Shepherds Grove High School. Eligibilty Step 1: Graduate HS with all the requirements Acceptance Step 2: Accomplish criteria desired by colleges.

COLLEGE PLANNING SEMINAR:FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORES 2013

Shepherds Grove High School

FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE: 2 PARTS

Eligibilty Step 1: Graduate

HS with all the requirements

Acceptance Step 2: Accomplish

criteria desired by colleges

STEP 1: GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL WITH ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS

So what are the High School Graduation Requirements?

QUICK REVIEW: GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

• A passing grade of “D” or better are required to graduate, but colleges want “C” grades or better•Graduation requirements are the minimums and do not guarantee eligibility or entrance to any particular college

A- History/Social Science 3.5 years (4 years Recommended)

B- English 4 years (5th year optional)

C- Mathematics 2 years (Algebra-Geometry)3-4 years recommended

D- Laboratory Science 2 years (Biology-Chemistry)3-4 years recommended 5th Year optional

E-Language Other than English

1 year (2-3 years Recommended)

F- Visual/Performing Arts 4 years

G- College Prep Elective 1 year

Bible 4 years

Physical Education 2 semesters

Community Service 20 per year = 80 hours total

Bare Minimum to Graduate HS vs. Recommended Minimum to Attend College

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION 4 YEAR COLLEGE/ ADMISSION

Has minimum requirements, but also recommendations above minimum

Passing Grade= C or better

Vary from college to college

Specific majors will require additional requirements

Based on minimum requirements for all students

Passing Grade= D or better

Same for all students

Specific majors will require additional requirements

Do I have to take every single class offered in High School?NO

What else should I focus on?YOUR INTERESTS

YOUR TALENTSWHAT WILL HELP YOU IN YOUR FUTURE CAREER AND MAJOR

WHAT WILL CHALLENGE YOU THE MOST

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO DO THE MINIMUM IF YOU WANT TO GO TO

COLLEGE IN THE FUTURE

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS V. COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS

High School Graduation

Minimum UC/CSU Requirement

Recommended UC/CSU Requirement

A- History/Social Science

3.5 years (Econ optional)

2 years Including 1 year of world history/geography; & 1 year of U.S. history

4 YEARS

B- English 3 years 4 years 4-5 YEARS

C- Mathematics 2 years (Algebra-Geometry)

3 years Including Algebra 1, Geometry, & Algebra 2

4-5 YEARS

D- Laboratory Science

2 years (Biology-Chemistry)

2 years Including Biology, Chemistry, or Physics

4-5 YEARS

E-Language Other than English

1 year 2 years 3 years

F- Visual/ Performing Arts

4 years 1 year 4 YEARS

G- College Prep Elective

1 year 1 year/2 semesters of any college prep elective

1-2 YEARS

Bible 4 years No specific requirement

Physical Education

2 semesters No specific requirement

HIGH SCHOOL IS MORE THAN JUST GRADES AND CLASSES…

Although completing the courses required is the first major step to being prepared for college, several other important activities should take place during High School if college is in your future:

Extra-Curricular Activities Sports, Plays, Clubs, NHS,

ASB, Church, etc Academic Opportunities

outside of the classroom Volunteering, Internships,

Jobs, Classes Pursuing YOUR Interests

What do you love to do? Standardized Tests

SAT, ACT

ONCE HIGH SCHOOL IS OVER, HOW DO I GET INTO COLLEGE?

STEP 2: ACCOMPLISH CRITERIA DESIRED BY COLLEGES

What exactly are colleges looking for?What should I be looking for in a college?

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

Seniors fill out applications October-November of senior year

Most require a fee ($60 per UC, $75 per Common App)

Students self report grades, activities, leadership, & test scores

Many require counselor reports and/or teacher recommendations

Students must send official test scores (ACT, SAT) and AP Scores (about $12 per school to send SATs from College Board)

Most applications are due December 1 and seniors can expect to hear back from colleges mid-March

We recommend students apply to several safety, target, and reach schools

EARLY DECISION VS. EARLY ACTION

Early Decision: You agree to attend the college if

it accepts you and offers an adequate financial aid package. Although you can apply to only one college for early decision, you may apply to other colleges through the regular admissions process. If you're accepted by your first-choice college early, you must withdraw all other applications. Usually, colleges insist on a nonrefundable deposit well before May 1.

Early Action: Early action plans are similar

but are not binding, unlike early decision. If you’ve been accepted, you can choose to commit to the college immediately, or wait until the spring. Under these plans, you may also apply early action to other colleges. Usually, you have until the late spring to let the college know your decision.

Application Type Binding Can Apply Early to Other Colleges

Can Apply to Other Colleges Under Regular

AdmissionsEarly Decision Yes No Yes

Early Action No Yes Yes

STANDARDIZED TESTING

UC and Most Colleges require ACT+ Writing or SAT Reasoning Tests

Some majors at some colleges require or recommend SAT Subject tests as well

SAT /SAT Subjectwww.collegeboard.com/sat Next Test: October 5 $50/$23 per subject

testACT/ACT Writing

www.act.org Next Test: November $35/$50.50 with

writing

ACT VS SAT

The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.

The ACT has up to 5 components: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing Test. The SAT has only 3 components: Critical Reasoning, Mathematics, and a required Writing Test.

The College Board introduced a new version of the SAT in 2005, with a mandatory writing test. ACT continues to offer its well-established test, plus an optional writing test. You take the ACT Writing Test only if required by the college(s) you're applying to.

The SAT has a correction for guessing. That is, they take off for wrong answers. The ACT is scored based on the number of correct answers with no penalty for guessing.

PREPPING FOR THE TESTS

Sign up for “Question of the Day” emails or a “SAT Study Plan” to help you prep at

PAYING FOR COLLEGEType of College Average Cost

Private 4 year (USC, Chapman, Biola, Cal Baptist, Hope)

$32,000/year

Public 4-year, OUT OF STATE(Florida State,Texas A&M)

$22,000/year

Public 4 Year (CSU Fullerton, Cal Poly, UC Irvine, UC Berkeley)

$10,000/year

Public 2 year (Santa Ana College, OCC, Cypress College)

3,500/year

Stats from College Board, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/college-costs/college-costs-faqs

• About two-thirds of all full-time undergraduate students receive grant aid. • In 2008-09, aid in the form of grants and tax benefits averaged • $2,300 per student at public two-year colleges• $3,700 at public four-year colleges• $10,200 per student at private four-year colleges

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID

Gift Aid Self-Help Aid

GrantsBased on Cost of Attendance & Espected Family Contribution

Work-Study

ScholarshipsBased on performance/application

Loans

Stats from College Board, http://www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/add-it-up/4494.html

• About two-thirds of all full-time undergraduate students receive grant aid. • In 2008-09, aid in the form of grants and tax benefits averaged • $2,300 per student at public two-year colleges• $3,700 at public four-year colleges• $10,200 per student at private four-year colleges

STEPS FOR FINANCIAL AID1. Search for scholarships throughout junior/senior year

www.apps.collegeboard.com/cbsearch_ss/welcome.jsp

www.fastweb.com

www.collegeanswer.com/paying/scholarship_search/pay_scholarship_search.jsp

www.educationplanner.org

2. When choosing colleges to apply to, contact a financial aid advisor to ask about costs and aid available

3. Fill out FAFSA January 1 to be eligible for all financial aid

4. Fill out Cal Grant Application by Marchof Senior year

5. After a college sends an acceptance letter, it will send a financial aid package, around April of senior year, containing Grants. Compare these carefully before making your decision

BIGFUTURE.COLLEGEBOARD.COM

College 101 College Search Applying 101 MAKING YOUR SENIOR YEAR COUNT

FINAL SUMMARY: Graduating High School with the best grades, classes, activities, experiences, and effort that I can is

important!

WHAT ARE COLLEGES LOOKING FOR?

• HIGH SCHOOL GRADES • DIFFICULTY AND CHALLENGE OF HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES•EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES• SAT/ACT TEST SCORES•WHO YOU ARE:• WHAT YOU DID WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU HAD

IN HS• WHAT INITIATIVE YOU TOOK TO FOLLOW YOUR

DREAMS, GOALS, AND TALENTS