Preparing for CollegeRevised 9/2013

Agenda

Why College?

Roadmap to College

Academic

Personal

Financial

Resources

Why College?

Who wants to go to college?

Why do you want to go to

college?

What are you doing to prepare for college now?

Why College?

Postsecondary education creates more job stability

High School Diploma Some College Average Unemployment Associate Degree Bachelor's Degree0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 8.3

7.7

6.86.2

4.5

Why College?

High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor's Degree$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

Postsecondary degrees lead to greater weekly earnings

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, 2013.

Agenda

Why College?

Roadmap to College

Academic

Personal

Financial

Resources

Roadmap to College

Agenda

Why College?

Roadmap to College

Academic

Personal

Financial

Resources

Academic: HS Graduation Requirements

Earn high school credit 2.0 GPA Pass state tests or

approved alternatives to those tests

Complete a Culminating Project

Complete a High School and Beyond Plan

SubjectMinimum state

graduation requirements

Minimum requirements for public, four-year colleges and universities**

Recommended courses for highly selective colleges and universities

Recommended courses for two-

year colleges

English 3 credits (4 class of 2016+)

4 years 4 years 4 years*****

Math 3 credits 3 years*** 3-4 years*** 3 years*****

Science (one must be a lab)

2 credits 2 years 3-4 years N/A

Social Studies(including U.S. and Washington state history)

2.5 credits (3 class of 2016+)

3 years 3-4 years N/A

World language(same language)

0 credits 2 years 3-4 years 2-3 years****

Visual or performing arts

1 credit 1 year 2-3 years

Health and fitness

2 credits * Your school's requirements may be higher than the state minimums.

** Students must have a minimum 2.00 grade point average

*** Must be Algebra II or higher. One credit of math must be earned during the senior year.

****Recommended for transfer students

*****To properly prepare for the Compass or Accuplacer placement test

Occupational education

1 credit

Electives 5.5 credits (4 class of 2016+)

Total 19 credits (20 for the class of 2013 and

beyond)

Academic: Classes

Student A Student B

4 years English 4 years English, 2 AP/Honors

3 years Math, none 12th, Precalc highest 4 years Math, Calculus (B earned)

2 years Science (Biology and Physics) 3 years Science (Bio, Physics, Chemistry)

3 years History/Social Studies (none 12th) 4 years History/Social Studies, 2 AP courses

2 years Spanish 4 years Spanish

1 year Photography 3 years Photography

2 years Teaching Assistant 2 years Yearbook, Yearbook Editor

Academic: College Entrance Requirements

Community College•HS diploma or GED•Placement tests

Four-Year College•Core academic courses completed•Standardized tests•GPA

Technical College•May have certain Math/Science

requirements, like Algebra 2

Academic: College Entrance Tests

PSAT ACTSAT I

Reasoning Test

SAT II Subject Tests

COMPASS & ACCUPLACER

Academic: Test Preparation

PSAT

Practice for SAT Qualifier for

National Merit Scholarship

ACT

Aptitude test for college admissions

Similar to SAT I but includes science section

Academic: Test Preparation

SAT I

Aptitude test for college admissions

Tests verbal, math, and reasoning abilities

SAT II

One-hour tests on specific subjects

Required by some schools for admission

Academic: Test Preparation

COMPASS and ACCUPLACER

• Untimed, computerized placement exams• Reading, writing, math and English as a

Second Language• Designed to evaluate your skills so the

college can place you in the right course• No “correct” score

Academic: College Credit NOW

Advanced placement (AP) courses

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Tech Prep Running Start

Academic: Studying

Prepare for exams Do well in classes Succeed in challenging

courses Improve college

entrance test scores

Academic: Sample College Calendar

Mon: Tue: Wed: Thur: Fri:

9 SOC 110 9 Work 9 SOC 110 9 Work 9SOC 110 – Paper topic statement due

10 MATH 200 10 10 MATH 200 – EXAM! 10 10MATH 200 – No homework. -e

11 11 11 11 11

12 Work 12 12 Work 12 12

1 1 1 1 1

POLS 150 POLS 1502 2 2 2 Paper due! 2

3 3 3 3 3

4 4 4 4 4

5 5 5 5 5

6 6 6 6 6

7 Study 7 Study 7 Study 7 Study 7

Math exam (Weds) Math Exam POLS 150 paperSOC 110 topic statement

8

Pols 150 reading and paperSOC

8 SOC 110 reading 8 SOC 110 reading 8 MATH 200 homework 8

SOC 110 readingPOLS 150 reading and paper

SOC 110 topic statement

9 9SOC 110 topic statement

9 9 9

10 10 10 10 10

Agenda

Why College?

Roadmap to College

Academic

Personal

Financial

Resources

Personal: What Do You Need?

Personal: What Your Activities Say

Year Person A Person B Person C9th

10th

11th

12th

Agenda

Why College?

Roadmap to College

Academic

Personal

Financial

Resources

Financial: Cost of Attendance

?

Financial: Cost of Attendance

Community College-Highline Community College = $16-$18,000

4-Year Public College-University of Washington = $20-$27,000

4-Year Private College- Seattle University = $46-$53,000

Financial: Other Costs

How long will it take to graduate?

What will my job prospects be

like?

What will my earning potential

be like?

What can I do to lower the cost of

attendance?

What kind of financial aid can I

get?

Participate in College Financial Literacy: Stretching Student Aid workshop

Financial: Hidden Costs of College

Application process and fees Fee waivers Test-taking fees Dorm deposits

Financial: 3 Pots of Money

Family Financing

CommunityFinancing

Government/ Institutional

Financing

Financial: What Is Financial Aid?

Paying for College

Family Financing

=

Financial: What Is Financial Aid?

Low/No Low

HighHigh

Private Loans

PLUS Loans

Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

Subsidized Stafford Loans

Perkins Loans

Self-Help Aid: Work Study

Gift Aid: Scholarships

CO

STAVA

ILAB

ILITY

Gift Aid: Grants

*Need-based

*Available to everyone

*On financial aid award letter

Agenda

Why College?

Roadmap to College

Academic

Personal

Financial

Resources

Resources: What You Can Do Now!

Be a Pain: Find an Advocate. Push Yourself Academically. Push Yourself: Get Organized. Push Yourself: Make a Study Strategy. Find the Right Fit: Explore Your Interests. Find the Right Fit: Become a Researcher. Put Your Hands On Some Cash: Save

Resources: College Process Timeline

September OctoberNovembe

rDecember January

February

March April May June

APPLYING FOR

COLLEGE Timeline

Finding the Right

School

Applying for College Finalize housing, deposits, orientation, and classes

Attend College Fairs and college visits to your high

school

*Apply to a variety of colleges*

Review acceptance letters

Say ‘YES’ by May 1st

FINANCIAL AID

Timeline

Research the

Financial Aid Website of Colleges

List the documents required for Financial Aid

Understanding the Financial Aid

ProcessCompleting the FAFSA Compare Financial

Aid Packages

Accept Financial

Aid package

Complete documents (entrance counseling and loan forms)Complete CSS Profile (if applicable)

Verification if chosen for

verification, submit verification form & copies of your tax forms

SCHOLARSHI

P Timeline Finding & Applying for Scholarships

Report all scholarships awarded to your college

Online Resources

Roadmap to College www.college.gov

Mapping Your Future www.mappingyourfuture.org

The College Board www.collegeboard.com

CollegeNET www.collegenet.com

Adventures in Education www.adventuresineducation.org

KnowHow2Go www.knowhow2go.org

NELA Workshops Nela.webex.com; onlinecenter@nela.net

A nonprofit corporation, USA Funds® works to enhance

postsecondary education preparedness, access and success

by providing and supporting financial and other valued services.