Information Night

for Juniors

Ms. Darcy Hutzler Director of Guidance

Mr. Javier Polavieja Guidance Counselor (A-K)

Mr. Tom Daugherty

Guidance Counselor (L-Z)

Part I:

Standardized Testing Overview

Part II: Choosing a College: Finding the Right Fit

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

How?

Why? • Allows a point of comparison from student-to-student

and high school-to-high school nation wide

• Standardized test scores, in most cases, play an

important role in admissions decisions

• High schools monitor student progress using

standardized tests

What?

• EXPLORE, PLAN, ACT series

• PSAE

• PSAT, SAT, and SAT Subject Tests

• AP Testing

• Only qualifying exam for National Merit, National Achievement and National Hispanic Recognition Programs

• National Merit Status: typically 99th

percentile nationally

• Preparation for the SAT

• Critical Reading, Math Reasoning and Writing (not optional)

Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

• Recommended for students in

the top tier of the junior class

academically with a strong

standardized testing history

• Test on October 17th in school

• Cost: $20.00.

How?

EXPLORE, PLAN, ACT Series

EXPLORE

• Baseline of measurement of progress in EXPLORE,

PLAN, ACT series

• EXPLORE = 8th Grade, score range 1-25

PLAN

• Midpoint measure on progress toward ACT

• PLAN = Fall of 10th Grade, score range 1-32

• Good practice for the ACT

• Good predictor of future ACT score

• Personalized career information

• Not used by colleges for admission

• Sub-tests

• English

• Reading

• Math

• Science Reasoning

• Writing (optional—check with your college)

• Curriculum-based test

• Used for College Admission

Score Range: 1-36

• Recommended: • April or June of Junior Year

• September or October of Senior Year, if needed

• National Test Dates: test site can vary

• Register in advance for each national test

date directly with ACT.

• Register on-line at www.actstudent.org.

• Each score report (by test date) is a

separate testing record.

• No penalty for frequency of testing

• Colleges use the best score for

admission

• Scores are not on MVHS transcripts

• Scores must be requested from the

testing company by the student

• Mandatory state testing for all juniors in Illinois

• Required for graduation

• April 23 & 24, 2013 @ MVHS

Prairie State Achievement Exam

Day 1: ACT

– English, Math, Reading, Science

– Score can be used for college admission

and for NCAA Clearinghouse

Day 2: Work Keys

– Reading for Information and Applied

Mathematics

• No cost to student.

• Administered during school day.

• Registration completed by the

school.

• 3 parts

• Critical Reading

• Math Reasoning

• Writing (not optional)

• Measures critical thinking skills.

• Used for College Admission

• Recommended: Spring Junior Year or

Early Fall Senior Year.

• National Test Dates: test site can vary

• Register in advance for each national test date directly with College Board.

• Register on-line at www.collegeboard.org

• New score reporting feature being launched in March 2009

• No penalty for frequency of testing

• Students can choose to send one or

multiple test scores

• This “Score Choice” feature is optional—if

students do not use it, all scores will be

sent automatically

• Formerly SAT II: Subject Tests

• Measure knowledge and skills in particular

subject areas, as well as ability to apply that

knowledge…...like SAT, you must register online

• Required by some colleges for admission

or placement—check first before testing.

• Take as soon as possible after completing

the coursework in that subject

Consider retesting if…

• You have completed additional

coursework or an intensive review

• You were not feeling well when you

tested

• You misunderstood the directions

• Are not satisfied that your scores

accurately reflect your abilities

Options:

• Practice ACT (most students..no need to

pre-register)

• PSAT (Deadline: Tuesday, September 25th)

October 17, 2012 @ MVHS

• Exams are optional at the end of AP

courses.

• AP courses are a college-level learning

experience.

• Potential to earn college-level credit based

on exam score.

• Credit determined by college.

• Students must register at MVHS and pay

$89 per test (’12-’13).

• Registration begins in February.

• Exams are administered every year at the

beginning of May.

Planning for LIFE

After Metea • Emphasis on lifelong learning

• Many options including 4-year

university, 2-year college, military,

career/technical program, or on-the-job

training.

• This refers to the match between

the student and the college

• In a good match--both flourish

• Two main components:

- Characteristics of Student

- Characteristics of the College

• Person

• Program

• Place

• People

• Price

• What are my career goals/educational

goals?

• What is my academic profile-ACT/GPA?

• What are my interests and activities?

• What kind of student/learner am I?

• What are my goals and values?

• Area of Study

• Specialized Major

• Academic Rigor

• Type of Curriculum

• College’s Mission & Philosophy

• Career Development Assistance

• Location

• Setting- rural, urban suburban

• Environment/Atmosphere

• Activities

• With whom will you learn?

• Number of faculty &

students?

• Professors?

• Mentors?

• Networking opportunities?

• Costs range from approximately $4,000 for a community college to over $50,000 for an Ivy League per year

• Net cost

• Remember that many colleges have outstanding scholarships & financial aid

• Choose several colleges including one that your family can afford

• Community colleges tend to be the “best buy” in schools; a good idea is to apply to at least one state school or community college

• Identify the most important factors in your decision

• Rank these factors

• Begin your search

• Remember to consider: Person,Program, Place, People and Price

• Research a variety of schools

• Utilize Naviance

• Attend College Visits at MVHS

• Attend College Fairs

• Visit College Campuses while they

are in session and arrange visit

through Admissions Office.

• Generally colleges require:

– 4 years of English

– 3-4 years of Math

– 3-4 years of Lab Science

– Some recommend 3 years of Social Studies

– Some require 2 years of a foreign language

– Look at the average ACT/SAT scores

accepted

Be sure to check each college’s website!

• Importance of Junior year-work on

academics

• Take a challenging Senior year

• Continue to be involved and build your

resume

• Attend Financial Aid Night at MVHS on

November 27, 2012 at 7:00 pm

(tentative date)

• Junior College Night at MVHS on March

19, 2013

National College Fair

September 29th, 11 a.m – 3:00 p.m., Navy Pier

Waubonsee Community College

Oct. 1st , 6 p.m.-8 pm

Elgin Community College

October 2nd , 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Performing Arts College Fair

Oct. 14th, 1:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m., Chicago High School of the

Arts

College of DuPage

Oct. 16th from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Lewis University (Romeoville)

March 5th, 2013, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

North Central College (Naperville)

March 18th, 2013, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

DePaul University (Chicago)

March 26th, 2013, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Naviance

• Log on by going to:

http://connection.naviance.com/meteavhs

or link through the MVHS home page.

• User name: Student ID Number (will be

either 5 digits or 7 digits)

• Password: computer network password,

for now…..the same password used last

year. By late September, you will be able

to use your new password.

Information Night for Juniors

Standardized Testing Overview: See back of page. Choosing a College: Finding the Right Fit

Choosing a college is a process and it is unique to each student’s goals, experiences, level of interest, and involvement. A key word in admissions today is “fit”. This refers to the fit between the student and college. If the fit is a good match, then the student and the college both flourish and are satisfied. Therefore, the college search involves two main components: the characteristics of the student and the characteristics of the college. The “best college” is the one that is the best fit for the individual student!

There are five factors (the 5 P’s) involved in making a good match between a student and potential

colleges: Person, Program, Place, People, & Price.1

Step One: Know Yourself (Person!) Different colleges complement different learning styles. o Reflect upon the following: What are my educational goals? What courses have I taken in high school?

Which ones have been my favorites? What am I involved in (extra-curricular activities, work, hobbies, other interests)? What are my test scores? What is my GPA /class rank?

o Who are you as a learner? Active or passive? Auditory, visual, tactile? Do you like discussing, experimenting, theorizing? How do you earn good grades…homework, projects, cumulative exams?

o What are you like in class? Do you like lab days? Class discussions? Class lectures? Reading texts? o Are you good at multi-tasking or concentrating on one thing at a time?

Step Two: Know the Colleges (Program, Place, People, & Price!) Identify your priorities. What are the most important factors in your college decision? Carefully research the characteristics of a variety of schools.2 Use available resources to begin or continue your college search. Use online resources such as Naviance.

Attend college visits at MVHS and college fairs. Visit college campuses. o Program: What college has the best program for me as an individual? What do I want to study? o Place: Where do I want to study? Do you want to visit home frequently? Experience a new part of the

country? Urban, suburban, small town? o People: With whom do I want to learn? Professors? Mentors? Networking? o Price: What is the total cost? What financial aid and scholarship opportunities are available?

**Naviance – http://connection.naviance.com/meteavhs or link through the MVHS home page.

User name: Student ID Number (will be either 5 digits or 7 digits)

Password: computer network password, the same password used for Pinnacle access

**Metea’s primary tool for career assessments, college profiles, college visit schedules, a scholarship database, college application tracking,

course planning, and more.

Online Resources for Testing Information and College/Career Planning:

www.actstudent.org -- ACT registration, sample tests, additional test score report requests.

www.collegeboard.com -- SAT registration, sample tests, additional test score report requests.

Upcoming Events:

Financial Aid Night: November 27, 2012, 7pm. (tentative)

Junior College Information Night, March 19, 2013: An admissions panel—including a variety of institutions such as a large public, small private, community college and highly selective college—will go into greater detail on the college search process and finding the right fit in a post-secondary institution.

1 The Right Fit” Dr. John Kaltsas, Schuler Family Foundation 2 College Counseling Sourcebook published by the College Board, 2007

Class of 2014 Counselors Mr. Javier Polavieja Mr. Tom Daugherty Guidance Counselor (A-K) Guidance Counselor (L-Z) Javier_polavieja@ipsd.org tom_daugherty@ipsd.org 630.375.3386 630.375.3984

STANDARDIZED TESTING--Class of 2014 Name of Test When? Where? Why? How? Other Information

PLAN

Taken last fall

@ MVHS

Good practice for the ACT

Good predictor of future ACT scores.

Personalized career information.

Students complete demographics, interest inventory, math, reading, English, and science sections.

Score range: 1-32

Curriculum-based test similar to the ACT.

Not used for college admission.

PSAT/NMSQT

Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

October 17, 2012

@ MVHS

Only qualifying exam for National Merit Scholarship Program.

Preparation for the SAT.

Recommended for students in the top academic tier of their class

Students register for the PSAT/NMSQT by Sept 25 , 2012 in the Junior House.

Cost is $20.00

Not required for college admission.

Practice ACT

(also known as “mock” or “retired” ACT)

October 17, 2012

@MVHS

Preparation for the ACT

Helps familiarize students with the types of questions on the ACT as well as the timing of each section

Students not registered for the PSAT on 10/17/12 will take the practice ACT that day.

This is NOT an official score and cannot be sent to colleges.

PSAE

Prairie State Achievement Exam

April 23 & 24,

2013

@ MVHS

Mandatory state testing for all juniors in Illinois=required for graduation.

Students must complete Day 1 & Day 2 of PSAE Testing.

Math, Reading, English, Science, and possibly Writing (determined by state)

ACT score range:1-36

Day 1 is ACT, which can be used for college admission and NCAA Clearinghouse.

Day 2 is WorkKeys

ACT

Recommended: February 2013

through Oct. 2013 (MVHS is not a test site on all national dates)

Location varies

@ MVHS on Oct. 27,April 13 and June 8 2013

Used for College Admission Students must register in advance for each national test date directly with ACT

Mail-in registration packet or on-line at www.actstudent.org.

Score Range:1-36

Curriculum-based test consisting of English, Reading, Math, Science Reasoning and Writing (optional) sections.

No penalty for frequency of testing

Each score report is a separate testing record.

SAT

SAT Reasoning Test

Recommended: February 2013

through Oct. 2013 (MVHS is not a test site on all national dates)

Location varies

@ MVHS every October

Used for College Admission Students must register in advance for each national test date directly with College Board

Mail-in registration packet or on-line at

www.collegeboard.org.

Score maximum on each subtest is 800

Measures critical thinking skills.

Three parts: Critical Reading, Math Reasoning, & Writing

SAT scores from multiple dates are sent automatically unless “Score Choice” is selected.

SAT Subject Tests

As soon as possible after completing the coursework in that

subject (MVHS is not a test site on all national dates)

Location varies

Required by some colleges for admission or placement

Designed to measure knowledge and skills in particular subject areas, as well as ability to apply that knowledge.

Students must register in advance for each national test date

Mail-in registration packet or on-line at

www.collegeboard.org.

Check with specific colleges of interest before registering for SAT Subject Tests.

Formerly SAT II: Subject Tests.

May be required at many “Highly Selective” colleges

AP Advanced Placement Tests

Every year in May

@MVHS

Potential to earn college-level credit based on exam score

Students must register at MVHS and pay $89 per test in 2012

Registration begins in February

Exams are optional at the end of AP courses.

AP courses are a college-level learning experience.