Oliver AmesJunior Orientation

Oliver AmesJunior Orientation

Class of 2016

March 2015

AgendaAgenda• What’s Your Plan? • What’s Your Plan?

• How To Conduct a College Search• How To Conduct a College Search

• SAT’s & ACT’s • SAT’s & ACT’s

• Common Application • Common Application

• Deadlines • Deadlines

• College Questionnaire• College Questionnaire

You Need A Plan for Life After High SchoolYou Need A Plan for

Life After High School

What Plan Is Right For You?

4 YearCollege

Post-Secondary

Training

2 YearCollege Military

How do you make a plan?

• Talk with your Guidance Counselor• Talk to your parents/guardians• Check out the Guidance Website for career

exploration tools http://www.oliverames.org • Use Naviance and College Board

Naviancehttp://

connection.naviance.com/oliverames

Click ‘I need to register’

Complete and save one College Search

Click on ‘SuperMatch College Search’

College Board also offers a College Search

What About SATs?

• SAT Reasoning Test

• 3 Sections– Writing– Critical Reading– Math

• Next Test Dates are May 2nd and Jun 6th

• SAT Subject Tests• One hour in length• Required by the most

competitive colleges• Check admissions

requirements for the colleges you are considering

http://www.collegeboard.org

What about the ACT?What about the ACT?

• The ACT assesses students ability to complete college-level work

• The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science

• The Writing Test is optional HOWEVER check the requirements of your college

• Next test dates are April 18th and June 13th. To find out more, go to www.act.org

http://www.act.orghttp://www.act.org

SAT & ACT Test Prep SAT & ACT Test Prep

College Board on-line course for SAT:www.collegeboard.orgCost is $69.95

Khan Academy on-line videos and tutorials for SAT:www.khanacademy.org/satFREE

ACT on-line course:www.actstudent.org$24.95

Bridgewater State Universityhttp://bridgew.edu/sat-preparation-workshops$275.00

Choosing a CollegeChoosing a College

Things to think about:

•2 year, 4 year, technical/trade school•Public vs. private school•Size of school

•Fewer than 2,000 (Regis College)•2,000-15,000 (Bentley University)•More than 15,000 (UMass Amherst)

•Setting •Rural, suburban or urban

•Location•New England, East Coast, West Coast, etc.

•Cost and financial aid

Choosing a CollegeChoosing a College

Things to think about:

•Majors Offered •Do they offer what you are looking for?•Are there specific admissions criteria for specific majors?

•Admissions Criteria•Look at the profile (average GPA, SAT scores, specific course requirements)

•Housing Options•Sports and Activities•Specialized Options

•Co-ed or single sex school, fraternities/sororities, religious affiliations, disability support

Researching Educational Options

Researching Educational Options

•Naviance – SuperMatch College Search •College Board – Matchmaker•The school’s direct website•Request materials from the college•National College Fair – April 9 & 10 in Boston•Technical/Trade Schools – see guidance•Connect with schools via Facebook or Twitter

ApplicationsApplications

• Electronic Applications via the school’s websiteMay offer a waiver or discount for the

application fee

• Paper copiesFound on the school’s website, print out and mail

• Common ApplicationUsed by 415 schools across the country. One application for multiple schools

http://www.commonapp.orghttp://www.commonapp.org

Decision, Decision

•Early Decision•Early Action•Regular

Decision•Rolling

Admissions

College QuestionnaireCollege Questionnaire

Must be completed by all seniors