Grade 10
College Prep Guide
2014-2015 Version
Table of Contents
Introduction
3Guidance Team 3
Options After High School 4
Colleges and Universities
Vocational, Technical or Specialty Schools Military
Apprenticeships Employment
Study Abroad/Taking a ‘Gap’ Year
10th Grade – Gaining Momentum
7
Parents 7
College Cost Comparison ACT PLAN Test
College Financing
Students 8
Narrow Your College Choices The ‘T’ Word – Testing
Planning is Key
Earning College Credit in High School
Introduction
Although it may seem hard to believe, it really is never too early to begin planning for life after high school. Whether you’re a parent setting up a college savings plan or a student keeping a notebook of interesting careers, the earlier you start planning, the better off you will be.
This booklet is designed by the Westonka Public Schools to help students and parents in the post-secondary planning process, beginning in seventh grade. It includes an overview of most post-secondary options, a grade-by-grade preparation guide for students and parents, checklists, resources, and other tips. While each section builds on information provided from the previous grade’s section, each grade level section can also be used alone.
As a student, many things will come into play as you choose the path you will take after high school. While grades and finances are important, the most important factor in the equation is you. You know yourself better than anyone else. You know your likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, and where you feel most comfortable. No matter what you decide, it’s important that it’s your choice.
Your counselor stands ready to help guide you through this process. Although they can’t make any decisions for you, counselors can help you find more information, answer questions and assist in sorting through your options. They are a knowledgeable resource. Don't hesitate to talk to them as needed.
Guidance Team
Grandview Middle School
JeanAnn Thayer, Guidance Counselor [email protected] 952-491-8302 Mound Westonka High School
Last Names A-G
Tina Kampa, Guidance Counselor
[email protected] 952-491-8117 Last Names H-N
Ann Baumann, Guidance Counselor
[email protected] 952-491-8116 Last Names O-Z
Tiffany Simon, Guidance Counselor
[email protected] 952-491-8118 Lynne Laube, Administrative Assistant [email protected] 952-491-8115
Be sure to browse all of the resources available under the Guidance tab of the Mound Westonka High School website: http://guidancehome.mwhs.westonka.k12.mn.us/
Independent School District 277 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, maternal origin, gender, disability, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status or veteran status.
Options After High School
There are many options for today’s high school graduates: attending a two- or four-year college, technical college or specialty trade school, serving in the military, looking for employment, and more. Each option has its own advantages, opportunities, and outcomes.
Colleges and Universities
Degrees can typically be earned from two different types of colleges: two-year colleges and four-year colleges. Two- and four-year colleges are either public or private. Public schools are partially supported by taxes and are typically less expensive than private colleges. Both public and private colleges offer a wide variety of degree programs and vary in size and culture. Locally, the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State University—Mankato, Normandale Community College and Minneapolis Community and Technical College are examples of public colleges. While Macalester College, Hamline University, University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis College of Art and Design and Dunwoody College of Technology are examples of private colleges. Specific information about each type of college can be found on the following websites: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU): http://www.mnscu.edu/
University of Minnesota System: http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/campuses/index.html Private College of Minnesota: http://www.mnprivatecolleges.org
Two-year colleges
Students attending a two-year community college can earn an associate’s degree. Then, if they choose, they can continue their education at a four-year college by transferring their community college credits to any four-year school that accepts them. The most common two-year institutions are public community colleges. They are usually the least expensive and most accessible option for students wanting to pursue a college education. Local two-year colleges include Normandale Community College, North Hennepin Community College and Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Students who attend a Minnesota community college with the goal of eventually pursuing a four-year degree may be eligible to enroll in the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum Program, allowing for a smooth transition from a state two-year program to a state four-year program. See http://www.mntransfer.org for more information.
Four-year colleges
Students attending a four-year college typically earn a bachelor’s degree. Four-year colleges are often broken down into categories of selectivity. In simple terms, selectivity means the
percentage of students who apply that are admitted. The lower the percentage, the more selective the school. Categories include: most selective, highly selective, moderately selective and less selective.
Colleges that are commonly considered highly selective are difficult to get into. Students who are admitted are academically accomplished and are otherwise exceptional students. These colleges are known to have high academic standards and support outstanding faculty.
If you have a high grade point average, take numerous Advanced Placement or honors classes, rank near the top of your class, and score in the top percentiles on standardized tests, you may be eligible for admission to many selective colleges—but it's not a guarantee. These colleges turn away thousands of exceptionally talented students each year because so many apply. If your academic record is not quite up to this level, you may still have a chance for admission if you have a talent or skill that the college values and/or if you have been a proven leader in activities such as athletics, performing arts, science or community action.
Public four-year state colleges normally give preference to students from within the state, even over applicants with stronger qualifications from outside the state. At highly selective public institutions competition for admission as a nonresident is particularly fierce.
Generally speaking, the primary factors that four-year colleges and universities consider when determining admission are grades in college prep courses, strength of curriculum, admission test scores, grades in all classes (GPA) and an essay or writing sample.
Local college selectivity categories/examples
Highly selective: Carleton College, Macalester College
Moderately selective: University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, Augsburg College, St. Olaf College Less selective: Winona State University, University of Minnesota-Crookston, St. Cloud State University
Open admissions: Most community and technical colleges Vocational, Technical, and Specialty Schools
Vocational, technical, and specialty schools offer training for a specific occupation or trade, such as dental assistant, construction project manager, radiological technician or IT technician. Local vocational and technical schools include Hennepin Technical College, Dunwoody College of Technology, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Aveda Institute and Minnesota School of Business. Admission criteria and process will vary greatly from school to school. Refer to college specific websites for detailed admission information.
The Military
Students wanting to join the military have a variety of options open to them. In addition to regular enlistment, students wanting to pursue a college degree before they complete their service
commitment can apply for a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program or a service academy. All ROTC scholarships allow students to complete their education at a civilian college at the same time they are training to become a commissioned officer in a branch of the armed services.
Students planning a career as a commissioned officer and wanting to apply for an ROTC scholarship or to attend one of the Armed Forces Services Academies should look at the
requirements early, as the application process is quite extensive. Military representatives visit the high school on a regular basis. Their contact information is available in the Guidance Office. Air Force ROTC: http://afrotc.com/college-life/
Army ROTC: http://www.goarmy.com/rotc.html
Navy ROTC: http://www.navy.com/joining/education-opportunities/nrotc.html Marines ROTC: http://www.marines.com/eligibility/service-options
Apprenticeships
Although growing more rare, apprenticeships still exist for more than 200 skilled trades, including machinist, automotive body technician, and tool and die maker. Information about apprenticeships is available at http://www.doli.state.mn.us/Appr.asp or by calling the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Apprenticeship Program at 651-284-5090.
Employment
Going to work right out of high school is also an option. However, it is important to note that students who complete post-secondary education programs earn more money than students who do not. According to the US Census Bureau 2013, the annual earnings of a college graduate with a bachelor’s degree are over $21,000 greater than that of a high school graduate. More
Study Abroad/Taking a “Gap” Year
Some students choose to postpone their post secondary education. Taking a year off between high school and college is often known as taking a “gap year.” While some students use the year off to earn money to pay for college, others may feel that they just need a break. Whatever the reason, a gap year shouldn’t be spent sitting around the house, but instead increasing a student’s maturity, experiences, independence, and self-esteem. Formal gap year programs are available for those who prefer a more structured program.
Gap Year Programs http://www.cityyear.org/ http://www.leapnow.org/
http://www.gapyearprograms.net/ Studying Abroad
Rotary Youth Exchange:
http://www.rotary.org/en/youth-exchanges Youth for Understanding:
10
thGrade – Gaining Momentum
It’s a fact of life: some people are planners, some aren’t. If you have been planning for your future since middle school, you’re probably feeling pretty good about where you are in the post-secondary planning process. If you are a non-planner, now is the time to change. Otherwise, you might not have the time you need to make an informed decision. Remember, graduation is less than three years away and you will be sending college applications in less than 2 years! Counselors administer the ACT PLAN test to all 10th grade students in the fall, help
families/students to interpret those test results and visit 10th grade homerooms 1-2 times a month
to discuss post-secondary planning and options. Students are also encouraged to set up individual meetings with their school counselor as needed.
Parents:
College Cost Comparison
College costs are typically comprised of three parts: tuition, fees, and other expenses (including room and board).
Tuition is the amount of money that colleges charge for instruction. Tuition can range from a
few thousand dollars per year to more than $40,000. For example, 2014-14 tuition costs for one year at North Hennepin Community College is $5,447, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities $13,421, St. Cloud State University $7,217 and Carleton College $46,167.
Visit http://www.mnscu.edu/admissions/collegecostcomparison.html for more Minnesota college cost comparisons.
Fees are charges (usually small) that cover costs generally not associated with the student's
course load, such as costs of some athletic activities, student activities, clubs, and special events.
Other Expenses - students at many colleges and universities pay for room and board (housing
&food), books, supplies, transportation, and other miscellaneous costs.
Research college costs at schools your student has shown interest in and discuss it with them. ACT PLAN Test
All 10th grade students take the PLAN test in the fall. There is an ACT PLAN Parent Information
Night in the winter. Discussion topics include: interpreting the test results, continuing to prepare for the ACT and information about other post-secondary planning resources. Please plan to attend.
Keep the Conversation Going
If your child is not sure of his or her direction after school, be sure to keep the post-high school plan conversation going. While you can't make up your child’s mind, you can offer advice, direction, and a willingness to listen. 10th grade students will take part in guidance led homeroom activities focused on exploring post-secondary options several times a year. Talk with them about what they are doing and learning during that homeroom time as a way to keep the conversation going.
Road Trips
Now is a great time to take casual “road trips” to college campuses of all different types. It doesn't have to be a formal campus visit: just walking through a campus can help your child get a better feel for its climate/culture, help them to generate questions and help them compare options.
College Financing
1. The earlier you start saving, the better prepared you will be to provide the best possible educational opportunities for your child.
2. If you already have a college savings program—that’s great! If not, you still have time to develop one. Many types of savings and investment programs exist. To find out which one is right for your family talk to a banker, financial planner, insurance agent, stockbroker, or other financial advisor.
3. Financial aid sources such as scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and/or loans can also supplement your family contribution. For more information about financial aid visit
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
4. For more information about saving for college, see the Financial Aid Tip Sheet or visit http://www.mnsaves.org/
Students:
Academic Course Check-in
Are you taking the types of courses needed to prepare you for college? It is important to challenge yourself when and where you can in your academic schedule. Getting into college is one thing, but being
successful in college is even more important. Taking challenging courses will help you to develop the skills necessary to be successful at the college level.
Narrow your college choices
You may now have a better idea of the kind of school you would like to attend and you can begin to narrow your choices. If you're still unsure, ask yourself how important the following factors are to you:
• Distance from hometown • Campus size
• Campus location (large city, small town, etc.) • Majors available
• Cost of attendance
• Sports and activities offered
Your answers to these questions may help you to eliminate or identify possibilities accordingly. Several on-line resources can be used to help narrow and organize college options:
Naviance: https://connection.naviance.com/fc/signin.php?hsid=moundwestonka (link available on the guidance webpage). Username: first name last name Password: six-digit student id number
MN Career Information System (MCIS): www.mncis.intocareers.org (User name: mound and password: westonka)
Talk it out
Talk to your friends, family, teachers, counselor and advisors/coaches about your college plans. Exchange ideas and don’t be shy about asking questions about their college experiences. The “T” word: Testing
Standardized college admission tests are an important part of your post-high school preparedness plan.
10th Grade:
• Fall: PLAN. The PLAN Test is a college readiness test that covers the same subjects as the ACT—English, mathematics, reading, and science—and provides an estimated ACT score. All 10th grade students will take the PLAN Test. Test information can be found at
www.planstudent.org 11th Grade:
• Fall: PSAT (optional). The PSAT is a multiple-choice standardized test that qualifies students for the National Merit Scholarship Program, an academic scholarship competition for
recognition and college scholarships administered by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a privately funded, not-for-profit organization. Test information can be found at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html
Fall: Practice ACT (optional). Proctored by Sylvan, this is a free full-length practice test administered during the school day. Detailed information will be distributed to students at school and made available to parents on this high school website.
February - June: ACT and SAT. The ACT covers English, mathematics, reading, and science. An optional writing test measures skill in planning and writing a short essay. The SAT tests in three areas: critical reading, mathematics, and writing. ACT/SAT test scores are important for a couple reasons: they are used by four-year colleges and universities to determine which students will be admitted to their school and they are also sometimes used to decide which students receive scholarships.
ACT test information can be found at www.actstudent.org SAT test information can be found at www.collegeboard.com
Although you won't take the ACT/SAT until next year, you can prepare now. Westonka offers ACT prep course options in the months preceding the spring test dates. Details can be found on the Westonka Community Education web site
http://communityed.westonka.k12.mn.us/
Outside resources are also available for test preparation, including: • Sylvan www.sylvanlearning.com
• Huntington
http://huntingtonhelps.com
• College Nannies and Tutors www.collegetutors.com • Club Z Tutoring www.clubztutoring.com
• Kaplan www.kaptest.com Planning is key
Hopefully, you have developed your ‘four-year plan’ to ensure you’re taking the courses you need. Meet with your counselor to review your plan and make any needed adjustments. Earning college credit in high school
Several options exist for students to earn college credit while still in high school. They include: • AP or Advanced Placement Classes. Advanced Placement (AP) classes are college-level
courses offered in high school. With qualifying AP Exam grades, students can earn credit, placement or both at more than 90 percent of colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. More information can be found at
• PSEO or Post-Secondary Enrollment Options. Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th- (limited options), 11th- and 12th-grade students to earn college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college-level courses. With traditional PSEO, these courses are generally offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online. Please visit the MN Department of Ed website to learn more:
http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/StuSuc/CollReadi/PSEO/
• CIS or College in the Schools. CIS is a University of Minnesota program that works with teachers, students and schools to teach U of M classes in local high schools. MWHS currently offers two CIS Spanish courses.
• CLEP or College-Level Examination Program. CLEP gives students the opportunity to receive college credit for what they already know by earning qualifying scores on any of 33 examinations. Subject knowledge can be acquired through independent study, prior course work, on-the-job training, professional development, cultural pursuits, or internships. Visit the following website for more information
http://clep.collegeboard.org/exam
College Myths, Part II
Myth: You need to decide on a career before you can choose a college.
Fact: College is a time to explore. Many students discover their ideal field while taking a course they didn’t expect to take or like. If you aren’t ready to decide on a major or a career, choose a college that allows you to keep your options open. You have time.
School District 277 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, maternal origin, gender, disability, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status or veteran status.
Grade 10 – Checklist
Parents
ü Keep the college conversation going. ü Plan college campus visits.
ü Continue your college saving plan and compare college costs. Talk with your student about financing college.
ü Attend ACT PLAN Parent Night and discuss test results with your student.
Students
ü Participate in extracurricular, volunteer and/or work activities.
ü Review your four-year class plan. Take the most difficult classes you can handle. Stay focused on your schoolwork.
ü Take the PLAN test in the fall. Discuss test results and your projected ACT score with your parents.
ü Get to know your school counselor as well as other college resources available. ü Talk to adults in a variety of professions to determine what they like and dislike about
their jobs and what kind of education is needed for each kind of job.
ü Begin focusing in on the type of college you would prefer (two-year or four-year, small or large, rural or urban). To get an idea of what’s available, take a look at college profiles online.
1. Naviance https://connection.naviance.com/fc/signin.php?hsid=moundwestonka (link available on the guidance webpage). Username: first name last name Password: six-digit student id number
2. MN Career Information System (MCIS)
www.mncis.intocareers.org
(User name: mound and password: westonka)ü Share your Do What You Are Personality Profile results with your parent/guardian. Discuss and research the career matches. Fully utilize the Naviance tools.
