Essential College Planning Timeline for Juniors: A Guide for Future Success

1. College timeline For Juniors

2. Get to Know Guidance • A-B Mrs. Kate Buchanan • C-I Mrs. Gwen Houston • J-P Mrs. Kirsten Mosby • Q-Z Mr. Shelley Blumenthal • Registrar, Mrs. Tammy Wright • Secretary, Mrs. Carolyn Noble • Testing Coordinator Assistant, Mrs. Erica Sheppard

3. October • PSAT – This is the year it counts for NMSQT • Begin to consider what your post-high school plans will be – work, college, military, job training… • Research various colleges, visit “online” and review their admissions requirements. • Meet with college representatives through the Guidance office. • The College Information Night for parents of Juniors will take place on September 30 at 6:30 pm

4. November - January • Write and ask for college view books if you prefer hard copies • Begin planning Spring visits to colleges • When you receive your PSAT scores, review your score report so that you know what you need to focus on in preparation for the SAT • Visit college web sites—virtual tours and information

5. Deciding on a College • What do you want in a school? • Location, type, size, competitiveness, campus Life, makeup of the student body • Research Colleges of Interest • Collegeboard.org, course catalogs, admissions officers, college fair @ NRCC, web sites • Campus Visits

6. What Do Schools Look For? • Performance in secondary school program • MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF APPLICATION • High grades in a rigorous curriculum • SAT: Reasoning Test or ACT • Highest SAT: Reasoning Test or ACT taken • SAT: Subject tests if required or recommended • Recommendation letters • Extracurricular Activities – quality over quantity • Essays • Interviews (some schools may require or recommend)

7. November – January (Con’t) • Review your past and present academic program • Plan senior year courses • Make preparations for the ACT, SAT: Reasoning and SAT: Subject Tests (as needed) • Expand your “College Knowledge” – talk to classmates, parents, teachers, graduates, admissions officers, your school counselor • Visit www.collegeboard.org and www.actstudent.org for test registration and information

8. Standardized Tests • SAT Reasoning Test • Used to provide an estimate of future performance, assesses educational readiness • Critical Reading, Math, and Writing skills • Score scale = 200-800 • Used for college admission

9. SAT: R (Con’t) • Math Section • Algebra II questions (i.e. absolute value, exponential growth, functional notation) • Critical Reading section (previously named Verbal section) • Removed analogies • Added short reading comprehension • Writing Section (relatively new) • Comprised of an essay, as well as multiple choice questions concerning grammar, usage, and structure • In General • 3 hr 45 min; expect to be at the test site until about 1 pm

10. SAT Subject Tests • SAT Subject Tests • Achievement tests – used to measure acquired knowledge in a particular area, as well as ability to apply that knowledge • Wide variety of individual subjects in five areas: History, English, Math, Science, and Languages • Score Scale: 200-800 • Used for admission or placement/advising purposes

11. ACT • Covers English, math, reading, writing (optional but being required more by many colleges), science • ACT is closely tied with high school curricula • Scored from 1-36 • Accepted at colleges/universities in Virginia and all over the country – required if applying to certain colleges in the mid-western, western, and southern states.

12. SAT/ACT Review • Identify weak areas from previous tests (including PSAT/NMSQT) • Take a preparatory class • Books/CD (Peterson’s, Barron’s) • Practice questions online • Collegeboard.org, actstudent.org • Virginiamentor.org

13. February - May • Register for SAT: Reasoning Test/ACT Assessment • Begin application process for service academies (Example: West Point) • Take SAT: Subject Tests if appropriate (check the admissions sites of schools you are interested in) • Set up college tours for over the summer, make appointments for interviews as necessary

14. June • Take SAT/ACT if appropriate • Narrow college choices • Visit colleges • Use this summer to make money to help pay for college expenses or a summer enrichment program

15. Earning College Credit Now • AP Tests • Offered in May • Students can take AP tests for BHS courses • To earn college credit need 3, 4, 5 – depends on college • Dual Enrollment Courses • Credit depends on: • Completion of course • Respective College’s standards

16. What Do I Do Right Now? • Take standardized tests and make a timeline (see handout) • Take AP tests • Research colleges including search via collegeboard.org • Visit colleges • Get involved in school/community • Start a resume or activity/awards list • NCAA Initial Eligibility Center Information for Prospective College Student Athletes; NAIA Students