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PSAT/College Planning Night December 13, 2013

+Agenda

• Four Major Parts of Your PSAT/NMSQT Results & your skills

• National Merit Scholarship Information

• More About Your Answers• How My College QuickStart™

Can Help You• Next Steps – your timeline from

today forward

Your Scores

Your Skills

Your Answers

Critical Reading

Mathematics

Writing Skills

Four Major Parts of Your PSAT/NMSQT

Results

Next Steps

3 Test Sections

See how you did on each skill. The same skills are tested on the SAT.

Your Skills

You can try hundreds of practice questions, organized by skill, online in My College QuickStart (www.collegeboard.org/quickstart).

National Merit Scholarship Corporation Information

The Entry Requirements section displays information you provided on your answer sheet.

The Percentile compares your performance to that of other college-bound juniors.

The Selection Index is the sum of your critical reading, mathematics and writing skills scores.

If it has an asterisk, you do not meet all of the eligibility requirements for the competition.

Your Answers

You will get your test book back with your PSAT/NMSQT results, so that you can review the questions.

You can also review each test question in My College QuickStart.

Answer Summary & ScoringCorrect answer = plus 1 point

Omitted answers = no points

Wrong answers to multiple-choice questions = minus ¼ point. (To discourage students from blind or random guessing.)

Wrong answers to math questions 29-38 (Student Produced Responses) = no points lost.

Your Answers: Student-Produced

Responses

Some of the math problems required you to grid in answers instead of selecting an option. For these questions, you will see the correct answer(s) written out.

What’s next?

Use the access code on your report to log in to My College QuickStart, a personalized college and career planning kit. There you can:

•Search for colleges•Get a personalized SAT study plan•Take a personality test to find majors and careers that fit you•Learn more about AP® courses that you might be ready to take

www.collegeboard.org/quickstart

Next Steps

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How Can My College QuickStart® Help You?

My College QuickStart

+ My College QuickStart

My Online Score Report• Projected SAT®

score ranges• State percentiles• You can filter questions• Questions and

answer explanations

+ My College QuickStart

My SAT Study Plan™• Personalized skills

to improve• SAT practice questions• An official SAT practice

test

+ My College QuickStart

My Personality• Personality test• Description of your type• Tips for success• Majors and careers that

might be a good fit for you

+ My College QuickStart

My College Matches• Starter list of

colleges• Criteria to customize

search• Ability to save

searches

+ My College QuickStartMy Majors & Career Matches• Major you chose • Related majors• Related careers

+My College QuickStart

My AP Potential• List of AP courses• Which ones are

offered at your school

+My College QuickStart

My AP Potential• Choose a major to

see which courses match it.

• Interpret your report to see whether you are ready to take a course.

+ My College QuickStart

Log in to your personalized account at www.collegeboard.org/quickstart

+SAT Reasoning Test

Juniors should take in March and again in June if needed

Sophomores can take this year if PSAT was strong

Given at LD on March 8 and June 7Other locations on May 3Must register online: www.collegeboard.org

+SAT Preparation Winter prep course (for March SAT) begins

January 11 (January 15 for Saturday class) Meets 6 times (3 English, 3 Math) – Wednesday

evenings (6-9 pm) or Saturday mornings (9 am – noon)

Taught by LD faculty Cost is $40 for LD students Registration now open – forms in Counseling

Office or online: www.ldsd.org/highschool

+SAT Subject Tests

Offered in history, math, science, languages

Remaining test dates in January, May, June

Take only if college requires scores

Usually taken in fall of senior year

The SAT Subject Tests offer you an additional opportunity to show colleges what you know and what you know you can do.

Many colleges use the SAT Subject Tests for admission, for course placement, and to advise students about course selection. Some colleges specify the SAT Subject Tests that they require for admission or placement; others allow applicants to choose which tests to take.

**Check the College Board website for a list of subjects and colleges that require these tests

+ACTAmerican College TestGiven at LD in September and December (at HACC and Cumberland Valley HS in February, April, June)

Test areas: English, Math, Science Reasoning, Reading with optional Writing test

Register online at www.actstudent.org

+Importance of Junior YearAcademic RecordActivity ResumeTesting ProgramPost-Graduation PlanningSuggested Time Line

+Academic Recordo Biggest factors in college

admissions:o Grades/GPAo Rigor of courses o College entrance examso Charactero Activities resume

Four-year academic performance shows consistency over time (or improvement over time)

Take challenging courses

Choose academic electives (languages and/or those related to potential majors)

Work hard to maintain best possible grades

+Activity Resume

Colleges want students who are well rounded and will be involved on campus

Get involved in and out of school

Be committed Aim for variety of

interests Find unique experiences

+Testing Program

First step – tonight Take at least one SAT by

end of junior year Consider test prep Another SAT/ACT in fall of

senior year if needed SAT Subject Tests if needed Keep reading and taking

challenging courses!

+Post-Graduation Planning

Consider career interests/abilities

Look at education and/or training required

Relate to college or tech school major

Think about college qualities (size, location, setting, majors, cost, etc)

Research potential colleges online/get information

Look at admissions requirements

Narrow down your choices

Visit, visit, visit! Apply in fall of senior

year

+Junior Year Timeline

Research potential careers and majors Make a list of college qualities Take SAT at least once, possibly twice College research: www.collegeboard.org Online research/get materials from colleges Begin to narrow list of schools between 5 and

7 Be sure to visit ALL schools before applying

+Planning Resources

College Board:

www.collegeboard.org Naviance:

http://succeed.naviance.com/ldauphin College Visits College Information Packet LDHS Counseling Department Website:

www.ldsd.org/highschool Military Recruiters

+Naviance

Career Planning Look at results from last

year’s interest inventory from Careers class

Complete the Personality Assessment as well (either in Naviance or in My College Quick Start)

Students should know their user name and password for Naviance – if not, please see your counselor

College Planning Start to organize college

interests Start Student Bio Sheet Naviance will be used in

senior year to manage applications, transcripts, and letters of recommendation so it’s a good idea to become familiar with this program!

+Senior Year Timeline

Finish any campus visits Take SAT/Subject Tests/ACT if needed Fill out applications in early fall Research scholarship/financial aid opportunities Fill out FAFSA in January Make final decision based on admission and

financial aid offers

+NCAA Clearinghouse Academic requirements: core courses,

GPA, SAT scores for Div I and II See counselor for review Complete application at end of junior

year Apply online:

www.eligibilitycenter.org

+Financial Aid Night

January 8th at 6:30 in HS library

General financial aid information

Great for 9-11th graders and parents

Plenty of opportunities to ask questions!

+Course Selection

Process begins in January/February

New this year is the Course Selection evening program for parents on February 5th @ 7:00pm

Please work together as a family to plan your course of study for next year

Make appointment with a counselor if needed

Challenge yourself!

+Counseling Office

Farren Schmidt (12th) 566-5347

fwoods@ldsd.org

Tanya Dreon (11th) 566-5335

tdreon@ldsd.org

Nate Espenshade (10th) 566-5336

nwespenshade@ldsd.org

Lori Beaver (9th) 566-5337

lbeaver@ldsd.org