Road to College Counseling Office Spring Semester Parent Night

Jakkia Hollingsworth – Dean of College Prep/Academic Langston Ross – College Counselor Sonya Barron – Alumni Counselor Scott Ivy – Academic Counselor PARENT NIGHT NORTH HILLS PREPARATORY JANUARY 2014

AGENDA FOR EVENING 6:00 PM- 7:00 PM- PRESENTATION 7:00 PM- 7:30 P.M. ROAD TO COLLEGE TRIP INFORMATION

Interpreting Your PSAT and ACT Scores

PARENT NIGHT NORTH HILLS PREPARATORY JANUARY 2014

4 Major Parts of Your PSAT/NMSQT Results Your Scores Your Skills Your Answers Next Steps 3 Test Sections Critical Reading Mathematics Writing Skills

Your Scores

Score

You can see your projected SAT score online in My College QuickStart ( www.collegeboard.org/quickstart ).

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. For example, the National Merit Scholarship is only for 11 th grade students.

The Percentile compares your performance to that of other college-bound juniors.

The Entry Requirements section displays information you provided on your answer sheet.

Your Skills

See how you did on each skill. The same skills are tested on the SAT. You can try hundreds of practice questions, organized by skill, online in My College QuickStart ( www.collegeboard.org/quickstart ).

Your Answers

You will get your test book back with your PSAT/NMSQT results, so that you can review the questions.

You can also review each test question in My College QuickStart.

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

What’s next?

Use the access code on your report to log in to My College QuickStart, a personalized college and career planning kit. There you can: •Search for colleges •Get a personalized SAT study plan •Take a personality test to find majors and careers that fit you www.collegeboard.org/quickstart

My College QuickStart

My College QuickStart

My Online Score Report • Projected SAT® score ranges • State percentiles • You can filter questions • Questions and answer explanations

My College QuickStart

My SAT Study Plan™ • Personalized skills to improve • SAT practice questions • An official SAT practice test

My College QuickStart Log in to your personalized account at

www.collegeboard.org/quickstart

College Admissions Practice Testing @ NHP

Grade Level Freshman Sophomore Junior SAT PSAT PSAT PSAT/NMSQT ACT EXPLORE PLAN ACT

ACT: WHAT DO MY SCORES MEAN?

• Your scores are between 1 and 36 on the ACT.

• Just like grades, your scores tell you how well you did on each test.

• Your Composite score is simply the average of your test scores in English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science(rounded to a whole number).

• College Ready Scores (out of 36): • • Math 22 English 18 • • Writing 18 Science 23 • These indicate college readiness, but not necessarily for selective schools.

HOW DO MY SCORES COMPARE WITH THOSE OF OTHER STUDENTS WHO TOOK PLAN?

• • • Next to your scores, you'll find the

percent of students scoring at or below your score

. This shows you how your scores compare to those of students across the country who took PLAN.

The example above shows 83% next to the student's English score. This means she scored as high as or higher than 83% of students in the comparison group who took PLAN.

The other percentages show how you scored relative to other students who took PLAN in your school, your school district, and your state.

AM I ON TRACK?

EXPLORE is designed for 9 school.

th graders, PLAN is designed for 10th graders and the ACT is designed for 11th and 12th graders. Over time, EXPLORE, PLAN and the ACT measure your college readiness skills as you progress through high

Your scores can be used to predict how you are likely to do if you take the ACT as an 11th or 12th grader and keep working hard.

The estimated ACT Composite score range is a prediction about how you are likely to score on the ACT if you take the right courses and work hard in those courses.

You can use these predicted or estimated scores to see if you are on track to achieve the scores you want when you take the ACT later in high school.

Keep in mind that these scores are only estimates, not guarantees. Improving your study habits and taking more challenging courses are likely to improve your ACT scores.

HOW CAN I IMPROVE?

• • The back of your Score Report describes the skills and knowledge you already probably have.

You'll also see some ideas for improving even more in the different subject areas. The suggestions are based on your scores and can help you do better.

CREDIT RECOVERY

• For students who fail a ONE semester course (ex. Government, Economics): • • Summer School in June at NHP using the PLATO online self paced learning system.

Cost TBD, but predictably $200 per semester, as in previous years.

• For students who fail a semester of a TWO semester course (aka year-long course) (ex. English, Math) • If Semester one and semester two average a 69 or lower, the lower of the 2 semesters will be repeated at summer school at NHP.

• Maximum of two semesters of credit can be earned (1 morning class, 1 afternoon class)

COURSE REGISTRATION

• Counselors will register incoming 11 th English classes this spring.

graders for next years’ courses in their • Course registration sheets with lists of course offerings will be distributed in class and posted on NHP webpage.

• Counselors will perform credit checks to ensure all students have their credits from 9 th , 10 th , and 11 th grade, and students missing credits will be on credit recovery plans during 12 th grade.

• • • 12 th graders have five required courses.

English, Math, Science, Social Studies, one semester Theory of Knowledge, 1 semester Economics Three elective periods, often used to satisfy Diploma Program requirements

ROAD TO COLLEGE TRIP INFORMATION

Please see Mrs. Barron at 7 :00 pm to discuss Trip information. • • • What scholars gain from the trips.

Packing List.

Scholar guidelines.

SUMMER ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• Colleges like to see students doing something worthwhile with their summers.

• Examples: • • Volunteering Summer jobs • • Camps and Internships Summer classes  Between 11 th and 12 th : Economics at North Lake College • See counselors for summer programs that suit your goals and interests.

COLLEGE PLANNING FOR JUNIORS

• • • • Juniors can begin meeting with Mr. Ross February 17 th discuss: College Lists to Reviewing Personal Statements Reviewing Resumes

NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR IN IRVING

Monday, February 10, 2014 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas Exhibition Hall 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd. Irving, Texas 75039 Transportation will be provided. Sign-Up sheet located in the RTC Office. REGISTER HERE: https://www.gotomyncf.com/Registration/EventSelectForState?stateName=All

SAT VS. ACT OR BOTH?

• • • It is highly recommended to take both tests to determine the test that your scholar is most comfortable taking. Increased comfort level = higher score earning potential. Once a student has established their preferred assessment, we suggest to take that tests no more than three times, as studies have shown that students normally reach their highest score during those three attempts if they have had test prepped before and/or throughout the three attempts.

SENIORS: NEXT STEPS AFTER COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE

• • • • All seniors will meet with Mrs. Barron prior to making final decision. We will review final financial aid packages and discuss the package in relation to tuition, fees, room and board, and other additional costs. Mrs. Barron will advise and work with senior to help determine best fit. After receiving all acceptances and scholarship offers, parent and scholars will collectively decide upon the best college fit. Many colleges have a May1st confirmation deadline in which a student must confirm the acceptance and attendance to the university of choice. Confirmation is often done by registering for a Freshmen orientation session on the campus.

Even when still weighing options, accept all scholarships offered from every school to ensure the scholarship remains reserved for your student. They will then be released when the student does not confirm on May 1 st for reallocation. Accepting scholarships occurs via the online portal most often. When still deciding, you may want to pay housing deposits to top 2 choices to ensure housing does not run out when and if you decide to attend.

• • • • • •

SENIORS: COMPLETING THE FAFSA

Website: https://fafsa.ed.gov/ The FAFSA should be completed this month. If you have not filed taxes yet, you can use last years tax information and then update the FAFSA. You can list 10 colleges/universities on your FAFSA. If you are applying to more than 10, you can go in and delete some after the colleges/universities have received your FAFSA information and add more . Pay close attention to financial aid deadlines. They vary at each institution. Mrs. Barron is eager and happy to help with part of this process. She will assist you with any need you may have, from filling out the FAFSA to answering simple questions. Seniors must have their FAFSA completed prior to gaining senior release in the afternoon. Verification of completion needs to be turned in to Mrs. Barron.