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11th grade
What you can do to guide and advise your Junior.
The
junior year is a time for students to seriously begin to consider
his/her post-secondary options. It
is also the year to take college tests, make college visits, and to
start searching for scholarships.
1.
Continue to monitor academic progress.
2.
Continue to encourage your son or daughter to be involved in a
wide variety of activities and to develop leadership skills.
3.
Make certain that your son or daughter registers in September
for the PSAT/NMSQT.
The PSAT/NMSQT is a national test which is administered by high schools
in October. The PSAT/NMSQT
is divided into two sections, verbal and math, and takes two to three
hours. College bound
juniors should take the PSAT/NMSQT for a number of reasons. 1) It is good practice for the SAT and it gives students an idea
of how they will score on the SAT. 2) Students can see how they compare to other college bound
students across the country. 3)
Students can determine if there is an area in which they need additional
study. 4) Students whose
scores are exceptionally high are recognized by the National Merit
Foundation. This
recognition may lead to scholarship opportunities.
When registering for the PSAT/NMSQT, students are given a Student
Bulletin which contains test-taking tips and a practice test. Spending time preparing for the PSAT/NMSQT can make a significant
difference in a student’s score.
The results of the test are available in mid-to-late December. When students receive their scores, they also will have their
original test booklet returned to them. Included in a student’s report is a list of the correct answers
and a list of the student’s answers. A student can then go back and see what questions he/she may have
missed, as well as note which answers were correct.
3.
Talk about college options.
The
junior year is a time to gather and sort through information. There are several criteria to consider as you look at colleges
and start to narrow your choices. Some
of these are:
LOCATION
AVAILABLE MAJORS
SIZE
REPUTATION
COST
COMPETITIVENESS
FACILITIES
COMMUNITY
Before you start looking at colleges, consider all of
the above and determine what is important to you and to your son or
daughter. Does he/she want
a college close to home? Does
he/she want a large college or small college? After you know what you are looking for, you can then begin to
search for colleges that meet you son or daughter’s needs. The guidance office has computer programs to assist you in your
search and there are excellent resource and reference books available in
libraries, the guidance office, and bookstores.
Early
in the college process, you should have a frank discussion with your son
or daughter with regards to the amount of money you are able and/or
willing to contribute to his/her college education.
Tip:
Once you have identified colleges that you would like to
investigate further, call the admission offices and ask to be placed on
their mailing lists. You
will then receive information on visitation days and upcoming events.
4.
Have you son or daughter sign up for the ACT (American College
Test) and/or the SAT I (Scholastic Assessment Test) early in the spring.
Why take the
ACT and/or the SAT I?
Four-year colleges require the scores of either the ACT or the
SAT I as part of the student’s application. Many colleges will accept scores from either test:
however, some colleges require, or prefer scores from one of the
other. Students should
check the college’s catalog for information regarding which test a
college may require or prefer. Students
may take these tests as many times as they want, and colleges will
generally use their highest score. Students who are hoping to be accepted into a competitive college
or program, as well as students who are applying for scholarships,
should take both the ACT and the SAT I. It is important for students to take these by the spring of
their junior year so that they will have time to retake the test(s) if
their scores are not as high has they need to be.
How to sign up
for the ACT and the SAT.
Students may register online or pick up registration packets and
study guides in the high school guidance office. A packet includes instructions on how to complete the
registration form, a list of testing centers, and a section where the
student can indicate to which colleges he/she wants scores sent. Students need to read the study guides, take the practice test
and go over what they missed on the practice test. To help students with additional preparation for both the ACT and
SAT I, there are numerous books, videotapes and computer programs
available in libraries, bookstores and the guidance office.
How is the ACT
scored?
The ACT consists of four tests: English, Reading, Math and
Science Reasoning. Students
are given a score for each test, with scores ranging for 1 to 36. These four scores are then averaged to arrive at a Composite
score. The national average
Composite score is around 21. There
is no penalty for guessing; therefore a student should answer every
question, even if he/she has no idea what the answer may be. Students may use calculators on the ACT.
How is the SAT
scored?
The SAT I is comprised of two sections, Verbal and Math, with
scores ranging from 200 to 800 for each section. The highest possible combined score is 1600; however, the
national average is around 1015. Students
may use calculators, and there is a slight penalty for guessing. If a student has no idea what the answer is, he/she should leave
it blank. If one or more
answer choices can be eliminated, the student should make an
“educated” guess.
Why take the
SAT II?
The SAT II are tests which some of the more competitive schools
require. The SAT II tests a
student’s knowledge in individual subject areas: English, math, science, history and foreign language.
There are 18 subject tests offered and students generally choose
two or three. Students
should check to see if any of the colleges they are considering require
the SAT II for admission or placement. Students should see their counselor for registration forms and
information.
5.
Make college visits.
The spring/summer of the junior year is an excellent time to make
college visits. If you make
your college visits during the summer, plan to revisit those colleges
you are seriously considering. It
is important to get a feel for what the college is like when it is in
“full swing”.
In
order to plan a college visit, call the college admission office several
weeks ahead of time. Explain
that you are the parent of a junior and that you are interested in
visiting the college. You
might first ask if they have any specific “visitation days” or
“preview days” scheduled. Visitation
days can be very informative as they offer programs designed
specifically for prospective students and their parents, including
tours, sessions on specific majors and financial aid. If requested, colleges often make it possible for students to
stay overnight in a dorm.
If
you want to visit a college on a day when there is no specific program
planned, you can generally schedule individual appointments and tours
through the admissions office.
6.
Carefully select courses for the senior year.
Be
certain that senior courses meet all requirements for graduation, for
the college(s) he/she may attend and for NCAA. Encourage your son or daughter to continue taking college prep
courses, even though he/she may express an interest in “taking it easy
his/her senior year”. College
applications generally request a list of senior courses; colleges want
to see that students are continuing to follow a strong college
preparatory program through their senior year.
7.
Start checking into scholarships.
Although
students will complete the majority of their scholarship applications
during
the first half of their senior year, you should start looking at
scholarship possibilities during you son or daughter’s junior year.
8.
At the end of the year, update the “Activities and Awards”
file.
9.
Help your son or daughter choose meaningful activities for the
summer months.
You
may want to consider one of the summer programs many colleges offer to
outstanding juniors. Students
can also work, volunteer or do community service.
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