Wylie East
High School
Junior Handbook
Class of 2016
“It’s a great day to be alive…and a great day to be a RAIDER!”
Scan this QR code to visit the WEHS Counseling
webpage for additional information
College Applications, Scholarship References &
NCAA Information
Applications
Admission for every Texas Public University, plus some private and two-year schools can be done
using the ApplyTexas Application. All schools prefer you to apply online. By using the ApplyTexas
Application you can complete the information once and send it to multiple schools. The ApplyTexas
Application can be found at www.applytexas.org. The application for Fall 2016 admission normally
opens in late July/early August.
Private Schools and many out of state universities use the Common Application, which can be found
at www.commonapp.org . Each application requires additional supplements from the school
counselor and a teacher several times in their senior year. Please visit their website for more
information.
Scholarships and Financial Aid

www.fafsa.ed.gov-Available January 1, 2016 for the Freshman Class of 2016
o Wylie East will have a Financial Aid Night in the Fall--Date TBD
 Scholarships can be found on the Counselors webpage under Financial Aid
****More information about Financial Aid will be discussed during a Financial Aid Night late in the fall of
your senior year.
Athletes


www.ncaa.org
www.ncaaclearinghouse.net- Student athletes need to register with the NCAA by the end of their junior
year if they plan to participate in athletics at the college level. An official transcript needs to be sent to
the NCAA at the end of the junior year (6 semesters must show on the transcript). Please work with
your coach for additional information.
College Night

Will be held in September at Wylie East High School. (exact date TBD) Details will be posted on the
Counselor’s webpage under Announcements and News.
ACT-$38.00
www.actstudent.org
WEHS School Code: 447699
General Test-Taking Strategies





Pace yourself and read directions for each test carefully
Read each question carefully and answer easy questions first
Use logic in more difficult questions-eliminate as many incorrect questions as you can, then make an
educated guess from remaining answers
Answer every question-your score is based on the number of questions that you answer correctly,
there is no penalty for guessing
Be precise in marking your answer document; erase completely
English Test
75 questions-45 minutes
Usage/Mechanics-40 questions (punctuation 13%, grammar and usage 16%, sentence structure 24%)
Rhetorical Skills-35 questions (strategy 16%, organization 15% and style 16%)
Mathematics Test
60 questions-60 minutes
Pre-Algebra/Elementary Algebra- 24 questions
Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry- 18 questions
Plane Geometry/Trigonometry- 18 questions
Reading Test
40 questions-35 minutes
Social Studies/Sciences- 20 questions
Arts/Literature- 20 questions
Science Test
40 questions-35 minutes
This test measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning and problem-solving skills
required in the Natural Sciences.
Test Date
April 18,
2015
June 13, 2015
Remaining ACT Dates for 2014-2015:
Registration
(Late Fee
Deadline
Required)
March 13, 2015
March 14-27, 2015
May 8, 2015
May 9-22, 2015
Testing Site
WEHS
WHS
SAT-Reasoning Test-$52.50
www.collegeboard.com
WEHS School Code: 447699
The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of critical thinking skills you will need for academic success in
college. The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems. You have 3 hours and 45 minutes to
complete the entire test.
Approaches to taking the SAT






Answer easy questions first
Make educated guesses—rule out one or more wrong answer choices and you have a better chance of
guessing the right answer
Skip questions that you REALLY can’t answer
Limit your time on any one question
Keep track of time
Mark the questions in your booklet that you skipped and wanted to return to
SCORING-All multiple—choice questions are scored the same way:



One point for each correct answer
One-quarter point subtracted for wrong answers
No points are subtracted for answers left blank
Critical Reading Section
Sentence completions—19 questions
Passage-based reading—48 questions
Mathematics Section
Multiple-choice—44 questions
Student-produced response questions that provide no answer
Choices—10 questions
Writing Section
Multiple choice questions
Writing an essay
Test Sections





Three—Critical Reading sections-25, 25, and 20 minutes
Three—Mathematics sections-25,25, and 20 minutes
Two—Writing sections-25 and 10 minutes
One—Essay-25 minutes
One—uncensored section-contains questions that may be used in the future editions of the SAT
Remaining SAT Dates for 2014-2015:
Test Date
Registration Deadline
(Late Fee Required)
March 14, 2015
February 13, 2015
March 3, 2015
May 2, 2015
April 6, 2015
April 21,2015
June 6, 2015
May 8, 2015
May 27, 2015
SAT or ACT
What’s the difference?
You need to take the SAT or ACT as part of the college application process, but did you know that you can choose
which test to take? Get to know the differences between the tests and learn how to decide which one is best for you
based on your test-taking strengths and preferences.
At-a-Glance
SAT
ACT
Test Sections
Critical Reading
Math
Writing
Reading
English
Math
Science
Writing (optional)
Time
3 hours, 45 minutes
2 hours, 55 minutes (plus 30 min
optional writing section)
Scoring
3 scores of 200-800 for each
section
5 scores of 1-36 for each section
and the total composite
Sending Scores
If you take the SAT more than
once you can choose which
scores you send to colleges.
If you take the ACT more than
once you can choose which set
of scores to send to schools.
Which one should I take?
Step 1:
Know the Admission Requirements
Keep in mind that many schools do not
Accept both scores interchangeably. Talk to your guidance counselor and consult the websites
and admissions offices of the schools in which you’re interested to determine their specific admissions requirements.
Step 2:
Know Yourself
If the majority of schools on your college list will
consider SAT and ACT scores interchangeably, use the
chart to the right to get a sense of which test will best
suit your testing skills.
STEP 3:
Take a Practice Test for Both
Get an accurate sense of whether you’ll score higher
on the SAT or ACT by taking a free practice test.
If you are…
Good with
Science
You might do
Better with…
ACT
A student in
advanced
math classes
ACT
Good at
Punctuation
Someone who
can
concentrate
for long
A vocabulary
Whiz
Good at
writing essays
in a short
amount of
time
ACT
SAT
SAT
SAT
Reason
ACT covers Science and
scientific reasoning, SAT does
not
SAT math tests up to 9th grade
basic geometry & Algebra 2,
while ACT math test up to
trigonometry
ACT test punctuation while
SAT does not
SAT is longer by 50 minutes
SAT stresses vocabulary much
more than the ACT
SAT essay is required, while
the ACT writing test is still
optional
POPULAR WEBSITES
WYLIE EAST COUNSELING WEBSITE College Visits, Scholarship Information, and
Forms
Go to: http://www.wylieisd.net/domain/459
COMMON APPLICATIONS
www.applytexas.org
www.commonapp.org
Texas Common Application
Universal Common Application
FINANCIAL AID, SCHOLARSHIPS AND COLLEGE SEARCH
www.fastweb.com
www.free-4u.com
www.studentsscholarship.org
www.scholarship.com
www.collegenet.com
www.fresch.com
www.bigfuture.com
www.usnews.com
www.zinch.com
www.educationalplanner.com
www.gocollege.com
www.princetonreview.com
www.collegebound.net/college
TEST PREPARATIONS
www.collegeboard.com
www.actstudent.org
www.thea.nesinc.com
SAT
ACT
THEA
CAREER
www.careermosaic.com
www.careerinventory.com
www.careers.org
www.careervoyages.gov
www.militarycareers.com
http://texasscholars.lifeafterhighschool.org
www.twc.state.tx.us
Check it out!
College Preview Dates
2014-15
Baylor University (Waco)
www.baylor.edu
Spring Premiere - Saturday, April 11, 2015
Midwestern State (Wichita Falls)
www.mwsu.edu
Mustang Rally – Saturday, March 7, 2015
Stephen F. Austin (Nacogdoches)
Texas Women's University (Denton)
www.twu.edu
Pioneer Preview Day – Feb 21, 2015 (Bilingual)
University of Texas (Austin)
www.utexas.edu
Set up on campus visit through
bealonghorn.utexas.edu
www.sfasu.edu
Showcase Saturday – February 28, 2015
Showcase Saturday – March 28, 2015
UT-Tyler
Tarleton State (Stephenville)
UT-Arlington
www.tarleton.edu
Texan Tour – March 21, 2015
www.uta.edu
Maverick Experience – Saturday, February 7, 2015
Texas A&M (College Station)
UT-Dallas
www.tamu.edu
Aggieland Saturday – February 14, 2015
www.utdallas.edu
Preview Week-March 16-20
Texas A&M-Commerce
University of Houston
www.tamu-commerce.edu
Mane Event Preview Day – March 7, 2015
www.uh.edu
Cougar Preview Day –March 21, 2015
Texas State University (San Marcos)
www.txstate.edu
Bobcat Day – February 28, 2015
Texas Tech (Lubbock)
www.ttu.edu
Saturday Visit Day- March 28, 2015
www.uttyler.edu
Patriot Preview Day- April 11, 2015
University of North Texas (Denton)
www.unt.edu
Preview Day – February 21, 2015
□ Talk with students and
faculty
□ Ask the tough questions until
you get answers
□ Go to a class or two
□ Visit the career center
□ Bring a notebook to jot down
your impressions
□ Plan at least one half-day at
each school and stay
overnight, if possible
□ Visit when the school is in
session
□ Arrange an interview with an
admissions officer
□ Take a campus tour
□ Attend an extracurricular
activity ( i.e.. sports/theater)
□ Check out the residence
halls, libraries, student
union, etc.
□ Eat a meal on campus
□ Find out about campus
organizations and activities
□ Visit a lab associated with
your intended major (i.e.,
computer lab or chemistry
lab)
What are the requirements for admissions?
What majors and degrees are available?
Where is the college located?
What is the size of the college?
What is the student/teacher ratio?
What is the cost per year?
Would the college be a good “fit” for my
student?
If you can’t visit a particular
school…
 Go to their website
 Meet an Admissions
Representative
 Attend a college fair
 Talk to High School
Alumni who are attending
the school
 Take a virtual tour
Going to College Timeline
September
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Discuss your course load, college plans, and test
scores with your high school counselor.
Request college applications.
Arrange campus visits.
Register to take the SAT/ACT, if necessary.
Search for scholarships and ways to pay.
Run College Answer’s free scholarship search.
Submit a CSS PROFILE form, if required.
Stay organized: File copies of applications and
correspondence. Keep your calendar up-to-date
tracking important dates and deadlines.
October
o
o
o
o
o
Verify that your transcripts are accurate.
Find out which financial aid applications are
required at your choice colleges.
Ask for letters of recommendation to include with
your admissions and/or scholarship applications.
Work on admissions application essays.
Attend college fairs and financial aid nights.
“Early Decision” candidates should complete
college applications.
November
o
o
o
o
o
Continue completing your college applications.
“Early Decision” deadline is often November 1 or 15.
Determine which financial aid forms the colleges on
your list require—when in doubt contact the
Financial Aid Office.
Search for additional sources of financial aid.
December
o
o
o
o
o
o
Complete school applications ideally by
December 1.
Collect family tax information.
Complete then make a copy of your FAFSA (Free
Application for Federal Student Aid). Don’t submit
before January 1, it will only be returned to you not
processed.
Take SAT or Achievements, if registered.
Stay organized.
January
o
o
Submit your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as
possible. Some student aid programs award funds
on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are
depleted. Waiting too long to submit your FAFSA
could be costly.
Fill out and submit required financial aid forms.
February – March
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
College decisions start rolling in.
Watch the mail for your Student Aid Report
(SAR).
Carefully examine the results. A mistake could
cause you to miss out on college funding.
Don’t panic if you’re selected for verification.
Just provide the college with the documents they
need.
Stay on top of important financial aid deadlines.
Respond quickly to college requests for
additional documentation.
College acceptance and financial award letters
start rolling.
Follow instructions carefully and make copies.
April
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Carefully analyze your letters.
Make a decision, most colleges request your
reply
by May 1, and send your tuition deposit.
Notify other colleges that you won’t be attending.
Register for Advanced Placement (AP) tests, if
necessary.
Mark your calendar with important deadlines
(housing, meals, transportation, financial aid,
etc.).
May
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Send transcripts.
Respond quickly to requests.
Return necessary forms.
Notify your FAO of any additional funding you’ll
be
receiving (scholarships and loans, etc.).
Evaluate student loan lenders and take time to
understand student loans.
Summer
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Still need money for college? Apply for a loan
online at College Answer. Borrow only what you
need to cover your college expenses.
Attend orientation.
Complete any college financial aid info received,
if you have questions — ASK.
Finalize your budget.
Send thank you notes to individuals who help
you get in.
Review College Answer’s College Advice
section and pick up a few freshmen tips.
Download College Answer’s Packing for College
Checklist.
SENIOR STEPS TO SUCCESS
DO request letters of recommendation from
DO make an appointment to see your counselor to talk
teachers or counselors or significant adults in your
about your academic progress and make sure you
life giving at least three weeks advance notice.
meet all grad requirements.
Provide a self-addressed stamped envelope.
DO make an appointment to see your counselor to talk about your academic progress and make sure you
all grad requirements.
DOmeet
plan campus
visits/tours and attend any College
DO fill out college applications in September and
Nights or College Fairs to gather information and ask
October, Pay attention to deadlines. “Early bird
DO plan campus visits/tours and attend any College Nights or College Fairs to gather information and ask
questions.
gets the worm!”
questions.
DO attend Financial Aid Workshops with your parents.
DO consider taking ASVAB (Armed Services
DOall
attend
Financial
your parents.
you can about the FAFSA (Free Application
Learn
you can
about Aid
theWorkshops
FAFSA (Freewith
Application
for Learn all
Vocational Aptitude Batter) whether or not you are
for Federal
Student
Federal
Student
Aid). Aid).
thinking of a military career; outstanding tool to
assess strengths and weaknesses and identify
maintain
good
grades
excellent
attendance.
DODO
maintain
good
grades
andand
excellent
attendance.
suitable career paths.
involved
in extracurricular
and/or
leadership activities.
DODO
getget
involved
in extracurricular
and/or
leadership
DO request that a final transcript be sent to the
activities.
college you will attend.
DO continue to take advanced classes because this indicates to admissions officers that you seek and can
And out of courtesy, notify the colleges you are not
a challenge.
DOhandle
continue
to take advanced classes because this
planning to attend.
indicates to admissions officers that you seek and can
DO take
SAT/ACT prep program in the Fall to improve scores.
handle
a challenge.
register
forprep
SAT/ACT
if youinare
to a highly-selective four-year school; take the SAT/ACT as
DODO
take
SAT/ACT
program
thenot
Fallapplying
to improve
late as possible in the school year to avoid competing with those students who might be. Pay close attention
scores.
to school admission deadlines.
DO register for SAT/ACT if you are not applying to a
DO request letters
of recommendation
from teachers
highly-selective
four-year
school; take the SAT/ACT
as or counselors or significant adults in your life giving at
least
three
weeks
advance
notice.
Provide
a
self-addressed
stamped envelope.
late as possible in the school year to avoid competing
with those students who might be. Pay close attention
DO complete
a resume
or activity list to include what you have accomplished over the last four years of high
to school
admission
deadlines.
school.
DO fill out college applications in September and October, Pay attention to deadlines. “Early bird gets the
worm!”
DO consider taking ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Batter) whether or not you are thinking of a
military career; outstanding tool to assess strengths and weaknesses and identify suitable career paths.
DO request that a final transcript be sent to the college you will attend.
And out of courtesy, notify the colleges you are not planning to attend.
DO make an appointment to see your counselor to talk about your academic progress and make sure you
meet all grad requirements.
DO plan campus visits/tours and attend any College Nights or College Fairs to gather information and ask
questions.