Transcript College Counseling

College Counseling
Important Contacts:
Jill Kelly-Anson [email protected]
Bo Takarabe [email protected]
Bob Willey [email protected]
bhscounseling.pbworks.com
Before you begin….
(take a deep breath…..there is a
school for everyone)
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
 Choose your classes wisely your senior
year
 Pay close attention to deadlines
 Set yourself up to be the best candidate
possible (remember there are lots of
you out there!)
Some quotes from the people
who decide….
“We like to see 4 hard core academics your
senior year”
“The best predictor of success is 4 years
of math”
-CU Admissions officer
Minimum Academic
Requirements per CU major
College of Arts & Sciences
 English……….4 years
 Math………….4 years
 Science……3 years
including chemistry or
physics
 Social Science..3 years
 Foreign language.. 3 years
Leads School of Business
 English………… 4 years
 Math…………….4 years
 Science………….3 years
(including chemistry or
physics)
 Social Science…..3
 Foreign language..3
 Academic Elective…..1
*Notice the difference between the colleges
What do they want from me
anyway?
a glimpse into what colleges look
for
What Colleges Look At:
 Transcript: classes taken
and grades achieved
 Grade Point Average
 Class Rank
 Test Scores: ACT, SAT I/II
 Recommendations
 Application questions and
essays
 Resume
 Community Service
 Extracurricular Activities
 Special talents, skills, interests;
leadership abilities
 Major or area of interest
 Personal interview
 Communication with college
demonstrating interest
 Ethnic Status
 Alumni Relationship to college
 Geographic location, where you
live
 Family’s ability to pay
 Special concerns: illness,
handicap, family issues
Community service ideas
 Key club
 Roadside clean-up
 Habitat for humanity
 FBLA
 Buddy program
 Church programs
 Trail work
 Tutoring
Planning to Apply
 Testing
 Researching Schools
 Choosing a Major
Testing
What test do I take?
ACT
 Colorado, Midwest, Mountain
schools
 writing costs extra
 some students find this test
more manageable
 $33 w/out writing *
 $48 with writing
SAT/SAT II
 necessary for private schools
and some state schools
outside of CO
 often used by schools on the
common application
 writing is included
 $47 SAT I *
 $21 per reasoning test
*fee waivers available for those
who qualify
ACT
 Includes English, Reading, Math, & Science
 Writing is optional (additional charge)
 Mandatory at end of Junior year/ No writing
section
 Can be retaken during Senior year
 Perfect Score: 36
 National Average: 20.0
ACT Test Dates
act.org
Date
Registration
Deadline
Late Registration
April 9
March 4
March 5-18
June 11
May 6
May 7-20
September 10
August 5
August 6-19
SAT I/II
SAT I
Includes Verbal, Math, and Writing
Perfect Score 2400
SAT II
Subject tests (plan to take these after appropriate
course work)
Can take up to 3 per test date
Perfect Scores depend on test
SAT Test Dates 2011
Register at collegeboard.com
Date
Registration
Deadline
Late Registration
June 4
May 6
May 20
October 8
September 9
September 23
Researching Colleges
Where do I begin?
Questions to Ask Yourself:
 What do I want to get out of college? What are my goals
for my college education?
 Where in the country/world do I want to be? Colorado?
East Coast? West Coast? Midwest? Does it not matter to
me?
 What type of location do I want to be in? Urban (big
city)? Rural? Suburban? College town?
 What size school do I want to be at? Big University?
(25,000 or more), Smaller College? (1000-3000 students)
 Do I want to be at a public or private school? (remembersometimes private schools have more money to offer)
More questions...
 What do I think I might study? Do want a school
that has a variety of majors to choose from? Do
you want a school that has something very specific
that may not be offered at many schools (ie
occupational therapy or video game design?)
 What activities do I want to pursue in college?
Sports? Art? Music? Clubs? Study Abroad?
Summer programs?
 What can I afford?
 Do I want to start at a two-year school or four-year
school?
 Utilize www.collegboard.com- college search
Learning about Colleges
 College Handbooks (i.e. Fiske Guide, Colleges
That Changes Lives)
 College Catalogs
 College Fairs
 College Visits
 Other students
 Reach College Counseling Sessions
 www.collegeboard.com
College Fairs
Denver Spring College Fair
Sunday, May 1, 2011
1pm-3:30pm
Lakewood HS
Basalt High School
October 6, 2011
6:00- 7:30 pm
Western Slope College Fair
October
11:00-2:00 pm
Aspen High School
Christian College Fair
October
6:30-8:30
JFK High School, Denver
Tips for a College Fair
 Pre made Name/address cards
 Find out schools in attendance
 Highlight schools to visit first
 Know appropriate questions
Checklist for College Visits
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meet with an admissions counselor
verify admission requirements
determine actual college costs
ask about financial aid opportunities
take a campus tour
investigate your academic program(s)
attend a class
talk with students and faculty
stay in a dorm
ask yourself how do I feel here?
discuss your chances for success:
….admission ….graduation ….placement
Choosing a Major
Don’t worry…you don’t have to
choose yet
If You Don’t Have Any Idea:
 Look at your interests
 Take the Choices Interest Inventory
 Look at PLAN results
 Take an online inventory
 Collegeboard.com- college search
remember: college students change their major many
times during their college career
Other things to Consider:
 WUE Program
 Family
 Transportation costs
The Application Process
(a piece of cake…if you
stay organized)
Applications
 Apply online
 Common Application (a great
resource…use it!) www.commonapp.org
When you apply you will need:
(for most schools)
 Resume (refer to BHS College Handbook)
 2 Letters of recommendation (ask at least two weeks
in advance)
 Personal Statement (should give to counseling office
2 weeks prior to deadline)
 Check for application fee
 $5 (one time fee to BHS for processing)
 This along with completed application and
supplements should be turned in to Linda in the
counseling office (transcripts and test scores will be
attached and sent.)
Some Terms to Know
Early Decision/aka “Binding”

this is an agreement with the school that if
you are accepted you will attend
 only apply ED if you are sure
 it may be “easier” for students to get in ED
(admissions officers want to fill their classes
with the best)
 you will not know your financial aid status
before you are accepted...however you may be
able to change your status if the package they
give you will make it difficult for you to
attend
Early Action/ nonbinding
 Students can apply early but are not
bound to go to school
 Good for students who are pretty sure
where they want to attend but still
want the option to change their mind
 Still a “better” chance of acceptance
 Most will “roll-over” to regular
admissions if not accepted
Common Application
 An application for over 400
different schools (usually
private)
 Colleges recognize the common
application equally
 Please remember to check the
supplemental application (as each
school asks for different
materials)
Rolling Admissions
 Applications are reviewed as
they are received
Attention College Athletes
NCAA
 Students must submit application to play
Division I &II
• Students must have taken at least 17
academic classes during high school
• Athletic Director has applications
Show Me the Money!
How much will college cost?
 CMC-living at home- $2,500/year
 Mesa State- $15,205
 CU/CSU- $21,000
 DU/CC-$50,000
 Out of state state schools- $20-55,000
 Includes room/board, books, fees, tuition
Financial Aid
 FAFSA
 CSS Profile
 Scholarships
FAFSA
www.fafsa.ed.gov
 In order to receive any financial aid (loans or grants)
the FAFSA must be completed
 Parents should complete by the February 15, 2012
 Parents must have completed 2011 taxes
 Fill out the “pre-application” beforehand, it will make
the other application easier
 We will have a FAFSA workshop January 2012
CSS Profile
(easy as pie…and worth the time!)
 Primarily for private colleges (including
Colorado College!)
 Register at www.collegeboard.com
 Click on “paying for college”
 Then click on “css/profile online”
 You will need a list of the colleges you are
applying to and a credit card
 DEADLINE: December 1, 2011
Scholarships
Submit FAFSA
Watch the scholarship board at BHS
Watch BHS Counseling Website
Local scholarship form handed out in
February
 www.fastweb.com
 www.scholarships.com
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Now the wait begins…
Reminder:
Colleges look at your 2nd semester grades so
watch out for “senioritis!”
And the envelope please…
is it fat? is it thin?
Congratulations!
You are going to college!
Once you have been
accepted…
 Look at financial aid packages from all of the schools
you have been accepted
 Once you have decided where you are going please
notify the counseling office so we can send your final
transcripts
 Notify the school you will be attending before May 1
(and send in your enrollment deposit!)
 Celebrate!!!
 Keep in touch.