WELCOME SERVITE CLASS OF 2015 JUNIOR STUDENT/PARENT INFO NIGHT November 13, 2013 PRESENTED BY: Hilary Recknor & Sara Williams SERVITE COUNSELING

WHAT WE WILL BE COVERING: Testing Admission Factors/Junior Focus Naviance/Family Connection Financial Aid

TESTING Jimmy Bowman Revolution Prep

SAT VS. ACT

1.Why does testing matter? 2.Introduction to the SAT 3.Introduction to the ACT 4.SAT and ACT: Head-to-Head 5.Next steps: Testing timeline and prep options

Transcript = 8,000 hrs. Other = 1,000 hrs. Standardized Testing = 10 hrs. Small input Standardized Testing Other Transcript Big output

Essay 25 minutes Math 2 25 minutes Writing 1 25 minutes Experimental Section 25 minutes Writing 2 10 minutes Critical Reading 3 20 minutes Math 3 20 minutes Math 1 25 minutes Critical Reading 1 25 minutes Critical Reading 2 25 minutes Total Time: 3 hours, 45 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours, 55 minutes Total Time with Essay: 3 hours, 25 minutes Science 35 minutes English 45 minutes Math 60 minutes Reading 35 minutes

ADMISSION TESTS BY SYSTEM UC: SAT or ACT + Writing CSU: SAT or ACT Community College: No SAT or ACT Out of State Public/ Private Colleges: SAT or ACT See each college website Subject Test requirements Some colleges are now “Test Optional”

TESTING: SOME COMMON QUESTIONS… A few SAT and ACT myths What is “Score Choice?” What is a “Superscore?” What is a “good” SAT or ACT score? Do schools prefer one test over the other? Do all schools care about test scores?

SAT SUBJECT TESTS Each test is one hour in length Achievement-based tests, measuring knowledge learned from college-level courses in the following areas: ENGLISH: Literature HISTORY: U.S. History, World History MATH: Mathematics Level 1, Mathematics Level 2 SCIENCE: Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics LANGUAGES: Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Modern Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese, Korean

TEST SCORES…SOME FINAL WORDS One SAT Reasoning Test or ACT with Writing must be completed no later than the December Test Dates for UC and CSU. (November is the better target date) If seeking Accommodations for SAT or ACT, it is very important to contact Deborah Blashaw, Dir. Support Services, ASAP. Current math placement is a factor when determining first test date. All students should have taken at least one exam by the end of junior year, if not two.

Grades in College Prep Courses Standardized Admission Tests Grades in All Courses PRIMARY FACTORS IN ADMISSION

EYE OPENING FACTS: UCLA received 72,697 apps last year USC received 46,104 applications last year for 3,021 places – 20% admit rate & Mid -50% SAT Composite score of admits between 1910 – 2220 High School graduating Class of 2013 Acceptance Rates Columbia 7 % Harvard 6 % Yale 7 % Stanford 7 % Frosh Class at LMU last year had a Mean GPA of 3.72 and a Mean SAT score of 1810

UC SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS (A-G) 15 ONE-YEAR COURSES WITH A GRADE OF “C” OR BETTER a.2 years Social Science/History (including 1year of U.S. History) b.4 years English c.3 years Mathematics (4 recommended; Alg I, Geometry, & Alg II) d.2 years Science w/Lab (3 recommended; Must have 2 of these 3: Biology, Chemistry, Physics) e.2 years Foreign Language/LOTE (3 recommended; same language) f.1 year Visual & Performing Arts (Art, Theatre, Music) g.1 year Elective chosen from the subject areas listed above

CALCULATING UC/CSU ELIGIBILITY INDEX Using SAT Reasoning Scores (Best CR & Math): GPA* x your SAT (CR+Math) Total taken (*GPA in all college prep “a-g” courses taken in 10 th & 11 th grades) Using ACT Scores: taken GPA* x (10 x ACT Composite Score) (*GPA in all college prep “a-g” courses taken in 10 th &11 th grades) My index is ________

Essay / Personal Statement Counselor Recommendation Teacher Recommendation Extracurricular Activities Community Service Special Talents, Interests, Skills Work Experience FACTORS THAT TIP A DECISION

THE APPLICATION: PRIVATE SCHOOLS Application Essay(s) Letter(s) of Recommendation Secondary School Report Official High School Transcript Interview (sometimes) Test Scores Students send (not Servite) Order From CollegeBoard/ACT

THE ESSAY “ When all else is equal between competing applicants, a compelling essay can make the difference.” …College Board, 2011

Naviance/Family Connection (Big Future) (Cal States) (UC) (Private California) (California Community Colleges) (456 Colleges in US) (US Catholic Colleges) COLLEGE SEARCH

NAVIANC E FAMILY CONNECTION A comprehensive software/database that students & parents can use as a tool in planning for college Counselors will use Family Connection to assist students in managing the college application process

NAVIANCE FAMILY CONNECTION Search for Colleges Career Exploration & Interest Inventory Online SAT Prep (free ) Learning Style Inventory Manage College Applications Communicate with Counselor Must use Servite address to register

NAVIANCE FAMILY CONNECTION

FINANCIAL AID Dave Coen College Planning America

THANK YOU FOR COMING!! Questions?? Have a wonderful night.