Your Checklist for College

Transcription

1 Your Checklist for College 9th Grade Set Your Sights on College N Take courses that challenge you. N Meet with your school counselor to discuss your educational and course options. N Explore course options such as AP, honors and Career and College Promise. N Create a free CFNC account to record your courses, activities, and more. N Explore career interests at CFNC.org. N Research ways to save and pay for college. 10th Grade Keep Your Focus N Pursue extracurricular interests, such as dance, sports, clubs, or community service. N Review your goals for the future with your counselor. N Update your CFNC planner. N Start using the free SAT and ACT test prep at CFNC.org. N Take the PSAT for practice. N Talk with family and friends about their educational choices. N Tour colleges online at CFNC.org. 11th Grade The Critical Year for Success N Review your academic plan with your counselor. N Get schedules for college entrance and placement tests. N Use the free SAT and ACT test prep at CFNC.org. N Take PSAT in October (you may qualify for National Merit Scholarships). N Check entrance requirements for colleges that interest you. N Keep your CFNC planner updated. N Attend college fairs and financial aid workshops. N Visit colleges. N Research scholarships, grants, and loans at CFNC.org. N Talk with coaches about college sports and scholarship eligibility. N Register and take SAT, ACT, and/or AP tests. N Narrow down your list of colleges. N Find a summer job or internship in your field of interest. 12th Grade Fall Don t Let Up N Review courses, graduation requirements, and scholarship opportunities with your counselor. N Update your CFNC planner. N Select three to five colleges a dream school, a safety school, and others in between. N Track application and financial aid deadlines for colleges. N Take the first SAT or ACT offered this fall. N Write, edit, proofread, and rewrite your admissions essays early. N Ask teachers, counselors, or references to write letters of recommendation. N Attend college day and participate in College Application Week, if available. N Complete online college applications at CFNC.org before the deadlines. N If your high school participates, use CFNC.org to send your official high school transcript to colleges. N Send in any other college applications. N Check with college financial aid offices for school-specific scholarship information and forms. N Student athletes send transcripts to NCAA Clearinghouse for eligibility certification. N Remind parents to plan to prepare tax information soon after January 1 for your financial aid applications. 12th Grade Spring Finish Strong N Go to to get an ID number to e-sign your FAFSA. N Complete and submit FAFSA at as soon as possible after January 1. N For help with your FAFSA, sign up at CFNC.org for a February FAFSA Day near you. N If not accepted by your college of choice, use the College Redirection Module at CFNC.org to find new options. N Compare admission acceptance letters and financial aid packages. N Send in your enrollment deposit to hold your spot at the college you choose. N Apply for education loans, if needed. N Make sure your final high school transcript is sent to your college (goes automatically if CFNC.org sent earlier). N Send in any early college credit course transcripts (community college, middle college). N Take exams for any AP or college-level courses completed. N For community college admission, check with your local campus about placement testing requirements. For more tips on planning for college and career, be sure to take a look at Let Me Tell You videos on CFNC.org. College works. College works CFNC 2013 Pathways, College Foundation, Inc., and State Education Assistance Authority (CFNC) CFI Form G 632 (09/13)

2 Key Differences between the ACT and SAT ACT vs SAT: which test is a better fit for your student? Students may take whichever test they prefer (assuming there are available testing locations for both tests). If you re not sure which test your child would prefer, consider the key differences between the ACT and SAT. Some students find that the ACT caters to their strengths more so than the SAT, and vice versa. Need a quick side-by-side comparison of the tests? Check out our ACT vs SAT Comparison Chart. SAT vs. ACT reasoning test Type of Test content-based test Critical Reading: 2, 25-min sections and 1, 20-min section; Math: 2, 25-min sections and 1, 20-min section; Writing: 1, 25-min essay, 1, 25-min section, and 1, 10-min section reading, vocabulary, grammar & usage, writing, and math tricky, questions can be phrased in ways that make them difficult to decipher Math, Critical Reading, and Writing scores will each range between a ; total SAT score ranges between yes you lose ¼ of a point for incorrect answers (except on the grid-in math questions) yes you can choose which set(s) of SAT scores to submit to colleges questions increase in difficulty level as you move through that question type in a section (except reading passage questions, which progress chronologically through the passage) arithmetic, data analysis, algebra I and II, functions, geometry; formulas are provided in the test booklet with private schools and schools on the east and west coasts; however, every four-year college in the US accepts SAT scores seven times per year: January, March or April, May, June, October, November, December typically about four weeks before the test date Test Format Content Covered Test Style Scoring Penalty for Wrong Answers? Score Choice? Difficulty Levels Math Levels Tends to be more popular? Offered when? Registration deadline? More Information English: 1, 45-min section; Math: 1, 60-min section; Reading: 1, 35-min section; Science: 1, 35-min section; Writing: 1, 30-min essay (optional) grammar & usage, math, reading, science reasoning, and writing (optional) straightforward, questions may be long but are usually less difficult to decipher English, Math, Reading, and Science scores will each range between Composite ACT score is the average of your scores on the four sections; ranges between 1-36 no you do not lose points for incorrect answers yes you can choose which set(s) of ACT scores to submit to colleges difficulty level of the questions is random arithmetic, algebra I and II, functions, geometry, trigonometry; no formulas are provided with public schools and schools in the Midwest and south; however, every four-year college in the US accepts ACT scores six times per year: February, April, June, September, 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 five to six weeks before the test date Source:

3 DO YOU FIT THE PROFILE???? SCHOOL NAME AVERAGE GPA AVERAGE SAT AVERAGE ACT Read/Math unless *all 3 parts* Appalachian State Belmont Abby Campbell University Clemson College of Charleston Davidson College 85% in the top 10% 2030 *all 3 parts* of the class Duke 90% in the top 10% of the class East Carolina Elizabeth City State Elon University *all 3 parts* Fayetteville State Gardner-Webb Georgia Tech *all 3 parts* Hampton University Lenoir-Rhyne Louisburg College NC A & T NC Central w/writing NC State UNC-Asheville UNC-Chapel Hill UNC- Charlotte UNC-Greensboro UNC-Pembroke UNC-Wilmington Univ. of Georgia Univ.of SC Univ. of VA *all 3 parts* Virginia Tech Wake Forest 3.80 Optional Optional Western Carolina *all 3 parts* 21 Wingate Winston Salem State 3.1 (2.5 Min) Winthrop

4 Triumph - Free Test Prep For College Entrance Exams Free, Online Study Guides The Triumph College Admissions Online Study Guide for SAT and the TCA Online Study Guide for ACT are free online tools available to help you prepare for taking the PSAT, SAT, or ACT. You may use these study guides at any time. Use the study guides to learn more about the test, review specific skills, take practice quizzes, and track your progress. Free, Online Prep Course Within the Triumph Online Study Guide, you will also find FinalPrep for the SAT and ACT, online sessions designed for preparation the week before the test. FinalPrep helps you to review the structure, format, skills, and test-taking tips you need before you take the test. How to Log In and Use Triumph Online Getting to Triumph Online StudyGuide: Go to Mallard Creek s website and look for the ACT/SAT Test Prep tab on the left hand side of the page. Click on the link for Triumph Online StudyGuide. This will bring you to the Online StudyGuide where you can log in from school and home! Log into the Student Study Guide Homepage: Enter your Student ID # as the username (Note: If you don t know your Student ID #, go to your school s office and ask them to look it up for you.) Enter your birthdate (YYYYMMDD) as the password Click the login button Select a Test Preparation Option: PSAT Study Guide SAT Study Guide & FinalPrep for the SAT ACT Study Guide & FinalPrep for the ACT After selecting a test preparation option: Begin with the overview and complete the steps as directed. If you are completing a study guide, plan to spend a minimum of ten hours to get the most out of the guide. FinalPrep will take between 2 and 2 ½ hours. You do not have to complete either program in one sitting. Break up the work and pace yourself. The online test can be accessed by going to Step 3: Score and Analyze. Choose Option 6 (green) to take the practice test.

5 Research shows that summer learning loss in Math is an issue that impacts all students, with students losing an average of 2-3 months of math comprehension every summer. TenMarks offers families a proven, scalable, online summer math program to reverse the summer learning loss and help students build a strong foundation in core math skills. Reverse Summer Learning Loss with TenMarks JUST 20 minutes, 3 times a week IS ALL IT TAKES. TENMARKS MOVES STUDENTS AHEAD TENMARKS PREVENTS 2-3 MONTHS OF MATH LOSS IN SUMMER How TenMarks Summer Math Program Works TenMarks Summer Math Program for students entering grades 1 through Algebra 2 is designed to guide students through a personalized curriculum that meets their specific needs, helping them practice and master concepts with built-in instruction, and real-time intervention. Designed for the depth and rigor of the new math standards (CCSS and States), every TenMarks assignment ensures students build a strong conceptual foundation, improve problem-solving skills, and gain math confidence. Personalized for Every Student, Based on Diagnostic Assessment TenMarks differentiates instruction for every student. The program starts each student with a diagnostic assessment, which results in the automatic creation of an individualized program that adapts to his or her specific needs. Each student s summer curriculum is designed to review concepts from the past year, and get introduced to concepts for the year ahead. On-Demand Instruction Facilitates Learning & Success TenMarks is founded on the principle that support must be embedded, and delivered the moment students find themselves struggling. When students work on assignments, they have access to hints and video lessons that help them refresh what they know, and learn what they don t. With immediate feedback and just-in-time assistance, students develop a deep understanding of the concepts covered, leading to better outcomes. FREE Summer Math Program for Families The personalized summer math program is being offered at $0 cost to your family this summer. Simply visit to sign up.

6 Built-In Interventions Delivered Automatically TenMarks has real-time interventions that adapt to a student s individual needs. When TenMarks recognizes that a student hasn t mastered a topic, it uses the performance data to diagnose the root cause, and delivers instructional support in a systematic way. Called Amplifiers, these adaptive instructional modules help students work through the topic one foundational step at a time, providing bite-sized instruction to fill the required foundational gaps. Reports & Deep Insights Based on Analysis TenMarks provides real-time reports and drill-down insights, so families and educators can easily monitor usage, proficiency, and performance for each student. The summer program data can also be used to drive improved progress-monitoring during the school year. Engaging & Motivating for Students TenMarks Summer Math Program is engaging for students and enables them to master math concepts with ease. Built-in instruction improves math confidence. Rewards, certificates and games further motivate and engage students. To motivate students during the summer parents can create customized incentives and rewards. Pizza, video games, or a trip to the zoo, the rewards are all up to you! How Do Familes Use TenMarks Summer Math Program TenMarks, an Amazon company, is on a mission to reverse summer learning loss in math, and prove that a personalized online program helps improve math outcomes. For Summer 2014, TenMarks is offering its powerful 3-month summer program for $0 cost to families in your school/district. (Previously $39 per student) It s easy for families to benefit from the program. Parents can register online at for the summer program - in minutes. It s super easy! Before summer break you will receive an to get started. Phone and online support is available to families throughout the program. Students, parents and educators will receive end of summer report cards, with details on performance and progress, which they can leverage for the next school year. Districts may also receive aggregate performance reports and insights by standards and skills AWARD Technology Innovation Showcase

7 Questions to Ask a Tour Guide or Admissions Counselor during College Visits 1. What required courses so I have to take? 2. When do I have to select a major? 3. Can I pursue a double-major or a minor? 4. Is on-campus guaranteed? Do most students live on campus? 5. What do most graduates do after attending (place college name here)? 6. When are your admission deadlines? 7. Do I have to take SAT subject tests? 8. What kinds of extracurricular activities are available? How much time do students spend on extracurricular activities? 9. What athletic opportunities will I have? (club, intramural, JV, Varsity) 10. What is the social scene like here? 11. How big are most classes? 12. Do we get to pick our own roommates? How many people are in the room? 13. What are the meal plan options? 14. Do students typically hold jobs on campus? 15. What options does financial aid give me? Do you have merit-based or need-based scholarships? Sports scholarships? 16. Can I study abroad? Where? 17. What summer opportunities will I have? 18. Will I get an interview during the admissions process? 19. Do you have pre-professional tracks (Pre-Law, Pre-Business, Pre-Med, etc.) or do you have a liberal arts curriculum? 20. Will there be a job fair on campus post-graduation? 21. Will there be someone to help me locate a job after I graduate? 22. What are your favorite things about (place college name here)? What is one thing you would change? Be sure to bring a pen and paper/notebook to write down the answers to each of these questions and get the names of the people you spoke with. When you return home, send an or a written note thanking them for their time.