline December 5 th (at TRHS) November 5 th Registration Deadline Visit to register ACT October 24 th (not at TRHS) September 18 th Registration Deadline December 12 th (not at TRHS) November 6 th Registration Deadline Visit to register Once you have created your final list of colleges, you will need to send your SAT/ACT scores (for a fee) to each college by their application deadline.

10 In the meantime Utilize Naviance! There are several tasks students need to complete for twoyear college applications and for scholarship purposes: Research Colleges and Create a Final List SuperMatch in Naviance College Representative Visits to TRHS Scheduled in Naviance Complete Surveys for Teacher Letters of Recommendation Request a Recommendation via Naviance Complete Teacher Recommendation Surveys (one per teacher) Request a Transcript be Sent to the Colleges on Your Final List Complete your Senior Exit Survey and Graduation Survey (in May)

11 Naviance SuperMatch SuperMatch is a visually-based search tool that will help you find colleges that fit criteria that is important to you, such as location, size, etc.

12 College Research & Planning Additional College Search Resources Guidance Counselor College View books in Guidance Office College Board Handbooks in Guidance Office & online School and Local Libraries College/University Websites Local College Fairs Visits with College Admissions Representatives at TRHS Online Search engines College Visits Interviews It is critical to visit the colleges that you are applying to and: Go on a campus tour Attend an information session

13 Naviance College Representative Visits

14 The College List! Once you have researched and pinned schools in Naviance, you will be able to add a college to your Colleges I m Thinking About list (click Add under the college name). When you have done all your research, it s time to create the final list of schools to which you will apply. College Research in Naviance, etc. Colleges I Am Thinking About In Naviance Colleges I m Applying To In Naviance The schools listed under Colleges I m Applying To in Naviance will be the final list of colleges you are applying to. This list will be used by teachers and counselors to submit your information.

15 The College List! Your college list should have: Any two-year schools to which you will apply Some Private and Public Options Remember! You must keep your final list of colleges accurate in Naviance, as this is the only way your teachers and counselors will be submitting your application documents!

16 Public vs. Private Schools Public universities are partially supported by state tax dollars and are generally less expensive to attend. University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dartmouth, Boston, Lowell State Universities Fitchburg, Westfield, Bridgewater, Framingham, etc. Community Colleges Quinsigamond, Springfield Tech, Holyoke, etc. Private universities receive no tax monies, are supported by tuition dollars and are generally more expensive to attend. Examples include: Anna Maria College, Curry College, Dean College (Two Year School), etc.

17 Once you have created your final college list, you need to then: 1. Send your guidance counselor a request to send a transcript to each college. 2. Send your teacher(s) a request to complete your letter of recommendation (for scholarship purposes). 3. Complete a Teacher Recommendation Survey for each teacher that has agreed to write you a letter.

18 Requesting a Teacher Recommendation

19 Completing Naviance Surveys

20 Time to Get Organized!

21 Now that you have created your final college list and added those schools to Naviance, be sure you know the following details for each school: Application Deadline? Application Fee? Early Admission Deadlines for Competitive Majors? Waitlist for Specific Majors?

22 Now that your list in Naviance is updated and finalized, it s time to work on the majority of your college applications: Complete Applications Submit Applications via Mail or Electronically or Participate in one of our Instant Decision Days for QCC Your counselor will help you with the entire application process, however most of the responsibility is with you: Researching/Visiting Schools Finalizing Your List of Schools Coordinating Teacher Recommendations Completing and Submitting Applications

23 QCC Instant Decision Days! QCC Presentation December 16 th 9:00 am Overview of Programs and Majors Review of Application Process Free Applications Distributed! Instant Decision Days January 13 th and14 th, 2016 April 13 th, 2016 On Instant Decision Days, you will: 1. Submit a Completed QCC Application (fee waived). 2. Meet with the Admission Representative for 10 minutes. 3. Be Given an Admissions Decision on the Spot!

24 Accuplacer Exam Once you have been accepted to community college, you will need to register for the Accuplacer, a test that determines your level of knowledge in: Math Reading Writing Every student who is attending college needs to take the Accuplacer or a comparable placement test prior to enrolling in courses, as your test results will determine what courses you are able to take. Tantasqua students are offered the opportunity to take the Accuplacer on a designated school day, typically in April.

25 MassTransfer & Articulation Agreements Considering earning your Associate s Degree at a community college and then transferring to a four-year college to earn your Bachelor s Degree! MassTransfer Program After completing your associate degree with at least 60 credit hours, you will be eligible to transfer into a linked MassTransfer state university or University of Massachusetts campus with the following benefits: Benefits Min GPA Min GPA Min GPA No Application Fee X X X No Application Essay Automatic Satisfaction of Gen. Ed. Req. Guarantee Transfer of Credits X X X X X X X X X Guaranteed Admission X X 33% Tuition Waiver X

26 MassTransfer & Articulation Agreements Articulation Agreements Articulation Agreements are formal agreements between a community college and a four-year institution. The benefits of these agreements are guaranteed acceptance from a particular community college program to a given major or program at the four-year institution. Some examples for QCC are: Business Administration Assumption, Anna Maria, and Nichols College Computer Information Systems Assumption Criminal Justice Anna Maria, Assumption, Becker, Fitchburg State, Umass Lowell, Westfield State Engineering Umass Lowell, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Hotel/Restaurant Management Assumption, Johnson & Wales Liberal Arts Becker, Clark University, Nichols College Nursing Becker, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Regis College, Mass College of Pharmacy/Health Sciences Respiratory Care Quinnipiac University

27 The financial aid and scholarship work begins in the new year: FAFSA Complete once for all colleges Start after January 1, 2016 Apply for PINs now College Financial Aid Forms National and Regional Scholarships Filing cabinet in the Guidance Office Listed in Naviance Local Scholarships Applications will be available in Naviance and in the Guidance February, 2016 Attend Financial Aid Night October 7 th, 2015 MEFA Presentation at 6:00 pm in Auditorium

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29 Your Counselor will be setting up small group and individual meetings with you beginning this week to plan your next steps. Prior to this meeting, you should: Ask teachers in person for letters of recommendation (usually 2) and submit requests in Naviance. Continue finalizing your college list. Consider registering for the SAT/ACTs.

30 Upcoming Events! College Essay Writing Workshop with the TRHS English and Guidance Departments Thursday, September 24 th from 2:15 3:15 pm in the Library Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority Presentation on Financial Aid October 7 th at 6:00 pm in the Auditorium

31 Follow TRHS Guidance on Twitter! Be sure to follow our twitter account for updates regarding: College Representative Visits SAT/ACT Registration Deadlines College and Career Updates Scholarships! And

32 Counselors are here to help you, so just ask!