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Post-Secondary Option:

The College Path

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High School Gifted and Talented Advocates

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High School GT Advocates

Kelsey Barnes

Thornton HS

Heidi Huey

Prospect Ridge

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Tina Walters

Horizon HS

Marleen Seckendorf

Northglenn and Mountain Range HS

Chris Warner

Legacy HS

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COLLEGE SEARCH

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Guiding Principles

  1. Applying to college is a test of executive functioning skills
    • Parents and guardians and adults MUST stay involved in this process.
    • This is not the time to “apply” those executive functioning skills unobserved.

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2) Students and their adults should discuss how all of these ideas you hear tonight MATTER and BALANCE within your family philosophy

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I want my student to go to a “GOOD” school!

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I want to go to a “GOOD” school!

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Cool . . . What Does That Mean?

  • Help your student find the best FIT for them.

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  • Weigh the COSTS and BENEFITS of taking on DEBT to achieve goals.

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  • Start this process EARLY and TAKE YOUR TIME

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All About the Fit

  1. Location
  2. Culture

3)Major

4) Cost

5) Other

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  1. LOCATION
  • Region

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  • Rural, urban, suburban

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  • Distance from home

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  • Weather / bugs

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  • Near activities you enjoy

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2) CULTURE

  • Size and diversity (of student body)
  • Public or private
  • Religious affiliation
  • “Party school”
  • Greek life
  • University-planned activities

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45,000

8,000

1,900

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3) MAJOR

  • Liberal arts “core” / conservatory style

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  • Have your major? / “good” school FOR that major?

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  • Ability to take interdisciplinary courses

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  • Ability to change majors AT that school

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  • Who is teaching these classes?

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4) COST

  • Tuition
  • Room and board
  • Travel to and from campus
  • A car?
  • What type of aid exists?
  • In / out-of-state tuition

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5) Others?

  • Admission rate (selectivity)
  • Honors college
  • Retention rate
  • Graduation rate
  • Quality of life (stress of students)
  • Green rating

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Honors Colleges

  • Selective division within a larger university
  • Similar to a smaller liberal arts college feel within a larger research university

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  • Benefits
    • More rigorous curriculum
    • Lower faculty: student ratio
    • Money/merit aid if admitted
    • Priority registration

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STEPS?

  • Honest conversation as a family
  • Discuss priorities
  • Pick an entry point into this process

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  • Make a CHART reflecting those priorities
    • Your list of schools
    • Your activities, accomplishments, volunteer moments
    • Are you a STRONG candidate for that university?

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Charts to Help

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Important Books to Read

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YEAR in SCHOOL

THINGS to DO

FRESHMAN

  • Do well in classes
  • Join activities
  • Take the PSAT

SOPHOMORE

  • Do well in classes
  • Continue in activities
  • Study PSAT results

JUNIOR

  • Build your college list
  • Take PSAT / SAT
  • Visit campuses / take virtual tours

SENIOR

  • Complete the Common Application
  • Go on more visits
  • Complete FAFSA and CSS Profile
  • APPLY around November
  • Hear about decisions from January to April
  • Make decision and a deposit in May

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Schedule for Tonight

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