JUNIOR�Brown Bag Series

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Mrs. Hoegh A-G

Mrs. Subudhi H-N

Mr. Nungaray O-Z

Welcome DSA Parents!

Emails

It is crucial to have your correct email in Maia Learning! We use Maia Learning to send a lot of information through email regarding:

• College visits
• Important Deadlines
• Scholarships
• Testing Information

DSA Website

• The DSA Counseling website is a great resource with almost all the information you need!

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https://dsa.dpsk12.org/counseling/

Let’s talk about COLLEGE!

Average Cost of College

CHOOSING A COLLEGE

• Choosing what is next after high school is an individual process. Start by knowing yourself. What are your…
• Values
• Achievements
• Academic Strengths
• Interests/Ambitions
• Standout Talents
• What YOU want from a college experience

Choosing Priorities

• A great way to narrow down options is to start with asking: What is important to you???
• Location
• Academics/Majors
• Size
• Campus Appeal
• Social Life
• Religious orientation
• Total cost

Class of 2020: 179 students

Class of 2020: 179 Students

Class of 2020: 179 Students

Scholarships and grants total: $23,614,808

Average of about $130,000 per student

Our top earning student: more than $1,100,000 in offers

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Students completed 1600 college applications

On average each student applied to about 7-8 colleges

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We highly encourage you to apply to a variety of these types of schools:

• Reach/Dream – A highly selective school, but it’s your dream and we highly encourage you to apply!!
• Goal – A school you have a good chance of getting into but aren’t fully confident.
• Safety – A school you are fully confident you will get into.
• Financial Safety – A school you are fully confident you can afford to attend.

College list vs College Application

• Create a list up to 50 schools
• Narrow the schools down throughout your junior year
• 7-10 colleges make it to the application list

The big question:�What should I be doing now as a Junior?

Junior To-Do List

In School

• Stay focused on academics: Don’t lighten your academic load for senior year
• Meet with your school counselor
• Stay involved in school and extracurricular activities
• Begin to think about who will write your letter(s) of recommendation
• Prep for your SAT!

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Junior To-Do List

Outside School

• Plan a meaningful summer: programs to attend, employment, interesting community service project, internships
• Counselors recommend planning colleges visits over Spring Break of your junior year, if possible
• Look at Common Application and complete at least a first draft of your personal essays

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Junior To-Do List

College Exploration

• Research colleges on the Web
• Visit colleges / Meet with college representatives
• Attend college fairs
• Talk to teachers/other students/grads in your major for ideas

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Collect College Information

• Maia Learning
• Individual college websites – usually www.name.edu
• Common Application - www.Commonapp.org--
• College Navigator - http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
• Princeton Review -www.princetonreview.com/colleges-majors.aspx
• Big Future – www.bigfuture.org

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College Visits

• You can find out about college visits at DSA during your senior year through several ways:
• Counseling Website
• Maia Learning
• Counseling Center
• Email blasts
• Schools are now offering virtual opportunities to tour. Check with individual schools for their specific options.

Understand what colleges look for…

1. Strength of High School Curriculum.
2. Grades (GPA and steady increase)
3. Standardized Test Scores (SAT, ACT)
4. Well-written Essay/Short Answers
5. Passionate involvement in a few activities. Depth, not breadth.
6. Personal accomplishments and leadership
7. Personal characteristics that contribute to a diverse student body
8. Demonstrated intellectual curiosity
9. Demonstrated Interest
10. Letters of Recommendation
11. Special talents
12. Community Service

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CU Boulder

University of California

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a. History/social science 2 years

one year of world history, cultures and geography (may be a single yearlong course or two one-semester courses), and one year of U.S. history or one-half year of U.S. history and one-half year of civics or American government

b. English 4 years

c. Mathematics 3 years

d. Laboratory science 2 years

Two years (three years recommended) of laboratory science providing fundamental knowledge in two of these three foundational subjects: biology, chemistry and physics.

e. Language other than English 2 years*

Two years, or equivalent to the 2nd level of high school instruction, of the same language other than English are required. (Three years/3rd level of high school instruction recommended).

f. Visual and performing arts 1 year

g. College-preparatory elective 1 year

(chosen from the subjects listed above or another course approved by the university)

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Music Schools

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• Often AP Music Theory is required.
• Usually have additional audition process and requirements.
• Still have academic requirements:
• Oberlin Conservatory: minimum of 15 academic units, including courses in English, foreign language, mathematics, laboratory science, and social science

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Testing Requirements

• Different schools also have different testing policies.
• Some schools will require the SAT with Essay or the ACT with Writing.
• Some highly selective schools require SAT subject tests.
• SAT just announced they will be ending these tests.
• https://www.compassprep.com/subject-test-requirements-and-recommendations/
• You are encouraged to research the admission requirements for your top programs to see if you need to sign up for additional testing.

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SAT with Essay

• The SAT with Essay will take approximately one hour longer than the SAT.
• It’s your choice. You decide whether or not to take the SAT with Essay.
• The SAT Essay is scored separately from the SAT and does not impact your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score.

ACT and SAT

All DSA Juniors will have the opportunity take the SAT with the school in April.

Recommended timeline for retakes:

Take the ACT and SAT again over the summer or early Fall when you return to school.

ACT and SAT

Differences:

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SAT - reading comprehension begins at 8am @ 65 minutes long

Math - some questions are not multiple choice, some questions don’t allow a calculator, and is broken up into 2 sections.

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ACT - reading comprehension comes up 2 hours after a break it’s 35 minutes long and it’s faster pace. Few seconds per question is allotted. 60 minutes 60 questions all multiple questions and calculator is allowed for all questions

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Optional Essay for SAT / ACT writing

Testing and Application �Fee Waivers

• Fee waivers are available for the ACT, SAT, and college applications.
• If you qualify for free and reduced lunch then you qualify for a fee waiver. **If you do not qualify but have a family circumstance in which you have financial hardship, please see your counselor!

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College Application Process

• All college applications are done through the individual college website or through Common App.
• All transcripts, reports, and letters of recommendation are done through Maia Learning.
• Test scores are done through College Board or ACT.
• You will receive step by step instructions on how to request transcripts, reports, and letters of rec in your senior Brown Bags in the fall.

Letters of Recommendation

• You will only need 2-3 letters total.
• You are allowed a maximum of two DSA teachers/staff letters of recommendation.
• You can submit letters from outside sources by having the recommender email the letter to your counselor.

Application Types

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• Early decision plans are binding — a student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college.
• Early action plans are nonbinding — students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1.
• Regular decision deadlines typically fall in early January, and offers of admission are sent out in late March or early April. 

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Benefits of Applying Early

• Higher acceptance rates. Acceptance rates tend to be higher for the early action and early decision application pools. This might be partly due to self-selection, since early applicants tend to have strong academic profiles. Also, applying early is a form of demonstrated interest. Colleges like early action and early decision because it lets them fill their classes sooner.
• Stress reduction. Although applying by an earlier deadline can be stressful, getting accepted early can reduce stress because you’ll know you’ve been accepted by at least one college.
• More time. Students who get in early have more time to consider their options and might make better decisions about where to enroll.

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Deadline Reminders

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• Pay close attention to all deadlines.
• Some schools have separate deadlines for auditions, financial aid, and scholarships.
• The key to not missing any deadlines is to be organized!!!

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Restrictive Early Action:

November 1^st

Application with Arts Portfolio:

October 15^th

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Regular Decision:

January 2^nd

Application with Arts Portfolio:

December 1^st

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FAFSA:

EA: November 15^th

Regular: February 15^th

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Auditions:

Varies by program

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ED Round 1:

November 1^st

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ED Round 2:

January 1^st

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Regular Decision:

January 1^st

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CSS Profiler:

Early Decision: November 14^th

Non- Custodial form: November 19^th

*Different dates for ED2 and RD

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FAFSA:

Early Decision: November 14^th

*Different dates for ED2 and RD

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Early Action:

November 15^th

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Regular Decision:

January 15^th

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FAFSA:

February 15^th

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CU Scholarship App:

February 15th

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College of Music App:

December 1st

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Organization is the key!!

College Application Tracker Soft Copy: http://dsapresents.org/counseling/seniors-2/forms/

Scholarships and Financial Aid

• In our experience at DSA, 90% of the scholarship money you will be given comes from the college itself!

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• Scholarship opportunities on website, in counseling office, and in Maia Learning.

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• We will focus on scholarships after you complete your college applications, including a scholarship search night for senior families.

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�We are excited to

work with your students! �

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Mrs. Hoegh A-G

Mrs. Subudhi H-N

Mr. Nungaray O-Z

JUNIOR�Brown Bag Series

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Thank you for watching