Q: How do you expose students to researching and preparing for college?

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1 Guidance Services Q: How do you expose students to researching and preparing for college? A: We visited students during their 10 th grade English classes to provide a brief introduction to the college/career planning process. Students were also introduced to the Career Plan surveys in sophomore year. The information from these surveys is designed to assist students in beginning a dialogue with their parents, teachers, and guidance counselors toward potential career goals. We build upon that foundation as juniors in visits to Homerooms and Social Studies classes. We use a PowerPoint similar to that used during the junior parent program in September when presenting to students in their social studies classes. We will also speak to juniors in an assembly during the year to review the general process, and again at the beginning of 12 th grade to review procedures. We will be reaching out to students in the Homeroom setting to answer questions they might have with regard to college planning. In addition, students and parents/guardians are welcome to schedule individual appointments with their student s counselor as questions arise. We know that the junior and senior years can be stressful but please know that we are here to help make the process more manageable. Q: How do the guidance counselors check in with students throughout the process to make sure they are on track? A: We provide students with group instruction on needed information throughout the process. During individual meetings we encourage students to continue using Naviance as a very helpful research tool. Eleventh grade students who take full advantage of the information available to them will be able to schedule meetings with visiting college representatives and make individual appointments with their counselor. Students will also be completing their College Recommendation Questionnaire through Naviance in the spring of junior year after which students may schedule individual meetings with their counselor to review the questionnaire prior to the counselor writing a recommendation. These meetings will also provide an opportunity to discuss their plans to make sure they are on track. Some students do not take advantage of this meeting time. It becomes apparent as the senior year progresses which students are having difficulty with the process. We meet with students if they have not submitted applications or begun to make future plans to discuss their options and answer questions. Q: Are there any other parent meetings regarding getting ready for college?

2 A: We are available to parents by appointment, phone or for questions. We will offer additional group sessions during junior year but they are designed to cover the same information we will be presenting at our first meeting (before Back to School Night). Another group session will be held in the fall of senior year to review specific application procedures. College Search Q: What is Naviance? A: Naviance is a program purchased by the district for career and college planning. Naviance is a secure web-based planning and advising system that helps students navigate through high school and understand their post high school options Please follow this link to login to the program. All students create an account at the beginning of their sophomore year. Q: Who can see my student s Naviance account? A: The student, parent and counselor all have access to the accounts. This creates a collaborative effort so that we can help the student to plan for their post-secondary future. Q: How do you recommend getting your child to be open to options other than brand or popular colleges? A: Doing research will help to expose your child to the 3,000+ colleges and universities available in the United States. Research includes performing searches on Naviance, utilizing guidebooks, college visits at East, visiting college campuses, attending college fairs, etc. Even informal conversation with teachers, neighbors and family friends can serve as research. Visit the college search section of a bookstore and be prepared to be overwhelmed at the volume of books available on colleges. Some books provide write-ups on colleges that give you a real sense of the personality of the students who attend and a feel for the campus before you even set foot there. Stress and anxiety regarding the process can cause students to shut down and simply apply to only the schools with which they are familiar. We will work with you to help students take a step back and realize that there are many schools out there where they can have a good experience and receive a quality education. It is a matter of doing their homework

3 and seeking out the places where they will be the most comfortable. We will stress this message with students throughout both 11 th and 12 th grade. Q: How do I determine if a college is good for a particular major? A: It will be important to research the course offerings and requirements in that particular major at each school. The course of study can vary from school to school and may have a differing focus. The first step is to review the course catalogue on the college website. Students can also ask an admissions representative questions about the program. If possible speak to professors and students during a college visit/open house. Ask about internship requirements or opportunities. What is the job placement rate in this major at each individual college? How difficult is it to register for courses within the major? Are the elective courses within the major taught frequently? Do undergraduate students have the opportunity to participate in research, productions, exhibitions, etc. regardless of major? Again, it is tempting to rely on the published rankings to do the work in narrowing down choices, but in doing so you may be eliminating very impressive options. There is no substitute for student research in applying their interests and career aspirations to the offerings of a college. Q: How do I find schools with specific programs/majors? A: Naviance is a great tool for finding colleges with particular majors. The College Search feature of the program allows students and parents to search by major (and many other factors) to create of list of colleges that meet their desired criteria. Students are encouraged to continue to research the options presented via the Naviance search by meeting with the college reps., visiting the college websites and the college campuses. Students are also welcome to make an appointment to meet with their counselor to discuss the options as well. For students interested in the visual and performing Arts, it is important to familiarize themselves with portfolio or audition requirements as well as the standard requirements for admission to the college/university. We strongly encourage students to seek advice from teachers who know their work how best to present themselves and direct their efforts. Q: Should students visit college reps at East during their junior year? A: Yes, students should take advantage of this opportunity to research colleges and connect with admissions representatives. It can be both a helpful tool in learning about a college as well as the bonus of showing the college a high level of demonstrated interest. Students should also visit with admissions reps. during their senior year as they are fine-tuning their list. The

4 list of college representatives coming to East is always updated on Naviance, and can also be found in paper form in guidance. In Naviance, the visitation schedule is located on the welcome page as well as under the College link. Students can sign up online through Naviance 24 hours in advance of the visit and print out a pass to attend the meeting at the same time. Q: Do you recommend hiring a private college consultant? A: We provide large group and classroom instruction to students on career and college searches in both 10 th and 11 th grade and counselors are always available to answer individual questions as they arise. However, counselors must also fill other school counseling responsibilities in addition to offering college planning assistance. Private college consultants focus only on college admissions and serve a smaller number of students. It is certainly a parent s choice to hire an outside consultant if they it is felt that the student requires more individualized attention than we are able to provide. Q: How many colleges do you recommend a student apply to, on average? A: Most students are able to narrow down their selections to a list of between 6-8 schools that satisfy the student s criteria and also where the student meets the admissions requirements. It is always important to make sure that there are safety schools (where students exceed the published criterion), mid-range schools (where the student comfortably meets or exceeds the published criterion) and reach schools (significantly more difficult admissions standards) represented on that list. Regardless of the acceptance rigor, each school should offer similar academic opportunities and a comfortable environment. This requires research on the part of the student. Q: How many colleges do students visit on average? Should they visit every single college under consideration? A: We do not have data on the number of colleges that students visit. We do recommend that if possible students visit the campus prior to applying. While it is essential to gather information from the college website, admissions officers that visit East and the Naviance program, visiting the campus is the best way for students to gauge their fit with the college.

5 Career Planning Q: Is there a program that helps students narrow their potential majors or careers? A: Yes, the Naviance program has surveys that students can take to determine their interests in either a major or in a career. The surveys completed as sophomores (Strengths Explorer, Career Interest Profiler and Cluster Finder) can help students assess their interests and assess what to explore further toward determining careers that provide a good match. To review the results from these surveys, click on the About Me tab in Naviance. Recommendation Letters Q: Can teacher recommendations be done through Naviance? A: Teachers are now able to write recommendations and upload them into Naviance for eventual submission with other school-related materials. Students seeking a recommendation will need to ask teachers in person and in advance. Teachers may ask students to provide some additional information (courses, activities) to help them prepare a strong recommendation. We encourage students to ask teachers in the spring of their junior year. When students are ready to apply in the fall they will provide teachers with the materials required to upload their recommendation into Naviance. SAT/ACT/SAT Subject/AP Exams Q: Should the ACT be taken in addition to the SAT? A: The SAT and ACT can both be taken. Students do not have to take both, but may do better with one test format or the other, so it could be advantageous to try both tests. SAT and ACT scores are almost universally accepted by colleges across the country.

6 Q: How many times can you take the SAT? A: The SAT is given 7 times per year. There is no limit to the times that a student can take it, however most students will take it an average of 3 times. Most colleges (not all) will super score the results, meaning that they take the best sub score for Math, Critical Reading and Writing from different dates. Link to the SAT dates and registration deadlines Link to ACT dates and deadlines Q: Does CB East send both the SAT and ACT scores to colleges? A: Students can indicate on their transcript request form if they want SAT, ACT and PSSA scores sent to colleges. We will send all test date scores from each test or none at all. Students cannot pick and choose individual test scores to be sent from CB East. If students opt to send official scores from The College Board (SAT) and ACT they can read more about the Score Choice policy on their websites. Q: SAT scores can be sent to colleges from one sitting, but some colleges accept all of the scores, and simply use the highest score for admissions. What is the difference?

7 A: Most colleges will accept all of the scores, but will simply use the student s highest subscore on each section to determine admissions. Score Choice is an initiative from the College Board that allows students to choose which score dates they send to the colleges. In most cases it will not harm a student to send all of their scores as colleges are looking for the best performance(s). In some cases colleges actually REQUIRE students to send ALL of their scores despite the College Board giving them the Score Choice option. Again, most colleges will take their best score on each section even if they are taken on a different date. However, policies can vary from college to college, so please check with each institution for their standardized test policy. Q: Is it okay that my child takes the SAT in the fall of Junior year? Will it hurt them if they take it again in the spring and do better? A: We make the recommendation that students wait until January of their Junior Year to take the SAT because they are still building their vocabulary, writing and math skills. In some cases, however, students feel prepared to take the SATs earlier than this recommendation either due to a preparatory class or individual review. They are certainly entitled to make that judgment call based on their own comfort level. Again, keeping in mind that most colleges will take the best scores, it probably will not be to their detriment to do so. Q: Are private SAT prep programs valuable? A: Private ACT/SAT prep companies can help students with test taking strategies, and provide practice tests that help the student become familiar with the exams. They also review much of the content that will be covered on the exam. However, these programs can be costly. Some students find that they are able to utilize SAT prep books and/or various online prep options for review rather than taking a course. Central Bucks also provides a free online service called EPrep that provides PSAT, SAT and ACT tutorials as well as prep classes offered as electives in the high school curriculum. The school librarian can set up the account. Your child will need to provide their name and address to create the EPrep account. It is an individual decision left to you and your student to determine if they need a structured prep program or will be able to use the available tools independently for their preparation. Q: Should my student take the PSAT? A: We recommend that ALL 11 th graders take the PSAT as it is their final opportunity to take the exam as preparation for the SATs. Students will receive a detailed report based on their

8 results that itemizes their strengths and weaknesses to help students focus their preparation for the SAT. In addition, the PSAT for 11 th graders is the qualifying exam for National Merit Scholarships. Please see this website for more information on the National Merit Program Q: How much do grades and the SAT/ACT count toward admission? A: For most colleges the grades as represented on the transcript are the number one factor determining admission. High School grades and the rigor of the high school program are critical in predicting college success. How much weight assigned to standardized test scores can vary. Some colleges will use SAT/ACT as the only other factor besides grades and some will use the scores in conjunction with other subjective items like essays, recommendations and activities. Please check the websites or contact admissions offices for individual college policies. Q: How do you determine what course levels correspond to which SAT Subject tests? A: The College Board website outlines the content covered on each exam Q: Should a student take AP tests if they are not planning to test out of the class in college? A: We do feel that it is beneficial for students to prepare for and take the AP exams. Even if they are not planning to receive credit for the particular subject it is possible that they may earn elective credit, may test out of a requirement or may test into a more advanced course. For instance, if they took the AP French exam and earned a 4 or 5, one college may award credit while another may allow a student to take a higher level of French. Rather than place out of a language requirement, the student may choose the credit to take the place of another college elective requirement. It is, however, possible to take the course without taking the exam. Some students will take the class for the added rigor and weighting on their GPA, but choose not to take the exam. Q: Do students have an opportunity to take AP tests before May? A: The College Board sets the national dates (and times) for AP exams. They are always during the month of May.

9 Applying to College Q: Is there a common application for state schools? A: Yes, please follow this link for information on the online application. Q: Have students been accepted to other states universities? A: Yes, we have students who are accepted into universities all across the country. Please visit Naviance for information on particular schools. Q: How long does it take to get a decision under Early Decision? A: Please check the college websites for exact deadlines; however a general timeline is an early November deadline for submission and a mid-december decision from the college. Q: What are the advantages/disadvantages of applying as undeclared? Is it better to pick a major, and then switch later? A: If the student knows what major they want to pursue, they should select that major on their application. It is more difficult at some colleges than others to switch from undeclared to a highly selective major. Some students believe that if they select undeclared as a major, they will have a better chance of acceptance, rather than selecting a competitive major (ex. Engineering, combined undergrad/med programs). If a student attempts to switch majors in this case, there are times when these programs might be already full. Also, the student may not meet the pre-requisites for the major and could be required to take additional coursework, which could add years to their college stay. Moving from one major to another also depends on the individual college policies. A student will have to determine if there is availability in the new desired program, and how many additional courses will be needed to fulfill the requirement for the new major. It is not uncommon for students to change their major, but it is always advisable that they declare their major on the application so that they can make an informed decision about the college prior to entrance. Transcript/Graduation Requirements

10 Q: Is the GPA from 9 th, 10 th, and 11 th all weighted equally? A: Yes, the GPA is calculated the same for each year. It is based on the credit value and grade for each course taken. If honors or AP courses are taken, a.25 or 1.0 weighting factor is applied respectively to each of these courses. Q: My child has all year long Music classes on their schedule, and cannot fit any additional AP classes in their schedule. How can it be explained to the college that is the reason that my child could not fit any more rigorous academic classes on their schedule? A: Colleges are familiar with the Central Bucks School District course of study, and know that our music courses run all year long for one block. In most cases, it does not need to be explained that this is the reason more academic classes could not fit into the schedule. Colleges appreciate that students are dedicated to the arts, and understand that it is not possible to fit all course offerings into their schedule. If the student feels that participation in the music program has greatly affected their ability to take other courses, they should include that information on their College Recommendation Questionnaire. We can include that information in their letter of recommendation so that colleges can take that into consideration when they review the transcript. Q: Does CB East require students to do certain hours of volunteer work to get credits? A: No, we do not have a community service requirement for graduation. Q: How do I login to the Infinite Campus Portal to check my child s grades? A: Please visit this website Your login is your student s ID Number. (Can be found on their report card and school ID). The password is their date of birth. Q: How does a student/parent find out class rank? A: We can provide class rank to a parent or student upon request. Please be advised however that we do not report rank to colleges.

11 Extracurricular Activities Q: My child does not participate in any extracurricular activities at East. How heavily does this affect the acceptance decision? A: The answer will from vary college to college. Ideally the student will have a few activities in which they have been consistently involved. Colleges want students who will come to campus and perpetuate their active college community. That is the reason they are interested in students who have been active in high school. Colleges prefer to see students who have a small number of activities to which they are committed as this would indicate depth of involvement. Students who spread themselves too thinly can only show superficial involvement. Activities outside of school such as community service, volunteering, religious groups, and employment are also important. The decision of how to spend one s non-academic time gives colleges more information about a student s values and personality and should be listed on the application. Q: How do we find out what activities are offered at East? A: Please visit the CB East website. Advisor names are listed, and can be contacted for meeting times. Scholarships/Financial Aid Q: Can students see if they are eligible for scholarships in Naviance? A: Yes, under the: College page in Naviance, students can scroll down and look under Scholarships and Money, then click on Scholarship Matches to review the scholarship criteria. Q: Is the admissions process different if a student is looking for a sports scholarship?

12 A: Student athletes will always be required to meet minimum academic requirements to be admitted to a college or university as outlined by the NCAA. They need to submit transcripts, standardized test scores and the same application as their peer applicants to be admitted to the college or university. However, the order of the events may differ by college and/or division level. Coaches may use unofficial transcripts to pre-screen athletes prior to the official admissions process in order to make sure students are viable candidate for that school. Students will still need to work through the admissions office to receive an official acceptance letter along with the athletic scholarship offer. Q: What is a merit scholarship? A: Merit scholarships are awarded to students who meet certain performance standards. Each merit scholarship is different; however they generally fall under the following categories: academic, athletic, or artistic. The scholarship is given to students who meet certain standards set forth by the institution awarding the funds. Sources can include colleges, community organizations, corporations and private citizens. Availability of merit scholarships will vary by the academic competitiveness of the college. Generally, the more competitive the college the more likely they are to spend their resources in covering demonstrated need-based student aid. Q: What is the best way to pay for college for parents with high income? A: Parents of all income levels should file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) beginning in October of your child s senior year by using the website Completion of the FAFSA is the first step in the process of consideration for federal or state aid. Even if you don t believe you will qualify for need-based aid, parents are encouraged to file to allow students to be considered for any of the college s own private funds (merit aid). Some colleges have separate applications that need to be completed for merit aid. These are based on a student s achievements. Some colleges may automatically consider students for merit aid at the time of the admissions decision without filing the FAFSA. Please check with each school to be sure. Some colleges may also require another form; the CSS Profile. The list of colleges that require this form can also be found on this website. In addition, scholarship money is available from a variety of other sources. We maintain a list of scholarships on the Naviance program. In addition, please check with your (and your child s) place of employment, any community organizations you are involved in, etc. for scholarship opportunities.

13 Q: Are there sites for grants? A. In general, grants can be a part of a financial aid award which is often comprised of federal, state and institutional monies. To qualify, the FAFSA will need to be completed in October of your child s senior year to determine eligibility. Q: Do you as counselors make recommendations to students as to how to improve their package (grades/ presentation etc.) for colleges? A: We counsel students to remain true to themselves throughout the process. We want them to do their best in every realm of high school (grades, testing, activities, personal growth, etc.). Students are always encouraged to challenge themselves and meet their potential. For example, if it appears that a student is struggling academically, the counselor will meet with the student to talk about how an academic decline can impact college admissions but also help them form an improvement plan. In addition, we will help them focus on finding colleges that will offer a natural fit ; where their assets and interests will find a home and where they will be able to successfully explore a variety of academic disciplines.