Next Steps: Finishing Strong @ SC4 & Applying to College - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Next Steps:

Finishing Strong @ SC4 & Applying to College

Friday, September 11, 2020

BWMCA Grad:

This could be you next year!

Friday, September 05, 2014

Goals of this session

• Know what you need to do to achieve your

SC4/BWMCA goals: HS diploma, college degree, transferable credits, certificate, etc.

• Provide information for taking your next

academic steps

• Inspire you to start the college application

process now

• Help you submit quality university applications

News and Announcements

• Early Alert grades available October 5th.
• Winter registration opens on Monday,

November 2nd. BE READY!!

• “Paying for College” Session – early November

via Zoom; Parents will be invited to join.

High School Graduation

–Know what you need; check your audit –13th year math (all students)

• SC4 math or math‐related class
• Online Personal Finance class
• Check your college audit sent from Ms.

Whymer for your status

–High school diploma in May 2020

This is a BIG year!

• You are doubling the number of credits you

earned during the first 2 years.

• You should complete two important goals:

– High school diploma – College associate degree

• You begin the transfer to your next

academic and/or career steps.

• It is time to lean in, not lay back.

* In program all 3 years

Time to Lean In

Let’s look at some data from our graduates:

• At time of BWMCA graduation,

approximately 57% of students earn their SC4 degree.

• 2 years after graduation about 2/3

(67%) of BWMCA grads have a

• degree. That is good, but…

* In program all 3 years

Time to Lean In

…. Over 40% do not receive degree at end of grade 13, and …. About 1/3 don’t have a degree 2 years after leaving the middle college. That is too many!

WHY??

Time to Lean In

Why don’t student earn degree on time??

– Some change their program – A few focus only on earning credits that will transfer to four‐year school – Most do not earn their degree on time due to withdrawing from or failing classes.

Withdrawing

51 Blue Water Middle College 2019 graduates withdrew from 1 or more class.

Of those 51, only 18 (35%) earned an associate degree.

Of 21 students who withdrew from 2 or more classes, only 10% earned a degree.

80% of the 88 students who earned a degree

• n time withdrew from 0 classes!

Conclusion: Do not withdraw! Earn your degree!

Withdrawing

Withdrawing from a college class is costly:

– It will likely lead to a delay in earning your degree – It will likely result in you having to pay for an additional college class in the future. ($500 - $2,000) – It will result in a “W” on your college transcript – It may impact financial aid in the future – It will cost you the opportunity to learn how to face a difficult challenge and overcome it.

Withdrawing

• If you start thinking about withdrawing

from a class, contact one of us.

• A “Withdrawal Permission Form” must be

completed and approved before a student is allowed to withdraw from a course.

Withdrawing

Steps to take prior to withdrawing:

• Meet w/ BWMCA staff member
• BWMCA staff will communicate w/ parent
• Student must get academic help:

– Meet w/ your instructor – Get tutoring help

• Learn future consequences of withdrawing
• Student and parent must confirm desire to withdraw
• BWMCA staff may then approve withdrawal (may not)

Achieving Current Goals

• 1. Meet w/ SC4 advisor soon to be sure you are on

track for your Associate Degree or you know exactly what you still need. Discuss options. (Advising sessions are remote now.)

• 2. Meet w/ SC4 advisor to discuss transferability of

credits to future colleges and degree programs.

• 3. BWMCA staff can help with topics above, but

we don’t issue degrees. See a college advisor!

Complete your degree!

• On time
• Or with a summer 2020 class
• Or by transferring courses from a new

college back to SC4.

An associate degree has value. You never know what is going to happen

• ver the next few years on your way to a

bachelor’s degree.

Steps in the College Application Process:

Steps in the College Application Process:

• 1. Identify colleges or universities you

want to attend:

– Do they help you achieve your goals? – Do they meet your other criteria?

• Location, size, cost, private/public, etc.

– Will your credits transfer?

mitransfer.org, the college web site, or SC4 advisor

– Do you meet their criteria?

• GPA, SAT, other factors

Steps in the College Application Process:

• 1. Identify colleges or universities you

want to attend:

– Sites that can help:

• BigFuture.org
• Petersons.com
• Parchment.com
• Google

Steps in the College Application Process:

• 2. Prepare to apply:

– Know deadlines for applying:

• Write deadlines and to-do’s on your

calendar – Learn how to apply:

• Online through college website
• Via Common Application site:

commonapp.org

Steps in the College Application Process:

• 2. Prepare to apply:

–Application fees? ($0 - $50)

(Fee waivers are available)

–Apply as a freshman

– The Blue Water Middle College Academy is your high school.

Steps in the College Application Process:

• 3. Apply:

–Follow steps carefully –Keep records:

• Write down usernames & passwords
• Save emails

Steps in the College Application Process:

• Apply: (Continued)

–Request transcripts

• BWMCA (your high school)

–Know your HS GPA –Your BWMCA transcript was mailed home this summer –Keep your GPA strong!!

• Parchment.com for your HS transcript

Parchment

For requesting your transcript And College research

Steps in the College Application Process:

• Apply: (Continued)

–Request transcripts

• SC4 for college transcript

(Order online from WAVE; $5.25)

[sc4.edu/transcript]

• You will need to send a final SC4

transcript to the school you decide to attend in June, 2020.

Steps in the College Application Process:

• Apply: (Continued)

–Communicate with the colleges

• Visits (Virtual?)
• Call or email with questions during the process
• Build a relationship with an individual if

possible

• Respond to requests promptly
• Check your email! Keep contacts formal!!

Steps in the College Application Process:

• Apply: (Continued)

– Application Essays

• Sometimes required; sometimes optional
• Find an opportunity to mention your

middle college experiences

• Tell them why you want to attend; what

you can bring to their campus.

• Get your essay(s) proofread!!

Steps in the College Application Process:

• 4. After acceptance:

–Financial aid

• Research web sites for information
• Complete FAFSA!!
• FAFSA opens in October

–“Paying for College” Success Session

• November
• Parents invited