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College: The Experience Getting There Defining Goals, Navigating High School Amy Bencomo Prospect High School College & Career Specialist March 2019 OVERVIEW FACTS TIPS BEFORE YOU GET STARTED HIGH SCHOOL YEARS USE
Defining Goals, Navigating High School
Amy Bencomo Prospect High School College & Career Specialist March 2019
https://study.com/list_of_degrees.html
Degree Level Type of Degree Time to Complete Undergraduate Associate's degree 2 years Undergraduate Bachelor's degree 4 years Graduate Master's degree 1 - 2 years Graduate Doctoral degree 5-7 years Graduate Professional degree 5-7 years
successful
school classes, you qualify for admittance to a 4-year college
are FREE for 1st year, full-time students
TOP RANKED US COLLEGES
#1 Harvard University $69,600 Private #2 Yale University $71,290 Private #3 Stanford University $69,109 Private #4 MIT $67,430 Private #5 Princeton University $66,150 Private #6 CalTech $68,901 Private #7 University of Pennsylvania $71,715 Private #8 Brown University $71,050 Private #9 Dartmouth College $71,827 Private #10 Duke University $71,764 Private #11 Williams College $70,650 Private #12 Georgetown University $71,580 Private #13 Cornell University $70,321 Private #14 University of California, Berkeley $65,003 Public #15 Columbia University $74,199 Private #16 Amherst College $71,300 Private #17 Bowdoin College $68,070 Private #18 University of Chicago $75,735 Private #19 Pomona College $69,725 Private #20 Northwestern University $72,980 Private
HARDEST COLLEGES TO GET INTO
#1 Harvard University 5% 1430-1600 #2 Stanford University 5% 1380-1580 #3 CalTech 8% 1510-1600 #4 Yale University 6% 1420-1600 #5 Princeton University 7% 1400-1590 #6 MIT 8% 1460-1590 #7 University of Chicago 8% 1450-1600 #8 Columbia University 7% 1410-1590 #9 Vanderbilt University 11% 1420-1590 #10 University of Pennsylvania 9% 1380-1570 #11 Brown University 9% 1370-1570 #12 Duke University 11% 1380-1570 #13 Northwestern University 11% 1400-1560 #14 Dartmouth College 11% 1350-1560 #15 Pomona College 9% 1340-1540 #16 Harvey Mudd College 13% 1420-1580 #17 Minerva Schools 2%
Johns Hopkins University 13% 1400-1570 #19 Claremont McKenna Coll 9% 1320-1490 #20 Rice University 15% 1410-1570
Source: https://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/list/#tab:rank https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/hardest-to-get-in/
School Number of applications rank UC—Los Angeles 102,242 19 (tie) UC—San Diego 88,428 41 UC—Irvine 85,102 33 (tie) UC—Berkeley 85,057 22 (tie) UC—Santa Barbara 80,319 30 (tie) UC—Davis 70,214 38 (tie) New York University 64,007 30 (tie) CSU—Long Beach 61,806 Boston University 60,825 42 (tie) San Diego State University 60,697 127 (tie)
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-list-college/articles/colleges-that-received-the-most-applications
1. Agree to only discuss college applications or search just once a week 2. Establish a college budget and stick to it (cost of applications, visits, testing, and attendance)* 3. Visit as many schools as reasonable and possible 4. Use resources available through high school’s college & career center 5. Enjoy the experience!
*fee waivers are available for testing and college apps
8th Grade
Some students take HS level classes their 8th grade year & those should be mentioned on college app, but otherwise what you do in middle school is just for fun
Freshman
Develop study excellent habits,
at freshman grades
Sophomore
Limited AP courses are available, join a club, consider having a job, visit local colleges and walk on campus to get a “feel” for college life
Junior
Most important year - want to have have examples of rigorous coursework, community involvement, and clearly expressed interest in what you hope to study in college
Senior
Maintain rigorous course load, enter year with college list complete and essays written over summer, sustain GPA until graduation (some college rescind offer if grades dip)
(consistent with most college admission & high school graduation requirements)
A. History/Social Science - 2+ years including 1 of World, 1 of US and/or Government B. English - 4 years of college preparatory English C. Mathematics* - 3+ years including topics covered in basic and advanced algebra and two-and three-dimensional geometry D. Laboratory Science - 2+ years of laboratory science in at least 2 of the 3 disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics E. Language Other than English - 2+ years of the same language (other than English) F. Visual/Performing Arts - 1+ years of dance, music, or visual arts. G. College Preparatory Elective - 1+ years (additional year of any requirement above or
Resource:http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/fr eshman/requirements/a-g-requirements/index.html
* CSUs are adding a 4th year of math requirement (for Class of 2025)
Colleges know and understand the rigor of classes offered at each school and what is required to graduate
and 11th grade years
11th
consideration to 8 AP classes
classes to calculate GPA
is part of application review (SAT &/or ACT)
for most schools
to piece everything together
1. More school
a. Enroll in community college for FREE b. Academic Camps
2. Volunteer
a. Great for students too young for paid positions b. Gain experience in a field of interest
3. Work
a. Opportunity to test financial freedom b. Develop work experience c. Measure your potential for success in different environments
4. Internship
a. Gain useful experience in your field of interest b. Make professional connections
5. Travel
a. Exposure to various cultures b. Unique situations
6. Family responsibilities
a. Any responsibility is valuable b. Contribute to success of family
How do you use all of your FREE time? Try using this time to do something toward your collegiate/career goal and start building your resume. Think about opportunities to show Leadership, Initiative, Community Involvement, and Dedication. Parents are tremendous assets of support during this time! For a majority of students, parents are source
When you apply to college, admission
grades — they also take note of what you have done outside the classroom. Your extracurricular activities, such as jobs, sports, clubs and volunteer work, give colleges a better sense of who you are and show them what you can bring to their campus community.
Resource: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/your-high-school-record/what-you-do-in-high-school-matters
plan ahead & make use of summer
determined Freshman-Junior years
spring of junior year
study?
know each and mark calendar clearly
are reported for each college
easily be found
college?
be from home
Considerations
extracurriculars
https://www.collegeraptor.com/find-colleges/articles/questions-answers/how-do-i-know-if-a-college-is-a-good-fit/ https://www.petersons.com/blog/college-admission-requirements-and-tips-for-students-with-disabilities/
A well-rounded college list has ~10 schools
○ Schools you know you will be admitted to and happy attending
○
One in which your academic credentials make you competitive for admission. Your GPA, standardized test scores, and class rank fall within the average range for that particular school. You have a very reasonable chance of gaining admission to a target school, but there are no guarantees.
○
Colleges that are unlikely to offer you admission. A particular college qualifies as a reach school if your high school GPA and standardized test scores are significantly below those of the college's average student.
○
Also, consider a college a reach school if it is one of the most selective colleges. For example, MIT, Stanford, and Ivy League colleges are reach schools for everyone due to their extremely low acceptance rates. https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-many-colleges-should-i-apply-to https://blog.prepscholar.com/target-school-how-to-find-yours
The importance of test scores in the admission process varies from college to college and depends on an institution’s admission approach and policies. Each college has its own policy. Some colleges, including more-selective colleges, may place a high level of importance on test scores — within the context of the
admission website or contact the admission office. https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/testing/the-real-role-of-tests-in-your-college-application
1600 99+ 1550 99+ 1510 99 1450 97 1410 95 1340 90 1240 80 1170 70 1110 60 1060 51
Always ask the student FIRST whether or not they think their score was good.
Students are responsible for making sure applications are complete!
application
advance (make sure to write thank you notes!)
them reviewed (do not make your procrastination someone else’s emergency!)
schools communicate with you and measure your interest)
and received (school report, letters of recommendation, transcript, test scores, etc)
“A student about to leave home should be able to manage their college applications on their own.”
Regular Admissions - This is the most common option for four-year colleges and universities. All students must submit their applications by a specific date, usually between November and January. The admissions board then reviews all the applications and sends out acceptances and rejection letters on the same date. Rolling Admissions - Common at large state universities, schools that provide rolling admissions allow students to apply at any time during their admissions period; typically, September through July. The school then evaluates each college application as it’s received and sends acceptance letters to students who meet their requirements. Since admission is granted on a first-come, first-serve basis, you’ll want to submit your application as early as possible. Early Decision - Under this admissions program, you agree to attend this school if accepted, and you can’t apply to any other college or
need to be sure about your choice and realistic about your application. Make sure you get your guidance counselor’s opinion before you submit an application with early decision. Early Action - Like early decision, you are applying only to your top-choice school. However, unlike early decision, you are not bound to attend if accepted and you can apply early action to more than one university. You can accept an offer as soon as you receive it or wait to make your final selection in the spring after you’ve found out where else you’ve been accepted.
https://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advice-tips/FC3F1C62/College-Admissions-Options-Early-Decision-Early-Action-Rolling-Regular/
This is what you will be spending the bulk of your essays writing about.
Common App, Coalition) and how much writing is required for each school.
transcript handy.
compassionate, nature-lover….)
Essays are meant to piece together your GPA, extracurriculars, and interests.
narrative than UCs Personal Insight Questions which are meant to be more direct.
application, most others require transcripts.
habit of becoming familiar with new words and have them become a part of your everyday vernacular.
○ This is a good time to have a family discuss about who is paying for college and what is expected from the student
○ Federal aid is distributed on a first come, first served basis ○ Even if you do not think you will qualify, many colleges consider your application incomplete until they received your FAFSA information ○ Having a FAFSA on file with school each year is beneficial in case of catastrophic family change (layoff, death, injury)
○ Merit scholarships can make a private school more affordable than a state school ○ Need scholarships - Many scholarships are awarded based on Financial Need. These scholarships require completion of the FAFSA. All Need-based scholarships are awarded for one year only, but students may reapply each year ○ Colleges and high schools are excellent resources
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/expected-family-contribution-calculator
While tuition, room & board is public knowledge for every institution, there are many additional expenses to consider.
home for break?)
violations)
exclusively on campus only dining on cafeteria food for the entirety of college ADDITIONAL SUPPORT: Work study, loans, summer jobs
Try this game at home! https://www.timeforpayback.com/
and students
process, not experience
Already teens face an enormous amount of stress. Typically, the college application experience only adds to their anxiety. This may be the most stressful time of a teen’s life. Parents role is to be a resource to ease stress, not the cause of it.
Additional causes or instigators of stress:
teachers, employers, clubs)
PLANNING HELPS WITH STRESS
This is the perfect opportunity to teach values and leave student with a lifetime of skills. Prepare your child to leave home confident knowing where the family stands on important issues. Maximize your time together in a positive way. Have a plan - start early, seek help (lots of resources online and at every school). Communication is key - verbally make time to speak together as a
discover the “right fit” school. Set up a routine of just once a week “college talk.” It’s a great opportunity to reinforce family values and make the application experience less stressful and more meaningful.
College is an experience and you will get out what you put into it. So, no matter where you attend, your commitment is the most important factor.
One of my favorite memories is
WHAT RECENT APPLICANTS WISHED THEY HAD KNOWN:
could have made a much more informed choice and seen college as a means to larger goals.
each application so my regular decision essays were much better than my early action ones
more scholarships
The College Finder by Steven R Antonoff College Admission by Hamlet and Vandevelde Fiske Guide to Colleges – current year comes out every July Colleges that Change Lives by Loren Pope K & W Guide to Colleges for students with Learning Differences The Academic Athlete by Luther Dickson and Packard Laughrea The College Panda’s SAT Essay by Nielson Phu
Collegeboard.org – SAT, SAT subject tests, AP tests, CSS financial profile, Big Future for college search, majors, financial info Actstudent.org – register for ACT, test prep Naviance Family Connection college and career research, scattergrams, application UC: admission.universityofcalifornia.edu CSUs: Calstateapply - https://www2.calstate.edu/apply CA Community Colleges: cccco.edu WUE – Western Undergraduate Exchange: wiche.edu/wue Colleges that change lives: ctcl.org Collegexpress.com for additional college searches based on Antonoff book Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Fafsa.ed.gov National Center for Education Statistics: nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ Government college scorecard - collegescorecard.ed.gov What to do with a major: myplan.com/majors/what-to-do-with-a-major.php Cappex.com – scattergrams on college acceptance nationwide Virtual campus tours: ecampustours.com Test optional colleges: Fairtest.org Student athletes: ncaa.org/student-athletes Learning and attention issues - understood.org
While your local high school will provide excellent support and resources to students on their college application journey, some families are comforted by having added support from an IEC. Sue Larminie - suelarminie@sbcglobal.net Shveta Bagade - bagade93@gmail.com Robyn Giffin - nextstep.ec@gmail.com Natasha Bhave - nnbhave@gmail.com