Sophomore Night
Our Lady of Mercy Academy
March 12, 2015
• Naviance Program
• Standardized Testing Information
• Regents Requirements & Course Information
• Student Athlete NCAA Guidelines
• Questions and Answers
College Admission Representatives are looking at a number of factors:
• Transcript – Grade Point Average for 9th, 10th & 11th grade as well as senior
grades.
• Activities - What does the student do besides go to high school?
• SAT and/or ACT scores
• Your College Essay will tell a story about you.
Next fall at Junior College Night, we will invite a College Admissions
Representative to share their insights with you about the college process.
• WHO:
All enrolled Sophomores and Juniors will take the exam
• WHAT: Students are tested on CRITICAL READING, MATH
and WRITING in order to prepare for the SAT. This test
is used as the qualifying test for National Merit
Scholarship.
• WHEN: October
• WHERE: Our Lady of Mercy Academy during the school day
• WHY:
To help students prepare for the SAT
• HOW:
Students are automatically registered for the exam by
the Office of School Counseling
For more information about the PSAT please visit:
www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html
• Each section is scored out of 80 points.
• Add a zero onto each section of your results to give you an idea of what you
would score on the SAT.
• This test is to show your strengths and weaknesses and it does not go on your
transcript and is not sent to colleges.
• Booklets and tests are given back with the test results so that students can
review their answers along with their score report.
• Junior results are used to determine if they qualify for the National Merit
Scholarship Program given by CollegeBoard.
• Students are given a personalized access code on their score report which is
designed to help each student review their results –We strongly encourage
that they take advantage of this tool!
• WHAT: 3 hour (without the essay) and 3 hour 50 minute(with essay) aptitude
exam that measures ability to critically reason, apply mathematical concepts
and write. Each section is out of 800 points.
• WHO: Juniors and Seniors
• WHEN: Students typically take the SAT in March or May of their Junior year and
October of their Senior year.
• WHERE: Students will register to take the SAT at their home districts or at a test
center closest to them. OLMA is not a testing center.
• WHY:
The SAT is required by most four year colleges and some two year
colleges for admission purposes.
• HOW:
Students can register online at www.collegeboard.com. Deadline dates
are listed on the CollegeBoard website and on the OLMA calendar. In
order to register students must create an account with CollegeBoard.
Please note late fees apply if registration deadlines are not met.
SAT Changes for the Class of 2017
• Students will only be tested on two sections; Evidence-Based
Reading and Writing and Math. There will be an optional essay
section.
• Scores will be out of 1600 points and the Essay section will be
scored separately.
• Students will no longer be penalized for wrong answers. Credit will
be given for every correct response.
• Score reports will provide students a more detailed view of their
abilities and achievement in specific skills.
• All SAT changes are listed on the handout in your folder.
• WHAT: SAT II Subject Reasoning Tests are one hour exams offered in many
different subject areas.
• WHEN: Tests are offered at the same time as the SAT. Students are advised to
take Subject tests in June at the end of the academic subject, however they
may take them at any time.
• WHERE: Students will take Subject Tests at their home district or at a test
center closest to them.
• WHO: Students who are strong in the subject area – 85 or better, may consider
taking them. We also suggest talking to your subject teacher if you are unsure
if you should take a certain exam.
• WHY: Subject tests are meant to complement your application. Ivy League
colleges and some highly selective colleges will require 2-3 subject tests in
addition to the SAT when reviewing your application.
• HOW: Students will register with CollegeBoard the same way they register for
the SAT. Three subject tests can be taken in one day.
• WHO: Juniors and Seniors.
• WHAT: The ACT is a 3 ½ hour achievement test that is out of 36 points
and has four sections: ENGLISH, MATH, READING and SCIENCE. The
WRITING section is considered optional and is an additional 30 minutes,
however students should register for it.
• WHEN: The ACT is offered in September, October, December, April and
June. It is never offered on the same day as the SAT.
• WHERE: Students will take the ACT at their home district or at a test
center closest to them.
• WHY: By taking both the SAT and ACT you have the option to send either
set of scores, whichever you scored stronger in. Colleges will accept
either test for admission purposes. The ACT is an assessment related to
what you have learned in high school and some students prefer the
format to the SAT.
• HOW: Students can register online at www.actstudent.org Reminder: It is
important to send all score results to OLMA , as well as, yourself.
• 99% of the schools super score either the SAT and/or ACT depending on
which test the student sends. What that means is that they will take the
highest scores on multiple tests.
May SAT
Math 625
Critical Reading 640
Writing 710
October SAT
Math 550
Critical Reading 650
Writing 700
• The colleges will super score and take the highest composite score for
both the SAT and ACT. Students will not be penalized for their lower
scores.
• Know when you want to take SAT, SAT II (www.collegeboard.com) and/or
ACT (www.actstudent.org) and sign up through their websites.
• It is important to do some type of prep work for both exams, know what
you are being tested on!
• If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us.
The State issues both a Regents and Advanced Regents Diploma.
Courses
NYS
OLMA
Examinations
Regents
Diploma
Advanced
Regents
Diploma
English
4
4
Social Studies
4
4
RE English
Yes
Yes
Math
3
3
RE Mathematics
Yes
Yes
Science
3
3
2nd RE
Mathematics
No
Yes
Health
0.5
0.5
3rd RE
Mathematics
No
Yes
The Arts
1
2
RE Global
History & Gov’t
Yes
Yes
Theology
0
4
RE US History &
Gov’t
Yes
Yes
Languages other
than English
1
3
RE Science
(Living
Environment)
Yes
Yes
Physical
Education
2
2
2nd RE Science
No
Yes
Sequence
Courses/Electives
3.5
3.5
No
Yes
TOTAL Required
22
29
Languages other
than English
(FLACS)
• Takes place after the 2nd quarter is
completed. All courses are available to view
on our OLMA website.
• Students must meet the pre-requisites for
Honors, AP & College level courses
• Students are assisted by their School
Counselor and teachers to plan for the
appropriate course load.
TYPICAL SCHEDULE FOR A JUNIOR/ SENIOR
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Math
Science
English
History
Foreign Language
Theology
Physical Education
Elective
Lunch
Honors Courses
• Offered in Math, Science, and English.
Advanced Placement Courses (AP)
• Rigorous college level courses a student can take in high school.
• Exams are given in May and are scored on a scale from 1-5.
• Some colleges will give credit to students who receive a 4 or above on an
AP exam.
• The student’s grade is weighted on her transcript.
• Ten AP courses are offered at OLMA in core subject areas.
College Courses
• Offered in conjunction with St. John’s University, Farmingdale State College
and Molloy College for a fee.
• Courses in English, Science, Foreign Language, and Philosophy.
• Open to Juniors (Science only) and Seniors.
• Students may receive college credits upon completion. It is up to the
student to research whether the college of their choice will grant credit.
Students who wish to participate in NCAA Division I or II athletics need to be
certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Students need to qualify academically
and will also need to be cleared as an amateur student-athlete.
Checklist for College-Bound Student Athletes:
• Register at the beginning of your junior year at www.eligibilitycenter.org
• Request in your Naviance Family Connection to have your transcript sent
electronically to the NCAA Eligibility Center at the end of your junior year.
• Take the ACT or SAT and use the code “9999” to have your official scores sent
directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center.
• Make sure you are on track to graduate on time with your class and have the
required amount of core courses.
• Request final amateurism certification during your senior year from the NCAA
Eligibility Center.
• Request the Office of School Counseling to submit your final transcript with
proof of graduation to the NCAA Eligibility Center.