PATHWAYS TO POSTGRAD

College Planning from High School Day

1

Did you know?

Research indicates that early adolescence is an

essential time to develop postsecondary plans

Paental involvement in academics during adolescence

Related to college completion (Eccles, Vida & Barber, 2004)

Strong correlation with college attendance (Khanh & Rush,
2016)

Guidance and information-seeking related to attending

institutions of postsecondary education related to
college completion

Exploration, prerequisites, applications (Plank & Jordan,

2001)

College planning is a huge undertaking

"The college search process has been

described as complicated, confusing,
time-consuming and stress inducing
(Johnson-Rachkoskie, 2016)
Your school counselor can help!

Freshman Year
Discuss why you should attend college with parents,
counselors, teachers.
(Khanh & Rush, 2016;McKillip, Rawls, & Barry, 2012).
Think about potential majors and careers, find out all you can
about them.

Get involved!

O*Net (onetonline.org)
PA Career Zone (www.pacareerzone.org)
One of the main things that College Admissions ask about in
recommendation forms:
The extent that the applicant has taken advantage of community
opportunities (National Research Council, 2002a, as cited in
Gandara, Orfield & Horn, 2006).

(Moyer, n.d.)

Course Selection

Challenge yourself!
AP, Honors
English

Math

Biology, Chemistry, Physics

Foreign Language

World/U.S. History, Economics,

Civics

Science

Geometry, Precalculus/Calculus,
Trigonometry

Social Studies

Literature, Composition

2-3 years

(Moyer, n.d.)

Why is Course Selection So Important?

Admissions counselors:

Specific course selection related to college

attendance

Presence of AP and advanced courses evidence of

applicants' willingness to take on academic challenges
(National Research Council, 2002a, as cited in
Gandara, Orfield & Horn, 2006)

High level math courses, Algebra II (Jeongeun,

Jiyun,DesJardins, & McCall, 2015)

Rigorous coursework in high school related to

college attendance and degree completion
(Attewell & Domina, 2008)

Mind Your GPA

Colleges view your high school average and

grades starting in 9th grade.
GPA in early adolescence significant
predictor of full-time college attendance
(Eccles, Vida & Barber, 2004)
High school grades predictive of freshman
GPA in college and 4-year graduation rates.
(Geiser & Santelices, 2007)
Your high school transcript will follow you
throughout life.

Sophomore Year

Explore your interests and abilities with your school counselor.

CommonApp (Johnson-Rachkoski, 2016)
Job shadow professionals who work in your field.

Students exposed to career development interventions over a 2year period had higher scores in career development skills and
academic success (Choi, Kim & Kim, 2015).

Do a preliminary college search

Top factors influencing college decisions

School

size
Cost and financial aid
Academic reputation, offerings

(Noel-Levitz, 2012)

Try out the PSAT

(Moyer, n.d.)

The PSAT

National Merit Scholar Ship Qualifying Exam

Identify students qualifying for scholarship
50,000 honored per year
Purpose: "Designed to measure the reasoning,
math problem-solving, and writing skills generally
associated with academic achievement in
college."
"Helps students and their teachers determine
what areas to work on in order to be fully
prepared for college after high school graduation."
Typically administered to students in Grade 10.
Length 165 minutes

Reading- 60 minutes
Writing and Language- 35 minutes
Math- 70 minutes

(College Board and National Merit Scholarship &

Educational Testing, 2016)

Activity: Think About You Own College

Selection Criteria...

Write down the top 5 things that are

most important to your college research.

Size of school?
Academic offerings?
Financial aid?

Junior Year

Continue to consider college majors, colleges &

universities, and careers.
Talk to college representatives who visit your school.
Visit College Admissions events.

Students who visit college campuses prior to applying are twice

as likely to graduate than students who do not make college
visits while applying (Brown, 2010)

Attend College/Financial Aid Fairs

Research Financial Aid Opportunities

Significant relationship between college attendance and

exposure to financial aid programs (Dyanarski, 2000)

Try out the SAT/ ACT

(Moyer, n.d.)

The SAT

Measures "the 'verbal and mathematical reasoning

abilities related to successful performance in
college.(College Board & Educational Testing
Service, 1984)
New SAT

Focuses on skills and knowledge that research has

indicated are most vital for success in college and career.
Sections in evidence-based Reading/Writing, Math,
Optional Essay
Time: 3 hours
50-minute essay (optional)

(College Board, 2016)

The ACT
Measures "what students are likely to
know and ready to learn next in
preparation for the transition to postsecondary education. (ACT, Inc., 1959)
Sections in Math, English, Reading,
Science, Writing (optional)
Time: Approximately 3 hours (50-minute
optional Writing section)
(The Princeton Review, n.d.)

Possible Questions for College Admissions

Representative
What is your application deadline? Do you have a rolling admissions?
What is the average SAT/ACT score and GPA of the entering freshman
class? Are SAT/ACT required?
Do you accept AP, IB and transfer credits?
What are the largest and smallest class sizes on campus?
What are your most popular majors?
What study abroad, internship and academic services opportunities are
offered?
What kind of financial aid and scholarships are available? When is the
priority deadline for financial aid?
What do students do in their free time?
Extra-curricular, community relations, Greek Life
Is housing guaranteed?
How does your meal plan work?
(Montana State University, n.d.)

Activity: What other questions that you

would like to ask College Representatives?

What are 3 other questions that you

have at this time that you feel would be
important for you to answer while
researching colleges?

Looking Ahead to Senior

Year

Know deadlines for Financial Aid, Scholarships Applications, Early

Admissions (if applicable).
Know test scores and GPA requirements of your colleges of interest.
Ask yourself the following:

Knowing your high school grades and test scores, is your college selection
realistic?
Are your careers and majors appropriate?

Discuss with your parents and school counselor.

Farmer- Hinton (2008)- Conversations with counselors and teachers can

help to narrow students' college choices.

Try to narrow down your college choices to 4-5.

Familiarize yourself with the application materials for these
universities.
(Moyer, n.d.)

Senior Year

Make final visits to your top colleges

Students who visit college campuses prior to applying are twice as

likely to graduate than students who do not make college visits while
applying (Brown, 2010)

Complete and submit applications.

Take the SAT/ACT again, if needed.

Continue to speak to college representatives who visit your school.

Continue to attend College Night and Financial Aid programs sponsored by

the high school.

Complete and submit your financial aid application (FAFSA).

Opening date as of 2016-2017 school year has been moved to October

1. (Johnson-Rachkoskie, 2016)

Reply to all acceptances, regardless of your decision.

Confirm your enrollment to your final choice.

Typically due by late spring.

(Moyer, n.d.)

Your Essay

Chances are Admissions Representatives will have

limited time to review your application..

Your essay is one way to stand out!

When writing an admissions essay be mindful of...

Grabbing the reader's attention

Writing about a topic that represents you at your very
best
Allowing at least two drafts before submitting.
Writing very close to the word count criteria.
Spell check!

(Wassink, 2016)

Questions?

Your School Counselor is here to help!

References

ACT, Inc. (1959). The ACT Test. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxymillersville.klnpa.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=00f9a412-19e6-42c7-9f36aaf832072ed2%40sessionmgr4010&hid=4207&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT

1zaXRl#AN=test.1016&db=mmt
Johnson-Rachkoski, T. (2016). College admissions updates. American School Counselor
Association, 54(2), 49.
Attewell, P., & Domina, T. (2008). Raising the bar: curricular intensity and academic
performance. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 30(1), 5171.
Brown, J. K. (2010). An examination of undergraduate student recruitment procedures and
activities at a Midwestern state university. Enrollment Management Journal, 4(3), 89-116.
Choi, Y., Kim, J., & Kim, S. (2015). Career development and school success in adolescents:
The role of career interventions. Career Development Quarterly, 63(2), 171-186.
doi:10.1002/cdq.12012
College Board. (2016). Compare SAT specifications. Retrieved from
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/compare-old-new-specifications
College Board & Educational Testing, Service (1984). College board scholastic aptitude test
and test of standard written English. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxymillersville.klnpa.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=8&sid=00f9a412-19e6-42c7-9f36aaf832072ed2%40sessionmgr4010&hid=4207&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT
1zaXRl#AN=test.6429&db=mmt

References

College Board and National Merit Scholarship, C., & Educational Testing, S. (2016). PSAT/NMSQT.
Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxy-millersville.klnpa.org/ehost/detail/detail?
vid=5&sid=00f9a412-19e6-42c7-9f36aaf832072ed2%40sessionmgr4010&hid=4207&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXR
l#AN=test.4792&db=mmt
Dyanarski, S. (2000). Hope for whom?: Financial aid for the middle class and its impact on college
attendance. National Tax Journal, 53(3), 629-661.
Eccles, J. S., Vida, M. N., & Barber, B. (2004). The relation of early adolescents' college plans and
both academic baility and task-value beliefs to subsequent college enrollment. Journal Of Early
Adolescence, 24(1), 63-77. doi:10.1177/0272431603260919
Farmer-Hinton, R. L. (2008). Social capital and college planning: Students of color using school
networks for support and guidance. Education & Urban Society, 41(1), 127-157.
Gandara, P., Orfield, G., & Horn, C. (2006) . Expanding opportunity in high education: Leveraging
promise. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press: Albany.
Geiser, S. & Santelices, M. V. (2007). Validity of high-school grades in predicting student success
beyond freshman year: High-school record vs. standardized tests as indicators of four-year college
outcomes. Research & Occasional Paper Series: Center for Studies in High Education. Retrieved
from
http://www.cshe.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/shared/publications/docs/ROPS.GEISER._SAT_6.13.07
.pdf
Jeongeun, K., Jiyun, K., DesJardins, S. L., & McCall, B. P. (2015). Completing Algebra II in high school:
Does it increase college access and success?. Journal Of Higher Education, 86(4), 628-662.

References

Khanh, B. & Rush, R. A. (2016). Parental involvement in middle school predicting

college attendance for first generation students. Education, 136 (4), 473-489.
McKillip, M. M., Rawls, A., & Barry, C. (2012). Improving college access: A review
of research on the role of school counselors. Professional School Counseling,
16(1), 49-58.
Montana State University (n.d.) Questions to ask college representatives.
Retrieved from http://www.montana.edu/admissions/visit/repquestions.pdf
Moyer, C. (n.d.) College decision timetable. York, PA: Penn State York.
Noel-Levitz. (2012). Why did the enroll?: The factors influencing college choice.
Coralville, Iowa: Author. Retrieved from www.noellevitz.com/Factors2012.
Plank, S. B., & Jordan, W. I. (2001). Effects of information, guidance, and actions
on postsecondary decisions: A study of talent loss. American Education Research
Journal, 38(4), 947-979.
The Princeton Review. (n.d.) About the ACT test. Retrieved from
http://www.princetonreview.com/college/act-information
Wassink, S. K. (2016). 7 proven tips for successful college application essays.
Time. Retrieved from http://time.com/money/4433730/college-application-essayhelp/