Looking Beyond: Career and College Planning for Underclassmen

Objectives: Students will acquire knowledge regarding

the proper preparation that is essential in choosing from a wide range of substantial post-secondary options, including college.

Students will be provided with information and materials that will enable them to employ strategies to achieve future career success and satisfaction.

PA Career Education and Work Standards 13.1.11.B, C, FASCA National Standards I.B, II.A

When choosing and preparing for different career and college paths, you want to plan carefully. You may be required to complete certain tasks in order to reach your goals. These activities might include: •Consider your own personal goals for life.

• What do you want out of life?• What do you need to make these happen?

•Conducting career research• School resources (counselors, teachers, etc)• Internet resources • Institution resources (college fairs, college visits to

NH, representatives, )• Registering, preparing, and taking standardized tests

(SAT, ACT, PSAT)• Preparing documents (essay, resume, recommendations)

Getting Ready is a Process

Post Secondary Choices: The Options

After graduation, you will have many options to consider. Think about your goals and what you need to reach them.

• College/University• Community College• Vocational, Technical, or

Career Training• Armed Services• Right into the Work Force

Hint: Waiting until graduation to plan for this may not get you the

results you want!

Jobs are constantly changing. What was true years ago regarding the types of jobs that are available may no longer be the case today.– On average, workers change jobs about

seven to nine times during their careers.– Nearly 80% of jobs require some sort of

post-secondary training. These jobs tend to be better paying than those that do not!

– Employers want workers who possess “people skills” and who will fit into their organization.

Pennsylvania Job Outlook

Education Pays

Conducting Career and College Research

• Use your personal network. Speak with your family and family members about your interests and skills.

• Utilize Family Connections Program.– Investigate your own interests with an online test.– Identify colleges you might match with.– Compare colleges to find which you should apply to!

• Speak with your counselor!• Use the CRC (Counseling Resource Center)

– Attend the admission representative visits in the CRC.– Look for financial aid information, job postings, etc.

The Post-Secondary Option Selection Process

Determine what factors are important for the school you want to attend to have. Do these matter to you?

• Size • Location• Academic Program Offerings• Reputation• Cost• Other?

Pittsburgh National College Fair

This will be an Evening Guidance Program field trip will start at the Senior High Auditorium on January 5, 2015. Buses will then depart from the high school to transport students and parents to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for the evening session (6-8pm) of the college fair. Counselors will be available to assist on site until the 8pm departure back to the senior high.

Field Trip forms as due by January 30!

Pittsburgh National College Fair

At the college fair, don’t waste time completing multiple information forms for each school. Instead, go to www.gotomyncf.com before the fair and fill in the form.

You will be able to print out a sheet with a barcode on it. At the fair, schools will “scan” your sheet, which will then permit them to receive the information you submitted online.

Standardized Testing

• The SAT and ACT are globally recognized college admission tests that lets you show colleges what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge. They tests your knowledge of reading, writing and math — subjects that are taught every day in high school classrooms. Most students take the SAT or ACT during their junior or senior year of high school, and almost all colleges and universities use the SAT or ACT to make admission decisions.

• The SAT and ACT scores are one of the most important factors that colleges consider when making their admission decisions. Data indicates that combination of high school grades and SAT scores is the best predictor of your academic success in college.

Standardized Testing-PSAT

PSATThe PSAT is a practice “standardized” test, which means

it is taken in the same method using the same time period in each testing location (worldwide). It is a test of your abilities.

Scoring:• Each section is scored from 20-80 . Therefore, a perfect

score on the three parts (Critical Reading, Mathematics Reasoning, and Writing) is 240. This score would relate to an SAT score if you were to take the SAT on the same day as the PSAT. Add a 0 to your PSAT score to find out what your score would equal.

My College Quickstart

• You can use your PSAT score to help you to prepare for the SAT. By using the code supplied to you on your PSAT scores, you can have access to an online personalized SAT prep class based upon your performance on the PSAT.

• The website to go to is:

https://quickstart.collegeboard.org/posweb/login.jsp

PSAT/NMSQT Changes

• PSAT/NMSQT will change together with the SAT and is planned to launch in October 2015.

• This schedule will allow students to take the redesigned PSAT/NMSQT before the redesigned SAT.

SAT

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT Reasoning, SAT I)– Published by The CollegeBoard.– Measures the critical thinking skills you’ll need for college level

academics and how well you analyze and solve problems; your aptitude for college success.

– Typically taken by high school juniors and seniors.– Consists of three sections: critical reading, math, and writing.

Sections are scored on a scale of 200-800 with the total score range falling between 600 – 2400.

– It is recommended that students take the SAT 2-3x’s in their high school career.

– Students register online at www.collegeboard.com.

SAT Subject Tests

SAT Subject Tests (SAT II)

• Subject tests fall into 5 general subject areas: English, History/Social Studies, Mathematics, Science and Languages.

• Measure your knowledge and skills as well as your ability to apply that knowledge.

• Some colleges specify the subject tests they require for admissions or placement; others allow applicants to choose which to take.

• All subject tests are one hour-multiple choice formats, however, some tests have unique formats.

• Students should find out if the school to which he/she is applying requires subject tests for admissions, how many tests, and what subject areas are required.

• Register online at www.collegeboard.com.

SAT I & II Registration Fees

• SAT ReasoningIf register by deadline: $52.50

If register within late window: $52.50 + $28 = $80.50

• SAT Subject TestsBasic Subject Test fee: $26

Language Test with Listening: add $26

All other Subject Tests: add $16 each

SAT Average Scores

2013 -2014 Average scores of participants

North Hills: Critical Reading 521, Math 541, Writing 514

State:Critical Reading 497, Math 504, Writing 480

National:Critical Reading 497, Math 513, Writing 487

Improving your PSAT or SAT Score

• FREE Online official CollegeBoard SAT preparation available to all NH students– https://satonlinecourse.collegeboard.org/SR/subscription/productSelection.jsp– Enter 393752 in the school code box on the right

• Enroll for SAT Prep Classes (11th and 12th grade students only) at North Hills High School (prerequisites include: successful completion of 10th grade English, Geometry, and either Language Enrichment or Conventions of Writing)

• www.CollegeBoard.com resources such as My College Quikstart & Question of the Day

• Coursework opportunities (Language Enrichment, Conventions of Writing, etc.)

• CRC & NH Library Resources: CollegeBoard SAT practice books

• Private courses/tutoring

• Libraries and Bookstores

Free Upcoming Test Prep

• College Tutors will be holding FREE practice SAT test on Saturday, January 31st, in they Learning Center @ 9600 Perry Hwy, 15237. While the SATs might be different for you in the future, studies show that practicing this type of standardized test helps alleviate test anxiety and aids students who want to do the very best they can.

SAT And The Class of 2015

• How does the redesign of the SAT affect the high school graduating class of 2015?– The high school graduating class of 2015 will take the

current SAT. These students should continue to visit the SAT website to register for the test and to get and send their scores. And we have good news: The College Board is partnering with Khan Academy to expand and deepen the free instruction, review, and practice resources available on the SAT website.

Changes Coming to SAT 2015-16

How will redesigning the SAT benefit students?

• The redesigned SAT will ask students to apply a deep understanding of the few skills and content areas most important for college and career readiness.

• The questions will be more familiar to students because they’ll be modeled on the work of the best classroom teachers.

• And the College Board will be open and clear, taking the mystery out of the exam and providing a full SAT blueprint before the first administration in spring 2016.

• Free test preparation is also on the way.

New SAT Prep

• What’s the best way for students to prepare for the redesigned SAT?– Rigorous course work will be, more than ever, the best

preparation for the SAT. – As test day approaches, students can use free College

Board resources to get to know the exam and to build on their preparation with targeted review and authentic practice.

New Optional Essay

• The Essay section will no longer be required by the College Board. However, many school districts and colleges will require students to complete the Essay.

• The editing work students do in the multiple-choice Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section is deeply predictive of college success. However, one essay alone has not in the past contributed significantly to the overall predictive power of the exam.

• Feedback from college admission officers was split; some of them found the essay useful while many did not.

New SAT Scoring

• The redesigned SAT will be scored on a 400- to 1600-point scale. – The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section and the Math section

will each be scored on a 200- to 800-point scale. – Scores for the Essay section will be reported separately.

• Another important change is the move to rights-only scoring: There will no longer be a penalty for wrong answers.

• They will also introduce an enriched score report that provides more insight into students’ strengths and areas for improvement, helping teachers and students focus.

Test Transition

• Can students take both the current SAT and the redesigned SAT and see which score is higher?– When the College Board switches over to the redesigned SAT in spring

2016, the current SAT will no longer be offered.– However, some students will take the SAT before that time and then

take the redesigned SAT later. Because the exam and score scale are changing, we recommend that these students send all scores, allowing colleges to use those that are most favorable to the student. Keep in mind that some colleges require students to send all scores.

Standardized Testing: ACT

The ACT (American College Test) is another standardized test that institutions also use for admissions purposes. ACT is a test of knowledge, similar to your chapter tests. Students register at www.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org. .

Many schools accept the ACT in place of the SAT. It differs from the SAT in the following ways:

• 4 sections on the ACT (Science is #4)• Scores range from 1-36. (A 36 is equal to a 2400 SAT.)• The way to “study” for the ACTs is to do your best in your

classes at NH. The ACT is similar to mid-term or final exams that you would take at school here.

Test Dates

Test Month Registration DeadlineACT September Mid-AugustSAT-I and II October Early SeptemberACT October Mid SeptemberSAT-I and II November Early OctoberACT December Early NovemberSAT-I and II December Early NovemberSAT-I and II January Late DecemberACT February Late DecemberLate DecemberSAT-I March Early FebruaryEarly FebruaryACT April Early MarchEarly MarchSAT-I and II May Early AprilACT June Early MaySAT-I and II June Early MayEarly May

Offered at North

Hills

NCAA: Becoming a College Athlete

Student athletes who are hoping to continue athletic participation at the Division I or II collegiate level must be declared eligible through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Please alert your counselor and coach if this is your intent.

Representing Yourself Online

• It is not unusual for colleges to do a search for your name on Google, Facebook, and other public sites to learn more about who you are.

• Please be aware of how you are portrayed online and make sure to represent yourself in a manner that will not affect the possibility of your acceptance.

Professional Presence

• Be sure that your email address will not hurt your chances for admission. Many schools ask you to provide this and you don’t want a joke to cost you admission. (Example: Indicating an email like “sk8ergirlzrawesome@yahoo.com” may not send the message that you are a mature young adult who is serious about your studies.)

• Consider establishing an additional email address for such correspondence. Ex. JDoe@gmail.com

Question and Answer Session

YOUR QUESTIONS?