Senior College & Career UnitMargaret Griffin, Last Names A-K, 907-260-7073,

mgriffin@kpbsd.k12.ak.us

Erin Neisinger, Last Names L-Z, 907-260-7074

eneisinger@kpbsd.k12.ak.us

*Sign up for REMIND by texting

@sohi2017, @sohi2018, @sohi2019, or @sohi2020

to the number 81010

*Sign up for FOL in the Counseling Office for College/Career visits

Counselor’s Corner on SOHI’s webpage

Counselor’s Corner on SOHI’s webpage(Forms, announcements, information)

Information

• Counselor’s Corner on SOHI’s website

• OneStop on KPBSD’s website

• One-on-one meetings with seniors September-December

• Thursday FOL for College & Career Club

• FOL in the Counseling office for College/military/program visits

KPC JumpStart Information for Juniors and Seniors

• KPBSD pays 2/3 of the tuition for Juniors and Seniors, making it $64 per credit hour

• Take the Accuplacer NOW! Call Student Services office at KPC 262-0330 to schedule an appointment

• Spring 2017 JumpStart (Check KPC website)

Types of Postsecondary Options

1. Apprenticeship Programs (AK Teamsters, Local 751, IBEW, Ironworkers Union)

2. Flight Schools (Above Alaska Aviation, Alaska Float Ratings, Alyeska Helicopters)

3. Career, Technical, Vocational (See page 5)

4. Community College/Junior College

5. 4 year College/University

For more information, see page 5 and 32 in the Postsecondary Advising Guide

Considerations• Admissions Requirements

• Programs offered

• Size and location (rural vs. urban)

• Cost and financial aid

• Housing (and is it required for Frosh?)

• Employment rate after graduation

For more information, see pages 6-8 in the Postsecondary Advising Guide

Types of Applications and Admissions• Early Decision

• You apply in early fall, learn of the decision in December, and must accept or reject the offer of admission within weeks. If accepted, the student must withdraw all other applications to other colleges and universities. Students are often required to pay a nonrefundable deposit at the time of acceptance. Some very competitive independent colleges and universities use this action type. Students should only do this if they are 100% certain that this is the college or university they want to attend. Downside: the student must make a decision before a financial picture is known.

• Early Action

• Students apply in the early fall and learn of the school’s decision to admit, decline, or defer you by January 1. In most cases, the student has until May to decide whether to accept or decline an offer. Students may apply to other schools after hearing of the school’s decision. Early action decisions are final, and rejected applicants are not reconsidered.

• Regular Admissions

• The most commonly used application process. Check with the college for their deadline.

• Rolling Admissions

• Students apply beginning in the fall of their senior year and learn of acceptance or rejection in a matter of weeks. The decision is made as soon as the application is complete. This action type is used by a wide variety of schools nationwide.

• Open Admissions• Colleges following this option accept all qualified applicants who apply.

This type of action is available at some publicly funded schools. (Typical of UAA system)

• Deferred Admissions• A student may defer attendance for up to one year allowing time to

travel, earn money or pursue a nonacademic interest. If choosing this process, be sure to double-check with the college to be sure they allow this.

• Wait List• Qualified candidates are placed on this list after a school has accepted

its allotment of applicants. Waitlists are used to admit a student when fewer accepted candidates enroll than expected. Check the wait policy at your intended school to determine exact policy.

Types of Admissions

Application Process

• Complete the application – take your time, make sure it is complete

• Plan ahead for letters of recommendation

• Meet deadlines

• Send your transcript and test scores

• For more information, see page 9-11 in the Postsecondary Advising Guide

Narrow it down to 6-8

a. “Reach” colleges/universities – Their freshman profile exceeds your academic profile.

b. “Target” colleges/universities – Their freshman profile matches your academic profile.

c. “Safety” colleges/universities – Your profile exceeds their freshman profile.

For more information, see page 9-11 in the Postsecondary Advising Guide

Postsecondary Assessments

• PSAT, SAT/ACT, Accuplacer (UA), ASVAB (military), TABE (AVTEC)

• What is a “good score?” vs. National Averages (ACT 20-21, “Old” SAT 1500)

• Where will my scores take me? See page 16 in the Guide

• FREE TEST PREP WEBSITES: www.act.orgwww.collegeboard.com www.khanacademy.org/satwww.number2.com www.testu.comhttps://www.prepfactory.com/

For more information, see pages 14-17 and also page 31 in the Postsecondary Advising Guide

School Visits

• Contact ahead of time

• Bring transcript and test scores

• Have your questions ready (See pages 7-8 in the Postsecondary Advising Guide)

• Visit the library, dorms, Counseling office, financial aid office, job centers

• Consider skyping, facetiming, etc…For more information, see page 13 in the

Postsecondary Advising Guide

ATHLETES!NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA

• National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) www.ncaa.org

• National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) www.NAIA.org

• National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) http://www.njcaa.org

For more information, see pages 18-22 in the Postsecondary Advising Guide

NCAAwww.ncaa.org/student-athletes

http://web3.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.jspNCAA will not be combining scores from the “old” SAT and the “new” SAT

http://akcis.intocareers.org/Grade specific Career Literacy Lesson in classrooms

http://akcis.intocareers.org/Assessments, Interest profilers, career matching activities

http://akcis.intocareers.org/Occupation search, career pathways, military

http://akcis.intocareers.org/School search by specific criteria, narrow down search

http://akcis.intocareers.org/Compare schools feature (cost, housing, location, size)

http://akcis.intocareers.org/Resume creator, job search, military

http://akcis.intocareers.org/Save searches in portfolio, update PLCP (uploads to PowerSchool)

Personal Learning & Career Plan (PLCP) uploads from AKCIS to PowerSchool)

Scholarship Portfolio and Applications• Check your Gmail for the Portfolio template• Academic resume• Check your gmail for applications from Nelma Treider (Counseling Department

Secretary)• Search OneStop on KPBSD• Search on www.akcis.org• Search on numerous scholarship websites (see page 33 of the Postsecondary Advising

Guide)• Apply, Apply, Apply

• For Alaska Schools, make sure you are APS eligible http://acpe.alaska.gov/STUDENT-PARENT/Grants_Scholarships/Alaska_Performance_Scholarship

• Remember about WUE Western Undergraduate Exchange www.wiche.edu/wue

For more information, see page 23 and also 28 in the Postsecondary Advising Guide

http://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/

www.fastweb.com

Scholarship search

• Scholarship, Financial Aid, Etc… www.HighFiveScholarships.com, www.fastweb.com www.petersons.com www.freschinfo.comwww.finaid.org www.cappex.com www.brokescholar.comwww.edfund.org www.alaskaadvantage.state.ak.us www.fafsa.ed.govwww.scholarships.com www.bigfuture.org www.chegg.comwww.nerscholar.com and don’t forget good old GOOGLE!!!

• For www.akcis.org (Log with your own username or as username: sohiand the password: 4akcis) You can search for careers, colleges, and scholarships.

• Also, go to KPBSD’s website in the OneStop Student Portal for information on scholarships and upcoming events.

• Mrs. Treider updates a list which is sent out frequently via Gmail and there are pockets on the wall in the Counseling office. Help yourself!

• Sign up for Thursday College & Career Club FOL in Mr. Harris’ room.

Financial Aid

• Attend Financial Aid night September 27, 2016

• Fill out the FAFSA starting as early as October 1 of your senior year (based on prior year taxes)

• Contact the financial aid office at the schools you are applying to.

For more information, see pages 27-28 and 33 in the Postsecondary Advising Guide

The Essay….College Applications

Scholarship Applications• The process? What do I do? Where do I start?• Start early (September)• Complete the academic resume/portfolio using template• Brainstorm topics using the 11 most common prompts (sent in gmail with Porfolio

template)• Write 3-5 paragraph essays based on the prompts• Use completed portfolio/academic resume to apply for scholarships• Change the formatting as needed or cut and past in to an online application as needed.• Change the cover page for each scholarship• Modify your essay if there is a specific prompt• A few are judged here at SOHI, turn those in to the counseling office• A few are turned in as a school all together, turn those in to the counseling office

For more information, see page 24-26 in the Postsecondary Advising Guide

Letters of Recommendation

• 3-5 (teachers, community members, boss, coach, principal, counselor)

• Ask ahead of time, not at the last minute

• Give them your personal profile/scholarship portfolio/academic resume (Brag sheet)

• Thank them

For more information, see page 29 in the Postsecondary Advising Guide

Prompt 5 Critique

• Title – use title to frame/focus, Buck up is playful and means to show backbone, but also relates to a bucking horse throwing its rider.

• Topic – Hero worship tone but then focusing on an unlikable person makes the essay unusual. She describes the influential person AND explains the influence.

• Tone – playful yet loving and appreciative (good balance)

Prompt 5 Critique

• The Writing – Clichés such as “sticks to her guns” “back on his feet” and “curses like a sailor” are colorful. Sentence #1 should the “that” really be “who” since it refers to a person? Her sense of VOICE really comes through. There is no fluff, it is concise.

• Final thoughts – Your personal essay should show that you can write well, but also help admissions folks and scholarship committee folks get to know the person behind the grades and test scores. Jill is observant, caring, and funny. She is the kind of person that would enrich a campus community.

Attend EventsPost Secondary Planning Night (AKA Senior Night)- Come find out about College search resources, timelines for juniors and seniors, an overview of federal and state financial aid programs, funding for postsecondary education goals, loans, and more! DATE: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 6pm in the Soldotna High School Library

Financial Aid Night – Come find out about FAFSA, other types of financial aid, grants, loans, and Scholarships. Tuesday, September 27, 2016. 6PM at SOHI Library. Director of Financial Aid from KPC will be a special guest speaker!!!

Sixth Annual College and Career Fair at the Soldotna High School-Juniors and Seniors are strongly encouraged to attend. Sophomores may attend on a space available basis. Representatives from over 40 colleges will be available to answer questions and provide information. DATE: October 18, 2016 TIME: 10:00am to 1:00pm.

Thank you for attending!

Questions?

SOHI School Counseling DepartmentMargaret Griffin, Last Names A-K, 907-260-7073, mgriffin@kpbsd.k12.ak.us

Maria Calhoun, Last Names L-Z 1st semester sub for Neisinger, 907-260-7074, mcalhoun@kpbsd.k12.ak.us

Erin Neisinger, Last Names L-Z, 907-260-7074, eneisinger@kpbsd.k12.ak.usMegan Murphy, Interventionist 907-260-7059 mmurphy@kpbsd.k12.ak.us

Nelma Treider, Counseling Secretary & Registrar, 907-260-7072, ntreider@kpbsd.k12.ak.us

*Sign up for REMIND by texting@sohi2017, @sohi2018, @sohi2019, or @sohi2020

to 81010*Sign up for FOL in the Counseling Office for College/Career visits

5 Activities for points (see unit checklist for more specifics)

1. _____/5 points AKCIS activity/search

2. _____/5 points AKCIS PLCP update

3. _____/5 points Choose an Assessment

4. _____/10 pts Scholarship folder/academic resume

5. _____/10 points 3-5 paragraph essay

_____/35 total unit points

Day 1• Demo AKCIS log in• Demo PLCP update• Students work on portfolio and unit check

list• Day 2

• Students turn checklist in with portfolio and essay by due date

• TURN IN – “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” survey and diploma order