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 52 —> 520

Math 51 —> 510

Writing 53 —> 530

Total 156 —> 1560

Your Scores

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.

Score Range

National Merit Scholarship Corporation Information

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

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

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.

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

See how you did on each skill. The same skills are tested on the SAT.

Your SkillsYour Skills

Your AnswersYour 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

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.

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

Next StepsNext Steps

• 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

Testing Truths

Why do we take the SAT/ACT?

SAT

•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 10-minute 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 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.

SAT vs ACT - More Differences

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• 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

SAT vs ACT

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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

SAT and/or ACT?

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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

•You have a strong GPA, but did not do all that well on the PSAT

SAT and/or ACT?

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Changing GearsLet’s Talk Post High School

Options

• 2 and 4 year colleges• Technical Colleges• Corporate training

programs• Apprenticeship training• Adult education• CTE/ROP

There are many options after high school:

• 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 PROGRAMSA 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 PROGRAMSA 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 PROGRAMLower 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 indexThe 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 RequirementCSU 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