College Planning
For Juniors
How Is Your Junior Doing?
What is their current GPA?
Are they on track to graduate?
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Do they know what credits are
needed to graduate?
Where Do They Want to Go?
Types of Degrees
 Bachelor’s degree (Undergraduate)
Four year colleges/universities
 Associate’s Degree
Community colleges
General education courses transfer to a 4 yr school
 Technical /Career Colleges
Specific program degrees
(Make sure credits will transfer if you choose
to switch programs)
Finding the Right Fit!
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Major
Size
Location
Chances of being accepted
Cost & Potential Debt
Personality of the school
GOAL: Have a list of colleges ready by
August!
The College SearchNAVIANCE
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The College SearchNAVIANCE
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The College SearchNAVIANCE
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The College SearchNAVIANCE
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Naviance College Search
Location
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Student Body
Majors
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Save Your Searches
Colleges Folder
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Next Steps…
 College Visits
 Admissions Requirements
 Important Tests: zlACT & SAT
 Financial Considerations
 Net Price Calculators
College Visits
 Visit the campus
 Attend a class
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 Talk with students,
professors, etc.
 What does the campus feel like?
 Make a Pros and Cons List
What to ask an Admissions Rep
 How many lecture classes do
freshman take?
 Is work study available?
 How easy is it to change majors?
 Do you have study abroad programs?
 What kind of special programs do
you have?
College Fairs
Spring 2013
 Out of State College Fair
Sunday, April 14th (1-3:30) @ University of Denver
Fall 2013
 Colleges That Change Lives
Early August @ Denver Convention Center
 In- State College Fair
CCSD - TBD
 Out of State College Fair
October 12th – Mountain Vista High School
College Fair Tips
 Bring labels with your personal and
academic information
 Make a list of “must-see” colleges
 Visit at least 3 colleges you haven’t
heard of before.
 Have a few questions ready!
Admissions Requirements
 CCHE College Admission Index
 Beware aware of ‘state’ requirements
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 Ex. California and
Texas (Geography
or two Fine Arts courses.)
 Out of state testing requirements
(ACT with writing or SAT subject)
ACT or SAT score
GPA
If a student has a 3.0 and an ACT of 21
Index Score = 94
Index Scores by college
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Important Tests
 Why take the ACT ?
 Why take the SAT ?
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 ACT Prep classes
at EHS
 Consider taking a test multiple times
 What does your college require?
ACT
 You did well on the PLAN.
 You’re the “book smart” type.
 The ACT is thought to be more
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straightforward and curriculum
focused than the SAT.
 You’re better at “common sense”
English than formal grammar.
*Naviance
SAT
 You did well on the PSAT
 You have a large vocabulary and
excellent formal grammar.
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 The ACT is thought to be more
“reasoning and critical thinking”.
 You work well with fast paced tests.
*Naviance
ACT Test Dates
Testing held at Eaglecrest High School
Saturdays: February 9th, 2013
April 13th, 2013
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June 8th, 2013
ACT costs $35
Go to actstudent.org and set up an account.
SAT Test Dates
Testing available at GHS, CCHS, and OHS
Saturdays: March 9th, 2013
May 4th, 2013
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June 1st, 2013
SAT costs $50
Go to collegeboard.com and set up an
account.
State ACT
EHS will test every junior on Tuesday
April 23rd. You do not need to pay or
register for this test. You will register
at school.
Consider the February test date so
the April test isn’t your first try!
ACTstudent.org
Financial Considerations
• April 2012, student loan debt
surpassed credit debt for the first time
in our history.
• ‘Paying for college’ is often the last
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topic discussed by families when
investigating colleges.
• Student loan debt should be weighted
with the same importance as other ‘fit’
factors when selecting a college.
Net Price Calculators
• As of November 2011, colleges and
universities were required to provide a
Net Price Calculator on their websites.
• Net Price Calculators were mandated
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by the U.S. Government to provide
families with a ‘Good Faith’ estimate of
what the COA would be for students.
• Net Price Calculators now allow
families to ‘shop’ for a financial fit.
Example of Net Price Calculator
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Example of Net Price Calculator
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Example of Net Price Calculator
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Other tools to consider…
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College Navigator
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Collegedata.com
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Collegedata.com
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Goals for Junior Year
 Keep your grades up!
 Study for the ACT
 Research Colleges