JUNIOR INFORMATION NIGHT This is GO TIME Presented by your High School Counselors: Patti McTaggart: A-Fe Tristan Zelinka: Fi-L Kelly Shumaker: M-Sa Lindsay Capoferri: Sc-Z
AGENDA Timeline for Seniors Senior Options SAT vs ACT The Application Process Transcript Requests Letters of Recommendation Scholarships and Financial Aid Question and Answer Time
TIMELINE FOR COLLEGE-BOUND SENIORS See handout.
TIMELINE FOR COLLEGE-BOUND SENIORS Go to an Open House. Revisit for a private tour if you haven t ruled it out. Career Cruising! Don t forget to check local resources for scholarships!
SENIOR OPTIONS Dual Enrollment (see handout) HACC, Stevens Tech, Cecil College, Lancaster Bible College, PA College of Health Sciences, Franklin and Marshall, and Millersville University. College in the High School HACC Experience Day April 8, 2016. Permission slips due March 30, 2016. Work Study Second Semester only. No credit is awarded. Internships First and/or second semester. These may occupy one or two periods. Graded as P/F for credit. All options are arranged by the student. Please complete the proper paperwork as soon as possible. A meeting will be announced shortly through Remind 101. See handout in the back to sign up if you haven t done so already.
COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS SAT with Writing Students generally take the PSAT in their Junior or Sophomore year. At Solanco, all juniors will take either or both the PSAT and ASVAB. The SAT exams include a MC section for Reading/Writing and Mathematics. Includes Optional essay as well. We recommend students complete this at least once. Offered at Solanco HS on May 7 (April 8 deadline), and on October 1, 2016. ACT If your student receives Free/Reduced lunch, see a counselor about a Fee Waiver for the SAT/ACT. The ACT tests the same areas as the SAT, but it also includes Science. The Writing portion is optional, but encouraged, especially if colleges specifically ask for it. The ACT is scored based on the number of correct answers. It does not count incorrect responses with no penalization for guessing. Also includes an Interest Inventory that shows where professionals who scored similar to your scores work. www.collegeboard.org Register Here!!! www.actstudent.org
TIPS FOR ACING THE COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS Most studies agree there is no tried and true method for studying for these exams. However, there are things you can do to help prepare for them. Take challenging courses in high school. Read every day (and not just blogs and Facebook). Practice for the SAT with free online material: collegeboard.org Purchase a College Board approved study guide and practice. Don t forget about the Khan Academy! Most people take the appropriate exam at least twice. Some studies suggest that taking the test three or more times does not necessarily show increased scores. Keep in mind the SAT/ACT are one piece of your application that is used to illustrate who you are as an applicant.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS Your counselor wants you to be sure you understand your requirements for admission to each school you apply in your senior year. Part of going to college means taking responsibility and owning your situation. Use your counselor as a resource or research tool. You own the application process. Understand your college s requirements. Know your GPA and Rank. Know when specific parts of applications are due (not every college will share the same due date). Understand Early Decision / Early Acceptance programs. Tip of the Day: We recommend you apply to three to five schools including a dream school and a safety school. We do not weight GPA, but we do weight rank. Please realize the difference.
TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS Official transcripts are ONLY sent directly to colleges/universities/coaches. They can take up to five school days to process. Please get requests in as early as possible. Occasionally a student requests a transcript to take to a college visit, transcripts handed to students are ALWAYS Unofficial. To request a transcript, please complete an application checklist on Mrs. Roland s desk. Very important in online applications because your counselor is not always notified.
FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION Scholarships Types: National Information in the Career Center. Local Not available until the Spring. Come out in March and are due in April. Additional information will follow. Tips Be careful of scams. Paid Scholarship services and Who s Who are some examples. Financial Aid Starting this year, students can complete the FASFA with Prior-Prior Year Tax Information in October. There will be more information on these topics in the Fall 2016. Don t forget to sign up for Remind 101.
SAVE THE DATES Back to School Night and Senior Planning Night September 7, 2016. PHEAA Financial Aid Night Wednesday, October 5, 2016. PHEAA FASFA ID Session during lunch periods Tuesday, October 18, 2016 (students only). Parent Conferences November 9, 2016. FASFA Completion Night November 16, 2016. Military Night/College ROTC Programs - TBD
WORDS OF ADVICE Colleges want to see independent and responsible students. Keep in mind your counselor is working with every other senior on his or her caseload. Do NOT wait until the last minute to communicate that you need letters or application materials. You should start thinking about a junior or senior teacher who knows you well enough to provide a letter of recommendation. Stick to the core subject area teachers. This is GO TIME! Your counselor is a resource to help guide along the way, but the student owns the College Application process. Stop in or schedule an appointment for help. The student takes ownership of his/her credits. Be aware of your credit situation and that you are on track for graduation. If there are any questions, please schedule an appointment with a counselor.
THE REALITY By the end of the fall, you should have completed the following tasks: Have completed or registered to complete your second SAT/ACT. Visit through private tours or open houses at least one college, but ideally, all colleges you are considering. www.campustours.com Virtual Campus Tours. Complete applications with all requirements. Check the newsletter. Attend Financial Aid night in October. Complete the FASFA after October (Prior-Prior Year starting in October 2016). Continue to monitor your GPA.
OPEN FORUM: Reminder: Check out the Junior Timeline from the CollegeBoard for a good understanding of where your student should be! Don t forget about REMIND 101. Pick up your instruction sheet before you leave! Junior Athletes should be sure to register to the NCAA by the end of their Junior Year. A-Fa: Mrs. McTaggart; patricia_mctaggart@solanco.k12.pa.us Fi-L: Mr. Zelinka; tristan_zelinka@solanco.k12.pa.us M-Sa: Mrs. Shumaker; kelly_shumaker@solanco.k12.pa.us Sc-Z: Mrs. Capoferri; lindsay_capoferri@solanco.k12.pa.us Office: (717) 786-2151 Fax: (717) 786-1808 Don t forget your handouts if you didn t already receive them!