SDA Back To School Night Grade Level

College Information Sessions9th and 10th grades

September 10, 20095:00 – 6:00 P.M.

SDA COUNSELING STAFF

• A – G Ann Nebolon• H – O + AVID Candice Rolfsmeyer• P – Z + EL Vicki DeJesus• Secretary Angelica Corona• College & Career Nadine Coune

Center

AGENDA

• a – g requirements• Testing• Types of Colleges• What Do Colleges Want?• What Does Your Student Want?• What Can Your Teen Do?• What Can You Do?• What Can SDA Counselors Do?

You can find almost all answers to your questions on our website athttp://sduhsd.net/sd and then click on “Counseling”

Our Counseling Connectionfor information about:Upcoming eventsCareer Exploration CollegeTestingScholarships (for all grade levels)

UC/CSU a-g Subject Requirementsa. History/Social Science 2 years required

b. English 4 years required

c. Mathematics 3 years req, 4 recAlg I, geom, Alg II

d. Laboratory Science 2 years required 3 rec1 yr. phys, 1 yr. bio

e. World Languages 2 years req, 3 rec.

f. Visual/Performing Art 1 year required

g. College Preparatory Elect 1 year required

a – g continued

• Must earn a grade of “C” or better in each quarter of the courses

• These “minimum” requirements allow a student to apply to college. More than the minimum requirements will create a better opportunity to be accepted by the college of his/her choice.

UC’s and CSU’s count only these a-g classes in determining their grade point averages, with a weighted point for all AP classes and Honors Pre-Calculus.

TESTINGSAT and ACT

• Almost all 4 year colleges require and accept either the SAT Reasoning Test or ACT + Writing

• Selective colleges also require (2 or 3) SAT Subject Tests

• UC’s new policy beginning with the high school graduation class of 2012: Two SAT Subject Tests will no longer be required for admission. However, students can still choose to submit their scores for consideration as part of their application, just as they do now with AP scores. The Subject Tests also may be recommended for certain majors.

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Testing Continued from previous page

• SAT: Critical Reading, Math and Writing each worth 800 points for a possible total SAT score of 2400 (1500 is the national average)

• ACT: English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning each worth 36 points. A Composite Score is the average of the four tests. (21 is the national average)

• More information can be found at www.act.organd www.collegeboard.com

Types of CollegesCOMMUNITY COLLEGE Certificate, Associate’s

Degree, Transfer Program to 4 year colleges

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate Degrees

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate Degrees

PRIVATE/ OUT OF STATE COLLEGESCertificate, Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate Degrees

Community College

• 100 campuses in California; many with housing• Admission requirements:

High School Graduate or age 18• SAT and ACT are not required• Placement Tests in math and English: SDA field

trip to Mira Costa senior year• Mira Costa Ambassadors • Apply in spring of senior year

California State University System

• 23 campuses; Cal State San Marcos is SDA’s affiliate campus

• Transfer partners with California Community Colleges

• Admission Requirements:– High grades– UC/CSU a-g subject requirements– SAT Reasoning Test or ACT + Writing– Apply Oct. – Nov. senior year

University of California System• 10 campuses• Transfer partners with California Community

Colleges• Admissions Requirements:

– High Grades in a-g subjects; honors and AP classes are helpful

– SAT Reasoning Test or ACT + Writing– 2 SAT Subject Tests (Not required beginning with Class of 2012)

– Essays– Extra-curricular activities are helpful– Apply Nov. of senior year

Private Colleges• 75 campuses in California • Admission Requirements vary, but most recommend:

– High Grades in college prep classes; Honors and AP classes are helpful

– SAT Reasoning Test or ACT + Writing; highly selective colleges require 2 or 3 SAT Subject Tests

– Essay– Letters of recommendation– Extra-curricular activities are helpful– Application dates vary

WHAT DO COLLEGES WANT? Application + success after acceptance!!!

• Rigorous courses (more than the minimum UC/CSU a-g requirements), especially junior and senior years

• High grades• High SAT/ACT test scores• Extra-curricular activities (quality over

quantity)• Insightful and well written essay

WHAT DOES YOUR STUDENTWANT?

“Good fit” or “good college”?

Personal inventory:• What are her/his strengths and

weaknesses?• What are his/her positive/negative high

school experiences?• What is her/his learning style?

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• Why does s/he want to go to college?

• What does s/he expect to get out of college?

• What type of college does s/he want to attend?

• Distance from home• Size of school • Urban/suburban/rural• Weather • Academic challenge• Diverse student body • Interaction with professor

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What is Important to Him/Her?:

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• Major• Class size• Big name school• Dorm life• Social opportunities• Sports/clubs/activities• Cost

What S/He Can Do…• Take the most rigorous courses s/he can every year

including senior year.

• Earn the highest grades s/he can every term

• 9th graders should explore a variety of extra-curricular activities; sophomores should start to focus on one or two extra curricular activities about which they become passionate

• Take the practice Kaplan ACT/SAT tests on September 26. (Register at the SDA Finance Office, $15)

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What Can S/He do?

• Take the PLAN on Wed. Oct. 14 during the school day. Pre-register at SDA Finance Office ($22) or tonight!

• Take the PSAT on Sat. Oct 17. Pre-register at SDA Finance Office ($22)

• Attend Performing & Visual Arts College Fair• Sun., Oct. 18, 2009 from 1 to 3:30p.m. UCLA, Ackerman Union, Grand Ballroom; www.nacacnet.org/fairs

• Attend the San Diego National College Fair each spring at the Convention Center.

What Can S/He do? continued

• Attend North County College Fair, Oct. 6 at Oceanside HS

• Create a 4 Year Plan and update it annually. (Oct. 5-9)

• Do something rewarding during the summers: take a class, learn a new hobby, volunteer, etc.

• Explore careers.

• Read our Counseling Connection every two weeks.

• Check out our Counseling website often.

What Can You, As A Parent, Do?

• Encourage your teen to do his/her best in whatever s/he attempts.

• Encourage your teen to discover his/her strengths.

• Encourage your teen to self advocate.

• Help your teen feel comfortable having meaningful conversations with other adults.

What Can You, As A Parent, Do? cont

• Visit college campuses during vacations.

• If you haven’t done so yet, start a college savings account.

• Read our Counseling Connection every two weeks

• Check out our Counseling website often

How Can SDA Counselors Help You and Your Teen?

• We will be glad to help with anything.

• Parents may call Angelica Corona for an appointment. Usually appointments are after school so the student can attend also.

• Students with questions can drop in to see us before or after school or during lunch without an appointment.

• We will provide important information on our Counseling webpage.

• We will provide information sessions, like this one, throughout the years for you and your teens.

• This Powerpoint presentation will be on our Counseling webpage early next week.

• Thank you for coming and enjoy your Back To School Night?