1. Junior College Planning
Presented by the BCHS Guidance Department

2. Timeline February/March:
Register for/prepare for the Meet with counselor to begin discussing plans for post- graduation
Familiarize yourself with your transcript; you can’t search appropriately if you’re not informed
Begin searching for colleges/universities/technical programs
Choose classes for senior year
Begin and/or edit your resume in Naviance

3. Timeline cont. April/May/June:
Register/take the SATs/ACTs SATs(4/5/17 –school day testing)
Meet with counselor to discuss options
Continue searching for post-secondary schools and adding to “Prospective colleges” list on Naviance
Visit college campuses
Continue working on your resume
Ask for letters of recommendation

4. SAT Reasoning Test
Measures ability to critically reason, apply mathematical concepts and write
Register for an SAT test at collegeboard.org
Recommendation: Take SAT at least once more in Spring of Junior year and once in Fall of Senior year
Pay attention to registration deadlines!
Fee waivers are available for students who receive free/reduced lunch. See your counselor for more info.

5. SAT con’t.
Score reports can be sent to 4 colleges for FREE at the time you register
Remember, once you actually start applying to college, you are responsible for sending your scores to each college you apply to(which costs approx. $11 per school)
Practice for the SAT by using Khan Academy which you can link to your PSAT scores:

6. SAT Subject Tests
Required by some colleges, usually more competitive institutions
Check individual college’s website to find out if they require subject tests
Register for tests on collegeboard.org
You cannot take subject tests on the same day as the reasoning test
Plan accordingly!

7. ACTs
Assesses general educational development and ability to complete college-level work
Can be taken in lieu of SAT or in addition to
for test dates and to register for a test
Pay attention to registration deadlines!
Fee waivers are available for students with free/reduced lunch

8. The College Search Succeed.Naviance.com, Collegeboard.org
What to consider when choosing a college:
- Geographic location
- Size
- Cost
- Selectivity
- Setting (Rural, Urban, Suburban)
Develop a list of schools that you are interested in

9. The College Search Con’t.
Schedule college visits/tours with the Admissions Department
Write down questions you want to ask
Prepare for questions they may ask you
Send a thank you or note
Plan to narrow down your list of schools by Fall of Senior year
Hartford College Fair will be Thursday April 6th, 6:30-8:30pm at the CT Convention Center

10. The College Resume What is it? Why is it important?
It lists all the activities you were/are involved in during high school, including sports, clubs, work experience, community service, etc.
The resume should be completed in Naviance
Don’t be afraid to say too much, or to brag! It’s better to say too much than too little.
The teachers and your counselor will use this as a reference when writing your recommendation letters.

11. Recommendation Letters
Each student will need at least two teacher recommendations
You will also likely need a letter from your counselor
You may get additional letters beyond that (ex. coach, boss)
Make sure your resume is completed in Naviance before asking for recommendation letters.
You can begin asking teachers and your counselor at the end of junior year

12. The Common Application
What is it? Who uses it?
Look over the essay prompt choices
Supplemental Forms

13. The College Essay
Allows the student to explain to the admissions committee who they are beyond their transcript
Do not plagiarize; they will know
Make the essay personal, original, authentic
PROOF READ!
Have someone look over your essay before submitting it

14. The College Essay Con’t.
Follow the guidelines set by the college and/or commonapp
Begin writing your essays over the summer
Meet with your English teacher and Mrs. Dickau in the Fall for assistance with: generating ideas/writing/proofreading your essay

15. Grades are Important
Make sure you are taking challenging courses in your senior year; colleges want to see you “gearing up”, not slowing down
Most often you will submit applications with final junior year grades as the most recent, so finish this year strong
Colleges will see grades up to the last semester of Senior year

16. Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Regular Decision
When choosing to apply to a college, a student has to decide which application plan is best for them:
Regular Decision - Many colleges establish a deadline by which all applications must be received. All students are then notified of the college's decisions at a uniform response date
Early Decision - Many colleges offer this plan to applicants who are sure they want to attend the college. This college should clearly be the applicant's first choice, as it is a binding agreement and if the student is accepted, they are expected to attend that school.

17. Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Regular Decision
Early Action – Admission program in which applying early gets you an earlier response. This is a non-binding agreement.
There are two types of early action applications:
* Single-choice - early action plan that does not allow you to apply early to other schools but can apply regular decision.
*Multiple-choice – You may apply early action to multiple schools.
Check with each school you are applying to on what application plans they use and what those deadline are.

18. Prospective Student Athletes
There are three divisions in college sports – 1,2 and 3 (check w/ each school to find out what division they are in)
If you plan on applying to Division 1 or 2 schools, you MUST register with the NCAA Clearinghouse
Students should be registered by the end of their Junior year of high school
Website:
Ask your Guidance Counselor to send a transcript to the Clearinghouse at the end of your Junior year

19. Prospective Student Athletes con’t.
You must also request your SAT/ACT scores be sent directly from collegeboard.org to the Clearinghouse
Fee waivers are available for those students who receive free/reduced lunch. See your counselor for help with this

20. Career Readiness Technical / Trade School
Apprenticeable trade training
(HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, etc)
Typically less than 2 years in length.
Speak with your counselor and/or Mrs. Longo, the Career Counselor, for more information

21. Community Colleges
We have 17 community colleges in CT, visit for a list of colleges and which programs each offers.
Why can it make the most sense?
Certificates, A.S. degree, and Courses transfer to 4 year colleges.
Accuplacer

22. Military
ASVAB Test is every October and February at BCHS, see Mrs. Longo to register
Enlistment
ROTC – helps students train to be officers in a branch of the U.S. military while in college
Academies

23. Helpful Tips
There will be a Senior College night in the Fall that all current Junior parents should attend. We will explain the actual application process at this meeting.
There will be a Financial Aid night in late November/early December
Make sure you seek out help from your Counselor throughout this process
Ask lots of questions
Don’t procrastinate
Communicate with your parents throughout the process
Do your best
HAVE FUN!!!!!!!