Timeline to Making a College Decision · 9 Know Your Numbers: GPA, Rank, & Strength of Courseload...
Transcript of Timeline to Making a College Decision · 9 Know Your Numbers: GPA, Rank, & Strength of Courseload...
Timeline to Making a CollegeDecisionSteps Students in Grades 10-12 Must Take Before Entering College
BRYAN CONTRERASVice President of K12 & Partnerships, myOptions
MELISSA CAPERTONDirector, American College Application Campaign
How to Build a Balanced College List
Bryan Contreras
Vice President | K12 & Education Partnerships
MyOptions
AboutUR ENIM AD MINIM VENIAM
myOptions, a non-profit organization, is the nation’s largest free college
and career planning program. Our voluntary platforms offer free assistance
and valuable resources to students, parents/ guardians, mentors and
educators nationwide.
www.myoptions.org
OUR PURPOSE
Our Program Approach
• Serves students, educators, and mentors.
• Provides a mobile app for students.
• Delivers personalized college and scholarship
information.
• Produces reporting and progress monitoring tools
for educators.
Student Web ExperienceUPDATED CONTENT, SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH, AND NEW DASHBOARD
Student Mobile ExperienceUPDATED CONTENT, SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH, AND NEW DASHBOARD
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How to Start the College Search Process
College Search is a Journey
Students should consider the “life cycle” in building a
balanced college list.
० It takes time. Build a calendar.
० Self-exploration & self-reflection
० Team beats individual…Don’t do this alone!
Know Your Numbers
Students need to use data and information
in building a college match list.
० GPA, Rank, and Test scores
० Strength of high school course load
० Research college admissions
requirements
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Initial List Balanced
ListMatch List Final List
Life Cycle of Building a College List
1. This process takes time for students and families, and for some can take months and multiple semesters.
2. Students should utilize all their resources: parents/ guardians, teachers, school counselors, mentors, coaches, and
online data sources.
3. Students that spend time working on these lists early and often will ultimately enroll in a stronger “match” college,
which leads to higher persistence and completion rates.
9 / 10th 11th 12th Early Fall
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Know Your Numbers: GPA, Rank, & Strength of Courseload
• GPA is based on your grades, attempted credits and strength of courseload in high school.
• Class Rank is based on your GPA and how you compare to other students in your graduating class.
• Strength of course load Did you take the hardest courses offered at your high school? **Very important…colleges will receive a high school profile sheet from all high schools.
• You will use all your academic data to build a final college list.
• You want to maintain or increase your GPA, and you want to keep a full courseload.
• You will be awarded scholarships based on your academic achievements.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? HOW DO THESE FACTOR INTO A “BALANCED” COLLEGE LIST?
Grades 11 & 12Grades 9 & 10
Which High School Courses Should I Take?
On Level vs Advanced
In general, the more
selective the college, the
stronger your high school
course load should be. Be
sure that your GPA
increases & that you
maximize course offerings.
Dual Credit
For some students this will
help students earn college
credit while still in high
school, which can help
keep college more
affordable and shorten
completion times.
Electives & Athletics
These courses and
expereinces build unique
skills and knowledge that
students can use to help
shape college lists.
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How do co-curriculars, community service, and
part-time jobs help shape college lists?
Self-Exploration
All three experiences give
you a chance to dig deep
and learn more about
yourself. Colleges are all
different, and each will
require you to contribute in
different ways.
Build Relationships
You will forge new
friendships, learn to work
through conflict, and
connect with your peers or
adults outside the
classroom.
Exposure & Visibiity
You will learn about people,
places, jobs, and careers
through your interaction
with your community
outside of school. People
also learn more about you.
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What Do I Need to Know About College Choice & Affordability?
For 9th and 10th Graders:
Students should know that college is a match to be
made not a prize to be won!
० Colleges reward hard work ethic and grades
० Financial need vs merit based aid
० Keep your families and school mentors
closely aligned
For 11th and 12th graders:
Students should know that college is a match to be
made not a prize to be won!
० GPA, Rank, and Test scores- all matter!
० FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid)
० Keep affordability in focus as you build a
balanced college list
० Don’t surprise your family or school mentors!
Preparing for and Completing College Applications
• Research and building your list
• Collecting the information
• In-person support
• Next Steps
Research & Building Your List
• Three things to consider:– Match (Reach, Match, Safety)
– Fit
– Cost
• Number of applications
• Resources to support research
College Research Worksheet available under “Student Resources” at:
https://equityinlearning.act.org/acac/resources/site-coordinator-materials/
Collecting the Information
• Know the deadlines
• Commonly asked questions
• Transcripts, essays,
recommendation letters, test
scores
• Resources to support
College Application Worksheet available under “Student Resources” at:
https://equityinlearning.act.org/acac/resources/site-coordinator-materials/
In-person Support
• American College
Application Campaign
• Support preparation and
completion of applications
• School and community
support
Registration available for schools in spring 2020 at: https://equityinlearning.act.org/acac/
Next Steps
• Application fee
• Completing application
• Connecting with colleges
• FAFSA completion
Next Steps for Students After Applying available under “Student Resources”
at: https://equityinlearning.act.org/acac/resources/site-coordinator-materials/
Thank you
BRYAN CONTRERAS
Vice President of K12 & Partnerships, myOptions
MELISSA CAPERTON
Director, American College Application Campaign