College Preparation

Overview of College Preparation for 9^th through 12^th Grades

Year One: Grade 9

Goal: To Acquaint Students With the Discourse of College and College Preparation.

In an effort for students to eventually understand the many dynamics of college, and the college preparation process, they have to be exposed to, and eventually comfortable with “the language of college.” By the end of their first year of high school, students should have a working knowledge of concepts and terminology including (but not limited to):

SAT

PSAT

Kaplan Prep

Princeton Review Prep

CUNY

SUNY

Commuter School

“Dorming”

Proprietary School

Preparatory School (13^th grade)

Private College

Public College

College

University

Bachelor’s Degree

Associates Degree

Master’s Degree

Ph.D.

Undergraduate School

Graduate School

Law School

Business School

HBCU

Ivy League

Liberal Arts

Major

Undeclared Major

STEP program

Prep for Prep Program

Futures Program (Harlem Children’s Zone)

TAP

Pell

Stafford Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized)

SCHOLARSHIPS!!!!!!

Students should be exposed to as much information as humanly possible in year 1 of high school. Ninth grade academic curricula as well as Advisory can be structured in a way that allows for discourse about college. A great activity is to have ninth graders interview people who have been to college, and then present their findings in a forum.

Ninth Graders Should:

· Have opportunities to visit colleges in ninth grade

· Be an audience for college representatives

· Attend college fairs

· Begin their own research on colleges

· Take part in preparation programs during the school year and in the summer (i.e. STEP, Prep for Prep)

· Be hooked up with Big Brothers and Big Sisters on College Campuses

Year 2: Grade 10

Goal: To Help Students Develop Good Work Habits and Skills

While students in the tenth grade need to continue to focus on college, they need to also start to think about the SAT test. In the 10^th year students should be focused on the fact that their “give away” year is gone (9^th grade.) Colleges expect that by the sophomore year, students have already adjusted to high school life. The focus this year should be to either maintain solid grades, or work to improve them. More importantly the development of good work habits will prove to have long lasting effects. Teachers can encourage students (and ultimately support them in the long run) by implementing “college policies” in their classrooms.

Tenth graders should:

· Take the PSAT

· Develop the habit of adhering to strict deadlines

· Use a planner to map out their academic obligations

· Research scholarships (those for which they qualify will inspire them to keep up grades.)

· Participate in local colleges’ Open Houses and College Tours

· Reach out to admission’s representatives from schools which they’re interested in attending (spring semester)

· Talk to students from previous graduating class, who are in college.

· Take a College Now course if possible

· Make arrangements to take an SAT prep course over the summer and/or in the fall semester

Year Three: Grade 11

Goal: To Prepare for the SAT, and Identify Good College Matches

Junior year is the most critical year in the college preparation process. After having been exposed to a plethora of information, by the end of this year, students should narrow their choices to ten schools. Students should decide how far they’re willing to travel, and if they want to attend school out of state. A student who wants to be no more than three hours away for instance, can look as far north as Massachusetts, as far south as Maryland, and as far west as Pennsylvania. This should be a framework used when thinking about college. Of course, the stakes are very high for the 11^th year. SAT preparation is critical, and as is a solid grade point average. Students can be supported in their classrooms by having teachers who continue to have high standards (i.e. penalization for late work.) and by having students engage in projects and activities that they would likely encounter in college (i.e. group work, oral presentations, thesis defense etc.)

Eleventh Graders MUST

· Take a Kaplan and/or Princeton Review course for at least two cycles

· Take the SAT at least twice

· Take College Now courses

· Spend the mid-winter recess and spring recess on college tours

· Attend college fairs (like crazy!)

· Keep in touch from the area representatives of schools in which they’re really interested.

· Ask college representative to put them in touch with board members of student organizations (i.e. Black Student Union, Latin Society, Student Government etc.)

· Arrange through admissions’ offices to sit in on classes at local private as well as CUNY colleges

· Identify scholarships for which they’re qualified, obtain the applications and fill them out.

· Practice filling out college applications. Download the Common Application, and EDU. Inc, do a practice run, and let someone look it over.

· Have a final draft of the personal statement completed by May.

· Put a packet together which contains personal statement, transcript, resume and/or volunteer history, to be distributed to recommendation writers.

· Call schools, visit schools and ask plenty of questions.

Year Four: Grade 12

Goal: To Tie up the Ends, and Make the Right Decision

Twelfth grade should really be a smooth sail for students. Since the ground work has been laid, the requirements for this year should really be minimal. The most important aspect of this year is meeting deadlines, and keeping paperwork filed and readily accessible.

Twelfth graders MUST

· Obtain all (at least 3)letters of recommendation by October 15

· Attend a workshop or two on the financial aid process (and bring a parent along)

· Fill out or finalize all applications

· Send out applications by Nov 1 (early decision) Dec 1 (regular decision)

· Obtain pin FAFSA pin numbers in December

· Fill out FAFSA as soon after January 1, as possible

· Fill out and send in mid-year grade reports (if required) to schools to which they’ve applied.

· Fill out and send in colleges’ individual applications for financial aid.

· Attend college fairs that have admissions officers who conduct “on the spot interviews”.

· Wait for the acceptances to roll in.

· Make the right decision.

· Send in housing deposits by May 1^st.

· Enjoy making your loved ones proud!

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In an effort for students to eventually understand the many dynamics of college, and the college preparation process, they have to be exposed to, and eventually comfortable with “the language of college.” By the end of their first year of high school, students should have a working knowledge of concepts and terminology including (but not limited to): SAT PSAT Kaplan Prep Princeton Review Prep CUNY SUNY Commuter School “Dorming” Proprietary School Preparatory School (13^th grade) Private College Public College College University Bachelor’s Degree Associates Degree Master’s Degree Ph.D. Undergraduate School Graduate School Law School Business School HBCU Ivy League Liberal Arts Major Undeclared Major STEP program Prep for Prep Program Futures Program (Harlem Children’s Zone) TAP Pell Stafford Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized) SCHOLARSHIPS!!!!!! Students should be exposed to as much information as humanly possible in year 1 of high school. Ninth grade academic curricula as well as Advisory can be structured in a way that allows for discourse about college. A great activity is to have ninth graders interview people who have been to college, and then present their findings in a forum. Ninth Graders Should: · Have opportunities to visit colleges in ninth grade · Be an audience for college representatives · Attend college fairs · Begin their own research on colleges · Take part in preparation programs during the school year and in the summer (i.e. STEP, Prep for Prep) · Be hooked up with Big Brothers and Big Sisters on College Campuses Year 2: Grade 10 Goal: To Help Students Develop Good Work Habits and Skills While students in the tenth grade need to continue to focus on college, they need to also start to think about the SAT test. In the 10^th year students should be focused on the fact that their “give away” year is gone (9^th grade.) Colleges expect that by the sophomore year, students have already adjusted to high school life. The focus this year should be to either maintain solid grades, or work to improve them. More importantly the development of good work habits will prove to have long lasting effects. Teachers can encourage students (and ultimately support them in the long run) by implementing “college policies” in their classrooms. Tenth graders should: · Take the PSAT · Develop the habit of adhering to strict deadlines · Use a planner to map out their academic obligations · Research scholarships (those for which they qualify will inspire them to keep up grades.) · Participate in local colleges’ Open Houses and College Tours · Reach out to admission’s representatives from schools which they’re interested in attending (spring semester) · Talk to students from previous graduating class, who are in college. · Take a College Now course if possible · Make arrangements to take an SAT prep course over the summer and/or in the fall semester Year Three: Grade 11 Goal: To Prepare for the SAT, and Identify Good College Matches Junior year is the most critical year in the college preparation process. After having been exposed to a plethora of information, by the end of this year, students should narrow their choices to ten schools. Students should decide how far they’re willing to travel, and if they want to attend school out of state. A student who wants to be no more than three hours away for instance, can look as far north as Massachusetts, as far south as Maryland, and as far west as Pennsylvania. This should be a framework used when thinking about college. Of course, the stakes are very high for the 11^th year. SAT preparation is critical, and as is a solid grade point average. Students can be supported in their classrooms by having teachers who continue to have high standards (i.e. penalization for late work.) and by having students engage in projects and activities that they would likely encounter in college (i.e. group work, oral presentations, thesis defense etc.) Eleventh Graders MUST · Take a Kaplan and/or Princeton Review course for at least two cycles · Take the SAT at least twice · Take College Now courses · Spend the mid-winter recess and spring recess on college tours · Attend college fairs (like crazy!) · Keep in touch from the area representatives of schools in which they’re really interested. · Ask college representative to put them in touch with board members of student organizations (i.e. Black Student Union, Latin Society, Student Government etc.) · Arrange through admissions’ offices to sit in on classes at local private as well as CUNY colleges · Identify scholarships for which they’re qualified, obtain the applications and fill them out. · Practice filling out college applications. Download the Common Application, and EDU. Inc, do a practice run, and let someone look it over. · Have a final draft of the personal statement completed by May. · Put a packet together which contains personal statement, transcript, resume and/or volunteer history, to be distributed to recommendation writers. · Call schools, visit schools and ask plenty of questions. Year Four: Grade 12 Goal: To Tie up the Ends, and Make the Right Decision Twelfth grade should really be a smooth sail for students. Since the ground work has been laid, the requirements for this year should really be minimal. The most important aspect of this year is meeting deadlines, and keeping paperwork filed and readily accessible. Twelfth graders MUST · Obtain all (at least 3)letters of recommendation by October 15 · Attend a workshop or two on the financial aid process (and bring a parent along) · Fill out or finalize all applications · Send out applications by Nov 1 (early decision) Dec 1 (regular decision) · Obtain pin FAFSA pin numbers in December · Fill out FAFSA as soon after January 1, as possible · Fill out and send in mid-year grade reports (if required) to schools to which they’ve applied. · Fill out and send in colleges’ individual applications for financial aid. · Attend college fairs that have admissions officers who conduct “on the spot interviews”. · Wait for the acceptances to roll in. · Make the right decision. · Send in housing deposits by May 1^st. · Enjoy making your loved ones proud!