WELCOMEWELCOME
GRAND BLANC HIGH SCHOOLGRAND BLANC HIGH SCHOOL
JUNIOR PARENT COLLEGE JUNIOR PARENT COLLEGE NIGHTNIGHT
March 18, 2014March 18, 2014
Topics to be covered…Topics to be covered… What are the options after high school?What are the options after high school? How do you choose a college?How do you choose a college? What are important factors considered by What are important factors considered by
college admissions?college admissions? Are you interested in playing college Are you interested in playing college
sports?sports? What are the steps in the college What are the steps in the college
application process?application process? How will you pay for college?How will you pay for college?
Post High School Post High School
OptionsOptions Associate Degree (2-year college)Associate Degree (2-year college) Bachelor’s Degree (4-year college)Bachelor’s Degree (4-year college) Vocational Training/Trade SchoolVocational Training/Trade School ApprenticeshipApprenticeship EmploymentEmployment MilitaryMilitary
Education and Education and EarningsEarnings
Career Resource CenterCareer Resource Center Educational Development Plan (EDP)Educational Development Plan (EDP) www.careercruising.com www.careercruising.com Research careers and collegesResearch careers and colleges MilitaryMilitary Day-on-the-job opportunitiesDay-on-the-job opportunities Volunteer opportunitiesVolunteer opportunities Job openingsJob openings Summer programsSummer programs Contact Stephanie Garey: 591-6929Contact Stephanie Garey: 591-6929
Things to consider when Things to consider when choosing a college…choosing a college…
Admission RequirementsAdmission Requirements Location (distance and setting)Location (distance and setting) CostCost Academic programsAcademic programs Size of enrollmentSize of enrollment Public vs. PrivatePublic vs. Private
College ToursCollege Tours Visit colleges you are considering if possible
Call the admissions office for an appointment or register online for an official tour
Talk to professors and students
Sit in on classes
Visit a dormitory
Virtual tours on college websites
Arranged absence through school
Colleges Visit GBHSColleges Visit GBHS College representatives visit GBHS in the fall College representatives visit GBHS in the fall
and springand spring Watch the daily announcements Watch the daily announcements Check the Counseling Office visitation chart Check the Counseling Office visitation chart
weekly for dates and times at the beginning of weekly for dates and times at the beginning of senior yearsenior year
Appointments must be made in the Counseling Appointments must be made in the Counseling Office at least one day before the visitOffice at least one day before the visit
Students miss class time for these visits and are Students miss class time for these visits and are expected to make up work. Choose your visits expected to make up work. Choose your visits carefully.carefully.
Check the window in the Counseling Office for Check the window in the Counseling Office for upcoming visits!upcoming visits!
Factors in the Factors in the Admission DecisionAdmission Decision
According to the National Association of College Admissions According to the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), the following 3 items are of “considerable Counseling (NACAC), the following 3 items are of “considerable importance” when making admissions decisions:importance” when making admissions decisions:
Grades in college prep coursesGrades in college prep courses Strength of curriculumStrength of curriculum Standardized test scores Standardized test scores These three items were considered significantly more important These three items were considered significantly more important
than overall GPA, recommendations, and class rankthan overall GPA, recommendations, and class rank
It is also important to note that because of differences in high It is also important to note that because of differences in high schoolschool
grading scales, more than half of the colleges recalculate grading scales, more than half of the colleges recalculate applicants’applicants’
GPA’s to standardize them.GPA’s to standardize them.
(Source: www.nacac.org)(Source: www.nacac.org)
Admission CriteriaAdmission Criteria ACT Score ACT Score
-Part of the required MME test-Part of the required MME test
-All juniors took on March 4, 2014-All juniors took on March 4, 2014
-Test retakes are available in June, September, or October -Test retakes are available in June, September, or October if you want if you want to improve your scoreto improve your score
-Include college codes so that scores can be sent directly -Include college codes so that scores can be sent directly to collegesto colleges
-Go to www.actstudent.org to register -Go to www.actstudent.org to register
-Fee waivers available for students who receive -Fee waivers available for students who receive free/reduced lunchfree/reduced lunch
-U of M-Ann Arbor and MSU require test scores to be sent -U of M-Ann Arbor and MSU require test scores to be sent
directly from ACTdirectly from ACT
GPAGPA--Final transcripts WILL be looked at and college acceptance is Final transcripts WILL be looked at and college acceptance is
not a guarantee. Finish strong!not a guarantee. Finish strong!
Admission CriteriaAdmission Criteria
AP and Honors classesAP and Honors classes Take if they are appropriate and there is a passion for the Take if they are appropriate and there is a passion for the
subjectsubject GPA is weighted for AP classesGPA is weighted for AP classes Colleges look at what was taken vs what was availableColleges look at what was taken vs what was available GBHS has 16 AP classes to choose from GBHS has 16 AP classes to choose from
A Well-Rounded StudentA Well-Rounded Student Many colleges use a “holistic” application review process Many colleges use a “holistic” application review process
where many different factors are consideredwhere many different factors are considered Find volunteer activities and school clubs that truly interest Find volunteer activities and school clubs that truly interest
you. you.
Other Things to Do…Other Things to Do… Create a list of activities and awards for college and scholarship applications
Maintain or improve grade point average
Participate in community service opportunities
Begin to formulate a personal statement (i.e. career aspirations, goals, college plans)
Investigate summer experiences/workshops
Senior Year Senior Year
SchedulingScheduling Take a rigorous class scheduleTake a rigorous class schedule Colleges recommend at least 3 or 4 Colleges recommend at least 3 or 4
academic credits in the senior yearacademic credits in the senior year Parents and students should review high Parents and students should review high
school graduation requirements school graduation requirements Course requests for the 14-15 school year Course requests for the 14-15 school year
are available on StudentVue for revieware available on StudentVue for review Schedule changes at the beginning of the Schedule changes at the beginning of the
school year are very difficult and done on a school year are very difficult and done on a very limited basisvery limited basis
Advanced Placement Advanced Placement CoursesCourses
College courses taught in high schoolCollege courses taught in high school Application required for admission for Application required for admission for
some coursessome courses Significantly more challengingSignificantly more challenging Requires a motivated studentsRequires a motivated students
Summer work requiredSummer work required Better preparation for college level workBetter preparation for college level work Weighted grade (A=5.0, B=4.0, C=3.0)Weighted grade (A=5.0, B=4.0, C=3.0) Opportunity to earn college credit by Opportunity to earn college credit by
achieving a qualifying score on AP exam achieving a qualifying score on AP exam given in Maygiven in May
Students will not be allowed to drop the Students will not be allowed to drop the course once they have made the course once they have made the commitment to enrollcommitment to enroll
Are you a potential Are you a potential college athlete?college athlete?
NCAANCAANational Collegiate Athletic AssociationNational Collegiate Athletic Association Register online in the Fall of senior yearRegister online in the Fall of senior year www.eligibilitycenter.org www.eligibilitycenter.org Division I and II require 16 core high school creditsDivision I and II require 16 core high school credits Core classes are identified online and in the Course Core classes are identified online and in the Course
Selection GuideSelection Guide Skill Center classes do NOT count for NCAA Skill Center classes do NOT count for NCAA
eligibilityeligibility ACT scores must be sent directly from ACT (Use ACT scores must be sent directly from ACT (Use
code 9999)code 9999) GPA – recalculated using core classes onlyGPA – recalculated using core classes only
Are you a potential Are you a potential college athlete?college athlete?
NAIANAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate AthleticsNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Must meet 2 of the 3 following criteria:Must meet 2 of the 3 following criteria:
GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scaleGPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale 18 composite ACT or 860 on the SAT18 composite ACT or 860 on the SAT Graduate within the top 50% of the classGraduate within the top 50% of the class
NAIA has over 300 colleges to choose from NAIA has over 300 colleges to choose from MUST register to play at www.naia.orgMUST register to play at www.naia.org Not the same as NCAANot the same as NCAA Visit the website (www.naia.org) or call 866-881-6242 Visit the website (www.naia.org) or call 866-881-6242
for more informationfor more information
College ApplicationsCollege Applications Applications for all colleges are available on the Applications for all colleges are available on the
individual college websiteindividual college website Some instate applications are available in hard Some instate applications are available in hard
copy form in the Counseling Office but online copy form in the Counseling Office but online submission is the preferred method submission is the preferred method
Early Action/Decision deadlines guarantee college Early Action/Decision deadlines guarantee college response before winter breakresponse before winter break Check carefully for “binding agreements”Check carefully for “binding agreements”
Submit college applications in fall, checking each Submit college applications in fall, checking each one for specific deadlinesone for specific deadlines
Fee waivers are available for students who qualifyFee waivers are available for students who qualify Application may require a counselor to fill out a Application may require a counselor to fill out a
paper portion. When completed, these forms will paper portion. When completed, these forms will be returned to the student to mail.be returned to the student to mail.
College ApplicationsCollege Applications COMMON APPCOMMON APP
www.commonapp.orgwww.commonapp.org Allows you to fill out one application Allows you to fill out one application
for multiple collegesfor multiple colleges Students include the counselor email Students include the counselor email
on the application and counselors on the application and counselors complete their portion onlinecomplete their portion online
Required for University of Michigan–Required for University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Kettering and several other Ann Arbor, Kettering and several other colleges in Michigancolleges in Michigan
Check the website for a complete listCheck the website for a complete list
College ApplicationsCollege Applications Parchment – www.parchment.com Parchment – www.parchment.com
- All transcripts must be sent using this online transcript - All transcripts must be sent using this online transcript serviceservice
- Directions are located at www.grandblancschools.org on - Directions are located at www.grandblancschools.org on the the high school page under Guidancehigh school page under Guidance
- You must enter the name of each college you would like - You must enter the name of each college you would like to to receive a transcriptreceive a transcript
- You can also send transcripts to the NCAA from this site- You can also send transcripts to the NCAA from this site
- The transcript will automatically include ACT scores from - The transcript will automatically include ACT scores from the the March MME testing dateMarch MME testing date
- If you would like additional or more recent ACT scores - If you would like additional or more recent ACT scores sent, sent, you will need to order them directly from the ACT you will need to order them directly from the ACT website website at www.act.org at www.act.org
Paying for CollegePaying for CollegeScholarshipsScholarships
Lists of available scholarships are updated Lists of available scholarships are updated regularly beginning in October in the regularly beginning in October in the Counseling OfficeCounseling Office
Colleges will notify you of anything your Colleges will notify you of anything your student may qualify forstudent may qualify for
Online searches (fastweb, zinch, Online searches (fastweb, zinch, scholarships.com)scholarships.com)
Local scholarships (Available in February)Local scholarships (Available in February) ParentParent’’s employers, church, clubs, etc... s employers, church, clubs, etc... Updated scholarship books are available in Updated scholarship books are available in
the local librarythe local library Some scholarships will require that the Some scholarships will require that the
FAFSA be completedFAFSA be completed
Scholarship ScamsScholarship Scams Don’t pay money to get moneyDon’t pay money to get money If it seems to good to be true, it probably is!If it seems to good to be true, it probably is! Spend time, not moneySpend time, not money Check with the Better Business Bureau if Check with the Better Business Bureau if
you question the validity of the scholarship you question the validity of the scholarship programprogram
Speak with your student’s counselorSpeak with your student’s counselor Additional information is available on the Additional information is available on the
school websiteschool website
Financial AidFinancial Aid FAFSA - apply online at www.fafsa.ed.govFAFSA - apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
-Free Application for Federal Student Aid-Free Application for Federal Student Aid This is a FREE service. Watch for similar This is a FREE service. Watch for similar
websites that charge you a fee to submit websites that charge you a fee to submit information for you. (www.fafsa.com)information for you. (www.fafsa.com)
Must use 2014 tax returns Must use 2014 tax returns Grants, scholarships, loans, and work study Grants, scholarships, loans, and work study
based on needbased on need January Financial Aid workshopJanuary Financial Aid workshop Info available at www.fafsa.ed.govInfo available at www.fafsa.ed.gov
Contact the Counseling Office Contact the Counseling Office if you have any questions!if you have any questions!
Mrs. Phyllis MolMrs. Phyllis Mol A-GaA-Ga 591-6648591-6648Mr. John HentesMr. John Hentes Ge-NGe-N 591-6651591-6651Mrs. Mary GardnerMrs. Mary Gardner O-ZO-Z 591-6652591-6652
Mrs. Linda McClearyMrs. Linda McCleary 591-6647591-6647 Administrative AssistantAdministrative Assistant
Mrs. Tisha Briggs (MME)Mrs. Tisha Briggs (MME) 591-1598591-1598 Student Services AnalystStudent Services Analyst
Ms. Stephanie GareyMs. Stephanie Garey 591-6929591-6929 Career Resource CenterCareer Resource Center
Thank you for Thank you for coming to Junior coming to Junior Parent College Parent College
Night!Night!
CLASS OF 2015!!CLASS OF 2015!!