Transcript Welcome to Northside’s College Planning Night

Welcome to Northside’s College
Planning Night
Introduction
Patrick Tassoni LCPC
Counselor/College Coordinator
Junior Advisories
406 Searcy
407 Solin
408 McCormick
Working For You Behind the Scenes
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with colleges, universities,
and scholarship foundations
• College visits/tours
• Host college reps. at Northside
• Showcase Northside, High School Profile
• Members of national and regional college counseling
associations (ACA, IACAC, CB)
• Present at various PD opportunities
• Examine and refine our practices
You Are In the College Pipeline
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Selective Enrollment/Peers
College Prep Curriculum
Essay Writing in Classes
Curriculum addresses standardized testing
Technology/Process
Testing
Colloquium (Opportunities to shine)
Valuable extracurricular opportunities
Supported outside learning experiences
Global Initiatives
Teachers, Admin, Counselors, Parents
Alumni
Where Should Juniors Be In Their
Planning?
Getting to Know Yourself (p. 4 Steps to College Planning)
This process is about you going to college. Reflecting on yourself and who you are is
the most important first step in this process. Talking with parents, friends, and
siblings about colleges and their characteristics is valuable, but remember that you
are the one going to college. Find the right fit for you!
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Interests- Reflect on your interests. How you spend your time. What classes
interest you? Check out “What’s Next Illinois” for interest inventories
www.whatsnextillinois.org
Strengths- Reflect on your classes. Review your standardized test scores
Personality- Reflect on your background, values, beliefs, and personal
characteristics. Attempt to find a campus environment that reflects who you
are.
Extracurricular Activities- What activities are you involved in at NCP? What do
you want to continue in college? Look for schools that offer extracurricular
activities of interest to you. (i.e. clubs, hobbies, sports, leadership roles.)
Junior Planning
Getting to Know Yourself
5. Self-Assessment and Parent Recommendation Form – The SA and PR are
found on Naviance (p. 48-52 of the CHB) Both are due before the individual
college counseling meeting. http://connection.naviance.com/northsideprep
or go to the link on the Northside website.
a. letter of recommendation
b. helps formulate ideas for essays
c. The college conference
Junior Planning
College Fit/College Characteristics
Ask yourself what it is you want in college? What do you need and want for
the next four years of your life? Consider the following:
1. Place
a. Size of school- (60,000 vs. 2,000). Is NCP size comfortable? Confining?
Does your personality fit with smaller or larger schools?
b. Location of the school- What part of the country? Distance from home?
Travel time and cost? Vacations spent where? Homesickness? Parents can
visit?
c. Area of the school- Do you want city, rural, suburban? Consider your
personality. Do you like the city? Fashion design vs. wildlife management?
Junior Planning
College Fit and Characteristics:
Curricular and co-curricular should be a whole experience. “ If you want to learn content,
take an online course”-Donna Shalala, President (University of Miami)
Program
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Majors
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Internships/graduate programs
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Exposure to faculty/opportunities to research with faculty
d.
Class size
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Support services
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Special deadlines for certain programs- Pre Med, Pre-Vet, Theatre/Music auditions,
Art Portfolios
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Liberal arts vs. specific career focused college
People
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Student body
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BYU vs. U.C. Berkeley
Junior Planning
College Costs
Old Approach to Considering College Costs:
Consider cost, but do not let it be the deciding factor yet. Remain open to all colleges
now. The financial aid packages you receive in spring of senior year will assist you in
making a final decision about affordability . Right now, consider the following:
a. Cost of applications- Application fees range from $0-$60 each. Look for fee waivers
from the colleges, if you qualify.
b. Total cost- (tuition, board, fees, book, travel, misc.)
c. Consider family affordability, but also that schools try to meet difference through
loans, work study, grants.
d. Consider total amount of loans student will have at graduation.
New Approach to Considering College Costs:a. Net Price Calculator- is an online estimation
tool allowing prospective students, families, and consumers to estimate the individual
net price of an institution of higher education for a student.
Junior Planning
Be Determined to do Your Best!
• Colleges review your transcript closely
• Rigor
• Balance
• Upward grade trends
• Quality vs. quantity of AP
Grades- These matter most!
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Are you challenging yourself to do your best?
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Are you getting help from teachers and communicating with them about
how you are doing?
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Are you getting tutoring for a difficult class?
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Are you taking advantage of everything our curriculum offers?
(AP courses, advanced course electives)
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Have your grades been consistent?
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Colleges look at 6, 7, 8th semester grades for ongoing performance
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Be proactive rather than reactive
Junior Planning
Testing- Colleges consider your test scores as well.
a. Prairie State Exam- All juniors will take on April 23th and 24th (more explained in a
later slide)
b. ACT Exam. (turn to p.44 CHB)
c. SAT Exam (turn to p.44 CHB)
Consider taking both ACT and SAT. Some students perform better on one test than
the other. Colleges consider your highest ACT composite score and your highest
combined SAT score. Consider taking advantage of free score reports when you
register. It saves you money, time. Colleges are interested in your highest scores, not
your lower ones.
d. SAT II’s/Subject Tests (p.44 CHB) Take if required by college or if you want to show
strengths
-Take at the end of junior year if possible.
-Some colleges use for placement and not for entrance
-There are 20 subject areas.
-Further information can be found on www.collegeboard.org.
ACT
• Website: www.act.org
• 2013-2014 Test Dates
-found on the web site
-dates are also listed in
the handbook (p.44)
PSAE (Prairie State Achievement
Examination): 2 components
• 1st Component: Day One: Wednesday, April 23th , 2013
ACT with writing (No writing portion this year)
• 2nd Component: Day Two: Thursday, April 24th, 2013
work keys- includes practical work applications of math,
reading and writing
• All juniors at NCP are automatically registered for this
exam and will take the exam during the school day.
• Most universities, colleges and the NCAA Clearinghouse
accept the ACT of the PSAE as an official ACT score.
SAT Test Dates
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Web site: www.collegeboard.org
Test Dates: Test and registration deadlines are found on this website
and in your handbook (p.44)
SAT subject tests, formerly known as the SAT II’s, are one hour in
length for each subject.
One, two or three subject tests can be taken in one day.
A complete list of subject tests can be found at
www.collegeboard.org
Subject tests cannot be taken on the same day as the SAT Reasoning
Test, formerly known as the SAT I.
Registration for the SAT and the SAT subject tests can be done online at www.collegeboard.org
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Begin Researching and Demonstrating Interest
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Utilize resources available in the guidance department.
Joint College Fair: Walter Payton High School, March 14, 2013 from
6:30pm-8:30pm
Visit colleges in the area to get an idea of different campus environments.
(Lake Forest College, Northwestern University , Loyola University,
University of Chicago, Art Institute)
Go to the colleges’ websites. Some offer virtual tours.
Attend college open houses. Arrange for an overnight visit or fly-out
programs
Meet with visiting representatives at school (see listing on NCP website
under counseling/college information). This could be a reason to admit.
List and compare your college interests by what you want in a college,
(See p. 9 in the CPH).
Demonstrating interest, (See p. 39 in the CPH).
THIS IS WHERE JUNIORS SHOULD BE!
Things to Anticipate!
1. Teacher recommendations - By the end of junior year, begin asking teachers if they
will write you a recommendation.
2. Know your college application deadlinesA.
Early Decision- (binding), Early Action (non-binding) Early Action Single
Choice- November deadlines. Usually more scholarships available.
B.
Regular- January 1st
C.
Rolling- Applications accepted on a rolling basis until all spots taken.
D. Priority- Not an early program like ED/EA. It is in your best interest to meet
a priority deadline. Less spots are available if you miss the priority deadline.
(i.e. U of I –November)
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Contact- Make continued contact with colleges. Meet with college
representatives as much as possible. E-mail professors in your areas of
interest as well as the Admissions Office.
Application/Scholarship Deadlines
• COLLEGE / SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
PROCESSING DEADLINES FOR NCP (See p.
53 CHB)
• There is a specific schedule for turning in
applications by Advisory.
• The student portion of the application
does not have to be completed in order to
turn in your transcript requests and
recommendation requests.
Turning in Applications
Application Deadlines
Students may not hand in applications:
• THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING BREAK* - (November 18-22, 2013)
• THE WEEK PRIOR TO THE WINTER BREAK*- (December 11-24, 2013)
• AFTER SCHOOL ON TUESDAYS (You can submit applications during
your lunch on Tuesdays.)
• *These days are used to process applications prior to the breaks.
Other Notes:
• The Counseling Department is closed during all holiday breaks.
• Applications are processed on a deadline basis.
Things to Anticipate
1. Re-take ACT/SAT- September and October of senior year. (see pages
41-42 of handbook) http://www.collegeboard.com
2. NCAA- registration is found on-line at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
for Division I and II college bound student athletes. This needs to
be done second semester of the junior year. NOW.
3. Obtain applications
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College website (http://www.lawrence.edu
Common application http://www.commonapp.org.
Common Black College Application http://www.eduinconline.com
Things to Anticipate
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Review applications and essays- Get it done over the summer. Have several
people, such as your counselor, parents, and the writing center folks read your
essays.
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Begin Searching for Scholarships- research throughout the year. Utilize
reputable websites, review the counseling department’s monthly bulletin, as
well as financial aid websites of colleges of interest.
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Apply for Financial Aid- As soon as possible after January 1st of senior year fill out
the FAFSA form. Obtain a pin number and complete the FAFSA online.
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Some colleges require the CSS Profile (College
Scholarship Services). Use the Net Price Calculators.
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Attend NSCP College Events
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Joint Spring College Fair at Walter Payton, March 14th.
B.
Financial Aid Night – December of senior year at Northside.
Essays(p.30 of CHB)
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Essays are used to assess:
• Your use of English language
• Your writing skills
• Your ability to follow directions
Essays Reflect:
• Your attitudes
• Your values
• Your interests
Essay topics:
• Extracurricular activities
• Books
• Summer travel
• Influential people
• Personal history
• Memorable experiences
Yourself As a Brand/Essays
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Differentiate yourself among applicants.
What do you want them to like about you?
What do you want to convey?
What is your clear story of why you should be accepted?
What will you contribute as a lifelong member of the
community?
• What are you passionate about?
• What are your most significant contributions to date?
• Did you take a risk and fail—and what did you learn?
“Admission Secrets”
Student Profile
Student Profile
Student Profile
Teacher Recommendations
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Ask teachers who know you well in the following areas:
• Leadership
• Intellectual
• Academic
• Personal (qualities)
Letters of recommendation from teachers often include:
• Length of time of acquaintance
• Type of classes taken with teacher
• Personal work and style
• Anecdotes about your work
• Description of personality
• Overall assessment of your ability
Counselor Recommendations
• Letters of Recommendation from Counselors:
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Comments about your academic program and achievement
Explanation of any unusual circumstances
Comments about course level and rigor
Comments on your abilities, habits, attributes, character, and
personality
Colleges are looking for evidence of motivation, maturity,
integrity, independence, initiative, leadership, originality, and
capacity for growth
Evaluates your contribution to the school’s community
Overall assessment of your ability to succeed in college
See page 48-50of CHB, Self-Assessment
The Application Process
• Teachers and counselors need at least four weeks notice
to write a recommendation and process applications. See
counseling department website or handbook.
• Your counselor will not write a recommendation without
a completed self-assessment form. The parent
assessment form is also very helpful.
• Sign the on-line Waiver of Confidentiality form on the
Common Application
High School Transcript
Naviance
• Naviance (see p. 13 in the CPH)
• www.northsideprep.org
• College search and information software, self and parent assessment,
ordering transcripts, track recommendations, Secondary school reports.
• Students must order transcripts from Naviance on-line (your passwords
are attached to your handbook).
• In addition, students must fill out a transcript request in paper form in
the counseling center.
• Utilize “Colleges I’m Thinking About” to receive special announcements
What Colleges Look For
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Rigorous high school curriculum
Grades that represent a strong effort
Solid scores on ACT and SAT
Passionate involvement in a few activities
Letters of rec. that indicate integrity, special skills, positive
character traits and an interest in learning
Special talents or experiences that will contribute to an interesting
and well-rounded student body
Well-written essay that provides insight into student’s unique
personality
Demonstrated enthusiasm, often exhibited by meeting with reps.
at Northside, campus visits and interviews
Work and community service
Demonstrated intellectual curiosity (reading, school and leisure
pursuits, activities)
Students Anticipating Online
Acceptance Notices
Expectations
• Take ownership of yourself and this process
• Communicate with your counselor
• Check your CPS email and your NAVIANCE on
a REGULAR BASIS
• Anticipate your deadlines
• Read and use the College Handbook
throughout the application process
Closing
Starting Feb. 11th, and once the student has
completed their Self-Assessment, call your counselor
to set up a Family College Conference.
Mr. Tassoni 773-534-3975
We wish you well in your decision process, and we’re
always here to assist you.