© MEFA - All Rights Reserved 2 Welcome! College and careers – why now?? This is important We will help (MEFA, founded in 1982 by the Massachusetts State.

© MEFA - All Rights Reserved2

Welcome!

College and careers – why now?? This is important We will help

(MEFA, founded in 1982 by the Massachusetts State Legislature, is a non-profit state authority that works to make higher education more accessible and affordable through community education programs, college savings plans, and low-cost financing options. )


The Reality

Public Education in the United States (source – The College Board’s Report of the Commission on Access, Admissions and Success in Higher Education)

Rate at which American students disappear from school between grades 9 and 12 has tripled in the last 30 years with the loss of students between grades 9 and 10 being the greatest

High school graduation rates have fallen from about 77 percent in 1971-72 to 67 percent today

The USA, which led the world in HS completion rates throughout the 20th century, ranked just 21st out of 27 advanced economies in 2005

We rank near the bottom of industrialized countries in completion rates after students have enrolled in college

While we are still 2nd among developed nations in the proportion of workers over the age of 55 with a postsecondary credential, we drop to number 11 among younger workers (age 25-34)

THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP- low-income student population


The Reality

The good news… While the national statistics seem ominous, particularly in

urban areas, there is much to be optimistic about here in Plymouth

PPS graduation rate is historically between 85-90%, 75% of our students go on to college (this includes tech

students of which about 40% go directly to work) Our students go on to some of the most selective

colleges and universities in the country Our Vocational-Technical Studies program is state-of-

the art and provides a truly comprehensive education



Why Go To College?

Over 60% of current Massachusetts jobs require education after high school.

College graduates have more career options.

Source: College Board, Education pays 2007 and U.S. Census Current Population Survey, 2006


What Are the Options?

4 Year Private

4 Year Public

Community College

Vocational/Trade School

Military

There are over 3,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. and over 100 in Massachusetts!


How To Prepare During Middle & High School

Academic preparation

Develop necessary skills for college and career

School and community involvement

Standardized tests

College explorations

Meet with your school counselor!


Academic Preparation in Middle School

Improve study and note taking skills

Develop organization and time management skills

Maintain extracurricular reading list

Stay after school for extra help


Make An Academic Plan

Course plan recommended by MA Department of Higher Education to prepare for college and career.


At Our High Schools…

9th and 10th grade Honors Classes College Preparatory Classes (CP1, CP2) Electives

11th and 12th grade Honors, CP1, CP2 Advanced Placement Classes Virtual courses Dual Enrollment Clubs and Organizations


A Sample Four-Year Plan

GRADE 9 GRADE 10 GRADE 11 GRADE 12

ENGLISH ENG I HENG I CP1ENG I CP2

ENG 2 HENG 2 CP1ENG 2 CP2

AM LIT HAM LIT CP1AM LIT CP2

WLD LIT APWLD LIT HWLD LIT CP1WLD LIT CP2

SOCIAL STUDIES

WLD HIST HWLD HIS CP1WLD HIS CP2

U S HIST I HUS HIST CP1US HIST CP2

U S HIST APUS HIST HUS HIST CP1US HIST CP2

MATH GEOM HALG I CP1ALG IA CP2

ALG 2 HGEOM CP1GEOM CP2

PRE CAL HALG 2 HALG 2 CP1ALG 1B CP2

CALC AP/H/CPIPRECAL H/CP1ADV ALG CP1ALG 2 CP2

SCIENCE INT SCI HINT SCI CP1INT SCI CP 2

BIOLOGY HBIOLOGY CP1BIOLOGY CP2

CHEM HCHEM CP1EARTH SCI CP1

FOR. LANG( NO REQFOR GRAD)

SPAN 1,2 FRENCH 1,2LATIN 1,2

SPAN 1,2,3FRENCH 1,2,3LATIN 1 2,3

SPAN 2,3,4FREN 2,3,4LATIN 3,4

HEALTH/ PE

YESYES

YESYES

NOYES

NOYES

ELECTIVES


Get Involved

Joining a few extracurricular activities that you are interested in allows you to…

Meet new people

Learn new skills

Make a difference

Be a leader

Have fun!

School Newspaper, Sports, Student Government, Volunteering, Art, Theater, Music, After-School Job


Standardized Tests

PSAT

SAT

SAT Subject Tests (SAT II)

ACT

MCAS

Where are the tests offered?

When?

Which tests should I take?


Learning About Colleges

Academic programs

Opportunities in activities and sports

Size & setting

What’s important to

me?


Career Research & Searching for Colleges

Career Cruising – www.careercruising.com (8th ,10th and 11th grade)

Username- plymouth Password- south

Mass CIS Jr – www.masscis.intocareers.org (7th graders) www.plymouth.k12.ma.us www.collegeboard.com www.mefacounselor.org College Fairs – local, regional, national

Plymouth College Fair at PSHS each fall College guides, view books and websites Friends and family


Visiting Colleges

Informal vs. formal campus visit

Look beyond the publications.

Visit when students are on campus.

Ask questions of everyone!


Introduction To Financial Aid

Grants and Scholarships Need-based vs. Merit Based Federal, State, College or University Outside Scholarships

Loans Must be repaid May be a parent or student loan

Work-study Student is asked to find a job on/off campus to earn funds

www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov


Some Final Thoughts…

Information overload Harness technology effectively and usefully Take some time to close the laptops, shut off the cell phones and ipods Facebook/MySpace – pitfalls of social networking Students need to engage in intentional learning

Find reliable on-line resources Encourage off-line reading (books, research-based information) Learn how to use the school and public libraries

Focus on depth of learning- mastery of learning objectives How to think critically, analyze, respond, react and reason

*Your involvement in your children’s education is critical



Our message to students

Remember…

You can go to college!

You can find help paying for college!

You can pursue the career of your dreams!

© MEFA - All Rights Reserved 2 Welcome! College and careers – why now?? This is important We will help (MEFA, founded in 1982 by the Massachusetts State.

Documents

college graduates

comprehensive education

career school

middle school

college savings plans

school counselor

college boards report

higher education rate