11th & 10th Grades College Guidance
BHHS Classes of 2017 & 2018
A U G U S T 3 1 , 2 0 1 5
C O L L E G E C E N T E R W W W . T I N Y U R L . C O M / B H H S C O L L E G E C E N T E R
C O U N S E L O R S W W W . T I N Y U R L . C O M / B H H S C O U N S E L O R S
Agenda
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College guidance overview for Sophomores & Juniors
College admissions process Post-secondary options with college systems & types
College entrance requirements
Subject/course (a-g) requirements
Extracurricular involvement
College admissions testing
What should you be doing? Juniors
Sophomores
Parents
Upcoming events summary
College Guidance Overview for Sophomores
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Theme: Exploration and Self Discovery
Goal: Continue to get to know yourself and invest in yourself as well as your future. Building upon the Freshman year, continue to explore interests and get involved in extracurricular activities, continue to challenge yourself in areas that you are strong in and have an interest in, prepare for rigorous classes in 11th grade, learn about what colleges are looking for, learn about different types of colleges and universities, learn about college admissions testing and its role in college admissions.
College Guidance Overview for Juniors
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Theme: Investigation and Making Connections
Goal: Start to define yourself as well as your post-secondary plans by investigating post-secondary options. Building upon the last two years, start to define your interests and engage deeper in extracurricular activities while taking leadership roles, prepare for rigorous classes in 12th grade, learn college requirements in detail, engage in a meaningful college search to build an appropriate college list, take the SAT or ACT at least once by the end of the year, take SAT Subject tests if needed, brainstorm college essay ideas.
College Guidance Activities
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Evening programs College Connections Fair with workshops
Highly Selective College Admissions Case Studies
Most are already scheduled and on the website calendar
Classroom guidance lessons
College admissions testing PSAT: October 14, 2015
SAT & ACT Strategy Workshop with mock testing: November 2015
College Admissions Testing Night (February) with practice exams
College Monday Workshops: every Monday during lunch
Coffee with the Counselors (parents only): once a month
GPA Game
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I need 8 volunteers.
Please come to the stage!
College Admissions…
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Is usually never predictable.
Has lots of limitations like: Factors you have no control over (some applicant’s last name is on
the library and that’s no coincidence).
Getting the “best” grades does not always lead to acceptance.
Is not just about the numbers (numbers are important!)- what you do in and out of the classroom matters. Find balance with passion.
Let YOU drive the college search process.
Find the best college for YOU.
Don’t conform to what you think colleges want you to be; just be YOU.
Getting to know YOU
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The better you know yourself, the easier it is to make the right choices about your future.
It is never too soon to start planning for your future:
What do I like/dislike? (Interests)
How do I describe myself? (Personality)
What am I good at? (Skills)
What am I truly passionate about? (Values)
What are some ways to get to know yourself?
Getting to know YOU
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Naviance Family Connection (more on this later)
Take interest and personality inventories (Naviance)
Take a class that interests you
Volunteer in a field you find interesting
Find an internship or a job in a career you want to learn more about (great way to spend your summer!)
Get to know different types of colleges
Post Secondary Options
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Four-year college or university (Bachelor degree) Public: UC or CSU
Private: over 75 in California
Out of state public and private: over 3,000
Community college Associate degree
Career training
Transfer to 4-year school (no longer called “2-year college”)
Career technical training (varying degrees & certificates)
Gap year (concrete plan with a college in mind for 2nd year)
Military or employment
So Many Different Types of Schools
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Private or public (refers to funding source)
Liberal arts colleges or research university
Size
Location
Selectivity
Specialty: academic, gender, religion, culture
Services: learning differences, transportation, special housing, dietary restrictions
Rah-rah!
University of California
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10 campuses but San Francisco is graduate only
Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate degrees
Research & theory based curriculums
Competitive admissions with many highly selective campuses
To be eligible: 3.0 GPA, A-G courses, SAT or ACT with Writing, personal statements, list of activities & honors
Not required/accepted: SAT Subject exams (some majors “highly recommended”), recommendation letters, transcripts
Application filing period: Nov 1–Nov 30 (available Aug 1)
To apply: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply
California State University
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23 campuses Bachelor and Master degrees First institution of higher education established by the
State of California, originally created to train teachers To be eligible: 2.0 GPA, A-G courses, SAT or ACT (no
Writing) Not required/accepted: SAT Subject exams, essays,
recommendation letters, transcripts Application filing period: Oct 1–Nov 30 To apply: www.csumentor.edu Many CSU’s are impacted and very difficult to get into!
Like… Cal Poly SLO, San Diego State, Long Beach, San Francisco State
Private Colleges & Universities
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75+ private colleges and universities in California
3,000+ in US (including public schools)
All vary in admission requirements and application deadlines
Application requirements: official transcript, official test scores, essays, activities & honors, recommendation letters, interview, portfolio/audition
Use Common Application or Universal College Application
Early Admission Plans: Early Decision vs. Early Action vs. Restrictive Early Action (more info click HERE)
National Candidates Reply Date: May 1
Out of State Public Institutions
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3,000+ colleges and universities in US (including private schools)
Many operate on rolling admissions plan
Many offer non-selective or slightly selective admissions with non-impacted majors
Many have low out-of-state tuition
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE): tuition discount for California students
Don’t forget about Honors programs/colleges at public schools: rigorous academics in large, research universities that offer small liberal arts college experience
California Community College
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112 campuses in California
Associate degrees (many lead to careers)
Transfer to 4-year school (to obtain Bachelors degree) CSU or UC: must complete 60 semester units or 90 quarter units
(equivalent to 2 years of full time studies)
Most private schools: 30 semester units or 45 quarter units okay to transfer (check with each college and major)
Articulation agreements or TAG are available for most schools- use www.assist.org
VERY important to plan for transferring- it is NOT an automatic 2 year plan!- use UCTAP
Apply to community college by February/March of Senior year- use www.cccapply.org
Searching for the Right School for You
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Reflect on yourself: your strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, your values, your wishlist, etc
Visit colleges: start now, incorporate visits into your vacations, visit local schools to see the differences in college campuses (size, location, etc)
Read guidebooks and useful websites: guidebooks available in the College Center and school library, list of available books and useful websites on College Center website, use Naviance Family Connection
What Are Colleges Looking For?
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1. Succeed in college’s curriculum Success in challenging curriculum at high school
Have you taken advantage of the opportunities at your school?
2. Thrive in the college’s environment Extracurricular involvement
Leadership experience, dedication, long term commitment
3. Challenge the faculty while you’re there Intellectual engagement and curiosity
Do you like to learn for learning’s sake?
Institutional priority: legacy, athletics, diversity, other special talents, money, well rounded class
Meet other entrance requirements
College Entrance Requirements
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Required subjects/A-G courses
GPA & passing grade of C in required courses
Standardized tests SAT or ACT (both accepted at all schools)
SAT Subject exams
TOEFL for English learners
Extracurricular involvement and/or job experience
Essay or personal statement
Interview, portfolio, or audition
Recommendation letters from counselor & teachers
= “HOLISTIC” review of application (except for Cal States)
Subject/A-G Requirements
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(a) History/Social Science: 2 years (3 years for BHHS)
(b) English: 4 years
(c) Math: 3 years (4 years recommended)
(d) Lab Science: 2 years (3-4 years recommended)
(e) Language other than English: 2 years of same language (3-4 years recommended)
(f) Visual and Performing Arts: 1 year of same genre
(g) College prep elective: 1 year
= 15 units
Subject/A-G Requirements
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UC/CSU minimum eligibility 15 units
UCLA average for Fall 2014 admits 27.5 units (applicants: 26 units)
UCLA average for Senior year courses for Fall 2014 admits 6 units (applicants: 6 units)
Source
Extracurricular Involvement
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School related: ASB, yearbook, journalism, sports, music, theater, clubs, academic decathlon, robotics, etc
Community service
Work experience, paid or unpaid
Internships, paid or unpaid
Summer programs and activities
Remember… Quality over quantity
Take LEADERSHIP roles
Plan summer activities wisely- do SOMETHING
You don’t have to cure cancer to be admitted to college! (But it definitely doesn’t hurt.)
Start your resume now
College Admissions Testing
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SAT or ACT with Writing required for most colleges
Which test is right for you?
*And don’t forget that they are changing…
SAT*
• 1/3 Math, 1/3 Reading,
1/3 Writing*
• Maximum 2400 points*
• Guessing penalty*
• March, May, or June – recommended test date for Juniors
• www.collegeboard.com
ACT w/ Writing
• 1/5 Math, 1/5 Science,
1/5 Writing, 2/5 Verbal
• Maximum 36 points
• NO guessing penalty
• February, April, or June – recommended test date for Juniors
• www.actstudent.org
Other College Admissions Tests
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SAT Subject tests Though no longer required for UC eligibility, select
majors/departments will “highly recommend” them
Required for some highly selective schools:
Ex: Harvard, Brown, MIT, Yale, Princeton
Stanford & Georgetown: “strongly/highly recommended”
Best way to prepare: take an AP course in the same subject
Recommended test date: May or June
AP tests not required for admission (but you will self report the scores in the college applications)
www.fairtest.org list of schools with testing optional or flexible policies
October 14, 2015: PSAT
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PSAT = Preliminary SAT
PSAT = NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) only when taken during Junior year
For all BHHS Juniors and Sophomores on October 14
Why take the PSAT as a Sophomore? Practice for the SAT and next year’s PSAT which is NMSQT
Receive information from colleges
AP Potential
To sign up- Sophomores only: Go to House B and sign up in the PSAT binder
Go to Student Store (in person or online) and pay ($39 this week)
Mock PSAT & Workshop recommended for both grades
PSAT Results & College Admissions Testing Night
JUNIORS: SAT vs. ACT – Choose the Right One
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1. SAT & ACT Strategy Workshop: November 7, 2015
2. Full length practice SAT or ACT: November 14, 2015
3. Full length practice SAT or ACT: November 21, 2015
*All three events are fundraisers for the PTSA
There is no pressure because these are mock exams
Results are emailed to you within a few days of the exam
Use the results to determine which test is right for you
Use the results to study for the real test (YES, you must study!)
JUNIORS: College Admissions Testing Timeline
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Oct 14, 2015
• PSAT
Nov 2015
• Practice SAT
• Practice ACT
Feb 2016
• ACT • 1st time
March 2016
• SAT • 1st time
April 2016
• ACT • 1st or 2nd
time
May 2016
• SAT • 1st or 2nd
time • SAT
Subjects
June 2016
• SAT or ACT
• 1st or 2nd time
• SAT Subjects
Fall 2016
• ACT, SAT, SAT Subjects
• Retake as needed
What Should STUDENTS Be Doing Now?
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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
Get connected to College Center: emails via Jupiter Grades, like on Facebook, subscribe to Mrs. Chi’s page
Get familiar with Naviance Family Connection
Attend college rep visits & get to know colleges
Attend evening events and College Monday Workshops
What Should STUDENTS Be Doing Now?
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Sophomores
Sign up for and take PSAT
Explore interests and careers; get to know yourself!
Get involved in extracurricular activities
Juniors
Prepare for college admissions testing
Engage in college search process
Continue involvement in extracurricular activities and take on leadership positions
Naviance Family Connection
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1. Log in: https://connection.naviance.com/bhhs
Username: 5-digit BHHS ID number
Passowrd: student (unless you changed it)
If you don’t remember your password, email your counselor
2. Update email address
Tip: use the same email address for all things related to college
Make sure your email address is appropriate
3. Sign up for college rep visits
Click on “colleges”
Click on “view all upcoming college visits” then “sign up”
Get permission from your teacher to miss class!
Naviance Family Connection
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3. Tasks appropriate for Sophomores
Resume (“about me”)
Game Plan (“about me”)
Personality type and interest profiler (“about me”)
Explore career clusters (“careers”)
4. Tasks appropriate for Juniors
College search or SuperMatch college search (“colleges”)
Start building “colleges I’m thinking about” list (“colleges”)
Personality type and interest profiler (“about me”)
Resume (“about me”)
Game Plan (“about me”)
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Here you can watch videos, review admission information, link to the school’s website, and even begin
the application!
If you are interested in a school, click here to add it to your colleges
I’m thinking about list.
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Here you can keep track of colleges you are interested in,
rate your level of interest, view upcoming application deadlines,
and transfer schools from colleges I’m thinking about, to
colleges I’m applying to. You can also research
other colleges and scholarship opportunities.
College Rep Visits to BHHS
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About 150 college and university reps visit our school each year
Great way to get to know the school and the admission rep who will read your application
Most updated list is in Naviance
If you want to attend a college rep visit:
Sign up in Naviance
Get the gold permission slip signed by your teacher prior to the day of the visit
Gold forms available in House offices and College Center
What Should PARENTS Be Doing Now?
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Stay connected to College Center: emails via Jupiter Grades, like on Facebook, subscribe to Mrs. Chi’s page
Allow your students to take the lead (but a little positive nudge here and there is encouraged)
Offer positive support
Stay in touch with their progress, academic and social
Get familiar with Naviance Family Connection
Coffee with the Counselors
Attend evening events hosted by College Center
Take your students to college campuses
Sign your student up for PSAT (Sophomores only)
Upcoming Events
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View and subscribe to
BHHS website calendar
for all upcoming
college center activities!
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