POST-SECONDARY PLANNING:WHAT JUNIORS AND THEIR PARENTS NEED TO KNOW

Director of Student Services: Cindy Blakeley

School Counselors:Mindy James (A-Bn) Katy Sokolove (Lb-Mum)Jim Rixse (Bo-Dud) Josh Peters (Mun-Reb)Doug Sawitzky (Due-Ha) Alex Breiner (Rec-Sr)Cara Engel (Hb-La) Jenna Mollura (SS-Z)

College & Career Center Specialist: Gardner HumphreysSchool Psychologist: Amy Stark

School Social Worker: Katie PurkertParent Liaisons: Audrey Meza

2019-20 STUDENT SERVICES TEAM

STUDENT SERVICES CALENDAR OF EVENTS2019Financial Aid Night (for all grades), Date TBA, Nov. 2019FCPS College Fair - Fair Oaks Mall, 10/20, 7:30-9:30PM (all tables, no presentations)FCPS College Night - Hayfield HS 10/21 (more presentations but also with fair, less crowded)PSAT - 10/16 students report to school regular time, except seniorsColleges That Change Lives, 10/22, McLean HS (NOT GCM) https://ctcl.org/

20209th Grade College Night & SAT/ACT Info Night -1/7 at 6PMFCPS Gap Year Fair - February 2020, 2/4/20, Marshall HSASVAB Military Vocational Assessment - 2/25, 8AM (students must register)Junior Focus Day - 3/26 (students only, in school), college/career day

POST-SECONDARY PLANNING

MANY OPTIONS FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL

• EMPLOYMENT

• ARMED SERVICES

• TRADE/VOCATIONAL SCHOOL (APPRENTICESHIPS)

• GAP YEAR

• FOUR YEAR COLLEGE

•TWO YEAR COMMUNITY OR RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE

96% OF MARSHALL GRADUATES PURSUE EITHER A 2 OR 4 YEAR DEGREE AFTER GRADUATION

WHAT FACTORS DO COLLEGES FOCUS ON MOST WHEN IT COMES

TO ADMISSION?

RANKING COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CRITERIA ACTIVITY

RANK WHICH WOULD BE THE TOP 5 OF THE OF THE FOLLOWING

COMPONENTS OF A COLLEGE APPLICATION

ADMISSIONS TEST SCORES GRADES IN COLLEGE PREP COURSES

GRADES IN ALL COURSES DEMONSTRATED INTEREST

COUNSELOR RECOMMENDATION AP/IB TEST SCORES

ESSAY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

TEACHER RECOMMENDATION INTERVIEW

CLASS RANK STRENGTH OF CURRICULUM

COLLEGE ADMISSION DECISION FACTORS

Source: NACAC “State of College Admissions 2018”

COLLEGE ADMISSION PANELThe college admissions fairy has just waived a

wand and you are all now on an admissions

committee. With a group at your table, please

review the candidates and make a decision.

Please select a group member to share out

your committee decision and rationale.

Please take about 10 minutes

STATE TECHSCHOOL PROFILE STUDENT APPLICATIONStrength of ScheduleAvg GPA of GCM accepted: 4.12High achievement core courses (A/B)Avg SAT of GCM accepted: 1367Extra-curricular activitiesFirst GenerationLeadership & ServiceOther

Gabriella L.

STATE TECHSCHOOL PROFILE STUDENT APPLICATIONStrength of Schedule Few advanced courses, IB HOA= C+Avg GPA of GCM accepted: 4.12 GPA: 3.76High achievement core courses (A/B) Mostly A’s and B’sAvg SAT/ACT of GCM accepted: 1280 SATExtra-curricular activities Lacrosse 4 years (captain)First Generation N/ALeadership & Service Volunteer Horse Farm 5+hrs/monthOther Did not apply early or do any pipeline

programs.

Gabriella L.

BACKYARD UNIVERSITYSCHOOL PROFILE STUDENT APPLICATIONAvg GPA of GCM accepted: 3.81Avg SAT of GCM accepted: 1275Strength of schedule in core subjectsPersonal statement (leadership/service)Counselor recommendationTeacher recommendationOther

Michael V.

BACKYARD UNIVERSITYSCHOOL PROFILE STUDENT APPLICATIONAvg GPA of GCM accepted: 3.81 GPA: 3.25Avg SAT of GCM accepted: 1799 SAT: 1025Strength of schedule in core subjects IB Bio, IB TopicsPersonal statement (leadership/service) Essay highlighted leadership as Class

President, member of Debate Team, and work experience

Counselor recommendation Strong letter focused on character, civic responsibility and leadership

Other First Gen

Michael V.

BEANTOWN UNIVERSITYSCHOOL PROFILE STUDENT APPLICATIONAvg GPA of GCM accepted: 4.12Avg SAT of GCM accepted: 1372Strength of schedulePersonal statement/essayRecommendationsLeadership/service

Sarah K.

BEANTOWN UNIVERSITYSCHOOL PROFILE STUDENT APPLICATIONAvg GPA of GCM accepted: 4.12 GPA: 4.28Avg SAT of GCM accepted: 1372 SAT: 1460Strength of schedule Rigorous – at least 6 IB classes 2019-20Personal statement/essay In-depth IB ESS project on how she is

working to make GCM more environmentally friendly

Leadership/service NHS tutor; Environmental clubs/serviceRecommendations One of more original students in recent

years

Sarah K.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR COOL DURING THE COLLEGE SEARCH PROCESS

HOT TIP: FOCUS STUDENT-CENTERED GOALS AND COLLEGE FIT

JUNIOR YEARrepresents the culmination of 3

years of effort and growth

STUDENT GOALS TO CONSIDER FOR A COLLEGE-INTERESTED STUDENT•POSITIVELY IMPACT YOUR COMMUNITY

•DEMONSTRATE DEDICATION TO AN INTEREST OR SKILL

•SHOW COMMITMENT AND DEPTH IN ACTIVITIES, VOLUNTEERISM - SEEK OUT LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

•FOCUS ON MAINTAINING OR IMPROVING GRADES

•PREPARE FOR AND TAKE SAT OR ACT AT LEAST ONCE BY END OF JUNIOR YEAR.

•SHOW PERSONAL INSIGHT BY SELECTING AN APPROPRIATE SCHEDULE THAT ALLOWS FOR RIGOR AND BALANCE

FIT• THERE IS A NEXT STEP FOR ALL MOTIVATED YOUNG PEOPLE. IF YOUR CHILD IS READY TO

PURSUE A COLLEGE EDUCATION, THEN THERE IS A PLACE.

• AVOID USING LABELS LIKE “GOOD” COLLEGE OR “BAD” COLLEGE.

• COLLEGE SEARCHES DRIVEN BY STATUS AND PRESTIGE CAN LEAD TO DISAPPOINTMENT FOR PARENT AND STUDENT. MAKE SURE STUDENT LIST HAS A GOOD MIX OF REACH,

STRETCH AND TARGET SCHOOL

• FIT INCLUDES COST, SIZE, LOCATION, DISTANCE FROM HOME, AVAILABILITY OF MAJORS, DIVERSITY, SPECIAL PROGRAMS, CAMPUS CULTURE, ETC

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LOOK OUTSIDE THE BOX?• 3.75 or higher qualifies a student for in-state tuition at University of Alabama

• U. of Missouri (mizzou) residency requirements allow a student to apply for in-state tuition after one year

• Richard Bland is a 2 year residential college that requires a significantly reduced application, flexible GPA and test scores, and feeds into William and Mary.

• Radford’s new center for the arts building houses exceptional programs in fashion design and dance. Interior design program named one of the best in the country. First campus in Virginia to become entirely wireless.

• Longwood ranks among the best colleges in the southern area with Princeton Review, U.S. News and Forbes. Scholarships start at 3.0 and rise.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LOOK OUTSIDE THE BOX CONTINUED...• University of Cincinatti invented the coop and most majors require

students to participate in a coop - most of which are paid. 5 Fortune 500’s are located in Cinncinatti - Go Bearcats!

• Out-of-State students that graduate from West Virginia University can attend the Law School with in-state tuition.

• 90% of Juniata College student in pre-med and health profession programs gain admission to medical or professional school.

• Many PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) will offer 40% off tuition to VA residents.

RESOURCES TO RESEARCH FIT•NAVIANCE

•WEB RESOURCES

• COLLEGE BOARD BIG FUTURE, UNIGO, COLLEGEDATA, COLLEGE CONFIDENTIAL

•COLLEGE COST CALCULATORS

•VISIT CAMPUSES VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON WHEN POSSIBLE

•BOOKS - COLLEGES THAT CHANGE LIVES BY LOREN POPE, WHERE YOU GO IS NOT WHO YOU WILL BE BY FRANK BRUNI

•

Questions?

SURVEY:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QWHJMKJ