SOPHOMORE PARENT NIGHT Vanessa Montorsi, Director of Pupil Services & Counseling Joanna Caserta, School Counselor March 14, 2018 Vanessa

Tonight's Agenda Post-secondary Options Opportunities & Experiences PSAT/SAT/ACT College & Career Center Naviance Timelines ***Discussion of the elimination of mid-terms*** Vanessa

Preparation to Date Grade Activity 9th -Small group meetings in September -Course Selection 10th -Do What You Are in Naviance -Planning meeting (classes, activities, Khan Academy) Joanna Grade 9-small group-Activities, grading, homework, math center, academic center

Summer Experiences & Opportunities Develop Your Interests Jobs Volunteer work/community service Sports Summer programs Courses, classes, camps Travel Campus visits Contact info-emails Joanna

Junior Year Activities Get Involved in FLHS and the community PSAT/NMSQT College Panel Night NAVIANCE Junior Appointments College Visits Other standardized tests College & Career Center General timelines Vanessa

PSAT/NMSQT Math/Evidence-Based Reading & Writing TEST AT FLHS Wednesday, OCTOBER 10, 2018 Results in Mid-December Specific answers Levels of difficulty Study opportunities for SAT's (Khan Academy) College Board Resources National Merit Scholarship Qualifications Vanessa Of the about 1.5 million juniors who take the PSAT/NMSQT each year, approximately 50,000 juniors with the highest PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index scores (or total PSAT scores) who meet the eligibility requirements described above qualify for NMSP recognition.  That is, roughly the top 3% of 11th grade testers will qualify.  Note that the Selection Index qualifying scores vary from year to year and state to state

Naviance Web-based service Career inventory Career search Signing up for college rep visits Researching colleges Checking FLHS history and data Scholarships Joanna Go live on Naviance-show DWYA results

College Career Center -Resources for Post High School Planning College Listings Alumni Ambassadors Choosing a Major Scholarship/Financial Aid Test Prep Programs & Practice Materials PSAT, SAT, ACT Registration Information Summer Programs Gap Year Options Military Programs Career Information Job Searches Joanna

College Career Center Coordinate College Visits Start in mid-September Listed on Naviance Register on-line to visit with a representative Explore many other options Part Time Job Bank Register for job opportunities Alice Gorman-coordinator Agorman@fairfieldschools.org  Joanna

College Panel Night January 2019 Several Speakers from colleges Overview of admissions process Differences among colleges What's important How to present applications Timelines How are admissions decisions made Focus on grades and activities Vanessa

Additional Programs Webster Bank Arena—200+ Schools Art School Fair—tentatively scheduled for Fall Area College Fairs Dozens of Colleges visiting in the State April 4, 2018 4:00—8:00 p.m. Webster Bank Arena—200+ Schools Gap Year Fair Community College Fair Apprenticeship Program Military Day Career Schools & Colleges Fair All information posted on FLHS website, in Infinite Campus and FLHS School Counseling newsletter. Vanessa

What Is The Right College? Someone else’s choice? The college with the best basketball team? US News & World Report’s #1? The college I can afford? REMEMBER: The answer will be different for each student. Joanna Someone else’s choice? College with best basketball team? US News and World Report’s #1? The college I can afford?

REMEMBER: Each student’s choice will be different. Finding the Right Fit It’s not about finding the best college… It’s about finding the right college The right college is where students can be happy and successful There are more than 3,000 schools in U.S. Average of 7-9 applications per student. REMEMBER: Each student’s choice will be different. Joanna

Junior Appointments Student and parent both attend Second Semester—between Feb and April break FLHS Post-High School Planning Guide Overview of colleges Starting to sort:  Size, location, majors, extra-curricular activities Developing a "list" Testing timelines Communication Responsibilites  Vanessa

Standardized Tests DIFFERENT SCORE RANGE SAT AND SUBJECT TESTS March-Connecticut School Day Administration MAY, JUNE-Additional SAT Dates Reading, Writing & Language, Math Essay (Optional) ACT DIFFERENT SCORE RANGE English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning Essay (Optional) ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMS —MAY Scores for credit or placement Vanessa

College Campus Visits Any time you travel-stop in! Plan ahead and decide what to see and what to ask Visit while in session  Take a tour Stay over if possible Register with admissions office for visits/open houses Talk with students and professors Get a "feel" for campus Picture yourself here Sort what is import and what is not Don't go simply because of "the name" Joanna

TIMELINE 2018-2019 SEPTEMBER Colege rep visits Visit college career center Register on Naviance-explore options OCTOBER PSAT ON Wednesday October 10, 2018 Continue college rep visits Attend Financial Aid Night-Optional for Juniors NOVEMBER Alumni Day DECEMBER Continue college rep visits and exploring Naviance Review PSAT results Begin using Khan Academy if want to improve SAT scores Vanessa and Joanna

TIMELINE 2018-2019 JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH Attend College Panel Night Continue preparing for SAT using Khan Academy Visit colleges FEBRUARY Course registration for senior year AP exam registration Individual junior planning meetings MARCH SAT/ACT exams Vanessa and Joanna

TIMELINE 2018-2019 APRIL MAY JUNE Vanessa and Joanna College Fair at Webster Bank Arena SAT/ACT exams Individual junior planning meetings Visit colleges MAY AP exams Plan letters of recommendations JUNE Plan summer visits/activities Plan development of colleges to visit-consider early applications Final exams Vanessa and Joanna

Communication Stay in touch with counselor First initiallastname@fairfieldschools.org emails are on the FLHS website on School Counseling Tab         Udpate Infinite Campus Info Emails, texts             FLHS Counseling Website Newsletter READ, READ, READ TALK, TALK, TALK Vanessa and Joanna

Questions?