THE NEXT STEP:



JUNIOR YEAR PLANNING

BOOKLET

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Arlington High School

House of 2019

Arlington High School

1157 Route 55

Lagrangeville, New York 12540

(845) 486-4860

Executive Principal

Dr. Paul Fanuele

House Principal Assistant Principal

Mrs. Lynn LeFevre Ms. Jeanne Desire

Guidance Counselors

Diana Lucas x 31485 A-GER dlucas@

Kelley Marshall x 31484 GES-N kmarshall@

Kim Ale x 31486 O-Z kale@

Psychologist

John Lacey x 31482 jlacey@

Social Worker

Chris Babb x 31452 cbabb@

Secretaries

Mrs. Duffy 486-4860 x 31480

Mrs. Pagano 486-4860 x 31403

Dear Student:

Welcome to your junior year at AHS! Over the next two years, you will prepare yourself for

life after high school. Your guidance counselors have provided important information in

this packet to help effectively guide you through the college, military and career exploration processes. This planning guide was created with the help of many sources including our years of experience, discussions with college admissions officers, military personnel, and other high school counselors.

It is our goal that each student will find the most appropriate path in planning and pursuing post high school plans. Your counselor is available to guide and assist you, but you must also take charge. This is your future.

Sincerely,

2019 House Team

CALENDAR FOR JUNIOR YEAR

September

PSAT/NMSQT registration and class presentations given by guidance counselors. Students with disabilities taking the SAT or ACT test who wish to have their accommodations during testing should see their school psychologist immediately. Attend the House of 2019 Information Night. Attend the Fall College Fair.

October

Take the PSAT/NMSQT test.

December

Consider taking SAT or ACT prep courses through the Continuing Education program, or see this packet for other programs. PSAT scores available online.

January

Return of paper PSAT and practice ACT score reports. Develop criteria for initial college selection. Start registering for SAT and/or ACT exams. Set up a timetable for taking required tests. Contact Congressional representative if interested in military academies. Course selection for senior year begins.

February

List colleges that meet your requirements and that interest you. Review the academic requirements for admission to the colleges of your choice. Make sure you consider reach, safety and match schools.

March

Register for the SAT or ACT tests.

April

Take the ACT test. Choose colleges that you wish to visit. Consider applying for the Clarkson and RPI scholarships if you are planning to major in engineering.

May

Take SAT or SAT Subject Tests. AP exams are taken. Attend the spring College Fair.

June

Take SAT subject tests, SAT and/or ACT.

Typical Regents exams for juniors: English, US History, Math, Science

Summer

Visit colleges. Create a CommonApp account at . Register for NCAA & begin amateurism questionnaire.

| |

STANDARDIZED TESTS

Key differences between the SAT and ACT

|SAT |vs. |ACT |

|content-based test |Type of Test |content-based test |

|Reading: 1, 65-min section; Math: 1, 25-min section|Test Format |English: 1, 45-min section; Math: 1, 60-min section; |

|(no calculator) & 1, 55-min section (w/ | |Reading: 1, 35-min section; Science: 1, 35-min |

|calculator); Writing & Language: 1, 35-min section;| |section; Writing: 1, 40-min essay (optional) |

|Essay: 1, 50-min section (optional) | | |

|reading, relevant words in context, math, grammar &|Content Covered |grammar & usage, math, reading, science reasoning, and|

|usage, analytical writing (optional) | |writing (optional) |

|questions are evidence and context-based in an |Test Style |straightforward, questions may be long but are usually|

|effort to focus on real-world situations and | |less difficult to decipher |

|multi-step problem-solving | | |

|Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing are each |Scoring |English, Math, Reading, and Science scores will each |

|scored on a scale of 200-800. Composite SAT score | |range between 1-36.  Composite ACT score is the |

|is the sum of the two section scores and ranged | |average of your scores on the four sections; ranges |

|from 400-1600. | |between 1-36 |

|no – you do not lose points for incorrect answers |Penalty for Wrong Answers?|no – you do not lose points for incorrect answers |

|yes – you can choose which set(s) of SAT scores to |Score Choice? |yes – you can choose which set(s) of ACT scores to |

|submit to colleges | |submit to colleges |

|questions increase in difficulty level as you move |Difficulty Levels |difficulty level of the questions is random |

|through that question type in a section (except | | |

|reading passage questions, which progress | | |

|chronologically through the passage) | | |

|arithmetic, problem-solving & data analysis, heart |Math Levels |arithmetic, algebra I and II, functions, geometry, |

|of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry; formulas | |trigonometry; no formulas are provided |

|provided. | | |

|with private schools and schools on the east and |Tends to be more popular? |with public schools and schools in the Midwest and |

|west coasts; however, every four-year college in | |south; however, every four-year college in the US |

|the US accepts SAT scores | |accepts ACT scores |

|six times per year: September, October, December, |Offered when? |six times per year: February, April, June, September, |

|February, April and June | |October, December (note that some states offer the ACT|

| | |as part of their state testing requirements; these |

| | |tests are not administered on the national test dates)|

|typically about four weeks before the test date |Registration deadline? |typically about five to six weeks before the test date|

| |More Information | |

SAT REGISTRATION

Please be aware that it is each student’s individual responsibility to register for the specific test(s) and administration date he/she will be taking. Guidance counselors may assist you in the process but will not register students for the exams. It is best to register at least 4 to 6 weeks before the exam.

1. Create an Online Account

Registration for the SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests can be done online at . You will need to create a username, password and upload a photo in order to sign in for registration. This account allows you to view your SAT scores and send them to schools as needed.

2. Register

When registering, choose your test date and the location where you will be taking the exam. Remember to REGISTER EARLY! Testing sites (including Arlington High School) fill up quickly. Plan accordingly if you will be taking another standardized test.

Arlington High School CEEB Code: 334620

Arlington High School Test Center Code: 33770

3. Payment

Have a credit card ready for the payment process. If you prefer payment by check or money order, you will have to mail your registration instead of using the online process.

4. Print Your Confirmation

You MUST print your admission ticket and keep it in a safe place. You must have your PHOTO ID and ADMISSION TICKET to be admitted to the test.

ACT REGISTRATION

1. Register online at by creating a user account (similar to the College Board testing procedure).

2. You MUST print your admission ticket and keep it in a safe place. You must have your PHOTO ID and ADMISSION TICKET to be admitted to the test.

Arlington High School Code: 334620

Arlington Test Center Code: 21540

* Don’t forget to bring your calculator, #2 pencils, Photo ID and admission ticket

STANDARDIZED TEST DATES FOR 2017-2018

PSAT at Arlington High School:

OCTOBER 14, 2017

SAT REASONING TEST & SAT SUBJECT TESTS

|TEST DATES |REGISTRATION DEADLINE |

|October 7, 2017* |September 8, 2017 |

|November 4, 2017 |October 5, 2017 |

|December 2, 2017 |November 2, 2017 |

|March 10, 2018* |February 9, 2018 |

|May 5, 2018 |April 6, 2018 |

|June 2, 2018 |May 3, 2018 |

|August 2018 |July 2018 |

ACT

|TEST DATES |REGISTRATION DEADLINE |

|October 28, 2017 |September 22, 2017 |

|December 9, 2017* |November 3, 2017 |

|February 10, 2018* |January 12, 2018 |

|April 14, 2018 |March 9, 2018 |

|June 9, 2018 |May 4, 2018 |

* Arlington High School is currently not scheduled as a testing site on these dates.

* These are nation-wide test dates that can be found at or .

SAT PREP COURSES

Arlington Adult Education: 486-4860 x 32101

Dutchess Community College: 471-4500 x 4700

Educational Services Center: 1-800-762-8378

Finish Line: 229-2704

Kaplan: 1-800-KAP-Test

Princeton Review: 1-800-2Review

The Arlington Guidance Office does not endorse any of these organizations nor is this an extensive list of all available programs. This is simply a list for you to use to begin your search. It is up to each individual to make an educated choice regarding which program or individual to use.

SCORE REPORTING POLICIES

You have a choice if you wish to share all SAT/ACT scores with college admissions offices if you take the test multiple times. There are some key points, however, that you should be aware of before making your decision.

• Colleges cannot opt out of score choice, but some colleges require applicants to report every SAT/ACT score.

• Score choice means that colleges combine highest section scores (i.e., math and evidenced-based reading/writing) from multiple test administrations.

• It is your responsibility to have test scores sent to the colleges you intend to apply to. You also need to print your score report and drop it off to your guidance counselor. In some cases, this information is needed for scholarships.

NCAA Eligibility- If you are applying for eligibility through NCAA Clearinghouse, you must send a copy of your SAT or ACT scores. NCAA code is 9999.

For SAT you can send score reports to up to 4 schools for free. You have up to 9 days after your scores are available to do this. Beyond those 4, they are $12 each. If you have to rush a score report, they are $31 each. For ACT, you can send score reports to up to 4 schools for free when registering to take the exam. Beyond those, they range in price from $12 to $16.50 per report.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DOCUMENTED DISABILITIES

If you are a student who currently receives testing accommodations at school, speak to your school psychologist to determine if you are eligible to receive these accommodations on College Board and ACT tests. Students must have a documented disability on file that supports the need for accommodations on school tests to be considered.

• After the parent release form is completed, return the form to the school psychologist.

• School psychologist will apply for the accommodations through College Board and/or ACT.

NCAA: DIVISION I & DIVISION II SCHOOLS

If you intend to participate in Division I or II athletics as a college freshman, you MUST register and be certified (meet GPA, SAT, and core-credit requirements) by the NCAA Eligibility Center. See your guidance counselor for a planning worksheet for eligibility. When choosing your courses at AHS, make sure they are approved for NCAA eligibility. (Refer to the NCAA eligibility website for a list of approved courses.)

Register: It is recommended that you register during junior year. Register with the Eligibility Center online at . Students who have received an SAT or ACT fee-waiver are eligible for a fee-waiver for the NCAA.

SAT/ACT: Students must register for ACT or SAT exams and submit scores directly to the Eligibility Center. The code for NCAA is 9999.

NAVIANCE



Naviance is a comprehensive website that can help you when making decisions about colleges and careers. Naviance will be used in our office to track and analyze data about college and career plans and provides up-to-date information that is specific to Arlington High School. Naviance allows us to share information with you about upcoming meetings and events, scholarship opportunities, and other web resources for college and career information. This will be the program used to upload your transcript and letters of recommendations. You will also link this to your college applications.

HOME TAB

• See recent emails sent

• Links to other resource websites

o College tours

o Fast web: complete a profile; website will search over 180,000 scholarships for you.

o NCAA: NCAA clearinghouse website. View if interested in Division I or II schools for sports.

o Regents Exams: view dates

o Regents Prep: view old Regents exams, review by topic, do practice questions.

o SUNY homepage: download applications; view all schools in the New York State University system.

COLLEGE TAB

• Upcoming college visits will be listed on right corner box.

• My colleges: as your interest increases in a school, place it in your college list.

• College match: based on the information in your profile, a list of schools is automatically generated.

• College compare: schools that you have entered will compare you to other AHS students that have applied to the school in the past.

• College look up: you can type in one school to look up or pick one state to look at every school in the state.

• College search: answer a number of questions on type of school, location, admissions, athletics, cost, majors, special programs.

• AHS acceptance history

• Scholarship list: a list of current scholarships you can apply for.

• Scholarship applications: see your guidance counselor for applications.

CAREER TAB

• Explore careers

• Personality type: answer a number of questions; the program will assess your personality and give a few suggestions about types of careers.

• Cluster Finder: career search

ABOUT ME TAB

• Favorite colleges & favorite careers: keeps your interest list.

• Resume: place your information into categories and a resume will be created.

• Profile: updated GPA yearly

• Account: current student and parent email

WHAT COLLEGES ARE LOOKING FOR

Transcript/Grades /Course selection

Your high school transcript will document all your grades during high school. This is the most important document colleges use in making admissions decisions. It includes all courses completed, courses “in progress,” number of days you were absent/late during high school, your class rank, and current grade point average.

Discipline

In addition to reviewing your academic performance, colleges may also ask for your discipline history and want a full explanation for any suspensions both in and out of school.

SAT/ACT Scores

Colleges review your performance on standardized tests taken during high school.

Letters of Recommendation

Colleges will require these letters from your teachers, coaches, counselors and/or other individuals who have insight into who you are and your accomplishments during high school.

Extracurricular Activities/Sports

These activities give colleges a better idea of interests you have, the activities you have taken the time to be involved in, and what you might be able to contribute to their college environment.

Community Service and Leadership Opportunities

These will give colleges an idea of what matters to you. What opportunities have you taken advantage of over the years? What sacrifices have you made in your life to help another individual or group of individuals? What opportunities have you taken advantage of that helped you develop leadership skills?

GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT COLLEGES

Research majors offered, GPA & SAT/ACT scores required, size, application deadlines, financial aid, athletic programs.

• Go online. Go to college websites to gather information.

• Use Naviance to link to colleges.

• Visit the websites listed at the end of this booklet.

• Contact the college by phone/email to ask questions or to request that information be sent to you.

• Attend in-house college visits (see Naviance for dates).

• Attend college fairs in the fall and spring at AHS. See guidance calendar for exact dates.

• Discuss college plans with family, friends, teachers and coaches for college suggestions and information.

• During your initial search in junior year, you will compile a list of colleges you are considering.

• By June of junior year, you should have a list of your top choices.

• By September of senior year, you will have finalized a list of about six colleges you are planning to apply to and have created a CommonApp account.

FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE FOR YOU

As you evaluate colleges, you must determine criteria that you want in a college.

Please consider the following:

Type:

Four-year college or university: Offers a Bachelor’s Degree in a variety of fields of study.

State, Public or Private College/University.

Specific career-related college or university: Art Institutes, Music Conservatories, Business Colleges, Seminaries, or Rabbinical Yeshivas.

Technical/vocational school: Typically a two-year school and focuses on specific careers.

Depending on the school, one can earn an Associate’s Degree, certification, or license.

Community college or junior college: Typically a two-year school where one can earn an Associate’s Degree. When transferring to a four-year college or university, they may accept most, if not all, credits.

Size (total number of students & class sizes):

Do you want a small, medium or large college? Do you enjoy the anonymity that comes with being one of thousands of students (larger colleges)? Do you prefer a more relaxed and informal environment with personal attention from teachers and advisers (smaller colleges)?

Location

Do you want to go to a college near home or do you want to go to some other area of the country? Do you want a college in an urban, suburban, or rural environment?

Extra-Curricular Activities

Are many clubs and organizations important to you? Will the social environment of the college meet your personal needs? What extra-curricular opportunities exist?

Programs

Does the college offer an honors program? Does it offer a quality education in your areas of academic interest? Does it offer a solid program of preparation for the field(s) in which you are interested? Are there double majors? Is there research or teaching assistant opportunities?

Internships and Job Placement Services

Does the college offer programs for career exploration and/or training? Does it offer programs to study abroad? Are there work-study positions offered in your major?

Housing/Dining Halls

Is housing guaranteed for all four years? Are most students commuter students or do most stay on campus?

What types of internet services are available in the residence halls? Is there cell service? What are the meal plan options?

Statistics/General

What is the calendar year? Semester or trimesters? Percent of students graduating in 4 years? Campus safety and security statistics?

Costs

Do you have specific plans for financing your education? Does your academic record merit consideration for scholarships? For each college, consider the costs involved and the financial aid opportunities available. Costs include: tuition & fees, room & board, transportation, books & personal expenses.

Support Services (Academic, Emotional)

Does the school offer a counseling center, writing lab, academic support services, or Office of Student Disabilities?

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

If you are a student who has a documented disability and an Individualized Education Program or 504 Plan, you will need to provide information to colleges and advocate for yourself.

• Contact the Student Disability Office at the college you are interested in.

• Colleges offer two distinct types of support services for students with disabilities: 

1) Comprehensive programs

2) Special services programs 

See your guidance counselor for more details, visit the websites listed below.

•

• learning_disabilities.html

SPECIAL TALENT STUDENTS

Art

Prepare a portfolio based on the college’s criteria for review. Consider asking your art teachers for assistance or take courses at Arlington. The Mill Street Loft in Poughkeepsie typically sponsors an evening program to help you create a portfolio.

Music

You may have to submit a recording or audition in person. Check with the colleges and consider asking your music teacher for details.

Drama/Dance

Each college has its own requirements. You may have to audition. Create an online folder with show reviews and awards.

Athletics

Follow all NCAA regulations. Speak to your coaches. Tell your counselor. Register with NCAA. Go to a college website, click on athlethics and sport of interest. Complete a Recruitment Questionnaire, this will allow a coach to see your video and know that you are interested in their program.

COLLEGE VISITS

Visiting a college is a very important part of the application process. A college may seem wonderful on paper, but once you visit the school, it may not “feel” right for you. Also, just because someone else loves the college does not mean that you will have the same impression of it.

PLANNING

• Find out if an interview is required or suggested.

• Try to visit colleges while they are in session.

• Many colleges schedule campus tours conducted by students and will arrange for you to spend the night in student housing if arranged in advance.

THE VISIT

During the tour/information session, things to consider about the college and questions to ask:

• Verify admissions requirements

• Ask about application fee waiver

• Ask about financial aid opportunities deadlines

• What is the percentage of students who graduate within 4 years?

• What are the school's most popular programs? Most competitive programs?

• Can freshmen have cars on campus?

• Ask if a free lap top is provided?

• Observe campus activities. Read bulletin boards for a sampling of scheduled campus events.

• Eat a meal in the college dining facilities. Ask about meal plan options.

• Sit in on classes if possible.

o How many students are in the largest lecture classes? What is a typical class size?

o Are all classes taught by professors or teaching assistants? How easy is it to make an appointment to meet with professors?

• Pick up a school newspaper. This will help indicate issues on campus, safety concerns, etc.

• Visit the library, computer labs, bookstores, athletic facilities, performing arts facilities, social areas

• Visit a residence hall or ask about off-campus housing options.

o Ask if freshmen are required to live on campus.

o Are all students guaranteed housing while attending school?

o How do they pick roommates? When do you find out roommate information?

o What are you not allowed to bring to school?

o Can you rent a refrigerator and microwave or do you need to bring your own?

o What percentage of students stays on campus on the weekends?

• Assess the availability of necessary services, i.e.: laundry, health services, transportation, shopping, restaurants, etc.

o Talk to students about social activities and other extra-curricular activities.

o What are some weekend activities?

o What sports are available? What student activities are available? Inquire about campus life.

o Are there counseling services available?

o Ask about placement record for graduates in your area of interest.

THE JOB MARKET

If you are thinking of entering the workforce directly after high school, you need to consider several things. This option requires just as much, if not more planning and preparation than college or military planning. Some questions that you will need to ask yourself are:

• What am I qualified to do?

• What are my best subjects?

• What outside interests do I have?

• Do I like working with people or alone?

• Am I good with details?

• What are related career options?

• Will my job support my lifestyle?

• How much and what kind of training is/will be required?

• How much money do the “experts” make in this field?

RESUMES

Resumes are a very important part of the job application process. It is important that resumes are checked for spelling mistakes and typos. They should be easy to read and easy to follow. Use the links below for more details on how to build a resume:





ASSISTANCE IN FINDING WORK OR A CAREER PATH

• Dutchess Works, Dutchess County’s Workforce Connection: . 223 Main St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. (845) 473-9000 or (845) 485-2660. Dutchess Works One Stop Center is designed to aid you in finding employment. The resource room is open 9 am till 4:30 pm Monday through Friday for job search, career exploration and training research.

• NY Career Zone:

THE INTERVIEW

Employers are seeking to determine if you qualify for the job, if you are dependable, and if you will get along with your fellow employees.

Dress appropriately and arrive early.

Be attentive and make eye contact throughout the interview.

Be prepared to answer some of the following questions:

• Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

Answer: High school you attend, college plans, hobby and a charity of interest

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

• What do you plan on doing 5 years from now?

• How was your attendance at high school and previous jobs?

• What kind of work would you prefer?

• Why should I offer you a job?

AFTER THE INTERVIEW: Write a thank you letter to the person who interviewed you.

SAMPLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT RESUME

(with paid work experience)

 

DAN JENNINGS

1634 Morena Blvd.

San Diego, CA 92110

(858) 445-1234

e-mail: djennings@

 

 

 

EDUCATION: Hoover High School San Diego, CA

Expected Graduation Date June 2002

EXPERIENCE: Food Service Worker

McDonald’s Restaurant Present-July 2000

San Diego, CA

Provided excellent customer service, operated cash

registers, maintained a sanitary work area, prepared

food and refilled lobby items as necessary.

VOLUNTEER Rowan Child Development Center Summer 2001

WORK:

Performed office work, such as data processing.

Provided childcare services and general help as necessary.

 

AWARDS: Airplane Construction Summer 1999

Del Mar Fair Special Award

ACTIVITIES: Hoover High School Baseball Team 2001-1999

MESA Club 2001

Mid City Police Department Volunteer Summer 2000

 

REFERENCES: Available upon request.

MILITARY INFORMATION

The military trains young men and women so that they can protect the interests of our country. The military also provides discipline and structure as well as opportunities for career advancement and travel. The military offers training in over 2,000 job specialties, 75% of which have civilian counterparts. ()

BRANCHES

Air Force 462-2820

Army 462-3007

Coast Guard (518)465-6182

Marines 463-2575

Navy 462-6075

AIR FORCE

Their mission is to defend the nation through the control and exploitation of air and space.

ARMY

The Army generally deals with land-focused missions.

COAST GUARD

Focuses on law enforcement of the sea, not large scale military operations.

MARINES

Marines are a highly exclusive sect with activity in both land and sea.

NAVY

The Navy maintains, trains, and equips combat-ready naval forces.

RESERVES AND THE NATIONAL GUARD

Part-time members of the military. They train for 2 days, 1/month and for 2 weeks/year. They are paid for the days they work and they receive educational benefits. They can be called to active duty in the event of a national emergency or conflict.

ROTC

ROTC programs are available for those students who want to attend college before they enter the military. ROTC programs on certain campuses combine military education with baccalaureate degree study, often with financial support.

ASVAB

To enlist in any branch of the military, young men and women must earn a minimum score on the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery - AHS offers an abbreviated version).

Delayed entry program

Students can be sworn in during their senior year and enter the military after graduation. This enables students who want to receive training in a particular career field to have an opening in that field held for them.

Enlisting

Enlisting in the military is a serious, long-term commitment. When young people enlist, they obligate themselves for 2-6 years of active duty. Individuals must also pass a physical exam and, as a rule, be a high school graduate.

THE ACADEMIES

The military academies provide excellent educational opportunities for those students who qualify. After receiving a free four-year college education, academy graduates enter the military as officers. Interested students should start the application process at the beginning of junior year. Applicants should have high ACT/SAT scores and a high GPA in a strong college-prep program. Applicants also need to be in good physical condition.

West Point Military Academy West Point, New York

The Naval Academy Annapolis, Maryland

The Air Force Academy Colorado Springs, Colorado

The Coast Guard Academy New London, Connecticut

WEBSITES

Naviance: Arlington’s website:

Access your GPA, research individual colleges and statistics (GPA & SAT scores, admittance rates from past Arlington students) and general information on colleges. Complete a college search, scholarships and college visits.

College Board:

Lists tuition and fees for undergraduate colleges and information on financial aid. Also has relevant information about scholarships and careers. Do a college search.

College Data:

Do a college search; each school has an extensive profile. Go to College Tracker and choose a school to review; you can see profiles of students that have applied to that school and status decisions about admission.

Common Application:

Use one application to apply to over 300 schools, check listing for your schools.

Go Train:

Guide to vocational training schools.

National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC):

Student section presents information on all aspects of the transition from high school to college.

Peterson’s Education and Career Center:

Access colleges, study abroad, careers and jobs, summer programs, financial aid, testing & assessment vocational, technical resources.

Princeton Review:

Search for colleges, business, law and medical schools. Links to schools’ home pages. The site provides a variety of information about college admissions, testing and financial aid.

:

Preparing for college, vocational schools, study abroad, distance learning, internships, careers, job search military service, college tuition, financial aid, FAFSA online and scholarships.

CAREER SITES

Career Zone:

New York website. Complete an interest inventory and research careers. Information on salary, skills and education required for a career, links to colleges that offer a major that will lead to that specific career.

NY Division of Labor Standards: labor.state.ny.us

Provides information about employment certificates and labor laws for minors.

Occupational Outlook Handbook: oco/

Source of career information designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives.

THE COLLEGE PLANNING CHECKLIST

Junior Year:

_______ Take standardized tests

_______ Examine possible career paths

_______ Decide whether to go to college

_______ Decide on the type of college (go to College Fairs)

_______ Discuss possible majors

_______ Develop a list of possible colleges and start visiting campuses

_______ Apply to NCAA Clearinghouse (if applicable)

Senior Year:

_______ Create CommonApp account, LINK to Naviance (use same email)

_______ Ask for teacher recommendations

_______ Put schools in a priority list, with application deadlines (use Naviance)

_______ Continue visiting campuses

_______ Register for financial aid (Write down your information)

_______ Write personal essay

_______ Complete the application

_______ Notify your guidance counselor two weeks before due date.

_______ Apply for financial aid

_______ Request Guidance Counselor send mid-year grades to colleges that have requested them.

_______ Review financial aid package

_______ Decide on school, make deposit

_______ Tell your guidance counselor your decision and update your Naviance college choice, so your final transcript is sent to colleges.

-----------------------

1. PSAT – Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test: A practice test given to high school juniors in

October in preparation for the SAT.

• Recommended for ALL college-bound junior students to take.

• Colleges do not see your scores: Utilize this test to review for the actual SAT.

• High scores may qualify junior students for National Merit Scholarship (NMSQT).

• Receive college and career information by signing up for Student Search Service during test.

• Format includes 4 sections: one 60-minute Reading, two Math-one 25 minute without calculator and one 45 minute with calculator- and one 35 minute Writing and Language.

• Duration of test: 2 hours and 45 minutes.

2. SAT – Scholastic Aptitude Test: A nationally administered test that four-year colleges and some two-year colleges require.

• Consists of 4 sections: Reading, Math-Calculator, Math-No Calculator, Writing & Language.

• There is an optional 50- minute essay section.

• All other sections are 25-65 minutes long.

• Scores range 400-1600.

• Duration of the test is 3 hours.

3. ACT- American College Testing Program: A standardized test that many students use in conjunction with, or in place of, the SAT to demonstrate their academic achievement levels for college entrance.

• Consists of 4 sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning.

• There is an optional 30-minute writing section.

• All other sections are 35 to 50 minutes long.

• Score range: 1-36 for each section.

• Duration of test: 3 hours, 30 minutes.

4. Practice ACT:

• Same content and administration time as the ACT

• Test Date: Saturday December 10th, 8:30-12:30pm

• Results/meeting will be held January 3 (snow date January 4)

• Registration information will be given out the week of November 28th in English classes.

5. SAT Subject Tests: One-hour tests that measure knowledge in specific subject areas.

• May take 1 to 3 tests in one sitting

• Many competitive colleges require 2-3 subject tests (depends on college admissions requirements & intended major).

• There are 20 different tests in 5 different content areas: English, math, history, science and foreign language.

• The following link tells you what schools require subject exams:

• Compass Education Group



6. Advanced Placement (AP) Tests: Exams given in May in the corresponding AP courses.

• Score distribution ranges from 1 to 5.

• Scores of 3 or higher may earn college credit, advanced standing, or both.

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