12th Grade Fall Don’t Let Up
Your Checklist for College
9th Grade Set Your Sights on College
N Take courses that challenge you.
N Meet with your school counselor to discuss your educational
and course options.
N Explore course options such as AP, honors and Career
and College Promise.
N Create a free CFNC account to record your courses,
activities, and more.
N Explore career interests at CFNC.org.
N Research ways to save and pay for college.
10th Grade Keep Your Focus
N Pursue extracurricular interests, such as dance, sports,
clubs, or community service.
N Review your goals for the future with your counselor.
N Update your CFNC planner.
N Start using the free SAT and ACT test prep at CFNC.org.
N Take the PSAT for practice.
N Talk with family and friends about their educational choices.
N “Tour” colleges online at CFNC.org.
11th Grade The Critical Year for Success
N Review your academic plan with your counselor.
N Get schedules for college entrance and placement tests.
N Use the free SAT and ACT test prep at CFNC.org.
N Take PSAT in October (you may qualify for National
Merit Scholarships).
N Check entrance requirements for colleges that interest you.
N Keep your CFNC planner updated.
N Attend college fairs and financial aid workshops.
N Visit colleges.
N Research scholarships, grants, and loans at CFNC.org.
N Talk with coaches about college sports and scholarship eligibility.
N Register and take SAT, ACT, and/or AP tests.
N Narrow down your list of colleges.
N Find a summer job or internship in your field of interest.
N Review courses, graduation requirements, and scholarship
opportunities with your counselor.
N Update your CFNC planner.
N Select three to five colleges—a dream school, a safety school,
and others in between.
N Track application and financial aid deadlines for colleges.
N Take the first SAT or ACT offered this fall.
N Write, edit, proofread, and rewrite your admissions essays early.
N Ask teachers, counselors, or references to write letters
of recommendation.
N Attend college day and participate in College Application Week,
if available.
N Complete online college applications at CFNC.org before
the deadlines.
N If your high school participates, use CFNC.org to send your
official high school transcript to colleges.
N Send in any other college applications.
N Check with college financial aid offices for school-specific
scholarship information and forms.
N Student athletes send transcripts to NCAA Clearinghouse
for eligibility certification.
N Remind parents to plan to prepare tax information soon after
January 1 for your financial aid applications.
12th Grade Spring Finish Strong
N Go to www.pin.ed.gov to get an ID number to e-sign your FAFSA.
N Complete and submit FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov as soon as
possible after January 1.
N For help with your FAFSA, sign up at CFNC.org for a February
FAFSA Day near you.
N If not accepted by your college of choice, use the
College Redirection Module at CFNC.org to find new options.
N Compare admission acceptance letters and financial aid packages.
N Send in your enrollment deposit to hold your spot at the
college you choose.
N Apply for education loans, if needed.
N Make sure your final high school transcript is sent to your
college (goes automatically if CFNC.org sent earlier).
N Send in any early college credit course transcripts
(community college, middle college).
N Take exams for any AP or college-level courses completed.
N For community college admission, check with your local campus
about placement testing requirements.
For more tips on planning for college and career,
be sure to take a look at “Let Me Tell You” videos on CFNC.org.
866.866.CFNC
College works.
College works.
©2013 Pathways, College Foundation, Inc., and
State Education Assistance Authority (CFNC)
CFI Form G 632 (09/13)
Key Differences between the ACT and SAT
ACT vs SAT: which test is a better fit for your student? Students may take whichever test they prefer
(assuming there are available testing locations for both tests). If you’re not sure which test your child would
prefer, consider the key differences between the ACT and SAT. Some students find that the ACT caters to
their strengths more so than the SAT, and vice versa.
Need a quick side-by-side comparison of the tests? Check out our ACT vs SAT Comparison Chart.
SAT
vs.
ACT
reasoning test
Type of Test
content-based test
Critical Reading: 2, 25-min sections and 1,
20-min section; Math: 2, 25-min sections and
1, 20-min section; Writing: 1, 25-min essay,
1, 25-min section, and 1, 10-min section
Test Format
English: 1, 45-min section; Math: 1, 60-min
section; Reading: 1, 35-min section; Science:
1, 35-min section; Writing: 1, 30-min essay
(optional)
reading, vocabulary, grammar & usage,
writing, and math
Content
Covered
grammar & usage, math, reading, science
reasoning, and writing (optional)
tricky, questions can be phrased in ways that
make them difficult to decipher
Test Style
straightforward, questions may be long but are
usually less difficult to decipher
Scoring
English, Math, Reading, and Science scores
will each range between 1-36. Composite
ACT score is the average of your scores on
the four sections; ranges between 1-36
Math, Critical Reading, and Writing scores
will each range between a 200-800; total
SAT score ranges between 600-2400
yes – you lose ¼ of a point for incorrect
answers (except on the grid-in math
questions)
Penalty for
Wrong
Answers?
no – you do not lose points for incorrect
answers
yes – you can choose which set(s) of SAT
scores to submit to colleges
Score
Choice?
yes – you can choose which set(s) of ACT
scores to submit to colleges
questions increase in difficulty level as you
move through that question type in a section
(except reading passage questions, which
progress chronologically through the
passage)
Difficulty
Levels
arithmetic, data analysis, algebra I and II,
functions, geometry; formulas are provided in
the test booklet
Math Levels
arithmetic, algebra I and II, functions,
geometry, trigonometry; no formulas are
provided
with private schools and schools on the east
and west coasts; however, every four-year
college in the US accepts SAT scores
Tends to be
more
popular?
with public schools and schools in the Midwest
and south; however, every four-year college in
the US accepts ACT scores
Offered
when?
six times per year: February, April, June,
September, October, December (note that
some states offer the ACT as part of their state
testing requirements; these tests are not
administered on the national test dates)
typically about four weeks before the test
date
Registration
deadline?
typically about five to six weeks before the test
date
www.collegeboard.com
More
Information
www.act.org
seven times per year: January, March or
April, May, June, October, November,
December
difficulty level of the questions is random
Source: http://www.studypoint.com/ed/act-vs-sat/
DO YOU FIT THE PROFILE????
SCHOOL NAME
AVERAGE GPA
Appalachian State
Belmont Abby
Campbell University
Clemson
College of
Charleston
Davidson College
3.99
3.7
2.5
3.59
3.65
Duke
East Carolina
Elizabeth City State
Elon University
Fayetteville State
Gardner-Webb
Georgia Tech
Hampton University
Lenoir-Rhyne
Louisburg College
NC A & T
NC Central
NC State
UNC-Asheville
UNC-Chapel Hill
UNC- Charlotte
UNC-Greensboro
UNC-Pembroke
UNC-Wilmington
Univ. of Georgia
Univ.of SC
Univ. of VA
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest
Western Carolina
Wingate
Winston Salem State
Winthrop
85% in the top 10%
of the class
90% in the top 10%
of the class
3.5
2.5
4.0
2.0
3.4
3.7-4.0
2.5
2.0
2.0
2.25
2.3
3.75
3.7
4.5
3.7
3.68
2.5
3.71
3.4-3.5
3.85
4.0
3.86
3.80
3.63
3.1-3.7
3.1 (2.5 Min)
3.81
AVERAGE SAT
Read/Math unless
*all 3 parts*
1153
1200
950
1230
1070-1130
AVERAGE ACT
2030 *all 3 parts*
29-32
1435
31
1360
800
1850 *all 3 parts*
700
1020
1960 *all 3 parts*
950
1030
800
750
750
1184
1180
1303
1480-1730
1055
1355
1130-1250
1800
1120-1280
1800 *all 3 parts*
1238
Optional
1527 *all 3 parts*
1370-1670
800
1059
19-23
17
25-29
15
20
28-32
20
18-24
17
16
16 w/writing
25
26
28-32
21-26
23
18
22-27
25-29
24-29
28-32
25-29
Optional
21
24
17
23
26
23
20
28
23-27
Triumph - Free Test Prep
For College Entrance Exams
Free, Online Study Guides
The Triumph College Admissions Online Study Guide for SAT and the TCA Online
Study Guide for ACT are free online tools available to help you prepare for taking
the PSAT, SAT, or ACT. You may use these study guides at any time. Use the study
guides to learn more about the test, review specific skills, take practice quizzes,
and track your progress.
Free, Online Prep Course
Within the Triumph Online Study Guide, you will also find FinalPrep for the SAT and
ACT, online sessions designed for preparation the week before the test. FinalPrep
helps you to review the structure, format, skills, and test-taking tips you need
before you take the test.
How to Log In and Use Triumph Online


Getting to Triumph Online StudyGuide:
Go to Mallard Creek’s website and look for the ACT/SAT Test Prep tab on
the left hand side of the page.
Click on the link for Triumph Online StudyGuide. This will bring you to the
Online StudyGuide where you can log in from school and home!


Log into the Student Study Guide Homepage:
Enter your Student ID # as the username (Note: If you don’t know your
Student ID #, go to your school’s office and ask them to look it up for you.)
Enter your birthdate (YYYYMMDD) as the password
Click the “login” button



Select a Test Preparation Option:
PSAT Study Guide
SAT Study Guide & FinalPrep for the SAT
ACT Study Guide & FinalPrep for the ACT





After selecting a test preparation option:
Begin with the overview and complete the steps as directed.
If you are completing a study guide, plan to spend a minimum of ten hours
to get the most out of the guide.
FinalPrep will take between 2 and 2 ½ hours. You do not have to complete
either program in one sitting. Break up the work and pace yourself.
The online test can be accessed by going to “Step 3: Score and Analyze.”
Choose Option 6 (green) to take the practice test.
Research shows that summer learning loss in Math is an issue that impacts
all students, with students losing an average of 2-3 months of math comprehension
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How TenMarks Summer Math
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Personalized for Every Student, Based
on Diagnostic Assessment
TenMarks Summer Math Program for students entering
grades 1 through Algebra 2 is designed to guide students
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TenMarks differentiates instruction for every student.
Designed for the depth and rigor of the new math standards (CCSS and States), every TenMarks’ assignment
ensures students build a strong conceptual foundation,
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• The program starts each student with a diagnostic
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• Each student’s summer curriculum is designed
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introduced to concepts for the year ahead.
On-Demand Instruction
Facilitates Learning & Success
TenMarks is founded on the principle that support must be embedded, and
delivered the moment students find themselves struggling. When students work on
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FREE Summer Math
Program for Families
The personalized summer math program is being offered
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Engaging & Motivating
for Students
Reports & Deep Insights
Based on Analysis
Built-In Interventions
Delivered Automatically
TenMarks provides real-time reports and
drill-down insights, so families and educators can easily monitor usage, proficiency,
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summer program data can also be used to
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TenMarks has real-time interventions that
adapt to a student’s individual needs. When
TenMarks recognizes that a student hasn’t
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TenMarks Summer Math Program is engaging for students and enables them to master
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To motivate students during the summer
parents can create customized incentives
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to the zoo, the rewards are all up to you!
How Do Familes Use TenMarks Summer Math Program
TenMarks, an Amazon company, is on a mission to reverse summer learning loss in
math, and prove that a personalized online program helps improve math outcomes.
For Summer 2014, TenMarks is offering its powerful 3-month summer program
for $0 cost to families in your school/district.
(Previously $39 per student)
1
2
It’s easy for families to benefit from the program.
Parents can register online at
http://summer.tenmarks.com for
the summer program - in minutes.
It’s super easy!
Before summer break you will receive an
email to get started.
Phone and online support is available to
families throughout the program.
3
Students, parents and educators will receive
end of summer report cards, with details on
performance and progress, which they can
leverage for the next school year. Districts
may also receive aggregate performance
reports and insights by standards and skills.
2013 AWARD
Technology Innovation Showcase
Questions to Ask a Tour Guide or Admissions Counselor during
College Visits
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
What required courses so I have to take?
When do I have to select a major?
Can I pursue a double-major or a minor?
Is on-campus guaranteed? Do most students live on campus?
What do most graduates do after attending ____ (place college name here)?
When are your admission deadlines?
Do I have to take SAT subject tests?
What kinds of extracurricular activities are available? How much time do
students spend on extracurricular activities?
9. What athletic opportunities will I have? (club, intramural, JV, Varsity)
10. What is the social scene like here?
11. How big are most classes?
12. Do we get to pick our own roommates? How many people are in the room?
13. What are the meal plan options?
14. Do students typically hold jobs on campus?
15. What options does financial aid give me? Do you have merit-based or
need-based scholarships? Sports scholarships?
16. Can I study abroad? Where?
17. What summer opportunities will I have?
18. Will I get an interview during the admissions process?
19. Do you have pre-professional tracks (Pre-Law, Pre-Business, Pre-Med, etc.)
or do you have a liberal arts curriculum?
20. Will there be a job fair on campus post-graduation?
21. Will there be someone to help me locate a job after I graduate?
22. What are your favorite things about ____ (place college name here)? What
is one thing you would change?
Be sure to bring a pen and paper/notebook to write down the answers to each of
these questions and get the names of the people you spoke with. When you
return home, send an e-mail or a written note thanking them for their time.