Transcript Torrington High School

Torrington High School
“Future Planning with Critical Thinking”
Post-Secondary Planning
Presented by the THS Guidance Department
Types of
Post Secondary Options
4-year Colleges – Public & Private
2-year Colleges – Public & Private (including
the UConn regional campuses)
Specialized Colleges (Art Schools, Theater, etc)
Technical Schools (Private and Public - BTEC)
Military
Employment
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How Do I Decide What Option is for My
Student?
Research Starts Now!
Consider the following:
– Strengths – academic/personal
– Potential majors
– Academic record (course history/GPA)
– Hobbies/skills - transfer to careers or majors
– Part Time vs. Full Time – family obligations,
finances, personal circumstances
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Career Development
Helps to define educational/career goals! Involves selfassessment. Determines type of major or career you
might want to pursue (general or specific).
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College & Career Center at THS
Visit with college representatives/career speakers
Job Shadows/Field Trips/Internships/Community Service
College Fairs/School Visits
Career Cruising – career interest assessment/learning
styles assessment
• CT Department of Labor – “One Stop” Office
• Career Fair
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Career Cruising
This is a great tool for career exploration and college
and training program searches!
Every student has an account!
www.careercruising.com
To log on to our site:
User Name – torringtonhs
Password – raiders
To log on to your account:
User Name – TOR- same as your school network id
Password – default is DOB (MM/DD/YYYY) or see your
counselor, if you changed it and forgot!
How to Choose A College/Technical
Training Program?
 Step One:
Evaluate priorities for best fit
The student should be asking and answering:
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What do I want out of school?
What are my career aspirations/major?
Where do I want to go to school?
What type of school?
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Determine Basic Preferences
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Size of school and student population
Geographical location, distance from home
Urban vs. Rural
Coed vs. Single Gender
4 yr. vs. 2 yr., short term training
Public vs. Private (Cost )
Availability of programs/majors of interest
Liberal Arts vs. Specialized School
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How to Choose A School?
 Step Two:
Narrow the Search
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Strength of Academic Program
Selectivity of Admission – reach, target, most likely
Cost of Attending – tuition/ room and board
Student Life
Availability of Special Programs (Honors, Disability,
Support Programs)
6) Potential Financial Aid
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Making the Most of Your
College/School Visit
Visit all schools to which you are applying!
Be well prepared – know about the college!
Dress well – Business Casual
Tour – Open House
Arrange an interview, if required – be sure to
prepare!
Socialize
Attend a class
Visit the Athletic Director, if planning to play
sports
Check out transportation to and from home
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How Colleges/Schools Make
Decisions
• Student transcript is the most important
consideration – grades and rigor, especially in Junior
and Senior years!
• Testing usually is second in importance – SAT, ACT, SAT
Subject Tests, TOEFL, Accuplacer, and other required
math and reading placement tests
• Other things are a bit less important but can certainly
help in admissions, such as activities, volunteer work,
sports
• Are you going to be an asset to their school
community?
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College Planning – Junior Year
January
Utilize
“Career
Cruising” for college
search, review with
your school counselor
Clarify your
educational goals and
needs
Talk with graduates
home from college
February
Meet
with counselor
for course selection –
plan challenging
senior courses
Preliminary list of
colleges
Write or call for
catalogs and
applications
May
Identify
teachers
whom you may ask for
recommendations next
year
AP Exams
administered
SAT’s offered (THS)
June
SAT’s
offered (not
THS)
ACT offered (THS)
Register to take
TOEFL, if needed
Arrange for college
visits and/or interview
for the summer
Plan to use your
summer in a
meaningful way!
March
Read
catalogs & view
resource books
Review personal
college criteria
Attend College
Planning Night at THS
Register for the ACT
Register for SAT
Summer
Review
SAT material
Compile resume/list
of activities, jobs,
community service –
use “Career Cruising”
Begin to outline
possible college
essays
Review the Common
Application
April
Visit
colleges during
April vacation!
Junior grades are
very important, so
finish strong!
Register for SAT
Subject Tests, if
required
Fall
Attend College Fairs
Start to finalize list of
colleges
Meet with counselor
to discuss specific
plans
Start application
process!
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Special Circumstances
• ATHLETES: Div. I and II must complete Eligibility Form for
NCAA
– www.eligibilitycenter.org
• IDEA/504: You may qualify for special
considerations and services
• ARTISTS & MUSICIANS: Portfolios and/or auditions
Note: There are special College Fairs for Artists and
Musicians and hints at www.nacacnet.org
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College Entrance Exams –
What are they and why do I have to take them?
• SAT I – Reasoning Test (Algebra II needed)
www.collegeboard.org
• SAT Subject Tests
www.collegeboard.org
• ACT
www.actstudent.org
• Accuplacer – Subject test for Community College level placement
www.accuplacer.org
• TOEFL – Admissions test that may be required for newly immigrated students
www.ets.org/toefl
Fee waivers are available for students on free or reduced lunch. See your counselor.
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TEST CALENDAR*
SAT
Test Date
May 3, 2014 - THS
June 7, 2014
Deadline
April 4, 2014
May 9, 2014
ACT
Test Date
April 12, 2014
June 14, 2014 - THS
Deadline
March 7, 2014
May 9, 2014
*A full calendar is available online – www.collegeboard.com and www.actstudent.org
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Financial Aid
 2 types:
1) Grants/Scholarships
2) Loans
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FAFSA – www.fafsa.ed.gov
CSS Profile – www.collegebroad.org
College Forms – specific to schools
Financial Aid Night – November 2015
Net Price Calculator on Each College’s
Website
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Ways to Pay for College When MONEY is a MAJOR ISSUE!
• For students on Free/Reduced Lunch - potential for major needbased aid at 2 and 4 year colleges… One THS student paid $6,000
out of $200,000 for all four years!
• Merit scholarships are available to students with TOP GPA’s, as well
as, school and community/volunteer involvement. Look for schools
that offer!
• Free college classes while a THS junior or senior are available
through NCCC High School Partnership!
• Begin at a community college or regional UConn campus and save
up to $8,000 - $10,000 a year!
• At four year colleges, students can apply to be dorm supervisors,
potentially reducing costs for room and board!
• Take extra credits during the semester or summer and possibly
graduate college a semester early.
• Attend school part- time!
TRANSFER PLANNING
ONE OR TWO YEARS After
Starting at Community Colleges
About 95% of students who apply, on time, to many community colleges will not have
loans to repay.
This option can save up to $10,000+ per year!
1. Know the school you’re planning to transfer to and discuss your plans
with the college counselors.
2. Plan the classes you’re taking – General Ed – that will transfer.
You can ask the counselors at both schools to coordinate your program.
3. Know the number of credits that will transfer. There is the possibility of
transferring as many as 75% of needed graduation credits.
4. Summer classes may also be possibly taken for transfer.
TYPICAL TRANSFER SCHOOLS FROM NCCC
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD
CHARTER OAK STATE COLLEGE
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN
SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY
GOODWIN COLLEGE
UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX
EASTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF SAINT JOSEPH
Military Service
• Recruiter visits to explore options
• Must be 18 and have a high school diploma or
GED
• ASVAB
• To enlist you must go through a recruiter
• JROTC
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Apprenticeships
• Supervised training in an occupational trade—
both job skills & academic skills
• Must be of legal working age and be a HS
graduate
• Length of training is 1 year minimum
*Contact Bureau of Apprenticeship and
Training or State apprenticeship agencies
• Additional opportunities at *CT “One Stop”
*See your School Counselor for contact information
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Student
Planning Responsibilities
Research, Plan, Follow Timelines
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Doing the school/college search!
Visit colleges/secondary programs
Register/take the SAT/ACT/Accuplacer
Complete and submit applications & know application deadlines (10
day Guidance Office policy)
Request transcripts – forms to Guidance Office (10 day policy)
Résumé
Letters of Recommendation – asking teachers/counselor (10 day
policy)
Provide stamps and envelopes
Scholarships – check website, bulletin board, announcements
FAFSA – complete with parent/request pin number
Maintain or improve grades
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Next Steps This Year
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Earn the highest grades you can!
Identify potential majors – use Career Cruising
Identify a preliminary list of colleges
Campus visits and interviews
Senior course selections: they must be as strong or more so than in
the past
Teacher recommendations – think about who to ask
Develop a résumé
Use your summer to your advantage
Begin networking for job options for summer and after graduation
Look into the High School Partnership with NCCC for senior year –
see your counselor
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QUESTIONS
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