1. Century High School Post Secondary Planning

2. The Process for Students
Preparing
Engage while a high school student
Take courses that stretch and prepare you for college
Researching
What do I want to learn?
Where do I want to learn?
How much will it cost and how can I pay for what I learn?
Applying
October 15 earliest application deadlines
Early Decision, Early Action, Rolling and Regular Admission
Deciding
May 1 – You can take until then to decide where to go
October – You can file for financial aid October 1

3. Century High School Counseling Staff
Counselors
Julie Austinson
Darren Couillard
Brett Ness
Eileen Strabala-Backus
Transitions Coordinator from RCTC:
Jamie Johnson
Available in C157 every Tuesday

4. When should I start thinking about the future and college planning?
Now!
9th Grade
Explore interests, get involved
Create a 4-year academic plan
Consider scholarship opportunities, like raise.me
10th Grade
PLAN test
Begin campus visits
Remember colleges consider grades 9-11 on the transcript!

5. Planning for College During the Junior and Senior Years
Semester
What to do
Who can help
Fall Semester
Junior Year
 Take PSAT/NMSQT.
 Think about the type of college you want to attend and the things you want to study.
 Talk to your counselor, parents, and teachers about your plans for after high school.
Spring Semester
 Take ACT (and/or SAT, if necessary.)
 Develop a list of schools you are interested in attending.
 Tour one or more campuses to find out if it would be the right fit for you.
 Check with your counselor and the career center for information about colleges that interest you.
 Talk to admissions counselors from those colleges to get more information and to take a tour.
Senior Year
Apply to one or more schools.
Retake the ACT (or SAT)
Consider the SAT Subject Tests
Apply for financial aid Oct. 1
 Continue to consult with your counselor and college admissions counselors.
 After you have been accepted, decide which school you want to attend by May 1st.
 Talk to the financial aid office for help determining the cost of college if not clear on how to pay for it.

6. Upcoming Events
Regular visits from college and military recruiters in the career center
College Fair at RCTC October 27, 9 AM
PSEO Night at RCTC Fieldhouse February 9, 6:30 PM

7. Can I earn college credit while in high school?
Yes!
Advanced Placement classes (AP)
Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
Technical Prep College Credit (TPCC)
Project Lead the Way
College in the Schools
CLEP
Transfer classes from other programs

8. “Typical” Century Students
Mid 50% GPA:
Mid 50% ACT Composite: 21-30
Last 5 years 61-72% intended to go on to 4 year college when surveyed at end of senior year, most of the rest to a 2 year college (usually RCTC)

9. Types of College 2 year 4 year Public Private Trade schools
Career and Proprietary Schools and Colleges
Online

10. The Process for Students
Preparing
Engage while a high school student
Take courses that stretch and prepare you for college
Researching
What do I want to learn?
Where do I want to learn?
How much will it cost and how can I pay for what I learn?
Applying
October 15 earliest application deadlines
Early Decision, Early Action, Rolling and Regular Admission
October – You can file for financial aid October 1
Deciding
May 1 – You can take until then to decide where to go

11. How hard is it to get into college?
Most four year colleges are not highly selective institutions
Many will not fill their freshman class this year and will have space to admit students even up to the week before classes begin
Note this is a particularly poor way to plan for financial aid!
There are public universities in our tuition reciprocity area which are open admission or nearly so
This “nearly so” includes some within the state of Minnesota
Additionally, most two year colleges are open admission by design
If you want to go to a four (or two) year college or university, we can help find you one that you can get into; you have to decide if it is the right choice for you!
Some colleges are substantially more competitive to get into…

12. Levels of (High) Selectivity Examples
Most selective: Acceptance rate below 15% (Harvard, Princeton, Yale)
ACT Mid 50%: 31-35; Top 10% of HS Class: 95%
Highly selective: Acceptance of % (Carleton, Emory, Georgetown)
ACT Mid 50%: 29-33; Top 10% of HS Class: 79%
Moderately selective: Acceptance of % (Boston University, Lehigh, Macalester)
ACT Mid 50% 27-31; Top 10% of HS Class: 58%
Selective: Acceptance of % (Drake, Hamline, Purdue, University of Minnesota, University of St. Thomas, University of Vermont)
ACT Mid 50%: 25-30; Top 10% of HS Class: 44%

13. Course Planning Guide for College
Recommended coursework for a four-year college:
Math
Intermediate Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra Advanced Functions
Fourth Year Math Strongly Recommended
English
Four years, including speech
Science
Three years, including at least one of Biology and one of Chemistry or Physics
Fourth Year Science Strongly Recommended
Social Studies
Three years, including at least one of U.S. History and one of World History or Geography
Foreign Language
At least 2 years for selective colleges, some require less

14. What Colleges Look For In approximate order of importance
Grades in College Prep Courses
Grades in all subjects
Strength of curriculum
Admission Test Scores
Essays/Writing Sample
Counselor Recommendation
Student’s demonstrated interest: Don’t neglect making a personal connection with the college or university
Teacher Recommendation
Class rank
Other factors – including volunteer and work experiences and extra-curricular experiences (these are much more important at some schools than others)

15. What is the Common Application?15
© 2015 The Common Application

16. Diverse colleges, one application
What is the Common Application?
The Common Application is a comprehensive tool that students are able to use to apply to more than 600 colleges around the world. 16
© 2015 The Common Application

17. Parchment and Transcripts
We use Parchment to send transcripts
Parchment can also be used to do research on colleges and on probabilities of getting into different colleges and universities
Or directly at
You will send transcripts to each school you apply to (unless you use Common Application) and will need to send a final transcript to the school you decide to attend

18. REQUESTING A TRANSCRIPT
Official transcripts available through a secure website
Have credit card and “college friendly” address ready to use
Login to transcript website
Create student account
Select colleges requiring a transcript
Complete process with credit card payment
Have credit card available when requesting transcript
$5.03 fee for each transcript ordered

20. TESTS PSAT ACT SAT October 19 - 7:40 a.m. Primarily for Juniors
Dates – December, February, April, June, September, October
February 28 Free ACT test day for all Juniors
SAT
Dates – November, December, January, March, May, June

21. TESTS CONT. AP EXAMS SAT Subject Tests Dates – May 1-12
Register in March
Cost varies with number of tests taken
SAT Subject Tests
Given on some SAT Test Dates
Required or suggested by some selective colleges

22. TEST PREPARATION
Community Education class – ACT/PSAT/SAT – offered different times throughout the year
Kaplan, Sylvan, Huntington, Princeton Review Costly $$$
MCIS Academic Practice Test Package-FREE
March 2 Success – More FREE online test prep
ACT/SAT/PSAT Test Preparation books, videos, discs - available in Library and bookstores

23. Test prep… www.mncis.intocareers.org www.methodtestprep.com

24. Narrow college choices
Does the college have the desired major, minor, and sometimes back-up major?
What is the admission policy (do you fit)?
Consider location and size
Consider campus activities
Consider cost and financial aid
See
See Career Center or MCIS school sort

25. CAREER/COLLEGE INFORMATION
MCIS Software Programs - careers, colleges, financial aid - available on-line
Catalogs, books, videos – Career Center, library, and bookstores
College representatives and military recruiters in Career Center
School website under counseling office

26. $ FINANCIAL AID $
F.A.F.S.A. (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Apply online at
Check out net price calculators ahead of time on college websites to estimate aid packages
Example:
College Merit Scholarships, National and Local Scholarships
Reciprocity - WI, ND, SD, Manitoba and Midwest Student Exchange Program
Financial Aid night at Century in September with Director of Financial Aid from Luther College
“College Scorecard”
Meant to show picture of true cost, financial aid, and educational outcomes of attendance at variety of institutions
Check it out at

27. NCAA – Division I/II Athletics
NCAA requires NCAA Eligibility Center application online at
ACT/SAT scores must be sent directly to NCAA - NCAA Code 9999
Request transcript to be sent on after registering with NCAA on-line

28. Questions???