1 College Timeline - Junior Year Mid October Take the PSAT Spring Take the SAT and ACT Spring/Summer Visit Colleges Spring /Summer Prepare for SAT by going to Summer- Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse if you will be playing sports at a Division I or II school April 3 rd, Attend the National College Fair at the Buffalo Convention Center -Permission slip due March 23 rd March 6 th - Attend College and Career Information Day (Permission Slip and Registration Due Feb. 17 th ) Visit Career Center- research colleges and careers

2 College Timeline- Senior Year September – October Narrow down list of schools 3-5 Register to re-take SAT/ACT Exams Attend NOCA College Fair/Visit with College Reps in Career Center Visit Schools/Coaches/Professors Attend Open Houses Start working on college applications Get Letters of Recommendations from teachers OCTOBER 31 st – FINISH APPLICATIONS!! WATCH DEADLINES!!!!

3 College Timeline- Senior Year January Apply for Financial Aid by going to February-March Keep in contact with colleges Be sure all documents are on file Look over Financial Aid Award Letters April-May Make decision Pay Deposit

4 COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS SAT SAT- Subject Tests ACT ACT with Writing

5 When do I take the exams and how often? “ Rule of thumb” SAT Reasoning: Spring of junior year AND Fall of senior year ACT: Spring of junior year OR Fall of senior year SAT Subject Tests : Spring of junior year AND/OR Fall of senior year IF REQUIRED

6 Why take both SAT and ACT? Colleges accept SAT and ACT scores equally. They accept the higher of the two Colleges will take the highest COMBINED SAT score if a student takes them more than once

7 Retake??? SAT 65% of students who retake SAT increase their score Average increase is 30 Points ACT 55% who retake the ACT increase their composite score 22% had no change in composite score 23% had a decrease in their composite score

8 What’s the difference? ACT English (1-36) Mathematics (1-36) Science (1-36) Reading (1-36) Composite (1-36) No penalty for wrong answers SAT *Critical ( ) Reading *Math ( ) Writing ( ) Overall ( ) Fraction of a point deducted for wrong answers *Students should combine Critical Reading and Math Scores for total SAT Score.

9 What are SAT Subject Tests? SAT Subject Tests are specific Subject Area tests REQUIRED by some selective schools. Students can take three in one day. LiteratureU.S. History Biology EWorld History Biology M12 Different Languages ChemistryMath Level I PhysicsMath Level II

10 ACT Test Dates and Deadlines 10 TEST DATE RESGISTRATION DATE Fees ACT w/Writing *April 14, 2012March 9, 2012$34.00$49.50 June 9, 2012May 4, 2012$34.00$49.50 September 8, 2012 TBA$34.00$49.50 October 27, 2012TBA$34.00$49.50 *December 8, 2012 TBA$34.00$49.50 February 9, 2013TBA$34.00$49.50 April 13, 2013TBA$34.00$49.50 June 8, 2013TBA$34.00$49.50 *Offered at Niagara Wheatfield HS

11 SAT Test Dates and Deadlines TEST DATE RESGISTRATION DATE Fees SAT Subject Tests March 10, 2012February 10, 2012$49 *May 5, 2012 (+Subject Tests) April 6, 2012$49 $22 + $11 per subject test (+$22 for Language w/ Listening test) *June 2, 2012 (+ Subject Tests) May 8, 2012$49 $22 + $11 per subject test (+$22 for Language w/ Listening test) Early OctoberEarly SeptemberTBD Early NovemberEarly OctoberTBD Early DecemberEarly NovemberTBD *Offered at Niagara Wheatfield HS

12 How to register? Online  (ACT)  (SAT) You can choose to have your scores sent to four colleges at no additional charge

13 Important Codes Niagara Wheatfield CEEB Code * Niagara Wheatfield Test Center Code  ACT Exam –  SAT Exams – * You must put the CEEB Code on SAT/ACT registration forms or Niagara Wheatfield will NOT receive your scores!

14 PSAT EXAM Administered to all Juniors and some Sophomores (advanced in math) in October 2011 Scores and test booklets were distributed to all students in early December Students were given a presentation on My College Quickstart, which is a personalized online tutorial that students can use in preparation for the SAT My College Quickstart