1. Exploring Your Child’s Future Welcome Parents and Families

2. How-should-you-start-a-college-search
Self Reflection
The best college choices are made when students know themselves well…their strengths, goals, and personality type.
How-should-you-start-a-college-search
*Go to Naviance/Family Connection to complete Personality and Career Profiles

3. Students should consider
Their strengths & weaknesses
Classes they’ve enjoyed
Their interests
Their career goals
Activities they enjoy
Do-colleges-want-quality-or- a-quantity-of-activities

4. College Characteristics to Consider
Location – Urban/Rural
Far from home?
Campus/Class sizes
Admission requirements

5. College Characteristics to Consider (Cont’d)
Academic strengths
Retention rates
Degree Requirements
Core
Curriculum/flexibility
Diversity
Costs

6. Visit College Campuses
Visit a variety of campus types and sizes
Go when college is in session
Take a campus tour
Talk to students
Stay overnight
Talk to a faculty member in your area of interest
Schedule an interview, if possible
Experts-give-tips-on-what-to-do-during- campus-visits

7. Narrow Your List of Schools
Reach Schools (1 or 2)
Target Schools (2-4)
Likely Schools (1 or 2)

8. Keep Things in Perspective
This is not a competition to get into the “best college”…
This is a process to find the college that is the “best fit.”

9. How Do Colleges Select Students
High school grades/rigor of courses
SAT/ACT/TOEFL scores
Recommendations
Essays
College needs
Special talents
Extracurricular activities
Interview
what-kind-of-student-do-colleges-want

10. Different Kinds of Admissions
Priority Deadline:
Univ. of MD, College Park - Nov. 1st
Early Decision
Early Action
Regular Decision
Rolling Admissions
BE AWARE OF DEADLINES

11. What's Next?
February
Students should make thoughtful course selections for senior year
HBCU College Fair – Feb. 17th, 5:30 p.m. at Richard Montgomery HS psmd.net/mcps-hbcu
March
Colleges That Change Lives evening event – Mar. 15th, 7 p.m. at Walt Whitman HS

12. What's Next? Montgomery County College Fair – April 5th, 10:30 a.m.
Visit colleges over Spring Break
May/June
SAT/ACT/SAT subject tests
Schedule a College Meeting with Counselor
Complete self reflection worksheet/parent reflection worksheet/resume in Naviance
Think about which teachers to ask to write your recommendation letter

13. What's Next? June/July/August B-CC Summer Workshops for seniors
Work on College applications
Complete College Meetings with Counselor
Register for Common Application

14. Components of a College Application
College Application, including essay
Current Transcript- sent from B-CC
SAT/ACT/TOEFL scores (need to be sent directly from testing company)
Recommendation letter from teacher(s)
Recommendation letter from school counselor
B-CC School Profile (sent from B-CC)
Secondary School report (completed by school counselor and sent from B-CC)

15. Copy of Senior Transcript

16. Financial Aid/Scholarships
Think about and start researching Financial Aid/Scholarship Information
*If you qualify for Free/Reduced lunch, sign up! This will give you reduced and/or free college application fees, and SAT/ACT/TOEFL, AP/IB test fees.

17. PSAT and Khan Academy Free, individualized SAT prep!
Now that your child has their PSAT score, remind them to LINK that score to the Khan Academy for access to individualized, free SAT prep! 
For directions please see here 
Or just google, how to link PSAT and Khan Academy!

18. Where/How to Get Information at B-CC
B-CC School Counselor
Family Connection
College and Career Center
Mrs. Parmelee, CCIC at B-CC
College Tracks – Ms. Aja Simpson, Ms. Patty Olszewski
College Reps when they visit B-CC
Scholarship searches
Counseling Dept.:
College/Career Ctr.:

19. Enjoy this College Process Journey!