Brick Township High School JUNIOR POST-SECONDARY PLANNING Brought to you by the BTHS Guidance Department

CourseYears RequiredCredits HPE420 English420 Math315 Science315 Social Studies315 Fine/Performing Arts15 Business/College and Career Readiness 15 World Language15 Electives 20 Financial Literacy12.5 Graduation Requirements 130 Credits

PARCC – English I, II, III, Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra II SAT – Critical Reading or Math ACT ASVAB Accuplacer Testing Options NJDOE Graduation Testing Options

Scheduling  Early release options  Jump Start  Step Ahead  Senior Seminar  Early out/Late arrival  Carefully select courses for senior year  Changes should be made before the end of the year  OCVTS Program of Studies

THE Post-Secondary PLANNING PROCESS  Every student and family will be in a different place at a different time in the process  Focus on your own plans and do not get caught up in what your peers are saying and doing  Trust with good planning it will all work out

 Yourself--  Self-knowledge, career inventories, personality tests RESEARCH and GAIN INFORMATION About…

 Your options--  Careers  Military Service – ASVAB  Technical Training  2-year colleges  4-year colleges Research and Gain Information About…

 Talking with:  Parents  Counselors  Teachers  College students  Mentors  College Visits/College Fairs  Naviance  Meeting with college admission reps  Books and articles about college and careers Students gain knowledge by…

 or through the guidance website  A comprehensive web-based program designed to help in making informed decisions about colleges  If you misplaced your user name or password, please contact guidance and we will immediately get it to you NAVIANCE

The best college is the one that fits…  academically  socially  financially  emotionally  athletically THE BEST COLLEGE

 High School Grades & trends  Strength of Program  Standardized Tests—SAT, SAT Subject tests, ACT  Extracurricular Activities  College Essay(s)  Recommendations from Counselor & Teachers  Interest (sometimes!) Selection Criteria

 Admissions Representatives  College Visits to BTHS Guidance  College Fairs  /Phone contacts  Campus Visits  Information Sessions/Open Houses/Tours  Meetings with professors/class observations  Overnight stays THE BEST SOURCES FOR COLLEGE INFORMATION

 PLAN A – including Reaches  PLAN B – Middle 50% of accepted students  PLAN C – Safe bets (use data: Naviance, collegeboard.com, usnews.com) Have a strategy!

 Regular Decision – single Notification Date  Rolling Decision  Early Decision - Binding  Early Action  Single Choice Early Action (very few schools) Decision Plans

 Merit-based Grants (Scholarships)  Academics/Special talent  Athletics  BTHS Guidance Scholarship Bulletin  Need-based Grants:  Government (FAFSA)  Specific College  Federal Work-Study (need-based)  Loans Paying for College

 Brick Township Financial Aid Workshop next November here at BTHS  FREE Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)--required by all  Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)  Grants (PELL, TAG)  Loans  federal student aid estimator  CSS Profile-  – Higher Education Assistance Authority Financial Aid

 All 19 County Colleges participate  Students in the top 15% of their junior or senior class and a family income under $250,000 are eligible  Covers the cost of tuition and approved fees ( credits per semester for five semesters)  Students must file a FAFSA to be eligible  NJ Stars II- $2,500 per year scholarship towards a New Jersey transfer school  NJSTARS

 College Visits – local, long distance  College Open Houses  Begin Activity Resume  Consider who you will ask for teacher recommendation letters  SAT – March 14, May 2, June 6  SAT Subject Tests  ACT – February 7, April 18, June 13  Finish Jr. Year STRONG! WHAT TO DO NOW…

 Continue Self Assessment  College Visits  Keep track of important deadlines  Think about essay topics—ideas, rough draft  Look over Common App Online—Common Essays & Supplemental EssaysCommon App Online  Continue to build activity resume  Fine Arts Majors/Architecture – begin to work on a portfolio, work with your teachers  Athletic Recruitment – Check eligibility online and register work with your coaches and athletic director What to do this summer…

 Finalize college list on Naviance  More Visits/Open houses  SAT retakes, SAT Subject tests, ACT retakes  College Essay & Activity Resume  Complete Applications—Common Application Online  Complete FERPA Waiver on Common Application  Link Common Application to Naviance What to do next fall

 January 2016  FAFSA & PROFILE by Jan. 31  January-May  Visit, compare and evaluate colleges  Admissions & financial aid packages received  Family decision time  May 1  Tuition & Room Deposits Due  May-June  GRADUATE!  Don’t jeopardize admissions decision! …Spring 2016

 for SAT info  for ACT info  for SAT/ACT optional information  Naviance website:    for Financial Aid info Online Resources

Thank you for coming!