Sophomore Parent Information Night April 6 th 7:00pm Scott BirtmanCollege Counselor Liz WeitrzakTransition Coordinator Ruth NetlandCRC Assistant

Liz Weitrzak IEP-504 ACT/SAT-Extended Time College Transition

So… You want to go to college? Admissions Admissions Cost Cost Majors Majors

Admissions GPA GPA Letters of recommendation Letters of recommendation Personal statement or essay Personal statement or essay Test Scores Test Scores –ACT/SAT Extra-curricular activities Extra-curricular activities 70% “1 st” Choice college 70% “1 st” Choice college

GPA (Grade Point Average) The MOST important factor!!! The MOST important factor!!! Weighted & Non-weighted Weighted & Non-weighted AP-Honors-Regular college prep AP-Honors-Regular college prep –Rather see a “B’ in honors or an “A” in regular?

Recommendation Letters Teacher Teacher Counselor Counselor Other Other –Coach –Pastor

Personal Statement or Essay What makes YOU unique? What makes YOU unique? Answer the question… Answer the question… Your voice Your voice Not all schools! Not all schools! –Common Application-550 yes –UIUC- no –ISU- no

Test Scores ACT & SAT & PSAT ACT & SAT & PSAT –2014 PARCC- ACT How many times? How many times? December/February/April/June December/February/April/June –East/West coast and competitive Test Preparation Test Preparation $190 to over $4,500+

Extra-curriculars and Activities Athletics Athletics Student government Student government Leadership roles Leadership roles Volunteerism Volunteerism

Selectivity How hard is it to get in? How hard is it to get in? Demographics Demographics Illinois vs. Nebraska/Michigan/South Dakota! Top Schools Top Schools Ivy League Big Ten (University of Illinois) Stanford, UNC, USC, etc Public vs Private Public vs Private

University of Illinois Admissions Admissions –12’72%63/8740 –13’75%69/9228 –14’72.5%58/8031 –15’81.7%76/938 Costs – – $30,150-35,150/year $30,150-35,150/year New records 2014 New records 2014

Financing a College Education CLC $5,500/yr CLC $5,500/yr Northwestern $65,554/yr Northwestern $65,554/yr Parent/Student loans Parent/Student loans Scholarships & Merit grants Scholarships & Merit grants Need based vs Non-need Need based vs Non-need

College Majors So… What’s your major? So… What’s your major? Changes 4-5 times while in college! Changes 4-5 times while in college! Psychology and Undecided Psychology and Undecided

The “Right” College The correct “Fit” The correct “Fit” College Rankings College Rankings –US News & World Reports –Newsweek –Aunt Suzie 3,800+ schools! 3,800+ schools!

What Next? Meet your counselor Meet your counselor Select the “most” difficult courses Select the “most” difficult courses Get involved Get involved READ!!! READ!!! Visit campuses ( small private / Big State ) Visit campuses ( small private / Big State ) CLC College Fairs (October/April) CLC College Fairs (October/April) Naviance *** (student access only) Naviance *** (student access only)

Other Statistics… U of Illinois (34,000 apps for 7,100 spaces) U of Illinois (34,000 apps for 7,100 spaces) 80% of parents must borrow $$ to pay for college 80% of parents must borrow $$ to pay for college 5.01 ( ) apps VHHS in ( ) apps VHHS in % (4yr) +.3% 17.2% (2yr) -.3% 82.8% (4yr) +.3% 17.2% (2yr) -.3% 95%(2013) 2 or 4 year 95%(2013) 2 or 4 year 45% in state +3% 55% out-of-state -3% 45% in state +3% 55% out-of-state -3% 66.0% public +3.4% 34.0% private -3.4% 66.0% public +3.4% 34.0% private -3.4%

Other Options… UW-Milwaukee & UW Parkside UW-Milwaukee & UW Parkside University of Minnesota University of Minnesota Indiana University Indiana University University of Iowa University of Iowa Lake Forest College Lake Forest College University of Missouri-Columbia University of Missouri-Columbia Grand Valley State University Grand Valley State University College of Lake County College of Lake County Illinois students are highly recruited!!! Illinois students are highly recruited!!! Remember DEADLINES! Remember DEADLINES!

Questions???