Classes of 2015 and 2016 College Planning Night

Presented by the NPHS Guidance Department

North Penn HS graduates…

90+% - directly to formal post-secondary education

100% - will eventually need/seek some sort of additional training or education

~60% of NPHS grads

Four-Year College

Bachelors

Degree in a specific major or area of study

Most colleges require students to take general courses before choosing a major

~30% of NPHS grads

Two-Year College

Community or Junior College; earn general credits and transfer to a 4-year school

OR Associate’s

Degree

One- or Two-year Specialized Program

Certificates

How will you choose a college?

Location/Size

Academic interests/major(s)

Competitiveness

“X-factors”

Cost Make a Good List:Reach

Realistic Match Safety

How will the colleges choose you? Factors Considered in College Admissions

What do YOU think?(1-7)

____ Essays ____ Test scores ____ Interviews ____ Rigor of high school

course Schedule ____ Recommendations ____ Activities, interests,

experience ____ Academic Performance

According to NACAC and current research…factors that impact admission

1. Academic Performance (grades, GPA, class rank)

2. Rigor of high school course schedule

3. Test Scores (SAT/ACT)4. Personal statements/Essays5. Recommendations6. Activities, interests,

leadership/work experience, etc.7. Interviews

Academic Performance…On your NPHS Transcript

All classes, final grades, and credits for 9th, 10th, and 11th grade

Cumulative weighted GPA for 9th, 10th and 11th grade Cumulative non-weighted GPA for 9th, 10th and 11th grade

Cumulative weighted class rank for 9th, 10th and 11th grade

Senior Courses

Sophomore Year

Keep your grades up

Involve yourself in activities that interest you Maintain a list and build a resume

Take the PSAT (October) – use PSAT results along with personalized “QuickStart” to prepare for future tests and explore college options.

Preliminary college research College/University Websites College Search engines: Collegeboard.org,

PrincetonReview.com College and Career Center (K25)

Junior YearAll year Keep grades up Continue with activities, interests, etc.

1st Semester Junior Year Take the PSAT (October) Continue researching colleges to develop a list of potential

schools

2nd Semester Junior Year Course Selection for Senior Year Initiate Teacher Recommendations Begin visiting campuses NPHS College Fair – March 4, 2014 Financial Aid Night – March 12, 2014 SAT/ACT

SUMMER before Senior Year…

Narrow your list of schools by considering:

Academics Rigor Housing/Dorm life Campus Life Facilities Technology/web-access Food Safety Transportation options Freshmen Orientation Programs Academic support options

SUMMER before Senior Year…(cont.)

Determine if you can and/or will apply:

Early Decision - binding

Early Action- non-binding

Regular Decision – specific deadline

Rolling Admission – reviews applications as received

SUMMER before Senior Year…(cont.)

Visit campuses

Begin working on…

Student portions of application Essays Scholarship search engines

FALL of Senior Year

SAT again?

Finalize teacher recommendations

Follow North Penn’s Procedures for Applying to College for the Class of 2015 (will be posted on NPHS guidance website)

Senior College Application Night (Fall 2014- TBD)

Financial Aid Night (Fall 2014- TBD)

NCAA Night (Fall 2013– TBD)

Montgomery County and National College Fairs – (Fall 2014– TBD)

Standardized Testing

Spring 2014 SAT Reasoning Test (SAT I) dates: March , May and June

Subject Tests (SAT II), if applicable

Your scores are sent directly from the Collegeboard to the colleges to which you’re applying: www.collegeboard.org (4 free per test)

SAT preparation: PSAT results College QuickStart and MyRoad

Free and reduced lunch program NPHS’s CEEB code: 392-155 NPHS’s testing site code: 39-370 ACT? www.ACTstudent.org

Resources College and Career Center (K025) – by appt. or walk-in

NPHS Guidance WebsiteCounselors’ contact information

Course Selection InformationNPHS College Application Procedures

FAQ: Teacher RecommendationsLinks and suggested resources for college, military, SAT, etc.

Lists and dates of College Representatives visiting North Penn Local and community scholarship announcements

Career Pathways Planner

www.Collegeboard.org- BIG FUTURE www.pheaa.org

College Representatives/Fairs

College Admissions Offices and Websites

A few words about Financial Aid…

Types of Aid Grants/Scholarships – does not need to be repaid; typically based on need or

merit Loans – must be repaid, plus interest

Federal Work Study – aid student earns through part-time work during college; does not need to be repaid

Sources of Aid Federal/State – www.fafsa.ed.gov – form required to apply for all Federal aid as

well as many state and private funds; cannot be submitted until after January 1st of senior year and requires tax information from previous year.

Private/Independent Scholarships – through companies, organizations, employers, etc. College and Career Center collects information about many local scholarships.

Institutional Aid – speak with financial aid office at your potential schools to learn for which scholarships/aid you may be eligible to apply.

GPA / Class Rank GPA rounded to nearest hundredth Rank is based on 5 majors “IFE” = “Ineligible For Exclusion” from

ranking Courses that earn credit values of 1, 1.15,

1.3, and 1.5 count as 1.0 for rank only

Grades 9 - 12 are ranked

“IFE”=Ineligible for Exclusion from Ranking

English 9, 10, 11 British Literature America In History 2 World Cultures &

Am. Cultures Semester

Government AP Government

AP World History & AP US History

Algebra/Geometry Algebra 1 and 2 Geometry Physical Science 9 Required Biology First year of

Chemistry

“IFE” Courses

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Remember:

You got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.”

Yoggi Berra