One SIZE does not FIT all
College Planning Night
for Students & Parents
February 24, 2015
Tonight
Target
•How to assist your student in
researching post-secondary
options and identifying best FIT.
Review: Did you know?
• For the NCHS class of 2014:
• 81% enrolled in 4-yr college; 17% in 2-yr
• 2% joined Military or Vocational or GAP
• Top 5 college choices for Class of 2014
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College of DuPage (117)
Illinois State University (67)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (51)
Indiana University (20)
University of Missouri (19)
Testing
• State ACT (March 3)
– Illinois State Test – ACT w/ writing
– Students registered on FEB 19th with counselors
• ACT (NCHS Class of 2014 average 25.2)
– Remaining spring dates: 4/18 & 6/13
• SAT Reasoning Test
– Remaining spring dates: 3/14, 5/2, 6/6
• SAT Subject Test
– Some highly selective schools will require 2-3
– Taken concurrently with subjects
– Remaining spring dates: 5/2, 6/6
• AP: Advanced Placement
– Not an admissions test
– May be accepted by colleges to award college credit
Best
Fit?
Best
School?
To generate a plan, consider. . .
• Size
• Location
– Distance from home
– Urban, Suburban, Rural
• Admissions Selectivity
• Private vs. Public
– Two Year
– Four Year
• Major – Academic Programs
• Campus Activities
• Cost
NCHS College & Career Center
Located in Student Services
Open 7:30-3:30 daily.
Several Thursdays evenings 6:30-8:30PM.
Remaining Dates: 3/5 & 4/9
Coordinator: Mrs. Jean Childers
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Visit with College Representatives
One on One Assistance
Help with Naviance accounts
Scholarship Information
College Applications, Catalogs & Guides
College Visits
•
College Presentation Pass
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Name _______________________
Student ID __________
__________________________
Name of College
Date ____________________
Period __________________
NEW COLLEGE VISIT PROCEDURE
Sign up for visits on Naviance
Fill out Pass and get teacher to sign
Visits are in College & Career Center
NAVIANCE SIGN-UP LINK
Sign up
College
sign up Northern Illinois University
sign up College of DuPage
sign up Univ. of Illinois - Chicago
Date
2/27/2014 11:32
3/4/2014 7:45
sign up
sign up
sign up
sign up
3/4/2014 10:36
3/5/2014 10:36
3/5/2014 14:20
3/6/2014 9:40
3/10/2014
13:24
3/18/2014
10:36
3/18/2014 11:32
3/24/2014 11:30
3/26/2014
10:36
3/27/2014 11:32
4/16/2014
10:49
4/17/2014
14:20
sign up
•
Please sign below to indicate you are aware
that this student will be attending this college
presentation.
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Iowa State University
Benedictine University
Univ. of Illinois at Urbana
Eastern Illinois University
Columbia College
sign up
University of Nebraska
sign up Southern Illinois University
sign up University of Minnesota
sign up
_______________________________
Teacher Signature
Bradley University
sign up Western Illinois University
sign up
sign up
Marquette University
Purdue University
3/4/2014 9:40
Naviance Tasks
Junior Year
• Sign up for College Rep. Visits in CCC
• Complete tasks under My Assessments
within About Me tab
• Search for College, Careers and
Scholarships
Senior Year
• Manage College applications
• Request transcripts
A Realistic College Search
Includes
• “Reach” school
• “Target” school
• At least one “safety” school
– Academic safety
– Financial safety
• How many applications
– Varies by student!
– Ideally, 3-6 schools
Scattergrams: Show GPA & ACT scores of past NCHS
graduates who were accepted, denied, or waitlisted
(example: Southern Illinois University - Carbondale)
Profile for 5th semester GPA
Data for the Class of 2016
725 student in class
• Highest GPA = 4.811
• 90% = 4.189
• 75% = 3.889
• 50% = 3.441
• 25% = 2.938
There is no substitute for seeing a college yourself!
Take advantage of long weekends, spring break &
summer vacation
• Prepare questions
• Schedule a Tour
• Sit in on a class
• Eat in the cafeteria
• Stay overnight
• Talk to students
Schedule Visits
Tips for Parents
Do’s
• Take them to see
colleges.
• Proofread applications
and essays without
re-writing.
• Research financial aid
and contact the financial
aid offices.
• Fill out FAFSA with
Tax return information.
Don’t
• Don’t do their applications
for them.
• Don’t write their essays
for them.
• Don’t force them to apply
to colleges “to see if they
can get in”.
Tips for STUDENTs
• Treat college search and college application
process like a part time job
• Start college applications early in senior year
• Maintain CORE academic classes to be
competitive for college admission
• Take senior year seriously:
– Senior GRADES COUNT
Upcoming Junior Events
• Junior Conference with Counselor
– February through May
• College Planning Guide
• National College Fair, Monday 3/23/14
Illinois Regional College Fair Hosted by North Central College
• State ACT w/ writing
– March 3 2015
Feedback for tonight’s event requested
– Survey Monkey
Dismissal to Breakout Sessions
Breakout Sessions – SELECT THREE sessions to attend throughout the evening
7:25 - 7:50 p.m.
Breakout Session I
7:55 – 8:20 p.m. Breakout Session II
8:25 – 8:50 p.m. Breakout Session III
1) Selective Colleges/Universities
University of Notre Dame
Rm. 82 – Orchestra
Exit Front Auditorium Doors
2) Big 10 Public Universities
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Auditorium
Remain Seated
3) Small Private Colleges/Universities
Illinois Wesleyan University
Rm. 84 – Choir
Exit Auditorium Back Doors
4) Community College
College of DuPage
Rm. 86
Exit Auditorium Back Doors
5) State Universities in Illinois
Western Illinois University
Rm. 83 - Band
Exit Front Auditorium Doors
6) Music / Performing Art
University of Illinois
Rm. 85 – Black Box Theatre
Exit Front Auditorium Doors
7) Arts & Visual Media Colleges
School of Art Institute Chicago
Rm 75
Exit Front Auditorium Doors
8) Military Academies
College and Career Center
Exit Auditorium Back Doors