The document provides guidance to students and parents on preparing for college from middle school through high school. It emphasizes developing strong study skills, choosing challenging course loads, exploring extracurricular activities, and planning for standardized testing to help set students up for academic success. Parents are encouraged to stay involved by helping students develop good habits and take advantage of opportunities.
2. Harvard University has historically had the highest graduation rate of any American college. One study estimates that 97% of their students graduate. Harvard’s approach to academic success? The assumption towards each student that: Of course they can succeed.
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4. When asked, many seniors regret not working as hard as they could have in school.
5. Each step a student takes impacts college and their life beyond… students must take advantage of every opportunity in and out of the classroom
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7. US Census Bureau Data On average people who attend college earn significantly more over a lifetime than high school graduates. In the job market of today and tomorrow, a bachelor’s degree is essential .
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10. College serves as an exciting opportunity for academic and personal growth. Students should embrace the exploration!
11. Parents may wonder if things are the same as they were when they or an older child applied to college… the answer in most cases is no .
12. HOW HAS APPLYING TO COLLEGE CHANGED IN RECENT YEARS? as a result of demographic changes, each year more students apply to college than ever before
13. 2006 Enrollment in United States colleges: 20.5 million 2000 Enrollment in United States colleges: 17.5 million THAT’S A 17% INCREASE
14. Number of applications submitted to the eight Ivy League colleges in 2007 . 135,736 12,411 Nine out of ten applications were rejected. Number of spaces in the combined incoming first year classes.
28. Before choosing high school classes, become familiar with the academic requirements of the high school and most colleges. CHOOSE ACADEMIC COURSES THAT KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN
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31. take advantage of available support services ACADEMIC PLANNING AND PERFORMANCE – High School
32. coaches, advisors, and deans all offer support ACADEMIC PLANNING AND PERFORMANCE – High School
33. In an increasingly competitive college market, it is no longer enough just to be smart. Colleges want to know what students will offer to the community. BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
35. use of time outside of academics Activities are important in the context of the college application process, but also in terms of personal growth. NOW is the time to explore. BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
36. Do what you are passionate about - your enthusiasm and sincerity will shine through. Pursue interests that make you happy and are enriching and rewarding. BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
37. Find a balance between extra-curricular pursuits & school work.
38. During your high school years dive into one or more areas of interest. LEADERSHIP Become a Leader
39. Make sure colleges clearly recognize your special talents and interests! LEADERSHIP
40. Not everyone wants to be a leader in the traditional sense… but no matter what, contribute. LEADERSHIP
41. Leadership positions reflect a student’s commitment and willingness to take on challenges and responsibility. LEADERSHIP & COLLEGE
42. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SUMMER Unwind and Recharge This does not mean students should spend the summer lounging around on the beach or in front of the TV or computer screen.
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47. EXPLORE EXAM The ACT test company offers a standardized test called EXPLORE for 8 th and 9 th graders. Also consider the PLAN (for 10 th graders) along with the ACT (11 th and 12 th graders). All three exams test English, math, reading and science skills.
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52. Success is a Habit. Work ethic and mediocrity are also habits. Students choose which habits dominate their life.
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54. “ In the long run you hit only what you aim at. Therefore, though you should fail immediately, you had better aim at something high.” ~Henry David Thoreau
56. Thank you! pick up information and complete feedback forms Parents remember: - stay involved - monitor progress - encourage students to make decisions
Editor's Notes
Colleges receive record numbers of applications. An admissions representative from one highly selective college remarked that the school rejected more students in 2007 than the total number who applied five years prior. All of this means that across the board, applying to college is more competitive than ever before.
Believe it or not, this is exactly what a student should be doing as far as the college process goes. College will assess their preparedness and achievements in academic and personal areas as they consider a students application.
Help your student write down their goals (Long/Short, Immediate, To-do lists) Keep several lists according to time scale Set priorities Be specific and include actions Relate goals – when setting a long term goal, write a progression of short term goals that will lead you there
Always determine the consequences if you want to switch foreign languages or stop studying one altogether. Learn about what colleges expect from a prospective engineering or studio art major. Of course colleges are primarily concerned with your academic preparation and achievements when they review applications, so your grades are very important. Colleges review your grades when your high school sends your transcripts out with your college applications. Colleges notice improvements, especially upward trends in your grades over time. For example, increase grades between freshman and sophomore year speaks positively to your commitment and growth.
When reviewing you application, the transcript is the single most important credential admissions officers consider. Your transcript is an official account of the courses you took and the grades you received. Colleges are very interested in the grades you earn and the level or classes you take. Strive to work diligently and earn the best grades possible.
If you are struggling in a course, don’t wait to ask for help; For example, before you turn in a paper, submit a rough draft to your teacher and request guidance and early feedback. When the teacher returns the paper, identify ways to improve your work. Your effort will render positive results in your grades and help you gain insight into ways you can improve your future work.
Get to know them and let them get to know you. Remember, some of these people will be writing your college letters of recommendation and they should be able to document the growth they have witnessed over the past few years and write a very thorough letter on your behalf. If you are interested in college athletics, be sure to check regularly regarding the NCAA Clearinghouse requirements to make sure you will meet the very specific academic requirements (http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net). You will need to earn a minimum GPA in a certain number of academic classes. Speak to your coaches and advisors to let them know if it is your goal to participate in Division I or II college athletics.
Will you contribute to student life, the arts, athletics? Colleges expect you to get involved in meaningful activities outside the classroom. High school offers opportunities to try new things and challenge yourself outside of the classroom, including acting plays, joining clubs, playing sports and becoming a leader.
Write poetry, play basketball, run, volunteer your time, create art, sign, act, take up juggling
There won’t be many times in your later life where you can host your own radio show, have access to a darkroom and photography instruction, try silver-smithing, or volunteer for a particular cause.
You will encounter problems if you are so involved that you have no time for your class work. Grades are always the central factor in an admission decision. A laundry list of activities will not compensate for a poor performance in the classroom . Don’t join every group on campus just to have things to list on your college application. College admission officers recognize “resume-builders”.
Let’s say you have discovered that you have a talent for working with younger students, and are considering applying to teaching programs. Have you gone and applied for an available proctor position on campus? Did you work at a day camp over the summer? Do you baby-sit on the weekends? Does one of your essays address why you want to teach? All of these activities convey and reinforce the idea that you enjoy teaching and give colleges a sense of who you are, what is important to you, and why you want to apply to education programs.
but if you enjoy an activity, lead your peers in the classroom, on the field, or in clubs and organizations. If the spotlight is not for you, contribute positively to the community in less visible ways.
If a teacher has seen you functioning as vice president of student council or captain of the basketball teams, perhaps he will comment on that. In addition, he might also address how you serve as a leader in a class discussion, or how you help classmates who struggle with a concept to gain understanding, or even how you look out for younger students who seem a little lost in the dining hall during orientation. Perhaps your advisor has seen you consistently model appropriate behavior and stand up for what you believe it. All of the above makes you a leader.
Students should return from the summer break refreshed and ready to take on another year of challenging work inside the classroom. That would be boring and not terribly fulfilling!
College applications always ask what you have done during the summer. Admissions officers are interested in how you spend your free time because it shows them what you think is important.
Practice = see where you excel
In October, all juniors take the PSAT (Preliminary SAT). Prepare for the PSAT by taking the sample test included in the student bulletin which also explains more about the format and content of the test and has helpful tips. Juniors who score in the top two percent of test takers nationwide will be eligible to compete for scholarship funding from select colleges, companies, and organizations. colleges do not typically ask for PSAT scores
EXPLORE prepares students for high school coursework as well as their post-high school choices.
60 minutes, multiple choice, specific to subject area
Most financial aid is offered as a “package” that consists of a combination of scholarships and grants, loans and work-study. You may choose to accept some, none or all of financial assistance offered. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you should check with the government and banking institutions in your home country for information on financial aid and scholarships. Need based aid – when students do not have sufficient financial resources to pay for their education beyond high school Non need-based aid – when students receive merit-based aid and are awarded for recognition of special skills, talents, or academic abilities.
