Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

24
Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College! Prepped & Polished, LLC Wayland, MA 01778

description

Prepped & Polished, LLC shows you the steps one needs to take to get ready for college.

Transcript of Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

Page 1: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College!

Prepped & Polished, LLCWayland, MA 01778

Page 2: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

Founder of Prepped & Polished, LLC: Tutoring, College Counseling, Test Prep Bachelors in Science from University of Michigan Masters in Counseling Psychology from University of Wisconsin Certified Guidance Counselor Pre K-12 A full-time Private Tutor since 1999 Tutored and counseled over 500 Boston-area studentsSAT, ACT, and GRE Test Prep tips featured in

About the Speaker: Alexis Avila

Page 3: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

What to do Freshman and Sophomore Year

Take Challenging Courses

Join Clubs and Extracurriculars

Volunteer

Plan Productive Summers

Take SAT Subject Tests

Page 4: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

What to do Junior Year

Fill up holes in your portfolio

Take challenging courses and keep grades up

Come up with a school list

Take the SAT and AC

Visit Colleges

Page 5: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

What to do Senior year

Do well in school still!

Re-take standardized tests Write your essay before school starts

Apply early

Visit your guidance counselor weekly

Page 6: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

How to choose a great school FOR YOU:

Geographic Preference

Large or Small College?

Single Sex or Co-ed

Special Services?

Will it be academically challenging

Are your Grades and SAT/ACT scores good enough?

Does it match up well with your interests

Page 7: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

Three Myths about Small Colleges

Myth 1 "I won't have enough alumni connections" Myth 2 "Small schools are less efficient"Myth 3 "I'll have fewer opportunities at a small school"

Page 8: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

Consider a small college if ... You crave a sense of community Close relationships with faculty and professors Small Class Sizes Considering graduate school

Page 9: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

Three Myths about Big Colleges

Myth 1. Big Colleges don’t have small class sizes.

Myth 2. Big Colleges have an out of control party scene.

Myth 3.

You won’t meet anyone at a Big College.

Page 10: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

Consider a big college if ... Crowds excite you. You typically reach out to find friends. Adept at learning in large lecture courses. Wide Variety of majors and courses Well-funded sports programs

Page 11: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

5 Things to do on a Campus Visit Tip 1. Visit the college either in the Fall or Spring.

Tip 2. Spend the night in a Dormitory.

Tip 3. Eat a meal at the dining facility.

Tip 4. Take a Class in your academic area of interest.

Tip 5. Engage with other college students.

Page 12: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

6 Things that make a great college portfolio

1. Have a well-written essay 2. Have extracurricular activities 3. Have Volunteer Experiences 4. Have Strong ACT or SAT scores 5. Have Solid Grades 6. Have strong letters of recommendation

Page 13: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

Common Application: Keep in Mind

1. Make the common application your backbone to filling out ALL college applications 2. If time is of the essence, pick an ADAPTABLE essay 3. Keep track of the common application supplementals = more essays? 4. Do all of your schools accept the common application? Check! https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Members.aspx

Page 14: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

3 College Application Insider Tips

1. Make the most out of your high school experience. 2. Don't take the SAT more than 3 X. 3. Make sure your application is not confusing.

Page 15: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Regular Decision

1. Regular Decision gives you more time to complete and submit your application.

2. Choose Early Action Schools non-binding to get an answer faster3. Have a dream school? Consider Early Decision binding

Page 16: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

Interview Techniques 1. Do your research 2. Be on Time 3. Dress Professionally 4. Be engaged and come armed with questions 5. Send a thank you note

Page 17: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

Financial Aid Timeline

Fall Senior YearAttend financial aid eventsTalk to your counselor about College Scholarship Services (CSS) ProfileLook for scholarships and merit aid

Winter Senior Year

Submit Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) starting January 1, (can submit CSS Profile earlier)

Spring Senior Year

Compare your awardsTalk to financial aid officers

Page 18: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

Helpful Financial Aid Sites Fin Aid:

http://www.finaid.com

Fast Web: http://www.fastweb.com

FAFSA:

www.fafsa.ed.gov

Pin Number Needed for FAFSA: www.pin.ed.gov

CSS Profile:

https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp

Page 19: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

ACT vs. SAT

ACT = A Candid Test because it has a more straightforward format

The SAT is more coachable because you can learn strategies to help overcome the guessing penalty obstacle

Page 20: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

ACT, SAT: The Gameplan

1. The earlier you take it the better. Start late winter or early spring Junior year. 2. Take it multiple times because most colleges offer score choice or will superscore your best results. 3. Remember to give yourself time to study in between tests.

Page 21: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

SAT Subject Tests: The Inside Scoop

1. Take the SAT Subject Tests to demonstrate subject mastery and strengthen your college portfolio. 2. Take SAT Subject Tests at the end of 9th, 10th, 11th grade 3. Take a practice test for different subject tests to determine which ones are best for you to take.

Page 22: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

SAT/ACT Materials Must Buys:

1. SAT Official Study Guide by College Board 2. Official Guide for All SAT Subject Tests by College Board 3. ACT Official Study Guide 4. Word Smart 1 and 2 by Princeton Review

Page 23: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

Take home tips

1. Apply Early

2. Try to get SAT ACT testing out of the way by May

3. Stay organized

4. Stay motivated for all four

years

5. Reach for the stars = apply to dream colleges

Page 24: Get Prepped & Polished and Ready for College

We are here to help you EVERY step of the way!

If you have ANY questions ...

Prepped & Polished, LLCTutoring and Test Preparation

[email protected]