Why Four-Year College?

FOUR YEAR COLLEGE
A four-year college education, or bachelor's degree, can open doors and prepare students for a wide variety of rewarding careers.
While all four-year colleges hope to attract bright, well-prepared students, colleges vary greatly in their size, admission requirements, costs, and in the majors they offer.
At most four-year colleges, students take about half of their courses in their major (the subject they have chosen to study in depth). The rest of their courses are required general education courses (English, science, history, math, etc.) and electives (courses they want to take).

COLLEGE PREPARATION
Colleges recommend that students follow a college prep program in high school, and that they get the highest possible grades. 

College Prep Courses
Most colleges recommend that students take the following college prep courses in high school:
4 years of English
3-4 years of math (including Algebra I, Geometry and Trigonometry/Algebra II)
3 years of social studies
3 years of science
2-3 years of the same foreign language*
1 year of fine or performing arts*

*The NYC DOE Public High School requirement for foreign language recently changed to 2 credits, which is equal to 1 year. McKee offers 1 year of Spanish to our students to meet graduation requirements. We also offer one year of General Art class to meet the 2 credits of Art/Music requirement.

Competitive schools and programs consider the above to be the minimum requirements. They commend that students take advanced courses when possible. Students who haven't taken several of the above recommended college prep courses may want to start at a community college or at a college's branch campus. The requirements for admission are less competitive, the classes are smaller, and there's less pressure.

Activities and Interests
Colleges are looking for students who are active and involved. Develop your interests, skills, and talents, and get involved in activities in your high school and your community.

CHOOSING A COLLEGE
There are many things to consider when you choose a college.

Size
Do you want to go to a large school with lots of majors and activities, or to a small school with fewer students and smaller classes?

Academic Programs
If you have a specific subject you want to study, you need to find the colleges that offer that major. If you don't know what subject you want to study, look for a college with a variety of majors.

Location
Where do you want to go to college? Staying in Staten Island? Living at home but commuting to NYC? In another state completely? In an urban or rural area?

Admission Requirements
Look for colleges that accept students with grades and test scores similar to yours.

Cost
If cost is a concern, keep the following in mind:

• public colleges (in-state) are generally less expensive than private colleges
• you can save money by living at home and commuting, or by starting at a community college
• there is a great deal of financial aid available!!

Here is a very, very general and broad college outline. As I continue this blog, I will be adding more about month-by-month steps for each grade level.

9th grade
Get off to a good start academically. Look for ways to develop your interests and talents.

10th grade
Consider taking the PSAT.

11th grade
-Take the PSAT in October.
-Begin to seriously research your college options.
-Start thinking of your interests and abilities in terms of possible college majors.
-Talk to your counselor about your college plans.
-Take the ACT and/or SAT in the spring.
-Make college visits. 

12th grade
-Retake the ACT and/or SAT, if necessary
-Fill out applications. Be aware of deadlines.
-Meet with your counselor to discuss your college plans, possible majors, financial aid, etc.
-If you are applying for financial aid, apply for your PIN and submit your FAFSA as after January 1 as possible.

Finally, the internet knows a lot more than me about all of this. Here are some extremely helpful websites:
www.collegeboard.com
www.educationplanner.org
www.finaid.org
www.actstudent.org
studentaid.ed.gov
www.collegesavings.org

-Ms. Miller

Show Me app

Have you heard about this cool new iPad app called Show Me? Our students in the AVID program have been utilizing this very cool app as a classroom tool to teach and learn lessons. Students are able to create and share lessons that they make with each other and with the world on the Show Me website. Check out some of the lessons our AVID students have made here: http://www.showme.com/mckeehighschool

ALSO! Congratulations to some of our seniors, Caleb King, Epifanio Ortiz, Corey Newell-Hopkins, Jonathan Cortes and Patrick Fleming on their exit interview from the Construction Skills Program.  
The Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills provides pre-apprenticeship training that prepares graduating New York City public high school seniors for entry into unionized building and construction trades apprenticeship programs.
The pre-apprenticeship program is designed to prepare New York City public high school students for the rigors of the construction industry.  Through the provision of classroom and hands-on training, students complete the program armed with the skills necessary to be successful in the unionized construction industry.
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates of Construction Skills are referred to union apprenticeship programs through a “direct entry” track.  In other words, Construction Skills graduates earn access to union building and construction trades apprenticeship opportunities without going through the public recruitment process.

This is a great motivator for sophomores and juniors in the Construction shop to keep in mind! Successful students will be referred to the program by Mr. O'Connell, the Construction teacher, and will be able to receive even more support from outside the building through this program. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to work in the construction field right after high school?? If construction is your field, make sure you talk to Mr. O'Connell about this opportunity!

-Ms. Miller

Summer Youth Employment

It's that time again to apply for the NYC Summer Youth Employment Program! There are only a few days left to apply so get on it RIGHT NOW!! Go to the SYEP application page ASAP and send in your info! https://application.nycsyep.com/

The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) provides New York City youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with summer employment and educational opportunities. In 2011, the Dept of Youth and Community Development employed 30,628 participants and placed them at 5,732 worksites.  Participants work in a variety of entry-level jobs at government agencies, hospitals, summer camps, nonprofits, small businesses, law firms, museums, sports enterprises, and retail organizations.

The Summer Youth Employment Program is designed to:

• Emphasize real-world labor expectations
• Increase awareness of services offered by local community-based organizations
• Provide opportunities for career instruction, financial literacy training, academic improvement, and social growth

If you didn't know about Summer Youth before, you do now! And you must get your application in immediately! This is a great opportunity for all students in NYC and I've heard great reviews from the several NYC public schools I've worked in, from both students, school staff, and businesses involved. Good luck!!

-Ms. Miller

Thank you, from Ms. Ippolito

Ralph R. McKee High School held its very successful second annual Career Fair on Thursday, May 3, 2012.  The Career Fair consisted of over twenty professionals from various career and technical areas.  Professionals included Nick Manfredi and Frank Agostino; Emil Galante from Galante Home Improvement; Leroy Cooper from Lincoln Tech; Lawrence Chiarelli from Poly Tech; Richard Rothenberg from Fashion Institute of Technology; FDNY; William Smith and Dan Wardrope, Construction Managers for the State of NY (DASNY); William Ellis (Graphics); Dan Morio, Information Technology (NYCDOE); Alan Broth, Information Technology from Queens Hospital; William Bonner, CFN Network Leader; Tracy Brown, author and former student; Cheryl Farrell, Cristelle Yamada and Julia Harris who are engineers in different areas of construction and computer science; Carol Burt, National Association of Women in Construction; Denise Schiera, salon owner; Samantha Bernadine, NYS My Health Careers. 

The McKee High School students have received immense support from these professionals. We feel especially privileged to have had some of these individuals join us in the past.  Their dedication and consistency has reinforced and enhanced our efforts and ability to assist our students through active engagement, providing materials/information to our students and discussing internship and employment opportunities available for the CTE areas.

The goal is to prepare students for careers in Architecture, Computer Networking, Computer Graphics, Construction Technology, Automotive Technology and Cosmetology.  McKee students experience great success in higher education, internships and employment. Having professionals visit our school is the ideal means to experience what we offer as a career and academic institution.  It also provides our students with more exposure to the career and technical fields, develops their knowledge and enhances their skills. Our staff is thankful to the professionals who have taken the time to assist us toward our goal to motivate and encourage our students to continue exploring, enhancing their skills and pursuing the career and technical areas.

Joyce Ippolito, Guidance Counselor