Step-by-Step to the college process Department of Counseling Services Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School October 13, 2015

Grade 9 ✧ Counselors meet individually with students to assess their progress in school ✧ Students are introduced to the College Planning, Career research aspects of NAVIANCE ✧ Students are encouraged to join clubs, volunteer and participate in other extracurricular activities ✧ Spring: Schedule discussion and course selection Grade 10 ✧ Counselors continue to help students set academic and personal goals ✧ Students use the Career Inventory in NAVIANCE to further research future plans ✧ Students take the PSAT for the first time in October ✧ Spring: Schedule discussion and course selection

THE JUNIOR YEAR ✧ College considerations ✧ Campus visits ✧ Naviance ✧ Target, Safety & Reach Schools ✧ Common Application ✧ SAT & ACT ✧ Senior year schedule ✧ Weighted/Academic & unweighted/All Course GPA’s ✧ Senior Self-Evaluation/Parent Evaluation ✧ Requesting teacher recommendations ✧ Resume writing

Grade 12 Senior check-up ✧ Naviance ✧ Common Application ✧ Sending SAT/ACT scores to colleges ✧ Special application processes ✧ Requests for transcripts for colleges ✧ Requests for teacher recommendations

Deadline options EARLY DECISION- BINDING EARLY ACTION- NON BINDING REGULAR DECISION ROLLING DECISION

Naviance ✧ Research colleges, college majors and requirements for admission ✧ Access acceptance data relevant to SPFHS applicants ✧ Online transcript requests ✧ Online requests for teacher recommendations ✧ Searchable and sortable college database ✧

Financial Aid Night Date TBD (Mid-December) 7pm - SPFHS Auditorium Topics ● Deadlines ● Filing Options/Filling out the FAFSA ● Types of Financial Aid ● Qualifications ● College loan options

SAT TEST DATES NOVEMBER 7 TH (at SPFHS) DECEMBER 5 TH JANUARY 23 RD NEW SAT MARCH 5 TH (SAT I ONLY) MAY 7 TH JUNE 4 TH (at SPFHS) ✧

ACT DATES ●December 12th ●February 6 th ●April 9th ●June 11 th The ACT is not offered at SPFHS

SAT VS. ACT AND THE REDESIGN

SAT OR ACT ???? HOW DO I KNOW WHICH ONE TO TAKE? ACT questions are more straightforward SAT has stronger emphasis on vocabulary ACT has a Science section ACT has more advanced math concepts ACT has an “optional” writing section, but is required by colleges SAT has more sections RESOURCES COLLEGEBOARD.COM THE KHAN ACADEMY

POSSIBLE TESTING SCHEDULE Plan 1 OLD SAT in Nov. /Dec. and/or Jan ACT in Feb./Apr./Sept. New SAT in Mar/June, SAT subject tests in May Plan 3 OLD SAT in Nov/Dec/ Jan ACT in Feb/Apr/June/Sept./Oct. SAT subject tests May/June Plan 2 OLD SAT in Oct/Nov/Dec/Jan NEW SAT Mar/May/June SAT Subject tests May or June Plan 4 ACT only Oct/Dec/Feb/Apr/June/Sept/Oct SAT subject tests May

NEW SAT SCORE REPORTING 1.WON’T BE ABLE TO COMBINE SCORES FROM OLD AND NEW SAT 2.SUPER SCORES-COLLEGE TAKES HIGHEST BUT MUST SEND ALL 3.SCORE CHOICE- STUDENTS PICK WHICH TEST TO SEND…SO ALWAYS SEND LATER

PSAT Sophomores & Juniors PSAT will be given Wednesday, October 14th at SPFHS Only in Junior year are scores used to determine eligibility for National Merit Scholarships (224 in NJ for class of 215) This year’s PSAT will be practice for NEW SAT (given in March 2016)