College Planning What to Look for as You Start your Search

The search begins! Know something about yourself Know something about yourself –Begin with an interest analyzer to understand what services a college can offer that will serve your needs –Be familiar with college programs and the careers they lead to –Set short range goals –Set long range goals –Have a plan for the future

Food for thought How far from home will you be? How far from home will you be? Will there be other students you know at the college? Will there be other students you know at the college? What will the living conditions be like for you? What will the living conditions be like for you? Will you be able to drive? Will you be able to drive?

Interview the Colleges What is the academic focus of the college? What is the academic focus of the college? What is the student population? What is the student population? What is the campus setting? What is the campus setting? What support systems are in place? What support systems are in place? What advantages does the college offer you? What advantages does the college offer you? What extracurricular opportunities are offered that you would be interested in? What extracurricular opportunities are offered that you would be interested in?

College planning worksheets School name _____________________________________________________ School name _____________________________________________________ School address ___________________________________________________ City ___________________State_______________________ Zip___________ School phone_____________ Fax_____________ Website_________________ College catalog requested? 0 Yes 0 No Admissions application requested? 0 Yes 0 No Admissions application deadline _______________ Toured campus? 0 Yes 0 No Date scheduled _____________ Interview? 0 Required 0 Not required Date scheduled______________ Name of interviewer_______________________ Title_____________________ __________________________________ Phone___________________ Thank you card sent0 Yes 0 No College type: Public___State-supported college/university ___Private college/university Proprietary/trade institutio ___Private college/university Proprietary/trade institutio ___Private, religion-affiliated college/university ___Private, religion-affiliated college/university ___Religious affiliation______________________________________ ___Religious affiliation______________________________________ Student body: ___Single-sex campus ___Coed campus --- Male-to-female ratio___________________ ___Coed campus --- Male-to-female ratio___________________ Campus population:___20,000 or more students ___5,001-19,999 students ___5,001-19,999 students ___2,001-5,000 students ___2,001-5,000 students ___2,000 or fewer students ___2,000 or fewer students Location: ___Big city ___Suburbs ___Small town ___Rural environment ___In-state ___Out-of-state ___Foreign country ___In-state ___Out-of-state ___Foreign country Housing: ___Entering freshman must live on campus ___Campus housing is offered on a first-come, first-served basis ___Campus housing is offered on a first-come, first-served basis ___Campus housing is offered on a lottery system ___Campus housing is offered on a lottery system ___Most students live off campus ___Most students live off campus ___Most students live on campus ___Most students live on campus ___Housing not offered by institution, no campus ___Housing not offered by institution, no campus Distance campus is from home:_______, miles Are freshmen allowed to have a car on campus? 0 Yes 0 NoParking fee______ $ Most students accepted are in the top percent of their class with _______SAT and _______ACT Intended major____________________________ Minor________________________________ Does the college offer these programs of study? 0 Yes 0 No Other areas of interest: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

College planning worksheets College Planning Extracurricular activities of interest offered at the institution: Sports ___________________________________________________________ Clubs ___________________________________________________________ Other ___________________________________________________________ Financial aid information: ___Requested ___Returned Financial aid application deadline _____________________________________ Institution scholarship information: ___Requested ___Submitted Types of forms needed: ___FAFSA PROFILE ___Institution forms Requested PIN to complete FAFSA on the Web: 0 Yes 0 No PIN: ______ Parent requested PIN to complete FAFSA on the Web: 0 Yes 0 No PIN: ______ Warning: Maintain your PIN in a secure location. Do not share your PIN. Requested letters of recommendation from: Teacher ____________________ Community leader______________________ Teacher_____________________ Principal _____________________________ Other ___________________________________________________________ Positives about this institution ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Negatives about this institution ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Contacts Name Phone ___________________________________________________________________Requested ___Received ___________________________________________________________________Requested ___Received ___________________________________________________________________Requested ___Received ___________________________________________________________________Requested ___Received ___________________________________________________________________Requested ___Received

College applications Evidence of high student motivation Evidence of high student motivation –Course rigor –Enrichment activities –Extracurricular activities –Community involvement

High Schools Courses Recommended for College Subject Area Years Sample Courses English 4 years grammar, American literature, world literature Math 3 to 4 years algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus Science 3 to 4 years biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, include laboratory work Social Studies 3 to 4 years geography, U.S. history, U.S. government, world history Foreign Languages 2 to 4 years any one language Arts 1 or more years art, dance, drama, music Electives 1 to 3 years economics, statistics, computer science, communications, psychology

Contests, Competitions, and Activities HUMANITIES MATHEMATICS The Agora Writing Competitions MATHCOUNTS The Apprentice Writer National Mathematics League Competitions Arts Recognition Talent Search (ARTS)National Engineering Aptitude Search Books Make a Difference American High School Mathematics Exam SCIENCEOTHER Duracell Scholarship CompetitionComputer Science Contest Biology Bulletin Science Essay ProgramEdison/McGraw Scholarship Program International Chemistry OlympiadThe Future Problem Solving Program NSTA/NASA Space Shuttle StudentNational High School Chess Championship

Internet sources College Board website College Planning Guide and College and University Search College and University Home Pages College and University Home Pages The Financial Aid Information Page

Gifted services References References – We can write recommendations for you Resources Resources –We can help you as you apply to colleges Research Research –We can provide you with information about programs and services at Colleges and Universities Guidance Guidance –We will serve as your advocate during the application process

What Parents Can Do. As a parent you can aid students in the career-planning process by doing the following: Talk about your work - its positive and negative aspects, its advantages and disadvantages, and future opportunities in the field. Talk about your work - its positive and negative aspects, its advantages and disadvantages, and future opportunities in the field. Whenever possible, show the student where you work. Whenever possible, show the student where you work. Ask open-ended questions when the student mentions careers. Ask open-ended questions when the student mentions careers. (Avoid statements that inadvertently transmit expectations.) Encourage the student to explore, in depth, as many careers as possible. Encourage the student to explore, in depth, as many careers as possible. Encourage internships or other ways of experiencing careers. Encourage internships or other ways of experiencing careers. Encourage community involvement, particularly volunteer activities. Encourage community involvement, particularly volunteer activities. Encourage the student to be flexible about career decisions and changes. Encourage the student to be flexible about career decisions and changes. (Gifted students often change careers several times during their work life)

What Teachers Can Do. As a teacher, you can assist students in career planning a follows: Discuss your field with your students - its educational requirements, advantages and disadvantages, and future opportunities. Discuss your field with your students - its educational requirements, advantages and disadvantages, and future opportunities. Encourage students to read biographies and other material about people who work in your specialty. Encourage students to read biographies and other material about people who work in your specialty. Encourage girls to explore mathematical and scientific fields. Encourage girls to explore mathematical and scientific fields. Encourage boys to explore the humanities and/ or a liberal arts college, especially if they plan to pursue a specialized mathematical or scientific field. Encourage boys to explore the humanities and/ or a liberal arts college, especially if they plan to pursue a specialized mathematical or scientific field. Discuss ways that your discipline is related to different careers. Discuss ways that your discipline is related to different careers. Provide opportunities for students to write critically and speak effectively about the way their careers might relate to the future. Provide opportunities for students to write critically and speak effectively about the way their careers might relate to the future.