How to Search and Apply to College - 2018

careers and interest exploration  www.MyMajors.com – major quiz, careers and jobs  www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org – college search and planning, compare colleges and scholarships  ww

Your College Search and

Types of Post Secondary Schools

 Selective – typically 4 yrs or more:

 State Universities – 12 in FL Bachelor’s,

Master’s & Doctoral Degrees

 Private Colleges & Universities – more than 200

Things to Consider when

searching for Colleges:

What is the Planned Course of Study?

 www.floridashines.org – college info, transcript

evaluation, bright future GPA careers and interest exploration

 www.MyMajors.com – major quiz, careers and jobs

 www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org – college search and planning, compare colleges and scholarships

 www.NextStepU.com - free download find college scholarships and careers.

www.floridashines.org

www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org

www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org

www.MyMajors.com

www.NextStepU.com

What are the Admission Requirements for a Florida Public University?

Minimum College Admissions Requirements

 The SUS will no longer use a sliding scale Beginning with summer 2011 admits and

thereafter, the minimum requirements are:

3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (as recalculated by the university) + SAT or ACT score

OR 2.5-2.99 recalculated GPA or higher + at least the minimum scores on all 3 sections of SAT

or ACT as outlined below:

 SAT Reading >= 460 or ACT – Reading >= 19

 SAT Math >= 460 or ACT – Math >= 19

 SAT Writing >=440 or ACT English/Writing >= 18

 All students must have completed minimum 18 academic units:

4 credits in English – 3 with substantial writing

3 credits in Natural Science – 2 with a substantial lab

3 credits in Social Science

2 credits same Foreign Language

4 credits Math, algebra I and above

2 academic electives

Private School Matrix

What does a typical freshman need to get into

 SAT - composite mid range 1270-1400 (New SAT)

 ACT- composite mid range 26-31

 Summer – GPA mid range 3.5-4.1

 SAT – mid range 1190-1320 (New SAT)

 ACT – mid range 24-28

 Over 86% were enrolled in accelerated curriculum and over 52% had or were enrolled in Calculus!

 It is very competitive to get into college – you

need rigor, a high GPA & good test scores!

Average Number of Academic Units for Accepted Students at FSU

Freshman Requirements At FSU

Freshman admission is a holistic and selective process, and no single criterion guarantees admission Rather, we consider all the

documentation you submit, and we carefully review your academic record and test scores to ensure you are prepared for the rigorous curriculum you will encounter at Florida State University The holistic review process

is based on graduating from a regionally accredited high school (or the equivalent) with specific academic courses, a cumulative grade point

average based on these courses, and test scores Additional factors

include the rigor and quality of courses and curriculum taken,

strength of senior schedule, math level in senior year, number of years in a sequential world language, and the written essay.

-Florida State University Admissions

General Tips for applying to

colleges:

 Visit a variety of types of schools (big, small, private, public, different

geographical locations) during the summer so you'll know what kind of school you want to go to.

 Organize your application materials Investigate the application

requirements of the colleges you are considering as soon as possible Keep a list of your schools and what you have to send them so you

don't miss any deadlines.

 Make copies of everything!!!!!

 Start early and reduce stress! Apply to rolling admission schools as

early in the fall as possible- it makes you feel good to know you're in somewhere, and you have a better chance of being accepted.

 Give teachers and counselors at least 2 weeks notice when asking for a letter of recommendation

 Visit prospective colleges before applying and definitely before

accepting an offer of admission

How Many Schools to Apply to :

schools Your academic credentials fall below the

school’s range for the average freshman These are

long shots (ex If you have a 2.0 – Harvard is a

“dream”)

typical freshman or even slightly better

desires and at which the probability of admission is

highly likely to certain when compared to the previous year’s freshman class

How do I find the right school?

How to find the Right Fit

Open Houses

when they come to Park Vista (Fall)

COLLEGE VISITATION INFORMATION

FOR FLORIDA UNIVERSITIES

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ( www.famu.edu )

One of the best ways to determine if a university is right for you is to visit the campus The Office of New Student Orientation offers campus tours to provide students and their families a better understanding of campus life The tours are run by Campus Ambassadors, who are highly

knowledgeable about the University, its academic programs and traditions Your Campus Ambassador will point out places of interest, while providing insightful information about the student experience at FAMU During your guided tour, you will observe the bustling activity of campus, from students chatting on the "Set", studying in the Quadrangle, or grabbing a bite at the "Orange Room."

Scheduling a Campus Visit

Campus tours are offered on weekdays throughout each semester excluding holidays and some blackout dates If you would like to visit in the spring, particularly during the months of March and April, please schedule well in advance as these dates fill up quickly Click here to schedule your campus visit now!

Engineering Campus Visits

The College of Engineering was established as a joint program serving two universities in Tallahassee, Florida: The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and The Florida State University The College of Engineering is situated in Innovation Park; a neutral location in

Tallahassee between the campuses of the two universities it serves To schedule a visit of the College of Engineering Click Here!

When are tours offered?

Information sessions and tours are offered YEAR-ROUND at both 10 AM and 2 PM, Monday through Friday Also, select Saturdays at 10 am, during Fall

and Spring only (Click here to make a reservation)

What is the best time to visit?

Peak tour season is in the months of March and April If you choose to visit during peak season, please be aware that tour groups may be quite large due to staffing limitations To maximize your tour experience, we recommend visiting in Summer or early Fall

Where should we meet to join the tour?

Tour groups will meet in the Admissions Theatre on the Boca Raton campus Our office is located in the Student Support Services Building (SU 80) Click here to view the new campus map

College Comparison Worksheet

The application

Keep Track of Applications &

Deadlines:

www.cappex.com/media/collegeApplicationChecklist.pdf

The Essay….

 What do I need to know about application essays?

 Many college applications ask questions requiring short answers and also ask one or two essay questions,

requiring longer answers Frequently, you will be able to choose from several topics for your longer essay You should read more on this subject, either online or from one of the books available in the guidance office The most important things to remember when writing your application essays are:

 Answer the question! Do not use one essay for every application, unless the question asked is exactly the same

 Show, don’t tell! Write in a way that let‘s the reader see your great qualities Don‘t just say ―I love chocolate I

really love chocolate.‖ Write about how you love chocolate so much that you called twelve levels of managers at Hershey before you found one who would agree to your doing a summer internship in Research and Development

at their headquarters, and then lived with your mother‘s crazy Aunt Sally in Pennsylvania for 8 weeks while you learned everything you could about inventing new chocolate confections!

 Pick a topic that lets the reader know you Your grades and SAT scores are one side of who you are, but your

essays need to show your qualities and personality A school cheerleader who started coaching a Special

Olympics cheer squad after neighbors asked her to babysit their handicapped 8 year-old daughter has something different to write The math/science guy who plays bass in a retro-punk band all over the region on weekends has

a unique story to tell

 Make it personal This is about you, be the star of the story! Don‘t write about global warming or immigration reform, unless those are issues you have been actively working to solve

 Start with a catchy first sentence Admissions officers read so many essays; keep them interested and reading

Make them want to know more about you

 Keep it short Read the directions carefully! If the application says you may attach an extra sheet of paper, if

necessary, only attach ONE extra sheet

 DON’T underestimate the importance of good grammar Proofread! Typos, using the name of a different

college by accident, or spelling mistakes overlooked by your spellchecker (using ‗there‘ for ‗their,‘ for example) are unacceptable Readers are looking at grammar and writing ability, in addition to your topic and what you reveal about yourself

 DON’T write confessions of kleptomania, pyromania, or sexual activity

 DON’T try to be funny, unless that is truly part of your personality Humor, like beauty, is in the eye of the

beholder

How to Send a Transcript

“eTranscripts are here!

Park Vista High School is making the college application process easier!

One of the required documents you will need when applying to college is an official high school transcript Park Vista High School has teamed up with Parchment to send your transcript securely, accurately and confidentially to any College, University or Scholarship You can even send one to yourself at home! Parchment is fully integrated with the Common Application and NCAA too

The best part is you can request your transcript anytime from anywhere All you need is an internet connection and to visit Parchment.com

Request & Send Transcripts:

1 Go to parchment.com

2 Click: Sign Up now to Register your account or Sign in if you have an account

Use your exact name registered at Park Vista

If you have any trouble registering use the Support link and then click on Submit a ticket

3 Click: Get Started and Choose Park Vista as your current school

Enter your student Id # please make sure it is correct Alumni : If you don’t remember your id please leave it blank

4 Provide Consent by eSigning the form or entering a Registration Code

5 Request your Transcript – If your school or scholarship is not listed or you want it mailed to your home use the OTHER tab and manually enter the address

6 Payment: provide debit/credit card payment

($5.00 for each electronic transmission/ $7.00 for each mailed hard copy)

7 Track your Transcript:the status of your request will be emailed and updated in your Parchment.com account

*Transcripts will not be processed on weekends and school holidays please plan in advance

To request ACT scores go to: Act.org

To request SAT scores go to : Collegeboard.com

To request AP Test scores go to: Collegeboard.com

To request AICE Test scores please request with Cambridge

*If you have a problem with Parchment please click on the Support link and Contact US option

for all help before contacting Park Vista High School

Testing……

SAT Essay Policy by State and College

 https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/ register/college-essay-policies

Test Prep Resources:

 SAT/ACT Test Prep Class at Park Vista

 Books from libraries or book stores.

 Act website – www.actstudent.org/testprep - test prep & ACT

“Question Of the Day”, practice tests, etc.

 Brain Prep – www.brainprep.net

 SAT Website www.collegeboard.com – analyze your scores, free tool available to explore and practice Also sign up to get the “SAT Question of the Day”

 www.fau.edu/testprep

 Kaplan – www.kaptest.com

 Princeton Review – www.princetonreview.com

 Revolution SAT/ACT Prep – www.revolutionprep.com

(877)738-7737

 SAT Advantage -561-625-5287

Private tutors

2017-2018 SAT AND ACT TESTS

JUNIORS SHOULD TAKE THE PSAT ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11 TH , 2017 (REGISTER IN GUIDANCE BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 1 st , 2017, registration ends September 30 OR until sold out) AND THEN TAKE THE SAT (WITH ESSAY) AND ACT TESTS (WITH WRITING) IN THE SPRING OF THEIR JUNIOR YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME

**FREE SCHOOL DAY SAT FOR JUNIORS – SPRING DATE TBD**

SAT TEST

Park Vista’s SAT location code is 10-372

$57.00 test fee w/Essay or $45.00 test fee w/o Essay

Fee Waivers are available in Guidance if you have FREE/REDUCED LUNCH

Practice at https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org

2017-2018 Test Dates

Test Dates Online Registration Deadline Late Online Registration Deadline SCORE RELEASE DATE Aug 26, 2017 Jul 28, 2017 Aug 11, 2017 Sept 14, 2017

Oct 7, 2017 Sep 8, 2017 Sep 22, 2017 Oct 27, 2017

Nov 4, 2017 Oct 6, 2017 Oct 20, 2017 Nov 23, 2017

Dec 2, 2017 Nov 3, 2017 Nov 17, 2017 Dec 21, 2017

MARCH 2018??? SCHOOL DAY SAT FOR JUNIORS ONLY – Registration will be done at PV for juniors only.

Mar 10, 2018 Feb 9, 2018 Feb 23, 2018 Mar 29, 2017

May 5, 2018 Apr 6, 2018 Apr 20, 2018 May 24, 2018

Jun 2, 2018 May 4, 2018 May 18, 2018 Jun 21, 2018

ACT TEST

Test Center Code for PVCHS: 235070

$58.50 test fee w/Writing - $42.50 test fee w/o Writing

Fee Waivers are available in Guidance if you have FREE/REDUCED LUNCH

SAT/ACT scores

colleges/universities from testing agency

Online Resources to help with your search….

Florida Multi Search Engine:

Other College Search Websites:

Another Great Resource

Cappex

Additional Informative websites

colleges, get an insiders viewpoint

best college values and financial aid information

students who took the PSAT, can search for

colleges, study for the SAT, & take tests to see what majors may be right for you!

service and scholarship search SAT/ACT prep and info on your college search It is free!

 College resources – click College

Admission Handbook - Easy Q & A

Format designed to guide you through the process step by step

www.pvchs.com

Remember, you have to pay for college…

Do you want to keep up with the latest guidance news?

 Park Vista School Counselors invite you

to receive information via texts!

 Text @pvguidance to 81010 in order to

 receive important information from the counselors regarding scholarships,

college visits, summer programs,

financial aid, etc

Good Luck with your search…

I am sure you and your child will find the right

“fit” for college…… Enjoy the journey!