COLLEGE

PLANNING

WORKSHOP

FOR

JUNIORS

Junior Year•Overall high school performance is the key to college admission, but the colleges look specifically at the junior year because it is the best predictor of how you will perform in college.

•After looking at your cumulative GPA, many colleges will immediately focus on two thing on your transcript:

*junior and senior year grades

*the degree of difficulty of your courses

•College and career exploration is in full swing. College visits should be planned.

•Students should take college admissions tests (SAT, ACT) by May or June. Also take the PSAT in October.

•Stay involved in school activities.

Senior YearSenior YearThe senior year is extremely busy with the college admissions process, financial aid, and scholarship applications.

Deadlines are crucial. Make a list of deadlines for college applications, test registrations, and scholarships.

The senior year courses should be challenging, and it is critical to maintain good grades.

Stay involved with school activities.

Attend Open Houses.

Understand the different types of Understand the different types of admissions and the timelinesadmissions and the timelines

• Regular DecisionRegular Decision

Submit application anytime (usually by Feb. 1Submit application anytime (usually by Feb. 1stst))• Early DecisionEarly Decision

Deadline is usually in Oct. or Nov.Deadline is usually in Oct. or Nov.

Cannot apply anywhere else (unless rejected) and Cannot apply anywhere else (unless rejected) and you are committed to that schoolyou are committed to that school

• Early ActionEarly Action

Deadline is usually in Oct., Nov., or Dec.Deadline is usually in Oct., Nov., or Dec.

No commitment to the schoolNo commitment to the school

Can still apply to other schoolsCan still apply to other schools

MINIMUM GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

*COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS VARY

22 Units of Credit

and

5 Regents Exams

4 UNITS OF ENGLISH

1) ENGLISH 9

2) ENGLISH 10

3) ENGLISH 11 Regents

4) ENGLISH 12 or COLLEGE ENGLISH or VOTECH ENGLISH

4 UNITS OF SOCIAL STUDIES

1) SOCIAL STUDIES 9

2) SOCIAL STUDIES 10 GLOBAL REGENTS

3) SOCIAL STUDIES 11 US HISTORY REGENTS

4) ECONOMICS / GOVERNMENT

3 UNITS OF SCIENCE

1) EARTH SCIENCE Regents

2) LIVING ENVIRONMENT Regents*

*Needed for Advanced Regents Diploma

3) MUST TAKE ONE OR MORE FROM BELOW

CHEMISTRY (Regents Class) PHYSICS (Regents Class) ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, FISH & WILDLIFE VOTECH SCIENCE, ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY

3 UNITS OF MATH3 UNITS OF MATH1) ALGEBRA1) ALGEBRA RegentsRegents

2) GEOMETRY 2) GEOMETRY Regents*Regents*

3) 3) MUST TAKE ONE OR MORE FROM BELOWMUST TAKE ONE OR MORE FROM BELOW

INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA

ALGEBRA 2ALGEBRA 2 Regents*Regents*

APPLIED MATHAPPLIED MATH

VOTECH MATHVOTECH MATH

PRE-CALCULUS/CALCULUSPRE-CALCULUS/CALCULUS

PERSONAL FINANCE & ACCOUNTING PERSONAL FINANCE & ACCOUNTING

*Needed for Advanced Regents Diploma*Needed for Advanced Regents Diploma

FOREIGN LANGUGE

FOREIGN LANGUAGE* Proficiency*Minimum requirement for graduation

FOREIGN LANGUAGE II

FOREIGN LANGUAGE III Regents****needed for Advanced Regents Diploma

2 UNITS PHYSICAL EDUCATION

1/2 UNIT HEALTH

1 UNIT ART or MUSIC or DDP

REGENTS REGENTS REQUIREMENTSREQUIREMENTS

Students must pass all Students must pass all 55 regents exams to regents exams to graduategraduate

1) English 2) Global Studies 3) U.S. History 4) Math 5) Science

ADVANCED REGENTS ADVANCED REGENTS DIPLOMADIPLOMA

English

Global Studies

US History

Algebra & Geometry & Algebra 2

Any two science exams

Foreign Language

*must pass all tests with at least a 65*must pass all tests with at least a 65

COLLEGE/SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS

TYPICALLY:

4 UNITS ENGLISH

4 UNITS SOCIAL STUDIES

3 UNITS MATH

3 UNITS SCIENCE

2-3 UNITS FOREIGN LANGUAGE

ACT or SAT

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITES

COMMUNITY SERVICE

TranscriptsTranscripts

Class Rank and GPAClass Rank and GPA

Student with the highest overall average is ranked Student with the highest overall average is ranked “one” in that class. Student with the second highest “one” in that class. Student with the second highest overall average is ranked “two”, etc.overall average is ranked “two”, etc.

Final class rank will be determined following 3Final class rank will be determined following 3 rdrd quarter report card of senior year.quarter report card of senior year.

When determining class rank, courses that are of When determining class rank, courses that are of Regents or college level are given a weighted value.Regents or college level are given a weighted value. Regents course – 1.03Regents course – 1.03 College/AP course – 1.06College/AP course – 1.06 Ex. 92 (Biology) = 95 Ex. 92 (Biology) = 95

92 (JCC English) = 98 92 (JCC English) = 98

Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

Junior Year

October 15th

$14.00

*Fee waivers available for Juniors who receive free or reduced lunches

The PSAT/NMSQT

Why take the PSAT?•Practice for the SAT •Student will receive scores in verbal reasoning, math reasoning, and writing •Student will receive a question by question review of answers•Students receive a personalized statement of specific academic skills that need attention and how to improve those skills•Students who take the test will receive free access to My College QuickStart, a Web-based career, major and college exploration tool•Qualify for national scholarship

My College QuickStartMy College QuickStart Free, personalized college and

career planning kit My Online Score Report

Free explanations for the answers Free explanations for the answers to every test question, including to every test question, including why the correct answer is the best why the correct answer is the best choice.choice.

My SAT Study Plan Practice SAT questions, practice Practice SAT questions, practice

SAT essay, student-written SAT essay, student-written sample SAT essays, official SAT sample SAT essays, official SAT practice testpractice test

My College Matches A list of colleges in your state A list of colleges in your state

that offer the major you’re that offer the major you’re interested in.interested in.

My Major & Career Matches Comes complete with major and Comes complete with major and

career profilescareer profiles

SAT/ACTSAT/ACTWhen should you take the SAT or ACT?When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Spring of your

Junior Year

FeesFeesSAT - $52.50SAT - $52.50 ACT without writing - $38.00ACT without writing - $38.00ACT with writing - $54.50ACT with writing - $54.50

**fee waivers available if you receive free or reduced lunches**fee waivers available if you receive free or reduced lunches

ACT VS. SATACT VS. SAT

Science reasoning sectionScience reasoning section

Math includes trigonometryMath includes trigonometry

Vocabulary less important Vocabulary less important

Entirely multiple-choiceEntirely multiple-choice

No guessing penalty No guessing penalty

Math accounts for 25% of your scoreMath accounts for 25% of your score

Easy and hard questions mixed Easy and hard questions mixed

within sectionswithin sections

Essay optionalEssay optional

•No Science Section

•No Trigonometry Questions

•Vocabulary Emphasized

•Non multiple-choice questions included

•Guessing penalty

•Math accounts for 50% of your score

•Questions go from easy to hard in most sections

•Essay

Test ScoresTest Scores

The ACTThe ACT

Top score of 36Top score of 36

Average score is 21Average score is 21

EnglishEnglish

MathMath

ReadingReading

ScienceScience

Final score is the average scoreFinal score is the average score

of all four sectionsof all four sections

The SATThe SAT

Critical Reading 200-800Critical Reading 200-800

Math 200-800Math 200-800

WritingWriting 200-800 200-800(Essay score of 2 – 12,(Essay score of 2 – 12,

1/3 of writing score)1/3 of writing score)

(Multiple-choice 20 – 80, 2/3 of writing (Multiple-choice 20 – 80, 2/3 of writing score)score)

Average score of 1400-1500Average score of 1400-1500

For a top score of 2400For a top score of 2400

Preparing for the SATPreparing for the SAT

Take practice tests Take practice tests Guidance office booksGuidance office books Online tests and daily questions- www.collegeboard.orgOnline tests and daily questions- www.collegeboard.org My College QuickStartMy College QuickStart

The Official SAT Online CourseThe Official SAT Online Course www.collegeboard.orgwww.collegeboard.org 10 online tests and 18 interactive lessons10 online tests and 18 interactive lessons hundreds of questionshundreds of questions $70$70

New Requirements for New Requirements for Registering for the SATRegistering for the SAT

Students must now upload a photo to their Students must now upload a photo to their admission ticket when registering for the SAT.admission ticket when registering for the SAT.

Examples of acceptable photosExamples of acceptable photos

Examples of non-acceptable photosExamples of non-acceptable photos

3-1-33-1-3

The 3-1-3 Program at Fredonia StateThe 3-1-3 Program at Fredonia State

is a time-shortened degree program is a time-shortened degree program

during which students spend their during which students spend their

senior year in both senior year in both

high schoolhigh school and and college.college.

Career SearchingCareer Searching My College QuickStartMy College QuickStart Access with any computer Access with any computer

with internet accesswith internet access ASVAB/Career Interest ASVAB/Career Interest

Inventory (November 17Inventory (November 17thth))

College Search Check ListCollege Search Check List

Required Tests and CoursesRequired Tests and Courses EssaysEssays ResumesResumes Letters of recommendationLetters of recommendation DeadlinesDeadlines College credit for examsCollege credit for exams

Academic ChecklistAcademic Checklist

Degrees/programs Degrees/programs offeredoffered

MajorsMajors Clubs/associationsClubs/associations Career placement Career placement

servicesservices Internship opportunitiesInternship opportunities

Financial Check ListFinancial Check List Cost of attending college Cost of attending college GrantsGrants LoansLoans EmploymentEmployment Academic and need-based Academic and need-based

scholarshipsscholarships DeadlinesDeadlines FAFSA (fill out after Jan. 1FAFSA (fill out after Jan. 1stst

of your senior year)of your senior year)

Financial Aid Facts of Life for FamiliesFinancial Aid Facts of Life for Families

Don’t rule out a school just Don’t rule out a school just because of its cost!because of its cost!

Apply to one or two Apply to one or two financially “safe” schools.financially “safe” schools.

Meet deadlines!Meet deadlines! Keep copies of all forms Keep copies of all forms

filed.filed. Student loans are a way of Student loans are a way of

life. life. Families should save as Families should save as

much as they can. No much as they can. No amount is too small!amount is too small!

Plan ahead! Think about Plan ahead! Think about how you will pay for each how you will pay for each year of the student’s year of the student’s program.program.

Appeal if circumstances Appeal if circumstances change.change.

Look at all financing Look at all financing options—start with those options—start with those offered by the college at offered by the college at which the student enrolls!which the student enrolls!

Don’t assume—ask!Don’t assume—ask! Early application is criticalEarly application is critical

Applying for Financial AidApplying for Financial Aid

• Request a federal PIN at Request a federal PIN at www.pin.ed.gov • Complete FAFSA online at Complete FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov

in in January of your senior yearJanuary of your senior year• Print the confirmation pagePrint the confirmation page• Use the link to apply for TAP Use the link to apply for TAP • Keep recordsKeep records

FAFSA4casterFAFSA4caster

Lets students and parents Lets students and parents receive an early estimate of receive an early estimate of eligibility for federal student eligibility for federal student

aid. It will increase knowledge aid. It will increase knowledge of the financial aid process and of the financial aid process and

provide an opportunity to provide an opportunity to investigate other sources of aid investigate other sources of aid

(e.g.; grants, scholarships).(e.g.; grants, scholarships).

http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

Scholarship ChecklistScholarship Checklist

High School Guidance OfficeHigh School Guidance Office Organizations your parents belong toOrganizations your parents belong to Places of employmentPlaces of employment Search the webSearch the web Announcements at schoolAnnouncements at school Colleges you are applying toColleges you are applying to

Campus Life Check listCampus Life Check list Who attends the collegeWho attends the college SportsSports Music Music TheaterTheater Art Art LibraryLibrary ExtracurricularExtracurricular HousingHousing Health servicesHealth services Counseling servicesCounseling services Safety informationSafety information Community informationCommunity information PublicationsPublications

•What activities and services are available to help students get settled (academically and socially during their first year?

•How big are the classes?

•How easy is it to meet with faculty?

•Are you able to register for the classes you want?

•What is the total coast of attending the college?

•Are all freshmen assigned an academic counselor?

QUESTIONS TO ASK A COLLEGE:

College VisitsGo now!!

*Look on college websites for Open House dates*

1111thth Grade Checklist Grade Checklist Understand the college admissions processUnderstand the college admissions process Find a range of schools that interest youFind a range of schools that interest you Know the admissions statistics for the schools to Know the admissions statistics for the schools to

which you intend to apply (GPA, average SAT score which you intend to apply (GPA, average SAT score or ACT score)or ACT score)

Take the PSAT test in OctoberTake the PSAT test in October Take the ASVAB test in NovemberTake the ASVAB test in November Take the SAT or ACT test in MayTake the SAT or ACT test in May Think about who might write you letters of Think about who might write you letters of

recommendationrecommendation Visit colleges Visit colleges Research scholarshipsResearch scholarships

QUESTIONS?

Check email daily!Your address is (4 digit ID)@forestville.com

Example: 9999@forestville.com