1.  PSAT administration to all 10 th grade and 11 th grade students  Naviance and Career Awareness Classroom Lesson  Course Selection  Sophomore Interview with Counselors

2. Presented by: The Penncrest Guidance Department

3.  Accessing your online score report  The PSAT from last October matches redesigned SAT beginning in March 2016  Understanding and interpreting your score report.  Using PSAT scores to prepare for the SAT as well as to plan course selection.  Qualification for the National Merit Scholarship.  Planning + Preparation = Success!

4.  Check your email for a delivery from College Board. The email contains access information for your score report.  Carefully follow the steps outlined in the email.  If you didn’t receive the email you are able to retrieve your access code from your paper score report.

6.  Only Juniors are eligible to compete for the National Merit Scholarship. Please note the eligibility noted on the score report does not indicate that you are a NMS candidate.  Cut off scores vary state to state and year to year.  In September of senior year qualified students will be notified of their selection status as either Commended or Semifinalists.

7.  National Merit Scholars are students who score in the top 1% of all test takers.  National Merit Scholars are eligible to compete for a wide range of scholarships.  Several schools offer “free ride” scholarships for National Merit Scholars.  Students who achieve National Merit Scholarship recognition enjoy a slight edge in the college admissions process.

8.  Plan your testing schedule ahead of time in order to allow for preparation. TestTest dateRegistration Date Late Registration Date ACTApril 9March 4March 18 ACTJune 11May 6May 20 SATMarch 5February 5February 23 SATMay 7April 8April 26 SATJune 4May 5May 25

9.  Free online preparation for PSAT, SAT, ACT  SAT preparation classes at a discounted cost  SAT/ACT Saturday practice test

10.  Colleges and universities value careful course selection.  Colleges appreciate students who challenge themselves in rigorous and demanding courses.  Each selection conveys a message to a future admissions team.  Use electives to explore your interests or to fortify your knowledge base.

11.  March 7 Recommendations and selection verifications mailed to parents  March 7 – 31 Students must notify their counselors of any course change requests. And Counselors meet with individual students to make corrections and adjust requests.  April 1 Final date for Placement Waivers  August 22 Final schedules available when HAC opens

12.  Career Planning  Learning Style Inventory, Interest Inventory, Personality Inventory, Resume Building  College Planning  College Search, Application Process, College Major Exploration, Scholarship/Financial Aid Resources  Success Planning  Personalized Goals and Tasks, Journal Entries, Student Planner