Claire Nold-Glaser, M.Ed. Chief Kanim Middle School March 12, 2014
} Direct entry into workforce } Military Service } Gap Year Program-service, travel, career exploration } 2 year community college } 4 year college } But wait....let ’ s think about the kids!
} Erickson ’ s Theory of Social-Emotional Development: ◦ Identity vs. Role Confusion Who am I? Internalized recordings of external messages from family, friends, school, community, popular culture, e-world Am I normal? Am I competent? resilient? Am I lovable & loving? Swings between independence & dependence-relying on parents as supporters & guides, not shaming dictators
} How do we frame this to our kids? Exciting opportunities to explore colleges that fit or seeking a “ badge of honor ” for our parenting? } “ College was the best years of my life ” ß some kids perceive this as pressure to pick THE right college + what does that say about your life now? } Ease into & through the process. Keep it in perspective. Students burnout. } Of all four-year, not-for-profit, baccalaureate degree-granting institutions, 64% admit more than half of the students who apply.
Go Goals ls fo for Co College llege } Separate and form personal identity- developing sense of self } Navigating through the process-how do we empower our children & help them to develop resiliency? } Degree = increased job opportunities & transferrable skills ◦ Oral communication skills ◦ Written communication skills ◦ Ability to work well with others
} Rigor of academic course load (AP courses are seen as stronger than Running Start) } Grade Point Average (some schools recalculate for core course GPA only & may weight Honors & AP courses) } Standardized test scores: ACT & (new)SAT } Essay or writing sample } Work/extracurricular activities } Teacher & counselor recommendations } Student demonstrated interest
} English 4 years } Math 3 years minimum 1 year each of Algebra 1, Algebra 2 & Geometry. 1 year of math must be taken during 12 th grade } Social Studies 3 years } Science 2 years must include chemistry or physics with lab } World Language 2 years of the same language } Fine Arts 1 semester } These are MINIMUMS for admission to public universities in Washington
} What makes your child an interesting person? } What do they love to learn? } What do they like to do outside of school? ◦ Work ◦ Service to others ◦ Commitment to activities: school/academics, arts, athletics, community, family, church/temple, scouting, other… ◦ Meaningful activities vs. resume builders Think about what you are instilling in them.
8 subtl tle ways (+2) to to prepare middle schoolers scho lers f for colleg or college ◦ Jay Matthews Washington Post } 1. Notice what they enjoy doing & help them do more of it. } 2. Make sure your child knows that B ’ s are fine in middle school and that fun is important. } 3. Enroll them in Algebra 1 in the eighth grade. } 4. Insist they develop some practical housework skills.
8 subtl tle ways conti tinued } 5. Flavor family trips with a bit of college atmosphere } 6. Encourage children who are curious about the world to take a world language. } 7. Character counts. Encourage its development. } 8. Do everything you can to encourage reading. } (9. Spend time together having fun. } 10. Sleep)
} 9 th grade grades do matter, but colleges are understanding of “ adjustment ” issues. Positive grade trend is desired. } Encourage exploration of extra-curricular activities: jobs…even mowing lawns, babysitting, community service, participation in the arts, athletics, clubs at school. } Start developing your resume } “ Gentle ” college visits on vacation after 9 th grade
} Take PLAN (pre-ACT) ß not offered at MSHS } Start world language classes if not already enrolled } Attend PNACAC Spring College Fair-usually held in April at Seattle University & begin exploring colleges & characteristics that fit } Visual artists-consider attending the National Portfolio Day as an observer-usually held on a Saturday in early January, usually at Cornish College of the Arts } College visits spring break/summer following 10 th grade
} Take the PSAT mid-October } Attend National College Fair-in the Fall (2 days) at the Washington State Convention Center } Attend Performing & Visual Arts College Fair- usually in October at the Seattle Center } Get serious about the college search process; attend college rep visits at high school, evening programs, campus visits, researching colleges } Take ACT & SAT in the spring & possibly SAT Subject Tests if required or recommended } Register with NCAA Eligibility Center for D-1 & 2
} Letters of recommendation for private schools; usually 2 teachers & hs counselor } Know why your child is applying to each school… they need to have a reason } Student completes applications } Submit apps by Thanksgiving/early December- pay attention to EA/ED/REA deadlines } Submit financial aid forms: FAFSA-January 1 st of senior year, CSS Profile-Fall of senior year } May 1 st : Enrollment deposit due to ONE college
Pa Paying ing fo for Co College llege } Need based aid (FAFSA, Profile Form) } Merit aid-based on some characteristic(s) very often academic and sometimes talent or community service based. } 529 Plans? GET Program? (ok for use at Canadian schools that take the FAFSA) } David Aramaki-Financial Advisor with Ameriprise Financial david.h.aramaki@ampf.com Office: 206.267.8811
} What are your hopes & dreams for your child? ◦ How do your hopes & dreams for your child translate into an evaluation of your parenting? } Don ’ t get sucked into the media, scary stories or the grapevine/rumor mill. } Open yourself up to new possibilities } Give your child time & space to explore options & colleges } Keep a sense of humor & joy for learning!
} Sizing Yourself Up Survey } National Survey of Student Engagement brochure: “ A Pocket Guide to Choosing a College ”
} www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov } http://www.finaid.org } www.nacacnet.org } www.portfolioday.net } http://www.collegexpress.com } www.youniversity.tv } http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ } http://www.ucan-network.org/ } http://www.collegeportraits.org/ } http://www.ctcl.org/ } http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/ NCAA.jsp
} Harvard Schmarvard-Matthews } Looking Beyond the Ivy League & Colleges that Change Lives-Pope } Admission Matters-Springer, Reider & Franck } The Fiske Guide-Fiske } 25 Months Until College-McNeely } Less Stress, More Success: A New Approach to Guiding Your Teen Through College Admissions & Beyond -Jones & Ginsburg
} Listen to your child…be patient with their process. } Don ’ t micromanage the process. Check in but don ’ t nag. Call your child ’ s counselor & ask him/her for help to get your child moving. } Expect a lot from your child, but be mindful of the teenage years. Anxiety & anger are covers for fear. } College search: The key question is not, “ Is college X a good college? ” Rather, the question is, “ Is X a good college for me? ”
} Best wishes as you embark on this exciting adventure! } Questions? Comments? } Claire Nold-Glaser } claire@collegeplanninghelp.com } “Like” College Planning Help on Facebook
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