Tips For College Bound Students

Make sure you take advantage

of all the learning

opportunities that Ridgeview

offers!

Information for this presentation was

taken and modified from a College

Admission’s article found at

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/admissionstimeline/tp/12th-grade-timeline.htm

Next

8th

9th 10th

11th

12th

The path to

college leads to success and it starts

one paw at a

time!

College

Select the grade level that you would like to

explore.

Middle School

Although your middle school grades and activities will not appear on your college application, you can use your seventh and eighth grades year to set yourself up to have the strongest record possible in high school.

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I will challenge myself in

High School and

get involved with the

pack.

(tips for 8th graders)

We will soon be joining

the RHS Wolf Pack.

Educational Tips for 8th Graders

Work on good study habits.Develop time-management skills.Read a lot!Explore your interests!Plan to take college prep courses your 9th grade year.

Colleges and Universities typically do not look at middle school grades, but it is important that you have good study skills and good time management to be successful in high school. Also, the more you read, the stronger your verbal, writing and critical thinking abilities will be.

http://homeworktips.about.com/od/makingthegrades/tp/Study-Habits-For-Middle-School-Students.htm

Will we be able to walk on the grass?

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Time Management Article

Freshman Year

College seems a long way off in the 9th grade, but you need to start thinking about college now. The reason is simple -- your 9th grade academic and extracurricular record will be part of your college application. Low grades in 9th grade can seriously jeopardize your chances of getting into the country's most selective colleges.

Next (Tips for 9th graders)Back to grade selection

Educational Tips for 9th Grade• Meet with your high school counselor• Take challenging courses• Keep your grades up• Take a foreign language• Get help if you need it• Be involved in extracurricular activiti

es• Typical college prep scheduleContrary to popular belief, your 9th grades count! Low grades in 9th grade can jeopardize your chances of getting into the college or your choice.

Should I really worry

about my freshman

year ?

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9th: Meet Your Academic CounselorAn informal meeting with your high school

counselor can have many benefits in the 9th grade. Use the meeting to find out about the A-G college admission requirements.

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Do you think I can get into a

CSU or a UC?

You must be A-G qualified, take the

SAT/ACT, take challenging

courses, and get involved in your

school and community. I

encourage you to come see me once

in a while so we can chat about

college.

9th:Take Challenging CoursesYour academic record is the most important

part of your college application. Colleges want to see more than good grades; they also want to see that you have pushed yourself and taken the most challenging courses offered at your school. Set yourself up so that you can take full advantage of whatever Honors and AP courses your school offers.

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9th: Focus on GradesGrades matter in your freshman year. No

other part of your college application carries more weight than the courses you take and the grades you earn

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9th: Foreign LanguageIn our increasingly globalized world,

colleges and universities want their applicants to have command of a foreign language. If you can keep taking a language all the way through senior year your chances of admission will improve.

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9th: Get Help if You Need ItIf you are struggling in a subject DO NOT

ignore the issue. Talk to your counselor! Unresolved difficulties in A-G courses will lead to difficulties later in high school. Seek out extra help and tutoring to polish up your skills.

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Tutoring is available free of charge in the library onMondays, Tuesday, and Wednesdays from 3:30pm to 4:30pm

9th: Extracurricular ActivitiesInvolve yourself in extracurricular activities

that you are passionate about. Colleges look for students with varied interests and evidence of leadership potential. Involvement in activities outside of the classroom reveals information about you to the college admissions committee.

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You can call the Volunteer Center at 661-397-9787for community service opportunities.

Freshman College Prep And GATE Schedule

College Prep ScheduleEnglish 9CPAlgebraEarth Science/Ag

ResourcesHealthPESpanish or a Fine Art

classLunch

*Some freshmen students may take a zero period such as Band or Forensics.

GATE ScheduleEnglish 9 GATEGeometry GATEBiology GATEHealthPESpanish or a Fine Art

classLunch

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Sophomore YearEven though college applications are still a

few years off, keep your long-term goals in mind. Work on keeping your grades up, taking challenging courses, and gaining depth in your extracurricular activities.

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10th: Educational Tips for 10th GradeContinue to take challenging coursesGrades, Grades, GradesPut effort into extracurricular activitiesContinue with foreign languageTake the PSATVisit colleges and browse the webTypical sophomore college prep schedule

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All of those are

great tips! Read about them!

10th: Continue to take challenging courses An "A" in AP Biology is more impressive

than an "A" in gym or TA. Your success in completing challenging academic courses provides the college admissions committee with the best evidence of your ability to succeed in college.

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10th: Grades, Grades, GradesThroughout high school nothing matters

more than your academic record. If you are aiming for a highly selective college, every low grade you earn may limit your options (but do not panic -- students with the occasional "C" still have plenty of options). Work on self- discipline and time management in an effort to earn the highest grades possible.

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10th: Put Effort Into Extracurricular ActivitiesBy the time you apply to college, you should

be able to demonstrate depth and leadership in an extracurricular area. Colleges will be more impressed with the applicant who played first- chair clarinet in the All-State Band than the applicant who took a year of music, a year of dance, three months of chess club and a weekend volunteering at a soup kitchen. Think about what it is that you will bring to a college community. A long but shallow list of extracurricular involvement really does not amount to anything meaningful.

VOLUNTEER

JOIN A CLUB JOIN A SPORT

BE ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN SCHOOL

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10th: Foreign LanguageColleges will be much more impressed by

students who can read Don Quixote in Spanish than those who have a shallow smattering of "bonjours" and "mercis." Depth in a single language is a better choice than introductory courses to two or three languages. Be sure to read more about.

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10th: Take the PSATThis is entirely optional, if your school

allows it. Consider taking the PSAT in October of the10th grade. The consequences of doing poorly are zero. The practice can help determine what type of preparation is needed before taking the PSAT. The PSAT will not be part of your college application, but be sure to read why the PSAT matters.

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10th: Visit Colleges and Browse the WebYour sophomore year is a good time to do

some low-pressure exploration of the college options out there. If you are near a campus, stop by and take the tour. If you have more than an hour, follow these college visit tips to get the most out of your time on campus. Also, many schools offer informative virtual tours on their websites. This preliminary research will help with the decision-making process during the junior and senior years.Visit a class in your major

Read the Bulletin Boards

Eat in the Dining Hall

Explore on your own

Talk to Lots of StudentsBack to grade selection Back

Typical Sophomore Schedule

College PrepEnglish 10 CPGeometry World HistoryBiology PESpanish or Fine Art ClassLunch

Some sophomore students may take a zero period such as Band or Forensics. Many variations in schedules exist.

GATEGATE English 10 Honors Advanced

Algebra GATE World History Honors ChemistryPESpanish or Fine Art ClassLunch

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Junior YearIn the11th grade, the college preparation

process accelerates. Pay careful attention to looming deadlines and application requirements. Realize that in the11th grade it is not necessary to know exactly where to apply. However, you do need to have a plan mapped out for achieving broad educational goals. Plan to attend junior college night

in the Spring.

Full Speed Ahead

!!

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11th: Educational Tips for 11th GradeTake the PSATTake advantage of Honors and AP classesKeep your grades upContinue taking a foreign languageAssume a leadership role in an extracurricul

ar activityIn the Spring, take the SAT and/or ACTVisit Colleges and browse the web.Draft a college listTypical junior college prep schedule

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11th grade is a tough

year. Read these tips to make your 11th grade a

successful school year.

11th: Take the PSAT A good score on the PSAT exam may

translate into thousands of dollars from scholarships specifically for high scoring students. The exam will reveal your preparedness for the SAT. Be sure to read more about why the PSAT matters.

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11th: Take Advantage of Honors and AP classesNo piece of your college application carries

more weight than your academic record. If you can take AP courses in 11th grade, do so. If you can take a course at a local college, do so. If you can study a subject in greater depth than what is required, do so. Your success in upper-level and college-level courses is a clear indicator that you have the skills to succeed in college.

AP English AP Calculus

AP US History AP Biology

Honors Geology

Honors AnatomyHonors Math Analysis

AP Spanish

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11th: Keep Your Grades Up11th grade is probably your most important

year for earning high grades in challenging courses. If you had a few marginal grades in 9th or 10th grade, improvement in 11th grade shows a college that you have learned how to be a good student. Many of your senior year grades come too late to play a big role on your application, so junior year is essential. A drop in your grades in 11th grade shows a move in the wrong direction, and it will raise red flags for the college admission committee.

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Study

11th: Foreign Language

If you find language study frustrating or difficult, it may be tempting to give up on it and shop around for other classes. Do not give up! Not only will mastery of a language serve you well in your life, but it will also impress the college admission committee and open up more options. Read More

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11th: Assume a Leadership Role in an Extracurricular ActivityColleges like to see that you are a band

section leader, a team captain, or an event organizer. Realize that you do not need to be a prodigy to be a leader -- a second-string football player or third-chair trumpet player can be a leader in fundraising or community outreach. Think about ways to contribute to an organization or community endeavor. Colleges are looking for future leaders, not passive bystanders.

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11th: Take the SAT and/or ACTKeep track of

SAT registration deadlines and test dates (and ACT dates). While not essential, it is a good idea to take the SAT or ACT in your junior year. If you do not get good scores, spend some time in the summer studying before retaking the exam in the fall. Colleges will only consider your highest scores.

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11th: Draft a College ListOnce first semester grades are transcripted,

and PSAT scores are available, you will be able to start predicting which colleges and universities will be reach schools, match schools and safety schools. Look over the college profiles to see average acceptance rates and SAT/ACT score ranges. For now, a list of 5-10 schools is a good starting point. It is best to narrow down the list before applying in the fall of your senior year. Meet with your guidance counselor to get feedback and suggestions on your list.

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Typical Junior Schedule

College PrepEnglish 11CPU.S. History CPAdvanced Algebra ChemistrySpanishFine Art Lunch

Honors/APAP English 11AP U.S. History Honors Math Analysis

AP BiologySpanishFine Art Lunch

Some juniors may take a zero period such as Band or Forensics. Many variations in these schedules exists.

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Senior YearSenior year is a busy and extremely

important time in the college admissions process. This is the last chance to get the ACT and SAT scores needed for a particular college. Senior year is also when you have to narrow down your college options to a handful of schools. College essays should be polished up and financial aid application needs to be submitted by March 2. During the application process keep active in extracurricular activities and maintain high grades.

Put on your seat belt, it is going

to go fast.

NextBack to grade selection (Tips for 12th graders)

12th: Month-by-Month Timeline August before Senior yearSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember-JanuaryFebruary- MarchAprilMay-June

Message from the

Alpha wolf: “Senior year is

about being focused. Enjoy the

journey.”

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12th: August Before Senior YearCome up with a preliminary list of colleges

that includes reach, match and safety schools.

Explore the websites of the colleges that interest you to learn about admission requirements.

Check your senior year class schedule to make sure you are enrolled in the appropriate classes.

If applying to a UC, begin thinking about the two required prompts.

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12th: SeptemberRegister for the September SAT/ACT if

appropriate (check ACT dates, SAT dates).Meet with your guidance counselor to

discuss your college options.Work on your college essays (for UCs)Try to assume a leadership position in an

extracurricular activity.

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12th: OctoberTake the SAT, and/or ACT if necessary.Take advantage of college fairs and virtual tours.Research financial aid and scholarships. Do your

parents' places of employment offer college scholarships for employee children?

Get your college essay in shape. Get feedback on your writing from a guidance counselor and a teacher.

Keep track of all application components and deadlines: applications, test scores, letters of recommendation, and financial aid materials. An incomplete application will ruin your chances for admission.

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12th:NovemberRegister for the December SAT or ACT if

necessary.Do not let your grades slide. It is easy to be

distracted from school work when working on applications. Senior slump can be disastrous for your admission chances.

Continue to research scholarships.Submit college application.

CSU application timeline: October 1st-November 30th.

UC application timeline: November 1st-Novermeber 30th.

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12th: December-January

Continue to focus on your grades and extracurricular involvement.

Have midyear grades sent to colleges (if required).

Continue to research scholarships. Apply for scholarships well in advance of deadlines.

Start completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Aid).(FAFSA application becomes available January 1st).

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12th: February-MarchIf you submitted the FAFSA, you should receive the

Student Aid Report (SAR). Carefully look it over for accuracy. Errors can cost you thousands of dollars.

Contact colleges that did not send you a confirmation receipt for your application.

Keep your grades high. Colleges can revoke offers of admission if your grades take a nosedive senior year.

Some acceptance letters may arrive. Compare financial aid offers, and if possible visit the campus before making a decision.

Do not panic; many decisions are not mailed out until April.

Continue applying for appropriate scholarships.

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12th: AprilKeep track of all acceptance, rejection, and

waitlist notifications.Keep your grades up.If you have ruled out any colleges that

accepted you, notify them. This is a courtesy to other applicants, and it will help the colleges manage their waitlist and extend the correct number of acceptance letters.

Go to accepted student open houses if offered.

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12th: May-JuneAvoid senioritis! An acceptance letter does not

mean you can stop working.Prepare for and take any appropriate AP exams.

Most colleges offer course credit for high AP scores; this gives you more academic options when you get to college.

Have your final transcript sent to colleges.Send thank you letters to everyone who helped

you in the application process. Let your mentors and recommenders know the results of your college search.

High School Graduation. Congratulations!

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10 Tips for Getting Good (or Better) Grades in College by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

1. Attend All Your Classes2. Master Your Professor3. Get/Stay Organized4. Use Time Wisely5. Become “Noteworthy”6. Use the Textbook7. Follow Good Rules of Writing8. Study, Study, Study9. Be a Good Test-Taker10. Polish Those Verbal Communication Skills

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Follow my

advice and you will see results!

Attend All Your ClassesNow, you might think this was an obvious one. But I speak

from experience when I say that many students skip classes for one reason or another. But if you want good grades, the following is a list of several reasons why you should attend all of your classes:

Absorb classroom material. Even if the professor follows the textbook closely, sitting in the classroom and listening to the lectures/discussions will help you absorb the materials.

Make presence known—participate! One of the benefits of going to college should be that you form a mentoring relationship with some of your professors, and that is not going to happen if you do not attend the classes. Often professors have participation points (or bonus points), so beyond just attending, make an effort to be involved in the class discussions.

Earn attendance points. Many professors have attendance policies, so you can have a direct impact on your grade simply by attending.

Do not forget to sit close to the front -- historically, those who do are usually the best students.

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Master Your ProfessorEvery professor has a different personality and system

for running his/her classes, so it makes sense as early in the semester as possible to learn what the professor wants. Here are some ways to master your professors:

Understand course expectations. Most professors give out a class syllabus during the first week of classes -- and it is your responsibility to know deadlines and all of the requirements for the course.

Understand professors on a personal level. Rather than viewing the professor as some figurehead at the front of the class who decides your fate in some abstract way, get to know your professor as a person. Visit him or her during office hours, or stay after class.

Communicate with professors when you are struggling. Especially at larger colleges and universities, the professor will not know when you are struggling, so if you are having problems with the course work or the tests, schedule an appointment to meet with the professor and get the help you need.

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Get/Stay OrganizedHere are some tips for getting organized:

Use a planner or other organization system. Stay current with due dates/course calendars. It is

not enough to have a system -- you have to use it! So once you have some sort of system, get in the habit of using it (and it will soon become second nature).

Keep homework, tests, and class papers in a central location. Do not throw old homework assignments or tests in the back of your car or the floor of your dorm room. Save all work to study for future tests or meeting with your professor.

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Use Time WiselyHere are some tips for using time wisely:

Tackle harder work first. Yes, tackle the harder stuff first so that you are sure to have enough time to complete it. You will feel a greater sense of accomplishment completing the work in this order.

Take breaks as reward for work. Reward yourself for completing a major task by taking a break and chatting with a friend or watching some television. Not only are the breaks good motivation to help you complete something, you will also be more refreshed to tackle the next bit of work after a break.

Break larger projects into smaller, easy-to-accomplish pieces. If you have a massive term paper due at the end of the semester, break up the work into smaller chunks and assign deadlines to each part.

Do not overextend yourself--learn to say no. Besides all of your academic work, you will also be asked to get involved in all sorts of clubs and organizations while in college -- and at some point, you will have to learn to say no to some requests of your time.

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Become “Noteworthy”Here are some specifics:

Be an active listener in class. Do not read the newspaper, gossips with friends, or text your roommate during class. Instead, listen attentively and actively -- and ask for clarification when you need it.

Take good notes in class. Whether taking notes from scratch or following a professor's outline, the key for you will be to get the most important details down so that you can refer back to the material.

Rewrite or organize notes on your computer outside of class. This suggestion may sound a little extreme, but the writing-to-learn literature shows that you can increase your understanding and retention of material by rewriting it.

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Use the TextbookProfessors assign textbooks for a reason –

to supplement the lectures and discussions from class. Buy all of the textbooks, and follow these tips:

Read all assigned material! When a professor assigns a chapter, read the whole thing (unless told otherwise), including the opening vignettes, case studies, tables and exhibits.

Use an outlining system to help comprehend the material. Reading and highlighting the material in the text is just the minimum. To get the most of what you are reading, you should also take notes and outline the material.

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Follow Good Rules of WritingFollow these rules of good writing:

Organize your thoughts before writing. It is best to create an outline before you start the actual writing.

Understand the requirements for the paper. Every professor has a specific way he or she wants a paper organized, and it is best to know the requirements before you start to write.

Write a draft (and get feedback when possible). Especially for larger papers, you will have a higher quality paper (and a better grade) if you can show the professor a draft early enough before the deadline to make changes.

Rewrite, edit, rewrite, edit, rewrite. Learn that editing and rewriting are your friends. No one is a good enough writer to whip out the final draft in one sitting. The best writers go through this same process.

Proofread, proofread, proofread. Spellcheckers catch spelling errors, but not other problems, so learn the art of proofreading. Or better, have a buddy system with a friend in which you proofread each other's papers.

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Study, Study, StudyDevelop and practice good study habits. Make it a

habit and studying will become second nature to you.How do you study the best? Some people need

complete silence to concentrate while others like a little noise. Find what works for you and stick with it.

Study with friends to gain support, but do not turn it into a social event. A study buddy can be a great tool, as long as you actually get some studying accomplished.

Make sure work is done before socializing. Studying is critical to learning, which is critical to better grades -- so do the work before heading out to have fun.

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Be a Good Test TakerHere are some hints:

Know what to expect on exams. Know the types of questions that will be asked -- as well as the content that will be covered.

Read questions carefully. Take your time at the beginning of the test to read through all the instructions and make a plan of attack.

Pace yourself so you have plenty of time to complete all parts. Know the point values of questions, so you can be sure to complete the most important ones first in case time does run out.

Ask questions. If you do not understand something, or need clarification of the question, ask the professor. Do not wait to get the exam back and find you answered a question the wrong way.

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Polish Those Verbal Communication SkillsUse these tips to improve your verbal

communications skills and maximize your grade:

Practice speeches and presentations. The best speeches and presentations are the well-rehearsed ones, so complete your script or outline early enough to have time to practice the presentation (and to make sure it falls within the specified time limit).

If using technology, always have a back-up. Technology is great, but sometimes it fails. If you have a PowerPoint presentation, make copies of it as a handout in case you need it.

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Final ThoughtsFollowing these guidelines should help your

grades immensely, but here is one other tip. Remember to think of your professors as your allies, not your enemies. And if not your allies, at least your partners. Our goal is for every student to learn and master the materials in the course. And if you master the materials, you should have a good grade in the class. And if you're struggling with some aspect of the course, just go see the professor. We're here to help you become the best you can be.

In general, competitive colleges require at least two years of foreign language classes in high school. As you'll see below, Stanford would like to see three or more years, and Harvard urges applicants to take four years. These classes should be in the same language.

When a college recommends "two or more" years of a language, they are clearly signaling that language study beyond two years would strengthen your application. Indeed, no matter where you apply for college, a demonstrated proficiency in a second language will strengthen your application. Life in college and after college is becoming increasingly globalized, so strength in a second language carries a lot of weight with admissions counselors.

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Reach SchoolsDefinition: A reach school is a college that

you have a chance of getting into, but your test scores, class rank and / or high school grades are a bit on the low side when you look at the school's profile. The top U.S. colleges and top universities should always be considered reach schools, for the admissions standards are so high that not even perfect SAT scores guarantee acceptance. When applying to colleges, it's important to choose your schools wisely. You should make sure you apply to a mix of reach schools Back

Match SchoolDefinition: A match school is a college

that you are pretty likely to get into because your test scores, class rank and / or high school grades fall right into the middle range when you look at the school's profile. Note that even stellar students should consider the top U.S. colleges and top universities to be reach schools, not match schools. The admissions standards for these schools are so high that nearly perfect SAT scores and a straight 'A' transcript are no guarantee of acceptance.

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Safety SchoolDefinition: A safety school is a college

that you will almost certainly get into because your test scores, class rank and / or high school grades are well above average when you look at the school's profile. Even if you're a valedictorian with perfect SAT scores, you should never consider the top U.S. colleges and top universities to be safety schools. The admissions standards at these schools are so high that no one is guaranteed acceptance.

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UC Personal Statement Prompts

Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

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