Post-Secondary Planning for
Juniors
presented by
Nipmuc Regional High School
Guidance Staff
Post-Secondary Options
Upon graduation from Nipmuc , students can . . .
- Seek employment
- Join the military
- Attend college or technical school
- Take a “gap” year
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS*
A Quick Review
•
•
•
•
•
•
English
Math
Science
History
Physical Education
Electives
4 credits
3 credits
2 credits including biology (3 for Class of 2013)
3 credits including WEX II, U.S. History I and II
1 credit
9 credits
_________________________
Total
22 credits of a possible 24 plus
•
MCAS exams in English, Math, Biology
*
Differ from college admission requirements
Admission Requirements
Public and Private Colleges
UMass Amherst
Boston University
Minimum high school requirements
High school preparation/ requirements
4 years English
3 years Math, including Algebra 2
3 years Science, including 2 lab sciences
2 years Social Science, including U.S. History
2 years same Foreign Language
2 electives from the above, arts and
humanities or computer science
4 years English
3 – 4 years Math, including Algebra 2
3 – 4 years lab sciences
3 – 4 years History or Social Science
2 – 4 years same Foreign Language
*Recommended – 4 years of each subject
listed above or 20 courses
Remember - Academic rigor (level of difficulty) is a factor considered for admission
or
“Before College”
“What should you be doing NOW as a junior?”
Read, Review, Study
Complete/Submit Homework
Prepare for Assessments
Time Management
ANSWER: All of the Above. So that you will graduate in good standing!
Step
: A Personal Inventory
Start thinking about . . .
- What do I like/dislike?
- What am I good at? What are some of my limitations?
- Do I like to work with people or machines/computers? Numbers? Words?
- Do I work best alone or with others?
- Who can I talk to about careers I like?
Sit down and take an honest inventory of yourself
and identify what it is that truly interests you.
This really IS all about YOU!
Step
: Your Academic Standing
Question to ask yourself as you review each college profile:
“Can I succeed in this college?”
•
Colleges are ranked by their selectivity in terms of admissions (most difficult, moderately difficult,
etc.)
•
Selectivity is determined by the GPA and SAT/ACT scores set by each college
•
Match your academic abilities to the criteria for admission set by the school:
Reach
Realistic
Safety
•
-college criteria exceeds your standing
-your standing meets college criteria
-your standing exceeds college criteria
Your academic standing is based on your GPA and standardized test scores – See your packet for:
Conversion table to 4-point scale (e.g. 85 is equivalent to 3.0)
College Scope booklet
Step
: The Search begins . . .
To find the “right” college or post-secondary placement, you need to . . .
- Research and evaluate your options (what is the best for me?)
- Use resources to match your abilities, skills, and talents to colleges/careers
o Visit your Guidance Office and Media Center to review catalogs and brochures
o Take interest inventories available through the Guidance Office or online
(ASVAB Career Exploration Program, The Harrington-O’Shea CDM)
o Check out some career options at the Occupational Outlook Handbook online.
o Go to www.collegeboard.com to register for My Road, College Matchmaker, and College Quickfinder and
review college profiles.
o Check in periodically with your Guidance Counselor with any questions you might have
Step
: Identify your Preferences
and ask yourself these questions before
compiling your list of colleges/careers:
1. What do I want to study (or major in)?
2. Where do I want to go to school (or work)?
3. What size school do I want to attend?
4. What kind of atmosphere do I want?
5. How much am I willing to spend on my education?
6. What special programs do I want or need?
7. Is college right for me now or do I want to postpone (defer) school
and work, volunteer, or serve in the military?
Selecting a Major or
“what are you going to do for the rest of your life?”
Common questions about college majors:
Q: Do I need to know exactly what I want to study and/or pursue for a career?
A: Definitely NOT!
Q: What if I just don’t know what I want to do or study?
A: You can enter college as “undecided” and select a course of study at the end of your
sophomore year after you have taken several general courses and discovered a subject
that interests and motivates you. Consider a Liberal Arts program.
Q: What if I want to go to grad school?
A: As long as you fulfill a grad school’s course requirements, it really doesn’t matter
what you major.
Q: Does my major dictate my profession?
A: Sometimes. If you specialize in something like nursing or engineering, you’re
learning a specific trade and will likely continue with that course of study. Most majors
prepare you for a range of careers that you can be trained to handle upon hire.
Location—what works best for me?
Rural, urban or somewhere in-between?
Some things for you to consider:
– What part of the country, e.g. New England, Midwest, South, West Coast?
– What about the climate and related activities? Skiing or surfing?
– How far away do I want to be from my family?
– Expenses for college. How much will it cost me to travel to and from college?
– Do I want to be in a city or out in the country or in a suburb with access to both?
– Inland, near the sea, in the mountains, on a lake, overseas, and so on?
What SIZE college?
• Colleges range in size from 150 to 80,000+ students
• You should ask yourself . . .
-Will I welcome the personal, friendly atmosphere of a small college?
or, will I feel like I am back at high school and closed in or trapped?
-Will I feel more independent and free at a large university?
or, will I feel lost and overwhelmed?
-Do I want small classes and a lot of interaction with my professors?
or, am I comfortable with large lecture halls and working with teaching assistants?
-Do I want the greater opportunity to participate in a variety of educational, athletic,
and social activities offered by a larger institution?
Visit a few college campuses nearby to get an idea
The college “atmosphere”
Some factors that contribute to the atmosphere of a college:
o
Class size and availability of instructors
o
Seriousness of purpose and sense of responsibility among students
o
Manner in which students’ questions, concerns, and schedules are handled—more or
less personal
o
Single sex or co-educational school
o
Campus less defined or contained within a small geographical area
o
Diversity of the student body
o
Quality and assignment of dormitory space
o
On campus student and sports activities and clubs/organizations
o
Safety record of the college
Check it out with the students!
Specialized Programs
Service Academy Programs and ROTC Scholarships
Research online NOW
Schedule an appointment with your counselor before summer vacation
Division 1 and 2 Sports
Register with the NCAA online NOW
Submit the form, fee, and official transcript
You need to be registered in order to discuss recruitment with coaches
Students with Disabilities
Research colleges that provide support or comprehensive services
Copies of IEPs and 504 Plans can be sent to colleges with applications
Some regulations re: education plans
Paying for College – some “tips”
TOTAL COST - $2500 for community college to $50,000+ for private schools*
• DON”T limit your choice to only those you believe you can afford.
• Financial Aid varies from school to school in terms of grants/scholarships.
• Consider state colleges for an undergraduate degree particularly if you
plan to attend graduate school
• John and Abigail Adams Scholarship – awarded to top 25% scorers in
Grade 10 MCAS by DESE (notification in November of senior year)
• Apply for national and local scholarships throughout your senior year.
*cost of attendance is greater than tuition and room & board (books, spending $, travel, etc.)
Let’s review your options . . .
Remember? Employment, military, college, or a “gap” year?
•
Establish a “plan” for whatever you choose to do and GET STARTED.
•
Set your goals and objectives and continue to reevaluate them periodically.
-training?
-promotion?
•
Not ready to commit to college? Consider a two-year college.
-low academic standing in high school may not be reflective of your ability
-unsure of what you really want to do
-complete a 2-year degree or certificate program
and/or
-transfer credits to a 4-year college/university and obtain a degree
•
Whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability!
POST-SECONDARY PLANNING
TIMELINE FOR JUNIORS
TODAY . . .
• Open an account on collegeboard.com and familiarize yourself with the
college and career planning features
• Review SAT test questions offered through www.collegeboard.com in
preparation for the SAT exams and/or . . .
• Sign up for SAT practice and review courses to improve test taking skills
• Plan to register for SAT Reasoning exams in May or June and SAT Subject
exams offered in June if the colleges you are considering require them
• SAT or ACT or both?
• Request recommendations from your teacher(s) if you can
POST-SECONDARY PLANNING
TIMELINE FOR JUNIORS cont.
During the spring . . .
o Compile your long list of colleges based on your research
o Review your list with your Counselor
o Visit college campuses (sign up for informational sessions and tours)
o Attend college fairs throughout the area (Boston and Providence)
o Begin to review applications and collect personal data
 Complete your Senior Questionnaire and submit* it to your Counselor
 Parents complete their Parent Brag Sheet and submit* it to your Counselor
*before summer!
POST-SECONDARY PLANNING
TIMELINE FOR JUNIORS cont.
During the summer . . .
•
Continue to visit college campuses and schedule interviews whenever possible
•
Draft your student resume
•
Work on your personal essay – review questions typically asked by colleges
•
Start to narrow your long list of colleges to a short list of about 5 to 8 based on
reach, realistic, and safety
•
Continue to collect personal data to be used for college applications, including
financial records (FAFSA and CSS Profile)
•
Determine how you will apply to each college – options include:
1. Online, Common Application, or hard copy
2. Regular, Early Decision, or Early Action
Reminder – Keep records on each college for comparison purposes
About Teacher Recommendations . . .
College requirement State schools require (1) teacher recommendation
Private schools require (2) teacher recommendations
Other (employer, coach, church official)?
Guidelines Ask teachers who know you best (character, work ethic, leadership skills)
Preferably a 11th or 12th grade teacher
Provide teachers with the following:
- Common Application Teacher Evaluation form (completed/signed)
- Your student resume
- List of colleges with deadlines
- Addressed, stamped envelopes
Teacher Recommendations continued
Teacher name
Nipmuc Regional High School
90 Pleasant Street
Upton, MA 01568
College/University Name
Office of Admissions
123 Street Name
Any Town, State, Zip Code
DIRECTIONS
•
•
•
Provide to each teacher a stamped envelope addressed to the college’s admissions office for
each college recommendation to be sent.
Print the teacher’s name with the school address as the return address.
Provide a list of the colleges with their application deadlines to each teacher.
resume
• Highlights your activities and
achievements
• Limit your list to those activities
you participated in during high
school
• Break your list into related topics
such as “sports,” “academic
honors,” “community service,”
etc.
• Check for grammar, spelling, and
punctuation
• Limit your student resume to 1
page, if possible
Johnnie B. Goode
90 Pleasant Street
Upton, MA 01568
508 529-2130 jbg@verizon.net
Academic Honors
High Honors Dinner, 9, 10, 11, 12
Smith College Book Award, 11
Clubs and Organizations
Peer Leadership, 10, 11, 12
Anime Club, 11, 12
Sports
Varsity Lacrosse, 10, 11, 12
Captain, 12
J.V. Soccer, 9, 10
Work Experience
Mendon-Upton After School Program, 9, 10
Friendly’s Restaurant, 11, 12
Community Service
Milford Regional Hospital, 9, 10, 11
American Cancer Society Relay For Life, 9, 10
Special Olympics, 12
“Preview of Coming Attractions” or a Timeline for Seniors
September
o
o
o
o
o
Attend a workshop on Post-Secondary Planning, Part 2: The Application Process
Meet with your Guidance Counselor to review your “short” list of colleges
Begin your college essay in English 12
Sign up for SAT or ACT exams in October, November, or December
Follow up with teacher(s) regarding letters of recommendation
October
o
o
o
o
o
Mini-college fairs at Nipmuc
Sign up to meet with College Representatives at Nipmuc
Send for applications or complete them online
Request transcripts from the Guidance Office for colleges to which you are applying
Senior Parent Night
November
o
o
o
Early Decision and Early Action applications due 11-1 or 11-15
Continue completing/submitting Regular Admissions applications
Release SAT/ACT scores from testing centers to colleges
December
o
Financial Aid Night
Helpful Hints for Juniors
• Be organized; keep records of all your research on colleges
• Meet with your Guidance Counselor frequently to address any
questions you may have regarding the college search and
application process
• Listen to Guidance Announcements in the morning for
information on meetings with College Admissions
Representatives and Scholarship opportunities
• All paperwork related to a college application, i.e. Transcript
Release Form, needs to be submitted to the Guidance Office at
least 2 weeks before each college application deadline!
WATCH
THOSE DEADLINES!
Re: Your Transcripts
Student Name
School Information
Address
GPA 85.00
o Format
GPA
Class Rank
o Availability
o Official/Unofficial
o Transcript Release
Form
Fee
Rank 35 of 188
Grade 9
Final Grade
English 9 H
85
Math
80
Science H
90
History
75
Language
90
Elective H
85
GPA/6 credits
Grade 11
Final Grade
English 11 H
80
Math
80
Science H
90
History
95
Language H
95
Elective H
90
GPA/6 credits
Grade 10
Final Grade
English 10 H
85
Math
80
Science H
90
History
75
Language H
95
Elective H
85
GPA/6 credits
Grade 12
Final Grade
English 12
80
Math
80
Science H
90
History H
85
Language H
95
Elective H
90
GPA/6 credits
Katherine Larracey
10-1-11
Signature ________________ Date _______
Guidance Counselor
school seal
Some other considerations. . .
 Take the time to reflect, clarify your values, and plan your options.
 Thorough research now will make your senior year manageable a thoughtful, balanced, realistic versus a “confetti” approach.
 There is a college or program out there for each of you.
 It does not necessarily matter which college you attend. None of them are
perfect and will meet all of your needs.
 It is what you do with what you have at the college you choose that really
matters.
 Just be the best you can be!
Your Guidance Staff
Nipmuc Regional High School
Some Helpful Hints for Parents
•
Help your child get started with the search and with the organization of the
college research materials
•
Collect personal information that will be needed for the applications, including
financial information
•
Accompany students on college visits, but keep your thoughts to yourself until
asked for an opinion
•
Plan on attending the Parent Night in October and the Financial Aid Night in
November/December (TBA)
•
Sit down and have a candid discussion about finances with your child; again,
remember that there may be monies available for your child through college
scholarships and grants
•
Be careful with advice provided by friends and family. Every child is different as
is his/her needs, academic and otherwise.
•
Listen to and be patient with your child.
And most importantly, let your child do his/her job!
Q and A Any questions or comments?
Any questions about the post-secondary planning session and/or the application
process can be directed to the Guidance staff at:
Phone
FAX
508 529-2140
508 529-2142
Email
Cynthia A. Bucken, Guidance Counselor
Patricia Crowley, Guidance Counselor
Katherine Larracey, Guidance Counselor
Ona Moore, Administrative Assistant
cbucken@mursd.org
pcrowley@mursd.org
klarracey@mursd.org
omoore@mursd.org
Nipmuc Regional High School
90 Pleasant Street, Upton, MA 01568