Guide to the College Process ‘

Timelines 9 th 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

10 th Grade Career Exploration/Interest Inventories Career Exploration/Interest Inventories PSAT’s (October 17) PSAT’s (October 17) Stay Involved in Activities Stay Involved in Activities Volunteer Volunteer Keep your Grades up Keep your Grades up Challenge yourself Challenge yourself Continue to make good choices Continue to make good choices

11 th Grade Take the PSAT Oct 17 (National Merit Scholarship) Start compiling Activities/Awards Resume Register and take the SAT’s (at least 2x) Consider taking the ACT Attend a college fair (Apr 23-permission forms required) *Parents may attend Apr 22 (King’s Caterers) Visit, Visit, Visit!! (5 excused days per year!)

Meet with your counselor as early as possible to discuss the application process Meet with your counselor as early as possible to discuss the application process Letters of Recommendation Letters of Recommendation College essay College essay Transcript Requests Transcript Requests 12th Grade

12 th 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 Deadlines Application Deadlines Early Decision (Binding) Early Action (Non-Binding) RollingRegular * It is the student’s responsibility to meet all deadlines! Allow 10 school days for transcripts requests and supplemental forms, weeks for letters of recommendations! These items are sent directly from the guidance office.

12th grade (cont.) Narrow down college choices to at least one “safety”, two “comforts”, and one “reach” Safety - Academic and Financial Profile meet and exceed all admission criteria Comfort - Academic and Financial Profile meet all admission criteria Reach - Academic and Financial Profile meet only some of the admission criteria Pay attention to college visits at NHS & attend ones of interest (on website)

Factors Colleges Consider GPA High School Curriculum Class Rank Standardized Test Scores Community Service, Activities, Athletics Letters of Recommendation (send only the number of letters that the college requests) College Essay

Factors you should consider Is the school right for you? Location Size Size Cost (Public vs. Private) Cost (Public vs. Private) Major Major Interests Interests NCAA Division I/II Requirements NCAA Division I/II Requirements

Standardized Testing SAT I Reasoning Test SAT I Reasoning Test SAT II Subject Tests (does your school require them?) SAT II Subject Tests (does your school require them?) ACT Test (with writing) ACT Test (with writing) * scores must be requested by you and sent directly to your college from collegeboard.com and/or ACT.org! * scores must be requested by you and sent directly to your college from collegeboard.com and/or ACT.org!

SAT Registration Upcoming Test Dates (*test offered at NHS) Test DateRegistration Deadline May 2, 2009March 31, 2009 (late registration until 4/17/09 for $23) June 6, 2009 *May 5, 2009 October 10, 2009 *TBA November 7, 2009TBA December 5, 2009 *TBA January 23, 2010 *TBA March 6, 2010 *TBA May 1, 2010TBA June 5, 2010 *TBA Test Registration Fees ( rates) Basic Test Fee: $45 Late Registration: $23 Change Fee: $22 (per type of change)

SAT at a Glance SECTION FORMAT/ TIMING QUESTION TYPES SCORE ’08 NATL AVGS Math Three Sections Two 25-min sections One 20-min sections Multiple Choice, Grid-Ins Critical Reading Three Sections Two 25-min sections One 20-min section Sentence Completion, Reading Comprehension Writing Three Sections One 25-min essay One 35 min section ESSAY, Identifying Sentence Errors, Improving Sentences and Paragraphs Experimental One Section One 25-minute Varies TOTAL 10 sections 3 hours and 45 minutes

ACT Registration Upcoming Test Dates ( *tests offered at NHS) Test DateRegistration Deadline September 12, 2009August 7, 2009 October 24, 2009 *September 18, 2009 December 12, 2009 *November 6, 2009 February 6, 2010January 5, 2010 April 10, 2010 *March 5, 2010 June 12, 2010May 7, 2010 Test Registration Fees ( rates) Basic Test Fee: $31 Test Fee: $46 (includes $15 Writing Test fee) Late Registration: $20 Change Fee: $20 (per type of change)

ACT at a Glance SECTION FORMAT/ TIME QUESTION TYPES SCORE ’08 NATL AVGS English Test45 minutes 75 questions Usage/Mechanics, Rhetorical Skills Math Test60 minutes 60 questions Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry Reading Test35 minutes 40 questions Prose Fiction, Social Studies, Humanities, Natural Sciences Science Test35 minutes 40 questions Data Representation, Research Summary, Conflicting Viewpoint Writing Test (optional essay) 30 minutes 1 question Written Essay TOTAL 2 hours and 55 mins 3 hours and 25 mins (includes Writing Test) 4-5 Subj. Area Tests 215 Multiple Choice

ACT vs. SAT ACTSAT Test Length 3 hours, 25 minutes (including 30-min. optional essay) 3 hours, 45 minutes Test Sections 4-5 Test Sections10 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 test Composite Score: Scores of per section Total: 2400 Guessing Strategy Always guess! Guess when you can eliminate at least one answer choice Score History Students decide which score is sentStudents decide which score is sent. Test Fee $31/$46 (with optional Writing Test)$45

Financial Aid/Scholarships Attend Financial Aid Night (Fall 2009) Apr 22, 2009 – King’s Caterers College Fair Apr 22, 2009 – King’s Caterers College Fair File the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Financial Aid) after Jan 1! (Free Application for Student Financial Aid) after Jan 1! Deadline: June 30, 2010 Deadline: June 30, 2010Visit/Register: CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE on CollegeBoard.com (Nonfederal Aid) Scholarships (morning announcements, posted in homerooms and website) Ask your college of interest for privately funded school based scholarships Find out if your school has its own financial aid forms Pay Attention to Deadlines!!!!!

Helpful Websites MakingHighSchoolCount.comFinAid.comFastAid.comCollegeTours.comCollegeBoard.comFastWeb.comPrincetonReview.comPetersons.com