Junior Planning for
College Workshop
Source: ACT’s College Planning Guide
Options After High School
Military
Apprentice
Program
Let’s Focus on College

Remember...decision making is
a PROCESS, not an event!

Source: ACT College Planning Guide
Final Stats on Class of 2014
216 Graduates to College
Type of School
#
%_____
4 year Schools
203
94%
2 year Schools
13
6%
Out of State
73
34%
Catholic Colleges
32
15%
JCCC
12
4%
KSU
53
25%
KU
44
20%
818 Applications/Transcripts processed for Srs
3.78 average per Senior
ACT
Planning for College
You can organize the
college
planning process in
six simple steps
1
Know Yourself and Your
Reasons for Attending College
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Recognize your strengths and
weaknesses
Analyze your interests and values
Achieve a personal goal
Increase your earning power
Prepare for a career and expand
learning
Extracurricular activities & social life
Influence of family and friends
Take
responsibility
for your
future!
Factors Influencing
Admission Decisions
Criteria
Importance
Considerable Moderate
Limited
Grades in coll prep classes
80%
11%
4%
Admission test scores
60%
25%
8%
Grades in all subjects
57%
31%
8%
Counselor Recommendation
18%
42%
27%
Teacher Recommendation
18%
39%
28%
Essay or Writing Sample
25%
35%
20%
Extracurricular Act.
8%
40%
33%
Interview
9%
27%
29%
Class of 2014, 219seniors – Letters written for 101 students
Recommended High School
Curriculum for College

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English
Mathematics
Social Studies
Science
4 units
4 units
3 units
3 units
Recommended High School
Curriculum for College

Some colleges require additional
courses in:
Foreign Language
 Visual & Performing Arts
 Computer Tech

Test Preparation
The best preparation is a solid
high school curriculum

ACT includes four curriculum-based tests -English, Math, Reading, and Science
Reasoning. Writing optional. Must upload
picture when registering, send scores to the colleges

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SAT – Critical Reading, Math, Writing
Become familiar with the test content and
format
www.actstudent.org
www.collegeboard.org
Check web site for registrations, questions
and test taking strategies
ACT Test Preparation



Know appropriate test-taking
strategies
Take ACT’s free practice test
Consider a test prep course
Power Prep – Prior to each test, one day options
Two Sisters ACT Prep—Oct & Apr tests
Others listed on handout

Check out the prep questions on
the ACT website
www.actstudent.org
Testing Timeline
Oct 2014
1)PSAT Oct. 15 (Practice SAT)
•Provides natl% among self identified college bound jrs
•Identifies candidates for Nat’l Merit (Top .5/1% of nation)
•Prep Classes:
•Power Prep: 1 session, $45, Register by 9/20!
•Kaplan: Free Practice Test Sept 22 9am & Oct 9 10:00am
sign up at kaptest.com/class/PKKU140044 by Sept 12
2) ACT December 13:
Students can receive the their actual December
test booklet, the correct test answers, and their answers about 4 weeks after they
get their score. That's perfect timing for re-testing in the spring. They can see
where they made mistakes, brush up on those concepts, and go back and re-test in
April or June. It's a powerful way to raise their scores! If students wait until the
April test to opt for Test Information Release, they do not have as much time to
benefit from the information and re-test.
•ACT Feb, April or June –Prep class prior to
each one
99% of seniors at STA take ACT
•SAT – May need Subj Tests for highly
selective colleges
•AP – Advanced Placement. English, Calc.
Can earn college credit w/ appropriate score.
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testi
ng/ap/about.html
Remember:
test scores are only
ONE factor used for
college admissions
and scholarship
decisions
Class 2016 4th Semester GPA
60
Top 50%
Top 75%
Students = 225
50
40
Top 25%
30
57
56
56
97.28-93.31
93.25-88.89
88.82-73.2
20
Top 10%
31
10
13
12
100 +
99.93-99.11
0
99.10-97.35
GPA
2
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Consider College
Characteristics
Majors &
educational
programs
Type of school &
degrees offered
Admissions policy
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Costs & financial
aid
College affiliation &
accreditation
Campus activities
Support services
Location & size
3

List, Compare, and
Visit Colleges
Compile information from several
resources
 College catalogs, bulletins, videos, CD’s
and computer-based services
 College Family Connection website
 Internet/Websites (links on FC)
 College representatives
 Parents, students, teachers and alumni
 College Counselor
College Fairs Made Easy!
http://www.gotocollegefairs.com/
Students
We’re making the college fair circuit much more
efficient for you. You register ONE TIME, RIGHT
HERE, and you get a barcode you can take to any
of the automated fairs (click here for a complete list).
Put an end to filling out info cards at every table.
Instead, spend your time talking with the schools and
finding out what YOU want to know. For more info on
how this all works, click here.
REGISTER NOW REPRINT BARCODE EDIT PROFILE
College Fairs
Sept 9: Private HS College Fair Rockhurst HS 6:30pm
Sept 10: Catholic College Fair 8-8:45am STA
Oct. 5: Nat’l College Fair Downtown Conv
Center 1-4 pm
Oct. 6: Nat’l College Fair Downtown Conv
Center 8:30am-11:30am
Oct. 13 OP Convention Center 6:30-8:30pm
Oct. 15: Shawnee Mission East College Clinic 6:30pm
Kansas City Private School Fair
Student Barcode Pass
Print this page and bring it with you to the College Fair to make the best use of your time there. Many
of the colleges in attendance will have a barcode scanner at their table. When you allow a college at
the Fair to scan the barcode on this page you will provide them with all of the information you entered
instantaneously.
Sally Saint
Saint Thomas Aquinas Hs Overland Park
2015
Overview Family Connection

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
What is College Family
Connection?
How do I access it?
What can I do with it?
How does it help career and
college planning?
How is it accessed?
Family Connection is on the Web
http://connection.naviance.com/
stasaints
Also on STA homepage
Student accounts- Student should be
registered
Parent accounts – Contact BBruns
(BBruns@stasaints.net) or EWhite
(EWhite@stasaints.net) for registration
code
One code for each parent
What can it do?

Compare colleges
Links to selected third-party resources
Track deadlines
Request transcripts
Produce scatter grams
Show schedule of college visits
Share plans

Complete surveys, resume, student questionnaire

Scholarship list

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3
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List, Compare, and
Visit Colleges
Prepare a college comparison
checklist
Weigh advantages & disadvantages
Make realistic choices
Contact the Office of Admission
Schedule appointments for your
campus visits. Try to pick a day we
are not in school.
Every campus has a
“personality”
Checklist for a
Campus Visit
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Meet with an Admission Counselor
Verify admission requirements- GPA,
test scores, essay, interview, etc.
Determine actual college costs - 9
month budget
Ask about financial aid opportunities
Take a campus tour
Stand in the middle of campus and
“people watch”. Happy? Stressed out?
Checklist for a
Campus Visit

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Investigate your academic
program(s)
Attend a class
Talk with students and faculty
Discuss your chances for success:
 Admission
 Graduation
 Placement in job after graduation
4
5
Apply for Admission and
Observe Deadlines
Most applications done by 12/1/15
Develop a Plan to Finance
Your Education
Scholarship Deadlines start 10/1/15
6
Review and Finalize
Your Plans
National Decision Date May 1, 2016
Don’t eliminate any
college because of costs!

Source: ACT College Planning Guide
What Does Postsecondary
Education Cost?
Budget Items
Colleges – Estimated Costs
2-Year
Public
Private
Tuition & Fees
$2970
$10425
$36090
Room & Board
$(6652)
$8200
$ 9868
Books & Supplies
$1000
$1000
$1000
Transportation
$500
$500
$ 500
Miscellaneous
$1200
$2400
$ 2400
Total Budget
$5670
$22525
$49858
Budget for 9 months
College Success Factors
Test scores and high
school grades are
important . . .
. . . However,
they
measure only part
of your “potential”
Source: ACT College Planning Guide
Keep in mind…
making sound decisions
will lead to
satisfying and successful
experiences!
•Take ACT or SAT prior to beginning of senior year
ACT
SAT
Oct, Dec, Feb, April & June
Nov, Dec, March, May & June
Fall athletes, musical participants!! Check your calendars
•Meet with Mrs. Bruns starting Feb to discuss plans
•Register on College Family Connection Website
•Continue to develop academic skills
•Develop resume/list of activities, copy NHS application
•Research colleges and learn about careers
•Attend Junior programs at colleges in Spring
•Attend College Fairs now and in Spring
•Info in Parent Newsletter
•NCAA Clearinghousehttp://www.eligibilitycenter.org/
Important Dates
ACT
Test Date
Oct. 25
Dec. 13
Feb. 7
April 18
June 13
Reg. Deadline
Sept. 19
Nov. 7
Jan. 10
Mar. 13
May 8
*STA test center code is 157580.
STA High School code is 172776.
Register @ www.actstudent.org
www.act.org
SAT
Test Date
Oct. 11
Nov. 8
Dec. 6
Reg. Deadline
Sept 12
Oct 9
Nov 6
Register @ www.collegeboard.org
www.collegeboard.org
Barb Bruns

Phone 319-2477
Email
BBruns@stasaints.net

•I will take Jr. Appointments after Sr. year enrollment
•Appointments: During school day Tues – Fri
•Takes about 30-45 minutes
•Parents encouraged to be present for discussion
•Can do STA period or 7:30am
•I can write some (great) letters during the summer so good to
do appointment before school is out.
•If you have a 504 Plan and need special testing for ACT/SAT,
let me know before March 1!
•Military Academies – Process starts in May of junior year
•Read Parent Newsletter and College Family Connection
Website – my best way to communicate with parents!
Planning
for College
St.Thomas Aquinas
Post Secondary Counseling
Academic Counseling