A GUIDE TO PLANNING
YOUR FUTURE
Post Secondary Pathways
Class of 2014
H-K HS School Counseling Department
Maryann Grimaldi, Dean of Academics
Peter Ettlinger, School Counselor
Stacey Mahoney, School Counselor
Kaitlin Sullivan-Freimuth, School Counselor
Katherine Grimaldi, School Counselor Intern
Christine Smith, Secretary
Gina Voytek, Secretary
Senior Scheduling
• 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
Junior Handbook- What is Inside?
• Pathways
• Choosing the College that
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is Right for You
Types of Post Secondary
Education
Helpful Hints When
Choosing Colleges
Testing for College
Admissions
Application Process
Naviance
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
Pathways
 Some postgraduate options:
◦ four year college
◦ two year college
◦ technical training institutes
◦ military
◦ employment
 Question to consider:
◦ 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?
 Actions to take:
◦ 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 2014 (starting college courses/work a semester early)
◦ Take an interest inventory
◦ Try job shadowing
Steps Toward Your Future
 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 10th
 Be open to opportunities for career focused events
Steps to Searching for the Right Pathway
• 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 Naviance
(http://connection.naviance.com/hkhs) & other web
sites (collegeboard.com, individual school web sites,
CT Labor Department- www.ctdol.state.ct.us etc.)
College Selection Selectivity
• 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.
Admissions Selectivity
 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.
Admissions Selectivity
 Students should make appropriate choices selecting 2-3 schools within
each the three categories:
◦ REACH
◦ RANGE
◦ SAFETY
►
Students should have options when making their final decision.
Affordability & Selection
• 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.
Options to potentially earn college credit
while still in high school
 AP- Advanced Placement
◦ AP English Literature & Composition
◦ AP Biology
AP Spanish
◦ AP Calculus
◦ AP French
◦ AP Music Theory
AP English Language & Composition
AP Statistics
AP Studio Art
AP Psychology
AP Chemistry
AP Human Geography
 College Career Pathways
◦ Three Core Courses plus one Career Cluster Courses
 UConn Early College Experience
◦ Physics
◦ Environmental Science
◦ Spanish
 Project Lead The Way (PLTW)
◦ Four Pre-Engineering Courses with potential for college credit
 Wesleyan High School Scholars Program
 Middlesex Partnership Program
 Online Courses
• Virtual High School
• Middlesex Community College
Other Things To Consider When Discussing
Affordability
• Distance from home
• Travel Costs
• Books/ Course Materials
• Personal Expenses
• Car/Parking Fees
• Financial Aid Awards from different colleges
Post-Graduate Admission Resources
 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 10, 2013 (during school hours)
◦ College Rep visits during lunch (Fall 2013)
◦ Area job fairs (scheduled throughout the year)
Standardized Testing
NOTE TO STUDENTS: You MUST upload a
picture of yourself onto your admissions ticket
beginning in March for SATs and February for
ACTs. You will NOT be admitted to the test
without this!!

SAT Reasoning
◦ January 26, 2013
◦ March 9, 2013 (held at HK)
◦ May 4, 2013 (held at HK)
◦ June 1, 2013

SAT II Subject Tests
◦ SAT II’s should be taken as close to the
completion of the specific course
◦ May 4, 2013
◦ June 1, 2013

ACT (with writing)
◦ February 9, 2013 (held at HK)
◦ April 13, 2013
◦ June 8, 2013 (held at HK)

Test Optional
◦ Sacred Heart University, Connecticut
College, Assumption, Merrimack, Stonehill,
St. Anselms, Union, St. Michaels,
Providence College
◦ For a complete list see: www.fairtest.org
SAT & SAT Subject Test
• SAT I Reasoning
• 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
• SAT Subject Tests– One Hour Subject Specific
Tests (max 800)
• More selective colleges
• Check with each school
• “Recommended” vs. “Required”
ACT
• 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
• Some colleges will take the ACT in place of the
SAT Subject Tests (check with your potential
schools)
SAT & ACT Comparison
SAT (Critical Reading & Math)
ACT Composite Score
1600
36
1580
35
1520
34
1470
33
1420
32
1380
31
1340
30
1300
29
1260
28
1220
27
1180
26
1140
25
1110
24
1070
23
1030
22
990
21
950
20
910
19
Testing Registration
• 070324 –
enter this code on your registration
materials!!
• Online Registration
• SAT- www.collegeboard.org
• ACT- www.actstudent.org
A little bit of help…
• Use your PSAT score report
• Test corrections
• Review types of questions
• Prep Courses/Tutoring
• Homework and effort are a must for
these classes
• Online
• Small groups
• Books available in library
FINANCIAL AID
How to Apply
 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
(2014)– you will need the previous year’s tax information
◦ Check each individual school for deadlines!
◦ Get this done early!! $$ is first come, first serve
◦ Attend Financial Aid night in late November/early December 2013
More on Financial Aid
 CSS/ Financial Aid Profile
◦ Used by some colleges, universities
and private scholarship programs to
award their own private institutions
and programs that use it.
◦ Register via www.collegeboard.org
◦ Check with your schools to see if they
require this. Not all schools do as this
is NOT for federal student aid
◦ Check each individual school for
deadlines!
◦ Get this done early!! $$ is first come
first serve
◦ You may begin registering as of
October 1st of your student’s senior
year (2013).
What will my Aid Package be?
• 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
□ LOANS
□ Work Study
□ Grants
□ LOANS
□ LOANS
□ Parent Loans
• Cost calculators can be found on many college websites
under “Financial Aid”
The “Award Letter” or
What Families Need to Know Next
• What is the annual cost of attendance?
• Expected family contribution (EFC)?
• Grants/scholarships? Criteria for continued offer year to year
• Student loans? Parent loans?
Loan Statistics
• Breakdown of funds (Undergraduate) as of 2008
• Grants= 43%
• Loans = 52%
• Work Study = 1%
• Education Tax Benefits = 4%
• Breakdown of funds (Graduate) as of 2008
• Grants = 33%
• Loans= 64%
• Educational Tax Benefits = 2%
• Many parents could borrow $140,000 from the federal parent loan
to pay for four years.
•
Statistics taken from CollegeBoard Trends & Student Aid Report
National Collegiate Athletic Association
Clearinghouse
• 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.eligibilitycenter.org **
Communicate with your Counselor
• For any additional questions please have your student
stop by and ask or feel free to email
• Maryann Grimaldi- mgrimaldi@rsd17.org
• Peter Ettlinger- pettlinger@rsd17.org
• Stacey Mahoney – smahoney@rsd17.org
• Kaitlin Sullivan-Freimuth- ksullivan@rsd17.org
• Katherine Grimaldi- intern - kgrimaldi@rsd17.org
Happy Searching…
• Visit schools over vacations (Monday-Friday)
• Attend H-K College Fair: April 10, 2013
• Utilize Naviance
• Senior Parent Night will be held in September 2013 and we
will discuss more at that time
• Financial Aid Night will be held in November or December
2013