MEET THE COUNSELORS
Jakkia Hollingsworth, Dean of College Prep, Academic Counselor (L-Z)
jhollingsworth@uplifteducation.org
Annette Enright, Academic Counselor A-K
aenright@uplifteducation.org
Langston Ross, College Counselor
lross@uplifteducation.org
Sonya Barron, Inspire Counselor
sbarron@upliftEducation.org
MEETING AGENDA
I.
Graduation Requirements
II.
AP vs. IB
III. GPA/Ranking/ Communication of Rank
IV. Road to College Calendar
V.
Junior Year Planning
VI. College Admission Testing
VII. Senior Year Planning
VIII. Conclusion
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Math – 4 Credits (Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II, and Advanced Math)
English – 4 Credits (English I-IV)
Social Studies – 4 Credits
(World Geography, World History, US History, 20th Century World Topics)
Gov’t/Econ – 1 Credit
Science – 4 Credits
(Biology, Chemistry, Physics, 4th Science)
Foreign Language – 3 Credits of the same language (in Upper School)
Fine Arts – 2 Credits of the same fine art
PE – 1.5 Credits
Professional Communications – 1 Credit
Technology – 1 Credit
TOK – 1 Credit
Other Electives – 2.5 Credits
TOTAL # of Credits = 29
+ successful completion of the EOCs and TAKS tests + Creativity, Action, and
Service (CAS) requirements
** IB Diploma Candidates will
have additional requirements based on the program**
I.B. VS. AP- NOT VERY DIFFERENT….ANYMORE
•
•
•
•
•
•
Commonalities
Both challenging coursework
Both favorable to colleges
Both receive college based on
test scores (an average of 3 or
more credit hours per class
and contingent upon college
requirements)
Both provide extra weight on
scholar GPA
Both must complete extended
essay versus it previously
being strictly IB requirement
All student populations are
able to take IB classes
Differences
•
A la Carte course selection (AP)
vs. cycle of 7 courses for two
consecutive years (IB)
•
IB -internationally recognized
versus AP predominant
American affiliation
•
Paths diverge between junior
and senior year, with all
students taking AP coursework
during junior year
GPA Policy:
 Grading System is as follows:
 Calculation of weighted GPA:
 To weight the GPA, the semester grade in each
course is added to the course weight.
 All weighted courses are totaled and divided
by the total number of courses to get the
weighted GPA.
 Weightings are based on the following scale:
 Advanced Placement/IB: 1.0
 Honors: 0.5
 All other courses: 0.0
 Calculation of unweighted GPA:
 Unweighted GPA is the sum of the unweighted
grade points on a 4.0 scale divided by the total
number of semester courses.
 Communication on transcript:
 The student’s transcript will show both
 Weighted GPA on a 5.0 scale
 Unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale
GPA
On 100 Scale
On 4.0 Scale
A+
100-97
4.0
A
96-93
4.0
A-
92-90
3.7
B+
89-87
3.3
B
86-83
3.0
B-
82-80
2.7
C+
79-77
2.3
C
76-73
2.0
C-
72-70
1.7
69 and below
0.0
F
RANKING
Rank will be calculated using all semester grades and will be based on
weighted GPA
Rank is calculated at the end of the first semester of 9th grade.
 The system will automatically begin to rank students as soon as they have
acquired credit in the 9th grade, and at the end of each semester.
Graduating seniors with the highest and second highest cumulative
weighted GPA as determined at the end of the 8th semester grading
period and carried out 3 decimal places will be eligible to serve as
Valedictorian & Salutatorian
COMMUNICATING RANK
Internal Communication of Rank
•
Rank will be communicated to students and their families who are in the top
25% at the end of sophomore year, end of junior year, and at the end of
every semester senior year.
•
For those below 25%, students and their families will be told what quartile
they are in during the times listed above.
External Communication of Rank
•
We will eliminate the rank field on the transcript
•
Communication of ranks will only be shown on counselor reports in the form
of a standardized letter/report, secondary school report, mid-year report, or
final year report
•
For students in the top 25%, counselors will note student as Valedictorian,
Salutatorian, ‘Top 10%’ or ‘Top 25%’
•
For students not in the top 25%, counselors will note ‘not ranked by Uplift’ if
asked to provide rank
GPA & RANKING POLICY UPDATE
ROAD TO COLLEGE CALENDAR
Items to Know:
1. College Visits are on the calendar and are being updated daily. Visits
are limited to the junior and senior class only and all students must sign
up and check- in and receive approval from teachers before
attending. To access the college visit calendar go to:
www.northhillsprep.org
---Student Resources --Counselors Corner
2. Uplift College Fair, Thursday, September 11 2014, from 5:30-8 pm at
North Hills Preparatory. This event is mandatory for all juniors and seniors.
Opt out by email only. Students will remain at NHP, fed and all
transportation to and from event is provided. Parents are welcome to
meet students at Summit and bring them home. Prior arrangements must
be made with the counselors.
UPLIFT NORTH HILLS PANTHER SUCCESS PLAN (PSP)
How Does PSP Work?
WHAT IS PSP?
•
•
PSP is a tracking tool that
the counseling staff will
be using to make sure
that we catch struggling
students before things go
from bad to worse.
•
Grades will be checked every 3 weeks
•
If you are failing at the 3 week check-your
teacher, your parents and an academic counselor
will meet to discuss your grades and place you on
PSP.
•
The requirements for PSP include, but are not
limited to:
You will carry a probation log for daily checkins.
Monday Check-Ins with Mrs. Hargrove
(morning or lunch)
Weekly Flex Period Tutorials with Teacher signoff
Advisory Teacher sign off on homework hall
Weekly Check-in with your Academic
Counselor
•
PSP is NOT a
punishment, it’s a way for
everyone invested in you
to work together to make
sure you’re successful.
•
•
•
•
•
Your team of supporters will meet again after 3
weeks to review your PSP progress and
decide the next step for success!
*Information Compiled from many sources including
the Collegeboard.com Website
FALL

Prepare for and take the PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test)
in October

Begin your college search
 Start with you: Make lists of your abilities, preferences and personal qualities.
 www.collegeboard.com
College MatchMaker
Plan for College
College Search
 Research different colleges to begin developing a list of 8 colleges you are
interested in applying to: 2 safety/4 target/2 reach

Take every opportunity to visit colleges! Many colleges host fall and spring open
houses. Start here.

Update your resume
WINTER
Register to take the SAT and/or ACT this Spring
Learn more about financial aid
Stay involved with extracurricular activities
 Colleges look for consistency and depth in the non-academic activities
you pursue. Taking on leadership roles and making a commitment to
the same groups are more important than trying out tons of new
activities each year.
Continue to fulfill community service hours requirements
ADDITIONAL COLLEGE SEARCH RESOURCES
www.collegeboard.com
www.collegeprowler.com
www.cappex.com
www.bigfuture.com
www.youniversitytv.com
www.number2.com
www.unigo.com
Naviance Family Connection: http://connection.naviance.com/tnhs
COLLEGE CHARACTERISTICS TO CONSIDER
•
•
•
School Size
Type of School
Urban, Suburban, Small
Town, Rural
•
•
Distance from home
Cost / Scholarships/
Financial Aid
•
•
•
•
Student Population
Ethnic Diversity
Religious Affiliation
Campus Atmosphere
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Majors and Requirements
Faculty
Academic Rigor
Study Abroad and/or
Other Special Programs
Housing
Athletics
Social Activities
Organizations
YOUR GUT FEELING!
PSAT/NMSQT- OCTOBER 15, 2014
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
(PSAT/NMSQT)
 A program co-sponsored by the College Board and the National Merit
Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).
 A standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT.
 As an 11th grader, it gives you the chance to enter NMSC scholarship
programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.
The PSAT/NMSQT measures:
 Critical Reading Skills
 Math Problem-Solving Skills
 Writing Skills
PSAT CONTINUED…
The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are to:
 Receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary
for college study. You can then focus your preparation on those areas
that could most benefit from additional study or practice.
 See how your performance on an admissions test might compare with
that of others applying to college.
 Enter the competition for scholarships from NMSC
 Help prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of
questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT.
 Receive information from colleges when you check ‘yes’ to Student
Search Service.
ACT EXAM- AUGUST 13, 2014
The ACT® college readiness assessment is a curriculum- and standardsbased educational and career planning tool that assesses students'
academic readiness for college. 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.
The test uses the same score scale as ACT Explore and ACT Plan, making
the system an effective tool to monitor academic progress and student
growth. Test scores reflect what students have learned throughout high
school and provide colleges and universities with excellent information
for recruiting, advising, placement, and retention.
Taking the test often results in increased college enrollment, especially for
underrepresented students. To support college and career planning,
the ACT career exploration component helps students identify career
options.
THE ACT- CONTINUED…
Quick Facts:
•
The ACT is accepted by all four-year colleges and universities
in the United States.
•
The ACT is not an aptitude or an IQ test. Instead, the questions
on the ACT are directly related to what students have learned
in high school courses.
•
More than 1.66 million high school students in the graduating
class of 2012 took the ACT.
•
The ACT is administered in all 50 of the United States and in
many other countries.
Questions
SAT
ACT
How often is it administered?
7 times per year
6 times per year
What is the test structure?
10-section exam:
3 Critical Reading
3 Math
3 Writing
1 Experimental
The experimental section is
masked to look like a regular
section
5-section exam:
English, Math, Reading, Science
Reasoning, and Writing
(optional)
An experimental test is added to
exams on certain dates only and
is clearly experimental
What is the test content?
Math: up to Geometry & Algebra
II
Reading: sentence completion,
short and long critical reading
passages, reading
comprehension.
Writing: grammar, usage, word
choice, and a mandatory essay
Math: up to Trigonometry
Science: charts, graphs, data
interpretation
Reading: 4 reading passages, 1
each of prose fiction, social
sciences, humanities, and natural
sciences
English: stresses grammar
Writing: optional essay
SAT VS. ACT
Questions:
SAT
ACT
Is there a penalty for wrong
answers?
Yes, ¼ of a point for each wrong
answer on multiple choice questions
No
How is the test scored?
200-800 for each subject, added
together for a combined score of
600-2400
2-12 for the essay
1-36 for each test, averaged
together for a composite score of 136
2-12 for the Writing test
Are all scores sent to schools?
Yes. If a student requests that a
score report be sent to specific
colleges, then the report includes
the scores the student received on
every SAT taken.
No. There is a ‘score choice’ option.
Students can choose which schools
receive their scores AND which
scores the schools see.
Are there other uses for the exams?
Scholarship purposes
Certain statewide testing programs
Scholarship purposes
Certain statewide testing programs
Need more information?
Education Testing Service (ETS):
(609) 771-7600, ETS.org
The College Board:
collegeboard.com
ACT, Inc.
(319) 337-1270
ACTstudent.org
SAT VS. ACT
*North Hills will host SAT & ACT test prep workshops in the winter for juniors
SAT SUBJECT TESTS
Subject Tests are hour-long, content-based tests that allow you to showcase
achievement in specific subject areas where you excel.
These are the only national admission tests where you choose the tests that best
showcase your achievements and interests.
There are 20 SAT Subject Tests in five general subject areas:
 English
 Literature
 History
 U.S. History, World History
 Languages
 French, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Chinese, Japanese, Korean
 Mathematics
 Level 1, Level 2 (DO NOT DO MATH 1!!!!!)
 Science
 Biology E/M: Ecological or Molecular, Chemistry, Physics
SENIOR YEAR PLANNING
 Take Entrance Exams
 Gather Information
 Narrow Your Choices
 Get your application
materials in order
 APPLY FOR ADMISSION
 Apply for Money
 Accept Offer of Admission

TAKE ENTRANCE EXAMS
Fall 2014 Testing Dates
 ACT: 9/13, 10/25, 12/13
 SAT: 10/11, 11/8, 12/6
Know what tests your schools require – Are SAT subject tests (or SAT II’s)
needed?
Pay attention to school and scholarship deadlines
Some schools, even after being accepted, will allow a better test score for
scholarship purposes – research your schools!!
NARROW YOUR CHOICES
Reach (2)- Your 1st choice school!!! This is where you
really want to be accepted and will likely attend if
you are admitted, but selectivity could limit this
possibility.
Target, 50/50 (4)- School you should get into and will
be a nice 2nd option for you.
Likely (2)- School with which you are sure you will be
admitted. If all else fails, this is where you will
attend.
PERSONAL STATEMENT & ESSAYS
Essays are important!
 Be Authentic!
 Answer the question / Write to the topic
 Decide what is essential for the college to know about
you and write about it.
 This is your opportunity to explain.
 If a school requests an essay, it is important.
 What might the essay reveal about you?
 Your thought process
 What you’re passionate about
 Your individuality and uniqueness
 Your ability to use language effectively
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Allow a minimum 2 weeks notice
You MUST complete the Student Survey for Recommendation Letters and
turn it in to Mr. Ross. Please also indicate which teacher(s) will be writing
your letters on the top of the form.
Counselor letters of recommendation
 These letters will describe you holistically as a person.
Teacher letters of recommendation:
 These letters will describe you as a learner in the classroom. Highly
selective schools and some scholarships require two teacher
recommendations. Ideally, one should come from a junior or senior core
academic teacher of your choice, a teacher with whom you have
developed rapport.
REQUESTING A TRANSCRIPT
A transcript request form MUST be completed for each transcript
requested and signed by the parent or student (if 18 or older) and
submitted to the Registrar’s Office.
Please allow 5 business days for requests to be processed
Cost: $5 for the first transcript requested, additional transcripts will not
incur a fee.
 If you would like the transcript sent certified mail, there is an additional
$5 per transcript fee.
Non-Binding
 Early Action
 If you apply for Early Action, you are declaring to the university that you have submitted all of your
information and forms by the required ‘early’ deadline and that you are seriously considering
attending the school. You may apply to more than one school through ‘Early Action,’ and the
decision is non-binding.
 Auburn, TCU, SMU, Emory University, Baylor, Drexel, University of Rochester
 Rolling
 Usually from September on, you can submit your application and approximately 3 to 6 weeks later
the school will send you an admission decision letter. This type of school starts out its admission
season with all of this places in the freshman class open. As the schools hands out more and more
acceptances as the year proceeds, fewer places are left available and, at some point, all places
are filled. It is, therefore, recommended to apply to rolling admissions schools EARLY!
 UNT, TWU, Texas Tech, Concordia University, U of Tulsa
 Regular Decision
 Regular Decision can be anywhere from Jan 1 to March 15th. The key is there is a deadline date.
You must have your application postmarked no later than the deadline date. All of you information
including recommendation letters, transcripts, and test scores need to be in the schools’ offices by
the deadline date.
 Texas A&M, UT – Austin, NYU, Columbia University
APPLY FOR ADMISSION
APPLY FOR ADMISSION
Non-Binding cont.:
 Early Action Single Choice
 These programs do not allow candidates to apply to other schools during the
early-action period only. However, once they receive EA (Early Action)
decisions (mid-December), then applicants are free to apply elsewhere, if
they so choose. They are not obligated to accept the admissions offer.
 Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Georgetown, Baylor
Binding:
 Early Decision
 Under Early Decision, students are permitted to apply Early Decision to only
one college or university. If they are accepted, students are legally bound to
attend that school. Typically, Early Decision applications are due November
1.
 Rice University, Duke University, Brown University, Upenn, Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute
Common Application
www.commonapp.org
ApplyTexas
www.applytexas.org
School’s Form
400+ Colleges and
Universities across the
United States
30+ Public Texas Schools
Non-Texas Schools
Rice University, Brown
University, Columbia
University, University of
Pennsylvania, NYU, etc.
Austin College, Texas
A&M, Texas State,
University of Texas, Texas
Women’s University, etc.
See school’s website for
directions
Student Sends ACT and/or SAT Scores
(actstudent.org and/or collegeboard.com)
Student Requests Transcript from Registrar’s Office
Counselor sends letter of recommendation, teacher recommendations and teacher
evaluation form, school profile, senior schedule, student transcript, and school report
form based on the specific school’s application requirements
APPLY FOR ADMISSION
APPLY FOR MONEY
Institutional
 These are funds available from the school that you will be attending.
Some will have separate applications for this money.
 CSS Profile- http://css-profile.com
Private
 Many private organizations offer assistance, research this information
online on websites such as www.fastweb.com
State
 http://www.window.state.tx.us/education/
Federal
 www.fafsa.ed.gov
 Fill out the FAFSA on or after January 1st of the student’s senior year for
work study, Pell grants, Stafford loans, etc.
TIPS FOR APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
Search for scholarships a couple of hours a week
Apply, apply, apply – The more you apply for the better your chances of
receiving one.
Plan ahead – it takes time to get transcripts and letters of
recommendation.
Be organized – Keep your resume up to date and meet deadlines
Follow directions – Correctly fill out the forms!
Proofread your applications and essays
INFORMATION FROM THE COUNSELORS
RTC Office Information
oAll information is made available on the Counselor’s Corner page of
the NHP website.
------ Students
-------------- Student Resources
On left --- Counselor’s Corner
o Appointments can be made by emailing the individual counselor.