College Counseling

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College Counseling

• Important Contacts
• Jill Kelly-Anson jillk_at_rfsd.k12.co.us
• Bo Takarabe btakarabe_at_rfsd.k12.co.us
• Bob Willey bwilley_at_rfsd.k12.co.us
• bhscounseling.pbworks.com

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Before you begin.

• (take a deep breath..there is a school for
  everyone)

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Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

• Choose your classes wisely your senior year
• Pay close attention to deadlines
• Set yourself up to be the best candidate possible
  (remember there are lots of you out there!)

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Some quotes from the people who decide.

• We like to see 4 hard core academics your senior
  yearThe best predictor of success is 4 years
  of math
• -CU Admissions officer

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Minimum Academic Requirements per CU major

• College of Arts Sciences
• English.4 years
• Math.4 years
• Science3 years including chemistry or
  physics
• Social Science..3 years
• Foreign language.. 3 years

• Leads School of Business
• English 4 years
• Math.4 years
• Science.3 years (including chemistry or
  physics)
• Social Science..3
• Foreign language..3
• Academic Elective..1

Notice the difference between the colleges
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What do they want from me anyway?

• a glimpse into what colleges look for

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What Colleges Look At

• Transcript classes taken and grades achieved
• Grade Point Average
• Class Rank
• Test Scores ACT, SAT I/II
• Recommendations
• Application questions and essays
• Resume
• Community Service
• Extracurricular Activities

• Special talents, skills, interests leadership
  abilities
• Major or area of interest
• Personal interview
• Communication with college demonstrating interest
• Ethnic Status
• Alumni Relationship to college
• Geographic location, where you live
• Familys ability to pay
• Special concerns illness, handicap, family issues

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Community service ideas

• Key club
• Habitat for humanity
• Buddy program
• Tutoring

• Roadside clean-up
• FBLA
• Church programs
• Trail work

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Planning to Apply

• Testing
• Researching Schools
• Choosing a Major

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Testing
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What test do I take?

• ACT
• Colorado, Midwest, Mountain schools
• writing costs extra
• some students find this test more manageable
• 32 w/out writing
• 47 with writing

• SAT/SAT II
• necessary for private schools and some state
  schools outside of CO
• often used by schools on the common application
• writing is included
• 45 SAT I
• 20 per reasoning test

fee waivers available for those who qualify
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ACT

• Includes English, Reading, Math, Science
• Writing is optional (additional charge)
• Mandatory at end of Junior year/ No writing
  section
• Can be retaken during Senior year
• Perfect Score 36
• National Average 20.0

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ACT Test Datesact.org
Date Registration Deadline Late Registration
Oct 24 Sept 18
Dec 12 Nov 6

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SAT I/II
SAT I Includes Verbal, Math, and Writing Perfect
Score 2400 SAT II Subject tests (plan to
take these after appropriate
course work) Can take up to 3
per test date Perfect Scores depend
on test
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SAT Test Dates 2008collegeboard.com
Date Registration Deadline Late Registration
Oct 10 Sept 9
Nov 7 Oct 1
Dec 5 Oct 30
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Researching Colleges

• Where do I begin?

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Questions to Ask Yourself

• What do I want to get out of college? What are my
  goals for my college education?
• Where in the country/world do I want to be?
  Colorado? East Coast? West Coast? Midwest? Does
  it not matter to me?
• What type of location do I want to be in? Urban
  (big city)? Rural? Suburban? College town?
• What size school do I want to be at? Big
  University? (25,000 or more), Smaller College?
  (1000-3000 students)
• Do I want to be at a public or private school?
  (remember- sometimes private schools have more
  money to offer)

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More questions...

• What do I think I might study? Do want a school
  that has a variety of majors to choose from? Do
  you want a school that has something very
  specific that may not be offered at many schools
  (ie occupational therapy or video game design?)
• What activities do I want to pursue in college?
  Sports? Art? Music? Clubs? Study Abroad?
  Summer programs?
• What can I afford?
• Do I want to start at a two-year school or
  four-year school?
• Utilize www.collegboard.com- college search

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Learning about Colleges

• College Handbooks (i.e. Fiske Guide, Colleges
  That Changes Lives)
• College Catalogs
• College Fairs
• College Visits
• Other students
• Reach College Counseling Sessions
• www.collegeboard.com

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College Fairs

• Glenwood Springs High School
• October 8, 2009
• 600- 730 pm
• Western Slope College Fair
• October 4
• 1100-200 pm
• Aspen High School
• Christian College Fair
• Sept 28-Oct 1
• 630-830
• www.yfcdenver.org

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Tips for a College Fair

• Pre made Name/address cards
• Find out schools in attendance
• Highlight schools to visit first
• Know appropriate questions

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College reps to BHS

• Sept 16- Univ. of Northern Colorado
• Sept 17-Univ of Colorado-Colorado Springs
• Sept 18-University of Colorado-Boulder
• Sept 29- Sierra Nevada College
• Oct 2- De Pauw College
• Oct 8- Colorado State University

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Checklist for College Visits

• meet with an admissions counselor
• verify admission requirements
• determine actual college costs
• ask about financial aid opportunities
• take a campus tour
• investigate your academic program(s)
• attend a class
• talk with students and faculty
• stay in a dorm
• ask yourself how do I feel here?
• discuss your chances for success
  
  .admission .graduation .placement

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Choosing a Major

• Dont worryyou dont have to choose yet

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If You Dont Have Any Idea

• Look at your interests
• Take the Choices Interest Inventory
• Look at PLAN results
• Take an online inventory
• Collegeboard.com- college search
• remember college students change their major
  many times during their college career

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Other things to Consider

• WUE Program
• Family
• Transportation costs

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The Application Process

• (a piece of cakeif you stay organized)

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Applications

• In state applications are in counseling office
• Out of state call or email for admissions
  packet
• Common Application (a great resourceuse it!)
  www.commonapp.org

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When you apply you will need(for most schools)

• Resume (refer to BHS College Handbook)
• 2 Letters of recommendation (ask at least two
  weeks in advance)
• Personal Statement (should give to counseling
  office 2 weeks prior to deadline)
• Check for application fee
• 5 (one time fee to BHS for processing)
• This along with completed application and
  supplements should be turned in to Linda in the
  counseling office (transcripts and test scores
  will be attached and sent.)

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Some Terms to Know
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Early Decision/aka Binding

• this is an agreement with the school that if you
  are accepted you will attend
• only apply ED if you are sure
• it may be easier for students to get in ED
  (admissions officers want to fill their classes
  with the best)
• you will not know your financial aid status
  before you are accepted...however you may be able
  to change your status if the package they give
  you will make it difficult for you to attend

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Early Action/ non- binding

• Students can apply early but are not bound to go
  to school
• Good for students who are pretty sure where they
  want to attend but still want the option to
  change their mind
• Still a better chance of acceptance
• Most will roll-over to regular admissions if
  not accepted

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Common Application

• An application for over 400 different schools
  (usually private)
• Colleges recognize the common application equally
• Please remember to check the supplemental
  application (as each school asks for different
  materials)

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Rolling Admissions

• Applications are reviewed as they are received

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Attention College Athletes
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NCAA

• Students must submit application to play Division
  I II
• Students must have taken at least 17 academic
  classes during high school
• Athletic Director has applications
• April 23rd ACT does not qualify for NCAA

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Show Me the Money!

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How much will college cost?

• CMC-living at home- 2,500/year
• Mesa State- 13,000
• CU/CSU- 19,000
• DU/CC-45,000
• Out of state state schools- 20-40,000
• Includes room/board, books, fees, tuition

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Financial Aid

• FAFSA
• CSS Profile
• Scholarships

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FAFSA

• www.fafsa.ed.gov
• In order to receive any financial aid (loans or
  grants) the FAFSA must be completed
• Parents should complete by the February 15, 2009
• Parents must have completed 2008 taxes
• Fill out the pre-application beforehand, it
  will make the other application easier
• We will have a FAFSA workshop January 20 2010 at
  630 PM at BHS

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CSS Profile(easy as pieand worth the time!)

• Primarily for private colleges (including
  Colorado College!)
• Register at www.collegeboard.com
• Click on paying for college
• Then click on css/profile online
• You will need a list of the colleges you are
  applying to and a credit card
• DEADLINE December 1, 2009

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Scholarships

• Submit FAFSA
• Watch the scholarship board at BHS
• Watch BHS Counseling Website
• Local scholarship form handed out in February
• www.collegeboard.com
• www.scholarships.com

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Now the wait begins
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Reminder

• Colleges look at your 2nd semester grades so
  watch out for senioritis!

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And the envelope please

• is it fat? is it thin?

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Congratulations!

• You are going to college!

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Once you have been accepted

• Look at financial aid packages from all of the
  schools you have been accepted
• Once you have decided where you are going please
  notify the counseling office so we can send your
  final transcripts
• Notify the school you will be attending before
  May 1 (and send in your enrollment deposit!)
• Celebrate!!!
• Keep in touch.