Eastlake High School Junior Parent Night

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Eastlake High SchoolJunior Parent Night

• Preparing parents and students for
• senior year and post-secondary planning

Kirsten Keller Counselor
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Agenda

• Junior Parent Night Goals
• Balancing the Senior Year
• Senior Handbook Introduction
• 10 Steps To Good College Planning
• QA Session

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Junior Parent Night Goals

• Identify the challenges seniors face in balancing
  the senior year
• Understand the post-secondary planning process
• Simplify college search and application process
• Assist parents in becoming an informed support
  for your son or daughter in planning for the
  senior year and the year following graduation
• Provide resources for parent questions

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A Well-balanced Senior year
Student responsibilities are split between
planning their futures and working on high school
demands

• Help your student plan for next years
  commitments now
• Understand that social connections are more
  important than ever
• Anticipate conflicting emotions with upcoming
  change
• Reassure students that parents, advisors,
  counselors, and teachers are there to help
  provide support

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Senior Handbook
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10 Steps To Good College Planning
The following 10 steps will help your student

• Begin the college search process with parent
  support
• Learn how to make the resources in the senior
  handbook work for you
• Plan for deadlines in the post-secondary planning
  process
• Survive and thrive throughout the senior year

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1. Match aptitudes and career goals with schools
and programs

• Visit the EHS Career Center Andrea
  Wehner, EHS Career Specialist
• Explore college search websites
• Write a resume
• Look for schools with a good range of programs in
  an area of interest

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2. Register for a rigorous and balanced senior
course schedule

• Core academic courses
• Coursework beyond minimum college entrance
  requirements
• Advanced classes/course studies
• Elective classes in areas of interest

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Washington Four-year College Entrance Requirements

• English 4 years
• Mathematics 3 years
• Social Science 3 years
• Science 2 years
• Foreign Language 2 years
• Fine Arts 1 year (or in any of the above)

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3. Sign up for College Entrance Exams

• SAT Reasoning Test
• ACT with optional writing test
• Both are tests of college readiness
• Recommended Spring of Junior year
• Last testing opportunity Fall of Senior year

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College Entrance Exams

• ACT
• 25 English
• 25 Mathematics
• 25 Reading
• 25 Science
• Optional Writing Test
• Subtests range from 1-36
• Composite of 4 test scores
• (1-36)
• No penalty for guessing

• SAT
• 33 Critical Reading
• 33 Mathematics
• 33 Writing
• Subtest range from 300-800
• Sum of 3 test scores
• (600-2400)
• Score adjusted for wrong answers

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Test Score Comparison
Old New ACT SAT SAT 361600 2400 351580 2340 341520 2260 331470 2190 321420 2130 311380 2040 301340 1980 291300 1920 281260 1860 Old New ACT SAT SAT 271220 1820 261180 1760 251140 1700 241110 1650 231070 1590 221030 1530 21.990 1500 20.950 1410 19.910 1350 Old New ACT SAT SAT 18.870 1290 17.830 1210 16.780 1140 15.740 1060 14.680 1000 13.620 900 12.560 780 11.500 750
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4. Build a list of schools/programs to research
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5. Plan school visits

• Walk around campus
• Attend a class
• Interview admissions officers
• Spend a night in the dorm
• Talk with other university students
• Use campus checklist as a guide

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6. Build a list of schools for application

• Discuss the college comparison data and get
  feedback from others
• Students should talk with parents, counselors,
  advisors, teachers, and friends
• Help your son or daughter examine their goals,
  thoughts and feelings so that they may choose
  schools for application
• Build a well-considered, reasonable list of
  schools for application

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7. Submit applications
Application elements

• Demographic Information/Essays
• Academic record
• Test scores (SAT or ACT)
• School/counselor report
• Teacher recommendation

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Letters of recommendation
To receive letters that add depth and excitement
to an application students should

• Ask someone who knows them well
• Choose teachers of classes where they were most
  engaged intellectually, showed creativity, or
  completed a special project or independent work
• Tell the writer how their experience in the
  classroom or learning style relates to the
  college of application
• Talk to the writer about their dreams for college
  and a career
• Remember to write thank you notes to letter
  writers including exciting news of acceptance

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College admission factors
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College admission decisions

• Match between college needs and student
  characteristics
• Colleges provide admissions statistics range of
  GPA and test scores
• Holistic review process
• Academic Index less frequently used as a sole
  determinant in admissions decisions

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Community and Technical Colleges

• Opportunity for lower tuition costs while
  exploring academic interests
• Small setting to solidify academic record or
  learn a trade
• Admissions consist primarily of biographical
  information and proof of high school equivalency

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8. Financial aid and scholarship

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  and CSS profile
• Factors that determine a families financial
  strength
• Schools determine distribution of funds as
  financial aid packages
• Research independent sources of scholarship
  funding
• Athletes should register with the NCAA
• EHS Financial Aid Night in December

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Financial aid and scholarship references
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9. Plan senior year
Use a calendar to plan for

• SAT/ACT
• Fall National College Fair
• Application deadlines
• EHS finals, AP tests, senior project
• Sports, activities, community service, social
  events
• Graduation preparation

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10. Fall Senior Seminar for students

• Covers Senior Handbook in detail
• Review college search process
• Reminder of Fall National College Fair
• Answer student questions

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NACAC tips for parents Dos and donts for
college admissions

• Do learn about the college admission process
• Do discuss restrictions up front
• Dont limit choices based on fees
• Do remind your child of deadlines
• Do listen and offer advice when asked
• Dont make decisions for your son or daughter
• Do encourage and celebrate

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Books and Resources

• The College Guide For Parents by C.
  Shield (Published by the College Board)
• Letting Go A Parents Guide to Understanding
  the College Years by K. Coburn and M. Treeger
• When Your Kid Goes To College by C. Barkin
• Almost Grown Launching Your Child From High
  School to College by P. Pasick

References provided by The National Association
for College Admission Counseling
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Q ASession