th
11
Grade PEP
Goal Setting
Overview
1. Review importance of goals and pathways in
overcoming barriers (5-10 minutes)
2. Review implications of GPA, ACT, Accuplacer,
and remediation (5-10 minutes)
3. Draft college essay and/or personal statement
in Naviance (15-20 minutes)
4. Review example college essays and learn tips
for writing winning college essays (10 minutes)
Map to College
• Directions:
o Read all of the obstacles on the road to college (next slide)
o Instruct students to pick one obstacle that they can picture
having to deal with on their path to college
o Allow students to discuss this obstacle with their neighbor
(5 minutes)
• Discuss whether it’s a bump in the road or a road block
• Suggest ways to deal with this and move on
• Discuss who might be able to help
You tried to make an appointment
to see your school counselor to
see discuss college applications.
She doesn’t seem to have the time
to see you. Is this a bump in the
road or a road block? ___________
Suggested ways to deal with this
and move on? Who might help?
_______________________________
You road read in the newspaper that the
average cost of a college education in the
United States is ______. That is more money
than you and your parents could ever save.
Is this a bump in the road or a road block?
_____________ Suggested ways to deal with
this and move on? Who might help? _______
None of your friends are planning to
go to college. They say that college is
too long and hard. Is this a bump in
the road or a road block? ___________
Suggested ways to deal with this and
move on?” Who might help? ________
You have fallen far behind in one of
the courses that you know is
required for college admission.
Your friend tells you should transfer
to an easier class second
semester. Is this a bump in the
road or a road block? ___________
Suggested ways to deal with this
and move on? Who might help?
_______________________________
It is time to register for your classes
next year. Your counselor looks at
your grades to date and suggest that
you take less challenging classes
than you know you will need for
admission to college. Is this a bump
in the road or a road block? _________
Suggested ways to deal with this and
move on? Who might help? _________
Your college
application
requires an essay.
Writing is not your
strength. You
don’t know how to
get started. Is this
a bump in the
road or a road
block? _________
Suggested ways
to deal with this
and move on?
Who might help?
________________
Your parents aren’t sure that
college is possible. No one in your
family has ever gone. Is this a
bump in the road or a road block?
______________ Suggested ways to
deal with this and move on? Who
might help? ____________________
Your mom is a single, working-mom. She has
been depending on you to help with your little
brothers and sisters. You aren’t sure she can
manage if you go away to college. Is this a
bump in the road or a road block? ___________
Suggested ways to deal with this and move
on? Who might help? _______________________
You just got your score back from your
college admission test (ACT or SAT).
They are a disappointment and don’t
look good enough for admission to
college. Is this a bump in the road or a
road block? ______________ Suggested
ways to deal with this and move on?
Who might help? ____________________
A military recruiter has visited your high school.
He suggests that you join the armed forces
instead of going to college. He tells you that
you can get all the educational training that you
will need, while seeing the world. Is this a
bump in the road or a road block? ___________
Suggested ways to deal with this and move
on? Who might help? _______________________
You have never been on a college
campus so you’re not sure you’ll
recognize college when you get
there. Is this a bump in the road or
a road block? ___________________
Suggested ways to deal with this
and move on? Who might help?
_______________________________
Reaching your Goals
• There will always be obstacles that try to get in the
way of your dreams.
• To reach your goals, you must learn how to see
obstacles as simply “bumps along the road,” which
can be overcome through persistence, problem
solving, and support from a trusted friend or adult.
• When there is an obstacle along your way, you must
work to create multiple pathways or solutions to get
around it and move forward toward your goal(s).
• Is there anything else you learned from this activity?
Overcoming the ACT/SAT
Test Obstacle
• All Juniors will take the Colorado ACT on Tuesday
April 23, 2013! There is no cost for this test. Students
register and take the test at their school.
• Before the test:
o Work hard in your core courses and don’t be
afraid to ask for help
o Sign up for ACT study group or study session
o Use free KAPLAN, College in Colorado, or other
resources to study for the ACT
KAPLAN Usage Reminders
Go to https://www.kaptest.com/login.jhtml
Click to sign in
7
KAPLAN Usage Reminders
Log in using the Username & Password below:
[email protected]
Student1
8
KAPLAN Usage Reminders
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Edit and update your student profile
Accept the terms and conditions
Complete the background survey
Complete the goal setting survey
Begin using ACT On Demand for ACT
practice and instruction
6. Monitor your progress
ACT Goal
• What is your ACT goal?
• What should be your ACT goal?
1.
Depends on college ready benchmark scores for ACT
(required for all credit granting college-level courses)
 College ready benchmark scores for ACT:
o 19 Math
o 18 English
o 17 Reading
2.
Depends on your GPA and the Index Score requirements for
the college(s) in which you are interested in applying
• Use the College Index chart to help set your ACT goal
(Keep the minimum college ready benchmark in mind)
2012-13 ACT Schedule
• If you are unhappy with your score (and within a few points of
your goal) or if you would like to take the test prior to April 23rd,
you may register for additional test dates below.
• Be sure to get scores sent to both your high school and the
colleges which you are considering
Test Date
Registration Deadline
Late Registration (late
fee required)
February 9, 2013
January 11, 2013
January 12-18, 2013
April 13, 2013
March 8, 2013
March 9 – 22, 2013
June 8, 2013
May 3, 2013
May 4-17, 2013
To register, visit www.actstudent.org
• Cost: $34.00
• Cost with optional writing test: $49.50
• Late registration fee: addition $21.00
• Fee waivers are available to students who qualify
for free/reduced lunch
Overcoming the ACT/SAT
Test Obstacle
• If you still aren’t happy with your score(s),
o Continue working on improving your GPA to help increase
your total Index Score
• If your scores don’t meet the college ready benchmark,
o Study for and take the Accuplacer test as an alternative way
to meet the college ready benchmark
 College ready benchmark scores for Accuplacer:
o 85 Elementary Algebra
o 95 Sentence Skills
o 80 Reading
o If your scores still don’t meet the mark,
• Plan to work extra hard and try again next year.
• Or, ask about taking college remediation classes while still
in high school. If you pass these classes with a C or higher,
you have evidence to show the college that you are
ready for college level coursework, without remediation.
(Note: You can get into college without these scores, but you will start by taking remedial course (not college
level), which means you will not receive financial aid for those courses or any college credit toward graduation)
Overcoming the College
Essay Obstacle
To learn helpful tips, play the following college essay video:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9J7AxXHG3Y&
feature=related
Other college essay video options, if you are interested
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is9KEZ5whX0
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8x21ouZT8Y&f
eature=related
Naviance
College Essay
• Open a new tab and log-in to Naviance using the
following Username and Password
Student ID #
mmddyy
Click, “Log In”
Naviance
dps draft of college essay
1) Click the about me tab
2) Click “dps draft of college
essay/personal statement”
Before you start…
1) Think about yourself. What are your best qualities? Think of at least 3
and share with a partner.
2) Choose one of these qualities you want to convey and complete
the sentence: “I am a very __________________ person.”
3) Pretend you’re taking an exam in which you must respond to this
prompt: Tell a story about an experience or time when you showed
you were a very __________________ person
(the characteristic selected above)
 You will have 15-20 minutes to respond. Continue writing until I say
stop.
Activity adapted from College Board’s Recipe for a Draft at www.collegeboard.com/student/apply
Overcoming the College
Essay Obstacle
• To help you consider how you can improve your
college essays, we are going to read and evaluate
two real examples of students’ college essays
• After providing our own feedback, we will read real
admissions counselors’ critiques of these students’
college essays
Essay #1
(Topic: Describe a person who has had a significant influence on your life)
Essay #2
(Topic: Describe the environment in which you grew up
and how it has shaped your personal goals)
College Essay Feedback
• Essay #1
o What’s your feedback?
o Admissions Counselors’ Critique: This essay does not work because it lacks
depth. The writer just skims the surface and gives the reader vague details
about the coach. She doesn’t tell HOW her coach influences her life. The
writer needed to take this essay to the next level. The writing also lacks
sophistication. The word choice and sentence structure are very simplistic
• Essay #2
o What’s your feedback?
o Admissions Counselors’ Critique: This essay is an excellent example of how
concrete details can create a vivid story. The writer’s strong observation
skills and sensitivity to her family hold the reader’s attention. Her reflections
at the end are well supported by the story. The writer uses language well
and shows a sense of style.
Activity taken from NACAC Step by Step: College Awareness and Planning
Your College Essay
• Remember, at this point, your college essay is only a
draft.
• You must go back through to edit and revise your
essay. Check for spelling, grammar, and
punctuation.
• You should have at least 2 other people help edit
and review your essay. Don’t be afraid to ask a
parent, teacher, or friend for help.