The Class of 2017
Looks Beyond Barrington
College and Career Planning Guide
(Junior “MAP” Book)
• Almost any fundamental question is covered
• Highlights include:
– College Planning Calendar
– Application Procedures
– College Visit Questions
– Resume
– Parent Letter
– Financial aid/Scholarships
– Transcript Request
– FAQ’s / Web Resources
TWO PORTIONS TO OUR
PRESENTATION
• HOW YOU CHOOSE A COLLEGE
• HOW A COLLEGE CHOOSES YOU
FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS
• This is a process.
• It is all about finding the fit.
• There is a college for everyone.
NAVIGATING THE PROCESS
•
•
•
•
•
•
Communicate as a family.
Do your homework.
Visit.
Be realistic.
Find the fit.
Fit is about finding the right school not
simply about finding the best school.
MAKE THIS A RESEARCH
PROJECT WHICH INVOLVES:
• Clear goals
• Deadlines
• Lots of note-taking
• Use the 5 P’s—Person, Place, People,
Price, Program
A bit of advice from some BHS alums:
• “Be proactive. The right college won’t find you.”
• “Don’t waste time. Jump right into it.”
• “Manage time well.”
The Five “P’s”
• Person
• Place
• People
• Price
• Program
PERSON
• The person is YOU.
• Why do I want to go to college?
• How do I learn?
• How independent am I?
• What do I want to be involved in?
• Do I have special talents?
• Do I have special needs?
Lyndsay Palach,
Transition Coordinator
Perhaps consider a “Gap Year”
• A gap year is a year for students to explore other interests
between high school and college.
• A very informative article: “Time Out or Burn Out for the Next
Generation” by William Fitzsimmons, Dean from Harvard
College.
– www.college.harvard.edu/admissions/preparing-college/should-itake-time
• Gap Year Fair – New Trier, Saturday, Jan 30, 1:30 p.m. –
3:30 p.m.
PLACE
• Distance – consider logistics of coming home
• Setting: Rural, Urban, Suburban
• Size: Small (<1,000) vs Large (15,000+)
• Types of schools: Music Conservatory,
Technical, Single Gender, Public, Private
• YOU MUST VISIT—TOGETHER.
• Prestige
PEOPLE
• What type of diversity is important to
you?
• Faith based?
• Another area of the country?
• One thing is certain—it won’t be like
high school!
PRICE
• Have “the talk” about cost.
• Don’t get confused by sticker shock. Go
thru the financial aid process.
• IWU Admission Dean, “Let me show
you that you can afford our school.”
• Net Price Calculators
• “Scholar”- ships
PROGRAM
• Consider internships, co-ops, study abroad
opportunities, direct admit programs, and other hands
on experiences.
• In many instances, you do not need to choose your
major until the end of sophomore year of college!
• If you don’t know what you want to do, know what
you don’t want to do.
• Utilize your BHS resources: Naviance Assessments,
Career Cruising, and Career Treks.
SEARCH AND SELECTION TIMELINE
• October- Early December
– Meet with your counselor in groups.
– Do your research.
• December-Mid April
– Complete a college counseling appointment
• December-June
– Create your list (5-8 schools)
• Summer
– Finish Resume, Brainstorm Essays
• August
– Return to school ready to apply
Reach, Target, and Safety Schools
A school that is a reach for some, may be a target for others.
Target
Schools
Safety
Schools
•
•
•
Meet /exceed all
admission
requirements
ACT Composite /
SAT/ GPA falls
above the mid
50%
Financially
reasonable
Reach
Schools
•
Meet all admission •
requirements
May be deficient in some
admission requirements
•
ACT Composite /
•
SAT/ GPA falls
within the mid 50%
•
Financially
attainable
•
ACT Composite / SAT/
GPA falls below mid 50%
•
May be a financial reach
Please note: Ivy-league
or highly selective
schools for all students
HOW TO DO YOUR
RESEARCH
• READ the “Map Book.”
• Create a list of schools (Naviance).
• Use the GRC and the individual college websites.
• Attend all of our programs next semester (Financial Aid Night,
Ask the Experts, College Night).
• Make the most of College Night, it is one stop shopping.
• Attend spring rep visits and during the fall of your senior year.
• Visit college campuses.
HOW WE CAN HELP
• Counselors – know your students, know
academic advisement, can answer questions
about college, write letters of recommendation,
and process applications
• College Counselors – can help refine your list of
schools, can answer questions about specific
colleges, and their particular admission
processes
If I could do one thing over, I
would…
• “Look more openly at places and at a
broad range of schools.”
• “Worry less.”
• “Visit more, and earlier.”
FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT
HOW TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE
• Parents – Your child will remember how
you supported him or her.
• Students – Realize that this is
emotionally difficult for your parents.
• Both – Remember that it isn’t the college
but the student that has the magic!
How A College
Chooses You
Let’s Talk Data
Illinois State University
13,363 applications
78 % acceptance rate (10,658
admits)
3,632 enrolled
U of Michigan
51,797 apps
26% acceptance rate (13,611
admits)
6,071 enrolled
U of Illinois - UC
34,000 apps
65% acceptance rate (22,000
admits)
7,000 enrolled
Stanford
42,497 applications
5% acceptance rate (2,142
admits)
1,732 enrolled
What Does the Admission
Committee Review?
• High School Transcript
• ACT/SAT Scores
• Essays/Writing Samples
• Counselor and/or Teacher Recommendations
• Demonstrated Interest
• Choice of Major
• Extra-curriculars/Work
• Race, Legacy, State or County of Residence
High School Transcript
• Most colleges admit on 6 semesters
• GPA
• Has student taken a college prep curriculum?
– English: 4 years
Math: 3-4 years
– Science: 3-4 years
Social Studies: 3-4 years
– World Language: 2+ years
Fine Arts: 1 year (for some)
• Grades in college prep classes most important
• Grade trends
• Senior classes
Transcript Comparison
A Tale of Two Transcripts
Student A
3.54 wtd
(f)
Student B
3.00 wtd (f)
3.50 wtd
(s)
3.125 wtd (s)
3.083 wtd
(j)
3.571 wtd
Cumulative GPA
3.378 wtd
3.257 wtd
(j)
ACT/SAT Scores
• Colleges will accept ACTs or SATs
• If multiple test scores are given, colleges will look at
the best score(s)
• Superscore
• “not an extracurricular activity”
• SAT subject tests req/rec by highly selective
colleges (www.compassprep.com)
• NCAA - 9999
Essays and/or Writing Samples
(Map Book)
• Submit student’s own work
• Be sure to answer the question
• Correctly identify the college in the body
of work
• Additional personal statement can
always be included
• Save a graded paper- sometimes a
college will ask for one
Teacher Recommendations
(Map Book)
• Ask teachers for a letter of rec only if
required by college.
• Complete the “College Recommendation
Questionnaire.”
• Allow a minimum of 15 schools days for
completion by the deadline.
• Can send one letter of rec to multiple
schools.
Counselor Recommendations
• Get to know your counselor.
• Some applications have a counselor form.
• Ask counselor for a letter of rec only if required by college.
Allow a minimum of 15 schools days for completion.
• Speak to your counselor about what additional information
they may need (i.e. Parent Letter and their own form).
• Can send one letter of rec to multiple schools.
• Be sure to communicate deadlines, and if you add a newer
deadline, let them know.
Demonstrated Interest
• Schedule a formal campus visit through the admissions office
• Visit college reps in GRC
• Visit reps when they are in the Chicagoland area
• Email/call reps with questions
• Remember, this is “student’s” demonstrated interest
• Include thoughts impressions about college, from your visit,
in your essays/personal statements
• Answer emails…may be as simply as “yes, I am still
interested.”
Interviews (Map Book)
• Some schools offer an interview
• Interviews can take place on or off
campus
• Can be done by alumni
• Dress appropriately
• Have a few questions for them
• Send thank you note/email
Extra-Curriculars/Work (Map Book)
• Colleges want involved students
• Choose quality over quantity
• Resume should include activities from
Grades 9 – 12 only
Other Admission Factors
• Athletics/Talent
• Legacy
• Selectivity of Program
• Diversity (in all areas)
Common Application
• One application that can be sent to multiple schools (many
schools may have supplemental parts)
• Over 500 schools use the Common App (U Michigan,
DePaul, Marquette, Harvard, Northwestern, UIC)
• Schools may use the Common App only or give you the
option of using their own school specific application (e.g.
Marquette)
• Teachers and counselors will send their recommendations
and your transcript through the Common App
New Option for Class of 2017:
Coalition Application
Over 80 schools plan to use the Coalition Application (e.g. Indiana U, U of I,
Miami U of Ohio, ISU, Michigan State, U Michigan, Ivy League,
Northwestern)
– Many of the schools also use the Common App
Two Parts:
1) Locker: a private place to store sample work, resume, practice essays etc.
(scheduled to available to all students April 2016)
– The locker IS NOT part of your application.
2) Application (scheduled to be available to rising seniors summer of 2016)
– Since this application hasn’t been debuted yet, not much is known
– Stay tuned for more information as we learn more from the Coalition
Also New for the Class of 2017
• FAFSA is moving to Oct. 1!
– Using Prior – Prior Tax information (2015 tax
year).
– Will make process quicker and cleaner.
• Redesigned SAT – Starting March 2016
– These scores will not be released until June
2016.
Upcoming Events
• PTO – College Panel – 1/12/16 at 5:30 p.m.
• Focus on Financial Aid – 1/12/16 at 7p.m.
• Ask the Experts – 3/10/16
• BHS Illinois Regional College Fair
“College Night” – 4/4/16
Your To Do List
It’s all “mapped out” for you in the Map
Book!
Let us show you how to “navigate” to it!
Barrington High School Home Page
Thank you for joining us
this evening!