Get Ready, Set, Go: Get Ready, Set, Go: Springtime College Springtime College

Readiness Tips For Rising Readiness Tips For Rising SeniorsSeniors

National Honors SocietyNational Honors SocietyMay 17, 2016May 17, 2016Dr. Rebecca JosephDr. Rebecca Joseph@getmetocollege@getmetocollegegetmetocollege@gmail.comgetmetocollege@gmail.com

What do colleges look for…What do colleges look for…

GradesGrades Academic RigorAcademic Rigor Standardized Test ScoresStandardized Test Scores Application EssaysApplication Essays Counselor ReportCounselor Report Extracurricular ActivitiesExtracurricular Activities Teacher Letters of RecommendationTeacher Letters of Recommendation Sports, Arts, Diversity, etc.Sports, Arts, Diversity, etc.

GradesGrades

Colleges look forColleges look for Continuous strong performanceContinuous strong performance Upward progressionUpward progression Particular strength in areas of Particular strength in areas of

interestinterest So…So…

Academic SuccessAcademic Success

Continue doing well in your coursesContinue doing well in your courses Do not drop core content areas unless you Do not drop core content areas unless you

are particularly challenged by them-- which are particularly challenged by them-- which means keep taking foreign language and means keep taking foreign language and math classes.math classes.

Do the best you can to keep your grades Do the best you can to keep your grades up…If you struggle, get help…sooner up…If you struggle, get help…sooner rather than later.rather than later.

DO NOT let grades drop during senior DO NOT let grades drop during senior year, especially the spring. year, especially the spring.

Junior year and fall senior year grades are Junior year and fall senior year grades are the MOST important of all.the MOST important of all.

Academic Rigor meansAcademic Rigor means

How difficult your course load is How difficult your course load is compared to options at schoolcompared to options at school

Academic reputation of your Academic reputation of your schoolschool

Particular strength and exploration Particular strength and exploration in particular content areasin particular content areas

Pushing Your Academic RigorPushing Your Academic Rigor

Take the most challenging courses Take the most challenging courses you can and keep your grades as you can and keep your grades as high as possiblehigh as possible

Take honors and AP classes in your Take honors and AP classes in your stronger content areas if you plan to stronger content areas if you plan to apply to very competitive collegesapply to very competitive colleges

Continue to increase rigor junior and Continue to increase rigor junior and senior yearsenior year

Understand that colleges will Understand that colleges will compare your academic choices to compare your academic choices to those offered at your schoolthose offered at your school

Take summer classes at local Take summer classes at local collegescolleges

Standardized TestsStandardized Tests

Colleges use these tests to Colleges use these tests to compare students across compare students across schoolsschools

They were never intended for They were never intended for the use they are giventhe use they are given

Nonetheless, understand your Nonetheless, understand your test options…test options…

TestingTesting

The Test OptionsThe Test Options

The large majority of schools The large majority of schools requirerequire SAT I SAT I

oror ACTACT

And/orAnd/or Two to three SAT IIs (most Two to three SAT IIs (most

competitive test)competitive test) AP TestsAP Tests

Developing A Testing Developing A Testing ScheduleSchedule

The SAT released a new test—it’s harder The SAT released a new test—it’s harder than ever.than ever.Juniors. You can stay with ACT. You can try Juniors. You can stay with ACT. You can try out new SAT.out new SAT.Sophomores and younger: You can choose.Sophomores and younger: You can choose.This spring---AP tests in May. SAT Subjects This spring---AP tests in May. SAT Subjects Tests in June.Tests in June.SAT and ACT are offered seven times a SAT and ACT are offered seven times a year. year.

Standardized Testing NotesStandardized Testing Notes

There are many colleges that do not There are many colleges that do not require tests!!! See this site for most up to require tests!!! See this site for most up to date list of schools that do not require testsdate list of schools that do not require testshttp://http://www.fairtest.orgwww.fairtest.org/university/optional/university/optional

The ACT allows you to choose which test The ACT allows you to choose which test date to send. You have to send out by test date to send. You have to send out by test date.date.

The SAT allows some score choice. The SAT allows some score choice. Colleges have preferences. Superscores.Colleges have preferences. Superscores.

See the following site for the most up to See the following site for the most up to date testing requirements of top colleges: date testing requirements of top colleges: http://http://www.compassprep.comwww.compassprep.com//admissions_req_subjects.aspxadmissions_req_subjects.aspx

Other Key Factors: Other Key Factors: Application EssaysApplication Essays Application essays are often the top Application essays are often the top

non academic component colleges non academic component colleges use in admissions use in admissions

These essays must be written by the These essays must be written by the applicant. Colleges can recognize applicant. Colleges can recognize adult written essays in a split secondadult written essays in a split second

Essays must have a sizzle, a Essays must have a sizzle, a message, a unique storymessage, a unique story

Essays can tip you in…Admissions Essays can tip you in…Admissions officer remember great, honest officer remember great, honest essaysessays

Essays: PreparationEssays: Preparation Spring-Keep track of any first person narratives you Spring-Keep track of any first person narratives you

write.write. Summer after Junior Year-Begin to think of core Summer after Junior Year-Begin to think of core

messages about yourself you want colleges to messages about yourself you want colleges to understand that may not come across any other understand that may not come across any other wayway

Summer after Junior Year-Begin drafting one to two Summer after Junior Year-Begin drafting one to two long autobiographical essays about yourself…Each long autobiographical essays about yourself…Each one should have a set of core values you want to one should have a set of core values you want to express. Use UC Insight Questions.express. Use UC Insight Questions.

Summer/Fall Senior Year-Develop master list of all Summer/Fall Senior Year-Develop master list of all essaysessays

Summer/Fall Senior Year-Write the fewest essays Summer/Fall Senior Year-Write the fewest essays possible. Overlap them.possible. Overlap them.

Fall Senior Year-Make sure you follow Into-Fall Senior Year-Make sure you follow Into-Through-Beyond approach.Through-Beyond approach.

Fall Senior Year-Make sure all essays express Fall Senior Year-Make sure all essays express different information yet complement each other different information yet complement each other with core messages about you.with core messages about you.

Counselor LettersCounselor Letters

Counselors letters are mandated Counselors letters are mandated component of most private school and component of most private school and EOP applicationsEOP applications

Counselors have relationships with Counselors have relationships with collegescolleges

Counselors use different, yet similar Counselors use different, yet similar categories for ranking colleges for studentscategories for ranking colleges for students Reach-reach or challenge or unlikely---most Reach-reach or challenge or unlikely---most

difficultdifficult Reach, strength-difficultReach, strength-difficult 50-5050-50 LikelyLikely

Listen to your counselorListen to your counselor

Counselor Letters: TimelineCounselor Letters: Timeline

Junior Year-Get to know your counselor. Junior Year-Get to know your counselor. Drop into office, ask core questions. Drop into office, ask core questions. Develop a relationship.Develop a relationship.

Junior Year-Attend all programs offered by Junior Year-Attend all programs offered by counseling officecounseling office

Junior Year Spring-Develop preliminary Junior Year Spring-Develop preliminary college list with counselorcollege list with counselor

Senior Year-Complete Senior Year-Complete “brag” sheet for “brag” sheet for counselor. Give as much information as counselor. Give as much information as possiblepossible

Senior Year-Refine college list with Senior Year-Refine college list with counselorcounselor

Senior Year-Continue strong interaction Senior Year-Continue strong interaction with counselorwith counselor

Extracurricular ActivitiesExtracurricular Activities

Extracurricular ActivitiesExtracurricular Activities

Colleges want varied student Colleges want varied student populations. They want students who populations. They want students who enhance their campuses and take enhance their campuses and take advantage of resources.advantage of resources.

They look for students who They look for students who participate actively in school and participate actively in school and community activities.community activities. ConsistencyConsistency DevelopmentDevelopment LeadershipLeadership InitiativeInitiative

Extracurricular Activities: Extracurricular Activities: TimelineTimeline Freshman-Junior Year- Continue with your current Freshman-Junior Year- Continue with your current

activities. Do not stop. You can start an activity, but activities. Do not stop. You can start an activity, but plan to continue it through senior year.plan to continue it through senior year.

Junior Year- Take on leadership responsibilities in Junior Year- Take on leadership responsibilities in current activities.current activities.

Summer-Use your summer---Summer-Use your summer--- Get a jobGet a job Get an internshipGet an internship VolunteerVolunteer Take enrichment coursesTake enrichment courses Continue with camp, sports, and other activitiesContinue with camp, sports, and other activities

Senior YearSenior Year Take leadership positionsTake leadership positions Continue your participation in past activitiesContinue your participation in past activities

Teacher RecommendationsTeacher Recommendations

Most private colleges and many Most private colleges and many public colleges want letters of public colleges want letters of recommendations from teachers.recommendations from teachers.

They want core academic letters—They want core academic letters—English, SS, Math, Foreign English, SS, Math, Foreign Language, and ScienceLanguage, and Science

They prefer junior and senior year They prefer junior and senior year teachers or teachers you have had teachers or teachers you have had more than once.more than once.

They want teachers who know you They want teachers who know you wellwell

Recommendation TimelineRecommendation Timeline

Freshman-Junior Year-Continue Freshman-Junior Year-Continue developing strong relationships with developing strong relationships with teachersteachers

Junior Year-Do not throw away another Junior Year-Do not throw away another core graded assignmentscore graded assignments

Junior Year-If core teachers are planning to Junior Year-If core teachers are planning to leave school…get contact info.leave school…get contact info.

Senior Year Fall-Ask one to two teachers Senior Year Fall-Ask one to two teachers from junior year, senior year, or sophomore from junior year, senior year, or sophomore (academic strength) to write letters. Ask (academic strength) to write letters. Ask EARLY.EARLY.

Senior Year Fall-Give teachers packets Senior Year Fall-Give teachers packets with appropriate forms and envelopes and with appropriate forms and envelopes and brag sheets. Remind them of all the brag sheets. Remind them of all the wonderful things you did in class-written, wonderful things you did in class-written, oral, and more.oral, and more.

OtherOther

Sports Sports ArtsArts DiversityDiversity Particular areas of expertiseParticular areas of expertise

Other Readiness TimelineOther Readiness Timeline

Sports-follow all requirements set forth by Sports-follow all requirements set forth by NCAA. Attend summer camps. NCAA. Attend summer camps.

http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA_EMS.html?test=1http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA_EMS.html?test=1 Arts-Develop a portfolio, resume, audition Arts-Develop a portfolio, resume, audition

as required by each college. Fall and as required by each college. Fall and Winter Senior Year-Develop an audition or Winter Senior Year-Develop an audition or arts master listarts master list

Diversity. Go to my website, College Diversity. Go to my website, College Greenlight, and I’m First to find colleges Greenlight, and I’m First to find colleges that seek diverse students.that seek diverse students.

Other special talents-Develop a portfolio Other special talents-Develop a portfolio and make sure you have someone who and make sure you have someone who really knows your talent help you convey really knows your talent help you convey that to college.that to college.

Other Core Readiness Other Core Readiness Timelines-College ResearchTimelines-College Research

College research takes timeCollege research takes time Read key books and websitesRead key books and websites Talk to friends who are seniors Talk to friends who are seniors

and recent gradsand recent grads Talk to friends and familyTalk to friends and family Check your student on Naviance Check your student on Naviance

and other school comparative and other school comparative offerings.offerings.

Demonstrated InterestDemonstrated Interest

College Research TimelineCollege Research Timeline

Sophomore-Junior Year-Develop core list of Sophomore-Junior Year-Develop core list of what match colleges must havewhat match colleges must havelocation, size, cost, academics.location, size, cost, academics.

Sophomore Year-Visit local colleges. Sophomore Year-Visit local colleges. Spring Junior Year-Visit core colleges. Spring Junior Year-Visit core colleges.

Interview when possible. Visit classes, Interview when possible. Visit classes, meet students.meet students.

Spring Junior Year-Attend local college fairsSpring Junior Year-Attend local college fairsSummer Post Junior Year-Narrow down listSummer Post Junior Year-Narrow down listFall Senior Year-Attend more college fairs Fall Senior Year-Attend more college fairs

and attend all relevant college visits at your and attend all relevant college visits at your school or in local areaschool or in local area

Fall Senior Year-Visit more colleges and Fall Senior Year-Visit more colleges and narrow down list.narrow down list.

First Diversity College VisitsFirst Diversity College Visits

ApplicationsApplications

Demonstrated Interest Demonstrated Interest TimelineTimeline

Colleges care that you know Colleges care that you know them.them.

College VisitsCollege Visits High School VisitsHigh School Visits College FairsCollege Fairs Virtual VisitsVirtual Visits Social MediaSocial Media

ApplicationsApplications

There are many forms of There are many forms of applications. applications.

Most are online.Most are online. Unfortunately, public colleges Unfortunately, public colleges

have their own applications.have their own applications. Fortunately, the large majority Fortunately, the large majority

use the Common Application.use the Common Application. Fortunately, all require Fortunately, all require

overlapping features.overlapping features.

Applications TimelineApplications Timeline

Summer Post Junior Year-Start a master list of Summer Post Junior Year-Start a master list of college application deadlines and requirements and college application deadlines and requirements and passwordspasswords

Summer Post Junior Year-Start writing core essays Summer Post Junior Year-Start writing core essays and develop a resumeand develop a resume

Fall Senior Year-Begin completing formal Fall Senior Year-Begin completing formal applications. Devote one hour per day to applications. Devote one hour per day to applications. Remember, write fewest essays applications. Remember, write fewest essays possible.possible.

Fall Senior Year-Make sure you followFall Senior Year-Make sure you follow Test score submissions requirementsTest score submissions requirements School and teacher paperwork and transcripts School and teacher paperwork and transcripts

requirementsrequirements Complete all technical forms on applicationsComplete all technical forms on applications Develop outstanding essaysDevelop outstanding essays Meet all deadlines.Meet all deadlines.

Final WordsFinal Words

You are a work in progressYou are a work in progress Colleges want to know who you really areColleges want to know who you really are Yet they donYet they don’t read minds so don’t keep ’t read minds so don’t keep

anything core about youanything core about you But donBut don’t overwhelm them or scare them ’t overwhelm them or scare them

awayaway They want to know how you will enhance They want to know how you will enhance

and enrich their campusand enrich their campus There is so much you can doThere is so much you can do It is never too late...to develop a strong It is never too late...to develop a strong

college readiness plancollege readiness plan

Plan To Pay For CollegePlan To Pay For College

Financial Aid Now Prior-PriorFinancial Aid Now Prior-Prior FAFSA opens October 1FAFSA opens October 1 Research scholarships Research scholarships

InternalInternal ExternalExternal

YOU CAN DO ITYOU CAN DO IT

If you need my helpIf you need my help

Look at my website: getmetocollege.orgLook at my website: getmetocollege.org

Follow me on twitter: @getmetocollegeFollow me on twitter: @getmetocollege

Email me at getmetocollege@gmail.comEmail me at getmetocollege@gmail.com