1. Steps for Success What Every Student and Parent Should Know About Junior Year

2. Junior Guidance Counselors Stephanie Stoffel: Last Names A-Fk Jill Wisman: Last Names Fl-L Kristin Hetzel: Last Names M-Si Kristen Frank: Last Names Sj-Z The NHS Website is: http://www.noblesvilleschools.org/Domain/8. It is updated frequently, so make sure to check it out for important information! http://www.noblesvilleschools.org/Domain/8

3. Importance of Junior Year: Grades and Graduation Requirements Junior year grades will be the most current grades on transcripts sent to colleges The people making admissions will look for trends in your grades. Is there an improvement each year of high school or a decline? Know your diploma type and its requirements Students need to take responsibility and ownership of their grades and academic progress. Start writing a resume with your accomplishments, awards, activities, and jobs held during high school

4. PSAT Morning of Wednesday, October 28, 2015 NO MAKE-UP TEST DATE!!! Please do not schedule any appointments for this morning! There is absolutely no way to take the PSAT if you are not here the morning of October 28. This is the only way for juniors to qualify for National Merit Scholarships Students who do not score a certain level may have to complete additional testing in the spring and remediation. Bottom Line: It is important for students to do their best!

5. ACT and SAT Both are college entrance exams Most colleges accept either the SAT or ACT Students are recommended to take these for the first time beginning 2 nd semester of their junior year SAT and ACT scores are a factor in college admission decisions and merit based scholarship decisions

6. New SAT Redesigned SAT will begin in March 2016 Changes Essay is optional Score is out of 1600 No more obscure vocabulary words No deductions for guessing The PSAT will be based off of the redesigned SAT

7. SAT and ACT Preparation Resources Khan Academy: www.khanacademy.org FREE! www.khanacademy.org Noblesville High School SAT Prep class: Prepares students for the May test date www.sat.collegeboard.orgwww.sat.collegeboard.org FREE! www.sat.collegeboard.org www.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org FREE! www.actstudent.org List of private tutors is available on the Guidance Section of the Noblesville High School website.

8. ACT & SAT Testing Dates at NHS January 23 – SAT February 6 - ACT May 7 – SAT Register for the SAT at collegeboard.org Register for the ACT at actstudent.org

9. College Application Timeline JUNIORS HAVE 3 EXCUSED ABSENCES PER SEMESTER FOR COLLEGE VISTIS August 1 of senior year: Date when most applications become available online October 1 of senior year: Students may begin submitting FAFSA using 2015 tax information November 1: Priority Deadline for several universities *Make sure your student is aware of all important deadlines *Make sure your student is aware of all important deadlines March: Many colleges begin notifying students of financial aid packages May 1: Deadline to accept admission to many colleges

10. NCAA All juniors who may play a Division I or Division II sport must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center College-bound student athletes must let their counselor know they plan to play a sport in college At end of junior year, students need to request their transcripts be sent to NCAA through Parchment NCAA Eligibility Requirements can be viewed at: http://web3.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA_EMS.html http://web3.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA_EMS.html Students who plan to play at a Division III or NAIA college do not need to register with the NCAA

11. Scholarships Juniors can begin national scholarship searches www.scholarships.com www.fastweb.com Naviance During senior year, scholarships are posted throughout the year on Naviance Local scholarships begin being posted in February of Senior year

12. Naviance Noblesville High School’s database for all things related to college and career College Visits are posted in Naviance Students request transcripts be sent to colleges on Naviance Scholarships are posted on Naviance Career assessments are available on Naviance Research colleges through Naviance All students have an account and parents are able to set up an account

13. College Representatives Visits to NHS Throughout the year, many different colleges will visit Noblesville High School during AL. These visits are listed on Naviance and students sign up to attend on Naviance Military visits will take place during lunch periods throughout the year. These are also posted on Naviance.

14. Non-College Bound Students Some type of technical school or apprenticeship is important! Technical Programs offered through NHS Hare Chevrolet Automotive Program (Open to Juniors and Seniors) Dual Credit Program with Ivy Tech Students have the opportunity to earn 15 Ivy Tech credits per school year! ABC Construction Program (Open to Juniors and Seniors) J. Everett Light Career Center (Open to Juniors and Seniors) NHS Internship Program All seniors (college and non-college bound) have the opportunity to do an internship if they are on track with their graduation requirements! We place students based on the area they are interested in.

15. Important NHS Events Wednesday, October 28: PSAT November 30-December 8: Scheduling information distributed to juniors during AL Week of December 7: PSAT Interpretation January 13-22: Individual scheduling meetings February 12-March 11: AP test registration March 18: Noblesville Internship & Career Extravaganza AP Testing – May 2-13