One SIZE does not FIT allCollege Planning Night

for Students & Parents

February 24, 2015

TonightTarget

•How to assist your student in researching post-secondary

options and identifying best FIT.

Review: Did you know?• For the NCHS class of 2014:• 81% enrolled in 4-yr college; 17% in 2-yr• 2% joined Military or Vocational or GAP• Top 5 college choices for Class of 2014

– College of DuPage (117)– Illinois State University (67)– University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (51)– Indiana University (20)– University of Missouri (19)

Testing• State ACT (March 3)

– Illinois State Test – ACT w/ writing– Students registered on FEB 19th with counselors

• ACT (NCHS Class of 2014 average 25.2)– Remaining spring dates: 4/18 & 6/13

• SAT Reasoning Test– Remaining spring dates: 3/14, 5/2, 6/6

• SAT Subject Test– Some highly selective schools will require 2-3– Taken concurrently with subjects– Remaining spring dates: 5/2, 6/6

• AP: Advanced Placement– Not an admissions test– May be accepted by colleges to award college credit

Best School?

Best Fit?

To generate a plan, consider. . . • Size• Location

– Distance from home– Urban, Suburban, Rural

• Admissions Selectivity• Private vs. Public

– Two Year – Four Year

• Major – Academic Programs• Campus Activities• Cost

NCHS College & Career Center

Located in Student Services Open 7:30-3:30 daily.

Several Thursdays evenings 6:30-8:30PM. Remaining Dates: 3/5 & 4/9

Coordinator: Mrs. Jean Childers

• Visit with College Representatives• One on One Assistance• Help with Naviance accounts• Scholarship Information• College Applications, Catalogs & Guides

College Visits

•College Presentation Pass

• Name _______________________• Student ID __________

__________________________• Name of College

• Date ____________________• Period __________________

• Please sign below to indicate you are aware that this student will be attending this college presentation.

• _______________________________

• Teacher Signature

NAVIANCE SIGN-UP LINK

NEW COLLEGE VISIT PROCEDURE Sign up for visits on NavianceFill out Pass and get teacher to signVisits are in College & Career Center

Sign up College Date

sign upNorthern Illinois University

2/27/2014 11:32

sign up College of DuPage 3/4/2014 7:45

sign up Univ. of Illinois - Chicago 3/4/2014 9:40

sign up Iowa State University 3/4/2014 10:36sign up Benedictine University 3/5/2014 10:36sign up Univ. of Illinois at Urbana 3/5/2014 14:20sign up Eastern Illinois University 3/6/2014 9:40

sign upColumbia College

3/10/2014 13:24

sign upUniversity of Nebraska

3/18/2014 10:36

sign upSouthern Illinois University

3/18/2014 11:32

sign upUniversity of Minnesota

3/24/2014 11:30

sign upBradley University

3/26/2014 10:36

sign upWestern Illinois University

3/27/2014 11:32

sign upMarquette University

4/16/2014 10:49

sign upPurdue University

4/17/2014 14:20

Naviance TasksJunior Year• Sign up for College Rep. Visits in CCC• Complete tasks under My Assessments

within About Me tab• Search for College, Careers and

Scholarships

Senior Year• Manage College applications• Request transcripts

A Realistic College Search Includes

• “Reach” school• “Target” school• At least one “safety” school

– Academic safety– Financial safety

• How many applications– Varies by student!– Ideally, 3-6 schools

Scattergrams: Show GPA & ACT scores of past NCHS graduates who were accepted, denied, or waitlisted(example: Southern Illinois University - Carbondale)

Profile for 5th semester GPA Data for the Class of 2016

725 student in class• Highest GPA = 4.811

• 90% = 4.189• 75% = 3.889• 50% = 3.441• 25% = 2.938

VISITING COLLEGES

There is no substitute for seeing a college yourself!

• Prepare questions• Schedule a Tour• Sit in on a class

Take advantage of long weekends, spring break & summer vacation

• Eat in the cafeteria• Stay overnight• Talk to students

Schedule Visits

Tips for Parents

Do’s• Take them to see

colleges.• Proofread applications

and essays without re-writing.

• Research financial aid and contact the financial aid offices.

• Fill out FAFSA with

Tax return information.

Don’t• Don’t do their applications

for them.• Don’t write their essays

for them. • Don’t force them to apply

to colleges “to see if they can get in”.

Tips for STUDENTs• Treat college search and college application

process like a part time job

• Start college applications early in senior year

• Maintain CORE academic classes to be competitive for college admission

• Take senior year seriously: – Senior GRADES COUNT

Upcoming Junior Events• Junior Conference with Counselor

– February through May

• College Planning Guide• National College Fair, Monday 3/23/14

Illinois Regional College Fair Hosted by North Central College

• State ACT w/ writing– March 3 2015

Feedback for tonight’s event requested– Survey Monkey

1) Selective Colleges/Universities University of Notre Dame Rm. 82 – Orchestra Exit Front Auditorium Doors

2) Big 10 Public Universities University of Nebraska - Lincoln Auditorium Remain Seated

3) Small Private Colleges/Universities Illinois Wesleyan University Rm. 84 – Choir Exit Auditorium Back Doors

4) Community College College of DuPage Rm. 86 Exit Auditorium Back Doors 

Breakout Sessions – SELECT THREE sessions to attend throughout the evening7:25 - 7:50 p.m. Breakout Session I7:55 – 8:20 p.m. Breakout Session II 8:25 – 8:50 p.m. Breakout Session III

5) State Universities in Illinois Western Illinois University Rm. 83 - Band Exit Front Auditorium Doors

6) Music / Performing Art University of Illinois Rm. 85 – Black Box Theatre Exit Front Auditorium Doors

7) Arts & Visual Media Colleges School of Art Institute Chicago Rm 75 Exit Front Auditorium Doors

8) Military Academies College and Career Center Exit Auditorium Back Doors

Dismissal to Breakout Sessions