PCS College Planning The 4-year plan Getting in: Questions and Answers Family Connection

Course Requirements for UC? 4 years of English 3 years of math 2 years of science, with lab 2 years of history 2 years of one foreign language 1 year of visual and performing arts 1 year of college prep electives You will notice that UC’s requirements are a little bit different. In addition to the 5 academic solids, they also have elective requirements. So any courses in these areas taken in your 10th and 11th grade will be put into the GPA calculation.

Visual & Performing Arts The strongest candidates from PCS have an exceptional Portfolio/Audition 4 years of English 4 years of Art or Music 3 years of math 3 years of science, with lab 3 years of history/social science 3 years of one foreign language

A four-year preparatory program (Most Completive Schools) The strongest candidates choose honors/AP courses. 4 years of math 4 years of English 4 years of science, with lab 4 years of history/social science 4 years of one foreign language Consistency in the Arts Then, we look at courses. As you can see, the selective universities require 4 years of English, Math, Science, History, and Foreign Language. These 5 subjects are also called 5 Academic Solids! They refer to true academic courses. Although courses such as journalism, debate, leadership, and religious doctrine, music, art or theatre may be valuable to the student, they are not considered academic courses in assessing the strength of the candidate’s high school program. Courses in computer programming and statistics, while valuable, should not be substituted for these fundamental courses. If you can take Physics, do not take Physics for Mechanics. If you can take Geometry, do not take Math for Engineers.

College Admission Criteria Transcript GPA Standardized Test Scores: SAT 1, ACT, SAT Subject, AP Exams Resume – Extracurricular, Awards, Leadership, Clubs, Sports, Community Service… Letters of Recommendation – Teacher/Counselor Personal Statement and College Essays

Princeton University “…Admissions decisions often reflect the effort on the part of an admissions committee to ‘build in’ diversity, and that sometimes results in some students with better ‘numbers’ (i.e. SAT scores or class ranks) being denied in favor of students who can bring a special talent or geographic, cultural, ethnic background to campus...”

Stanford University “The primary criterion for admission is academic excellence, and the most important single credential is the transcript. Our ablest candidates have mostly “A”s in their courses, but we do find that some students with lower grade averages may show more real promise for strong college level course work than some students with high averages.

Harvard University “In each of the past few years Harvard has received more than 500 applications with double 800 scores and has accepted just under half of them.”

Getting In – Q & A The following is advice from a Legendary Guidance Counselor named Gwyeth Smith Jr. also known as “Smitty”.

Q: Is it better to get lower grades in more challenging courses than straight A’s in easier classes? A: The most competitive colleges want it all, but they are especially keen on students who take challenging courses and do well. However, if the AP curriculum is too difficult, go for the lower-level class and make the most of it. Challenge yourself, but don’t overload or shoot too high.

Q: Do colleges give preference to students who take advance placement exams? A: Admissions offices like AP exams because the A average at one high school is a B at another, while AP tests scores are easy to compare. So yes, take AP courses, delve into them, and study for and take the exams.

Q: What is an average SAT/ACT overall score in the USA? A: Around ACT 25 and SAT 1511 (505) Competitive scores: Total possible 36, 800 ACT = 33 SAT = 2100 (700+) Data shows that retaking tests render varied results: SAT scores rise and decrease around 40 points each sitting. ACT reports that 55% improve, 23% decrease, 22% stay the same. Preparation does help

SAT Results for PCS Students (Class of) 2010 2009 Averages Critical Reading: 680 645 Math: 663 626 Writing: 671 634 Combined 2014 1905

Q: How many times should a student take the SAT/ACT? Answer : no more than 3 times Take the PSAT 10th grade, see where you need work. Do some test preparation. Retake the PSAT 11th in Oct. and then take the PCS test prep course in Feb and then your final SAT in March. Do some self-assessment. If the scores are consistent, retesting probably won’t boost them significantly.

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Home: Welcome Sophomores! Sophomore Year Calendar Take challenging classes and keep your grades up.� This is one of the most important years. Continue using the 'test preparation' on this site. Try the PSAT test early for practice and to see how you do. Use it to project your SAT scores and determine what areas you need to improve Under "Careers" take the "Personality Type" test, and the "Interest Inventory".� Try to find careers that are good fits for both your personality and interests. See if you can find what college majors will lead to those careers Keep up extracurricular activities Try to develop a passion when it comes to extracurricular activities, community service, and/or a paid job.� Start to develop a preliminary list of target schools that you might consider Plan a challenging junior curriculum. Can you take one or more AP classes Should you take any SAT Subject Tests this year? (Are you taking any AP Exams (AP World or Foreign Language) or Pre-Calculus (Math 2)? Then sign up for the June, SAT II: Subject Tests (you can sit for two on one day.)� Begin to develop a resume so you can identify where there might be some weaknesses Plan a productive summer that will shore up some aspect of your future applications.

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Careers: what are my interests? career interest profiler – Holland’s Interest Inventory (RIASEC) The six personality and work environment types described by Holland are as follows: Realistic - practical, physical, hands-on, tool-oriented Investigative - analytical, intellectual, scientific, explorative Artistic - creative, original, independent, chaotic Social - cooperative, supporting, helping, healing/nurturing Enterprising - competitive environments, leadership, persuading Conventional - detail-oriented, organizing, clerical

Careers: Personality Types ( Myers-Briggs Jung’s 16 typology) Protectors (SJ) ESTJ - Overseer ESFJ - Supporter ISTJ - Examiner ISFJ - Defender Creators (SP) ESTP - Persuader ESFP - Entertainer ISTP - Craftsman ISFP - Artist Intellectuals (NT) ENTJ - Chief ENTP - Originator INTJ - Strategist INTP - Engineer Visionaries (NF) ENFJ - Mentor ENFP - Advocate INFJ - Confidant INFP - Dreamer

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