The purpose of Junior Planning Workshops is to prepare all juniors for their individual post high school choices. Assigned classes will meet each Wednesday during the 3rd quarter. Attendance is mandatory and will be taken.
Topics for this workshop series will include:
- Understanding the college application process
- Researching colleges and technical/vocational schools (Naviance, College Board)
- Understanding requirements for admissions
- Filing out an application (Common Application or another application dependent on student's individual goals)
- Writing a resume
- Interview skills
- Financial aid
Course Outline
1/31 – Course Overview,Course Registration
2/7 – MOCK Admissions
2/14 – Naviance - College Search, create list of schools interested in, resume, brag sheet
(Optional: military/technical school search)
2/21 – Naviance Cont.
2/28 - Naviance Cont.
3/7 – Common Application- Register and begin
3/15 – Common Application- Cont.
3/21 –SAT TEST DAY – NO CLASS
3/28 – Common Application- Cont.
4/4– Wrap-up
Workshop Assignment Checklist (pdf)
Week #1
Junior Planning Overview/Course Selection Overview/PSAT
1. Overview of the class
a. Review class syllabus.
b. Review Junior Planning Workshop website.
2. Review Course Selection process for Grade 11
Homework:
1. Continue to register for classes on PowerSchool and talk with teachers.
Click here for Student Portal. Click here for video instructions.
2. Complete Post High School Options Sheet (pdf) with parents
Week #2
College Admissions Information
1. Admissions Overview
(testing, visiting, deadlines, application materials, college rep visits etc.)
- Admissions process
- Parts of an application packet - ‘Who Sends What to Colleges’
- Deadlines- ED, EA, Priority, RD, Rolling
- Post High School options- degrees vs certificates
- Informational resources- Fiske, Barron’s, Rugg’s and Insider’s Guide
- Transcript Request process
- College Rep visits
- Career Center support
Mock Admissions
Students will break into groups and serve as a college admissions panel. Each group will be given an assortment of student profiles and will need to decide who is the best candidate based upon the students' applications.
Week #3
College Search
Optional Assignment: Military or Technical School Research
College Search Worksheet: Reach, Target, Favorable
Explore the Military Worksheet
Explore a Technical School/Career Worksheet
Homework:
Complete college search, technical school or military worksheet.
Week #4
College Search (cont.)
Optional Assignment: Military or Technical School Research
Homework:
Complete college search, technical school or military worksheet
Week #5
College Search (cont.)
Optional Assignment: Military or Technical School Research
Homework:
Complete college search, technical school or military worksheet
Week #6
Common Application
Create an account and begin completing.
Common App Ready: http://www.commonapp.org/ready - This series of packaged presentations and resource documents covers every aspect of the application, from account creation through submission.
Common App onTrack, a mobile companion to the online application
- The mobile app will become a vital tool for students to view and edit their college lists, receive timely reminders so as not to miss any important deadlines, and view the status of submitted applications. For your information, we have posted a preview video of the mobile app.
Account Rollover
How will Account Rollover work?
After the 2018-2019 Common App launches on August 1, you’ll be able to sign in using the same credentials as your 2017-2018 Common App. Upon that first sign in, we’ll ask if you would like to roll over your account from 2017-2018. If you answer yes, we’ll take you through a few quick steps to confirm the following:
* Your role (current applicant, other student, counselor, parent, etc.)
* Your current high school
* Your communication opt-in selection
* Your acceptance of our Privacy Policy
* Your previous My Colleges list
What information will carry over from one year to the next?
We will preserve the answers you provided to any questions that appear in the six sections of the “Common App” tab: Profile, Family, Education, Testing, Activities, and Writing.
Is there any information that will not carry over?
Yes. The following information will not carry over:
* Any information you may have entered for college-specific Questions and Writing Supplements
* Your Release Authorization and FERPA selection
* Any Recommender invitations, assignments, and forms
* PDFs of Common Applications and Writing Supplements submitted the prior year
* Responses to any questions that have been removed since the prior year
* Responses to any questions that may have a different format or different response options from the prior year (For
2017-2018 Essay Prompts (2018-2019 prompts TBA)
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. [No change]
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? [Revised]
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? [Revised]
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma — anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. [No change]
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. [Revised]
6. Describe a topic, idea or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? [New]
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. [New]
Week #7
Common Application (cont.)
Week #8
SAT Test Day- No Class
Week #9
Week #10
Admissions & Wrap-Up
Create or update Resume via Naviance
Complete any outstanding assignments
Homework:
1. Complete any outstanding items on Junior Planning Workshop Checklist
2. Review Common Application essays for English classes.
Informational Links
SAT/ACT Preparation
College Board's SAT Practice Booklet
College Board's SAT Practice Test
West Hartford Public Library (if you have a WH Public Library Card) Click on Tests-Academic & Employment. Follow login instructions. Select subject to view test prep materials available. Proceed with Practice Test or Skill Improvement Course.
College Essay Writing Tips
West Hartford Public Schools
50 South Main St, West Hartford, CT 06107
T: 860-561-6600
F: 860-561-6910