PMA Junior Parent Kick Off to College

Workshop• Importance of ACT • On Track to Graduate?• What can Parents Do?• College Application Process• Types of Colleges• Financial Aid Overview• What’s Next?

What is the ACT?

• The test you take in order to get into college• 36 is the top score you can earn• Colleges use the ACT as a way to compare

other students in your school, city, state, and country

• Students can qualify for scholarships based on their ACT Score

The National ACT 2011 Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The ACT consists of four multiple-choice tests: • English: 75 Questions; 45 minutes to complete • Mathematics: 60 questions; 60 minutes to complete• Reading: 40 questions; 35 minutes to complete• Science: 40 Questions, 35 minutes to complete • Writing Portion: 30 minutes (students will be given a

prompt)

Thursday, April 28, 2011: Work-Keys

What Does the Work-Keys Assessment Include??

• An Illinois State Board of Education-developed science assessment (40 Questions; 40 minutes to complete)

• Applied Mathematics (33 Questions; 45 minutes to complete): This assessment helps current and potential employees measure the math skills they have against those the workplace requires.

• Reading for Information (33 Questions; 45 minutes to complete): This assessment measures the skill people use when they read and use written text in order to do a job. The written texts include memos, letters, directions, signs, notices, bulletins, policies, and regulations.

On Track to Graduate?

• Graduation requirements (required classes, exams, service learning hours)

• Evening school / Summer school registration• Transcript Review

What Can Parents Do??

• Countdown to College Timeline• Campus Visits• Personal Statement support• Reinforce “College is Possible”• Help cadets stay on top of deadlines

College Application Process• 5 College applications – just the start!!• 5 scholarship applications• FAFSA by February 17, 2012• Income verification• Award Letter analysis• Decision Day – May 1, 2012• Deposits!!! – School and Housing

Types of Colleges

*There are 4 types of colleges based on their level of selectivity*

1. Non-selective (all students who graduate from high school can attend)

2. Somewhat selective3. Selective4. Very selective (only a small % of the total

number of applicants are accepted)

Average ACT scores for non-selective colleges

• Accepts any student with a high school diploma

• Any community college or City College of Chicago (example: Harold Washington, Malcolm X, Wright, Triton)

Average ACT Scores for somewhat selective Colleges

• Chicago State University • 50% had between a 16-19

• Northeastern Illinois University• 50% had between a 16-21

Average ACT scores for selective colleges

• Morehouse College• 50% had between a 19-24

• Northern Illinois University• 50% had between a 19-24

• University of Illinois- Chicago• 50% had between a 21-26

• Loyola University Chicago• 50% had between a 24-29

Average ACT Scores for very selective colleges

• University of Illinois- Champaign Urbana• 50% had between a 27 - 31

• Duke University• 50% had between a 29-34

• UCLA• 50% had between: 25 - 31

Very Selective Continued

• Northwestern University• 50% had between: 30 – 33

• University of Chicago• 50% had between: 28 – 32

• Princeton University• 50% had between: 31 - 35

Financial Aid• What is it?• College costs• Expected Family Contribution (EFC)• Types of Aid• Sources of Aid• Free Application for Federal Student Aid

(FAFSA)

What’s Next??• Prepare over summer (Campus visits,

personal statement, narrow college search)

• Register and re-take ACT• Attend Senior College Breakfast in

the Fall

Thank you for coming out to our Junior Parent College Breakfast!!!

Ms. Keyserddkeyser@cps.edu

Ms. Fairchilddlmackey@cps.edu