OCSI College Prep
Information

“A man’s heart plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.”—Proverbs 16:9

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.”—Proverbs 3:5-7

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for
the Lord and not for men, knowing thatfrom the Lord you will receive theinheritance as your reward. You areserving the Lord Christ.”—Colossians 3:23-24

College Counseling Team

Mrs. Sartore

Mr. Claxton

Resources and assistance withthe college search andapplication process forschools outside of Japan

Resources and assistance withthe college search andapplication process forschools within Japan,
testing coordinatorSchedule an Appointment:
Mrs. Jess Sartore

Mr. Daniel Claxton

Email:

Email:

jessicasartore@ocsi.org

danielclaxton@ocsi.org

Calendly:
https://calendly.com/
ocsicollegecounseling/30minOCSI is a college
preparatory school
accredited in the
United States by
WASC and ACSI.

You have two basic options after high school:

College

CareerPursue further
education

Enter theworkforceWhat you choose to do withyour life after high school is up
to you and your family.
Pray for wisdom to rightly discern how the
Lord is leading you.

While college may not be the best choice forevery student immediately after high school,
we want you to be aware of your options
and prepared to go to college
should you choose to do so.

Keep in mind:
Even if you’re not totally sure what you want to do withyour life, having a college degree signiﬁcantly
increases your options.

Also keep in mind:
A recent survey of OCSI staff & faculty members
revealed that only 8% of those surveyed are in thejob/career they thought they wanted when they werein high school.
49% reported that what they’re doing now iscompletely different from what they thought theywould be doing when they were in high school.

With that in mind:
It’s ok if you don’t know exactly what you want to do withyour life. People pivot and change majors/careers frequently.*
Life happens, priorities change, and you adapt accordingly.
You don’t have to have it all ﬁgured out right now.

Why consider
college?
It is estimated that over 65% ofjobs in the US will require atleast some level of college
education.

Why consider
college?
Research consistently indicatesthat higher education
attainment positively
correlates to higher earnings
and a decrease in
unemployment rates.

Let’s Break it
Down
Simplifying the College Planning Process

College opportunities exist for everyone. Thesefour steps can help break down the process:

Understandadmission
factors

Learn aboutstandardized
tests(SAT/ACT)

Explorecollege
options

Develop aﬁnancial plan

Admission Factors
What Matters to CollegesAdmission Factors
When looking at your application, colleges consider the following as most important:Primary Factors:

Additional Factors:- Quality/rigor of your courses- Extracurricular activities- (which classes you took)- Academic performance/GPA- (how well you did in those classes)- Your test scores (SAT/ACT/AP, etc…)- Essay(s)- Letters of recommendation- Demonstrated interest

Admission Factors:
Primary Factors

Course Selection:
Did you choose classes that challenged you, including Honors/AP courses?
Grades:
How well did you do in those courses? Every year counts, even Freshman year.
GPA Trends:
Did you continue to improve each year?
Class Rank:
This helps (some) admissions ofﬁcers to understand your performance in thecontext of your school.

Admission Factors:
Additional Factors

Extracurricular Activities:
Did you taken advantage of the opportunities offered to you as a student? Did
you make a positive contribution to your school campus/community?
Essay(s) & Personal Statement:
Demonstrates your writing skills and gives a sense of who you are as a person.
Letters of Recommendation:
How do others who know you well view you? Treat your teachers well.
Demonstrated Interest:
How much do you really want to attend this particular school?

Standardized Tests
SAT, ACT, AP

Standardized Tests
PSAT/NMSQT- Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)/National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test (NMSQT)- Administered by the College Board- Monitors your academic progress- Gives you a chance to practice for the SAT- Taken in October of 9 & 10th grade at OCSI
- Determines your qualiﬁcation for the National Merit Scholarship ProgramStandardized Tests
NMSQT

-

National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT)
11th graders with US citizenship are eligible
Scholarship is roughly $2,500 USD
Some schools offer additional ﬁnancial rewards for National Merit Scholarship
recipients

Standardized Tests
About the SAT- Measures what you know and how well you apply that knowledge- Tests the same things taught in your classes (reading, writing, math)- Most widely used college entrance exam
- SAT scores combined with High School GPA is the best indicator of a
student’s success in college*- Highly recommended for all Juniors and Seniors

Standardized Tests
About the SAT- A CollegeBoard account is required to register for the PSAT & SAT, as well as for
the AP Exams- OCSI has no access to a student’s CollegeBoard account and cannot reset
passwords or correct information- Any changes needed typically must be made via phone call to the US- It is highly recommended that you have your parents create the CollegeBoard
account with you to ensure all data are entered correctlyStandardized Tests
When to take the SAT- 5 testing dates offered each year
- Fall or Spring of Junior year is a good time to take the SAT- You can consider retaking it in the fall of your Senior year based on yourscore and growth goals- March: won’t be right before AP exams- May: more time to prepareStandardized Tests
When to take the SAT- Last chance: October or December of Senior year
- US schools begin closing applications Nov~Jan- JP schools’ last application period is Jan/Feb- Taking the SAT in October of Senior year will get your results toprospective schools in time for Early Action/Early Decision applications

Standardized Tests
When to take the SAT- Ultimately, the “best*” time to test depends on:- How much time you need to prepare well
- Available test dates in your area
- Your college application deadlines- Opportunities for re-testing- Good scores > many scores- Register asap (OCSI cannot guarantee you a spot)- Talk to Mr. Claxton for more information

Standardized Tests
About the ACT- Tests English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing based on HS curriculum- Focus is more on math/science than reading/writing compared to the SAT- Gives a STEM score to assess preparedness for STEM related majors- Offered at OCSI in October and February

Standardized Tests
About the ACT- SAT vs. ACT: Choose the test that plays to your strengths and/or isrequired/recommended by your college- Pro tip: When in doubt, make your best guess. You don’t get negative points
for incorrect answers (SAT too)
- Register asap (OCSI cannot guarantee you a spot)- Talk to Mr. Claxton for more information

Standardized Tests
How to Prepare- Take challenging courses- Push yourself to grow as a reader and writer- Familiarize yourself with the test formats- Take advantage of free test prep resources from College Board and ACT- Working hard in school > short term test-prep cramming- Practice, practice, practiceExplore College
Options
Which colleges are right for you?

Explore College Options
Factors to Consider- Degree programs offered- Do they have the major you want?
- What internship opportunities do they offer?
- Size & diversity of student body
- Pros & Cons to smaller and bigger schools - consider what matters to you- Location- Big city? Small town? Somewhere in between?
- Near friends/family?
- Is the campus beautiful? Meh?

Explore College Options
Factors to Consider- Campus life
- Athletics, activities, housing- Retention and graduation rates- Do students stay here or transfer out?
- Do they complete their degrees?
- Can they ﬁnd employment after graduation?
- Financial aid & scholarships offered- Can you afford to go?

Explore College Options
Factors to Consider

Can you see yourself thriving at this school?
Will you be enjoy being a student at this school?
Will this school help you successfully accomplish your goals?

Explore College Options
Getting to Know a College- Campus visit- In-person (ideally) or virtual*- Sit in on a class of interest- Speak with an Admission Counselor- What makes this school special?
- What kind of students are they looking for?
-Ask about ﬁnancial aid opportunities- Cost is often a major deciding factor for which school is the best ﬁt

Explore College Options
Getting to Know a College- Explore student services and resources- School’s social media, student newspaper, campus reel, etc…
- Get a sense of the campus values & vibe
- Speak with students and faculty- What makes this department/program special?
- What do you like/dislike about being a student here?
- If given the chance, would you choose this school again?

Explore College Options
Build Your List*- Reach schools (1~2)- Your dream schools, they check all the boxes for you- Average acceptance GPA & test scores are above yours (or they’re highly
selective/rejective)- Match schools (2~4)- Meet your criteria, you’d be happy as a student there- Average GPA & test scores are similar to yours

Explore College Options
Build Your List*- Likely schools (1~2)- You’d be happy going there- Your GPA & test scores are above their averageExplore College Options
Apply!

- Conﬁrm deadlines- Schedule for yourself an appropriate amount of time to focus on applications- Review scholarship & ﬁnancial aid requirements- Revise application essays and share your drafts with a trusted teacher, advisor,
or family member- Ask for Letters of Recommendation- Request 1 month in advance, communicate a set deadline- Complete transcript requests for each university you’re applying to- Have your test scores sent to each university you’re applying toExplore College Options
Apply!

- Schedule an interview if needed- Double-check that everything has been properly submitted- CommonApp- Cialfo- the university admissions ofﬁce- Aim to complete all applications before Christmas break so you can relax- Print a copy of your application for your own records, just in caseExplore College Options

Types of Applications/Admissions

Regular/Traditional- Application deadline usually early January- When you’re notiﬁed varies by the school, typically by May 1- How most students apply to college- Nonbinding: If you’re accepted, you can decide if you want to go or notExplore College Options

Types of Applications/Admissions

Early Decision- Binding: If you’re accepted, you must go there *if you can afford it- Make sure you LOVE the school- Deadline: usually in November- You can only apply to one school under Early Decision- You can apply Regular Decision to other schools, but you must withdraw
your application from those schools if accepted to your Early Decision
school- Acceptance notiﬁcation sent out usually by December

Explore College Options

Types of Applications/Admissions

Early Action- Nonbinding- Deadlines: most schools November/December- Admissions decisions typically come out January/February- Apply to other schools via Regular DecisionExplore College Options

Types of Applications/Admissions

Rolling- Nonbinding- Only an option at some schools- Deadlines: no set deadline- Can apply as early as July or as late as April- Colleges review and decide on applications as they come inExplore College Options

Applying Early Action/Early Decision

Pros:

Cons:

Develop a
Financial Plan
Do the math

Develop a Financial Plan
Add it All Up- Determine the total cost of attendance, not just tuition- Calculate your college savings and see if you’re on track- Estimate your family’s expected contribution- Search and apply for scholarships- Talk with the your college’s admissions/ﬁnancial aid ofﬁce or even your major
department about ﬁnancial aid opportunities

Develop a Financial Plan
Scholarships & Financial Aid●

Paying for College Guide

●

Unigo

●

Scholarship Search Engine●

Scholly●

Scholarships.com●

Weird Scholarships●

Fastweb●

QuestBridge●

Appily●Big Future

●

Niche

●

Peterson’sDevelop a Financial Plan
Scholarships & Financial Aid
for International Students● Edupass●

Scholarships forInternational Students● Scholarships forDevelopment●

International
Scholarships Search● UK Scholarships●

Step-by-Step Financial
Aid Guide forInternational Students● International Student

Develop a Financial Plan
Apply & Compare- Research your options:- Grants, loans, work-study, etc…
- Complete the FAFSA as early as possible (check deadlines)- Compare Financial Aid Awards and factor in other considerations:- Family contribution- Savings- Scholarships

Finally
When it’s all said and done

Make a Decision- Celebrate your acceptances- Visit the schools to which you’ve been accepted, if possible- Compare total costs of attendance- Prayerfully decide- Submit your deposit (check deadlines!)- Coast the rest of your Senior year!
- jk. Time to focus on Capstone…
- Colleges have the right to rescind their admission offer if you start to slack
off Senior year

Distribution of Responsibilities
Parent/Guardian
Take you on college
visits, if possible
Support & encourageyouCounselor

Student

Prepare & sendtranscripts

Complete college &scholarship applications

Write Letter ofRecommendation,
if requested

Have test scores sent to collegesComplete counselor
forms

Prepare resume

Connect students withresources

Write essay/personal statement

Request transcripts
Request Letters ofRecommendation

“New SAT”●●●●

SAT format changed in March 2023
You will use your own device and need wiﬁ (OCSI
Chromebooks are equipped)
Multistage adaptive test (difﬁculty will change basedon your answers)
Average testing time is 2 hours (instead of former 3+)

More Information:●

What's a Digital SAT?

●

What to Expect for the Digital SAT

Grade Point
Average(GPA)OCSI’s 4-Year Educational Plan
Recommended graduation requirements for a college
preparatory diploma.

Subject

Credits

English4

Math: Must include Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II)

4

Social Studies: Must include US History, Government, and Economics

3

Science: Must include one Lab Science3

Physical Education/Health1

Foreign Language: Must be of the same language

2

Fine Arts

1

Electives

2

Students must also complete 1 credit of Bible each year in attendance at OCSI.

College Prep courses are graded on a 4.0 scale.
Honors and AP courses are graded on a 4.5 and 5.0 scale, respectively.
Numeric Average

Letter Grade

College Prep GPA

Honors GPA

AP/Dual Credit GPA

95 - 100

A+

4.0

4.5

5.0

93 - 94

A

4.0

4.5

5.0

90 - 92

A-

3.7

4.2

4.7

86 - 89

B+

3.3

3.8

4.3

83 - 85

B

3.0

3.5

4.0

80 - 82

B-

2.7

3.2

3.7

76 - 79

C+

2.3

2.8

3.3

73 - 75

C

2.0

2.5

3.0

70 - 72

C-

1.7

2.2

2.7

66 - 69

D+

1.3

1.8

2.3

63 - 65

D

1.0

1.5

2.0

60 - 62

D-

0.7

1.2

1.7

0 - 59F000How toCalculate GPA

Multiply the class grade numerical value by
the number of credits that class is worth to
get the GPA value for that class.
Add up all GPA values for your classes.
Divide the total by the number of total
credit hours to receive your quarter orsemester GPA.

Confused?
See the next slide for an example. :)GPA Calculation Example
Subject

Letter Grade

Credit Hours

GPA Value x
Credit Hours

Total GPA Valuefor the ClassMath

B- (2.7)2

2.7 x 2

5.4

ScienceA- (3.7)2

3.7 x 2

7.4

EnglishA (4.0)2

4.0 x 28.0

Social Studies

B- (2.7)2

2.7 x 2

5.4

Bible

B (3.0)2

3.0 x 2

6.0

Foreign Language

B+ (3.3)1

3.3 x 1

3.3

Elective

A (4.0)1

4.0 x 1

4.0

Total

12

39.5 ÷ 12 = 3.29 GPA

39.5

Do grades really matter all 4 years?
Student B

Student A
Grade

GPA

LetterAverage

Grade

GPA

LetterAverage

9th

1.0

D

9th

3.0

B

10th

2.0

C

10th

3.0

B

11th

4.0

A

11th

3.6

B+

12th

4.0

A

12th

3.7

A-

Cumulative

2.75

B-/B

Cumulative

3.33

B+

What’s a good GPA for you?

Colleges take into
account yourschool proﬁlewhen assessing
your GPA.

Two different
students mightboth have a 4.0
GPA but colleges
will view thestudent who took
more rigorouscourses as themore qualiﬁed
applicant.

A 3.7 GPA can beviewed as morequaliﬁed than a 4.0
GPA at a schoolwith grade
inﬂation.

Colleges want to
see your potential.
Are you
challenging
yourself?

Different Types of Classes
HonorsCollege
Prep● On-level classes
for your grade● More rigorous than
prep-level courses● No college credit
given but they
prepare you forcollege-level courses● Greater impact on
your GPA

AP● College-level courses
offered in high school● Students may take AP
exam upon completionof the course● A passing test score
may count as college
credit● There is an additional
fee to register for the
AP examOCSI Advanced Courses●

Honors Geometry●

AP Art History●

Honors Algebra II●

AP Biology●

Honors English 10●

AP Calculus AB●

AP English Language andLiterature●

AP English Language &Composition●

AP Comparative Government●

AP Computer Science Principles●

AP US History

Students also have the option to enroll in online college prep, AP or dual credit courses
through Sevenstar® (a preapproved accredited organization) at their own expense.

Transcripts

What’s in a transcript?
●

Record of academic accomplishments in high school●

Grades/GPA●

Whether or not you are meeting graduation requirements●

What courses you have taken and when you took them●

Difficulty of your classes●

Subjects you took the most classes in●

Credits attempted vs credits earned

What’s in a transcript?

Honors & AP
Courses areweighted higher.

What’s in a transcript?
The “weighted” GPA
includes the higher
calculation.
Colleges sometimes
want the unweighted
GPA.

How to Request a Transcript
Current students
can ﬁll out arequest at the frontofﬁce.
Alumni can receive
transcripts throughParchment via the
OCSI website.

SOFA BenefitsStudents with SOFA Status have access to:
Military.tutor.com●

SAT/ACT prep including practicetests, video lessons, & practice drills●

Feedback on college essays●

24/7 access to virtual tutoring●

Parent coaching for student
success

Modernstates.org●

Free online courses●

AP exam prep●

CLEP exam prep

Students with SOFA Status have access to:
Post 9/11 GI Bill Beneﬁts●

Tuition reimbursement/assistancefor US military service members,
veterans and/or their dependents

On-Base Resources:●

Education Centers●

Libraries●

Personal Financial Management
Programs

Military OneSource●

Education consulting●

Financial counseling●

Scholarships for military children●

Alternatives to traditional degree
programs●…and more!

Next StepsWhat to focus on now
Make a Plan
Consider which classes are
required for graduation, whichclasses you would like to take,what OCSI has to offer, and plan
accordingly

Consider Future
Goals
What do you hope to achieve inlife? Where do you see yourself in
5, 10, 20+ years? How will you getthere? Do some self-assessment
and research.

Build your Resume
Keep track of the activities you’re
involved in (sports, clubs,
volunteer work, paid work), skills
you possess, and any notableachievements so that you havesomething to work with whenputting together a resume.
Cialfo has a resume builder!

What to focus on now
Get Involved with
Extracurriculars-

Research shows that students who demonstrate some level of extracurricular
involvement tend to be more successful both in college and after graduation,compared to those who are not involved in extracurriculars. Speciﬁcally, students
rated as highly-involved were 3x more likely to be considered for a job thanstudents who were not involved, and highly-involved students were deemed 18%
more career-ready than the uninvolved students - very likely a result of the “softskills” that extracurricular involvement helps develop.

-

Choose activities that you enjoy (not just what you think colleges want to see)-

Consistency in a few activities is better than dabbling in a ton of random things-

Consistency shows mastery and perseverance-

Don’t spread yourself too thinWhat to focus on now
Enjoy your time in high school!
Have fun, spend time with family and friends (not just via
social media), and maintain a healthy balance.

Excel in Academics.

Really apply yourself and do your best.

Grow as a Learner.

Challenge yourself! Try new things!

Be Equipped to Serve thosearound you.

Don’t wait for opportunities to drop into your lap.
Actively seek to serve.

Walk with Jesus and impact theworld for Him.
Go Eagles!

Resources & Links

● What Are AP Classes? Why Should
You Take Them?

For more
information,please visit:● What Are Good SAT scores forCollege?

● When is the Best Time to Take the
SAT?

● Khan Academy SAT Prep
● What You Need to Know About
College Tuition costs● How Parents Can Help (and Hurt) the
College Application Process

Unsure what to doafter high school?
Take this quiz and discover your next move!
Contact Mrs. Sartore with your results for a piece of chocolate. :)Cialfo: an online platform FREE for
OCSI students
College Search

Record Keeping

Students can apply ﬁlters to
help narrow down a list of
schools that might be agood ﬁt for them.

Students can record
information such as testscores, academic history,
extracurricular involvement
all in one accessible place.

Webinars

Parent AccessStudents can explore avariety of informative videos
for students covering
different universities,
various career ﬁelds,
ﬁnances, life skills,…and more!

Parents/guardians cancreate a guardian accountto help their child navigate
the college search andapplication process.

Students: Complete your Cialfo Profile (until
it is “Strong,” and then contact Mrs. Sartore
for a piece of chocolate!

We’re here to help!
Jess Sartore

Norah Lopez

College & Career CounselingSocial & Emotional Counseling,
Student Carejessicasartore@ocsi.org

norahlopez@ocsi.org

Daniel Claxton

Andy Roe

Domestic (Japanese) College
Counseling, Testing Coordinator

Pastoral Counseling,
Student Caredanielclaxton@ocsi.org

andyroe@ocsi.org

You’re here to help!
You are your child’s biggest cheerleader and advocate. Here’s how you
can help them walk through the process of ﬁguring out what’s next:

Freshman Year:●●●●

Encourage their involvement in
extracurricular activities
Engage in discussions with them
about potential careers
Review their high school courses withthem
Help them to practice money
management

Sophomore Year:●

Research college majors with them●

Review their high school courses
with them●

Encourage extracurricular andvolunteer activities●

Research the area surrounding
colleges they’re interested in●

Keep documentation of
extracurricular activities

You’re here to help!
You are your child’s biggest cheerleader and advocate. Here’s how you
can help them walk through the process of ﬁguring out what’s next:

Junior Year:●

Help narrow down the college list●

Begin essay preparation●

Facilitate college visits, if possible●

Help them register for AP courses
and tests, as well as SAT/ACT tests●

Senior Year:●

Help them register for AP courses
and tests, as well as SAT/ACT tests●

Help keep track of college
application and scholarship
deadlines●

Help them complete FAFSA andother ﬁnancial aid applications●

Help them to choose a major●

Enjoy their ﬁnal year of high schoolwith them!

Be involved with their schoolwork

Thanks!
Do you have any questions?
Contact:
guidance@ocsi.org(098) 958-3000
ocsi.org
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