Life After High School
Class of 2014
5/16/13
Parent Planning Night
Topics for today…
How do I decide where I want to go?
-options rather than PSU?
How do I decide on a major?
Big School or Small School?
What do admissions committees really
look at?
How do I find out more about the
schools I’m interested in?
What should I be doing right now?
Options after High School
Employment
Military
College/Post
Secondary Schools
Statistics from Class of 2012
88% College/Post Secondary Schools
8% Employment
1% Military
3% Unknown
Post Secondary Educational
Options
Career and Technical Schools
College/University
Community/Junior Colleges
Junior Year To-Do List
SAT or ACT
AP exams
Research colleges and majors
NCAA eligibility center
Plan at least one college visit in
each category (small versus
large)
Earn good grades
Begin your student resume
Entrance Exams
SAT
SAT Subject www.Collegeboard.com
ACT www.actstudent.org
AP Exams
ASVAB
Placement Tests for
College
Remember you must send
your scores directly to
colleges, NCAA etc.
NCAA Eligibility Center
Code for SAT/ACT is 9999 for the eligibility
center
Register in May www.eligibilitycenter.org
Request a transcript after you have registered
from Mrs. Wolanski, Counseling Secretary after
you have registered
Minimum Core Courses 16 core courses
Minimum SAT Scores, depends on GPA in core
courses
How You Evaluate Colleges
”Is a school a good match for me?”
Admissibility
(chances of acceptance)
Size
Location
Environment
Facilities
Admission Requirements
Cost
Academics
Class Size
Activities
Sports
Determining Admissibility
”What are my chances of being admitted?”
Compare your academic and personal
qualifications to those of students
typically admitted and attending.
Determine if each school is a:
1. Safety
2. Good fit
3. Reach
Check out sites like collegeboard.com and Cappex.com
Determining Admissibility
“What are my chances of being admitted?”
2012 College Handbook (College Board)
Bucknell University
Freshman Class Profile. 7,178 applied, 2,253 admitted, 929 enrolled.
Mid 50% test scores:
SAT critical reading:
SAT math:
SAT writing:
ACT composite:
GPA 3.75+
GPA 3.5 - 3.74
GPA 3.0 - 3.49
590-670
630-710
600-690
27-31
32%
21%
41%
Safety
590
670
Rank in top quarter:
89%
Rank in top
65%
700
570tenth:
640
Return as sophomores:
94%
Out-of-state:
76%
Live on campus:
100%
International:
5%
Entrance Requirements
Colleges require certain courses in order
to be considered for acceptance
– Examples: World Language, Math, Science
Particular majors within colleges may
have special or additional requirements
– Examples: Courses, auditions, portfolios, interviews
Military Academies
– Call Congressman Thompson’s Office At 353-0215
Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC)
– Example: Physical requirements
Selecting a Major
Questions to ask yourself:
What do you like?
What do you do well?
What majors/careers complement your
skills and abilities?
What is the projected job market?
WhatcanIdowiththismajor.com or find it on
the counseling webpage
Visiting Colleges
Plan to visit at least 2 colleges
Contact the Admissions Office of
the schools you plan to visit
Take your unofficial transcript with
you
Talk with students other than your
tour guide
Evaluate the colleges after each
visit
Don’t Forget to Visit …..
A freshman dormitory
Classrooms
(If possible, attend a class)
The Student Center
Dining facilities
The Library
The Athletic facilities
The Music/Art studios
2012 College Acceptance Data
COLLEGE - UNIVERSITY
APPLIED
ACCEPTED
ATTENDED
PENN STATE
435
417
305
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
29
24
2
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
21
6
2
JUNIATA COLLEGE
25
20
10
PENN COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
29
25
18
SOUTH HILLS SCHOOL OF BUS/TECH
16
15
10
INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PA
15
14
3
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
10
2
1
SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY OF PA
12
11
4
ITHACA COLLEGE
12
11
1
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
18
4
1
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
8
0
0
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
21
1
0
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
16
2
2
SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY
7
6
2
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
12
1
1
BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY
17
3
1
If $$$ is the Biggest Factor…
Should Penn State Be My Only Consideration?
Schools
Penn
and 2011State
2012 Costs
Penn
State
With
Employee
Discount
State
Penn
University College
(No
Employee
Discount)
Sample
Private
School
#1
Franklin
&
Marshall
Sample
Private
School
#2
Lebano
n Valley
Tuition
$15,124
$3,781
$6,240
$11,370
$42,500
$32,500
Room &
Board
$9,420
$9,420
$7,056
$9766
$11,500
$8,800
$30,600
$20,700
$23,400
$20,600
Avg Private
School
Grant (if
need)
TOTAL
COST/Yr.
$24,544
$13,201
$13,296
$21,136
Choosing a college is a
big decision. The key is
to remember that there
are a bunch of "perfect"
schools out there. It’s what
you make of it.
Visiting Franklin & Marshall College
4,409 Visited F&M in 2012 - 2,320 Interviewed
Lesson: You are competing with others who are visiting campus
and meeting with us one-on-one!
•Daily Information Sessions
•Daily Campus Tours
•Fall Open Houses
Sept 17 & Oct 29
•Meet 1-on-1 with a Professor
•Class Observations
•Lunch with a Current Student
•Athletic Recruitment Visits
•In-person Interviews
•Special Events and Lectures
Take advantage of opportunities to learn more about the school!
Franklin & Marshall by the Numbers
Ave. SAT Math/Reading - 1306
– Ave. ACT 29
– SAT Optional Program
Undergraduate population
– 2,132 Student
Students come from 36 states
– 44 countries represented
Student/Faculty ratio: 10-to-1
– Average Class Size: 19
F&M meets 100% of demonstrated
financial need for all 4 years
Important Questions To Ask
% of students that return for their 2nd year
Ease of changing majors ie. hurdles to
enter the major
Career services after college
Safety on campus
Minimum admission requirements
Internships
Read the small print regarding
scholarships/financial aid
Length of service for military
How Colleges Evaluate You
Grades And Course Selection
Test Scores SAT Or ACT
Counselor Recommendation
Teacher Recommendations
Activities/Community Service
Essay And Application
Admissions Factors
Selective colleges consider these factors for admission:
* Courses taken
* Grades / Grade point average
* Admission test results
* Counselor/teacher recommendations
* Admissions questions and essays
* Activities outside the classroom
* Personal interview
* Alumni relationship
* Rank in class
* Major/college applied to
* Geographic location
* Special talents and skills
* Ethnicity
* SES
There's no general agreement about which of these factors are ranked
more important. However, most admissions officers place the most weight
on your high school record.
Types of Admission
Regular
Rolling
Early Decision
Early Action
Entrance Statistics PSU
Freshman Class
University Park
Campus
GPA 3.52-3.97
SAT 1750-1990
Commonwealth
Campuses
GPA 2.98-3.5
SAT 1470-1720
Schreyers Honors College Stats:
Avg. 4.12 gpa and 1420 avg. on Math and Critical reading
Spend a Summer Day 7/26, 7/29, 8/1, 8/2, 8/5
Registration @
http://admissions.psu.edu/sasd/campuses/?campusCode=UP
Entrance Stats @ PSU (UP) for
State High Grads
Fall Admissions
GPA 4.0-higher
SAT 1800higher
EARLY
application
favored
Summer Admissions
Students are
admitted with lower
GPA’s and SAT’s
compared to Fall.
Application Process
Most applications will be on-line in August or
September 2013. We do NOT process
applications in the summer.
Make sure that you request your transcripts, etc
from Mrs. Wolanski in the North Counseling Office
(15 working days prior)
If appropriate, use the common application
(www.commonapp.org)
Remember it costs $$ to apply to each college
Don’t EVER wait until the last day to apply
Apply to no more than 7 schools – 1 or 2 safety, 2
reach schools and some in the middle
Transcript Request Form
Recommendations
Some colleges require and some do not.
Some require only a counselor
(composite) recommendation.
Some require both a teacher AND a
counselor recommendation.
Student info packet (green) is available in
counseling office (and sometimes L.E.)
If your counselor wrote a recommendation
for you this year, please update your
information in September
Counselor Composite Packet
Student Information for Letter of
Recommendation
In-House Evaluations (4)
Make sure you pick up a college
planning guide.
What Should I Be Doing Right Now?
• Research your colleges and majors on sites like: ,
www.educationplanner.org, careercruising.com. collegeboard.com
• Take the SAT and (and/or ACT) be sure to send your scores to
PSU if you plan to apply there. (2660)
•
Be sure your list identifies "safety" schools, as well
as good "match" and "reach" schools.
•Register with the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse (if applicable).
•Start scholarship searches like Fastweb.com
•Bring in your request for any transcripts/
recommendations to Mrs. Wolanski
• Finish the academic year on a strong note!
•Get Good Grades!
•Begin your student resume
Remember
Decide over the summer which colleges you will
apply to for sure.
Take the appropriate tests this year and send
your scores to the colleges you plan to apply to
(take advantage of the four free scores)
Apply online in September
Bring in your request for transcripts/
recommendations to Mrs. Wolanski.
Pay attention to deadlines (different for all
schools).
Start scholarship searches like Fastweb.com
Financial Aid starts with FAFSA 1/1/14
Counseling Support Staff
Mrs. Wolanski & Mrs.
Dodson
SCASD Counseling Resources
www.scasd.org/hscounseling
Tim Morgan (A-E) tjm24@scasd.org
Susan Brindle (F-K) smb11@scasd.org
Matt Lintal (L-Z) mdl17@scasd.org
North Counseling Office:
814-231-1130
Questions?????
Any questions now?
Make an appointment with your counselor.
Talk to your parents/guardians.
Talk with brothers, sisters, and/or friends
in college.
Talk with your teachers, coaches, etc.