Transcript I’m a Junior in High School,

Factors considered in college admissions










Class rank (6-semester cumulative
GPA)
Demonstrated leadership
Employment status during high
school
Extra- and co-curricular involvement
First-generation college student status
Legacy status
Letter(s) of recommendation
Life experiences
Obstacles overcome
Potential contributions to diversity
(breadth of experience, geography,
ideology, lifestyle, race/ethnicity,
socio-economic status, world view)








Quality of high school (% of
graduates going to 4-year colleges)
Significant extenuating circumstances
Socioeconomic status
Special abilities, talents, and
achievements
Standardized test scores
Strength of high school curriculum
(depth in each subject area, honors or
accelerated courses, AP/IB courses)
Strong, ongoing commitment to social
service and/or volunteer activities
Writing ability
College/Career Readiness Factors





Grades in College Prep Courses
Strength of Curriculum
Admission Test Scores (ACT/SAT)
Grades in All Courses
Essay or Writing Sample
83.4%
65.7%
59.3%
46.2%
26.6%
___________________________________________________
 Student Demonstrated Interest (Interview)
23.0%
 Counselor Recommendation
19.4%
 Teacher Recommendation
19.0%

2008 NACAC Admission Trends Survey
School Profile Highlights
92% attend higher education
Test scores significantly higher than national norm
for ACT, SAT, and Nat’l Merit Recognition
18 Advanced Placement Classes
810 AP tests taken in Spring 2012
70% of test takers scored a 3 or higher
Grading scale is thoroughly explained
Lowest passing grade is 60% using a +/- system
BBHHS Class Rank Reporting
Brecksville-Broadview Heights does not rank
students for college admission. We will only
report the top 10% of the graduating class.
Top 10% of class of 2013
40/404
~4.1 and higher
Standardized Testing
ACT: taken by 304 BBHHS students
(76% of class of 2012)
www.actstudent.org
SAT: taken by 147 BBHHS students
(37% of class of 2012)
www.collegeboard.com
ACT Overview








ACT is offered 6 times per year
5 section exam with NO penalty for incorrect answers
English (focuses on grammar)
Math (curriculum up through trigonometry)
Reading (prose fiction, social science, humanities,
and natural science)
Science (charts and experiments)
Writing (optional, but highly recommended)
Scored 1-36 for each section
Suggestions for improving scores…

English and Math are content based sections.
 For reading: READ, READ, READ
 For science, play timed logic games and
puzzles.
Just FYI - Statistically, the most an average
person can improve their ACT score from their
baseline is 3 points. It's a competitive goal to
achieve!
ACT Writing…2 things to know

The writing prompt will do two critical things:


Describe an issue that's relevant to a high school student’s life
Ask the writer to write about the issue from his or her own perpsective

Typically, the sample prompts will give two perspectives on
the issue. The writer can decide to prove one of the
perspectives, or create and support a new perspective on the
issue.

http://testprep.about.com/od/act/tp/Improve_Your_Writing_A
CT_Essay.htm
ACT Writing Sample Essay Prompt 1

Educators debate extending high school to five years because
of increasing demands on students from employers and
colleges to participate in extracurricular activities and
community service in addition to having high grades. Some
educators support extending high school to five years because
they think students need more time to achieve all that is
expected of them. Other educators do not support extending
high school to five years because they think students would
lose interest in school and attendance would drop in the fifth
year. In your opinion, should high school be extended to five
years?

Source: www.actstudent.org, 2009
SAT Overview

SAT is offered 7 times per year
 10 section exam (3 in critical reading, 3 in math, 3 in writing
and one experimental section)
 PENALTY FOR INCORRECT ANSWERS
 Math (curriculum through geometry and Algebra 2
 Critical Reading/Verbal (sentence completion, short & long
critical reading passages, reading comprehension)
 Writing (an essay question, grammar, usage, and word choice)
 Scored 200-800 per section, added together for combined
score
Suggestions for improving SAT scores

Use official tests to practice with.
 Create a collection of mature sounding words
and phrases to incorporate into your essay.
 If you're stuck on a math problem, start
writing.
 Read, read, read—especially topics that you
don’t find particularly interesting.
 Never leave any multiple choice questions
blank.
Test Prep Options







http://www.kaptest.com
http://www.4tests.com/exams
http://www.testpreppreview.com
http://www.number2.com/
Cuyahoga County Public Library…
http://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/stdbackpage.a
spx?id=9817
And, as available, prep class before school in
the IDL…stay tuned to BEE-TV
Test Information Release (TIR)







Is ACT Test Preparation!!
2013 Saturday National Testing Dates:
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Please note registration deadlines are ~ 1 month before
test date administered
Visit http://www.actstudent.org/scores/release.html to
place your TIR order!!
Honors Diploma








4 credits of English
4 credits of Math
4 credits of Science (must have Chemistry & Physics)
4 credits of Social Studies
3 credits of World Language or 2 credits each of 2 different
world languages
1 credit of Fine Arts
3.5 cumulative GPA
27 ACT or 1210 SAT (critical reading and math sections combined)
* can only miss one of the criteria listed above
State University Criteria
Averages for the Academic Profiles of entering Class of 2012
University of Akron
GPA: 3.1
ACT: 20 - 26
Bowling Green University
GPA: 3.25
ACT: 19 - 24
Central State University
GPA: 2.4
ACT: 16
University of Cincinnati
GPA: 3.44
ACT: 22 - 27
Cleveland State University
GPA: 3.12
ACT: 18 - 24
Kent State University
GPA: 3.22
ACT: 20 - 25
**Some
colleges within these universities are very competitive and require a much higher GPA for entrance into a specific major.
State University Criteria
Miami University
GPA: N/A
ACT: 25 – 30
OSU
GPA: N/A
ACT: 27 – 31
Ohio University
GPA: 3.3
ACT: 21 – 26
Shawnee State
GPA: N/A
ACT: 19 – 23
U of Toledo
GPA: 3.09
ACT: 19 – 24
Wright State
GPA: 3.06
ACT: 19 - 24
Youngstown State GPA: 2.83
ACT: 17 - 23
Out of State Schools
 Criteria
for admission varies for out
of state applicants
 Check admissions materials carefully
 Check deadlines carefully
Advice moving forward…

Keep your grades up throughout the entire
year!
 Take strong and competitive classes during
your senior year i.e. continue on in math,
science, and world language classes
AP helps students graduate on time

Students who take AP courses and exams are
much more likely than their peers to complete a
college degree on time in four years.
 Students who take five years or more could
spend $8,000-$27,000 for each additional year
needed to complete their degree.
 Full study can be found at:
www.collegeboard.org/research
Importance of Planning & Preparing

Only one in four students who enter college will
complete their bachelor’s degree on schedule in four
years.
 Example:

“AP English Literature students had four-year
college graduation rates that were 62 percent higher
than students who had not taken AP English
Literature.”
*A 2008 study conducted by researchers from the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board
Resumes/Activity records

Leadership roles/events planned
 Honors and Awards
 Community Service
 Summer Activities/Internships
 Employment
 Special research projects/independent studies
College Selection Process

Know yourself and what is important to you!
 Know your credentials and the realistic choices
you have earned!
 Take advantage of resources
 College Fairs in the summer and fall
 College reps in the lunch periods next year
This summer…

Take college visits or participate in college
fairs and summer programs
 Look at college applications to get an
understanding of what is expected in terms of
deadlines, requirements (essays!!), etc…