Welcome to
Avon High School’s
Class of 2016
College Planning Night
Counselor Assignments
2014-2015 School Year
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•
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•
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A–B
C – Go
Gr – L
M–R
S–Z
S–Z
Ms. Bradley
Mrs. Corya
Mrs. Hatchett
Mr. Binkley
Mrs. Yoder
Mr. Thompson (Sept-Dec)
PSAT/NMSQT

Wednesday, October 29, 2014 (blocks 1 and 2)

All sophomores and juniors will take the
exam in their SRT class
 The Importance of the PSAT:
o
Results from the PSAT are used by teachers and
counselors for course placement and instructional
decisions
o
The PSAT is the qualifying exam for the National
Merit Scholarship Competition
o
The PSAT is the practice SAT exam
How to Prepare for the PSAT

Read the PSAT Official Student Guide for test-taking
tips and types of test questions.
Critical Reading
o Math
o Writing Skills
o

Take the Full-Length Practice Test inside the guide;
answers are included, grade it and see what you
missed.
Review PSAT Score Report from 10th Grade
Use the test strategies on “My College Quickstart”
at www.collegeboard.com/quickstart.
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
o
Use Online Access Code from 10th Grade PSAT Score
Report or ask your counselor for your code.
PSAT Full Length Practice Test

Front cover of exam
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Timing
Scoring
Guessing
Marking Answers
Checking answers
Scoring (page 31)
Make time to take the practice
test. It is the best way to get
ready for the PSAT!
SAT Test Dates 2014-2015
Avon High School ID 151647
Register online at www.sat.collegeboard.org
SAT Customer Service: 866-756-7346
**FREE SAT Prep materials are available in the ALC Media Center!**
Test Date
Registration
Deadline
Late Registration
Deadline (extra fee applies)
Mail
Phone/Online
*October 11
September 12
September
30
September
30
November 8
December 6
*January 24
March 14
May 2
*June 6
October 9
November 6
December 29
February 13
April 6
May 8
October 28
November 24
January 13
March 3
April 21
May 27
October 28
November 24
January 13
March 3
April 21
May 27
SAT Registration and Test Fee = $52.50
Students who receive lunch/book rental assistance and/or are
waiver. See your guidance counselor.
Late Registration = $80.50
21st
Century Scholars may qualify for a fee
Be sure to indicate 4 colleges/universities to have your scores sent to for FREE!
IU, Purdue and NCAA require SAT scores to be sent directly from testing agency (College Board).
*Avon High School is a test site
ACT Test Dates 2014-2015
Avon High School ID 151647
Register online at www.actstudent.org
ACT Customer Service: 319-337-1270
**FREE ACT Prep materials are available in the ALC Media Center!**
Test Date
Registration Deadline Late Registration
Deadline
(extra fee applies)
*September 13
August 8
August 9 – 22
October 25
September 19
Sept. 20 – Oct. 3
December 13
November 7
November 8 – 21
February 7
January 9
January 10 – 16
March 13
March 14 – 27
May 8
May 9 – 22
*April 18
June 13
ACT Registration and Test Fee = $36.50
ACT Plus Writing = $52.50
Students who receive lunch/book rental assistance and/or are 21st Century Scholars may qualify for a fee
waiver. See your guidance counselor.
Be sure to indicate 4 colleges/universities to have your scores sent to for FREE!
IU, Purdue and NCAA require ACT scores to be sent directly from testing agency (ACT).
*Avon High School is a test site
SAT & ACT Comparison
SAT
ACT
Measures academic aptitude in Measures academic
terms of verbal and numerical
achievement in English,
reasoning
Math, Reading, and Science
No Science section
Science section
Partial credit for incorrect
answers
No penalty for guessing
Includes the writing section
Writing section optional
College Rep Presentations
College Representatives provide information about their
college/university’s programs and majors, admission requirements,
student life and scholarship/financial aid opportunities.
College Rep Visits Scheduled as of 9/29/2014:
10/1
IUPUI – Onsite Admissions
10/9
University of Saint Francis
10/1
University of Chicago
10/9
Saint Mary’s College
10/1
University of Cincinnati
10/9
University of Southern Indiana
10/1
Eastern Illinois University
10/9
Williams College
10/1
Indiana State University
11/14 Kettering University
10/1
Olivet Nazarene University
11/19 Air Force Career Talk
10/1
Saint Mary of the Woods College
10/1
Vanderbilt University
10/9
Avant Gard
10/9
Bellarmine University
10/9
University of Evansville
10/9
Indiana Wesleyan University
Tips on Visiting Colleges
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
Complete College/Military Visit Form:
Two visits allowed junior year
Plan your visit when students are actually on campus
Fall break and spring break are good times to visit
Ask questions of students that you see on campus.
Most likely, your tour guide will be a college student
 Complete Campus Visit Score Card
Design Your Own Visit:
 Tour the campus
 Meet with an admissions counselor
 Meet with a financial aid officer
 Observe a classroom lecture
 Bring an unofficial high school transcript
 Schedule an overnight visit (if possible)
How to Pay for College
Financial aid and scholarship applications are generally not made available until a student’s
senior year; however, the following are important resources to remember when
thinking about financing your college education

Indiana College Costs Estimator http://www.indianacollegecosts.org
o
Estimate college costs using personal financial/tax information
o
Learn about the financial aid process, including frequently used terms, various sources
of aid and differences between grants, loans and scholarships

FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) www.fafsa.ed.gov
o
Must be completed in order to receive any type of scholarship, grant or loan for college
o
Cannot start FAFSA until January of the senior year
o
Financial aid informational meetings and workshops will be held in
January/February of senior year to facilitate financial aid process
o
FAFSA must be completed between January 1st and March 10th of
senior year!

Never Pay for Scholarship Search Services!
o
Naviance provides local and national scholarship information for FREE!
o
Other legit scholarship search websites:
www.fastweb.com, www.scholarships.com
NEXT Magazine
YOUR GUIDE TO:
Plan
o Prepare
o Pay
for college and career success!
o
HIGHLIGHTS:
Page 18 – Map of Indiana Colleges
o Page 26 – Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs
o Page 41 – Directory of public, private,
apprenticeship programs, proprietary
schools (for-profit), and military
o
Save the Date
Spring Junior Parent Information Night
 April 9, 2015
 The college application process
 Choosing the right college
 Paying for college
 Life after high school
Naviance Succeed

Access Naviance through Avon High School
Guidance website
www.avon-schools.org/domain/4129

First Time Using Naviance?
o

Instructions are on the back of handout
Important Info on Naviance:
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College Rep Visits
“SuperMatch” College Search
Scattergrams
Announcements about College Fairs and
College Preview Days
Prepare, Plan &
GO!
Regina Atkins
Regional Coordinator – Indianapolis
Indiana State University
The Basics
• Admission Lingo
o Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Rolling Admissions vs.
Open Enrollment
• Application Process
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o
o
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The Common App
Institutional Applications
Applications for specific programs
Deadlines
• Applied or Admit by
• Hard vs Soft
Prepare: Academics
• Test Prep & Practice
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PSAT/NMSQT
SAT
ACT
Career Assessment
• Diploma Types
o Core 40
o Academic Honors Diploma
o Technical Honors
• Specific Courses
o AP & Dual Credit Courses
o Classes related to your major
Prepare: Extracurriculars
• Important Points
o Longevity
o Demonstrate a balanced life
• Everything Counts!
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Sports
Performing Arts
Community Service
Work
Church groups
Prepare: Yourself!
• College Email Account
o Example: firstname.lastname@email.com
o Check often, parent/guardian access
• Learn to self advocate
o Students take the lead, parents be supportive
• Network
o Alumni, teachers, college reps
Plan: Your College Criteria
• What Do You Want?
o 2 year college vs. 4 year
college
o Public vs. Private
o Size & Location
• Soul Searching
o Majors, student activities
o Campus culture, amenities
o Student services
• College List
o Safety: exceed admission
requirements
o Match: meet admission
requirements
o Reach: below admission
requirements
• Take advantage of
fee waivers!
Plan: College Requirements
• Holistic review
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Cumulative GPA
Test scores
Resume & personal statements
Letters of recommendation
Rigor of classes
• Student Type
o Potential Ambassador, representative
Plan: Paying for College
• Aid Types
o Grants
o Scholarships
o Loans
• FAFSA
o Free Application for Federal
Student Aid
o Complete every year
o Available Jan 1 senior year,
due March 1
• Scholarship Search
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o
o
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Searches are FREE
Ex: Fastweb.com
Look locally
Awards from the institution
• Junior Year Matters
o Changes in GPA happen
now
Go: College Exploration
• College Visits
o Research the school
o Bring questions, test scores,
transcript
o Take notes
• Summer Programs
o College student w/o the
commitment!
o Indiana State Summer
Honors
• Tips & Tricks
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Keep an open mind
Talk to everyone!
Walk around on your own
Try the food
Have fun!!
Questions??
Thanks for Listening!