Post Secondary Pathways
Class of 2013
Maryann Grimaldi, Department Head
Peter Ettlinger, School Counselor
Larry Leone, School Counselor
Kaitlin Sullivan-Freimuth, School Counselor
Jenna Cossette, School Counselor Intern
Christine Smith, Secretary
Gina Voytek, Secretary
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The most important piece of your college
application will be your TRANSCRIPT.
Keep this in mind as you go forward with
scheduling for Senior year. Always do more
than the minimum!
4 academics is the minimum
5 academics is better
6 academics are recommended for most
of our college bound students
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Pathways
Choosing the College
that is Right for You
Types of Post
Secondary Education
Helpful Hints When
Choosing Colleges
Testing for College
Admissions
Application Process
Financial Aid
Information &
Checklist
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Military Service
Employment
Sample Resume
Calendar for Junior &
Senior Year
Glossary
Sampling of College
Requirements for
Admission
The Bottom Line
Worksheet
Writing Your College
Essay
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Some postgraduate options:
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Question to consider:
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Actions to take:
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four year college
two year college
technical training institutes
military
employment
◦ How do I decide what is the right Pathway for me?
◦ How do I decide what I want to do for a career or a major?
◦ Meet with your counselor
◦ Plan senior year courses to align with college major or
career interests, i.e. consider Career Connections
◦ Seek employment in career interests
◦ Consider Early Completion for January 2013
◦ Take an interest inventory
◦ Try job shadowing
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Select four or more strong academic courses for
senior schedule
Register for SAT I Reasoning and/or ACT with writing
Register for SAT II Subject test if appropriate, or the
ACT with Writing
Start searching for colleges (Naviance)
Make plans to visit colleges (February/April Vacation)
Attend the H-K College Fair – April 11th
Be open to opportunities for career focused events
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Make an appointment with your counselor
Review the blue planning book to help
navigate your future
Read the college guides and career
catalogues available in the Counseling
Office
Search Web sites (collegeboard.com,
individual school web sites, CT Labor
Department- www.ctdol.state.ct.us etc.),
and Naviance
(http://connection.naviance.com/hkhs)
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Every college can be ranked for selectivity or
difficulty of admission. Ivy league colleges, like
Dartmouth and Yale, would be among the most
selective and colleges with open admissions like
Middlesex Community College would be among the
least selective.
All students should choose colleges that they can see
themselves attending and fall within the following
categories:
◦ REACH: Chances of admission are slim (20% or less). School is
very competitive for this student.
◦ RANGE: Chances of admission are about 50%. School is a good
match for this student.
◦ SAFETY: Chances of admission are excellent (80% or better).
Schools often offer these students merit money.
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The challenge is for
each student to find
appropriate colleges
and post-graduate
programs in each
category.
Everyone’s categories
are the same but their
colleges/ programs
will be different.
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Students should make appropriate choices selecting 2-3 schools
within each the three categories:
◦ REACH
◦ RANGE
◦ SAFETY
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Students should have options when making their final decision.
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Look at schools financially, not just
academically.
Can you afford this school?
Have a serious discussion with your
son/daughter to discuss what exactly you can
contribute.
We recommend having at least one school
that you can afford even without financial aid.
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AP- Advanced Placement
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College Career Pathways
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UConn Early College Experience
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Project Lead The Way (PLTW)
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AP
AP
AP
AP
AP
AP
AP
AP
AP
English Literature & Composition
Biology
Environmental Science
Statistics
Studio Art
Calculus
Psychology
French
Chemistry- pending
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Three Core Courses plus one Career Cluster Courses
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Physics
Environmental Science
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Four Pre-Engineering Courses with potential for college credit
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Virtual High School
Middlesex Community College
Wesleyan High School Scholars Program
Middlesex Partnership Program
Online Courses
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Distance from home
Travel Costs
Books/ Course Materials
Personal Expenses
Car/Parking Fees
Financial Aid Awards from different colleges
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Web-based college search engines: Naviance,
Collegeboard, College Navigator, College
Websites
College Catalogs- online at the college sites and
many are available in the Counseling Office
Print information- Counseling Office has
handbooks, catalogs, manuals, and view books
Other resources
◦ College Fair, April 11, 2012 (during school hours)
◦ College Rep visits during lunch (Fall 2012)
◦ Area job fairs (scheduled throughout the year)
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SAT Reasoning
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SAT II Subject Tests
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SAT II’s should be taken as close to the completion of
the specific course
May 5, 2012
June 2, 2012
ACT (with writing)
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January 28, 2012
March 10, 2012
May 5, 2012
June 2, 2012
February 11, 2012 (held at HK)
April 14, 2012
June 9, 2012 (held at HK)
Test Optional
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Sacred Heart University, Connecticut College,
Assumption, Merrimack, Stonehill, St. Anselms,
Union, St. Michaels, Providence College
For a complete list see: www.fairtest.org
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SAT I Reasoning
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SAT Subject Tests– One Hour Subject
Specific Tests (max 800)
◦ Measures Critical Reading, Math and Writing/
Essay (max score 2400- 800 each)
◦ CR & M are still the most important part of the
SAT scores
◦ Some schools are looking at the Writing for
placement in Freshman English courses
◦ More selective colleges
◦ Check with each school
◦ “Recommended” vs. “Required”
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The ACT tests: English, Math, Reading, and
Science knowledge. We highly recommend
that you take the Writing section. Most
colleges are looking for the writing to be
included to make it comparable to the SAT.
Highest composite score – 36
◦ Average of the subscores
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Some colleges will take the ACT in place of
the SAT Subject Tests (check with your
potential schools)
SAT (Critical Reading & Math)
ACT Composite Score
1600
36
1580
35
1520
34
1470
33
1420
32
1380
31
1340
30
1300
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1260
28
1220
27
1180
26
1140
25
1110
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1070
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1030
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990
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950
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910
19
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070324 – enter this code on your
registration materials!!
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Online Registration
◦ SAT- www.collegeboard.com
◦ ACT- www.act.org
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Use your PSAT score report
◦ Test corrections
◦ Review types of questions
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Prep Courses/Tutoring
◦ Homework and effort are a
must for these classes
◦ Online
◦ Small groups
◦ Books available in library
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FAFSA- MUST be completed by all applicants for federal student
aid.
◦ www.fafsa.edu.gov
◦ Must be done every year
◦ One Parent & the Student must get a PIN
◦ You MUST apply on-line. Worksheets are available here at the
school to help you prepare the necessary information.
◦ Can be completed any time after January 1st of your student’s
senior year (2013)– you will need the previous year’s tax
information
◦ Check each individual school for deadlines!
◦ Get this done early!! $$ is first come, first serve
◦ Attend Financial Aid night in late November/early December
2012
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CSS/ Financial Aid Profile
◦ Used by some colleges,
universities and private
scholarship programs to award
their own private institutions
and programs that use it.
◦ Register via
www.collegeboard.com
◦ Check with your schools to see
if they require this. Not all
schools do as this is NOT for
federal student aid
◦ Check each individual school
for deadlines!
◦ Get this done early!! $$ is first
come first serve
◦ You may begin registering as
of October 1st of your student’s
senior year (2012).
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Financial Aid Formula:
Cost of Attendance
- minus Expected Family Contribution
- minus Pell Grant (extremely limited- low income)
- minus Aid from other sources
EQUALS = $$ Your Financial Aid Package
Financial Aid Packages include:
local, private & state scholarships
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□ LOANS
□ Grants
□ LOANS
□ Work Study
□ LOANS
□ Parent Loans
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What is the annual cost of attendance?
Expected family contribution (EFC)?
Grants/scholarships? Criteria for continued
offer year to year
Student loans? Parent loans?
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Breakdown of funds (Undergraduate) as of 2008
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Grants= 43%
Loans = 52%
Work Study = 1%
Education Tax Benefits = 4%
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Breakdown of funds (Graduate) as of 2008
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Many parents could borrow $140,000 from the federal
parent loan to pay for four years.
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◦ Grants = 33%
◦ Loans= 64%
◦ Educational Tax Benefits = 2%
Statistics taken from CollegeBoard Trends & Student Aid Report
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NCAA documents that high
school athletes meet minimal
academic standards and will be
able to participate in college
athletics
DI & DII athletes ONLY
NCAA requires all to register
online
◦ Submission of SAT score and grades
accompanied by a release form
provided by NCAA website
** www,ncaastudent.org **
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For any additional questions please have your
student stop by and ask or feel free to email
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Maryann Grimaldi- grimaldim33@rsd17.org
Peter Ettlinger- ettlinger33@rsd17.org
Larry Leone- leone55@rsd17.org
Kaitlin Sullivan-Freimuth- sullivank33@rsd17.org
Jenna Cossette- jcossette@rsd17.org
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Visit schools over vacations (Monday-Friday)
Attend H-K College Fair: April 11, 2012
Utilize Naviance
Senior Parent Night will be held in September
2012 and we will discuss more at that time
Financial Aid Night will be held in November or
December 2012