1. College and Career Ready
Upper Merion Area High School
School Counseling Department
January 5, 2017

2. Agenda What is College/Career Ready?
Benefits of postsecondary education
High School Course Selection
Do Course Levels Matter?
Guidance
Next Steps – Monitoring Progress
Questions

3. What is College/Career Ready?
The Pennsylvania Department of Education College & Career Ready Rationale
“Today, nearly every good job requires some postsecondary education and/or training – such as an associates or bachelors degree, certificate, license, or completion of an apprenticeship or significant on- the-job training.”
Talk about the Common Core – Preparing every student to have the skills necessary to pursue a post-secondary education plan.

4. What is College/Career Ready?
The US Department of Education
College & Career Ready Rationale
“Education systems only are as strong as the expectations they hold for their students. But for too long, our nation's schools have not set consistently rigorous goals for students. Students will face high expectations in the real world of college and careers.”
Talk about the Common Core – Preparing every student to have the skills necessary to pursue a post-secondary education plan.

5. What is College/Career Ready?
Upper Merion Area HS
Focus on College/Career Readiness
The mission of UMAHS, a challenging, diverse, caring learning community, is to inspire excellence in every student by fostering lifelong learners who recognize and achieve their fullest potential.
Talk about the Common Core – Preparing every student to have the skills necessary to pursue a post-secondary education plan.

6. Reach Higher Initiative
"Education is the key to success for so many kids. And my goal specifically is to reach out directly to young people and encourage them to take charge of their futures and complete an education beyond high school."
– First Lady Michelle Obama, January 16, 2014
The Reach Higher initiative is the First Lady's effort to inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school, whether at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university.
Talk about the term “college” – we use it to refer to any post-secondary education. Certificates, Associate’s, Bachelor’s and advanced degrees.
Our goal is to prepare all of our students so they can pursue the educational path they want. It is also to help them understand the commitment and drive needed to reach their educational goals.

7. Benefits of an Education
“The more you learn, the more you earn!”
But…

8. YouCanGo! By the CollegeBoard
Five Reasons to Attend College

9. High School Course Selection
Provides the foundation for college level work and employment skills.
Helps students explore academic areas that could lead to potential college majors and careers.
Develops a body of academic work that can be evaluated by colleges and employers.
Reinforces the importance of challenging ourselves.
Offers students the opportunity to dream!

10. Course Levels – Picking the Right Classes
We want every student to challenge themselves to the highest level to which they are capable.
Teachers, counselors and administrators look at each student individually and work with them to identify their strengths and weaknesses and plan accordingly.
Supports are always available to help students when needed.
Students make course selections based on multiple factors – post-secondary goals, appropriateness of curriculum, interests, parental suggestions, etc…
Students/Parents should access their counselors to assist in developing the right curricular plan.

11. UMAHS School Counselors
Our focus is on the student!
We want to help them develop and implement a post-secondary plan unique to them.
We will help them seek out challenges and support them to succeed.
We will help them identify their options.

12. Accessing College/Career Information
Family Connection by Naviance
The link for this web-based program can be accessed by going to the main high school website, clicking on the Guidance tab and scrolling down to the Naviance Family Connection link.
Access your student’s account by:
Student id# where it asks for
Student’s birthdate – mmddyyyy – for the password

13. Next Steps

14. Next Steps for Freshman
In School
Focus on academics and good grades
Get involved in school and extracurricular activities
Meet with your school counselor
Explore your interests
Pick the right classes
College Exploration
Start exploring colleges on the Web and what it takes to get in
Talk to family and friends about college
Begin to get a feel for college life – spend some time on a campus
Make summer count – job, volunteer work, experiences
Standardized Testing
Complete process for Testing Accommodations if you are eligible

15. Next Steps for Sophomores
In School
Stay focused on academics
Meet with your school counselor
Stay involved in school activities
Plan appropriate courses for the following year
Standardized Testing
Complete process for Testing Accommodations if you are eligible
Take the PSAT (UMASD covers the cost for Sophomores)
Review results of the PSAT and access CollegeQuick Start for free
Consider taking the SAT/ACT in late Spring
College Exploration
Explore colleges on the Web
Visit colleges if you can
Visit with a couple of college representatives when they visit U.M.
Attend college fairs
Consider attending a “College Summer Program”

16. Next Steps for Juniors In School Standardized Testing College Process
Stay focused on academics
Meet with your school counselor
Stay involved in school activities
Do not lighten your academic load for senior year
Standardized Testing
Complete process for Testing Accommodations if you are eligible
Prepare for and register for ACT / SAT tests (minimum two times this year)
Register for AP tests as appropriate
College Process
Explore colleges on the Web
Visit colleges if you can
Meet with college admissions representatives that visit Upper Merion
Attend college fairs
Draw up your list of potential colleges to which you will apply
Complete Applications – Meet Deadlines, Apply Early

17. Parents
Stay involved – monitor grades, talk “with” not “at” your child, keep firm yet realistic expectations.
Provide encouragement – but don’t play the blame game with them. No one is out to get them.
Educate yourself – attend evening programs such as financial aid nights, college information nights, junior conference meeting, websites, newspapers, etc…
Develop a financial plan – post-secondary education is not cheap or free.
Encourage connections – friends, family, teachers, counselors, clubs, sports, youth groups, etc…
Be available.

18. UMAHS School Counseling Dept.
Class of 2019 & 2021 (A-K) Class of 2019 & 2021 (L-Z) Class of 2018 & 2020 (A-K) Class of 2018 & 2020 (L-Z) College Counselor Guidance Technician Guidance Clerk
Patricia Brower Allison Lowry Kim Jackson Nicole Miller Erik Enters Elaine Berman Diane Coxe