College Prep Class
Pinelands Enrichment Program 2014-2015
Margie Aboreden
Course Syllabus:
Week 1:
Introduction
Academic goals
Developing a plan for high school:
General High School, General College Prep, Rigorous College Prep
Record keeping (high school portfolio/notebook)
College package
College/career choices
Extracurricular activities
Discuss: Academic Resume & Program of Study
Handouts
HW Due: Begin working on your academic resume (refer to sample), gather info & bring a rough draft.
Identify a high school track/program.
Register for College Board.
Register for standardized testing in the fall.
Research college choices/careers.
Begin to keep track of your community service hours.
Teacher/ Parent: Work on your program of study.
Week 2:
Review HW: Academic Resume
Testing & College Board
High school program
Letter of recommendation
Discuss: Letters of recommendation/reference letters (request letter)
College choices & majors
Course descriptions
Community service hours
Handouts (sample reference letter request form)
More about extracurricular activities
HW Due: Academic Resume (final copy).
Begin working on reference letters (request a letter of recommendation).
Register for testing/College Board.
Complete handouts/make up work.
Teacher/ Parent: Program of study (final copy). Begin working on your course descriptions.
Week 3:
Review HW: Academic Resume (final draft)
Reference letter (rough draft)
Discuss: High School Reading list
Testing/prep classes & options
Community service options/Internships
Courses/credits: AP classes, Dual Enrollment, etc…
Notebook/portfolio
Course descriptions
HW Due: Reference letter request (final draft)
For seniors: Begin applying to colleges (online), select one school to focus on this week.
Consider the Common Application (for multiple schools, UM included).
Pay special attention to the required essays/supplemental requirements.
For non-seniors: Research one college/university & be prepared to share in class.
Prepare a high school reading list.
Organize your notebook!
Week 4:
Review HW: Reference letter (final draft), discuss proper letterhead/envelopes,
Reading list
Notebook check
Discuss: The college essay
The college application process
Read sample essays in class
The college pkg
More about reference letters (letterhead/envelope, extra copies)
HW Due: Write a college essay (prompt/topic will be based on a college previously researched
or an essay assignment given in class). Choose essay topic in class.
Continue researching/applying for colleges (for seniors).
Request a reference letter.
Follow up on testing.
Parent/Teacher: Begin working on your transcript.
Week 5:
Review HW: College Essay (be prepared to share in class)
Reference letter requests
College applications
Class 5 Discuss: The high school transcript
Community service hours
HW Due: Catch up on your community service hours.
Follow up on your reference letters.
For seniors: continue to apply for colleges/ follow up.
Make up any work that has not been turned in.
Keep up with standardized testing.
Parent/Teacher: Course description (final copy), follow up transcript.
Week 6:
Review HW: Service hours (handout)
Share reference letters in class
Q & A
Discuss: Cover letter
Course descriptions
Begin working on a cover letter in class
College budgeting: sample college tuition spread sheet
College deadlines (Nov. 1): Early Action versus Early Decision
Good resources
HW Due: Cover letter (rough draft)
Follow up on college applications/testing, look up deadlines & write a spread sheet.
Week 7:
Review HW: Cover letter
Application process & deadlines
Discuss: Scholarships
Honors College
Reference materials
The college package
HW Due: Cover letter (final draft)
Look up scholarships, make a scholarship spreadsheet or just list those scholarships of
special interest; include deadlines & requirements.
For juniors & seniors: research scholarships & apply to a particular scholarship.
Make prints of a favorite photo (cap & gown, business casual, other nice picture).
Parent/Teacher: Continue to work on your transcript, encourage your student/child.
For senior parents; support your child during the application process, follow up on
deadlines & keep up with graduation requirements. J You can do this!
Print or write (neatly) your college addresses on labels (large size address labels).
Week 8:
Review HW: Cover letter (final copy)
Read cover letters in class
Scholarships
Deadlines: college list (deadlines, requirements)
Discuss: More about the college package
Update reading list
Update community service hours
Follow up on reference letters
Make up work
SAT Essays in class
More about essays: literature examples, personal experiences, historical examples,
quotes.
HW Due: Continue working on college applications (for seniors)
For future essays: look up and print; 3 favorite quotes, 3 characters in literature,
3 historical examples, & 2 interesting personal stories about your family.
From your reading list; choose 2 favorite books and explain why you made your
selection. Be prepared to share in class.
Follow up on reference letters.
Review for upcoming quiz.
Week 9:
Review HW: Future essay assignment (share in class)
Make up work
Notebook check
Letters of recommendation/reference
Scholarship deadlines
Discuss: Timed essays
Prepare for timed essay in class
Prepare for final copy of the college pkg
Update/follow up
Handouts
Quiz
HW Due: Complete college package.
Bring address labels to class: return address/college address (admissions office).
Bring samples of work for notebook/log, samples may include; essays, research
paper, a published article, art work/photography, science or history samples, etc… .
Parent/Teacher: complete necessary forms for students’ college pkg, review work.
Week 10:
Review HW: College pkg (final copy)
College pkg envelopes & address labels
Update/follow up notebook (samples of work)
Turn in any make up work
Memorize two quotes from a previous assignment
Discuss: Awards, honors, certificates
The on-campus interview
The alumni interview
Internship opportunities
More SAT prompts
Share your favorite essay, reference letter, cover letter
HW Due: Bring in any awards/certificates to add to notebook/portfolio.
Make a list of college campuses (schools you would like to visit).
Call schools ahead of time & ask about college tours/college for a weekend.
Create a tuition/expense spreadsheet (parent & student).
Work on extra letters of recommendation.
Update academic resume/service hours.
Week 11:
Review HW: Add awards/certificates to notebook/portfolio
College tours
Spreadsheet
Extra letters of recommendation
Discuss: Acceptance/rejection letters
Deferrals & wait lists
More about scholarships
Honors program
Interviews
Follow up with admissions office
Follow up with scholarships
Extracurricular activities
HW Due Class 11:
Review course.
Complete or make up any missing assignments.
Organize notebook/portfolio.
Memorize one quote from previous assignment.
Update service hours, etc… .
Follow up on testing/ letters of recommendation.
Parent/Teacher: Review students’ notebook/portfolio, follow up & update.
Senior parents: Graduation deadlines, college/scholarship application deadlines.
Week 12:
Review HW: Review course
Notebook/portfolio check
Quote
Follow up
Discuss: Summary
Goals
Graduation & beyond
Thank you note
Quiz
Q & A