ACT College Prep
Transcript of ACT College Prep
Planning for CollegePlanning for College Planning for CollegePlanning for College
Source: ACT’s College Planning Guide Source: ACT’s College Planning Guide Copyright 2004 by ACT, Inc.Copyright 2004 by ACT, Inc.
Planning for CollegePlanning for College
You can organize the college You can organize the college planning process inplanning process in
six simple stepssix simple steps
Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
Wor
kW
ork MilitaryMilitary Trades
Trades
Apprentice Apprentice ProgramProgram
Proprietary Proprietary SchoolsSchools
COLLEGECOLLEGE
Options After High SchoolOptions After High School
Let’sLet’s FocusFocus on Collegeon College
Remember...decision making Remember...decision making is a PROCESS, not an event!is a PROCESS, not an event!
SourceSource: ACT College Planning Guide: ACT College Planning Guide
Know Yourself and Your Know Yourself and Your Reasons for Attending CollegeReasons for Attending College
Recognize your strengths and Recognize your strengths and weaknessesweaknesses
Analyze your interests and valuesAnalyze your interests and values Achieve a personal goalAchieve a personal goal Increase your earning powerIncrease your earning power
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Know Yourself and Your Know Yourself and Your Reasons for Attending CollegeReasons for Attending College
Prepare for a career and expand Prepare for a career and expand learninglearning
Extracurricular activities & social lifeExtracurricular activities & social life Influence of family and friendsInfluence of family and friends
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Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
Take responsibility Take responsibility for your future!for your future!
Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
Recommended High School Recommended High School Curriculum for CollegeCurriculum for College EnglishEnglish 4 units4 units MathematicsMathematics 3 units3 units Social StudiesSocial Studies 3 units3 units ScienceScience 3 units3 units
Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
Recommended High School Recommended High School Curriculum for CollegeCurriculum for College
Many colleges also require Many colleges also require additional additional coursescourses in: in:
– Foreign Language Foreign Language
– MathematicsMathematics
– Fine & Performing ArtsFine & Performing Arts
Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
Core Curriculum/ACT Score StudyCore Curriculum/ACT Score Study
21.921.7
22.3
21.721.5
20.920.921.3
20.720.4
19.419.6
19.8
19.118.7
17.0
18.0
19.0
20.0
21.0
22.0
23.0
English Math Reading Science Composite
National National Core or MoreCore or More
National Ave. National Ave. (Total)(Total)
National National Less than Less than CoreCore
Core Curriculum:Core Curriculum: 4 Units – English4 Units – English3 Units – Math3 Units – Math3 Units – Social 3 Units – Social StudiesStudies3 Units – Nat. Sciences3 Units – Nat. Sciences
Source: 2004 ACT High School ProfileSource: 2004 ACT High School Profile
ACT Test PreparationACT Test Preparation The best preparation is a solid high The best preparation is a solid high
school curriculumschool curriculum ACT includes four curriculum-based tests ACT includes four curriculum-based tests
-- English, Math, Reading, and Science -- English, Math, Reading, and Science Become familiar with the ACT test content Become familiar with the ACT test content
and formatand format Review your PLAN results to identify Review your PLAN results to identify
academic weaknessesacademic weaknesses
ACT Test PreparationACT Test Preparation
Learn appropriate test-taking Learn appropriate test-taking strategiesstrategies
Use ACTive PrepUse ACTive Prep®® – ACT’s test – ACT’s test preparation software programpreparation software program
Take ACT’s free practice testTake ACT’s free practice test Visit the ACT website at www.act.orgVisit the ACT website at www.act.org See your counselor for other test See your counselor for other test
preparation materialspreparation materialsSource: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
Remember, test scores are Remember, test scores are only ONE factor used for only ONE factor used for college admission and college admission and scholarship decisionsscholarship decisions
Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
Consider College Consider College CharacteristicsCharacteristics
Majors & Majors & educational educational programsprograms
Type of school & Type of school & degrees offereddegrees offered
Admission policyAdmission policy
Location & sizeLocation & size Costs & financial Costs & financial
aidaid College affiliation College affiliation
& accreditation& accreditation Campus activitiesCampus activities Support servicesSupport services
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Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
List, Compare, and Visit List, Compare, and Visit CollegesColleges
Compile information from several Compile information from several resources:resources:– Internet/WebsitesInternet/Websites– College catalogs, bulletins, videos, and College catalogs, bulletins, videos, and
computer-based services computer-based services (DISCOVER(DISCOVER))
– College representatives & college fairsCollege representatives & college fairs– Counselors and teachersCounselors and teachers– Parents, students, and alumniParents, students, and alumni– Directories and ACT score reportDirectories and ACT score report
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List, Compare, and Visit List, Compare, and Visit CollegesColleges
Prepare a college comparison Prepare a college comparison checklistchecklist
Weigh advantages & disadvantagesWeigh advantages & disadvantages Contact the office of admissionContact the office of admission Schedule appointments for your Schedule appointments for your
campus visitscampus visits
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Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
Every campus has a Every campus has a “personality” “personality”
Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
Checklist for a Campus VisitChecklist for a Campus Visit
Meet with an Admission CounselorMeet with an Admission Counselor Verify admission requirementsVerify admission requirements Determine actual college costsDetermine actual college costs Ask about financial aid opportunitiesAsk about financial aid opportunities Take a campus tourTake a campus tour
Checklist for a Campus VisitChecklist for a Campus Visit
Investigate your academic program(s)Investigate your academic program(s) Attend a classAttend a class Talk with students and facultyTalk with students and faculty Discuss your chances for success:Discuss your chances for success:
– admissionadmission
– graduationgraduation
– placementplacement
Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
Apply for Admission and Apply for Admission and Observe DeadlinesObserve Deadlines
Narrow your choicesNarrow your choices Review college admission test Review college admission test
requirementsrequirements Know application fees and deadlinesKnow application fees and deadlines Know scholarship requirementsKnow scholarship requirements
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Apply for Admission and Apply for Admission and Observe DeadlinesObserve Deadlines
Submit application materials (paper/ Submit application materials (paper/ electronic)electronic)
– Application for admissionApplication for admission
– High school transcriptHigh school transcript
– RecommendationsRecommendations
– Admission test resultsAdmission test results
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Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
Keep accurate records!Keep accurate records!
Develop a Plan to Finance Develop a Plan to Finance Your EducationYour Education
Determine college costsDetermine college costs Investigate Investigate ALLALL possible resources possible resources
– ParentsParents– SavingsSavings– Summer earningsSummer earnings– Financial aid: scholarships, grants, Financial aid: scholarships, grants,
loans & work-studyloans & work-study– Other sourcesOther sources
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Develop a Plan to Develop a Plan to Finance Your EducationFinance Your Education
Secure necessary forms and Secure necessary forms and note deadlinesnote deadlines
Apply for financial aid as early Apply for financial aid as early as possibleas possible
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Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
Don’t eliminate any college Don’t eliminate any college because of costs before because of costs before
receiving financial receiving financial assistance information!assistance information!
Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
What Does Postsecondary What Does Postsecondary Education Cost?Education Cost?
Budget Items Colleges – Estimated Costs2-Year Public Private
Tuition & Fees
Room & Board
Books &SuppliesTransportation
Miscellaneous
Total Budget
Review and Finalize Your Review and Finalize Your PlansPlans
Show initiative and be assertiveShow initiative and be assertive Talk with your parents and counselorTalk with your parents and counselor Select a college that meets your Select a college that meets your
needs and preferencesneeds and preferences Follow up with colleges to which you Follow up with colleges to which you
have appliedhave applied
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Source: ACT College Planning Guide
College Success FactorsCollege Success FactorsTest scores and high Test scores and high school grades are school grades are important . . .important . . .
. . . However, they . . . However, they measure only part of measure only part of your “potential”your “potential”
Source: ACT College Planning Guide
Keep in mind…Keep in mind…making sound decisionsmaking sound decisions
will lead to will lead to satisfying and successful satisfying and successful
experiences! experiences!
Source: Source: ACT College Planning GuideACT College Planning Guide
Planning for CollegePlanning for College Planning for CollegePlanning for College