College Planning
CENTRAL BUCKS HIGH SCHOOL EAST
CLASS OF 2017
WALT SANDSTROM(A-LA)
MELANIE JONES(LE-Z)
Most Important Factors in College Admissions
 Grades
 GPA
 Trend of grades
 Rigor of schedule
 Stays the same or increases
 Standardized Testing (SAT, ACT, SAT Subject)
 Varies in importance at each college
 Test optional - Fairtest.org
Student Transcript
Sample Senior Year Schedule
The 2015-16 Testing Timeline
AP
Exams
SAT
Subj
SAT
Subj
SAT
Subj
ACT
ACT
SAT
Subj
SAT
Subj
PSAT
(New)
Oct
ACT
ACT
SAT
(New)
SAT
(Old)
SAT
(Old)
Nov
Dec
SAT
Subj
ACT
SAT
(New)
SAT
(New)
SAT
(Old)
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
College Admissions
Old SAT, New SAT, & ACT
 Most Colleges Admissions Representatives have
stated that they will accept the Old SAT, New SAT, &
ACT
o
However, a few colleges posted on their website and/or verbally
stated that they would only accept the New SAT and ACT for the
Class of 2017. This includes:
 University of Delaware (verbal)
 Virginia Tech (website)
o
We recommend to check with the college website or their
admissions office if you have a concern
Worried About Your SAT & ACT Scores?
Consider applying to colleges that are Test Optional
 The National Center for Fair & Open Testing
maintains a list at FairTest.org
American University
College of New Jersey
Dickinson College
Connecticut College
Fairfield University
Franklin & Marshall
George Mason
George Washington
Ithaca College
Gettysburg College
Loyola University
Muhlenberg College
Saint Joseph’s Uni.
Temple University
Susquehanna
Wake Forest
Test Optional for certain GPA/Major
Arizona State University, Duquesne University, Elizabethtown College
Test Flexible SAT/ACT not required if other exams such as SAT
Subject Test or AP Exam Scores are submitted
Middlebury College, Hamilton College, NYU
Other Admission Factors
 Essays
 Extracurricular Activities/Leadership
 Athletics, Work, Clubs, Volunteering, Music
 Recommendations
 Teachers
 Counselor
 Audition/Portfolio (If applicable)
 Demonstrated Interest
 Campus visit, Interview, College rep visits at East,
Communication with admissions
Counselor Letter of Recommendation





“Counselor Recommendation Questionnaire” survey on
Naviance
Optional “Parent Recommendation Questionnaire”
Print survey and submit to guidance office beginning
February 2, 2016.
Sent with transcript and standardized scores
Request made as part of the Transcript Request Form
(Allow at least 15 school days for processing).
Counselor Letter of Recommendation
Communication Tips
 Create a college-appropriate email address


iliketoparty@yahoo.com
wsandstrom@yahoo.com
 Online presence

http://www.screencast.com/t/KTxArI229mYU
 Student contact with Admissions Officer

Prepare with questions before visiting:
http://www.collegeadmissionspartners.com/resources/app
lication-process/interviews/questions-for-you/
College Application Deadline Overview
 Rolling
 Apply early because colleges make their decisions as applications come
in
 Once the class is full they will stop taking applications
 Schools like PSU have a priority deadline, we recommend your
application be complete by Halloween
 Early Decision (ED 1 and ED2) November & January
 Binding, usually notified of decision by winter break
 Only can apply to one school
 Early Action (EA) November
 Non-binding
 Sometimes this is restricted to one school but usually can apply to more
 Regular January - March
 Apply by deadline set and usually find out in March/April
The 2016-17 College Application Timeline
Review/ Write College Essays
Common App
Open Date 8/1
Transcript Processing begins early September. Must submit a minimum of 15 days prior to deadline
Rolling Admission & Priority Deadlines
Early Action (Non Binding)
FAFSA
Early Decision (Binding)
CSS
Profile
ACT
Sept
ACT
ACT
SAT
(New)
Aug
Regular Decision
Oct
SAT
(New)
Nov
Decision
Day
SAT
(New)
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
If the most important part of admission
criteria is GPA/Courses, choosing your
senior year courses is extremely
important!
REMEMBER:
•
•
•
•
•
This means senior year is still important
Upward trends in grades
Same level or increase in rigor
Grades vs Cumulative GPA
Use your time wisely!
•
high school is free so take classes that help you figure out
your career path
Materials
• Sample Block Schedule Sheet
• Program of Studies book is ONLINE at
www.cbsd.org
• Course Selection Card
• Instructions for logging into the portal and
choosing classes are on CBSD website
Graduation Requirements
Subject
Standard
Diploma
MBIT/Standard Scholar’s
Diploma
Diploma
English
4
4
4
Math
4
4
4
Science
3
3
4
Social Studies
4
4
4
World Language
2
Electives
10.75
11.25
8.75
PE/Health
1
.5
1
Perf. Assessment
.5
.5
.5
Total Credits
27.25
27.25
28.25
Scholars Diploma
•
•
•
•
•
1.0 additional Science Credit
3 Advanced Placement Courses
2.0 credits of World Language
3.4 GPA
Scholars Diploma is determined at the
time of graduation, not in advance.
Graduation Requirements
English
All students must take an English course their senior year.
Choose from the following:
• English 12: Academic
• English 12: Honors
• AP English Literature and
Composition (3 Marking Periods)
There are also English Electives to choose from:
• Becoming a Better Writer, Debate, Journalism, Creative
Writing, Theater, Shakespeare, Intro to Film Studies,
Media Production, Yearbook
Mathematics
• Look at the Table in the Program of Studies, then find the
course you are taking now and take the next one in sequence.
• Please review ALL prerequisites and talk to your current math
teacher about which is the most appropriate course for you!
• AP Calc AB and BC are each three marking periods, make sure
you fit this into your schedule accordingly.
• Additional math classes to consider:
– Statistics, AP Statistics, Intro to Computer Programming, Intro
to Java, AP Computer Science, NEW – AP Computer Science
Principles
Science
• All students are required to take 3.0 credits of Science.
• Although a fourth year of Science is not required for
graduation, colleges prefer that science is taken all four
years.
• Most colleges are looking for a minimum of Biology,
Chemistry and Physics –or at least two lab sciences.
• Consider taking one of our many science electives:
– Forensic Science, AP Environmental, Astronomy, Oceanography,
Environmental Science, Organic Equilibrium Chemistry, Geology
Science
• If you are considering a career in health sciences,
you may want to take Anatomy and Physiology.
• AP Biology and AP Chemistry are each three
marking periods, make sure you fit this into your
schedule accordingly.
• AP Physics N/M can be taken without having
taken Honors Physics, but must be taken before AP
Physics E/M (unless you take Honors Physics
& Calculus)
Social Studies
All students must take a Social Studies course their senior year.
Choose from the following:
• Global Relations – Academic
• Global Relations – Honors
• AP Macroeconomics and/or AP Comparative Government
• There are also Social Studies Electives to choose from:
– Intro to Law
– Psychology
– Sociology
– Geography
World Languages
• While Central Bucks does not have a language requirement, most
colleges would like to see AT LEAST two consecutive years of a
language.
• We strongly encourage you to stick with your language, as it makes
you more marketable to schools.
• We offer Chinese, French, Latin, and Spanish.
Music
• Music ensembles (band, choir, orchestra, etc.) run all
year every other day.
• If you are taking music, expect to have a study hall
opposite, for one to three marking periods.
• Is some cases Music Theory, Music Technology or Jazz
Lab will run opposite these courses, however, this is not
always the case.
PE/Health
• You must meet the 1 credit requirement of
PE/Health to graduate
– If you have not taken 1 credit you will need to
take this in your senior year
Electives
Business Department
Technology Department
Art Department
Family and Consumer Science Department
Late Arrival & Early Release
• You are NOT guaranteed Early Release or
Late Arrival. If you are not automatically
scheduled for it, it will not be added into
your schedule.
• Students can request up to 3 Late Arrivals
and/or Early Releases.
• Students can not request a Late Arrival
and Early Release in the same marking
period.
Important Things to Remember
• All courses entered into the portal are
REQUESTS, not guarantees!
• Remember to pick at least 3 alternate
course selections in case your primary
requests do not fit into your schedule!
• Student-Athletes can opt for a Team Study
Hall
Important Things to Remember
The Critical Change Policy:
• Changes in course request will ONLY be
honored for the following two reasons:
(1) Failure to meet the required prerequisite; or
 (2) A level change that has been verified by a
teacher.
• Choose your courses wisely!
Time Line
• You must log onto the Parent
Portal and put your classes into
the system by 11:00 pm Sunday,
2/7.
• You can make changes in
guidance through 3/18.
Any Questions?