1. What is your Post-secondary Plan and how can we help you get where you want to be? 2. If it’s college, make sure you follow the Post- Secondary Planning Handbook 3. Everyone: come in for your Individual Counselor Meeting (parents are welcome, too!)

 See p. A1 for more detail on:  Community College  Trade or Technical School  Bidwell  The Military  Apprenticeship Programs  Job Corps  Work

 Everything you need to fill out applications when the time comes is on the “Application Information” page.  So how do we get there from here?

Seven Steps from High School to College 1. Preparation: Take the College Entrance Exams 2. Information: Research and Plan 3. Information: Narrow Your College Search 4. Visitation: Visit Colleges & College Fairs 5. Application: Apply for Admission 6. Apply for Financial Aid & Scholarships 7. Review and Finalize Your Plan The Handbook will be a very helpful resource!

 Register for and take the SAT and ACT  BHS is a test site for the October and May tests( see p.5 of the Handbook for dates and deadlines)  Check if you need the SAT Subject Tests – for more selective colleges, two or three are usually required  See if your schools want “official” score reports  Prep material and classes available – see your counselor  When a college gives an SAT score (average or minimum) the score usually includes only Critical Reading and Math (not Writing)

 The chart on p.2 gives you a comparison of the two exams.  The chart on p.3 gives you the same Score Conversion Chart which most colleges and universities use.  THE BOTTOM LINE: it’s a good idea to take both, see which one you do better on/prefer, and strategize from there to get your highest possible score.

 Suggested Testing Timeline for All Tests  Gr. 11: December & January…. Keystones  Gr. 11: March ….SAT I Reasoning  Gr. 11: April ….ACT  Gr. 11: May ….SAT I Reasoning (at BHS)– this is a good date for SAT II Subject Tests, if you need them  Gr. 11: May… AP Exams during the first 2 weeks  Gr. 11: June ….SAT I Reasoning  Gr. 11: June ….ACT  Fall of Senior Year: TESTING OPTIONAL! Check out p.5 for fees, dates, and deadlines for testing!

 What are the best ways to gather information? There are many resources….  Know Yourself  Career Cruising:  Plan  Challenging courses  Participate in activities  Meet with career representatives/job shadow

 Research colleges  Seven Factors  Size  Location  Reputation  Majors  Can I get in? (Admissions)  Can I afford it? (Cost/Financial Aid)  Can I be happy there?  Find colleges  Organize information and narrow your list College Visits are the best way to find answers to these seven questions!

 Refer to pages 9-13 of your Post-Secondary Planning Handbook for an in-depth look at all Seven Factors and the questions to ask to make the most of campus visitation programs!

 Application form  Common Application  Penn State Applications  Letters of Recommendation  Requesting a Transcript  The essay

 Look for scholarship announcements on Google Group  Check the BHS Guidance Web Site  Check the Guidance Bulletin (Monthly)  Register for scholarship databases  Look for scholarships offered by colleges – check deadlines  National scholarships are listed in Career Cruising

 Take responsibility for your future  Individual Counselor Meeting  Check Graduation Requirements  Check Transcript (including activities)  Check Schedule  We will call you in; work with us to review and finalize your plan!  Be courteous and respectful to everyone you deal with!  Be a leader in the building and beyond!

Thank you very much! …Questions?

 Attend the Pittsburgh National College Fair (February)  Register for and take SATs/ACTs/APs  Test Preparation  Keep your grades up  Do your best on the Keystones  Select challenging coursework ALL THROUGH HS  College Visits, Open Houses, Representatives  Look for opportunities to shadow and volunteer  Register with NCAA if you’re a student-athlete  Come in for your Individual Counselor Meeting!

 Consider summer coursework for make-up credits or advancement/enrichment  Volunteer work/shadowing  Campus Visitations!  Narrow down post-secondary choices  Draft your Activities Resume to send with applications in the fall  Work on Music CDs or Art Portfolios  Download college applications and get started on essays  Start thinking about letters of recommendation

 Sign up for BHS Google Group  Send an to your counselor  Watch for Skyward Messages and Skylert communications  Check out the BHS Blog  Listen to announcements  Stay on top of the many opportunities and things happening at BHS

 Apply to NCAA online only at  Send SAT/ACT scores directly to NCAA  Bring in the NCAA transcript form with your NCAA ID number  Request a transcript using the Transcript Request Form

 There are many ways to prepare for standardized tests  Doing well in your classes is the best test prep!  CDs and books are available  Test Preparation classes at BHS or from private sources  On-line:  On-line:  Use PSAT scores  Sign up for Question-of-the-Day  Free on-line practice tests

 Fee Waivers are available for SAT, ACT, and AP Exams  For students who qualify for Free/Reduced Lunch  For students whose families are experiencing economic hardship  They can be used to register on-line for the tests  If you qualify, you can get fee waivers for college applications in the fall, too!  See your counselor for more information