Spring Valley High School College Night

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Spring Valley High School College Night
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COLLEGE

• Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

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LOCATED IN GUIDANCErefer to the Navigator for
more informationwww.richland2.org/schools/svh/
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Accessing Naviance!
You will be given your access code to register!
Connection.naviance.com/springvhs
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Naviance Resources!
Test scores resume assistance
Research Colleges Scholarships
Identify careers Clusters
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Finding The Perfect Fit

• Two questions to be answered
• What are schools looking for in a prospective
  student?
• What should a prospective student look for in a
  college?

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CATEGORIES OF ADMISSION SELECTIVITY

• Its hard for kids to get into colleges because
  they only want to get into colleges that are hard
  to get into.
• Bill Mayher

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Students Should Apply To

• 2 to 3 Safe Schools
• 1 to 2 Competitive Schools
• 1 to 2 Dream Schools

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SUPER-SELECTIVE COLLEGES

• Examples Harvard, Cal Tech, Stanford,
  Princeton, Brown, Yale, MIT, Dartmouth, Amherst
  College, Cornell, Boston Univ.
• 20 or fewer accepted
• gt95 in top 10 of high school class
• Mid 50 score 1390 on the SAT (Critical Reading
  Math) or 30 on the ACT

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Harvard University
2011/12 APPLIED 34,285 ADMITTED 2,032 AVE.
SAT SCORE 1490-1590 AVE. ACT- 31-36
HS Rank 95 top tenth100 top quarter100 top
half
10,265 full time students, 14 part time
2012-2013 tuition/fees/room/board
53,100
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Harvard
Retention Rate 98
Graduation Rate (6 years) 98
Graduation Rate (4 years) 88
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Harvard

• Most Popular Majors
• 49 Social Sciences/History
• 13 Biological/life sciences
• 7 Psychology
• 5 English
• 5 Foreign Languages
• 5 Physical Sciences

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HIGHLY SELECTIVE COLLEGES

• Examples Duke, Davidson, Ga Tech., Wake Forest,
  UNC-Chapel Hill, Furman, Wofford, Emory
• 35 or fewer accepted
• Rank in the top 20 of high school class
• Mid 50 score 1230 on the SAT (Critical Reading
  Math) or 26 on the ACT

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Furman University
2012/13 APPLIED 6,000 ADMITTED - 3080 AVE. SAT
SCORE - 1275 1370 AVE. ACT- 27-30
HS Rank 58 top tenth 85 top quarter 96 top
half
2,761 full time students, 175 part time
2012-2013 tuition/fees/room/board
52,374
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Furman University
Retention Rate 90
Graduation Rate (6 years) 85
Graduation Rate (4 years) 84
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Furman University

• Most Popular Majors
• 23 History/Social Sciences
• 15 Business
• 7 Communications
• 7 Foreign Languages
• 8 Visual/Performing Arts
• 6 Biology
• 6 Physical Sciences
• 5 English
• 6 Parks/Recreation

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Clemson University
2011/12 APPLIED 16,865 ADMITTED 9,724 AVE.
SAT SCORE - 1130 1330 AVE. ACT- 28-30
HS Rank 45 top tenth 84 top quarter 97 top
half
15,459 full time students, 921 part time
2012-2013 tuition/fees/room/board
21,752
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Clemson
Retention Rate 90.5
Graduation Rate (6 years) 77
Graduation Rate (4 years) 50
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Clemson

• Most Popular Majors
• 18 Business
• 16 Engineering
• 9 Education
• 9 Biology
• 8 History/Social Sciences
• 7 Health Professions
• 5 Architecture
• 5 English
• 5 Psychology

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SELECTIVE COLLEGES

• Examples UGA, USC-Columbia, Spelman, Florida
  State, NC State, Presbyterian College, Va. Tech.
• 50 or fewer accepted
• Rank in the top 40 of high school class
• Mid 50 score 1050 on the SAT (Critical Reading
  Math) or 22 on the ACT

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USC- Columbia
2010/11 APPLIED 21,311 ADMITTED 12,914 AVE.
SAT SCORE - 1120 1280 AVE. ACT- 24-29
HS Rank 28 top tenth 60 top quarter 90 top
half
22,311 full time students, 1560 part time
2012-2013 tuition/fees/room/board
20,950
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USC - Columbia
Retention Rate 87
Graduation Rate (6 years) 69
Graduation Rate (4 years) 46
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USC- Columbia

• Most Popular Majors
• 27 Business
• 12 Social Sciences/History
• 7 Communications
• 6 Parks/Recreation
• 5 Health Professions
• 5 Visual/Performing Arts
• 6 Biology/Life Sciences
• 6 Psychology
• 5 Engineering

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College of Charleston
2011/12 APPLIED 11,280 ADMITTED 7,896 AVE.
SAT SCORE - 1120 1280 AVE. ACT- 22-26
HS Rank 31 top tenth 68 top quarter 94 top
half
9,397 full time students, 724 part time
2012-2013 tuition/fees/room/board
19,795
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College of Charleston
Retention Rate 83
Graduation Rate (6 years) 63
Graduation Rate (4 years) 52
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College of Charleston

• Most Popular Majors
• 24 Business
• 14 History/Social Sciences
• 13 Communications
• 10 Biology
• 9 Visual/Performing Arts
• 8 Education
• 7 Psychology

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TRADITIONAL COLLEGES

• Examples App. State, Anderson, Coastal Carolina,
  The Citadel, Claflin, Francis Marion, Converse
• Up to 75 accepted
• Rank in the top 50 of high school class
• Mid 50 score 1010 on the SAT (Critical Reading
  Math) or 18 on the ACT

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Winthrop University
2011/12 APPLIED - 4,511 ADMITTED 2,946 AVE. SAT
SCORE - 950 1150 AVE. ACT- 20-25
HS Rank 20 top tenth 55 top quarter 90 top
half
4,933 full time students, 624 part time
2012-2013 tuition/fees/room/board
19,926
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Winthrop University
Retention Rate 69
Graduation Rate (6 years) 54
Graduation Rate (4 years) 34
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Winthrop University

• Most Popular Majors
• 22 Business
• 17 Education
• 12 Visual/Performing Arts
• 11 Social Sciences/History
• 8 Psychology
• 7 Biology
• 7 Communications

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Claflin University
2011/12 APPLIED 4,204 ADMITTED 1,453 AVE. SAT
SCORE - 770 990 AVE. ACT SCORE- 16-21
HS Rank 26 top tenth 47 top quarter 72 top
half
1831 full time students, 79 part time
2012-2013 tuition/fees/room/board
22,264
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Claflin University
Retention Rate 77
Graduation Rate (4 years) 29
Graduation Rate (6 years) 40
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Claflin University

• Most Popular Majors
• 15 Criminal Justice
• 15 Organizational Behavior Studies
• 15 Sociology
• 9 Communications
• 8 Business

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OPEN COLLEGES

• Examples USC- Beaufort, Benedict, Shaw, Full
  Sail
• Up to 95 accepted
• Rank in the lower 40 of high school class
• Scores below 800 on the SAT (Critical Reading
  Math) or below 19 on the ACT
• Caution you get accepted, you pay, but your
  classes may not be for credit

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WHAT DO COLLEGES LOOK AT?

• ACADEMIC RECORD
• Grades
• Class Rank
• Rigor of curriculum
• STANDARIZED TEST SCORES
• ENGAGEMENT OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
• Extracurricular activities
• Community service
• Work experience

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WHAT DO COLLEGES LOOK AT?

• PERSONAL QUALITIES
• Counselor/ Teacher letters of recommendation
• Essays
• Interviews
• HOOKS AND INSTITUTIONAL PRIORITIES
• Legacy
• Underrepresented race or ethnicity
• Socioeconomic and geographic background
• Donation potential
• Recruited Athlete status
• Exceptional talent

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LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

• First, ask the person if they would write you a
  recommendation and give them sufficient time to
  complete it.
• Provide a copy of your resume to the person who
  is writing your recommendation.
• If sending separately, be sure to give the
  teacher an addressed, stamped envelope and a date
  that the letter is to be mailed.
• Check with them periodically.
• Let your counselor know who will be writing a
  letter of recommendation for you.

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ESSAY

• The essay is important for three major reasons
• 1) It enables the college admissions office to
  evaluate your communication skills.
• 2) It enables the admissions office to learn more
  about you as a person.
• 3) It gives the student the opportunity to share
  something about themselves that the admissions
  counselor can not glean from the application.

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SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTIONS

• Indicate a person who has had a significant
  influence on you, and describe that influence.-
  Common Application
• If you could recommend one work of fiction for
  your classmates, what would you ask them to read
  and contemplate?- UNC
• Write an essay that conveys to the readers a
  sense of who you are.- Columbia University
• Evaluate a significant experience, achievement,
  risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have
  faced and its impact on you.- Common Application

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ESSAY

• DO
• Keep your focus narrow and personal
• Address the prompt
• Be specific
• Edit, Edit, Edit

• DONT
• Dont write a resume
• Dont tell your readers what they want to hear
• Dont use 50 words when 5 will do
• Dont forget to edit!

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Finding What FitsSome Questions To Ask Yourself

• What are my academic interests?
• What kind of student am I?
• How do I learn best?
• What activities outside of class matter most to
  me?
• How important is prestige to me?
• Do I want a diverse college?
• What kind of social and cultural environment
  would I like best?
• Where do I want to live for the next four years?

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WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR IN A COLLEGE?

• Academic reputation
• Size of school
• Geographical location
• Selectivity of school
• 2-3 safe, 1-2 competitive, 1-2 dream
• Financial aid availability
• Academic program availability
• Student body population
• Social atmosphere

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COLLEGE VISIT STEPS

• 1. Research the college.
• 2. Read the campus newspaper available through
  Internet.
• 3. Call admissions at least 2 weeks in advance
  arrange a time when students are on campus,
  arrange a tour, visit the dorms, arrange to meet
  with faculty member in the department of your
  intended major and financial aid officer (ask for
  merit deadlines, financial aid deadlines differ
  from admission deadlines). Follow up phone calls
  with written confirmation (always try to talk
  with the same person, build a relationship).

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COLLEGE VISIT STEPS

• 4. Have lunch in the student union, walk through
  the library, sit on a bench and watch students
  walk by.
• 5. Sit in a class.
• 6. Stay overnight in a dorm with a student.
• 7. Ask students what they like best about the
  campus and what they would change.
• 8. Explore the nearest towns and transportation
  options.
• 9. Write a Thank you note.

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QUESTIONS TO ASK

• What percent of the classes are taught by
  graduate assistants?
• What is the placement record for graduates?
• What percent of the students return after their
  freshman year?
• What is unique about the campus?
• What percent graduate in 4 or 5 years?
• How safe is the campus?

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DIFFERENT ADMISSION TYPES

• Early Admissions matriculate before graduating
  from high school
• Early Action apply and notified well in advance
  of regular date, not committed
• Early Decision apply and notified well in
  advance w/out financial information, if accepted
  must withdraw other applications
• Deferred Entrance postpone enrollment

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COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

• ALL applications and scholarships are to be sent
  from guidance.
• Transcript information will be attached and the
  application is checked for completeness.
• We cannot give you an official transcript, only
  an unofficial one.

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COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

• Turn into guidance at least 5 working days before
  postmark deadline.
• Attach a business-size envelope addressed to the
  school with 3 or more stamps.
• 2.00 processing fee for each official transcript
  (fee waived for students on free or reduced
  lunch) Cash or check made payable to SVHS.

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ON-LINE APPLICATION PROCESS

• Turn in a written request for a transcript (with
  your name on it) to guidance at least 5 working
  days before postmark deadline.
• Attach a business size envelope addressed to the
  school with 2 stamps.
• 2.00 processing fee for each official transcript
  (Cash or check made payable to SVHS).

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PSAT PLAN

• PSAT (pre-SAT) students will take this test in
  10th. 11th Students will need to sign up and pay
  a fee in Sept. (test in Oct.)
• PLAN (pre-ACT) will be given to students in 10th
  grade need to sign up and pay a fee in Sept.
  (test in Oct.)

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Tests Seniors Should Consider Taking

• COMPASS
• ASVAB
• TOEFL
• SAT
• ACT
• SAT II

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SAT OR ACT?????Must have completed
Algebra 2 Apply on-line or come to guidance for
a packet (Complete on your own. It does not have
to come through guidance.)

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SAT ACT
Sections Math Critical Reading Writing Math Reading English Science Optional Essay
Scoring Each section 200-800 Max. 2400 Essay 2-12 Each section 1-36 Max 36 Essay 2-12
Test Length 3hrs and 45 minutes 3hrs and 45 min. w/essay
Essay Required part of test Essay written at start 25 minutes Optional part of test Essay written at the end 30 minutes
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Whats the Difference SAT ACT
Format Multiple choice some completion for math Multiple choice only
Question order Questions presented in order of difficulty within each section Questions randomly ordered within each section
Scoring Basis Random guessing PENALIZED NO PENALTY for random guessing
Online info. www.collegeboard.com www.act.org
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SAT Dates
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SAT SCORES

• Critical
• Reading Math Writing Total
• April 10 620 560 1170
• Sept 11 600 640 1240
• Dec 11 630 620 650 1250/1900
• Best combined score 1270

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SAT Subject Tests

• Check with each school to see what is required.
• Take subject test immediately after completing
  the course.

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ACT Dates
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ACT

• TWO OPTIONS
• Sign up for
• ACT
• OR
• ACT plus writing (recommended)

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ACADEMIC COMMON MARKET

• Students who are interested in a field of study
  not offered by any college or university in South
  Carolina can attend a college within the region
  and pay in-state tuition.
• www.sreb.org/programs/acm/acmindex.aspx