NOVEMBER 15, 2011
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Highland Park High School
Counseling Department
4/13/2015
KICK-OFF TO
COLLEGE
PLANNING
PROCESS BEGINS WITH
STUDENT SELF-ASSESSMENT
4/13/2015
Goals and values
 High school program & performance
 Activities and interests
 Personality and relationships
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COLLEGE PLANNING 101
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Wednesday, February 1st at 8:00 a.m. in
Auditorium
Designed to help students identify what is
important to them
Students complete a self-assessment sheet
Copy is sent home to be shared with parents
Attendance is mandatory
College planning appointments with college
counselors can be scheduled the day AFTER
College Planning 101 (i.e. February 2, 2011)
Students who do not attend CP 101 will be unable
to schedule a college planning appointment.
4/13/2015
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DEVELOPING COLLEGE CRITERIA
4/13/2015
Academic Atmosphere
 Academic Programs & Majors
 Calendar System
 Cost
 Environment and Geographic Location
 Religious Orientation
 Reputation
 Size
 Social Atmosphere
 Sports & Extra-curricular Activities
 Student Body
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COLLEGE PLANNING PROGRAMS
4/13/2015
College Planning 101 – February 1
 College Appointments – begin February 13
(Students must have attended CP 101)
 Exploring Colleges - February 15 @DHS
 Financial Aid and Scholarships – March 21 @HPHS
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DECIDING: WHERE TO APPLY
4/13/2015
 An
on-going sorting and selecting process
 The best Final List must include
combination of:
“reach” school
 “possible” schools
 “probable/likely admits”
 “financial safety”
 ALL OF WHICH YOU WILL BE HAPPY
TO ATTEND!
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TERMS FOR PREDICTION
4/13/2015
 REACH
“dream” schools where admission chances
are either “iffy” or perhaps may be
unattainable”
 “toss up” schools that are a reach for
anyone (usually have admit rates between
7%-20%)
 POSSIBLE
 Closely meet the expectations in the
schools’ profile, but competition for spaces
can still be tight
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TERMS FOR PREDICTION
ADMIT
 Chances for admissions are very strong
 A “safety” is so much harder to call today!
 FINANCIAL SAFETY (sometimes an IL
state university but not always)
 A place that parents can afford
…if, financial package is weak at all other
schools
…if, family financial situation changes:
economy, unemployment
4/13/2015
 PROBABLE/LIKELY
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DECIDING: HOW MANY APPLICATIONS?
4/13/2015
It depends!
 Finding a “reasonable” number is much harder
these days
 If you are happy with the schools where you
stand the strongest chances of admission, then
the final list can be a lower number
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HIGHER EDUCATION STATISTICS
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The majority have less than 3,000 students
(typically small, liberal arts and sciences colleges)
Mid size schools are hard to find
(~40 have between 7-12,000 students)
Very large schools are even harder to find
(~30 have more than 22,000 students).
4/13/2015
Approximately 1800
4-Year Colleges and Universities
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HIGHER EDUCATION STATISTICS
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Includes both for profit and non-profit
Almost 75% are community colleges (CLC)
Some offer housing options
Includes a small number of private colleges
(Lincoln College)
Less expensive, allows students to hone academic
skills
Associate’s Degree or a Certificate
4/13/2015
Over 3,000 2-Year Schools
and Technical Colleges
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SENIOR YEAR COURSE REGISTRATION
4/13/2015
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Junior class registration meeting with counselors
on Monday January 30, 2012 – Period TBD
(likely 2nd or 3rd)
Individual appointments during lunch hours
Monday, January 30 THROUGH Friday,
February 3
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4-3-3-3-2 COURSE PATTERN
4/13/2015
4 yrs English
 3 yrs Math (4 is recommended)
 3 yrs Science
 3 yrs Social Science
 2 yrs of SAME Foreign Language
 Some universities also require 1 yr of a visual or
performing art
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FAVORITE QUESTION ASKED BY JUNIORS!
4/13/2015
Is it better to take a course that is challenging
and receive a B or C or is it better to take an
easier course and receive an A?
 Success in classes is just as important as the
class itself.
 Balance is crucial!!!!!
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COLLEGE FAIRS
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Gap Year Fair – January 28, 2012 12:00-4:00 p.m.,
Cafeteria at New Trier High School, Winnetka Campus
College of Lake County - March 13, 2012 6:00-8:00 pm,
Grayslake
District 214 – April 3, 2012 6:00-8:30 p.m., Harper College,
Palatine
Niles North/West H.S. – April 11, 2012 6:30-8:30 pm Niles
West H.S., Skokie
Glenbrook North/South H.S. – April 12, 2012
6:30-8:45 p.m. - Allstate Plaza, Northbrook
4/13/2015
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COLLEGE PLANNING CALENDAR
WINTER/SPRING
4/13/2015
Create a new email account just for the college
process
 Take ACT/SAT
 Determine criteria
 Meet with College Counselor
 Develop a list of colleges to research (10-15)
 Research and request information
 Attend area college programs and receptions
 Attend college fairs
 Visit
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4/13/2015
COLLEGE PLANNING CALENDAR
SUMMER
Determine final list of colleges (5-9)
 Begin developing essay/personal statement
 If finished testing, submit ACT scores to colleges,
 Visit
 Colleges expect you to do something productive with
your summer. Options include: summer programs,
work, summer school, volunteer, internships, travel
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4/13/2015
COLLEGE PLANNING CALENDAR
FALL
Retake ACT/SAT/Subject Tests
 Make applications (5-9)
 Meet with counselor about recommendation
 Confirm teacher recommendations
 Write essay/personal statement
 Request transcript
 Visit
 KEEP GRADES STRONG
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RESOURCES
COLLEGE PLANNING HANDBOOK
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Self- assessment and Criteria for College Selection
Campus Visits
College Entrance Tests and SAT/ACT Conversion Charts
Applications
Essays
Letters of Recommendation
Interviews
Financial Aid
Glossary of Terms
Sample letters/emails
Suggested Websites
4/13/2015
Should be read by students and parents
 Includes information and worksheets on the
following topics:
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COUNSELOR RECOMMENDATION
4/13/2015
Recommendations are not required by all
colleges.
 Student must meet with counselor to discuss
content before recommendation will be written.
 Student and Parent Questionnaire forms should
be turned in before or at the meeting.
 Forms are available through Naviance under
About Me.
 It is the student’s responsibility to inform the
counselor of things he/she would like highlighted
in the recommendation
 Appointment must be scheduled a minimum of
15 school days prior to the first application
deadline.
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RESOURCES
CRC
4/13/2015
Ms. Giulietti-Schmitt is available daily from 7:30
a.m. to 3:04 p.m. to assist with college searches,
completing applications and scholarship
information
 Subjective and objective college guides books
 Guide books on special topics such as planning
visits, writing essays and creating resumes
 Computers available for researching colleges on
the internet and completing applications
 College files grouped by type (large, highly
selective university, art schools liberal arts
college, etc.)
 Career information
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RESOURCES
COUNSELORS AND COLLEGE
COUNSELOR
4/13/2015
Appointments with College Counselors begin
February 13 and can be scheduled with Mrs.
Gomez beginning on February 2nd (if the student
has attended CP 101).
 Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend
appointments.
 Prior to the meeting develop a list of criteria
 Can meet with your counselor now to get things
rolling.
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RESOURCES
NAVIANCE/FAMILY CONNECTION
4/13/2015
Every junior must have an active account with
Family Connection. This is CRUCIAL!!!!
 User name is the email student used to register
 Update email if account is no longer active or the
email is a parent email
 Email can be school email address (this is new!)
 Students who forgot passwords can request a
new one at log-in
 Parents should create a separate account.
 Students/Parents who have never registered
should see Ms. Giulietti-Schmitt for help with
registering
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AVOID EXTERNAL INFLUENCES
4/13/2015
Media
 Friends
 Neighbors
 Relatives
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“To thine own self be true”
Polonius
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4/13/2015
Q AND A
Please fill out the evaluation before you leave tonight.
Thank you for coming!
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