1. What Does It Take To Get Into College?

2. What do colleges look for in an applicant?
Challenging curriculum
Grades
Standardized Test Scores
Extracurricular Activities

3. Challenging Curriculum
“Rigorous curriculum is a greater factor in determining college graduation rates than class standing, standardized test scores, or grade point average.”
by Clifford Adelman, Sr. Research Analyst, U.S. Dept of Education

4. Choose classes carefully!!
College gatekeepers say that the applicants whom they value most have taken college-prep classes in high school and have performed well in these courses. The latest annual admission survey from the National Association of College Admission Counselors indicates that 84 percent of admission directors at state and private schools say grades in college-prep classes are of "considerable importance." (MoneyWatch CBS NEWS, 2012)

5. College Matrix

7. SAT VS. ACT
All schools will accept either! Always check the colleges’ website to see how they use SAT & ACT test scores.
Most colleges will use your highest composite score for the SAT. This practice is called super scoring.
Most colleges do not super score the ACT, however this is changing. UF does not super score, but FSU, UM, FAU, USF, as well as some elite schools such as MIT, Penn State, Brown, do.
Most students test more than once – average 2 to 3 times!
SAT – Aptitude Test-Reading, Math, & Writing
ACT – Achievement Test – English, Reading, Math, Science, & Writing

8. PSAT
It’s a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.
The PSAT/NMSQT measures:
Critical reading skills
Math problem-solving skills
Writing skills
The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are to:
Receive feedback on your strengths and skills necessary for college study.
You can then focus your preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice.
See how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college
Enter the competition for scholarships from NMSC(grade 11)
Help prepare for the SAT by becoming familiar with the kinds of questions and exact directions you will see on the SAT.
Receive information for colleges when you check “yes” to Student Search Service.

11. Extracurricular Activities
Well rounded student
Good time management skills
Avoid “filling up” resume
Quality over quantity
Leadership skills
Community Service
Part-time job is considered
extracurricular

12. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2012 FRESHMAN PROFILE

13. Profile of student who was accepted into competitive university- senior schedule
ADV PL BIO
ADV PL US GOVT/POL
ADV PL MICROECON
ADV PL PHYS B
ADV PL CALCULUS BC
DUAL-ENROLLMENT
A DV PL PSYCH

14. Profile of Student- Academic Units,GPA and Test scores
CUM HPA:
CUM GPA:
Academic Units: over 34 academic units
Test scores: SAT Reading: 680, Math: 730, Writing: 750
Accepted: University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, Brown University,University of Miami, state univesities

15. How am I going to pay for college?

17. Financial Aid Types of Financial Aid 1. Loans 2. Work-Study Program
3. Grants
4. Scholarships

18. Financial Aid
FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid, after January 1 senior year
CSS/Financial Aid Profile
College/University Financial Aid application

19. Bright Futures Scholarship Update

20. The Bright Futures Program
The Bright Futures Program offers 3 levels of scholarship awards:
The Florida Academic Scholar – FAS
The Florida Medallion Scholar – FMS
The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship
It is your students’ job to know and meet the requirements of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program! (per the FDOE website)
The program and award amounts can change yearly and are dependent on the state legislature!

21. Florida Academic Scholar
Grade Point Average: 3.5 weighted GPA using the credits listed below, combined with the test scores and community service hours listed below.
Public Institution-an amount approximately equal to 100% of tuition (actually less)
Required Credits: Courses must include 16 credits of college preparatory academic classes
4 English (3 with substantial writing)
4 Mathematics (Algebra I and above – must also have a math beyond Algebra II)
3 Natural Science (2 with substantial lab)
3 Social Science
2 Foreign Language (in the same language)
Total of 16 Credits May use up to two additional credits from courses in the academic listed above and/or AP, IB or AICE fine arts course to raise GPA
Community Service- 100 hours
Test Scores: SAT I (based on the combined Critical Reading and Math Sections only) or 29 ACT (excluding the writing section)

22. Florida Medallion Scholarship
Required Credits: Courses must include 16 credits of college preparatory academic classes 4 English (3 with substantial writing) 4 Mathematics (Algebra I and above- math beyond Algebra2) 3 Natural Science (2 with substantial lab) 3 Social Science 2 Foreign Language (in the same language) Total of 16 Credits May use up to two additional credits from courses in the academic listed above and/or AP, IB or AICE fine arts course to raise GPA Community Service- 75 hours Test scores: Combined score of 1170 SAT Reasoning Test (Critical Reading and Math sections only) or a composite score of 26 on the ACT (excluding the writing section)

23. Gold Seal Vocational
Award Level - *Amounts will differ at quarter or clock hour institutions
Public Institution For a Career Certificate Program (PSAV), Applied Technology Diploma Program (ATD)s) or Technical Degree Educaion Program (AS,AAS, CCC)
Grade Point Average (GPA) – (Note: GPAs are not rounded.)
3.0 weighted GPA using the 16 core credits required for high school graduation with a 4-year diploma (listed below), and a 3.5 unweighted GPA in a minimum of three vocational credits in one vocational program, and test scores listed below.
Required Credits
See the Comprehensive Course Table to identify courses that count toward each award level
Credits must be in the 16 core credits required for high school graduation with a 4-year diploma.
4 English
4 Mathematics
3 Natural Science
3 Social Science (Am. History, World History, Am. Govt. and Economics)
1 Practical Arts;  OR 1 Performing Arts;  OR .5 credit in each
.5 Personal Fitness
.5  Physical Education

Total of 16 Credits
Plus a minimum of three Vocational Job-Preparatory or Technology Education Program credits in one vocational program
Community Service – 30 hours
Test Scores
SAT or ACT.  Composite scores are not accepted.  A student must qualify on the ACT alone, the SAT alone or the CPT alone. Test types cannot be combined.
CPT: Reading 83, Sentence Skills 83, Algebra 72; SAT Critical Reading 440, Math 440; ACT English 17, Reading 18 Math 19

25. www.fastweb.com www.cappex.com www.collegeboard.com www.finaid.org
GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES

27. Financial Aid Night When: Thursday, February 26, 2015 6:00 pm
Where: Park Vista Auditorium

28. FAFSA Workshops Where: Park Vista Community High School-Computer lab
When: Thursday, March 5, 6:00 pm, or
Thursday, March 26, 8:00 am

29. Scholarship Thursdays

30. COFFEE TALKS
The College Application Process/Scholarships –Thurs., October 2
High School 101 – Thurs., Nov. 6
Testing Workshop – Thurs., Dec. 4
The Registration Process – Thurs., Feb.5
Dual Enrollment – Thurs., March 12
Online Learning Opportunities - Thurs., April 2
How to Search for Colleges & How to Apply – Thurs., May 7

31. College Visits at Park Vista
The following colleges will be visiting Park Vista High School:
Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL Thursday September 11th at 9:00am
Rice University, Houston, TX Tuesday September 16th at 8:00am MCR
Nova Southeastern Univ. Ft. Lauderdale, FL Tuesday September 16th at 10:00am MCR
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers, FL Wednesday September 17th at 9:00am MC
The University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Thursday September 18th at 11:00am (LTM) C
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL Tuesday September 30th at 11:30am A
Johnson & Wales University, Miami, FL Friday October 3rd at 11:00am MCR
The University of Miami, Miami, FL Friday October 17th at 10:00am A
The University of Georgia, Athens, GA October 22 at 10:00am MCR
Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH Wednesday October 22 at 11:00am
Mercer University, Macon, GA Thursday October 23rd at 8:30am MCR
Wells College, Aurora, NY Thursday October 23rd at 11:00am MCR
Stevenson University, Stevenson, MD Friday October 24th at 9:30am MCR
Interested students may sign up in guidance during lunch or see Mr. Tarini for further details.

32. College Fairs
The Palm Beach County College/Career Fair When: Wednesday, October 22, 2014, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Where: Palm Beach County Convention Center
Ft. Lauderdale National College Fair
When: Wednesday, October 21, 2014
9:00 am-12:00 am, 5:30pm-8:30 pm
Where: Ft.Lauderdale/Broward County Convention
Center
*Register online at

33. Know your student’s Guidance Counselor:
A- Co – Peter Tarini
Cr- E (&504) – Theresa Varano
F-K – Megen Stair
L-O – Mary Turner
P- Sq – Rick Dewalt
St-Z- Betsy Lyon

34. Resources: www.act.org www.bigfuture.org www.collegboard.com

38. Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors
-African proverb