Dunkirk High School
COLLEGE & CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
2012-2013
DHS Guidance Department
Developing Your Post – High School Plan
As you approach the end of high school, you are sure to be asked by many
people: “What do you plan to do after you graduate?”
Where do I begin?
•Take time to think about what you like to do; dream and imagine ideal careers. There are so many opportunities, so many different types of jobs and careers in a wide variety of industries and there are also other career paths that are just emerging.
What if you're not sure of what kind of job or career you want? Not sure what to do with your life? Spend some time and take one or more of the following self-assessment tests to give you a better idea of your attitudes and interests as they relate to possible career choices.
www.livecareer.com
www.Free-Career-Test.com
www.testingroom.com
www.funeducation.com
DHS Students have access to a very helpful program called Guidance Direct. Included in this program is a career interest test which can help you think about your future career. See your counselor for help in accessing this program.
www.guidancedirect.com
What are my options after high school?
In the following pages, some of the more common options will be explored and explained.
Choice 1: Attend a 4 year college or university
Examples: SUNY Fredonia, Niagara University, University at Buffalo (UB)
Four year colleges and universities have “competitive” admissions policies. In other words, they accept some students to attend their schools and deny others. How do colleges decide which students to accept and which not to accept? The following are the 5 major “pieces to the admissions puzzle”.
Figure 1: 5 Pieces to the Admissions Puzzle
1st Piece: Academic Performance (GPA, Rigor, Class Rank)
Grades matter! There’s no question that your grade point average (GPA) is a key part of the admissions puzzle. Colleges view your grades as future indicators of how likely you are to succeed in college classes.
Rigor matters! It’s not only the grades you earn, but the rigor or difficulty of the classes which matters. Colleges want to see that you’ve challenged yourself in high school and proved that you can successfully complete challenging coursework as this is what is expected in college.
Class rank: Class rank is a measure of how your academic performance compares to other students from your class. Many colleges take this factor into consideration when judging applications.
2nd Piece: Standardized Test Scores (SAT, ACT)
You need to perform well on whatever standardized test (SAT or ACT) you take. Strive to do your best, but know that you can take these tests repeatedly. Some prep site for college-bound students are:
www.ACT-SAT-Prep.com
www.KapTest.com
www.prepme.com
www.collegeboard.com
www.PrincetonReview.com
www.tutorsonwheels.com
SAT
The SAT is a test which measures academic ability in three areas: Critical Reading, Writing and Mathematics. When colleges list their average SAT score, the number usually reflects only the Critical Reading and Math scores. (ie. a score of 1000 might mean 500 on Critical Reading and 500 on Math)
Students wishing to take the SAT should create an online account with the College Board (www.collegeboard.com) and register for the test there. Paper registration forms are also available. Fee waivers are available for students who qualify. See your school counselor.
SAT Test Dates: Registration Deadlines:
*October 6tht @ DHS September 7th
*November 3rd @ DHS October 19th
*December 1st @ Fredonia November 1st
*January 26th @ Fredonia December 28th
*March 9th @ DHS February 8th
*May 4th @ DHS April 5th
*June 1st @ Fredonia May 2nd
ACT
The ACT is similar to the SAT however it has more content areas including a section of science (Biology, Earth Science, etc.). Colleges are usually interested in a student’s Composite Score which is measured on a scale of 0 – 36. Students wishing to take the ACT should create an online account with ACT at www.actstudent.org and register for the test there. Paper registration forms are also available. Fee waivers are available for students who qualify. See your school counselor .
ACT Test Dates: Registration Deadlines:
*September 8th @ Fredonia August 17th
*October 27th @ DHS September 21st
*December 8th @ Fredonia November 2nd
*February 9th January 11th
*April 13th March 8th
*June 8th @ DHS May 3rd
Third Piece: Extracurricular Activities & Experiences
Undergraduate colleges like to see applicants who have shown leadership in one or more volunteer or extracurricular activities. Remember that quality is favored over quantity, thus do not join as many clubs as possible, but show a deep and long-term commitment to one or two particular activities. Colleges may also be interested in your experiences outside of the classroom such as travel history, involvement in churches or other community organizations.
Fourth Piece: Application Essay
If done properly, the application essay is a chance for you cut through the other applications and make yourself stand apart from the other applicants. Some admissions counselors make initial judgments about an application’s strength and standing by grading the personal statement before any other part of the application. Remember that while you can’t go back and change your grades, class rank, or standardized test scores, you can control the quality of your application essay. Your application essay should show self-awareness, honesty, and depth. Avoid ego-driven autobiographies, lying or exaggerating about circumstances, or having an essay that is a bit too polished for your writing skills. Read college admission essays that worked and get topics, tips, and samples at www.CollegeBoard.com, www.Accepted.com, and www.AtriumLearning.com.
Fifth Piece: Recommendations
This last piece is as important as the first; strong recommendations are a critical part—perhaps the most critical part—of the college application. Persuasive letters of recommendations, ones that gush about the applicant, can turn the heads of the admissions committee while average letters—ones that could be written about any good student—can raise doubts. There are definitely strategies in choosing the two or three people you are going to ask to write letters of recommendation. One of the keys is asking people who really know you and your potential.
Choice 2: Attend a 2 year community college
Examples: JCC, Erie Community College, Monroe Community College
Unlike four year colleges, most community colleges have “open enrollment” meaning that they will accept any student with a high school diploma or often a GED. Oftentimes, popular two year programs such as nursing are competitive in their admissions practices.
Most community colleges will require new students to take a placement exam. The placement exam’s purpose is to assess a student’s academic skills and to help place them into appropriate courses. If a student scores poorly on a placement exam, he/she may be required to take non – credit bearing remedial courses before being allowed to take courses for college credit.
Community colleges offer a wide range of programs leading to certificates and associate degrees. Certificate programs are designed for students who wish to attain particular skills for a particular career. They can often be completed in two or three semesters (1 – 1.5 years). Associate degrees are designed to be completed in two years but often take longer. Some associate degree programs are designed to allow students to transfer to a 4 year college or university. These transfer programs often lead to an AA (associate of arts) or AS (associate of science) degree. Other associate degree programs are designed for students who wish to immediately begin a career upon completing their degree. These programs often lead to an AAS (Associate of Applied Science) degree or AOS (Associate of Occupational Studies) degree.
Choice 3: Attend a technical college
Examples: Jamestown Business College, Toni & Guy Academy, Universal Technical Institute, Great Lakes Institute of Technology, Erie Institute of Technology, Bryant & Stratton College, ITT Tech
Technical colleges typically offer more “hands – on” programs which are designed to train students for particular careers and get them quickly into the workforce. Technical colleges offer programs in a wide variety of fields such as health care, electronics, business, building trades, cosmetology, and the automotive field.
Be aware that many community colleges (ie. JCC) and technology colleges (ie. Alfred State) also offer hands – on technical career programs. These public schools are much more affordable than the private technical colleges.
Tips for Finding Your College Match
How can you find colleges that match your needs? First, identify your priorities. Next, carefully research the characteristics of a range of schools. Finally match the two. Here are some characteristics you should consider:
•Size of the Student Body
Size will affect many of your opportunities and experiences, including: range of academic majors offered, extracurricular possibilities, amount of personal attention you’ll receive, and number of books in the library. When considering size, be very sure to look beyond the raw number of students attending.
•Location
Do you want to visit home frequently, or do you see this as a time to experience a new part of the country? Perhaps you like an urban environment with access to museums, ethnic food, or major league ball games. Or maybe you hope to easy access to the outdoors or the serenity of a small town
•Academic Programs
If you know what you want to study, research reputations of academic departments by talking to people in the fields that interest you. If you’re undecided, relax and pick an academically balanced institution that offers a range of majors and programs. Most colleges offer counseling to help you a focus.
•Campus Life
Consider what your college life will be like beyond the classroom. Aim for a balance between academics, activities, and social life. Before choosing a college, answer these questions:
-What extracurricular activities, athletics, and special interest groups are available?
-Does the community around the college offer interesting outlets for students?
-How do fraternities and sororities influence campus life?
-Is housing guaranteed?
-How are dorms assigned?
•Cost
Today’s college price tag makes cost an important consideration for most students. At the same time, virtually all colleges work to ensure that academically qualified students from every economic circumstance can find financial aid that allows them to attend. When considering cost, look beyond the price tag. So, how much does it cost to attend college? Look at the next few pages regarding these schools that you may be familiar with:
- Jamestown Community College (Public – 2 yr community college)
- SUNY Fredonia (Public - 4 yr university college)
- Universal Technical Institute (technical college)
- St. Bonaventure University (4 year private college)
Be sure to look not only at the cost but at the Financial Aid Statistics!
•College Search Tools•
**Visit the college research page on the guidance office website
http://www.dunkirkcsd.org/jmyers
**Use your Guidance Direct account to research colleges and save them to your portfolio. Need an account or forgot your log – in? See your counselor.
www.guidancedirect.com
**Find New York State colleges and college programs that can prepare you for particular careers.
www.nycareerzone.org
**A college search for public and private schools is one of many services offered here.
www.collegeboard.com
**Access information about the State University of New York (SUNY) There are 64 public colleges and universities throughout New York State.
http://www.suny.edu/student/index.cfm
**Research 100 private colleges and universities in New York State here:
http://www.nycolleges.org
**One of the most comprehensive education sites on the web—
www.petersons.com
**CollegeView--your one-stop source for everything you need to find the college that’s right for you! Take virtual tours, find scholarships and financial aid information, apply to college electronically, plan your career, ask questions of professional guidance counselors, read book excerpts about college and making the most of your experiences. Talk to other students and even play games!
www.collegeview.com
**Search for colleges, scholarships, and related information.
www.gocollege.com
**Focus on the military with other information related to colleges and careers.
www.myfuture.com
•Financial Aid•
Financial Aid for college can be broadly categorized into two groups: that which must be paid back (loans) and that which does not (grants & scholarships).
*Financial aid that MUST be paid back
LOANS
-Loans from private banks
-Loans from states, colleges, and other institutions
-Federal Perkins Loans
-Federal Stafford Loans (unsubsidized and subsidized)
*Financial aid that does NOT have to be paid back
GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS
-Federal Pell Grants
-Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
-Institutional grants and scholarships from the colleges
-Scholarships (Local, State, Regional, National)
-New York State TAP Grants
You should take time to discuss with your parents/guardians the expectations for paying for college.
Visit the College Financial Aid Resources link on the guidance website to educate yourself on financial aid for college. You should also attend the financial aid education night in January with your parents. See your school counselor for the date of this event.
Choice 4: Join the Armed Service
For many young people, choosing to serve in one of the branches of the armed service after graduation is an excellent option. The armed service offers young people the chance to develop valuable leadership skills, build confidence, prepare for a career, see new places and most importantly, serve their country. There are also many educational benefits that servicemen and women are entitled to such as the GI Bill which helps pay for college. Excellent opportunities abound in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard as well as the Reserves.