The Class of 2016

Looks Beyond Barrington

College Counselors: Sara English and Kate Moody

Transition Coordinator: Lyndsay Palach

Counselors: Jill Argall, Monica Barreiro, Joan Bell,

Marla Engleman, Michelle Fitzgerald, Tim

Martin, Ray Piagentini, Bryan Tucker

Director: Jill Fearday

2015-2016

Barrington High School

College and Career Planning Guide

BHS Celebrates Diversity of College Destinations

# Students

Per State

2010-2014

1 – 9

10 – 20

21 – 50

51 – 100

101 – 501

501 – 1000

1001+

None

College and Career Planning Guide

(Junior “MAP” Book)

• Almost any fundamental question is covered

• Highlights include:

• College Planning Calendar

• Application Procedures

• College Visit Questions

• Resume

• Parent Letter

• Financial aid/Scholarships

• Transcript Request

• FAQ’s / Web Resources

TWO PORTIONS TO OUR

PRESENTATION

• HOW YOU CHOOSE A COLLEGE

• HOW A COLLEGE CHOOSES YOU

FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS

• This is a process.

• It is all about finding the fit.

• There is a college for everyone.

NAVIGATING THE PROCESS

• Communicate as a family.

• Do your homework.

• Visit.

• Be realistic.

• Find the fit.

• Fit is about finding the right school not simply about

finding the best school.

MAKE THIS A RESEARCH

PROJECT WHICH INVOLVES:

• Clear goals

• Deadlines

• Lots of note-taking

• Use the 5 P’s—Person, Place, People, Price, Program

A bit of advice from some BHS

alums:

• “Be proactive. The right college won’t find you.”

• “Don’t waste time. Jump right into it.”

• “Manage time well.”

The Five “P’s”

• Person

• Place

• People

• Price

• Program

PERSON The person is YOU.

Why do I want to go to college?

How do I learn?

How independent am I?

What do I want to be involved in?

Do I have special talents?

Do I have special needs?

Lyndsay Palach,

Transition Coordinator

Perhaps consider a “Gap Year”

• A gap year is a year for students to explore other interests between high

school and college.

• A very informative article: “Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation”

by William Fitzsimmons, Dean from Harvard College.

• www.college.harvard.edu/admissions/preparing-college/should-i-take-time

• Gap Year Fair – New Trier, Saturday, Jan 31, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

PLACE • Distance – consider logistics of coming home

• Setting: Rural, Urban, Suburban

• Size: Small (<1,000) vs Large (15,000+)

• Types of schools: Music Conservatory, Technical,

Single Gender, Public, Private

• YOU MUST VISIT—TOGETHER.

• Prestige

PEOPLE

• What type of diversity is important to you?

• Faith based?

• Another area of the country?

• One thing is certain—it won’t be like high school!

PRICE • Have the talk about cost.

• Don’t get confused by sticker shock. Go thru the

financial aid process.

• IWU Admission Dean, “Let me show you that you

can afford our school.”

• Net Price Calculators

• “Scholar”- ships

PROGRAM • Consider internships, co-ops, study abroad opportunities,

direct admit programs, and other hands on experiences.

• In many instances, you do not need to choose your major until the end of sophomore year of college!

• If you don’t know what you want to do, know what you don’t want to do.

• Utilize your BHS resources: Naviance Assessments, Career Cruising, and Career Treks

SEARCH AND SELECTION TIMELINE • October- Early December

• Meet with your counselor in groups.

• Do your research.

• December-Mid April

• Complete a college counseling appointment

• December-June

• Create your list (5-8 schools)

• Summer

• Finish Resume, Brainstorm Essays

• August

• Return to school ready to apply

• May be deficient in some admission requirements

• ACT Composite / SAT/ GPA falls below mid 50%

• May be a financial reach

• Please note: Ivy-league or highly selective schools for all students

• Meet all admission requirements

• ACT Composite / SAT/ GPA falls within the mid 50%

• Financially attainable

• Meet /exceed all admission requirements

• ACT Composite / SAT/ GPA falls above the mid 50%

• Financially reasonable

Reach, Target, and Safety Schools A school that is a reach for some, may be a target for others.

Safety

Schools

Target

Schools

Reach

Schools

HOW TO DO YOUR

RESEARCH • READ the “Map Book.”

• Create a list of schools (Naviance).

• Use the GRC and the individual college websites.

• Attend all of our programs next semester (Financial Aid Night, Ask the Experts, College Night).

• Make the most of College Night, it is one stop shopping.

• Attend Spring Rep Visits and during the Fall of your Senior Year.

• Visit College Campuses.

HOW WE CAN HELP

• Counselors – know your students, know academic

advisement, can answer questions about college, write

letters of recommendation, and process applications

• College Counselors – can help refine your list of

schools, can answer questions about specific colleges,

and their particular admission processes

If I could do one thing over, I

would…

• “Look more openly at places and at a broad range of schools.”

• “Worry less.”

• “Visit more, and earlier.”

FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT

HOW TO CHOOSE A

COLLEGE

• Parents – Your child will remember how you supported

him or her.

• Students – Realize that this is emotionally difficult for

your parents.

• Both – Remember that it isn’t the college but the student

that has the magic!

How A

College

Chooses You

Let’s Talk Data

Illinois State University

~13,000 applications

70 % acceptance rate (9,000 admits)

3,600 enrolled

U of Illinois - UC

35,800 apps - most ever up 2,600

apps

59% acceptance rate (21,000 admits)

7,000 enrolled

U of Michigan

49,770 apps (Early – 26,000)

32% acceptance rate (16,000 admits)

6,300 enrolled

Stanford

42,167 applications

5% acceptance rate (2,145 admits)

1,691 enrolled

What Does the Admission

Committee Review?

• High School Transcript

• ACT/SAT Scores

• Essays/Writing Samples

• Counselor and/or Teacher Recommendations

• Demonstrated Interest

• Choice of Major

• Extra-curriculars/Work

• Race, Legacy, State or County of Residence

High School Transcript • Most colleges admit on 6 semesters

• GPA

• Has student taken a college prep curriculum?

• English: 4 years Math: 3-4 years

• Science: 3-4 years Social Studies: 3-4 years

• World Language: 2+ years Fine/Applied arts: 1 year (for some)

• Grades in college prep classes most important

• Grade trends

• Senior classes

Transcript Comparison

A Tale of Two Transcripts

Student A Student B

3.54 wtd (f) 3.00 wtd (f)

3.50 wtd (s) 3.125 wtd (s)

3.083 wtd (j) 3.571 wtd (j)

Cumulative GPA

3.378 wtd 3.257 wtd

A Word About Senioritis

YIKES!!!!

ACT/SAT Scores • Colleges will accept ACTs or SATs

• If multiple test scores are given, colleges will look at the best score(s).

• Superscore

• SAT subject tests req/rec by highly selective colleges (www.compassprep.com)

• March 3rd – school wide ACT with writing

• NCAA - 9999

Essays and/or Writing Samples (Map Book)

• Submit student’s own work

• Answer the question!!!

• Correctly identify the college in the body of work

• Additional personal statement can always be included

• Save a graded paper- sometimes a college will ask for

one

Teacher Recommendations (Map Book)

• Ask teachers for a letter of rec only if required by

college.

• Complete the “College Recommendation Questionnaire.”

• Allow a minimum of 15 schools days for completion by the deadline.

• Can send one letter of rec to multiple schools.

• Be sure to communicate deadlines, and if you add a newer deadline, let them know.

Counselor Recommendations

• Get to know your counselor.

• Some applications have a counselor form that must be completed.

• Ask counselor for a letter of rec only if required by college. Allow a minimum of 15 schools days for completion by the deadline.

• Speak to your counselor about what additional information they may need (i.e. Parent Letter and their own form).

• Can send one letter of rec to multiple schools.

• Be sure to communicate deadlines, and if you add a newer deadline, let them know.

Demonstrated Interest • Schedule a formal campus visit through the college

admissions office

• Visit college reps in GRC

• Visit reps when they are in Chicagoland

• Email/call reps with questions

• Remember, this is “student’s” demonstrated interest

• Answer emails…may be as simply as “yes, I am still interested.”

Interviews (Map Book)

• Some schools require an interview

• Interviews can take place on or off campus

• Can be done by alumni

• Dress appropriately

• Have a few questions for them

• Send thank you note/email

Extra-Curriculars/Work (Map Book)

• Colleges want involved students

• Choose quality over quantity

• Resume should include activities from Grades 9 – 12 only

Other Admission Factors

• Race

• Athletics/Talent

• Legacy

• Selectivity of Program

• State or County of Residence

Upcoming Events

• Focus on Financial Aid – 1/22/15

• Ask the Experts – 3/12/15

• BHS Illinois Regional College Fair

“College Night” – 4/6/15

• School ACT (with writing) 3/3/15

Your To Do List

It’s all “mapped out” for you in the Map Book!

Let us show you how to “navigate” to it!

Barrington Home Page

Thank you for joining us

this evening!