Welcome to Junior Parent Night
Presented by:
Christa Schulz – Guidance Specialist
Jenelle Huffman – Guidance Specialist
How is the PSAT Scored?
Section
Math
Critical
Reading
Writing
Total
Score Range
20 – 80
20 – 80
20 – 80
60 - 240
Avg Jr Score
47.6
48.3
45.6
141.5
Avg Jr Score (CA)
48.4
47.3
46.1
141.8
Avg Jr Score (NY)
46.4
45.2
42.9
134.5
Avg Soph Score
43.1
43.1
40.9
127.1
• 1,557,056 Juniors & 1,570,141 Sophomores took
the PSAT/NMSQT.
• Roughly 16,000 semi-finalists for NMSQT
• 2011 NYS National Merit Qualifying Score: 217
PSAT → SAT
You can use your PSAT score to help you predict
how you might score on the SAT if you took it right
now without any preparation. Simply add a zero to
each of your PSAT scores.
EXAMPLE:
PSAT
SAT
Critical Reading
Math
Writing
Total
52
—>
51
53
156
520
—>
—> 510
—> 530
1560
Your Scores
Score Range
Percentile
If you are a junior, your scores are
compared to those of other juniors.
If you are a sophomore or younger
student, your scores are compared to
those of sophomores.
National Merit Scholarship
Corporation Information
The Selection Index is the sum of your critical reading,
mathematics and writing skills scores.
If it has an asterisk, you do not meet all of the eligibility
requirements for the competition.
The Percentile compares your performance to that of other
college-bound juniors.
The Entry Requirements section displays information you
provided on your answer sheet.
National Merit Scholarship
• Awarded to the top 1% of the country
• Automatically entered if you meet criteria
• Other criteria considered such as grades and
official SAT scores
• Commended, Semi-finalist and Finalist
• California magic number: 221
Your Skills
See how you did on each skill. The same skills are tested on the SAT.
Your Answers
You will get your test book back with
your PSAT/NMSQT results, so that you
can review the questions.
Your Answers:
Student-Produced
Responses
Some of the math problems required you
to grid in answers instead of selecting an
option. For these questions, you will see
the correct answer(s) written out.
Next Steps
Visit PrincetonReview.com. There you can (FREE):
•Search for colleges – filter by test score, GPA…
•Get a personalized SAT study plan
•Create a get-into-college timeline
•Take a practice SAT or ACT
•Read a great advice article
Visit www.collegeboard.com/quickstart - Use the access
code on your report to log in to My College QuickStart.
There you can:
•Search for colleges
•Take a personality test to find majors & careers that fit you
Testing Truths
• Don’t take your scores personally
• Scores DO NOT measure your intelligence
• Proper coaching can increase your scores
• GPA is most important in admissions
• Test scores are still heavily relied on
SAT
Why do we take the
SAT/ACT?
• It’s part of the College Admissions Package
• It’s a way for colleges to compare all students
on the same scale.
SAT – Quick Facts
• Frequency: 7 times/year
• Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes
• Sections: 10
 3 Math
 3 Critical Reading
 3 Writing
3 + 3 + 3 = 10
???
 1 Experimental
ACT – Quick Facts
• Frequency: 6 times/year
• Duration: 3 hours, 3 ½ with essay
• Sections: 4 + essay
 English (45 min, 75Q)
 Reading (35 min, 40Q)
 Math (60 min, 60Q)
 Science (35 min, 40Q)
 Essay optional (30 min)
SAT – Critical Reading
• 67 multiple-choice questions
• 70 minutes total
• Tests critical reading, diction, and
vocabulary
• Passage Reading
• Sentence completion
SAT – Math
• 54 questions (44 multiple-choice and 10
grid-in)
• 70 minutes (two 25-minute sections and
one 20-minute section)
• Tests basic arithmetic, algebra I & II, and
geometry
SAT – Writing
• 49 multiple-choice questions, 1 essay
question
• 60 minutes (one 25-minute section, one 10minute section, and one 25-minute essay)
• Tests your ability to identify sentence errors,
improve sentences, improve paragraphs
• The Grammar portion of the Writing section
makes up about 70% of your Writing Score
What about the ACT?
SAT
ACT
When is it administered?
Seven times per year
Six times per year
What is tested?
Math, Reading, Writing,
Essay
Math, Reading, Writing,
Science, Optional Essay
What is the test
structure?
Ten-section exam plus a
Masked experimental
section.
Four-section exam.
Experimental section is
OPTIONAL and is clearly
marked.
Penalty for wrong
answers?
Yes
No
What do the tests
measure?
How well you take the SAT
How well you take the ACT
Offered in my state?
Yes
Yes - accepted by virtually
all schools in lieu of SAT
scores.
SAT vs ACT - More Differences
•
•
•
SAT tests vocabulary
ACT has a Science section
SAT essay is required. ACT essay is optional


•
•
•
•
•
•
SAT essay is philosophical
ACT essay is high school friendly
SAT is trickier but tests easier concepts
ACT is harder, but straightforward
SAT is more technique-based (easier to learn)
ACT is more content-based (harder to learn)
Easier to improve SAT score b/c it’s a sum of 3 sections
Harder to improve ACT score b/c average of 4 sections
*If you have a PSAT and PLAN score, we can determine the better test for you.
19
SAT vs ACT
•
ALL colleges accept either test
•
Some students are naturally better at one test over the
other
•
You may take both tests or just one of them
•
Test-optional colleges
•
The BEST way to determine which test is better is to use
practice tests
20
SAT and/or ACT?
Signs you might prefer the SAT
• You’re a quick thinker who loves the challenge of puzzles and logic
games
• You can rapidly define a plethora of onerous vocabulary words
• You prefer to write about WWII and The Great Gatsby than about
school uniforms
• You have a shorter attention span and prefer to complete the exam in
small, more ‘bite-sized’ pieces.
• You rocked the PSAT. Stick with what’s working
21
SAT and/or ACT?
Signs you might prefer the ACT
• You pay close attention in math class
• You love the challenge of beating the clock
• You’re good at reading graphs and tables
• You’re a strong reader
•
22
You have a strong GPA, but did not do all that well on the PSAT
Changing Gears
Let’s Talk Post High School
Options
There are many options after high school:
• 2 and 4 year colleges
• Technical Colleges
• Corporate training
programs
• Apprenticeship training
• Adult education
• CTE/ROP
•
•
•
•
•
On-the-job training
Workplace experience
Intern/Apprenticeship
Military
Volunteer/Community
Work
• Entrepreneurship
• Self-employment
Parent Account Home Page
Step 4
• Get detailed information about some occupations.
 Review saved occupations together.
 Watch an occupational video.
Community College
• OPTION 1: CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
A specific occupational program is selected and
courses are completed from the list in the
college catalog for that skill area. Examples
include automotive mechanics at Saddleback
College, Administration of Justice at Irvine Valley
College, Culinary Arts at Orange Coast College,
etc. General education courses are not required;
the focus is earning a certificate to prove
proficiency in your occupational area. The
certificate programs range from 18-30 units. If
you have a career field in mind, it is necessary to
research which college offers your program.
• OPTION 2: ASSOCIATE DEGREE
PROGRAMS
A community college "degree" program is also
available. the Associate Degree is granted upon
completion of 60 college units, general
education course, a major and a 2.0 grade point
average. Each community college has their list
of required general education courses.Degrees
are completed from lists provided in the catalog.
Students should select a campus offering the
degree of their choice, so researching
community colleges will be necessary.
• OPTION 3: TRANSFER PROGRAM
Lower division university course requirements
can be completed at a community college.
Students may then enter a four-year college as a
junior to complete their bachelor's degrees.
There are two general education transfer
patterns at each community college, CSU and
IGETC. Students must have 60 transferable
units, complete the general education courses,
maintain the grade point average required fro
the campus they select, as well as meet
prerequisite coursework for their major.
California State University
• CSU First-time Freshman Admission Requirements
• Be a high school graduate
• Complete the 15 unit a-g course pattern with grades of "C" or
better
• Minimum subject requirements ("a-g" subjects):
• History/Social Science: 2 years required
• English: 4 years required
• Mathematics: 3 years required (algebra I, geometry, algebra II)
• Laboratory Science: 2 years with laboratory required (one biological,
one physical, both with lab)
• Language Other Than English (LOTE): 2 years required
• Visual/Performing Arts: 1 year required
• College Preparatory Electives: 1 year required
• Earn a qualifying eligibility index
The eligibility index is a weighted combination of high
school grade point average during the final three years
of high school and a score on either the SAT I or the
ACT. All grades in the "a-g" courses take in 10th through
12th grades are used to calculate the grade point
average (GPA).
• Test Score Requirement
CSU requires the SAT I or the ACT test scores for
students with a GPA below 3.0. However, test scores for
students above 3.0 may be used for advising and
placement in appropriate courses.
University of California
• Most major departments require additional
preparation in math and laboratory science
beyond the "a-f pattern" of minimum subject
requirements.
Preferred minimum preparation for most major
fields of study:
• 4 years of advanced math
• 3-4 years lab science
• 3-4 years foreign language
• All grades must be a "C" or higher in the
required courses.
• UC requires the SAT or the ACT (with
writing). Subject tests are no longer
required for the UCs – but some private
schools may require them.
• Initial filing period for admission:
November 1 for following fall semester.
For most campuses, applications will not
be considered after November 30.
Financial Aid
What is financial aid?
• There are three types of financial aid:
• scholarships and grants which do not have
to be repaid;
• loans which do have to be repaid, but
usually not while you are still attending
college;
• work study, often available on campus,
which pays a direct salary.
Where does financial aid come from?
• There are four main sources of financial
aid:
• federal government
• state government
• colleges and universities
• private agencies, scholarship donors
How do I apply for state aid (Cal Grants) and financial
aid?
• You may apply for a federal Pell Grant and for a state Cal
Grant by completing the Federal Application for Student
Aid (FAFSA).
• Some colleges or programs have unique forms. Contact
the financial aid officer at the school to which you are
applying for details.
You may not file the FAFSA before January 1 of the year in
which you are applying. The deadline for Cal Grant
applications is March 2. File as early as possible after
January 1.
• Some colleges and private scholarships also require the
CSS/Financial Aid Profile form to be submitted to College
Scholarships Services. FAFSA's and Profile forms are
available from your Guidance Specialist and in your Career
Center.
• Parents should attend Financial Aid Night
on January 23, 2013, at Trabuco Hills High
School
NCAA
• If you are planning to enroll in college as a
freshman and you wish to participate in Division
I or Division II sports, you must be certified by
the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. The
Clearinghouse will analyze your academic
information and determine if you meet the
NCAA's initial eligibility requirements.
• If you want to participate in Division I or Division
II sports, you should start the certification
process early, usually by the end of your junior
year.
• To be certified by the Clearinghouse, you must:
• Graduate from high school.
• Take at least 14 core courses earning at least
a "C" or better.
• Earn a minimum combined score on the SAT
I or the ACT with a minimum GPA in the 14
core courses.
• Minimum 2.00 in the 14 core courses.
• Minimum of 68 (sum of scores on the 4 individual ACT
subtests) or an 820 combined math and Critical Reading on
the SAT.
• REGISTER ONLINE!
• www.ncaa.org