SECTION XII HELPFUL HANDOUTS
EXPLORE YOUR STRENGTHS
To help you sharpen your focus on who you are, work through this checklist of personal characteristics. Look back over this list and circle words that are most descriptive of you. Use these words to aid you in writing your essay and/or personal statement. Academic
Cool
Honest
Outgoing
Sincere
Active
Cooperative
Humorous
Painstaking
Sociable
Accurate
Courageous
Idealistic
Peaceable
Spontaneous
Adaptable
Curious
Imaginative
Persevering
Spunky
Adventurous
Daring
Independent
Pleasant
Steady
Affectionate
Deliberate
Individualistic
Poised
Strong
Aggressive
Determined
Industrious
Polite
Sympathetic
Alert
Dignified
Informal
Practical
Tactful
Ambitious
Discreet
Intellectual
Precise
Tenacious
Artistic
Dominant
Intelligent
Progressive
Teachable
Assertive
Eager
Inventive
Prudent
Thorough
Attractive
Easygoing
Kind
Quick
Thoughtful
Broadminded
Efficient
Lighthearted
Quiet
Tolerant
Businesslike
Emotional
Likable
Rational
Tough
Calm
Energetic
Logical
Realistic
Trusting
Capable
Fair-minded
Loyal
Reflective
Trustworthy
Careful
Farsighted
Mature
Relaxed
Unaffected
Cautious
Firm
Methodical
Reliable
Unassuming
Charming
Flexible
Meticulous
Responsible
Understanding
Cheerful
Forceful
Mild
Reserved
Unexcitable
Clear-thinking
Formal
Moderate
Resourceful
Uninhibited
Clever
Frank
Modest
Retiring
Verbal
Competent
Friendly
Natural
Self-confident
Versatile
Confident
Generous
Open-minded
Self-controlled
Warm
Competitive
Gentle
Opportunistic
Sensible
Wholesome
Conscientious
Good-natured
Optimistic
Sensitive
Wise
Conservative
Healthy
Organized
Serious
Witty
Considerate
Helpful
Original
Sharp-witted
Zany
SENIOR QUESTIONAIRE Name:_______________________________________ Date: _________________________
Many scholarships come to us based on financial need. Please indicate if you/or your parents feel you might qualify for need-based financial aid. _______Yes ________No.
To assist the counselors in representing you accurately in letters of recommendation (honors, college, scholarships), please read and respond to the statements and questions below. Please take nothing for granted; answer the questions completely. List the colleges/universities to which you will apply: 1. _____________________________________
3.______________________________________
2.______________________________________
4.______________________________________
A. What makes you unique and different? B. Have you overcome any great obstacle, or do you have any limitations that have interefered with your life activities?
C. List all of the community service activities that you have been involved in within and outside of school.
D. What are your college/career goals?
E. What are your hobbies?
F. Are there any independent study projects you have initiated (ex., projects, community service, internships, college classes, etc.)? G. List five adjectives which describe you as a person.
H. Describe any significant summer or work experiences.
I. Who are two Cousino teachers to whom your counselor might go to for further reference?
J. Do you have any other unique talents, i.e., drama, theater, newspaper, dance, arts, etc.?
K. ATTACH A RESUME!!! Be sure to include leadership roles and all honors.
SENIOR PARENT QUESTIONNAIRE Student Name:_______________________________________________ Date:_________________________ Dear Parent: The college admissions process is both complex and highly personal, I will need to know your child well. PLEASE share with me your thoughts and feelings about him/her. Be funny; be serious; be honest; be proud! The more I know, the better my ability to help your child plan life after high school.
1. What do you consider to be your son/daughter's greatest strength?
2. What does he or she enjoy most about high school? What classes did your student enjoy and find success?
3. In what ways is your son or daughter a leader, a follower?
4. Has your child experienced any challenges at Cousino? If so, how did they overcome them?
5. Has he/she initiated any projects outside of school and carried them through to completion? If so, please explain.
6. What is the single most important thing you want the colleges to know about your child?
7. Is there anything else you would like us to know?
8. Many times we have to nominate students for awards based on financial need. Should your family be considered? ___________________________
Signature:________________________________________________ (please return to your child's counselor - thank you!) .
COLLEGE COMPARISON CHART College #1 College Name Location Distance from home, local, regional, other Size Undergraduate/Graduate/Enrollment Campus Environment
College #2
College #3
College #4
Type: 2yr/4yr Space: # of acres Rural, urban, etc. Nearest city + distance Religious affiliation Coed / Singles Sex Conservative / Liberal Atmosphere Admission Requirements Application deadlines Courses and test required Average ACT, SAT, GPA Special requirements Academics Your major offered Student/faculty ratio Average class size Special freshman requirements Housing % living on campus Options – types and sizes Meal Plans Other Activities Clubs, organizations Greek life + % involved Athletics + intramurals Cost/Financial Aid Tuition, room, board, books, fees Application fee, deposit FA forms and deadlines % receiving FA % Scholarships Facilities Academic Recreational Campus Visit When available Schedule or walk-in Special opportunities Other Other Factors Contact Information Address Phone # Website
FINANCIAL PLANNING WORKSHEET Name:_________________________________________________ Date:__________________________
The purpose of the financial plan is to help you and your family prepare for the education you will be pursuing after high school.
Estimate your yearly expenses in your Post-Secondary program of choice: Educational Costs Tuition & Fees
__________________________
Books & Supplies
__________________________
Room & Board/Commuting Costs
__________________________
Total Expenses (Educational + Living Costs)
__________________________
What is your available income? Savings
__________________________
Summer earnings
__________________________
Part-time work during the school year
__________________________
What resources will your family provide? From their current income
__________________________
From savings
__________________________
Total Available funds
__________________________
FINANCIAL NEED (expenses minus available income) __________________________
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE? IN HIGH SCHOOL High school is mandatory and usually free. Your time is structured by others. You need permission to participate in extracurricular activities. You can count on parents and teachers to remind you of your responsibilities and to guide you in setting priorities.
IN COLLEGE College is voluntary and expensive. You manage your own time. You must decide whether to participate in co-curricular activities. You must balance your responsibilities and set priorities. You will face moral and ethical decisions you have never faced before.
Each day you proceed from one class directly to another, spending 6 hours each day-30 hours a week-in class.
You often have hours between classes; class times vary throughout the day and evening and you spend only 12 to 16 hours each week in class
Most of your classes are arranged for you. You are not responsible for knowing what it takes to graduate. Guiding principle: You will usually be told what to do and corrected if your behavior is out of line.
You arrange your own schedule in consultation with your adviser. Schedules tend to look lighter than they really are. Graduation requirements are complex, and differ from year to year. You are expected to know those that apply to you. Guiding principle: You are expected to take responsibility for what you do and don't do, as well as for the consequences of your decisions.
HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES The school year is 36 weeks long; some classes extend over both semesters and some don't.
COLLEGE CLASSES The academic year is divided into two separate 15week semesters, plus a week after each semester for exams.
Classes generally have no more than 35 students.
Classes may number 100 students or more.
You may study outside class as little as 0 to 2 hours a week, and this may be mostly last-minute test preparation. You seldom need to read anything more than once, and sometimes listening in class is enough. You are expected to read short assignments that are then discussed, and often re-taught, in class. Guiding principle: You will usually be told in class what you need to learn from assigned readings.
You need to study at least 2 to 3 hours outside of class for each hour in class.
HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS Teachers check your completed homework.
COLLEGE PROFESSORS Professors may not always check completed homework, but they will assume you can perform the same tasks on tests.
Teachers remind you of your incomplete work. Teachers approach you if they believe you need assistance.
Professors may not remind you of incomplete work. Professors are usually open and helpful, but most expect you to initiate contact if you need assistance.
Teachers are often available for conversation before, during, or after class.
Professors expect and want you to attend their scheduled office hours.
Teachers have been trained in teaching methods to assist in imparting knowledge to students.
Professors have been trained as experts in their particular areas of research.
Teachers provide you with information you missed when you were absent. Teachers present material to help you understand the material in the textbook.
Professors expect you to get from classmates any notes from classes you missed. Professors may not follow the textbook. Instead, to amplify the text, they may give illustrations, provide background information, or discuss research about the topic you are studying. Or they may expect you to relate the classes to the textbook readings.
Teachers often write information on the board to be copied in your notes.
Professors may lecture nonstop, expecting you to identify the important points in your notes. When professors write on the board, it may be to amplify the lecture, not to summarize it. Good notes are a must. Professors expect you to think about and synthesize seemingly unrelated topics.
Teachers impart knowledge and facts, sometimes drawing direct connections . Teachers often take time to remind you of assignments and due dates.
Teachers carefully monitor class attendance. Guiding principle: High school is a teaching
You need to review class notes and text material regularly. You are assigned substantial amounts of reading and writing which may not be directly addressed in class. Guiding principle: It's up to you to read and understand the assigned material; lectures and assignments proceed from the assumption that you've already done so.
Professors expect you to read, save, and consult the course syllabus (outline); the syllabus spells out exactly what is expected of you, when it is due, and how it will be graded. Professors may not formally take roll, but they are still likely to know whether or not you attended. Guiding principle: College is a learning environment in
environment in which you acquire facts and skills TESTS IN HIGH SCHOOL Testing is frequent and covers small amounts of material.
Makeup tests are often available Teachers frequently rearrange test dates to avoid conflict with school events Teachers frequently conduct review sessions, pointing out the most important concepts Guiding principle: Mastery is usually seen as the ability to reproduce what you were taught in the form in which it was presented to you, or to solve the kinds of problems you were shown how to solve. GRADES IN HIGH SCHOOL Grades are given for most assigned work Consistently good homework grades may raise your overall grade when test grades are low. Extra credit projects are often available to help you raise your grade. Initial test grades, especially when they are low, may not have an adverse effect on your final grade
which you take responsibility for thinking through and applying what you have learned. TEST IN COLLEGE Testing is usually infrequent and may be cumulative, covering large amounts of material. You, not the professor, need to organize the material to prepare for the test. A particular course may only have 2 or 3 tests in a semester. Makeup tests are seldom an option; if they are, you need to request them. Professors in different courses usually schedule tests without regard to demands of other courses or outside activities. Professors rarely offer review sessions, and when they do, they expect you to be an active participant, one who comes prepared with questions. Guiding principle: Mastery is often seen as the ability to apply what you’ve learned to new situations or to solve new kinds of problems.
GRADES IN COLLEGE Grades may not be provided for all assigned work. Grades on tests and major papers usually provide most of the course grade. Extra credit projects cannot, generally speaking, be used to raise a grade in a college course. Watch out for your first tests. These are usually “wake up calls” to let you know what is expected – but they also may count for a substantial part of your course grade. You may be shocked when you get your grades. You may graduate as long as you pass all of your You may graduate only if your average in classes meets required courses with a grade of D or higher. the department standard. Check with your college to determine if there is a standard you have to meet. Guiding principle: “Effort counts.” Courses are Guiding principle: “Results count.” Though “goodusually structured to reward a “good-faith faith effort” is important in regard to the professor’s effort.” willingness to help you achieve good results, it will not substitute for results in the grading process. Thanks to the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center at Southern Methodist University
WHAT TO DO ABOUT SENIORITIS Make Your Senior Year Count Seniors have worked hard for three years, taking tests, completing projects, and preparing for college admission. When senior year rolls around, some students just want to get through college applications and relax before they head off to the college of their choice. Also known as senioritis, taking it easy senior year may seem like a nice break, but is likely to do more harm than good. Not only does senioritis jeopardize your chances for success later on in college, it can also affect your grades—and college admissions officers pay close attention to your performance senior year. Senior-Year Grades and College Admission Many students mistakenly believe that prepping for college ends after the eleventh grade. However, the senior year—the entire senior year—is actually of particular interest to colleges. Applying Many college applications (including the Common Application) require you to list your senior courses, including information about course levels and credit hours. It will be very obvious to the admissions officers if you've decided to take the year off. Many colleges also include as part of the application a form called the mid-year grade report. Your counselor completes this form with first-half grades and sends it to the colleges to which you've applied. It then becomes a crucial part of the application folder. If You Are Accepted Many college acceptance letters include warnings to students such as "Your admission is contingent on your continued successful performance." This means colleges reserve the right to deny you admission should your senior year grades drop. Mary Lee Hoganson, college counselor for Homewood-Flossmor Community High School, Flossmor, Illinois writes: "It is not at all rare for a college to withdraw an offer of admission when grades drop significantly over the course of the senior year. (I have a folder full of copies of these letters.)" How to Make the Most of Your Senior Year Senior year is your opportunity to strengthen your skills and broaden your experiences, in school and out, to prepare for all of the challenges ahead. A successful senior year can help launch you on the path to a successful future. Maintain a Challenging Course Load You should take the most rigorous courses available, and be sure to continue taking college-track subjects. Consider AP® courses, which can also earn you credit at many colleges. Stay Active and Involved Your continued involvement in activities, sports, and volunteer work will help you stay active and focused throughout your final year. A great internship or career-focused job opportunity can help motivate you to start considering your career options. Meaningful and significant experiences will help prepare you to make informed decisions about your education and career goals. Try Out College Early If you're interested in pursuing a subject further, and have excelled at your high school classes so far, consider taking a class at a local college. This challenge can help you avoid sliding into an academic slump, and stimulate your interest in the possibilities of college. Sources: National Commission on the High School Senior Year, The Lost Opportunity of Senior Year: Finding a Better Way - Summary of Findings, 2001. Barth, P., Haycock, K., Huang, S. and Richardson, A., Youth at the Crossroads: Facing High School and Beyond. Washington, DC: The Education Trust, 2000.
TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS It's 10 p.m.—Do You Know Where Your Homework Is? Does it seem like there's never enough time in the day to get everything done? Feel like you're always running late? Here are some tips for taking control of your time and organizing your life. 1. Make a "To Do" List Every Day. Put things that are most important at the top and do them first. If it's easier, use a planner to track all of your tasks. And don't forget to reward yourself for your accomplishments. 2. Use Spare Minutes Wisely. Get some reading done on the bus ride home from school, for example, and you'll kill two birds with one stone. 3. It’s Okay to Say "No." If your boss asks you to work on a Thursday night and you have a final exam the next morning, realize that it's okay to say no. Keep your short- and long-term priorities in mind. 4. Find the Right Time. You'll work more efficiently if you figure out when you do your best work. For example, if your brain handles math better in the afternoon, don't wait to do it until late at night. 5. Review Your Notes Every Day. You'll reinforce what you've learned, so you need less time to study. You'll also be ready if your teacher calls on you or gives a pop quiz. 6. Get a Good Night's Sleep. Running on empty makes the day seem longer and your tasks seem more difficult. 7. Communicate Your Schedule to Others. If phone calls are proving to be a distraction, tell your friends that you take social calls from 7-8 p.m. It may sound silly, but it helps. 8. Become a Taskmaster. Figure out how much free time you have each week. Give yourself a time budget and plan your activities accordingly. 9. Don't Waste Time Agonizing. Have you ever wasted an entire evening by worrying about something that you're supposed to be doing? Was it worth it? Instead of agonizing and procrastinating, just do it. 10. Keep Things in Perspective. Setting goals that are unrealistic sets you up for failure. While it's good to set high goals for yourself, be sure not to overdo it. Set goals that are difficult yet reachable. Consider these tips, but personalize your habits so that they suit you. If you set priorities that fit your lifestyle, you'll have a better chance of achieving your goals. Source: Adapted from College Board Time Management Tips For High School Students
WARREN CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Warren Consolidated Schools, in partnership with families and community, is to achieve a level of excellence in teaching and learning which enables all students to become knowledgeable, productive, ethical and successful citizens.