1	Class of 2008 Junior Guidance A-Co Mr. Daggett Cr-Ha Ms. Fair He-Mc Mr. Rickard Me-Sam Mrs. Chandler San-Z Mrs. McEwen
2	What Counts Most in College Admissions?
3	Selecting a College Public Universities Private Universities Community Colleges Technical Colleges United States Military Academies
4	Selecting a College Selecting a College Selecting the right college to meet your abilities and ambitions is one of the most important decisions you will make as a young adult. For those of you who have already made a decision concerning which college you will attend, your attention will need to be focused on being admitted to that institution. For those of you who have not made this important decision, your attention will need to be focused on narrowing your choice of colleges to a workable list. Selecting the best fit for you requires some time and effort be put into researching the various educational institutions. College Size Considerations Colleges vary in size. Therefore, think carefully about which size is best for you both academically and socially.
5	Larger Schools Larger Colleges: Larger schools will offer wider range of courses. You may explore two different fields of study-Ex: arts and sciences AND engineering. If undecided, choosing a large school may be a safer choice due to a lot of strong departments. You will find special advanced facilities and resources such as state-of-the-art microscopes. There are more activities from which to choose. Nationally known and popular sports teams and publicity increases a school’s name recognition. A larger school may provide anonymity if wanted.
6	Smaller Schools Smaller Colleges: Classes are more intimate: greater interaction between student and professor, more opportunities to contribute ideas in class, professors would be able to write more knowledgeable recommendations for you (think graduate school, job applications, etc.) You are more likely to get the classes you desire. The top priority of the faculty is teaching- not researching. Socially, there are greater opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities. Usually, students experience a great sense of community. There is less competition for the use of academic facilities such as library resources and computers. A smaller school is more conducive to the development of student confidence
7	Comparing College Characteristics Highly Selective Colleges Students must have a GPA of 3.2+ SAT 1200+ ACT 30+ Interview Recommendations Examples: Harvard University, Rice University, Princeton University, and Duke University
8	Comparing College Characteristics Selective Colleges Top 10-25% of your class SAT 1100+ ACT 24+ THEA (Texas public colleges) Examples: University of Texas Austin, Texas A & M, Southern Methodist University, University of Texas Dallas, and Texas Tech University
9	Comparing College Characteristics Less Competitive Colleges Top10-50% of your class SAT 1000+ ACT 21+ THEA (Texas public colleges) Examples: Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston University, Midwestern, and University of North Texas
10	Comparing College Characteristics Open Admission Colleges Require a high school diploma THEA (Texas public schools) Examples: Collin County Community College, Tyler Junior College, Navarro College, and Texas State Technical College
11	TESTING, TESTING, TESTING! College Admissions Tests SAT ACT Placement Exams THEA - Texas Higher Education Assessment
12	SAT Reasoning Test (New SAT) Measures: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing Used to compare students with peers and predict success in college Required for four year universities and colleges Cost is $41.50 (“new” SAT price) Register on line at www.collegeboard.org CEEB Code : 442-635
13	ACT Measures: English Usage, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning. The test now has a Writing Assessment. Used to compare students with peers and predict success in college May be used to replace or in addition to the SAT Reasoning Test Cost is $43 with the Writing Assessment Register on line at www.act.org CEEB Code : 442-635
14	PSAT/NMSQT Given to predict success on the SAT Reasoning Test and to qualify for National Merit scholarships October 21^st $12.00 Limited space available!! Sign up in the FHS counseling center
15	Texas Higher Education Assessment Students who meet the qualifying standards may be exempt from taking the THEA TAKS (exit level) – 2200 math and/or 2200 in ELA with a writing subscore of at least 3 SAT- combined score of 1070 with a 500 on the math and verbal ACT- a composite score of 23 with a 19 on the math and English sections
16	What you need to do now….. Continue to make good grades in challenging classes Take the PSAT October 21^st Attend College Fairs Visit College Campuses Use the internet to investigate options Take the SAT or ACT in the spring or early summer if you plan to attend a four year university Investigate career options
17	Career/College Investigation www.jumpstart.org/madmoney www.access.bridges.com Username: 0050977 Password: haystack www.act.org
18	Other Valuable Information For transcripts, see Ms. Collins in the registrar’s office (First 3 are free of charge; each additional one is $1.00.) Begin considering which teachers you could ask for letters of recommendation from. FAFSA- Free Application for Federal Student Aide- You must fill this out to be eligible for federal loans, grants, etc. You will do this in the winter of your senior year.
19	Colleges/Universities in Texas TCU: www.tcu.edu SMU: www.smu.edu Sam Houston state University: www.shsu.edu UT at Dallas: www.utd.edu University of North Texas: www.unt.edu University of Texas: www.utexas.edu Austin College: www.austinc.edu Stephen F. Austin: www.sfasu.edu Texas A&M University: www.tamu.edu Texas Tech: www.ttu.edu Rice: www.rice.edu Baylor: www.baylor.edu Collin County Community College: www.cccd.edu
20	Financial Aid and College Search Sites Financial Aid www.salliemae.com www.fastweb.com www.fafsa.ed.gov College Searches www.princetonreview.com www.collegeispossible.com www.petersons.com www.collegequest.com www.usnews.com www.collegeboard.org
21	Frisco High School Raccoons