WELCOME TO
WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL’S
COLLEGE INFORMATION NIGHT
Simplify the College Planning Process
College opportunities exist for everyone. These
four steps can help simplify the planning process:
1.
Understand admission factors
2.
Learn about the SAT® and SAT Subject Tests™
3.
Explore college options
4.
Develop a financial plan
Understand
Admission
Factors
Understand
Admission
Factors
What Colleges Consider
The first part of planning for college is understanding what
factors colleges consider when looking at a student profile.
•
Primary Factors
-
Quality/Rigor of Academic
Courses
-
Academic Performance/
Grades
-
Test Scores (SAT, SAT
Subject Tests, AP®, etc.)
•
Additional Factors
-
Extracurricular Activities
-
Essay(s)
-
Letters of Recommendation
-
Demonstrated Interest
Grades & Course Work
Understand
Admission
Factors
Your high school academic record is one of the most
important factors in college admission. Colleges will
look at a few aspects:
•
Course selection: Challenge yourself with a rigorous
course load and high-level classes, including AP or
honors courses.
•
Grades: Every year counts, starting with freshman
year.
•
GPA trends: Keep improving through every grade.
•
Class rank (if offered by your high school).
Other Considerations
Understand
Admission
Factors
•
Positive recommendations from educators and mentors
•
Personal statement and essay(s) demonstrating writing
ability and self-expression
•
A “demonstrated interest” that shows your enthusiasm for
the colleges to which you’re applying
•
Extracurricular activities, including participation in sports,
performing/visual arts, volunteering, etc.
•
Community involvement, part-time work or internship
•
Interview (if applicable)
Learn About the
SAT® and SAT
Subject Tests™
About the SAT
Learn
About the
SAT
The SAT measures what you know and how well you
apply that knowledge.
•
It tests the same things taught every day in high school
classrooms — reading, writing and math.
•
It’s the most widely used college entrance exam.
•
Almost all colleges and universities use the SAT to make
admission decisions.
•
A combination of grades and SAT scores is the best
predictor of a student’s future success in college.
SAT
The SAT is changing in some ways, but these things are staying the same:
- It’s accepted by almost all U. S. Colleges.
- It’s typically taken by juniors in the spring and seniors in the fall.
- SAT scores and high school GPA are a powerful combination. Used together, there’s nothing
better at predicting potential college success.
REGISTER
Show colleges you’ve got what it takes. Sign up for the test that measures the skills you’ve learned in class. Register
now at collegeboard.org/sat
Wondering about dates and deadlines, fees and fee waivers, colleges that require the SAT Essay, photo ID policies? Get
answers to all your registration questions. (/sat/register)
WHAT’S NEW?
- All-new essay – and it’s optional
- No penalty for guessing
- No vocab that you’ll never use again
Know what to expect: Inside the Test (/sat/inside-the-test)
SKILLS AREN’T BOUGHT
They’re learned – so brush up on your skills with these free resources:
- Personalized practice from Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/sat)
- The app, Daily Practice for the New SAT (/sat/practice/daily-practice-app), that makes it easy to try
questions and scores practice tests instantly.
Seriously they’re free and they’re official
QUICK FACTS
- 4 parts: Reading, Writing and Language, Math, and the optional SAT Essay
- 400-1600 score scale
- 3 hours and 50 minutes with the SAT Essay – or 3 hours without it
- 4 answer choices
- 4 college application fee waivers for every student who uses an SAT fee waiver (/sat/register/fees/feewaivers)
The New SAT
When to Take the SAT
Most students take the SAT during their junior and senior year
of high school, and that’s what is typically recommended.
At least half of all students take the SAT twice – usually once in
the spring of their junior year and again in the fall of their senior
year. Most students improve their scores the second time
around. This is partly due to covering more academic material
from junior to senior year.
It is recommended that students take the test no more than
twice. It is not likely you will increase your score in any
significant way by taking the test three or more times.
Getting Ready for the SAT
Learn
About the
SAT
•
Select challenging high school courses.
•
Read widely and write extensively, both in and out
of school.
•
Take the PSAT/NMSQT® as a sophomore or junior.
•
Become familiar with SAT question types, format
and directions.
•
Take advantage of free College Board resources
at sat.collegeboard.com.
A Little Practice Goes a Long Way
Learn
About the
SAT
•
Research is clear that cramming and short-term
test prep aren’t effective substitutes for hard work
in school.
•
To feel comfortable and confident on test day, it’s
a good idea to be familiar with the test format and
question types.
•
Like anything else in life, a little practice never
hurts.
Windsor Central School District
HOME OF THE BLACK KNIGHTS
Upcoming Events
Date
Event
3.2.16
SAT Administration
4.12.16
SAT Administration
About SAT Subject Tests
Learn
About the
SAT
SAT Subject Tests allow you to showcase your accomplishments
and interest in subjects in which you do well. They provide a more
complete story about your academic abilities and distinguish you in
the admission process.
For admission
•
Certain schools require or recommend them as part of the admission
process.
For placement and advising
•
Placement out of beginner classes allows you to focus on more
interesting/in-depth classes and satisfy basic requirements for certain
majors prior to attending college.
•
College advisers use them to help you pick course subjects and levels.
Learn
About the
SAT
About SAT Subject Tests
Subject Tests cover content knowledge in:
Literature
U.S. History
Biology
Math Level 1
World History
Chemistry
Math Level 2
Physics
Foreign language Subject Tests measure reading comprehension,
language usage and vocabulary. Some of these tests have a
listening component:
Spanish
Chinese
French
Japanese
German
Korean
Modern Hebrew
Latin
Italian
ACT vs. SAT
Colleges will accept either the SAT or ACT. So which should you take?
It’s all about the numbers. Some students end up scoring substantially higher on the SAT; others
do better on the ACT.
The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is
more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.
The SAT penalizes you for wrong answers, so guessing is discouraged. The ACT is scored based
on the number of correct answers with no penalty for guessing.
The ACT has an interest inventory that allows students to evaluate their interests in various career
options.
Description of the ACT
The ACT (No writing) consists of four multiple-choice tests: English, Mathematics, Reading, and
Science.
The ACT Plus Writing includes the four multiple choice tests and a Writing Test.
TEST
English
CONTENT
75 Questions
45 Minutes
Measures standard written English and rhetorical skills.
Mathematics
60 Questions
60 Minutes
Measures mathematical skills students have typically
acquired in courses taken up to the beginning of 12
grade.
Reading
40 questions
35 Minutes
Measures reading comprehension.
Science
40 Questions
35 Minutes
Measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation,
reasoning and problem-solving skills required in the
natural sciences.
Explore College
Options
RESEARCHING COLLEGES
Online Search – www.collegeboard.com
Guidance Counselor role
Visit! Visit! Visit!
Utilize the college website
What to Consider
Size and diversity of student body
Location
Academic programs
Campus life — athletics, activities, housing
Graduation and retention rates
Financial aid and scholarship opportunities
Above all, think about where you will be the most happy
and successful in your college life.
Explore
College
Options
Visit Campuses
Get to know a school from the inside:
Take a campus tour.
Speak with an admission counselor.
Ask about financial aid opportunities.
Sit in on a class of interest.
Read the student newspaper.
Talk to students and faculty.
Explore
College
Options
TIMELINE
Junior Year
• January /March - Academic Planning
• February-June - Register and Prepare for SAT/ACT
• March – Ongoing - Visit Prospective Colleges
• March–June - Develop Activities Resume
• May - Ongoing - Scholarship Research
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REGENTS DIPLOMA
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
ADVANCED DESIGNATION REGENTS
DIPLOMA
English
Social Studies
Math
Science
LOTE
Art/Music
Health
Physical Education
Electives
Intro to Computers and Financial Literacy
Total
4
4
3**
3**
1*
1
0.5
2
3
0.5
English
Social Studies
Math
Science
LOTE
Art/Music
Health
Physical Education
Electives
Intro to Computers and Financial Literacy
Total
22
REQUIRED EXAMS
(passing score of 65 and above)
English Comprehensive Exam
1 Math Regents Exam
Regents Global History Exam
Regents U.S. History Exam
Regents Science Exam
22
Required Exams
(passing score of 65 and above)
English Comprehensive Exam
3 Math Regents Exams
Regents Global History Exam
Regents U.S. History Exam
2 Regents Science Exams (one from Living
Environment and one from Physical Setting)
*
Students are required to have completed 2 units of study in a Language other than English (LOTE) by the
end of their freshman year. One unit of the credit is earned by passing the State LOTE proficiency exam or
earning a unit of commencement level credit in a LOTE.
**
CTE integrated course in Mathematics/Science/Technology may be used as the third required unit of credit
in Mathematics of Science.
***
Students Acquiring 5 units in one of the following may be exempt from the 2ND and 3rd credit Language other
than English requirements for an advanced regents diploma: Art, Music Business, or Career and Technical
Education.
****
4
4
3
3
3***
1
0.5
2
1
0.5
All students participate in “Introduction to Computers and Financial Literacy” unless it does not fit into a
student’s schedule or he/she transfers in late into their HS Career. In this case, students take a proficiency
exam in the 12th grade year. If they do not pass, the student receives additional assistance via an
independent study with the HS business teacher.
CURRICULUM SELECTION SHEET
ENGLISH 11
AP ENGLISH
US HISTORY
AP US HISTORY
FRENCH III
BCC FRENCH
FRENCH IV
SPANISH III
BCC SPANISH
SPANISH IV
GEOMETRY
ALGEBRA 2 TRIG
INTERM. ALG 2/TRIG
PRE CALCULUS
BUSINESS MATH
CTE MATH
AP BIOLOGY
APP. CHEM I
APP. CHEM II
FORCE OF NATURE
FORENSICS
CHEMISTRY
CTE SCIENCE
DIGITAL ELEC.
CHORUS
BAND
MUSIC THEO I
MUSIC THEO II
GUITAR & KEY
BASS GUITAR&DRUMS
POP MUSIC I
POP MUSIC II
GREAT AM. FILMS
DRAWING
ADV DRAWING
PAINTING
ADV PAINTING
SCULPTURE
ADV SCULPTURE
CERAMICS
PRINT MAKING
DIG PHOTO I
DIG PHOTO II
AP STU ART PREP
AP STU ART
PE
HEALTH
PSYCHOLOGY
INTRO TO COMP
ACCOUNTING
MARKETING
ENTREPRENEUR.
DIG VIDEO PROD
WEB DESIGN
BCC MSOFFICE
11th
Grade
BOCES ½ DAY – CTE PROGRAMS
CURRICULUM SELECTION SHEET
ENGLISH 12
COLLEGE ENGLISH
AP ELA
CTE ELA
ECONOMICS
P.I.G
BCC ECON
AP WORLD
AP US HISTORY
BCC PUBLIC POLICY
BCC FRENCH
FRENCH IV
CONV. FRENCH
BCC SPANISH
SPANISH IV
CONV. SPANISH
ALGEBRA 2 TRIG
PRE CALCULUS
BUSINESS MATH
INTERM. ALG 2/TRIG
COLLEGE CALCULUS
FOUNDATIONS FOR
COLLEGE MATH
12th
Grade
NEW VISIONS
AP PHYSICS
CHEMISTRY
FORCE OF NATURE
FORENSICS
APP. CHEM I
APP. CHEM II
AP BIOLOGY
ENG. DES. & DEV.
CHORUS
BAND
MUSIC THEO I
MUSIC THEO II
GUTAR & KEY
BASS GUITAR & DRUMS
POP MUSIC I
POP MUSIC II
GREAT AM. FILMS
DRAWING
ADV DRAWING
PAINTING
ADV PAINTING
SCULPTURE
ADV SCULPTURE
CERAMICS
PRINT
DIG PHOTO I
DIG PHOTO II
AP STU ART
PE
GENOCIDE
CIVIC HISTORY
HEALTH
PSYCHOLOGY
INTRO TO COMP
ACCOUNTING
MARKETING
ENTREPRENEUR.
DIG VIDEO PROD
WEB DESIGN
BCC MSOFFICE
BOCES ½ DAY-CTE PROGRAMS
TIMELINE
Senior Year
•
September/October - Meet with Counselor
•
October-December - Apply (online vs. paper)
- File FAFSA–Apply for Financial
Aid
•
January - April - Admissions decision/Financial Aid
Package
Develop a
Financial Plan
Develop a
Financial
Plan
Add It Up
Determine all college costs — not just tuition.
Calculate your college savings so far and see if you’re
on track.
Estimate your family’s expected contribution —
an EFC calculator is available at
www.collegeboard.com/payforcollege and
www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov
Search for scholarships — See hand out for
scholarship sites.
APPLY!
APPLY!!
APPLY!!!
Apply and Compare
Develop a
Financial
Plan
•
Know your options: grants, loans, work-study, etc.
•
Fill out the free FAFSA application after January
1st of your senior year.
•
Compare financial aid awards and determine how
they fit with other contributions:
-
Family
-
Savings
-
Scholarships
Making a Decision
•
Try to visit colleges where you’ve been accepted.
•
Compare financial aid packages.
•
Send your deposit.
•
Get ready to graduate!
Congratulations, you’re off to college!
Thanks for coming
Contact information:
WINDSOR GUIDANCE OFFICE
William O’Donnell
(607) 655-8231
wodonnel@windsor-csd.org
Christina Salasny
(607) 655-8230
csalasny@windsor-csd.org
30