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Welcome toJunior Parent Night!

Hall High SchoolJanuary 4, 20177:00pm

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Tonight’s Agenda7:00pm

• Post-Secondary Options

• Junior Planning Activities & Timeline

• College Tests & Test Preparation

• College/Career Resources Available

• Naviance

• Important Upcoming Events

• Q & A

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Post High School Options

• Four Year College

• Two Year College

• Cost effective

• Transfers to State Universities

• Technical School

• Career specific, hands-on training

• Gap Year

• Travel, Community Work, AmeriCorps

• Military

• Employment

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Important Upcoming Events

• Individual Junior Student Meetings (January – March)

• Course Selection (January - February)

• Junior Planning Seminars (3rd Quarter on Wednesdays)

• Gap Year Fair (Thursday, January 12th at 6 pm at Conard)

• National College Fair in Hartford (April 6th & 7th)

In School Test Dates

• SAT: will be administered to all Hall juniors during the school day on Wednesday, April 5th.• Scores are reportable to colleges.• Does NOT include Writing section.• Is REQUIRED for graduation.

• ASVAB: military entrance exam• Offered at Hall High School on

March 2nd at 7:30 AM.

• Contact Jenny Bronson in the Career Center

or your child’s school counselor to sign up! 5

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Junior Planning Meetings

• Juniors will be scheduled for an individual planning meeting during the school day with their school counselor sometime from January to March.• We encourage you to speak with your child to recap the meeting

at home.

• Topics to be covered include:

• High school reflection and transcript review

• Planning for senior courses• Review PSAT results and discuss strategy and timeline

for SAT’s/ACT’s• College and career planning (next steps to be covered

in junior planning seminar)

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Junior Planning Seminar

• Juniors are scheduled to participate in a 9 week series of workshops during the 3rd Quarter on Wednesdays to assist them in the post high school planning process.

• Topics to be covered include:

• Understanding the college admissions process

• How to conduct a college search

• College testing

• Common Application

• Resume/brag sheets

• College essay tips

• Mock Interviews

• Other post-secondary options/ Gap year

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PSAT Score Reports

• Scores from the October PSAT released to students online Monday, December 12.

• Create College Board account: MUST BE- Student information/only ONE account

• Check CollegeBoard.org for most updated information about PSAT scores.

• We encourage parents to review the test scores and connect scores to Khan Academy for free SAT studying.

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College Testing:

• 3 Subtests: Reading and Writing Language, and Math, Essay(optional). It measures a student’s ability to analyze and solve problems by applying what they have learned in school. (produces 2 Scores: EBRW & Math)

• Not all colleges require testing!

The SAT

The SAT Subject Tests• Only a handful of colleges require subject tests• If you need to take a subject test for admission,

take it at the completion of the course (May or June)

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The ACT

• The ACT is another college entrance exam that can be submitted in lieu of the SAT

• It includes five sub-tests: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science and Writing

• We recommend taking it with writing!

• The scoring is also different from the SAT

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College/Career Resources: College & Career Center

• College and career reference section

• Naviance support and other online resources

• SAT/ACT test prep resources

• Scholarship information

• Financial aid resources

• Admission rep visits in the fall

• Community Service/Volunteer Information

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College/Career Resources: School Counseling Department Website

• Accessed through Hall High School website

• Grade 11 Webpage:• Comprehensive list of post-secondary planning

resources• Junior year checklist• Click here!

College/Career Resources: Naviance

•Naviance is a comprehensive online program that Hall subscribes to that assists students and their families in all aspects of college and career planning.

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• Naviance and links within the Naviance system will allow you to do the following:• Research colleges and conduct an individualized college search

• Compare your academic profile with former Hall applicants

• Students and parents receive emails about important deadlines, events, and special opportunities

• Find SAT/ACT test preparation and registration information

• Obtain financial aid and scholarship information

• Complete a resume

• Complete a personality assessment

• Research careers and majors

• Links to college resources

• Keep track of your college applications

• Keep track of college rep visits to Hall

• Communicate with your counselor!14

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Naviance

Naviance Tutorial(Go to family connection page)

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The College Search Where should students start?

• Run a preliminary search using Naviance and College Board

• Helpful information to consider when researching:

• GPA, course requirements, test scores, majors, location, cost

• Develop a broad list of schools (safety, ballpark, reach)

• Start visiting colleges:

• Consider size, location, atmosphere, student body,

and special programs

• It is best to visit colleges while they are in session.

• Take advantage of school vacations!

• This will be covered in the junior planning seminar series

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Why is junior year so important?

• Colleges will look for:• End of year transcript and GPA

• Evidence of improvement, demonstrate positive trend over previous years

• Consistent participation in extracurricular activities

• Senior year grades and courses are also important and will be viewed by colleges!

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Where should students be by the fall?• Know which post-secondary option they would like to

pursue and what requirements you must meet.

• If they plan to attend college…• A list of 6-10 prospective schools

• Have taken the SAT/ACT (careful to send scores on time!)

• Have visited a few colleges

• Have completed a resume, brag sheets, and the

“Do What You Are” inventory

• Identify teachers to ask for letters of recommendation

• Begin working on your essay in the summer • See your counselor for help as often as needed!

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College Admission Trends

• Overall number of college applications continues to rise nationally – Common Application use has expanded

• State schools continue to grow in popularity and competitiveness, including CT community colleges

• Most competitive colleges have not seen a drop in enrollment

• Increase in Early Decision (ED) & Early Action (EA) applicants

• Tuition/Room & Board fees continue to rise

• Financial Aid is competitive

Moving forward, who does what?!Student Parent

Do • Take control of the process!

• Attend the Junior Planning Seminars

• Begin researching your post-secondary options now to develop a plan (and back-up plan!)

• Initiate contact with colleges or programs of interest

• Support and encourage your child’s genuine interests.

• Encourage them to self-advocate and have them communicate with the college admissions offices directly.

• Prepare your child for the possibility of disappointment.

• Give them realistic expectations of your part in paying for college.

Don’t! • Ask your parents to make appointments, phone calls or complete applications for you!

• Wait until senior year to begin your research

• Call the college admissions offices for them.

• Register the student for the SATs/ACTs

• Complete their applications or write their essays for them.

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Helping your student keep it in perspective…• Maintain balance as much as possible.

• Study hard, but have fun too!

• Participate in activities you enjoy most.

• Begin the process early so you don't get overwhelmed

• Take your time on making final decisions about colleges.

• Remember that there are many potential matches for you; you

don't have to find "the one“

• You don't have to have the whole journey mapped out; only the

next few steps

• Ask for help and clarification when needed

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Questions?

This presentation will be posted on our website.

Thank you!