I'm going to college. I don't care if it
ruins my career. I'd rather be smart than
a movie star.
Natalie Portman
Preparing for College
JUNIOR YEAR
Spring 2011
• Sign up for SAT’s, ACT’s (May, June)
• Begin College Search
• Visit Colleges over Spring Break
Summer 2011
• Create your college list
• Begin college application(s) & essay(s)
• Work on Transcript Request Packet
• Work on Teacher Recommendation Packet
Preparing for College
SENIOR YEAR
Fall 2011
• Begin scholarship search
• Senior Meetings w/Counselor
• Request recommendations from teachers
• Complete/Submit Transcript Request Packet
• Finish essays
Tests!
• ACT
• SAT
• SAT II Subject Tests
• AP
ACT or SAT, What’s the Difference?
SAT
•
No science section
ACT
• Science reasoning section
•
No trigonometry questions
• Math includes trigonometry
•
Vocabulary emphasized
•
Non multiple-choice questions
asked
• Entirely multiple-choice
•
Guessing penalty
• No guessing penalty
•
No English grammar
• English grammar tested
•
Math accounts for 50% of your
score
•
Questions go from easy to
difficult
• Vocabulary less important
• Math accounts for 25% of
your score
• Questions are mixed up
The SAT may be a better fit if:
• You did great on the PSAT.
• You have a killer vocabulary. (You
are comfortable with words like
“didactic,” “sedulous,” and
“esoteric.”)
• You prefer starts and stops when
taking tests. There are nine
sections and an essay on the
SAT.
• You can ace grammar. For
example, you are comfortable with
the sentence, “On the table, there
ARE a pencil and some paper.”
• You consider yourself “quickthinking.”
• Students must exercise educated
guessing on the SAT because you
lose ¼ point for each incorrect
answer. If students can rule out
one or more answer choices for
multiple-choice questions – they
should guess.
The ACT may be a better fit if:
• Your PSAT or SAT score is
inconsistent with your academic
performance in school.
• Your vocabulary is not as strong
as your reading.
• You read relatively quickly.
• You are more academic than test
savvy. (The ACT test is more like
a test you would take in school.)
• You prefer four longer sections
(English, Math, Reading, and
Science) to having interruptions
and breaks during the test.
• You are great at writing papers but
do not have formal grammar
instruction.
• Students are not penalized for
incorrect answers and should
answer as many test questions as
possible.
Be a SMARTIE!
ACT Now
Stop
And
Think!
Register today for the May 7th SAT at collegeboard.com.
Deadline is April 8
June 4th SAT---- Deadline is May 10th
The American College Test
ACT
Actstudent.org
Register for the June 11th ACT
Deadline is May 6th
210 – 510
School Code
COLLEGE VISITS
Colleges visit Howard High School throughout
the year!
• See the Student Services website for the
College Visit list.
• Students can sign up for a college visit in
Student Services
Internet College and Scholarship
Searches
– Beware: do not pay money or give a credit card for
a college or scholarship search
College Searches
-Bridges**
-Princeton Review
-Peterson
-College Board
-USnews.com/education
Scholarships
-Fastweb.com
-Findtuition.com
-hcpss.org
-Bridges
-Collegeanswer.com
-zinch.com
Bridges College Search
• See instruction packet: kept in the career
center
• www.bridges.com Choices Planner > School Finder
• SiteID: 28513
• Password: o6113ps2
Hints
• You can narrow or broaden responses to get a
manageable number of colleges
• Create portfolio to save search results and
schools
• Compare schools to each other
COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
• Types of Applications:
Common, On-Line,
School Application
• Appearance is KEY!
• Most schools require a
social security number
• Fill out draft copies of
the application and
essay before doing the
final
• Make copies of anything
you send out
• Make sure you send the
correct amount in
application fees
• Make sure you mail them
in a timely manner
Transcript Request Packet
What is the transcript request packet?
– A request to the registrar and counselor
for transcripts and a counselor
recommendation.
** 30 school days are required for
processing of the Transcript Packet**
Transcript Request Packet
The packet includes:
• A list of required forms to be completed
–
–
–
–
–
Transcript Request Form
Sample Student Academic Resume
Counselor Input Form
Optional Parent Questionnaire
Waiver of Right to See School/Teacher Letters of
Recommendation
• Information on what the registrar will compile
for your student’s college
• Mid-year Reports and Final Transcript
information
Transcript Request Packet
• Forms that will be due by Monday, June
14th
– Student Academic Resume
– Counselor Input Form
– Optional Parent Questionnaire
• Please have your student turn in their
completed forms to either:
Mrs. St. John or Mrs. Wohlers, the
Registrars.
Transcript Example
Teacher Recommendations
• Select two teachers
• Requests for letters should be typed
• Include a resume and input form with your request
• Some colleges require teacher recommendation forms
– you must provide the form
• Teachers require 30 school days advance notice
• Teachers will submit letters to the Registrar
Administrator Recommendations
• Students should make an appointment to meet with
the administrator
• Requests for letters should be typed
• Include a transcript, resume and input form with your
request
• Some colleges require recommendation forms –
you must provide the form
• Administrators require 30 school days advance notice
• Administrators will submit letters to the Registrar
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any
direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide
where to go.
~Dr. Seuss
QUESTIONS?
7:00PM Guest Speaker
Chip Saltsman
• Vice-President, Capgemini
•
MIT Alumni Interviewer
•
Parent