Guide to the College Process

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Timelines9th Grade

GPA and Rank

Get Involved (clubs, sports, and community)

Create 4-year Academic Plan

Begin to think about post-secondary options

Be Responsible/Make Good Choices!

Establish good study habits

Get to know your school counselor

1010thth Grade Grade

Career Exploration/Interest Career Exploration/Interest InventoriesInventories

PSAT’s (October 17)PSAT’s (October 17)

Stay Involved in ActivitiesStay Involved in Activities

VolunteerVolunteer

Keep your Grades upKeep your Grades up

Challenge yourselfChallenge yourself

Continue to make good choicesContinue to make good choices

1111thth Grade Grade

Take the PSAT Oct 17 (National Merit Take the PSAT Oct 17 (National Merit Scholarship)Scholarship)

Start compiling Activities/Awards ResumeStart compiling Activities/Awards Resume

Register and take the SAT’s (at least 2x)Register and take the SAT’s (at least 2x)

Consider taking the ACTConsider taking the ACT

Attend a college fair (Apr 23-permission Attend a college fair (Apr 23-permission forms required)forms required)

*Parents may attend Apr 22 (King’s *Parents may attend Apr 22 (King’s Caterers)Caterers)

Visit, Visit, Visit!! (5 excused days per year!)Visit, Visit, Visit!! (5 excused days per year!)

Meet with your counselor as early as Meet with your counselor as early as possible to discuss the application possible to discuss the application processprocess

Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation

College essayCollege essay

Transcript RequestsTranscript Requests

12th Grade12th Grade

1212thth Grade (Cont.) Grade (Cont.)

Become familiar with the specific application requirements of the colleges you wish to apply If you intend to play sports at a NCAA Division I or II school you must register at ncaaclearinghouse.org! Pay attention to deadlines!!

Application DeadlinesApplication Deadlines

Early Decision (Binding)Early Decision (Binding)Early Action (Non-Binding)Early Action (Non-Binding)Rolling Rolling RegularRegular

* It is the student’s responsibility to meet all * It is the student’s responsibility to meet all deadlines! Allow 10 school days for deadlines! Allow 10 school days for transcripts requests and supplemental transcripts requests and supplemental forms, 2 - 4 weeks for letters of forms, 2 - 4 weeks for letters of recommendations! These items are sent recommendations! These items are sent directly from the guidance office.directly from the guidance office.

12th grade (cont.)12th grade (cont.)Narrow down college choices to at Narrow down college choices to at least one “safety”, two “comforts”, least one “safety”, two “comforts”, and one “reach”and one “reach”

SafetySafety - Academic and Financial Profile - Academic and Financial Profile meet and meet and exceedexceed all admission criteria all admission criteriaComfortComfort - Academic and Financial - Academic and Financial Profile meet all admission criteriaProfile meet all admission criteriaReachReach - Academic and Financial Profile - Academic and Financial Profile meet only some of the admission criteriameet only some of the admission criteria

Pay attention to college visits at NHS Pay attention to college visits at NHS & attend ones of interest (on & attend ones of interest (on website)website)

Factors Colleges ConsiderFactors Colleges Consider

GPAGPA

High School CurriculumHigh School Curriculum

Class RankClass Rank

Standardized Test ScoresStandardized Test Scores

Community Service, Activities, AthleticsCommunity Service, Activities, Athletics

Letters of Recommendation (send only the Letters of Recommendation (send only the number of letters that the college number of letters that the college requests)requests)

College EssayCollege Essay

Factors you should considerFactors you should consider

Is the school right for Is the school right for you?you?

LocationLocation

SizeSize

Cost (Public vs. Private)Cost (Public vs. Private)

MajorMajor

InterestsInterests

NCAA Division I/II Requirements NCAA Division I/II Requirements

Standardized TestingStandardized Testing

SAT I Reasoning Test SAT I Reasoning Test SAT II Subject Tests (does your SAT II Subject Tests (does your school require them?)school require them?) ACT Test ACT Test (with writing)(with writing)

* scores * scores must must be requested by be requested by youyou and and sent sent directly to your college from directly to your college from collegeboard.com collegeboard.com and/or ACT.org!and/or ACT.org!

SAT RegistrationUpcoming Test Dates (*test offered at NHS)

Test Date Registration Deadline

May 2, 2009 March 31, 2009 (late registration until 4/17/09 for $23)

June 6, 2009 * May 5, 2009

October 10, 2009 * TBA

November 7, 2009 TBA

December 5, 2009 * TBA

January 23, 2010 * TBA

March 6, 2010 * TBA

May 1, 2010 TBA

June 5, 2010 * TBA

Test Registration Fees (2008-09 rates)Basic Test Fee: $45

Late Registration: $23

Change Fee: $22 (per type of change)

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/reg.html

SAT at a Glance

SECTIONFORMAT/TIMING

QUESTIONTYPES

SCORE’08 NATL

AVGS

MathThree SectionsTwo 25-min sectionsOne 20-min sections

Multiple Choice,Grid-Ins 200-800 515

Critical Reading

Three SectionsTwo 25-min sectionsOne 20-min section

Sentence Completion,Reading Comprehension

200-800 502

WritingThree SectionsOne 25-min essayOne 35 min section

ESSAY,Identifying Sentence Errors, Improving Sentences and Paragraphs

200-800494

Experimental One SectionOne 25-minute

Varies

TOTAL10 sections

3 hours and 45 minutes600-2400

ACT RegistrationUpcoming Test Dates ( *tests offered at NHS)

Test Date Registration Deadline

September 12, 2009 August 7, 2009

October 24, 2009 * September 18, 2009

December 12, 2009 * November 6, 2009

February 6, 2010 January 5, 2010

April 10, 2010 * March 5, 2010

June 12, 2010 May 7, 2010

Test Registration Fees (2008-09 rates)Basic Test Fee: $31

Test Fee: $46 (includes $15 Writing Test fee)

Late Registration: $20

Change Fee: $20 (per type of change)

http://www.actstudent.org/regist/index.html

ACT at a GlanceSECTION

FORMAT/TIME

QUESTIONTYPES

SCORE’08 NATL

AVGS

English Test 45 minutes75 questions

Usage/Mechanics,Rhetorical Skills

1-36 20.6

Math Test 60 minutes60 questions

Arithmetic, Algebra,Geometry,

Trigonometry

1-36 21.0

Reading Test 35 minutes40 questions

Prose Fiction, Social Studies, Humanities,

Natural Sciences

1-36 21.4

Science Test 35 minutes40 questions

Data Representation,Research Summary,Conflicting Viewpoint

1-36 20.8

Writing Test(optional essay)

30 minutes 1 question

Written Essay1-360-12

21.47.3

TOTAL2 hours and 55 mins3 hours and 25 mins(includes Writing Test)

4-5 Subj. Area Tests215 Multiple Choice 1-36 21.1

ACT vs. SAT

ACT SAT

Test Length 3 hours, 25 minutes(including 30-min. optional essay)

3 hours, 45 minutes

Test Sections 4-5 Test Sections 10 sections

Science Content Tests science reasoning (analysis, interpretation, problem solving)

Science not included

Math Content ¼ of the overall score;Tests up to Trigonometry

1/3 of the overall score;Tests up to basic Geometry and

Algebra II

Essay Last Section- 30 minutes (optional);not included in total score

First Section – 25 minutes (required);factored into overall scoring

Scoring 4 Scores of 1-36 per subject area testComposite Score: 1-36

3 Scores of 200-800 per sectionTotal: 2400

Guessing Strategy Always guess!Guess when you can eliminate at

least one answer choice

Score History Students decide which score is sent Students decide which score is sent.

Test Fee $31/$46 (with optional Writing Test) $45

Financial Aid/ScholarshipsFinancial Aid/Scholarships

Attend Financial Aid Night (Fall 2009)Attend Financial Aid Night (Fall 2009) Apr 22, 2009 – King’s Caterers College FairApr 22, 2009 – King’s Caterers College Fair

File the FAFSAFile the FAFSA www.fafsa.ed.govwww.fafsa.ed.gov (Free Application for Student Financial Aid) after Jan 1! (Free Application for Student Financial Aid) after Jan 1! Deadline: June 30, 2010Deadline: June 30, 2010

Visit/Register:Visit/Register:CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE on CollegeBoard.com (Nonfederal CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE on CollegeBoard.com (Nonfederal Aid)Aid)Scholarships (morning announcements, posted in homerooms Scholarships (morning announcements, posted in homerooms and website)and website)Ask your college of interest for privately funded school based Ask your college of interest for privately funded school based scholarshipsscholarshipsFind out if your school has its own financial aid formsFind out if your school has its own financial aid forms

Pay Attention to Deadlines!!!!!Pay Attention to Deadlines!!!!!

Helpful WebsitesHelpful Websites

MakingHighSchoolCount.comMakingHighSchoolCount.comFinAid.comFinAid.comFastAid.comFastAid.comCollegeTours.comCollegeTours.comCollegeBoard.comCollegeBoard.comFastWeb.comFastWeb.comPrincetonReview.comPrincetonReview.comPetersons.comPetersons.com