The College ProcessBishop O’Dowd High School Junior & Parent Meeting, January 25, 2012

Four-Year Process

• College Eligibility– Choosing appropriate

coursework–Working to ability–Balancing courses–Partnering with parents

Junior Year

• PSAT – October• PSAT – Results back in January• SPRING –

– Meet with students– Discuss college options– Sign-up for testing

(SAT, ACT, Subject Tests)– Take prep course as appropriate

• College search• Naviance – college planning tool for the

family

College Questions

• Location• Interests• Majors• City vs. rural• Weather• School size• College type• Gap year• Performance to date = List of schools to start researching

Four Year Colleges/Universities

• 3500 Schools Nationwide• University of California System

– 9 campuses• Cal State University System

– 26 campuses• Catholic/Private Schools

– Generally smaller, more personal• Out of State – Public Universities

Community Colleges• Community college advantages

– Save money, raise GPA, participate in sports• Explore community colleges

– Schedule a visit, consult admissions office• Applications are usually due in the early

spring of senior year• Some community colleges have on-

campus housing or college-related housing available

• Community College Night – Spring each year

College Cost Comparisons• Community college: around $30 per unit,

plus books and living expenses• CSU campuses: tuition and fees around

$6,333, plus books, room & board, travel• UC campuses: tuition and fees $13,970,

plus books, room & board, travel • Out-of-state public colleges: wide range of

costs – usually more than two times the in-state tuition, plus books, room & board, travel

• Private colleges: $40,000 - $60,000 per year

Gap Year

• Opportunity for students to explore– travel, volunteer work, internships, paid

work• Experience can be an advantage• May be geared toward interest areas

(e.g. work for a magazine if interested in journalism)

• Helps students mature

Researching college choices• Web• Campus visits

–Start at local schools–Long weekend/Easter break–Sign up on-line -Admissions

Office link–Record impressions in “My

Journal”• Naviance/Family Connection• Books

Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011

• Edward Fiske• 2011 Edition• Paperback• $15.00 @ Amazon

The Insiders Guide

• The Insiders Guide to the Colleges2011

• Yale Daily News Staff

• Paperback• $14.95 @ Amazon

Colleges That Changes Lives

• Loren Pope• Paperback• $10.00 @ Amazon

Suggested Testing Schedule

• SAT Reasoning – March or May• SAT Subject Tests – June• ACT – Feb, April, or June

• Test Prep – February-March– Summer SAT prep– Private tutoring test prep– College Board SAT test prep– Possible test in fall of senior

year

SAT Tests – March, April, May, June• Register at

www.collegeboard.com

ACT Tests –Feb, April, June

• Register at www.ACT.org

SAT vs. ACTWhat’s the difference?SAT

– No science– No Trig– Vocab important– Non-multiple

choice questions– Guessing penalty– No English

grammar– Math = 50% score– Questions go

from easy to hard

ACT– Science included– Trig included– Vocab less

important– All multiple choice– No guessing

penalty– English grammar

included– Math = 25% score– Easy and hard

questions mixed

Summer – Senior yr.

• Continue to research• Check O’Dowd email often• Complete Senior Questionnaire

(Including Parent page)• Practice college essay – rough draft

– UC & Common Application essays• Visit colleges – record impressions• Enroll in College Boot Camp – 1st week

of August

Senior Year “To Do List”

• Register for additional tests• Complete Senior Questionnaire• Develop fall timeline• Complete applications• Write essays• Get letters of recommendation• Update Naviance consistently• Write thank you note to teachers

Naviance – College Planning

• Online resource• Process management• BOD enters GPA and test scores• BOD now sends transcripts and

letters electronically• Juniors start in Spring

–Data input–College planning & tracking

Naviance – College Planning

Naviance – College Planning

Naviance – College Planning

Looking Ahead

• College Fair – Sept• Senior Questionnaire• Senior & Parent College

Night - October• Senior Financial Aid

Night - January• Community College

Night - February

College Planning

•Q & A