Central Senior High School
College Planning Night
January 14th, 2015
An Overview of tonight’s
presentation:
 College Planning Checklist
 Testing Information
 The College Search
 Where have 2014 Central graduates gone to college?
 How parents/guardians can help:
What’s your role?
 Useful Resources
Throughout High School
 Take rigorous academic courses
(core areas and foreign language)
 Read as much as possible
 Plan summer “experiences”
 Create a folder for college materials
 Attend college fairs
 Visit 1-2 colleges during the summer and/or during breaks
 Participate in extracurricular activities and take on
leadership roles
 Develop good study habits including: note taking; revising
written work; test taking skills; and a daily homework
schedule.
Junior Year Checklist
What’s your academic plan for high school?
Do you have the classes you need?
Are you on track to graduate?
Take the PSAT/NMSQT on October 14th, 2015
Attend local/regional college fairs –
MN National College Fair is September (dates TBA)
Establish personal interests and college “must haves”
Begin ACT/SAT test preparation, take Tuesday, April 28th in school
Attend college representatives’ visits at Central High School
Research programs and career services at prospective schools
Develop a Resume
Visit college campuses
Senior Year Checklist
• Meet with college representatives at Central
• Arrange college campus visits
• Attend the MN National College Fair: September (TBA)
• Update your resume
• Study and retake SAT & ACT tests in early Fall (optional)
• Request recommendation letters if needed
• Finalize college application list: essays; forms;
recommendations; etc.
Recommended In Preparation Of
College
English
Four years of English
Mathematics
Three to four years of mathematics,
including rigorous courses in Algebra I,
Geometry, and Algebra II
Sciences
Three to four years of science, including
rigorous courses in Biology, Chemistry,
and Physics
Social Studies
Three years of social studies
Additional Courses
Some colleges/universities require other
classes as prerequisites for admission
including: two or more years of the same
foreign language or courses in fine arts or
computer science, etc.
*Specific high school course requirements vary by institution. Be sure to check with the schools you’re interested in to
see what they recommend or require.
* University of Minnesota: For student seeking admission fall 2015 and thereafter: Four years, including intermediate
algebra, geometry, and algebra 2. Examples of 4th year math include calculus (preferred), pre-calculus, or analysis.
For more information refer to the University of Minnesota website.
Become familiar with the
“alphabet soup” of testing
 PSAT – a practice test for the SAT and the only way to qualify
for the National Merit Scholarship Program
 ACT – college entrance test taken by an estimated 98% or
more of CHS students
 SAT – college entrance test taken by some students, usually
those applying to East Coast and highly selective schools.
 SAT Subject Tests – specialized 1 hour tests in specific
subjects, required by some highly selective schools.
College Entrance Exams
 ACT & SAT: counselors recommend taking these in the spring
of junior year.
SPPS will be offering this to all juniors on Tuesday, April 28th
at no charge, no preregistration needed.
(Additional testing is available fall of senior year if needed.)
 Most colleges now require you to have the testing company
send your test results directly to the college.
 Accuplacer: used at community and technical college-
assessment is online.
(offered here at Central to Seniors in Nov., online)
Naviance ACT PrepMe
 Free ACT Prep on Naviance under PrepMe
www.connection.naviance.com/chsstp
View video on Home page
Enter your active directory user name and
password
Websites for Free Test Prep
 Free practice Tests for many different exams
http://www.testprepreview.com/
 A free sample test for the ACTs
http://www.actstudent.org/sampletest/
 Free online test preparation. Sponsored by the military
https://www.march2success.com/index.cfm
 Spark notes offer a more direct approach to learning the strategies of
standardized tests
http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/
 Another FREE SAT prep site
http://www.number2.com/
Other Test Prep Resources
 Check with your local public library for ACT/SAT test prep
books and CD’s with tips and sample tests.
 $$ ZAPS: http://www.zaps.com
 $$ Advantage Education Programs:
http://advantageprep.net
 $$$$ Kaplan: www.kaptest.com
 $$$$ Princeton Review: www.princetonreview.com
 $$$$ Revolution Prep: www.revolution.prep.com
College Athletics
 Students considering college athletics at the Division I or II level can obtain
information on NCAA guidelines at http://www.ncaa.org/.
 Division I & II institutions which sponsor specific sports can be found at
http://www.ncaa.org/sponsorships/.
 The NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse handles all inquiries regarding an
individual's initial eligibility status. Information and Clearinghouse
registration are available at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
 For more information go to the Central Webpage, click on student or parent,
click on Counseling Services, on the right hand side listed in the quick list is
the NCAA Clearinghouse, click on this and there is a link to NCAA
Clearinghouse in addition to NCAA Initial Eligibility and Recruiting power
point.
Finding a College “Fit”
What Should Your College List Look
Like?
 3-6 Schools
 Dream (Reach) School
 Good Chance School
 Safety School
Prospective College List: Personal Preferences
 Size (# undergraduates)
 Geographic Location
 Campus setting (urban,
 Cost
 Financial Aid
 Housing – 4 years
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suburban, rural)
Academic Focus
Areas of Study
Facilities: Library, Research
Labs, etc.
Social Atmosphere
Campus Life, Sports, Arts
Religious Affiliation
Support Services
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guaranteed?
Diversity
(ethnic, geographic)
Admission Criteria
Graduation & Retention
Rates
Outcomes: employment/
graduate schools
Greek System
Admissions Terminology
 Early Decision I – Binding. Student agrees to withdraw all other apps.
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Can double chances of acceptance at certain colleges.
Early Action - Early Deadline, Early Notification. Student doesn’t have
to decide until regular admission date.
Early Notification - Colleges who really want a student will let them
know early how likely it is that they will be accepted.
Regular Admissions - Considers all students who have their app. in by
the deadline.
Priority Deadline – Considers priority applications in advance of
regular admissions.
Rolling Admissions - Continuous acceptance of apps. until class fills.
Central Class of 2014
Most Popular College Enrollments
Saint Paul College
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
78
48
Century Community and Technical College
University of Minnesota - Duluth
St. Cloud University
18
17
14
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
12
12
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Augsburg College
Inver Hills Community College
11
10
10
Colleges & Universities chosen by
the top 25 students
of CHS Class of 2014
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Carleton College
Columbia University
Earlham College
The George Fox University
Grinnell College
Lawrence University
Luther College
Oberlin College
University of Chicago
 University of Indiana,
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Bloomington
University of Minnesota,
Twin Cities
University of Puget Sound
University of Rochester
University of Texas, Austin
University of Wisconsin,
Madison
Vassar College
Wesleyan University
*Bold indicates multiple students in Top 25 Class of 2014 attend
Next year as an applicant:
What do colleges look for?
 Academic Performance
• Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Rank
• ACT/SAT test scores
• Rigor of courses taken
 Personal Essay
 Recommendations
 Activities/Awards
 Interview
Keep up the MOMENTUM!
 Continue with most rigorous academic program possible -
4 years English, math, science (bio, chem, physics), social
studies and world language. Most selective schools want
strong grades in the most rigorous academic program
available at the student’s school.
 Your GPA matters ALL THE WAY TO THE END!
 If you change your courses after you apply to college and
you don’t check it out with a college, they can rescind their
offer.
The Campus Visit
Campus Visit Questions
 What are the admissions requirements?
 Average class size?
 Retention rate, graduation rate and career
placement history of grads?
 Who teaches undergrad classes?
 Strongest departments/programs?
 Financial Aid- Avg. amount students receive, etc?
 Special programs, clubs, recreation facilities and
services?
 Types of housing and living situations available?
Ways Parents Can Help
 Encourage your child to consider options which best fits
his or her interests, abilities, and values.
 Encourage your child to utilize the resources available.
 Encourage your child to maximize the opportunity to visit
with college representatives.
Naviance
 www.connection.naviance.com/chsstp
 On Naviance you can:
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Take practice ACT tests
Create a Resume
Explore careers
Research Colleges
Sign up for College Visits
Keep track of your Applications and Deadlines
Request Recommendation Letters
Request Transcripts
Naviance Preview
Naviance Overview
 View an 11 minute overview of Naviance by:
 Going to the Central Webpage: central.spps.org
 Click on Academics
 Click on Counseling Services
 On the right, under “In this Section”
 Click on Naviance
 Click on Naviance Overview
 Or go there directly by entering in
http://central.spps.org/naviance_4
Useful Web Sites

http://connection.naviance.chsstp.com
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www.act.org
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www.collegeboard.com
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www.commonapp.org
www.collegeboard.com/parents
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www.fafsa.ed.gov
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www.ncaa.org
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www.getready.state.mn.us
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www.mnprivatecolleges.org/how-plan

version2.gustavus.edu/images/userimages/dkogler/4323/How%20Not%20to%20Hover
%2009.pdf "How Not to Hover" presentation about parents and the college search.
 SPPS ACT Prep Courses:
 Who: Juniors in SPPS
 When: Courses in February, March and early April
 Where: Central High School and Washington Technology
 Cost: Course paid courtesy of SPPS
 Thinking College Early Fair Saturday, Feb. 28th,
11:30-2:00
Harding High School
1540 6th Street East
St. Paul, MN 55106
 ACT for all SPPS juniors on Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Counseling Staff
Counselors
Kea Sparkman
Kathleen Karp
Barbara Kurtz
Nathan Flanders
Dia Yang
Steven Olson
A-E
F–K
L- O
P–T
U–Z
College and Career Counselor
Support Staff
Xia Lyfoung
Norma Hollins
Testing Coordinator
Counseling Secretary
(651)744-4906