Junior Parent MeetingJunior Parent MeetingCoffee & ConversationCoffee & Conversation

December 3, 2015December 3, 2015

AgendaAgenda►Advice for Junior Year SuccessAdvice for Junior Year Success►Post High School Planning EventsPost High School Planning Events►The PSAT and Standardized Testing 101The PSAT and Standardized Testing 101►Developing a Well Balanced ListDeveloping a Well Balanced List►Application PlansApplication Plans►College Planning ResourcesCollege Planning Resources►NavianceNaviance►Financial AidFinancial Aid►Timeline/Keys to SuccessTimeline/Keys to Success

Advice to StudentsAdvice to Students► Take challenging classes junior and senior yearTake challenging classes junior and senior year

► Be in the highest academic level where you can Be in the highest academic level where you can achieve the honor rollachieve the honor roll

► Stay involved in extracurricular and community Stay involved in extracurricular and community service activitiesservice activities

► Form positive relationships with your teachersForm positive relationships with your teachers

► Begin researching and planning for life after CHSBegin researching and planning for life after CHS

Post High School Planning Post High School Planning MeetingsMeetings

► Junior Workshops were held in NovemberJunior Workshops were held in November Reviewed and introduced key features of NavianceReviewed and introduced key features of Naviance Overview of testing and the college search and application processOverview of testing and the college search and application process College research and resume buildingCollege research and resume building

► Counselors are currently available for individual student Counselors are currently available for individual student meetingsmeetings Review transcript Review transcript Brainstorm senior year course of studiesBrainstorm senior year course of studies Discuss post high school plansDiscuss post high school plans Develop a testing plan: Develop a testing plan: SAT and/or ACTSAT and/or ACT

► Additional planning workshops will be held prior to the end Additional planning workshops will be held prior to the end of the school yearof the school year

““Articulating the College Articulating the College Process”Process”

►Please mark your calendars for the Please mark your calendars for the evening of evening of Thursday, March 3rdThursday, March 3rd

►This event will includeThis event will include Q&A Panel with multiple college Q&A Panel with multiple college

admissions representativesadmissions representatives Advice from parents and students who Advice from parents and students who

have experienced the processhave experienced the process

PSAT as a Planning ToolPSAT as a Planning Tool►Results will be available this monthResults will be available this month

Students will receive an email with an online Students will receive an email with an online access codeaccess code

►PSAT score reports include detailed PSAT score reports include detailed informationinformation Understanding strengths, areas of weakness, Understanding strengths, areas of weakness,

and how to best prepareand how to best prepare►Prepare!Prepare!

Khan AcademyKhan Academy Private courses and tutors (see list of Private courses and tutors (see list of

preparation programs on the guidance website)preparation programs on the guidance website)

Standardized TestingStandardized Testing►SAT – New vs. OldSAT – New vs. Old

January 12January 12thth is the last day to register for is the last day to register for the final “Old” SAT (administered January the final “Old” SAT (administered January 23)23)►ACTACT

Designed to measure academic Designed to measure academic achievement in the areas of English, achievement in the areas of English, mathematics, reading and science. mathematics, reading and science. Focuses on "core-curriculum" contentFocuses on "core-curriculum" content

►SAT Subject TestsSAT Subject Tests Measures your knowledge in a particular Measures your knowledge in a particular

content areacontent area

Which SAT should I take?Which SAT should I take?► Should you take the current SAT or wait for the new SAT?Should you take the current SAT or wait for the new SAT?

College representatives are reporting they will accept both College representatives are reporting they will accept both the current and new SATthe current and new SAT

It is an individual choice as to whether you sit for the current It is an individual choice as to whether you sit for the current SAT. Consider the following:SAT. Consider the following:► Sophomore PSAT scores Sophomore PSAT scores ► How soon do you want to begin testing?How soon do you want to begin testing?► How much you have prepared for the current SAT? How much you have prepared for the current SAT?

► Consider taking the ACTConsider taking the ACT The ACT is remaining the same and every college will accept The ACT is remaining the same and every college will accept

either testeither test

Meet with your counselor to discuss your individual testing plan

Standardized TestingStandardized Testing► Testing requirements can vary greatly between Testing requirements can vary greatly between

collegescolleges You must check the specific requirements for each school that You must check the specific requirements for each school that

you are interested inyou are interested in

► Subject Tests tend to be required at more selective Subject Tests tend to be required at more selective collegescolleges

► Work with your counselor to develop a testing plan that Work with your counselor to develop a testing plan that is right for youis right for you Most students should not be testing prior to spring of junior Most students should not be testing prior to spring of junior

year, with the exception of students taking the current SATyear, with the exception of students taking the current SAT

► There is a small but growing number of schools that There is a small but growing number of schools that are test optional. Visit are test optional. Visit www.fairtest.org for detailed for detailed informationinformation

Developing a Well Balanced Developing a Well Balanced ListList

► A A SafetySafety school is a college that you will school is a college that you will almost certainlyalmost certainly get get into because your test scores, and grades are well above average into because your test scores, and grades are well above average in comparison to the school's profilein comparison to the school's profile At least two are recommended and it is important that you like your safety At least two are recommended and it is important that you like your safety

schools as much as your realistic and reach!schools as much as your realistic and reach!

► A A RealisticRealistic school is a college that you have a school is a college that you have a good chancegood chance of of getting into because your grades and test scores fall into the getting into because your grades and test scores fall into the middle range of accepted studentsmiddle range of accepted students

► A A Reach Reach school is a college in which chances of admission are school is a college in which chances of admission are unlikely but sometimes possibleunlikely but sometimes possible. Your grades and test scores are . Your grades and test scores are lower than the middle 50% of accepted studentslower than the middle 50% of accepted students Please note: There are a small number of highly selective colleges that are Please note: There are a small number of highly selective colleges that are

reach schools for every student. Admissions standards at these schools are so reach schools for every student. Admissions standards at these schools are so high that even perfect grades and SAT scores do not guarantee acceptancehigh that even perfect grades and SAT scores do not guarantee acceptance

Application PlansApplication Plans► Early Decision Early Decision

Binding, early responseBinding, early response► Early Action Early Action

Non-binding, early responseNon-binding, early response► Rolling Admissions Rolling Admissions

Apply early, admission decisions Apply early, admission decisions are made as applications are are made as applications are receivedreceived

►Regular DecisionRegular Decision Standard application timelineStandard application timeline

College Planning ResourcesCollege Planning Resources► NavianceNaviance► College/University websitesCollege/University websites

Specific information, photos, virtual tours, statistics, Specific information, photos, virtual tours, statistics, etc.etc.

► College visitsCollege visits Schedule a tourSchedule a tour

► Guidance webpageGuidance webpage Check every couple of weeks for updates and Check every couple of weeks for updates and

helpful informationhelpful information► College Board and ACTCollege Board and ACT

Test registration and college planningTest registration and college planning► https://twitter.com/CHSguidancenewshttps://twitter.com/CHSguidancenews

Key Features of NavianceKey Features of Naviance► CounselorsCounselors

Track college admissions dataTrack college admissions data Communicate with studentsCommunicate with students Schedule college representative visitsSchedule college representative visits Transmit documentation to collegesTransmit documentation to colleges

► StudentsStudents Explore careers and collegesExplore careers and colleges Organize the application processOrganize the application process Complete a resume and self evaluationComplete a resume and self evaluation Sign up for college representative visitsSign up for college representative visits Requests transcripts and teacher recommendationsRequests transcripts and teacher recommendations

Financial AidFinancial Aid► Federal Application for Financial Aid Federal Application for Financial Aid

(FAFSA)(FAFSA)► CSS Profile (College Scholarship Search)CSS Profile (College Scholarship Search)► Community ScholarshipsCommunity Scholarships► Local/Regional ScholarshipsLocal/Regional Scholarships► MEFA Financial Aid Nights are available MEFA Financial Aid Nights are available

at area schoolsat area schools Locate a local seminar at: Locate a local seminar at: http://

www.mefa.org/findaseminar.aspx

Abigail Adams/Koplik AwardsAbigail Adams/Koplik Awards► Recipients of the Abigail Adams Award and Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Recipients of the Abigail Adams Award and Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery

Tuition Waiver are eligible for a renewable tuition waiver at public universities in Tuition Waiver are eligible for a renewable tuition waiver at public universities in MassachusettsMassachusetts Tuition ranges $1000-$1600 Tuition ranges $1000-$1600 Notifications are mailed home in the springNotifications are mailed home in the spring

► The Adams award does not require any additional testing or achievementsThe Adams award does not require any additional testing or achievements

► To initially qualify for the Koplik students must score advanced in at least one grade 10 To initially qualify for the Koplik students must score advanced in at least one grade 10 MCAS subject and proficient on the remaining section MCAS subject and proficient on the remaining section

► Students eligible for the Koplik must fulfill additional requirements through one of the Students eligible for the Koplik must fulfill additional requirements through one of the following combinations in order to receive the award: following combinations in order to receive the award: Two AP exams with scores of 3 or betterTwo AP exams with scores of 3 or better Two SAT II exams. Minimum scores are dependent upon subject areaTwo SAT II exams. Minimum scores are dependent upon subject area One SAT II exam and one AP exam with necessary scores One SAT II exam and one AP exam with necessary scores One SAT II or AP exam with one other academic achievement One SAT II or AP exam with one other academic achievement Please note there are rules regarding the subject areas in which students are Please note there are rules regarding the subject areas in which students are

testingtesting

Junior Year Timeline – Key Junior Year Timeline – Key PointsPointsDecember/January/FebruaryDecember/January/February

Register for AP Exams through the guidance officeRegister for AP Exams through the guidance officeCreate a testing planCreate a testing plan

Register online for SAT/ACT testingRegister online for SAT/ACT testingMeet with your counselorMeet with your counselor

Begin or continue to research specific collegesBegin or continue to research specific collegesMarch/AprilMarch/April

Develop a preliminary, well-balanced list of collegesDevelop a preliminary, well-balanced list of collegesSchedule tours and visit collegesSchedule tours and visit colleges

Plan a challenging senior year course loadPlan a challenging senior year course loadMay- June-SummerMay- June-Summer

Continue college searching and visitsContinue college searching and visitsDraft your college essayDraft your college essay

Explore early application plansExplore early application plansRequest a teacher recommendationRequest a teacher recommendation

Keys to SuccessKeys to Success► NOW is the time for research and planningNOW is the time for research and planning

► Visit, Visit, VisitVisit, Visit, Visit

► Stay organizedStay organized

► Apply well before the deadlinesApply well before the deadlines

► When questions arise, call/email the guidance When questions arise, call/email the guidance office and look to Naviance and the guidance office and look to Naviance and the guidance websitewebsite

Any Questions?Any Questions?