College-Application-Experience-presentation

College: The Experience Getting There Defining Goals, Navigating High School Amy Bencomo Prospect High School College & Career Specialist March 2019 OVERVIEW ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● FACTS TIPS BEFORE YOU GET STARTED HIGH SCHOOL YEARS USE OF EXTRA TIME DEFINING “FIT” COLLEGES RESPONSIBILITY TYPES OF COLLEGE APPLICATIONS FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS MANAGING STRESS RESOURCES LIST OF DEGREES OVERVIEW Degree Level Type of Degree Time to Complete Undergraduate Associate's degree years Undergraduate Bachelor's degree years Graduate Master's degree - years Graduate Doctoral degree 5-7 years Graduate Professional degree 5-7 years https://study.com/list_of_degrees.html FACTS ● 4,000 colleges in the US ● You not need to attend one of the top 50 schools to be successful ● If you pass all of your high school classes, you qualify for admittance to a 4-year college ● California Community Colleges are FREE for 1st year, full-time students HARDEST COLLEGES TO GET INTO TOP RANKED US COLLEGES #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14 #15 #16 #17 #18 #19 #20 Harvard University Yale University Stanford University MIT Princeton University CalTech University of Pennsylvania Brown University Dartmouth College Duke University Williams College Georgetown University Cornell University University of California, Berkeley Columbia University Amherst College Bowdoin College University of Chicago Pomona College Northwestern University $69,600 $71,290 $69,109 $67,430 $66,150 $68,901 $71,715 $71,050 $71,827 $71,764 $70,650 $71,580 $70,321 $65,003 $74,199 $71,300 $68,070 $75,735 $69,725 $72,980 Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Public Private Private Private Private Private Private Source: https://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/list/#tab:rank #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14 #15 #16 #17 #18 #19 #20 Harvard University Stanford University CalTech Yale University Princeton University MIT University of Chicago Columbia University Vanderbilt University University of Pennsylvania Brown University Duke University Northwestern University Dartmouth College Pomona College Harvey Mudd College Minerva Schools Johns Hopkins University Claremont McKenna Coll Rice University 5% 5% 8% 6% 7% 8% 8% 7% 11% 9% 9% 11% 11% 11% 9% 13% 2% 13% 9% 15% 1430-1600 1380-1580 1510-1600 1420-1600 1400-1590 1460-1590 1450-1600 1410-1590 1420-1590 1380-1570 1370-1570 1380-1570 1400-1560 1350-1560 1340-1540 1420-1580 1400-1570 1320-1490 1410-1570 https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/hardest-to-get-in/ COLLEGES WITH MOST APPLICATIONS School UC—Los Angeles UC—San Diego UC—Irvine UC—Berkeley UC—Santa Barbara UC—Davis New York University CSU—Long Beach Boston University San Diego State University Number of applications 102,242 88,428 85,102 85,057 80,319 70,214 64,007 61,806 60,825 60,697 rank 19 (tie) 41 33 (tie) 22 (tie) 30 (tie) 38 (tie) 30 (tie) 42 (tie) 127 (tie) https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-list-college/articles/colleges-that-received-the-most-applications TIPS BEFORE YOU GET STARTED Agree to only discuss college applications or search just once a week Establish a college budget and stick to it (cost of applications, visits, testing, and attendance)* Visit as many schools as reasonable and possible Use resources available through high school’s college & career center Enjoy the experience! *fee waivers are available for testing and college apps Some students take HS level classes their 8th grade year & those should be mentioned on college app, but otherwise what you in middle school is just for fun 8th Grade Limited AP courses are available, join a club, consider having a job, visit local colleges and walk on campus to get a “feel” for college life Freshman Develop study excellent habits, opt to take honors courses, play on a team, not all colleges look at freshman grades Sophomore Maintain rigorous course load, enter year with college list complete and essays written over summer, sustain GPA until graduation (some college rescind offer if grades dip) Junior Senior Most important year - want to have have examples of rigorous coursework, community involvement, and clearly expressed interest in what you hope to study in college UC/CSU Application Requirements (consistent with most college admission & high school graduation requirements) Resource:http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/fr eshman/requirements/a-g-requirements/index.html A History/Social Science - 2+ years including of World, of US and/or Government B English - years of college preparatory English C Mathematics* - 3+ years including topics covered in basic and advanced algebra and two-and three-dimensional geometry D Laboratory Science - 2+ years of laboratory science in at least of the disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics E Language Other than English - 2+ years of the same language (other than English) F Visual/Performing Arts - 1+ years of dance, music, or visual arts G College Preparatory Elective - 1+ years (additional year of any requirement above or other elective) * CSUs are adding a 4th year of math requirement (for Class of 2025) Colleges know and understand the rigor of classes offered at each school and what is required to graduate ● ● ● ● ● ● ● UCs/CSUs only look at 10th and 11th grade years Most privates look at 9th, 10th, 11th UCs/CSUs limit GPA bump consideration to AP classes UCs/CSUs will only use A-G classes to calculate GPA Besides rigor & grades, testing is part of application review (SAT &/or ACT) Extracurriculars are considered for most schools Essays/PIQs are opportunities to piece everything together RESPONSIBILITY Students are responsible for making sure applications are complete! ● ● ● ● ● ● Plan ahead with testing (including subject tests) Know deadlines & requirements of each college application Ask for letters of recommendation weeks (months!) in advance (make sure to write thank you notes!) Plans enough time to write PIQs/essays AND have them reviewed (do not make your procrastination someone else’s emergency!) Make accounts/portals with each school (this is how schools communicate with you and measure your interest) Confirm all supporting documents are prepared, sent, and received (school report, letters of recommendation, transcript, test scores, etc) “A student about to leave home should be able to manage their college applications on their own.” COLLEGE ADMISSION OPTIONS Regular Admissions - This is the most common option for four-year colleges and universities All students must submit their applications by a specific date, usually between November and January The admissions board then reviews all the applications and sends out acceptances and rejection letters on the same date Rolling Admissions - Common at large state universities, schools that provide rolling admissions allow students to apply at any time during their admissions period; typically, September through July The school then evaluates each college application as it’s received and sends acceptance letters to students who meet their requirements Since admission is granted on a first-come, first-serve basis, you’ll want to submit your application as early as possible Early Decision - Under this admissions program, you agree to attend this school if accepted, and you can’t apply to any other college or university If you receive an acceptance letter, you must withdraw any other applications to other schools Since this option is binding, you need to be sure about your choice and realistic about your application Make sure you get your guidance counselor’s opinion before you submit an application with early decision Early Action - Like early decision, you are applying only to your top-choice school However, unlike early decision, you are not bound to attend if accepted and you can apply early action to more than one university You can accept an offer as soon as you receive it or wait to make your final selection in the spring after you’ve found out where else you’ve been accepted https://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advice-tips/FC3F1C62/College-Admissions-Options-Early-Decision-Early-Action-Rolling-Regular/ COLLEGE APPLICATION PREP WORK ● ● ● ● Essays - who are YOU outside of academics? This is what you will be spending the bulk of your essays writing about Know the platform of applications (i.e UC, Common App, Coalition) and how much writing is required for each school Know how to report grades, keep copy of transcript handy TIP: have or personal descriptors (i.e compassionate, nature-lover….) ● ● ● ● Your writing should be concise, yet eloquent Essays are meant to piece together your GPA, extracurriculars, and interests Essays are longer and can have more narrative than UCs Personal Insight Questions which are meant to be more direct UCs/CSUs have you self-report grades on application, most others require transcripts TIP: as you prepare for ACT/SAT, make a habit of becoming familiar with new words and have them become a part of your everyday vernacular FINANCING COLLEGE ● Know your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) before applying to college ○ ● Complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) fall senior year (open Oct - Mar 2) ○ ○ ○ ● ● This is a good time to have a family discuss about who is paying for college and what is expected from the student Federal aid is distributed on a first come, first served basis Even if you not think you will qualify, many colleges consider your application incomplete until they received your FAFSA information Having a FAFSA on file with school each year is beneficial in case of catastrophic family change (layoff, death, injury) CSS Profile - required by many private schools, similar to FAFSA Scholarships!!! ○ ○ ○ Merit scholarships can make a private school more affordable than a state school Need scholarships - Many scholarships are awarded based on Financial Need These scholarships require completion of the FAFSA All Need-based scholarships are awarded for one year only, but students may reapply each year Colleges and high schools are excellent resources https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/expected-family-contribution-calculator OTHER EXPENSES While tuition, room & board is public knowledge for every institution, there are many additional expenses to consider ● ● ● ● Books and lab fees are always underestimated Travel to and from school each semester (will you come home for break?) Gas and parking permits (speeding tickets, parking violations) “Fun” money - students should not be expected to stay exclusively on campus only dining on cafeteria food for the entirety of college ADDITIONAL SUPPORT: Work study, loans, summer jobs Try this game at home! https://www.timeforpayback.com/ Stress ● ● ● ● ● ● AP/Honors Classes Keeping pace with GPA Peer Pressure Cost of testing and applications High Expectations from parents and students Viewing college applications as process, not experience Already teens face an enormous amount of stress Typically, the college application experience only adds to their anxiety This may be the most stressful time of a teen’s life Parents role is to be a resource to ease stress, not the cause of it PARENTS AS RESOURCE Additional causes or instigators of stress: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Time management, organization skills Lack of sleep Lives not their own, less control, multiple people to report to (parents, teachers, employers, clubs) Hormones, emotions Cyber persona and bullying Fitting in vs Being Unique Independance Fear of failure, “Am I good enough” Perceived expectations Do not want to disappoint parents Coping mechanisms (drugs, alcohol) PLANNING HELPS WITH STRESS COLLEGE APPLICATION EXPERIENCE This is the perfect opportunity to teach values and leave student with a lifetime of skills Prepare your child to leave home confident knowing where the family stands on important issues Maximize your time together in a positive way Have a plan - start early, seek help (lots of resources online and at every school) Communication is key - verbally make time to speak together as a team The environment at home is influential and will help student discover the “right fit” school Set up a routine of just once a week “college talk.” It’s a great opportunity to reinforce family values and make the application experience less stressful and more meaningful College is an experience and you will get out what you put into it So, no matter where you attend, your commitment is the most important factor One of my favorite memories is our roadtrip to look at schools WHAT RECENT APPLICANTS WISHED THEY HAD KNOWN: ● Had I had access to a mentor, I could have made a much more informed choice and seen college as a means to larger goals ● I wish I had started writing essays earlier My essays improved with each application so my regular decision essays were much better than my early action ones ● Applying early makes you eligible to more scholarships ● It’s not easy to write about yourself! SUGGESTED READING The College Finder by Steven R Antonoff College Admission by Hamlet and Vandevelde Fiske Guide to Colleges – current year comes out every July Colleges that Change Lives by Loren Pope K & W Guide to Colleges for students with Learning Differences The Academic Athlete by Luther Dickson and Packard Laughrea The College Panda’s SAT Essay by Nielson Phu RESOURCEFUL WEBSITES Collegeboard.org – SAT, SAT subject tests, AP tests, CSS financial profile, Big Future for college search, majors, financial info Actstudent.org – register for ACT, test prep Naviance Family Connection college and career research, scattergrams, application UC: admission.universityofcalifornia.edu CSUs: Calstateapply - https://www2.calstate.edu/apply CA Community Colleges: cccco.edu WUE – Western Undergraduate Exchange: wiche.edu/wue Colleges that change lives: ctcl.org Collegexpress.com for additional college searches based on Antonoff book Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Fafsa.ed.gov National Center for Education Statistics: nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ Government college scorecard - collegescorecard.ed.gov What to with a major: myplan.com/majors/what-to-do-with-a-major.php Cappex.com – scattergrams on college acceptance nationwide Virtual campus tours: ecampustours.com Test optional colleges: Fairtest.org Student athletes: ncaa.org/student-athletes Learning and attention issues - understood.org COLLEGE FAIRS NACAC College Fair at SCCC - April 6, 2019 WACAC College fair at WVC - May 2, 2019 Colleges that Change Lives - July 29, 2019 CUHSD College Fair - CUHSD FALL NACAC STEM college fair - Santa Clara FALL NACAC Visual and Performing Arts Fair -S San Francisco FALL Where the Class of 2018 went… INDEPENDENT EDUCATION COUNSELORS (IEC) While your local high school will provide excellent support and resources to students on their college application journey, some families are comforted by having added support from an IEC Sue Larminie - suelarminie@sbcglobal.net Shveta Bagade - bagade93@gmail.com Robyn Giffin - nextstep.ec@gmail.com Natasha Bhave - nnbhave@gmail.com Questions?