1. Colleges Compared INFO AND TIPS

2. www.CollegeProwler.com Good Sources of Info:

3. Preparing (from book The Hidden Ivies by Greene and Greene) Parents are #1 influence in child’s college choice You need to arm yourself with info about what is required for acceptance Students should start early in HS to find best match for them and work toward it Thousands of qualified applicants yet not invited

4. The 5 Ps: Program- Take the most rigorous course you can handle and focus on your strengths: if you intend to be an English major, take AP English but not necessarily AP Chemistry. Last two years of HS most important. Performance- Outstanding performance remains the greatest single factor in admissions. Aim for 3.5 or better Preparation- Know what tests you need to take (SAT, ACT, AP Tests) Not all colleges require these however

5. The 5 Ps (contd.) Passion- Starts in Middle School. Pursue your passions: arts, athletics, leadership. Do what you enjoy and do a lot of it. A wide range of activities with little note won’t help. Find one or two areas you truly enjoy and commit. Presentation- Personal interview is highly encouraged. Essays are considered very revealing. Most important to convey who you are. Ok to send in supplemental materials that demonstrate your passion and talents. Letters of recommendation, videos of performances, a bound set of writing, articles written about you, etc.

6. The Ivy League The ultimate “Brand Name” for quality education

7. Ivy League Brown Providence, RI Columbia New York, NY Cornell Ithaca, NY Dartmouth Hanover, NH Harvard Cambridge, MA Princeton Princeton, NJ Univ. of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Yale New Haven, CT

8. Ivy League Brown 9% Providence, RI Columbia 7% New York, NY Cornell 16% Ithaca, NY Dartmouth 10% Hanover, NH Harvard 6% Cambridge, MA Princeton 7% Princeton, NJ Univ. of Pennsylvania 12% Philadelphia, PA Yale 7% New Haven, CT

9. Small, distinctive cluster of colleges and universities available to gifted college-bound students- Wikipedia The “Hidden” Ivies

10. “Hidden” Ivy Duke Durham, NC Georgetown Washington, DC Johns Hopkins Baltimore, MD Northwestern Evanston, IL Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Stanford Stanford, CA Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY Washington St. Louis, MO

11. “Hidden” Ivy Duke 27% Durham, NC Georgetown 21% Washington, DC Johns Hopkins 24% Baltimore, MD Northwestern 27% Evanston, IL Notre Dame 24% Notre Dame, IN Stanford 10% Stanford, CA Vassar 29% Poughkeepsie, NY Washington 17% St. Louis, MO

12. “Hidden” Ivy Bryn Mawr 45% Bryn Mawr, PA Macalester 41% St. Paul, MN Grinnell 50% Grinnell, IA Mount Holyoke 52% South Hadley, MA Richmond 40% Richmond, VA Rochester 41% Rochester, NY Smith 52% Northampton, MA Wake Forest 42% Winston-Salem, NC Better Acceptance Rates

13. Because we are in the CWMP program…

14. TOP MEDICAL SCHOOLS FOR 2015 ( www.usnews.com ) #1 HARVARD Cambridge, MA #2 STANFORD Stanford, CA #3 JOHNS HOPKINS Baltimore, MD #4 UNIV. CALIFORNIA- SAN FRANCISCO CA #4 (TIED) UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA Philadelphia, PA

15. TOP MEDICAL SCHOOLS FOR 2015 ( CONTD. ) #6 WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY- ST LOUIS Missouri #7 YALE New Haven, CT #8 COLUMBIA New York, NY #9 DUKE Durham, NC #10 UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON Seattle, WA

16. “BEST OF LISTS” PER COLLEGE PROWLER.COM)(SIMILAR LISTS AVAILABLE VIA PRINCETON REVIEW, US NEWS )

17. FORBES.COM Top 650 Colleges Private and Public “We ignore the abstract (reputation) and wasteful (spending-per-student) to focus on one measurement: outcome. From student satisfaction and graduation rates, to career success and student debt, this ranking is what matters.” www.forbes.com/top-colleges/

18. University of South Florida- add city AND public? Private? Admission Rate: 45% SAT Composite: 1,590-1870 ACT: 23-28 Top 10% in HS Class: 23% Undergrads: 23,773 In State Tuition: $6,410 Room & Board: $9,250 Books & Supplies: $1,000 #435 out of 650

19. Florida Institute of Technology Admission Rate: 60% SAT Composite: 1,030-1260 (reading/math only) ACT: 23-28 Top 10% in HS Class: not reported Undergrads: 2,794 In State Tuition: $36,020 Room & Board: $12,470 Books & Supplies: $1,200 #422 out of 650

20. University of Central Florida Admission Rate: 49% SAT Composite: 1,600-1880 ACT: 23-28 Top 10% in HS Class: 35% Undergrads: 35,775 In State Tuition: $6,317 Room & Board: $9,300 Books & Supplies: $1,146 #405 out of 650

21. Stetson University Admission Rate: 60% SAT Composite: 1,580-1,880 ACT: 23-28 Top 10% in HS Class: 35% Undergrads: 2,477 In State Tuition: $38,330 Room & Board: $11,182 Books & Supplies: $1,200 #398 out of 650

22. Eckerd College Admission Rate: 71% SAT Composite: 1,505-1,830 ACT: 23-28 Top 10% in HS Class: 15% Undergrads: 2,064 In State Tuition: $37,362 Room & Board: $10,144 Books & Supplies: $1,200 Great for Marine Science #352 out of 650

23. Florida State University Admission Rate: 57% SAT Composite: 1,670-1920 ACT: 25-29 Top 10% in HS Class: 31% Undergrads: 28,733 In State Tuition: $6,507 Room & Board: $9,912 Books & Supplies: $1,000 #226 out of 650

24. Rollins College Acceptance Rate: 59% SAT Composite: 1,640-1,940 ACT: 24-29 Top 10% in HS Class: 34% Undergrads: 2,416 In State Tuition: $41,460 Room & Board: $12,960 Books & Supplies: $818 #224 out of 650

25. New College of Florida Acceptance Rate: 61% SAT Composite: 1,780-2,060 ACT: 27-30 Top 10% of HS Class: 50% Undergrads: 832 In State Tuition: $6,866 Room and Board: $8,801 Books and Supplies: $1,200 #180 out of 650

26. University of Miami Admission Rate: 40% SAT Composite: 1820-2110 ACT: 28-32 Top 10% of HS Class: 66% Undergrads: 9,979 In State Tuition: $42,852 Room and Board: $12,314 Books and Supplies: $2,410 #128 out of 650

27. Univ. of FL Acceptance Rate: 47% SAT Composite: 1,740- 2,040 ACT: 26-31 Top 10% of HS Class: 76% Undergrads: 30,241 In state tuition: $6,263 Room and Board: $9,520 Books and Supplies: $1,080 #87 out of 650

28. Private vs. Public? PRIVATE: Tuition usually higher More scholarships for private despite higher tuition (endowments) Often more personal attention Bright Futures Florida Pre-Paid? Out of State-No Bright Futures Public or Private! Forbes List 10 Florida Schools: Public: USF UCF FSU New College UF Private: Stetson Eckerd Rollins University of Miami Florida Institute of Technology

29. LIST OF PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN FL StateofFL.com

30. State of Fla. University System-Public Source: State University System of Florida Board of Governors : www.flbog.eduwww.flbog.edu

31. College Applications- yikes! Get Ready!  Common Applications  SAT vs ACT  Resume building  SSAR (UF and FSU)

32. What is a common application? Who takes them? www.commonapp.org Membership association of over 500 public and private colleges who will accept a standardized application. Fill out once and submit to multiple colleges Only schools that evaluate holistically; ie admissions must consider letters of recommendations and essay to be a member. If a college bases admission solely on GPA and test scores, they can not be members of the Common Application. Covers personal data, educational data, standardized test info, family info, academic honors, extracurricular activities, work experience, personal essay and criminal history. Examples of colleges: Stanford, Cornell, John Hopkins, Univ Miami, Rollins source: www.collegeapps.about.com

33. Schools that don’t require SATs or ACTs! Source: fairtest.org & campusexplorer.com There are more than 800 Colleges that “de-emphasize”, or are “test optional / test flexible”. Always check website AND call admissions office to verify. TIP: There are always exceptions! A college may require test scores for admission to specific program!

34. SAT vs. ACT Sources: ACT Corporate, College Board, Princeton Review, International Business Times 2015 Which test is right for your child? Research! Check with the colleges you are applying! As of 2007, most 4 year colleges and universities now accept both tests. Watch for: 2016, SAT Redesign: Will include reading passages from other documents Use of more practical vocabulary Calculator ban on some math sections 1600 pt scale Essay will be optional No penalty for wrong answers Tip: Focus on studying for one test, not both! Take online practice tests or sit for both exams. Take 2, Prep 1!

35. SAT Facts Often described as an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities. Cost: w/the writing option: $54.50 6X year: Sept, Oct, Dec, Feb, April, June. Deadline 5 wks prior 3.5 hours including writing Sections: English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing (opt but recommended) Max Score: 1-36 per section (+composite: Avg all sections) National Avg: 21 composite No penalty for guessing ACT Facts More of achievement test, measuring a students knowledge. Cost $52.50 writing required 7X year: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, March, May, June. Deadline 5 weeks prior 3 hours 45 min including writing Sections: Math, Critical Reading, Writing (writing includes 25 minute essay). Max Score: 200-800 per section/2400 total for all sections National Avg: 500+ /section Penalty of.25 pt for wrong answers

36. SAT VS ACT: Science: ACT has science. Doesn’t require in-depth knowledge of bio or chemistry. Tests reasoning and analysis skills by reading graphs and charts. Math: Both have basic math: Algebra I & II, Geometry. ACT has trigonometry also. No calc or trig on SAT. SAT is good for those that like math puzzles and brainy computer games. Vocabulary: Both exams test vocab. SAT focuses more on vocab. Highly saturated in all sections! SAT Subject Tests : Specialized 1 hour tests; can take 3 per day. Can take what you excel in or to demonstrate proficiency in the field you plan to pursue. s

37. SAT VS ACT: ACT questions are easier to comprehend on a first read. SAT you may need to spend more time figuring out what you are being asked before you can start solving the problem. Essay Questions More Direct On ACT: Sample Essay: Essay Questions More Direct On ACT: Sample Essay: ACT: In your view, should high schools become more tolerant of cheating. SAT: What is your view of the claim that something unsuccessful can still have value? ACT: Should high schools eliminate all physical education requirements? SAT: Can common sense be trusted and accepted, or should it be questioned? s

38. Test Score Reporting Tip: Tip: Registration with either test provides free reporting for up to four colleges. However, you may want to consider waiting to send scores until after you have viewed your scores. Though additional costs are incurred (approx.) $10.50 to $12, the additional cost could be well worth it, considering most students take the tests multiple times, and your scores usually improve. Send the scores after you are satisfied, keeping mindful of deadlines and requirements. It could take several weeks to process. Check SAT and ACT dates for testing that offers options to receive answer reporting. Additional fee. receive answer reporting. Additional fee. s

39. Build a Resume! Tell a Story! Great resource for applications and scholarships!

40. SSAR: Student Self-Reported Academic Record (UF and FSU)

41. TIPS! Stay organized! Spreadsheets: Yes, create them and keep them current with all info! Folders: Keep a folder for each college applied to! Emails: Use your students email, not yours! Show them how to use email folders. This is their time! Passwords: There will be lots of them. Record on spreadsheet and have back up!

42. With Eliot Schrefer Author, Harvard Honors Grad, SAT Tutor “Hack the SAT” Countryside Library 2741 SR 580, Clearwater Sunday, Feb 22nd 2pm TIP! PLAN TO ATTEND

43. Talk to your counselor! Ms. Levy levyd@pcsb.org to verify process and requirements!levyd@pcsb.org