Class of 2011

College Planning

What do I need to do now? What should I be doing over the summer? What happens in the fall? How about a timeline to make this all

comprehensible for visual learners?

But first, some reassuring words . . .

Relax…You will get in.

70% of colleges accept an average of 70% of their applicants.

You don’t need to go far away.

88% of high school students go to college in their home state.

If you don’t have a major, it’s OK.

More than half of new college students say a very important reason for going to college is “to find my purpose in life.”

Start practicing good time management, prioritizing, and study habits.

Don’t get used to procrastinating because your workload in college may overwhelm you.

Colleges are interested in students who demonstrate a love of learning and are willing to take on academic challenges.

AP and Dual Enrollment courses will grab their attention and prepare you for college success.

Plan a rigorous schedule for next year = choose AP and /or DE classes

Take a foreign language, English, social studies, science, and math . . .

even if you have already satisfied your Richmond Public Schools Advanced Studies Diploma requirements in each of these disciplines.

Option 1: Four-year college or university for a bachelor’s degree

Option 2: Two-year community college for an associate’s degree

Option 3: Technical/vocational/trade school for certification, license

. . . is to prepare our students for Option 1, offering college-prep courses to prepare students for the academic challenges of college.

You could start right now, and continue working on this over the summer.

values? ambitions? achievements? academic strengths? interests? standout talents?

www.careercruising.com

will be available to Open students in the Fall.

Seniors will take interest, personality, and learning style inventories and link to possible careers and college major identification

What is important to you? Location Academics Size Campus Appeal Social Life Total Cost – Including aid

What makes a college/university selective?

Answer: The number of applicants.

The more applicants for each spot in the entering class, the more selective that college can be.

Take a look at reported median GPAs and ACT/SAT scores

Are you in the range?

This calculation will inform your concept of “fit”

The factors of Size Location Majors offered Athletics Aesthetics Extra-curricular offerings Cost and financial aid offered Academic preparation

are as close to matching your preferences, abilities, and comfort level as possible

• ACT– Consists of four tests: English, Math,

Reading, Science, and Writing– Writing component is optional– Top composite score is 36

• SAT– Consists of three tests: Verbal, Math,

Writing– Each test is scored on a scale of 200-800

Open students are advised to take SAT and/or ACT in the spring of junior year and in the fall of senior year

Do take one of them a second time.

Colleges will accept either or both.

Available to those who qualify for Free/Reduced Lunch

Students can use up to two each to take ACT & SAT

4 fee waivers granted for college applications from College Board

Practice Read. A lot. Whatever score you get the first time,

work on improving it. These scores are the most direct way to

merit aid. The higher the score . . .

ACT Composite score range

open admissions 16-21 traditional 18-24 selective 21-26 highly selective 25-30

SAT combined verbal & math

open 780-990 traditional 870-1110 selective 990-1180 highly selective 1140-1340

The higher your scores, the better your chances are to go to a more selective college.

The more selective the college, the more likely it is that you will graduate within 4-6 years.

Work to improve your scores

Summer is a great time to do this. How?

Pick up a copy of Jo’s handy, meticulously researched, annually updated, and intensely fascinating handout, which is creatively titled:

Taking the SAT and/or ACT: Strategies and Advice*

*It will be of absolutely no benefit to you if you do not read it.

It’s this: Work hard in school.

Talk with yourself, your parents, your mentors, your grandparents, your teachers, your minister, your siblings, your friends

www.collegeboard.com www.collegeanswer.com www.collegeresults.org www.petersons.com www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator www.unigo.com

Start working on some essays (click here) Work on the 21 Questions (click here) Start a spreadsheet with applications due

dates for the colleges you’re interested in Plan when you will take SAT or ACT (click

here) Create your resume/activities list (click

here)

After self-reflection and your consideration of “fit” factors, you should come up with a list of 3-8 colleges/universities.

They should ALL be schools you would be happy to attend.

They should cover a range of selectivity.

Make separate files for each college/university

Use a checklist or spreadsheet to record application deadlines

Record financial aid and scholarship deadlines as well

Research honors programs within institutions (different deadlines for applications)

Know all the essay questions and begin working on them in advance of deadlines

Non-restrictiveRegular DecisionRolling AdmissionEarly Action

RestrictiveEarly Decision

•Grades / Overall GPA•Strength of high school course selections•Standardized test scores•Essays•Teacher and counselor recommendations•Student’s demonstrated interests•Personal accomplishments•Personality characteristics•Courses in progress senior year

What classes did you take? How did you do in those classes?

Colleges pay particular attention to the challenging courses (AP and DE) a student has successfully taken.

Completeness Neatness Edited, thoughtful essay responses

Student’s responsibilities: Make final decisions about where to apply Download or fill in online Pay the fee or request a waiver Request transcripts (click here) Mail entire application (including Jo’s stuff)

Jo’s responsibilities:-write recommendations - copy transcript, school profile, and

recommendation(s) and give to student within two weeks of request

College and scholarship applications generally require 1 or 2 recommendations

I will write one, if the student writes the 21 Questions

Decide which teacher knows you best and ask whether they might be willing. Fill out the Teacher Recommendation form and give it to the teacher. Wait two weeks.

Please request only one from one teacher. Jo will keep a copy to send in each packet.

is unique is the only way colleges get first-hand

knowledge about you in the classroom

How does the student perform in classroom discussions? on research papers? presentations? independent study? group work?

What skills have been developed? Did the student meet your expectations? Tell us about enthusiasm, cooperation,

attention to detail, patience, civility, persistence

Help your recommending teacher to remember concrete details about your

performance in their classroom. Use the Teacher Recommendation form for this.

Each college’s Financial Aid deadlines differ

Everyone must file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Scholarships can be national, local, nominated by our scholarship committee or open to all and have deadlines from fall through spring

File on or after January 1, 2010 The sooner you file, the closer you are to

the money Research the financial aid filing deadlines

for the schools you’ve applied to

For detailed information go to www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov

Begin watching for postings on line and in the senior room in September

Postings will be updated, often weekly, so you must stay tuned

Here’s where your resume comes in Fill out a transcript request for each

scholarship you apply to

Virginia Commonwealth University 5 James Madison University 4 JSRCC 3 Clark Atlanta University 2 Hampton University 2 Howard University 2 Mary Baldwin College 2 Marymount University 2 Old Dominion University 2 Spelman College 2 University of Mary Washington 2 Virginia Union University 2 Bethune-Cookman University 1 Carnegie Mellon University 1 ECPI 1 George Mason University 1 Regent University 1 Sweet Briar College 1 UNC Asheville 1 Virginia State University 1 Virginia Tech 1

Opportunities: Preparing for Higher Education Guide and Workbook

Passport to Your Future

Taking the SAT and/or ACT: Strategies and Advice

Senior and Parent Contract

College Planning Timeline