Junior College Guidance Night

May 31, 2011

Mr. Luke Sferra, High School Counselor (A-K)

Mrs. Katie Dahm, High School Counselor (L-Z)

Mrs. Ah Young Chi, College/Career Counselor

Your resources for college planning

•CCC website•CCC calendar on the web•MHS eNews mailing list to sign up•Naviance Family Connection•College and Career Center!

Postsecondary Options

•4-year college or university (Bachelor degree)–Public: UC or CSU–Private: over 70 in California–Out of State Public or Private: over 3,000

•2-year college (Associate degree, career training or transfer)•Trade or technical school (varying degrees and certificates)•Military•Work•Gap year (concrete plan with a destination in mind for the 2nd year, usually)

By now…

•You have begun the college search process and have a working list of colleges to apply to

•You are researching these schools and refining your college list

•You have taken the SAT or ACT (and maybe even the SAT Subject exams)

•You have visited a couple of schools over winter or spring breaks

•You have met with Mrs. Chi at least once to discuss your post-secondary plans

College Admission Testing Timeline

College Applications & Requirements

Simple Guidelines for Applying to Colleges

Application Deadlines

•Rolling Admission•Regular Decision•Early Action•Restrictive Early Action•Early Decision

What are colleges REALLY looking for?

•Success in challenging curriculum•Have you taken advantage of the opportunities at your school?•This doesn’t mean taking EVERY Honors and AP courses that we offer at MHS•MESSAGE: FINISH STRONG THIS SEMESTER!!!

•Meet other entrance requirements•MESSAGE: PAY ATTENTION TO REQUIREMENTS & DEADLINES

•Are you and the college a good match for each other?•MESSAGE: YOU HAVE MUCH OF THE CONTROL

Letters, Forms & Deadlines for MHS

•Most private schools require at least 1 letter of recommendation, from teacher or counselor•Many private schools require Secondary School Report form to be completed by the high school counselor•Before students can request letters and forms, students and parents must complete the Brag Sheet •What is a Brag Sheet?•Brag Sheet is available for download in Naviance•Find instructions on Guidelines for Requesting Counselor and Teacher Recommendation Letters also in Naviance

Counselor Packets

•Students must provide counselor with the following:– Completed Brag Sheet – Secondary School Report form, signed and waived, for each school – Official transcript for each school (get transcript from Ms. Morgan)– 9”x12” envelope, stamped (3) and addressed, for each school– Paper clip materials into appropriate piles and submit them together to Mr. Sferra or Mrs. Dahm

•DUE: Oct 1 for Early Applications & Nov 1 for Regular Decisions•Counselors will send following materials to each college: completed Secondary School Report, official transcript, letter of recommendation, and MHS Profile

Teacher Recommendation Letters

•Students must provide each teacher with the following:– Completed Brag Sheet – 1 unofficial transcript for teacher’s review (Ms. Morgan)– Teacher Evaluation form, signed and waived, for each school – regular size envelope, stamped and addressed, for each school– MHS Request for Letter of Recommendation form (in Naviance)– Paper clip materials into appropriate piles and submit them together to each teacher

•DUE: Oct 1 for Early Applications & Nov 1 for Regular Decisions•Teachers will send following materials to each college: completed Teacher Evaluation form and letter of recommendation

So what should I be doing NOW?~ STUDENT ~

•Do well in your classes - #1 goal•Your transcript (grades and coursework) is the most important factor in admission decisions•Nothing replaces the importance of your transcript•Make up all D and F grades

•Junior Year “Prep for College” Calendar•Make sure you have an appropriate email address•Make sure your email address is correct/updated in Naviance•Get on the mailing lists of colleges you’re interested in•Remember that YOU are in charge of this process; vast majority of colleges want YOU more than you want them

So what should we be doing NOW?~ PARENTS~

•Sign up for MHS eNews mailing list•Allow your student to take the lead•Offer positive support•Stay in touch with their progress•Remind your student of deadlines•Get familiar with Naviance Family Connection•Coffee with the Counselors

Looking ahead to the Senior year…

•College rep visits to MHS•College counselor visit to classrooms•More individual meetings with college counselor•12th Grade College Night•College essay review sessions (individual and free)•College Essay Workshop (evening, fee required)•College application workshops (lunch time)•Coffee with the Counselors for parents continues•Financial Aid Night

Scheduled Events

Program/Activity Date

Summer SAT prep course @ Boys & Girls Club August 8-18, 2011

SAT prep course for October SAT Begins August 20, 2011

Classroom guidance in Senior English classes September 6-7, 2011

12th Grade College Guidance Night September 13, 2011

SAT Bootcamp: One-Day Workshop for October SAT September 17, 2011

UC and CSU applications open October 1, 2011

College Essay Workshop (6-8 p.m. with fee required) October 5, 2011

UC and CSU applications DUE November 30, 2011

Financial Aid Night December 6, 2011

Naviance Family Connection

•Detailed information on Naviance Family Connection:•www.malibuhigh.org/naviance

•To log into NFC account:•https://connection.naviance.com/malibu

•NFC Quick Reference Guide is available after you log in

Questions?

Mr. Luke Sferra, High School Counselor (A-K), lsferra@smmusd.org

Mrs. Katie Dahm, High School Counselor (L-Z), kdahm@smmusd.org

Mrs. Ah Young Chi, College/Career Counselor, achi@smmusd.org