1. PREPARING FOR COLLEGE October 26, 2011 7:00 pm Butler Intermediate High School

2. Freshman Year Priorities… Plan a challenging academic schedule Earn solid grades Get involved in extracurricular activities –Example: music, sports, clubs Register for the PSAT in the spring for the fall of 10 th grade

3. Sophomore Year Priorities… Continuation of 9 th grade priorities as well as: Start an informal resume listing school achievements plus outside school participation. For example: jobs/volunteering Meet with counselor for career counseling interview which includes scheduling, college testing & school information Register for the PSAT in the spring for 11 th grade testing Use “Career Cruising” program at home to assist in career decision-making Line up a “job-shadowing” experience, if possible

4. Junior Year Priorities… Increase level of difficulty of classes –For example: Academic to Honors, Honors to A.P. Plan for college testing: PSAT, SAT and/or ACT, SAT II (if required) Continue building the high school resume (list of activities, both curricular & extra-curricular, including jobs/volunteering, & leadership positions)

5. Fall Semester of Junior Year… Review credits and scheduling with Senior High Counselor, if necessary Take the PSAT in October & discuss scores with counselor, once received Decide which months to take the SAT and/or ACT & SAT II, if required. Re-tests can be given in 12 th grade Start a list of potential colleges & research requirements on “Career Cruising”

6. Fall Semester cont… Attend “College Night” in September Attend the “College Admissions & Financial Aid Workshop” at the Senior High on November 7 th. Have a “family discussion” about schools – size, location, distance from home, cost, majors

7. Spring Semester of Junior Year… Meet with counselor to review senior year schedule (colleges will look at it) Discuss your SAT/ACT results and whether or not to re-test Keep updating your resume

8. Summer before Senior Year… Make appointments with admissions offices to interview & tour campuses Send “thank you” letters to interviewer Begin to complete applications, if available, or request that they be mailed to you directly Finalize “resume.” “Career Cruising” has a resume program to format & print a professional one A resume should be included with your applications & be sure to provide one to teacher/counselor/coach etc if requesting a letter of recommendation

9. Senior Year Priorities… Fall Semester: –College Applications Spring Semester: –Financial Aid –College decision-making –A.P. Exams

10. Fall Semester of Senior Year… Take a full “academic” schedule Attend the “College Fair” in September Register for the SAT, ACT and/or SAT II, if appropriate Complete college applications –Bring applications, fees & resumes to the guidance office –Request transcripts for each application –Give recommendations & resumes to teachers etc. Allow 2 weeks for a recommendation to be written

11. Spring Semester of Senior Year… Complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) after January 1 st. –Complete income tax before doing FAFSA –Attend FAFSA evening program at Senior High –Filing deadline is May 1 st –Results may be sent up to 10 schools –www.fafsa.ed.gov

12. Spring Semester cont… Local senior scholarships & applications are available through the guidance office Investigate bank loans Confirm college choices by May 1 st & notify declined colleges Miscellaneous: –Register for A.P. exams in May, when appropriate –Request final senior transcript to be sent to college of choice

13. College Assessments PSAT SAT SAT II ACT

14. PSAT: Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test “Practice” for SAT given every October Provides starting range for future SAT scores Identifies weak areas Optional for 10 th graders Recommended for juniors, for scholarship opportunities Optional PSAT preparation course available in the fall Register in spring of 9 th or 10 th grade

15. SAT www.collegeboard.org Required for 4 year colleges Taken in the 11 th grade, approximately 3 hours & 45 min Re-tests are available in fall of 12 th grade Recommended to take in the spring of 11 th grade Critical Reading sections –Reading comprehension, sentence completion & vocabulary Math sections –Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II

16. SAT II Required for admission at select colleges (in addition to SAT or ACT) Tests knowledge in specific subject areas (colleges will indicate which tests to take, if required) Recommended to be taken in spring of Junior Year or fall of Senior Year

17. ACT www.actstudent.org Alternative to SAT, accepted equally by colleges & universities Includes 4 subtests: Reading, Math, English & Science Approximately 3 ½ hours in length Recommended testing in spring of Junior Year **Writing portion is optional, but most colleges require it!!!

18. Differences between the SAT & the ACT No “practice” test for the ACT SAT has 2 subtests plus writing, while the ACT has 4 subtests plus writing Scoring

19. Which test to take… Both the SAT & the ACT are accepted by colleges & universities Take the PSAT & compare your results to scores that colleges recommend If doing well on the PSAT, stick with the SAT If not, or in doubt, take both the SAT and ACT on different months Re-tests are available. The best scores are what is used by colleges

20. Financial Aid There are 3 sources of aid: 1. Institutional: identified through FAFSA, awarded by colleges or universities in the form of a financial aid package 2.Scholarships: local & national Local: available through the guidance office after February; guidance bulletins will be sent to homerooms announcing the different scholarships National: available online, start investigating fall of Senior Year, if not sooner –Educational Loans: Through financial aid office of college, after FAFSA completion Through private lenders (banks)

21. Miscellaneous Financial Aid Information Suggested websites: –www.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.com –www.fafsa.ed.govwww.fafsa.ed.gov –www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com –www.pheaa.orgwww.pheaa.org FAFSA should be completed online as soon as income taxes are filed –This financial aid info determines “Expected Family Contribution” which is the same no matter what the college –This EFC is deducted from the total cost of college to make a “financial aid package”

22. Financial Aid cont. A financial aid package may consist of grants & scholarships, work study & low interest loans Each college offers their own financial aid package Students graduating in the top 10% of their class can go to BCCC tuition free! Financial Aid evening at the Senior High every January explains the FAFSA application and provides information on bank loans

23. Researching Colleges Meet with your counselor in 10 th grade & Senior High Become familiar with college’s admissions requirements including SAT/ACT, GPA, & language requirements Visit colleges over summers between 10 th /11 th grade and 11 th /12 th grade Visit helpful websites: www.careercruising.com www.collegeboard.com www.usnews.com

24. Letters of Recommendation Required by more selective schools Ask two teachers from junior year and provide them a copy of your resume Give a minimum of 2 weeks notice Write the teachers a “thank you” note

25. Career Cruising Username bashs password tornado Internet-based program to be used 8 th -12 th Each grade is introduced to new aspects of program Students can access and save their material in their own portfolio at school or at home Counselors will introduce Career Cruising to their 9 th graders Counselors will meet with 10 th grade social studies classes to continue usage of the program

26. Important Features Interest and Skills Assessment Career Profiles Multimedia Interviews Post-Secondary Education & Financial Aid Information Electronic Career Portfolio Resume Builder

27. Mrs. Debbie Pichler Guidance Counselor to students with last names beginning with: A-Gn 724-214-3412 deborah_pichler@butler.k12.pa.us

28. Mr. George Link Guidance Counselor to students with last names beginning with: Go-N 724-214-3411 george_link@butler.k12.pa.us

29. Mrs. Alecia Mowrey Guidance Counselor to students with last names beginning with: O-Z 724-214-3410 alecia_mowrey@butler.k12.pa.us

30. Mrs. Shannon McGraw College Tech Prep Coordinator 724-214-3415 @ IHS: T, R, F 724-214-3208 @ SHS: M, W, F shannon_mcgraw@butler.k12.pa.us