College Night Program Ideas
(compiled from pubyac request 4/04)

Click here to see front and back of the College Knowledge brochure. Adapt based on materials and resources offered at your library. (Info from RoseMary Honnold at Coshocton Public Library.

Site Seeing Tour for College Bound Students

Getting Ready For College Using the Internet and CD ROMs

The Internet can save you time and money when you prepare for college entrance exams, take campus tours, apply to colleges or search for financial aid!

Back pages:

List the library's various electronic resources available to help families with the college selection/admission process. These could include software and online databases, including practice test sites.

Write your favorite colleges’ homepage addresses here!

Click here to see inside of brochure:

Test Prep

Kaplan K-12 Learning Services
www.kaptest.com/K12_home.jhtml
Click on “Increase College Opportunities”
Online SAT I and ACT test prep, Online College Planning

College Board
www.collegeboard.com
Online PSAT/NMSQT, AP, CLEP, SAT I, SAT II test prep.

The Princeton Review
www.princetonreview.com
SAT, PSAT, SAT II, ACT, GMAT, GRE,LSAT, MCAT, USMLE, TOEFL test prep.

ACT, the Test
www.act.org
All about the ACT test.

SAT Test
www.takesat.com/
Free test prep, no registration required

Test Tip: Familiarize yourself with all test instructions before exam day. It is a waste of time to read them during the test itself.

Campus Tours

Hobson’s CollegeView
www.collegeview.com
multimedia virtual tours, audio clips, InfoZap® electronic mail, and hot links to colleges’ home pages

Campus Tours
www.campustours.com/
Virtual tours and links to college Websites

Choosing Schools

Hobson’s CollegeView
www.collegeview.com
Click on “College Search”
Choose colleges by major, size, religious affiliation, location, ethnicity, athletics, disabilities

The Princeton Review
Princeton Review asks a series of questions to match you with the right school: college, business, law, medical

TIP: Most college sites have chat rooms and bulletin boards where you can get to know classmates before landing on campus!

Applications
The Princeton Review
Princeton Review will send your one application to many colleges at once and offers advice and checklists

TIP: In some cases, you pay a lower application fee if you apply online!

Scholarships and Financial Aid
FASFA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid form is available and easier to complete online

FastWeb Scholarship Search
FastWeb will match your interests to over 600,000 scholarships and has loan calculators and comparisons

Colleges, College Scholarships, and Financial Aid Page
This site has links to many scholarship sites. Check it out!

SmartMoney Site
Includes College Saving Superpage (which provides tables of information about investment options and tax breaks), 529 college savings plans, scholarships, student loans, and comparing financial aid offers.

College Savings Plan Network (CSPN)
FAQ's about saving for college, 529 savings and prepaid accounts, and tax advantages and implications. Also includes tips for parents and grandparents, statistics, information for each state, and links to related information.

Savingforcollege.com
The site features college saving plan basics, a FAQ about 529 plans, comparisons of various college savings plans, plan details for each state, links to news, and more.

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Take a look at our website links on this subject:

http://www.sdmesa.net/library/college.htm  and http://www.sdmesa.net/library/career.htm

 Jack Forman, San Diego Mesa College Library, 7250 Mesa College Dr., San Diego, CA  92111,
619-388-2546 jforman@sdccd.net

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In This presentation was developed so I could share with you some of my experiences in preparing a child for college .

Activities/achievement folder: The first thing you should do is something you should have thought about when your child was in 8^th grade.  By the time they begin 9^th grade, you should have started a journal or folder for them, noting achievements made, sports and extracurricular activities participated in, jobs, etc.  This can be as simple as a list on a legal pad kept in one place and referred to quarterly, or an Excel spreadsheet.  This will really help when applications start rolling in and information must go rolling out.   Date all the activities and note who supervised the activity for references later on. 

encourage your child to participate in varied activities,both in and out of school - band, choir, sports, clubs, religions organizations, and volunteer activities.  College’s reward well-rounded students.  Someone who plays soccer four years year-round will not get the same attention as someone who plays soccer but also coaches a team of younger kids, plays in the band, and is a Boy Scout.  Coaching and scouting show leadership – a quality that sets students apart.

College entrance exams – the SATs:  When are they taken?  How do students prepare?  Encourage your child to take the PSAT’s in October of sophomore year if they didn’t take them in 8^th grade.  Ideally, they should begin studying for them the summer between sophomore and junior year and plan to take them again in October of their junior year, when the scores begin to "count".  High school juniors who take the Preliminary SAT I/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test are eligible for the Merit Scholarship Competition and money.

The SAT I is offered 7 times between October and June each year.  Applications should be available in the high schools's guidance department and online at http://www.collegeboard.com/; the site has more information on specific dates, test centers, and online registration, which is encouraged.  There is also the ACT or American College Tests http://www.act.org/, widely accepted as college entrance exams. 

Note: More selective Tier One Schools also require SAT II, the subject tests, offered pretty much the same months as the SAT.  Many schools and specific majors require SAT II subject tests (writing, literature, history, math, sciences, and foreign languages).  Check the requirements for every college you are considering so you aren’t caught unaware that SAT II’s were needed.!  Discuss this with your guidance counselor.

SAT’s are not always given at local schools so be careful about that when you are selecting test dates and locations.   There are a lot of costs associated with these tests so read the information carefully and make sure you apply well in advance of the deadline to prevent additional fees. 

Some school guidance departments offer SAT review courses at the high school for both Math and Verbal skills. They are very reasonably priced but not worth the money if your child doesn’t attend them or will not do the assignments. Check the average SAT requirements of the schools your child is thinking of attending so you will have a goal in mind.  I should note that colleges look at the student’s highest reported scores combined.

Your public library has numerous books your child can check out that contain practice tests as well as books on “Cracking the SAT.”  Some libraries also have online test-taking sites available, in the library and remotely at home. In addition, the public library has many other useful materials.  There are also numerous software programs available for your child to work on at home.  They run about $50.  Finally, review courses are offered locally which are more costly, but only you know what you can afford and how much assistance your child actually needs. Sylvan Learning center is one example.

Registering for SATs:When you register for the SATs for the first time, they ask a multitude of questions.  You will not have to complete a full application each time you register for the SAT as you will be given an ID number.  These same questions are going to reappear time and time again so copy this application for future reference.  Make a list for your child to refer to that includes: his/her social security number; places of higher education parents attended and the dates they graduated; the CEEB code for the local high school; the name and phone number of the school guidance counselor; and the H.S. address.

Official transcripts: Get an unofficial copy of your child’s transcript from the guidance department BEFORE it ever goes out.  Junior transcripts are updated during the summer before senior year but guidance can’t possibly know all the extracurricular activities and achievements of your child.  Make sure your child stops at the office early during the summer after their junior year and gets a copy to update.  This is where that journal will come in handy.  The guidance department encourages a “resume of activities” attached to college applications as not everything fits on the official transcript.

College visits: Begin visiting colleges as early as possible. If your child will be very busy during the fall semester of senior year, make visits throughout the spring and summer before.  Simply driving through an empty campus in August will give you an idea of what the surrounding area will be like and help your child decide if he/she prefers rural, urban, or something in between.  You can always revisit during the school year.

While visiting, you will hear about “rolling admission,” another perk as your child may be accepted as early as September of senior year. Rolling admission means the colleges do not hold to a specific deadline by which you must apply; however, applicants are considered for and informed of admission on a first-come, first-served basis. They continue to admit students until the class or specific program is full or until the dean closes admissions for orientation and registration (usually a few weeks before the beginning of the term). However, you should keep in mind that space varies from school to school and it's important to apply early!  With rolling admission you are accepted but the college usually gives students until May to make up their minds, different from “early acceptance” which guidance will explain.

Application fees: Many schools waive the application fee on certain visitation weekends or if the application is submitted online.  This is a real perk and can save a lot of money. Visit the colleges' websites and carefully read college literature to find out about fee waiving.  Students must then submit an official HS transcript and official SAT I/ACT test results by a deadline (usually the beginning of October). If the applicant fails to submit the required credentials by the deadline, they will be required to pay the non-refundable application fee.  Every year schools evaluate these services to determine if they will provide the same or different opportunity. 

Exploring schools online prior to requesting applications or more information saves postage, long distance phone calls, and time.  Schools' websites have everything prospective students need to know, places to request additional information, and applications.   A word of advice direct from the Office of Admissions at Pitt: Many students don’t read what they e-mail before they send it.  Some days it’s a real challenge for the colleges to interpret what the student wants and where to send it.  It is recommended that in an e-mail or written request for information, you provide your full name, full street address, city, state, and zip code, and a valid e-mail address.  Also give some indication as to what kind of information you are looking for: application, information on a specific school or program, general information on open houses, etc.  When you reply to an e-mail response to a question, always include the original message, since they receive thousands of messages and will not remember the original request.

Some of my favorite websites are on the handout.

Government websites:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ Occupational Handbook online - where you get started to search out possible careers.

http://www.ed.gov/pubs/Prepare/ “Preparing Your Child For College,” a resource book prepared by the U.S. Department of Education explains the benefits of a college education and how families can put college within reach academically and financially.

http://www.students.gov/STUGOVWebApp/index.jsp Use this site to prepare for college or plan college studies.

Websites dealing with standardized tests and academic preparation:
http://www.collegeboard.org/ Everything you need to know about SAT’s

http://www.act.org/ Everything you need to know about ACT’s

http://highschoolhub.org/hub/hub.cfm A noncommercial learning portal to high-quality free educational resources for high school students featuring online learning activities, general references, college information, and subject guides for English, mathematics, science, social studies, and foreign languages.  It also includes SAT learning activities.

Websites for information on colleges:

http://www.collegesource.org/home.asp Over 21,000 college catalogs in complete cover-to-cover, original page format.

http://www.petersons.com/ Contains information about colleges and universities, career schools, graduate programs, distance learning, executive training, private secondary schools, summer opportunities, study abroad, financial aid, test preparation, and career exploration.

http://www.collegexpress.com/ Has areas for college search, scholarship search, and loan search

http://www.clas.ufl.edu/CLAS/american-universities.html Links to the home pages of American universities granting bachelor or advance degrees.  The universities are listed by name and hyper-linked.

http://www.fastweb.com/  Provides services and information for educators, parents, and students such as: searching for colleges, applying to colleges, scholarships, making your decision, etc.

http://www.princetonreview.com/?popup=yes Princeton Review explores the best schools in the categories of college, business, law, medical, or graduate school. Advises on how to narrow one’s options and get admitted; raising standardized test scores with practice exams, or by registering for their reviews.  Links to online applications for over 700 schools, method preferred by the institutions.  Information on scholarship searches and financial aid. 

http://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/ Search for public and private schools, colleges, and libraries, by location. 

http://www.trade-schools.net/ Request information from educational institutions across the U.S. and Canada by subject: Culinary, Design, Technology, Business, Health Care, and Trades (such as Automotive Schools, Aviation Programs, and HVAC/R Training). 

http://www.campustours.com/. Virtual tours of over 800 college campuses

Financial guides:

http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html A comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education: grants, loans, and work-study are the three major forms of aid available. Updated each award year, The Student Guide tells you about the programs and how to apply for them.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/cohome.htm

College essays: Save the essay your child will most likely have to write for their college applications. Then your child can just make a few changes each time you send it out, tailoring it to answer the way each college stated the question “Tell us something about yourself not readily apparent on this application.”  

Applying to local college: It is wise to have your child apply to at least one local college or university, even if they are absolutely sure they want to go away to school.  This advice was given to me by an educator who said that many students go away to school and for one reason or another, decide they want to move back home.  Colleges generally keep complete applications on file for two years.  They defer the acceptance and then reactivate the application at a later date, provided the student’s grades were good at their previous school.  This allows them to not miss a beat if they need to transfer back home.

Applying to a "safe" school: Have your child apply to at least one “safe” school, one you are fairly confidant your child will get in to.  On the flip side, if they have very high aspirations, don’t discourage them from applying to a school that seems beyond their reach – no one ever got in who didn’t apply! 

How to pay for college?  It’s never too early to begin saving.  Check to see if your state has a tuition savings program.  It is an excellent way to make college affordable, not only at State Schools but for Private Institutions now as well. 

Federal financial aid: Don’t fret just yet about Federal financial aid unless you are the parent of a senior. Most high school guidance departments explain more about FAFSA, described at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ and provide parents with a crash program on how to fill out the Federal Government form, FAFSA, for federal and state student grants, work-study, and loans.  This program is usually given in December of the child’s senior year, as applications cannot be sent in before January.

Acceptance letters: Finally, after the acceptance letters return, your student will have to decide which college or university to attend.  This should be their decision – you can set guidelines on geographic location and cost, but the final decision should be theirs.    Once the decision is made, it is a good idea to write a letter of explanation to the colleges you are declining, asking them to keep the student’s application on file in case things change.

Leah Ducato Rudolph, lrudolph@albright.org. Revised August 28, 2003

I used this handout for my presentation. Leah

Getting your child into college

Prepared by Leah Ducato Rudolph lrudolph@adelphia.net November 2002

1)   Start list of child’s activities, etc. ASAP and encourage them to participate.

2)   PSAT’s October sophomore year & junior year.  SAT reviews at high school junior year February – May.  Applications in guidance office and online at http://www.collegeboard.com/, http://www.act.org/

3)   “Crib-sheet” of info: students SS#, parents place and graduation date of all higher education obtained; CEEB code for AHHS (390675); name/phone of guidance counselor; AHHS address 222 Noble Rd., Clarks Summit, PA 18411.

4)   Review high school transcript before sending out and create resume of activities

5)   Use tools found on the Internet as well as numerous resources from library and career resources center:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ Occupational Handbook online - research careers & professions

http://www.ed.gov/pubs/Prepare/ “Preparing Your Child For College,” a resource book online

http://students.gov Prepare for college or plan college studies.

http://www.collegeboard.com/ Everything you need to know about SAT’s

http://www.act.org/ Everything you need to know about ACT’s

http://highschoolhub.org/hub/hub.cfm High-quality free educational resources with SAT activities

http://www.collegesource.org/home.asp 21,000 original, complete college catalogs

http://www.petersons.com/ Information about colleges and universities and much more

http://www.collegexpress.com/ College search, scholarship search, and loan search

http://www.clas.ufl.edu/CLAS/american-universities.html American universities granting bachelor degrees

http://www.princetonreview.com/?popup=yes Explores the best schools with advice on how to get admitted

http://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/ Search for schools, colleges, and libraries, by location. 

http://www.trade-schools.net/ Request information from educational institutions

http://www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/StudentGuide/ Resources on governmental student financial aid

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/cohome.htm.  Ranks & compares colleges and universities

6)   Save essays and copy applications

7)   Apply to “safe” and local schools

8)   Prepare for expenses now.  Course on filling out forms at high school offered December of senior year.  http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ Federal aid programs http://www.lfg.com/LincolnPageServer?LFGPage=/lfg/pa5/index.html PA Tuition Account Program