Welcome!

College Night

March 13, 2014

A G E N D AGreetings and Introductions - Mr. James KoutsosMessage from the PTSA – Donna PfeifferReview Agenda and Handouts – Ms. Natoscha McKinnonTopics Covered by Clarksburg’s Staff

PSAT – Ms. Bernie LeGrande SAT/ACT/ACCUPLACER - Mr. David DouglassFamily Connection/Naviance/College Search – Ms. Sarah

PattersonJunior/Senior Timeline – Ms. Mandy RosadoNational College Fair - Ms. Mandy RosadoCampus Visits - Ms. Natoscha McKinnonResources for Parents and Students – Ms. Natoscha McKinnon

College Representatives

Ms Wanda Colon-Canales, Washington Adventist University

Mr. Josh Lubben, University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyStudent PanelEmely Canaza, Josue Chavez, Andie DeCelis, Angel Graham, NitinThiruvengadam

Questions for College Representatives/Counselors/Administrators/ Student Panel - Mr. James Koutsos, Moderator

PSAT

The Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

PSAT/NMSQT

Test Date: October 16, 2014

Why test?

9th and 10th Grade Students

1. It allows students to develop a level of comfort with the test.

2. It gives students an opportunity to see what questions are like on the SAT.

3. It gives students feedback on their readiness for the SAT.

11th Grade Students

1. Students continue to feel

more at ease with the test.

2. It gives students a chance to

enter the National Merit

Scholarship Programs.

Feedback from the PSAT Students will know how well they did in each category

along with areas of strength and weakness.

MCPS data study finds that students who have a total score of less than 130 should take an SAT prep class.

Students with scores significantly lower than 110 should consider other test options such as the ACT. The ACT is accepted by most colleges.

Eleventh graders have the chance to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Additional Information

www.collegeboard.org

www.nationalmerit.org

CHS CEEB Code 210381

SAT /ACT/Accuplacer What is the difference between the three test?

The SAT is a test which assesses a student’s reading and reasoning skills, as well as his/her ability to write and perform basic geometry and algebra tasks.  The ACT is an assessment of the  knowledge a student has accumulated during his/her high school coursework.  The accuplacer is a diagnostic assessment used by Montgomery College to accurately place students in courses which might provide necessary remediation. 

SAT/ACT/Accuplacer

CHS CEEB Code 210381

How Do ACT and SAT Scores Compare?

ACT Composite SAT Score21 150022 153024 165025 170026 176027 182028 186029 192030 198031 204032 213033 219034 226035 234036 2400

2014 ACT Test Dates

Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required) April 12, 2014 March 7, 2014 March 8-21, 2014

June 14, 2014 May 9, 2014 May 10-23, 2014

2014 SAT Test Dates

Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required)May 3, 2014 April 4, 2014 April 21, 2014June 7, 2014 May 9, 2014 May 28, 2014

FAMILY CONNECTION

Family Connection is a comprehensive website that you can use to help in making plans about courses, colleges, and careers.

Students can easily access information about colleges, compare institutions, and view scattergram data showing acceptance rates of CHS graduating classes.

Students and parents registered will also receive emails from Ms. Williams, the College-Career Information Coordinator!

 

Contact sharon_w_williams@mcpsmd.org to register for family connection. Please add Ms. Williams to your contact list, so that her

messages do not go to spam.

Using Family Connection

Get involved in the planning and advising process – Build a resume, complete online surveys, and manage timelines and deadlines for making decisions about colleges and careers.

Research careers – Research hundreds of careers and career clusters, and take career assessments like the Career Interest Profile, in the 10th grade.

Using Family Connection

Research colleges – Compare GPA, standardized test scores, and other statistics to actual historical data from our school for students who have applied and been admitted in the past. Students also have the opportunity to create their own college list in the 11th grade.

Create plans for the future – Build course plans, create goals and to-dos, and complete tasks assigned to you by the school to better prepare yourself for your future college and career goals. During their 12th grade year, students will complete a senior packet, update their college list, and request letters of recommendation from their teacher’s.

Generate a list of schools so you have all your deadline dates and delivery type at a glance

Getting ready for college in the spring of your junior year.

April/May 2014 Attend the College Fair

• April 9, 2014, see Ms. Williams for more information.

Schedule college visits while on spring break.

Attend assembly April 29 re: college preparation

Use Family Connection to develop your college list

Start seeking scholarship information

Start evaluating your time management skills.

June/July 2014 Review your college list

Log into Family Connection Only add colleges to colleges “I am thinking

about”

Work on your college essays Continue to visit colleges Attend College Readiness

work shops at CHS. Check the website for dates/times.

Make an appointment to see your counselor over the summer.

Call the counseling office ahead of time to see when your counselor is available.

Getting ready for the start of your senior year.

August 2014 Aug. 1, 2014

Using Family Connection, students can begin moving their colleges from, “colleges I am thinking about” to “colleges I am applying to.”

Students can begin submitting college applications for fall enrollment.

Students can use the common app. or apply via the college’s website.

Ask someone to read your college essays.

Ask someone to read your essay aloud, so that you can hear what you have written.

Continue to visit colleges.

September 2014 Counselors will meet with

seniors the first full week of school to review the senior packet.

Work on your senior packet. Request teacher

recommendations Use Family Connection

Students looking to improve their SAT/ACT score should register for the October test.

During your senior year you will be trying to find a balance between:

applications, academics, clubs, sports, work, SSL hours, etc.

September 2014 College reps. will be

visiting CHS. Sign-up using Family Connection Visits occur from Sept. – May

12th grade parent night Time and date will be announced

Submit your senior packet to the counseling office 3 weeks before your application is due.

October 2014 Pay attention to your college

deadlines.⁻ Priority deadlines are

Oct. 15 and Nov. 1

Submit the diploma form to the counseling office.

By October 31, 2014

**Remember**

All of CHS staff is available to help you with the college

process.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO

IS ASK!

Before submitting your application(s), ASK

a parent/guardian/aunt/uncle to review the information for accuracy.

Many colleges/universities DO NOT allow you to make changes

to a SUBMITTED application.

Stop, breathe, save, walk away, and look it over again before hitting submit.

CHS CEEB Code 210381

National College Fair

Montgomery County Agricultural Center

Gaithersburg, MD CHS 11th Grade Students attend:

Wednesday, April 9, 2014 10:15 AM – 12:30 PM

Anyone welcome (FREE) Wednesday, April 9, 2014

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM To attend the fair, students must register on line at@ www.nacacnet.org/ncfstudent, select “Gaithersburg”, complete and submit printed registration form along with CHS permission form and $4.50 bus fee to Ms. Williams in the College/Career Center.

Permission forms are due Friday, April 4, 2014 ($4.50/bus fee)

Hints for a Campus Visit Meet with an admissions officer. Verify admission requirements (tests and high school

preparation). Discuss your chances for success. Obtain a school calendar and a catalog, if you don’t

already have them. Determine college costs. Ask about financial aid opportunities as well as

deadlines, forms required, etc. Meet with faculty in your academic area of interest. Ask questions about academic requirements/offerings. Ask about student health services on campus.

ResourcesSubscribe to: Next Step (free magazine) www.nextstepmag.com

 

Magazine – College Scoop – real world advice for college-bound students

www.collegescoop.com

 

Eight Steps for Preparing for College http://www.aie.org/aiemail/2013/january/28/eight-tips-for-preparing-for-college.cfm

 

Paying for College – MD Higher Education Agency (MHEC) http://www.mhec.maryland.gov/financialaid/paying.asp

 

Are you ready for College? Naviance Family Connection See Ms Williams in the College and Career Center to register.

https://connection.naviance.com/family-connection/auth/login/?hsid=clarksburg

 

Adventures in Education (AIE): Grade level tips for college prep http://www.aie.org/planning-for-college/index.cfm

 

MCPS College and Career Planning Guides: “Getting Started” (Grade 9 students) and “Getting Ready” (Grade 11 students)

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/planningguides/

 

Peterson’s Time Line for College Planning

http://www.petersons.com/college-search/planning-list-students-parents.aspx

 

College Prep – US Department of Education http://studentaid.ed.gov/prepare-for-college

 

Bridges (now XAP) for college and career exploration. Offers scareer interest inventory. See Ms Williams for password.

www.Bridges.com

Scholarship ResourcesKaarme http://kaarme.com/find_scholarships FastWebhttp://www.fastweb.com/ College-Scholarships http://www.college-scholarships.com/ The SallieMae Fund http://www.thesalliemaefund.org/

 College Answer https://www.collegeanswer.com/

 The Hispanic Fund Scholarships www.hsf.net

 African American Scholarships www.uncf.org MCPS Scholarships Pagehttp://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/careercenter/financialaid/scholarships.aspx NextStepU Scholarships http://www.nextstepu.com/college-scholarship.cat

Wanda Colon-Canales

Director of Admissions & Recruitment

wcanales@wau.edu

Josh Lubben

External Communications Coordinator

jlubben@umbc.edu

Student Panel

The following seniors will share their perspective on the college application process during the

question and answer session.

Emely Canaza

Josue Chavez

Andie DeCelis

Angel Graham

Nitin Thiruvengadam

Questions and Answers

CHS CEEB Code 210381