Sophomore Parent College Night
Herron High School
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
6:00 – 7:30 PM
AGENDA
Sophomore Parent College Night
1) Junior Year
2) College Admissions Tests: PSAT, SAT and ACT
3) Preparing for College Applications
6) Q & A
1) Junior Year
2) College Admissions Tests: PSAT, SAT and ACT
3) Preparing for College Applications
4) Q & A
Junior Year: Core 40 Diploma vs.
Core 40 with Academic Honors Diploma
Core 40
-
8 credits of English
6 credits of Math
6 credits of Science
6 credits of Social Studies
5 credits of Directed Electives
(Languages, Fine Arts)
- 2 credits of PE
- 1 credit of Health
- 6 credits of other Elective credits
Core 40 with AD
- Meet all Core 40 requirements
- 6 World Language credits (6 in 1
language or 4 credits each in 2
languages)
- 2 additional Math Credits (Pre-Cal)
- 2 Fine Arts Credits
- 1 of the following:
• 4 AP credits
• 2 Dual credits
• 2 AP / 1 Dual credits
• High test scores
- GPA of 2.7 or higher at graduation
Academic Honors Diploma
- An Academic Honors Diploma is a sign that a student has
successfully completed a rigorous high school
curriculum. It is the preferred diploma for schools like IU
and Purdue.
- Some schools award automatic scholarships for AHD
recipients; others rank these students higher for
scholarship consideration.
- In Indiana, only students with an AHD will receive 100%
of the financial aid grants (Frank O’Bannon Award) for
which they qualify; students who earn a Core 40
Diploma will receive 80% of the grant funding.
Typical Junior Year Schedule
- English 11 or AP Language and Composition
- Next math class (Alg II, Pre Cal, PreAP Pre Cal,
AP Calc, etc.)
- Biology (unless transfer student)
- Next Latin class
- Government / AP Gov’t and Econ
*If taking AP Gov, take Econ this summer!
- 2 Electives
- Seminar
**All HHS students take 5 core classes every year
Summer Academe this Summer if…
- NG in English or Math in 10th grade
(mandatory)
- Not yet completed PE / Health credits
(mandatory)
- Taking AP Gov in 11th grade and want to get
Econ out of the way
- Want to get ahead in Government
- Student Help Desk
Junior Year
Grades, Grades, Grades!
- When students apply to college in the fall of their
senior year, the last grades that will be present on
their transcript are from junior year.
- Colleges look at grade trends – hopefully upward
trends! How a student does in 11th grade is more
important than how a student did in 9th.
- The main focus of a Junior student should be to
earn as high of grades as possible!
Scheduling for Junior Year
- Students will begin the scheduling process in
their Advisories the week of April 22nd. All students
will meet with an Academic Advisor or
Administrator to finalize schedule the week of
April 28th.
1) Junior Year
2) College Admissions Tests: PSAT, SAT and ACT
3) Preparing for College Applications
4) Q & A
PSAT – take in 10th and 11th Grade
Next PSAT/NMSQT: October 15, 2014
The PSAT scores are not sent to colleges, but the
test is important as practice SAT and to qualify
juniors for the National Merit Scholarship
competition.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT #1: Write the results of your student’s test
below and add a zero to each category. Add them together for the total.
Critical Reading
Math
Writing
Combined Critical Reading and Math
Combined Critical Reading, Math, Writing
Using PSAT Scores to Prepare
- Go to www.collegeboard.org/quickstart
- Use the ‘access code’ listed on the bottom of your
student’s PSAT score report.
- https://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownlo
ad/sample-psat-nmsqt-student-score-report.pdf
- Review scores, go over answers, identify areas of
strength and weakness, etc.
*Students will receive their test booklets back in
Seminar
College Admissions Tests: SAT and ACT
•Nearly all colleges require the SAT or ACT
•Most colleges accept either test
•Register at least one month in advance
•Tests administered on Saturday mornings
•Fee – approx. $51 SAT; $52.50 ACT; or waiver
• Late registration available for an increased fee
•Score reporting - 4 free – approx. $12.00 additional
•Resource students – Accommodations available
College Admissions Tests: SAT and ACT
SAT - Scholastic Aptitude Test
www.collegeboard.org
The SAT consists of three parts:
1. Critical Reading
2. Mathematics
3. Writing
Each section is scored from 200-800.
Perfect score = 2400
SAT – Scholastic Aptitude Test
www.collegeboard.com
College Admissions Tests: SAT and ACT
ACT – American College Test
www.act.org
The ACT consists of five parts:
1. English
2. Mathematics
3. Reading
4. Science
5. Writing
The entire ACT test is scored from 16 to 30.
Perfect score = 30
ACT American College Test www.act.org
College Admissions Tests: SAT and ACT
The SAT/ACT Testing Plan for Students
Plan A: Take both Junior year; compare; study;
retake strongest test
Plan B: Take SAT Junior year; review scores; study;
retake
**All students MUST take the SAT or ACT in their
11th grade year!
**Students sign up with their parents / guardians
online for a date and location most convenient
College Admissions Tests: SAT and ACT
Why take the test again?
*Broaden the scope of college acceptances
*It will put you in a higher scholarship category
*Most colleges will superscore the SAT
Apr CR 430 Math 580 Writing 370 [1380]
Oct CR 440 Math 560 Writing 390 [1390]
Superscore will be 1410
College Admissions Tests: SAT and ACT
How to Prepare for the SAT or ACT
•Online prep; number2.com or CollegeBoard
•Questions of the day
•Paper practice tests-available at Advising Office
•Classes for a fee – Princeton Review; Kaplan
•Review book with CDs
•Naviance – new website rolling out this spring with
customized study plan
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT #2:
Sign up for the following
Sign up for the Question of the Day at www.collegeboard.org
Sign up for the Question of the Day at www.act.org
Register at www.number2.com and take a practice SAT or ACT
1) Junior Year
2) College Admissions Tests: PSAT, SAT and ACT
3) Preparing for College Application Process
4) Q & A
College Application Components
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Transcript
GPA
Test Scores
Honors / Awards
Extra-curricular activities
Leadership roles
Community involvement
Summer experiences
Jobs / Internships
Disciplinary / Attendance Concerns
Letters of Recommendation
Essay
Begin the College Search now!
• Herron sponsored College Visits this spring
• Begin discussion about desired college characteristics
 Size
 Location
 Area / Major of focus
 Campus environment
 Distance from home (in-state vs. out-of-state)
 Private / Public
• Plan campus visits as a family
• Use websites with search functions:
Petersons College Search – www. Petersons.com
College Prowler – www.collegeprowler.com
Cappex – www.cappex.com
CollegeBoard Big Future– https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/
The College Search and Narrowing Down Your Choices
Begin a list of Desired Colleges
SAFETY/FALLBACK - Schools to which you will get
accepted.
Hanover College 1620- 1780
You 2260 & 4.37
TARGET - Schools to which you should get accepted but
there are no guarantees.
REACH – Schools to which you might get accepted but it is
going to be difficult.
Indiana University 1640-1890 & 3.67
 University of Notre Dame 1950-2250
You 1490 & 3.12 GPA
You 1240 & 2.3 GPA
www.cappex.com/colleges
Financial Aid Basics
Merit-Based Scholarship and Grants
Direct from college / university
Needs-Based Grants and Loans - FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
EFC – Estimated Family Contribution
Grants, i.e. Pell
Federally subsidized student loans
Unsubsidized student loans
Work-study
Parent loans
Outside Scholarships – fastweb.com
In Summary…
Talk with your students about:
- Junior Year
- SAT / ACT
- Preparing for College
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Sophomore Parent College Night
Herron High School
Thank you for your participation this evening.