Intro: How to chose a grad program, Fact versus Fiction
Maximize College Success - High School Planning Guide
1. Maximize College Outcomes - Secrets to High School Success Presented by: Apply Yourself Educational Consulting, LLC
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Editor's Notes
You are here because you have student getting ready for high school or maybe already have a student in high school. We want to set the stage, help you understand the trends in college admissions and what you can do to prepare yourself and your student to leverage the high school experience for maximum success in the college admissions process. Introductions… - Naomi - Andrea
Ask to raise hands
False – Colleges are looking for students who are passionate about something in the hope that they will pursue that activity in college. Putting together a colorful mural – each student fills a specific slot, not students who fit a range of spots. Look for commitment, passion, consistency
False – Colleges are looking for students who are passionate about something in the hope that they will pursue that activity in college. Putting together a colorful mural – each student fills a specific slot, not students who fit a range of spots. Look for commitment, passion, consistency
False – important, but not as important as your transcript. Rigor of curriculum and the performance is the most important factor and should be student’s priority
False – important, but not as important as your transcript. Rigor of curriculum and the performance is the most important factor and should be student’s priority
70% - there is a college for everyone; must look beyond the 50 to 100 most selective
70% - there is a college for everyone; must look beyond the 50 to 100 most selective
A)
A)
Don’t wait to begin to plan for high school, now really is the time. We will present you with a list of concepts and specific ideas of what you can and should do know and over the next four years. Must do: Plan – but realize that by the end of 11 th grade, the majority of your academic picture is set in stone. In fact, some colleges, including a number of the public universities in Florida, will not see your child’s senior year grades from the first semester until after they have made a decision to accept or reject. Evaluate annually Focus on YOUR child – not everyone else’s child Know your child’s strengths and interests – exploit them Be realistic about your child’s weaknesses – and manage around them Work smart; every day in HS does count. It is hard to recover - Help you student understand that 9 th grade really does count – remember what we said a moment ago, some colleges won’t include 12 th grade performance in the admissions decision so 9 th grade may carry even more “weight”
So now you understand the importance of planning – what are the criteria/components that you should base your plan on? Well, let’s take a look at what factors are most important in admissions decisions Rigor balanced with performance ACT, SAT, subject tests and possibly AP and/or IB test results Overall GPA and the GPA trend - weighted vs. unweighted
Class Rank – You may know how much of a focus this gets in high school for better or for worse. Your kids will focus on this if you school reports it and it can have an impact on the college decision outcome, particularly in state university decisions. Teacher/Counselor Recs – While this is not something that you will have to arrange until the end of Junior year or early Senior year, it is advisable for your student to seek out and nurture relationships with your school’s faculty. Encourage them to distinguish themselves in and out of the classroom – in a positive way, of course. Demonstrated interest is relevant to some but not all colleges. This is a way for colleges to measure a student’s actual interest in the college based on appropriate contact including visits, attendance at college fairs, web site registration, alumni contact, contact with coaches, and appropriate communication with the admissions office. Essays - Here’s where the application gets fun! This is really the one and only place ON THE APPLICATION that the student can individualize the application and infuse it with his or her personality, world view, unique accomplishments, and vision for their future. Aside from list development, plan to put the greatest amount of time, energy and mental resources into the essay piece of the process Extracurriculars – experiment early and look for opportunities to specialize and commit. Think “deep dive” rather than a wide and shallow list of involvement. End results – leadership, organizational transformation, new initiatives, significant project expansion
to focus on commitment, responsibility, growth, leadership report cards, awards, summaries of extracurricular involvement, recommendations, etc.
MS Douglas, Spanish River High School, Cypress Bay, Atlantic High School, Deerfield Beach High School, Pine Crest, NBPS, St. Andrews
Colleges that have accepted AYEC clients: Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, University of Florida, University of Michigan, Indiana University, University of Central Florida, George Washington University, University of Georgia, Florida State University, University of Miami…