Sophomore Parent College Night Herron High School Tuesday, March 18, :00 – 7:30 PM

AGENDA Sophomore Parent College Night 1) Junior Year 2) College Admissions Tests: PSAT, SAT and ACT 3) Preparing for College Applications 6) Q & A

1) Junior Year 2) College Admissions Tests: PSAT, SAT and ACT 3) Preparing for College Applications 4) Q & A

Junior Year: Core 40 Diploma vs. Core 40 with Academic Honors Diploma Core 40Core 40 with AD -8 credits of English -6 credits of Math -6 credits of Science -6 credits of Social Studies -5 credits of Directed Electives (Languages, Fine Arts) -2 credits of PE -1 credit of Health -6 credits of other Elective credits -Meet all Core 40 requirements -6 World Language credits (6 in 1 language or 4 credits each in 2 languages) -2 additional Math Credits (Pre-Cal) -2 Fine Arts Credits -1 of the following: 4 AP credits 2 Dual credits 2 AP / 1 Dual credits High test scores - GPA of 2.7 or higher at graduation

Academic Honors Diploma -An Academic Honors Diploma is a sign that a student has successfully completed a rigorous high school curriculum. It is the preferred diploma for schools like IU and Purdue. -Some schools award automatic scholarships for AHD recipients; others rank these students higher for scholarship consideration. -In Indiana, only students with an AHD will receive 100% of the financial aid grants (Frank O’Bannon Award) for which they qualify; students who earn a Core 40 Diploma will receive 80% of the grant funding.

Typical Junior Year Schedule -English 11 or AP Language and Composition -Next math class (Alg II, Pre Cal, PreAP Pre Cal, AP Calc, etc.) -Biology (unless transfer student) -Next Latin class -Government / AP Gov’t and Econ *If taking AP Gov, take Econ this summer! -2 Electives -Seminar **All HHS students take 5 core classes every year

Summer Academe this Summer if… -NG in English or Math in 10 th grade (mandatory) -Not yet completed PE / Health credits (mandatory) -Taking AP Gov in 11 th grade and want to get Econ out of the way -Want to get ahead in Government -Student Help Desk

Grades, Grades, Grades! - When students apply to college in the fall of their senior year, the last grades that will be present on their transcript are from junior year. Junior Year - The main focus of a Junior student should be to earn as high of grades as possible! - Colleges look at grade trends – hopefully upward trends! How a student does in 11 th grade is more important than how a student did in 9 th.

Scheduling for Junior Year - Students will begin the scheduling process in their Advisories the week of April 22 nd. All students will meet with an Academic Advisor or Administrator to finalize schedule the week of April 28 th.

1) Junior Year 2) College Admissions Tests: PSAT, SAT and ACT 3) Preparing for College Applications 4) Q & A

Next PSAT/NMSQT: October 15, 2014 HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT #1: Write the results of your student’s test below and add a zero to each category. Add them together for the total. Critical Reading Math Writing Combined Critical Reading and Math Combined Critical Reading, Math, Writing The PSAT scores are not sent to colleges, but the test is important as practice SAT and to qualify juniors for the National Merit Scholarship competition. PSAT – take in 10 th and 11 th Grade

Using PSAT Scores to Prepare -Go to -Use the ‘access code’ listed on the bottom of your student’s PSAT score report. - ad/sample-psat-nmsqt-student-score-report.pdfhttps://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownlo ad/sample-psat-nmsqt-student-score-report.pdf -Review scores, go over answers, identify areas of strength and weakness, etc. *Students will receive their test booklets back in Seminar

Nearly all colleges require the SAT or ACT Most colleges accept either test Register at least one month in advance Tests administered on Saturday mornings Fee – approx. $51 SAT; $52.50 ACT; or waiver Late registration available for an increased fee Score reporting - 4 free – approx. $12.00 additional Resource students – Accommodations available College Admissions Tests: SAT and ACT

The SAT consists of three parts: 1. Critical Reading 2. Mathematics 3. Writing Each section is scored from Perfect score = 2400 SAT - Scholastic Aptitude Tes t College Admissions Tests: SAT and ACT

SAT – Scholastic Aptitude Test

The ACT consists of five parts: 1. English 2. Mathematics 3. Reading 4. Science 5. Writing The entire ACT test is scored from 16 to 30. Perfect score = 30 ACT – American College Test College Admissions Tests: SAT and ACT

ACT American College Test

The SAT/ACT Testing Plan for Students Plan A: Take both Junior year; compare; study; retake strongest test Plan B: Take SAT Junior year; review scores; study; retake **All students MUST take the SAT or ACT in their 11 th grade year! **Students sign up with their parents / guardians online for a date and location most convenient College Admissions Tests: SAT and ACT

Why take the test again? *Broaden the scope of college acceptances *It will put you in a higher scholarship category *Most colleges will superscore the SAT Apr CR 430 Math 580 Writing 370 [1380] Oct CR 440 Math 560 Writing 390 [1390] Superscore will be 1410 College Admissions Tests: SAT and ACT

Online prep; number2.com or CollegeBoard Questions of the day Paper practice tests-available at Advising Office Classes for a fee – Princeton Review; Kaplan Review book with CDs Naviance – new website rolling out this spring with customized study plan HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT #2: Sign up for the following Sign up for the Question of the Day at Sign up for the Question of the Day at Register at and take a practice SAT or ACTwww.number2.com How to Prepare for the SAT or ACT College Admissions Tests: SAT and ACT

1) Junior Year 2) College Admissions Tests: PSAT, SAT and ACT 3) Preparing for College Application Process 4) Q & A

College Application Components Transcript GPA Test Scores Honors / Awards Extra-curricular activities Leadership roles Community involvement Summer experiences Jobs / Internships Disciplinary / Attendance Concerns Letters of Recommendation Essay

Begin the College Search now! Herron sponsored College Visits this spring Begin discussion about desired college characteristics  Size  Location  Area / Major of focus  Campus environment  Distance from home (in-state vs. out-of-state)  Private / Public Plan campus visits as a family Use websites with search functions: Petersons College Search – www. Petersons.com College Prowler – Cappex – CollegeBoard Big Future–

Begin a list of Desired Colleges SAFETY/FALLBACK - Schools to which you will get accepted. Hanover College You 2260 & 4.37 TARGET - Schools to which you should get accepted but there are no guarantees. REACH – Schools to which you might get accepted but it is going to be difficult. Indiana University & 3.67 You 1490 & 3.12 GPA  University of Notre Dame You 1240 & 2.3 GPA The College Search and Narrowing Down Your Choices

Financial Aid Basics  Merit-Based Scholarship and Grants Direct from college / university  Needs-Based Grants and Loans - FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid EFC – Estimated Family Contribution Grants, i.e. Pell Federally subsidized student loans Unsubsidized student loans Work-study Parent loans  Outside Scholarships – fastweb.com

In Summary… Talk with your students about: -Junior Year -SAT / ACT -Preparing for College.

Thank you for your participation this evening. Sophomore Parent College Night Herron High School