So you Want To Go To College?

So you Want To Go To College?

How College Impacts Income and Job security

Focus on 5 areas: How can you get ready for College? Academics Testing Involvement Career Exploration College Exploration

Make sure you take the right courses and do well in those courses.

Recommended Curriculum: 4 years of English 4 years of Math 3-4 years of Science 3-4 years of Social Studies 2-4 years of Foreign Language 1 year of art, technology or other academic courses

Coursework Rigor: Challenge yourself Consider each subject Reassess each year Find balance

Grade Point Average (GPA) Nonweighted A = 5 B = 4 C = 3 D = 2 Weighted Honors Weighted AP A = 5.5 A = 6 B = 4.5 B = 5 C = 3.5 C = 4 D = 2.5 D = 3

Grades: Take notes Participate in class Keep up with assignments Develop good study habits Ask for help when needed

Are you taking the tests you need and doing your best on them?

Note of Caution: State of Illinois has not yet decided whether they will provide a state-funded ACT or SAT in the future. What tests may be required each year is subject to change based on the state s decision. Uncertainty Ahead!

Required Tests:

Optional Tests: 1. PSAT (10 th & 11 th Grade) 2. Additional ACT or SAT: 3. AP Exams 4. SAT Subject Tests

School activities Community activities Part-time work Quality over quantity Naviance - Resume

Summer Involvement Jobs Internships Community Service College Enrichment Programs

Career Interest Inventories D214 Career Nights Internships Jobs Board Elective Courses Career Treks Career Exploration Mrs. Freedlund

Talk with friends or family Make informal college visits D214 Events, especially: Career Nights Student Athlete Night Ask The College Night

The D214 College Counselors Present ASK THE COLLEGE NIGHT Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 7:00 PM Forest View Educational Center Theatre 2121 South Goebbert Rd., Arlington Heights Come learn what it would be like to attend different types of institutions: your local community college, a two-year residential college, a four-year in-state public school, a four-year out-of-state public school, and a four-year private school. Each presenter will share what it is like to attend his or her type of institution. You will have the opportunity to ask the school representatives any questions you may have about these types of schools. Presenters: Tamara McClain, Recruiting Manager, Harper College, Palatine, IL Bruce Bohrer, Admissions Counselor, Kirkwood College, Cedar Rapids, IA Laura Lavender, Admission Counselor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Mike Ford, Manager of Illinois Recruitment, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI Julie Nelson, Regional Recruitment Director, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH

Harper Promise Scholarship Freshmen sign up by December 15 th Up to two years of free tuition at Harper if in high school and Harper you show: Good attendance Progress towards graduation Academic good standing Community Service http://goforward.harpercollege.edu/about/promise

Some Questions You May have: Where should I go? Big, small, something in between? Public? Private? Research University, Liberal Arts College or Community College? Closer or Farther from home? What should I major in?

Community College: Two Year school Earn either: Career-oriented certificate An Associates degree Easily transfer to 4 year Schools Has the lowest cost of attendance

Community Colleges With Housing All the benefits of Community College: Two year school Earn either a Certificate or Associates degree Easily transfer to 4 year schools Relatively low Cost of Attendance The chance to live away from home

In-State Public Universities Large schools offering four-year Bachelors degrees, Masters, Doctorate and professional degrees. Offer several colleges such as Business, Education, Engineering, Communications, and Arts & Sciences. In-state Universities are partially funded by our taxes, so Illinois residents are charged lower tuition. Larger student population can mean more clubs, activities, research and sometimes Division I sports.

Out-of-State Public Universities Similar to In-state Public Universities in: Variety of Degree Offerings Multiple Colleges Larger student populations & offerings Out-of-state tuition rates may be substantially higher than Illinois State Schools but watch for tuition discounts and scholarships.

Private University Variety of Degree Offerings Multiple Colleges Funded primarily by tuition, donations and research funding. Tend to have high listed tuition prices but offer substantial scholarships and grants Often mid-sized schools with smaller class sizes, more interaction with faculty

Private Liberal Arts College Small classes, close connections with professors Project-based work and discussion-based learning Provides broad preparation, critical thinking, problem-solving, reasoning and effective writing skills High listed cost but generous scholarships