COLLEGE PLANNING
IB COUNSELOR:
M S . A LY S S A S I M M O N S
SENIOR COUNSELOR:
M R S . O L I V I A C A L L O W AY
FALL OF SENIOR YEAR
Sign-up for Free & Reduced lunch.
Register for SAT/ACT
 Current dates and registration deadlines are on the IB website, College Board Site and
the ACT web page
Meet with your School Counselor to discuss college choices.
 Sign up with your counselor on their meeting calendar
Request/pick-up teacher letters of recommendation.
Complete and submit all college applications (by Thanksgiving).
 Early Action: non-binding
 Early Decision: binding
Complete Bright Futures (December 1) and FAFSA (January 1).
CONTINUE to challenge yourself – GRADES do
matter Senior year!
ACT
To register for the ACT, students can complete their registration online at
www.actstudent.org . Remember to register for the Writing Section of the
exam as many colleges require it.
ACT Date
Registration Deadline
Late Registration
(additional fee required)
September 13, 2014
August 8, 2014
August 9 – August 22, 2014
October 25, 2014
September 19, 2014
September 20 – October 3,
2014
December 13, 2014
November 7, 2014
November 8-21, 2014
February 7, 2015
January 9, 2015
January 10-16, 2015
April 18, 2015
March 13, 2015
March 14-27, 2015
June 13, 2015
May 8, 2015
May 9-22, 2015
SAT
To register for the SAT or SAT II Subject Tests, students can complete their
registration online at http://sat.collegeboard.org/home.
Remember to register for the SAT Writing Section of the exam as many colleges
require it.
SAT Date
Registration Deadline
Late Registration
(additional fee required)
October 11, 2014
September 12, 2014
September 30, 2014
November 8, 2014
October 9, 2014
October 28, 2014
December 6, 2014
November 6, 2014
November 24, 2014
January 24, 2015
December 29, 2014
January 13, 2015
March 14, 2015
February 13, 2015
March 3, 2015
May 2, 2015
April 6, 2015
April 21, 2015
June 6, 2015
May 8, 2015
May 27, 2015
WHERE TO BEGIN: SPRING OF JUNIOR YEAR
Make a list of schools that interest you
Categorize them
 Safety School – my SAT/ACT scores & GPA are in the top 25 th percentile accepted at the
college
 Target School – my SAT/ACT scores & GPA are in the middle 50 % (between 25th and
75th percentile) accepted at the college
 Reach School – my SAT/ACT scores & GPA are the lower 25th percentile accepted at the
college. Note: Ivy League Universities are considered DREAM schools, NOT REACH schools.
Determine your areas of interest
 http://www.iseek.org/careers/clusterSurvey
Determine cost of each school
Compare Choices
HOW TO COMPARE YOUR CHOICES
• Admissions Requirement
• Cost
• Size
• Financial Aid
• Location
• Housing
• Environment
• Meal Plan Options
• Academics
• Facilities
• Retention and Placement
CONTACT AN ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR
•
Some colleges and universities want to see that you are interested in
them
•
Ask them questions about their school
•
Set up a campus visit
•
Ask to speak with a current student
•
Inquire about scholarship opportunities
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
TYPICAL APPLICATION
Who: Students complete all applications
What: Undergraduate application for admissions
 Transcripts, resume, recommendations, essays, test scores…etc
Where: Colleges/Universities admissions page or Common App
When: Fall of Senior year
 Pay attention to deadlines, each school is different!
 Major Deadlines:
 October 15
 November 1
 January 15
THE COMMON APPLICATION
2013-2014: paper
application no longer available
Counselor Information needed for Common App
 IB - Alyssa Simmons: asimmons6@escambia.k12.fl.us
 Traditional - Olivia Calloway: ocalloway@escambia.k12.fl.us
Website:
 https://www.commonapp.org
What schools are members:
 https://www.commonapp.org/Login#!PublicPages/AllMembers
 Over 500 colleges and universities are members
 Roughly 200 are exclusive members
Schools that only
use the Common
App
TEACHER RECOMMENDATION LETTERS
• Make sure to look at the college application and be certain of the number
of recommendations needed
• Provide teachers with resume
• Ask your teachers if they can meet with you for 5 – 10 minutes
concerning your rec letter
• Ask teachers from core Junior year classes
 Science
 English
 Math
 History
TRANSCRIPTS
Official Transcripts:
 Mid year and final may be requested by the school
College and Universities look at
 GPA (weighted and un-weighted)
 Freshman – Junior Year Grades
 Did they fluctuate?
 Demonstrates what type of student you are
 How many Honors, AP, and IB courses
 Class Rank
 Graduating class size
WHAT ARE COLLEGES LOOKING FOR?
Grades
 What types of courses are they taking
 IB, AP, Honors
Test Scores
 20% of what schools consider
Essays
 No such thing as an OPTIONAL question
 Proof of mind at work
 Express yourself well
 Highlight skills that have been learned
Teacher Recommendations
 If requested by the college or university
Holistic Approach!!
Grades, Test Scores,
and Course Load
Sports/
Clubs
Essays
Community
Service
HOW DO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES VALUE
THE IB PROGRAM
• Provides outstanding preparation for
university work
• Earning college credits with passing scores on
AP and IB exams
• Scholarship opportunities
• Well rounded students
• Higher research and critical thinking skills
“A student’s high school courses and
curriculum is the most important factor in
the selection process complimented by all of
the other pieces in the application. We see
the IB as a challenging curriculum, with higher
and standard level courses as well as the
TOK and extended essay. As a staff, we
respect IB very much and see applicants
from all over the world in the IB
curriculum. The community service
component of the IB is also highly respected
as students engage in outreach to their
communities as a part of their holistic school
requirements. We also note the extended
essay subject and the opportunity for
students to research and write in a way they
have not been challenged to do so before or
in other types of curriculums. The IB is a
wonderful program. ”
Jodi Robinson, Director of Admissions
COLLEGE VISITS TO PHS
Dates and Times will be posted on the IB website, as well
as outside the School Counseling Office
 www.phsibsupport.org
Vanderbilt Visit
Monday , October 13, 2014 : 9:00 am
This is a non student day!
MAKING ACHIEVEMENT DESIRABLE:
NCAA ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS
P E N S ACO L A H I G H
SCHOOL
PRESENTED BY OLIVIA
C A L L O W AY
OVERVIEW
• What is the NCAA?
• What is the NCAA Eligibility Center?
• Initial-Eligibility Rules
• Registration Process
• Final Preparations
WHAT IS NCAA?
The NCAA, or National Collegiate Athletic Association, was
established in 1906 and serves as the athletics governing
body for colleges, universities, conferences and
organizations.
NCAA colleges and universities are divided into three divisions;
Division I, Division II and Division III.
Difference between Divisions
 Mission/Philosophy
 Typically the size of school
 Emphasis on competition (i.e., national, regional)
 Athletic scholarships and grants in aid available
WHAT IS THE NCAA ELIGIBILITY
CENTER?
 To certify a student-athlete’s initial eligibility to practice, compete and to
receive institutional aid during his/her first year of enrollment at a NCAA
Division I or II school.
Departments include:
 Admissions & Registration
 High School Review

Certification for Prospective Student Athletes
 Initial Eligibility Requirements
Register at:
 www.eligibilitycenter.org
FOUR PARTS OF INITIAL ELIGIBILITY
•
High School Graduation
•
Minimum core grade-point average – 2.0
•
Minimum ACT or SAT test score must be met
•
Completion of 16 core course distribution
2005:
14 core
courses
(DII).
2008:
16 core
courses
(DI).
2013:
16 core
courses
(DII).
2016:
DI GPA and sliding
scale change,
addition of course
progression rules.
2018:
DII GPA
and
addition
of sliding
scale.
HIGH SCHOOL PORTAL
 First and foremost, the Resources page on the High School Portal.
FAQ for
nontraditional
coursework.
Many different resources
that help to understand
the new academic
requirements for Division I
2016 and beyond.
Follow us on
Twitter!
@NCAA_EC
Many helpful resources
for you to use to help
your student-athletes
through the eligibility
process.
PowerPoint
presentation for high
school counselors to
learn about the initialeligibility process.
CORE CURRICULUM
Division I
 16 core requirement:
 4 years English
 3 years Math (Algebra 1 or
higher)
 2 years Science (including 1 lab,
if offered)
 1 year Additional English, Math
or Science
 2 years Social Science
 4 years Additional Core
Division II
 16 core requirement:






3 years English
2 years Math (Algebra 1 or
higher)
2 years Science (including 1
lab, if offered)
3 years Additional English,
Math or Science
2 years Social Science
4 years Additional Core
EXAMPLE OF APPROVED COURSES
(PENSACOLA HS)
MATHEMATICS
•
Algebra 1
•
Algebra 2
•
Alg 1-A/Alg 1-B
•
Geometry
•
Calculus
•
Calculus AB
•
Calculus BC
•
Pre-Calculus Math
•
Statistics
•
College Algebra
ENGLISH
NAT/PHYS SCIENCE
•
Biology
•
Biology/AP/IB
•
Biology/H
•
Chemistry
•
Chemistry/AP/IB
•
Chemistry/H
•
Anatomy &
Physiology
•
Integrated Sc - 1,2,&3
•
Earth Science
•
Physical Science
•
Physics
•
Marine Science 1 &2
•
Zoology
•
English 1
•
English 1/H
•
English 2
•
English 2/H
•
English 3
•
English 3/H
•
English 4
•
English 4/AP/IB
•
AP English
Literature
•
AP English
Language
•
Debate 1 & 2
FINAL PREPARATIONS
• Early Senior year
• Students should request a transcript to determine individual
progress in satisfying the NCAA core-course requirements.
• Report all ACT and/or SAT to the NCAA Eligibility Center.
• It is best for students to list the NCAA Eligibility Center as a
score recipient at the time of exam registration to avoid
additional fees.
• Only official test scores sent from the testing agency
(ACT/SAT) are acceptable. Test scores on your high school
transcript will not be used.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Apply Early!
Scholarships are available for ALL high school grade levels.
Where to find scholarships?
 There are scholarships for everything!
 List of Scholarships posted on the IB website under the college tab
 Local banks, clubs, companies, and community organizations
 http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/finding-scholarships
 College Financial aid webpages
 http://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/collegescholarships/scholarships-by-state/florida-scholarships/
 www.fastweb.com
 www.collegenet.com/mach25/app
SCHOLARSHIPS
Questions to ask yourself when applying to scholarships
• What are the requirements and do I meet them?
• How do I apply?
• How does my scholarship effect my other financial aid?
• What is the deadline? Do I have time complete the application?
• Is this application something I am willing to do? Am I capable?
• Is this scholarship state or college specific?
Plan ahead, be organized
• Make a list of scholarships that you are eligible for and want to apply
• Organize the deadlines/decision release dates in calendar and check it
often!
• Request alerts for approaching deadlines
• Ask for recommendation letters in advance – DO NOT request
recommendation letters from your teacher the day before the deadline.
FINDING SCHOLARSHIPS
Make sure scholarship information and offers you receive are legitimate; and
remember that you don't have to pay to find scholarships or other financial aid.
You can learn about scholarships in several ways,
 contacting the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend
 checking information in a public library or online..
Try these free sources of information about scholarships:
 the financial aid office at a college or career school
 the U.S. Department of Labor’s FREE scholarship search tool federal
agencies
 your state grant agency
 your library’s reference section
 foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic
groups
 organizations (including professional associations) related to your field of
interest
 ethnicity-based organizations
 your employer or your parents’ employers
BRIGHT FUTURES
http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/bf/
Students must apply during their last year in high school
(after December 1 and prior to graduation)
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) – GPA/Test Scores
 4 year school
 $77 per semester hour = 1,155 – 1,386 dollars a semester
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) – IB Diploma
 4 year school  $103 per semester hour = 1,500 – 2,000 dollars a semester
HELPFUL
RESOURCES
PARENT/STUDENT RESOURCE
EXPLORING COLLEGE OPTIONS STUDENT/PARENT
SESSION
Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Stanford, and Penn
 Hosting information session for prospective students and their parents
Where: Mobile, Alabama
 Wednesday, October 1, 7:30 p.m.
 251-338-2000
 The Battle House Renaissance
26 North Royal Street
Mobile, AL 36602
www.exploringcollegeoptions.org
 Register online
Huntsville, AL
Sunday, September 28, 7:30
pm
Huntsville Marriott
5 Tranquility Base, Huntsville,
AL 35805
Register
Click on Alabama
Birmingham, AL
Mobile, AL
Monday, September 29, 7:30 Wednesday, October 1, 7:30
pm
pm
Birmingham Marriott
The Battle House Renaissance
3590 Grandview Parkway,
Mobile Hotel & Spa
Birmingham, AL 35243
26 North Royal Street, Mobile,
Register
AL 36602
Register
TRIO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER
Student Services Specialist
Obi Kalu, MPH
akalu@pensacolastate.edu
(850) 484-2357
educationalopportunitycenter.org
Q AND A
Alyssa Simmons: IB College Counselor
asimmons6@escambia.k12.fl.us
(850) 595–1500 ext. 292
Olivia Calloway: Senior Counselor
ocalloway@escambia.k12.fl.us
(850) 595 – 1500 ext. 235