Jump Into YourJump Into Your Junior Year Junior Year

Important TestsImportant Tests

Alabama High School Alabama High School Graduation ExamGraduation Exam

PSATPSAT ASVABASVAB ACTACT SATSAT AP ExamsAP Exams

Alabama High School Alabama High School Graduation ExamGraduation Exam

If you still need to pass a part, If you still need to pass a part, the following dates are coming the following dates are coming up:up:

September 21-24September 21-24

March 1-5March 1-5

PSAT/NMSQTPSAT/NMSQT

Practice SATPractice SAT Critical reading skillsCritical reading skills Math problem-solving skillsMath problem-solving skills Writing skillsWriting skills

National Merit Scholar Qualifying National Merit Scholar Qualifying TestTest

October 14, WednesdayOctober 14, Wednesday 8:00 AM8:00 AM $13.50$13.50

www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com

ASVABASVAB

January 13January 13thth 8:00 AM 8:00 AM Identifies SkillsIdentifies Skills Eight short testsEight short tests After testing, you will receive three After testing, you will receive three

Career Exploration ScoresCareer Exploration Scores MathMath VerbalVerbal Science and Technical SkillsScience and Technical Skills

ACTACT

College Admission TestCollege Admission Test$32.00$32.00www.act.orgwww.act.orgDates for 2009-2010Dates for 2009-2010Test DateTest Date RegistrationDeadline RegistrationDeadline ( (Late Fee Required)Late Fee Required) Sept. 12, 2009 *August 7, 200 Sept. 12, 2009 *August 7, 200 Aug. 8-21, 2009 Aug. 8-21, 2009 Oct. 24, 2009 Sept. 18, 2009 Oct. 24, 2009 Sept. 18, 2009 Sept.19 – Oct.2, 2009 Sept.19 – Oct.2, 2009 Dec. 12, 2009Dec. 12, 2009 Nov. 6, 2009Nov. 6, 2009 Nov. 7–20, 2009Nov. 7–20, 2009 Feb. 6, 2010** Jan. 5, 2010 Jan. 6 – 15, 2010Feb. 6, 2010** Jan. 5, 2010 Jan. 6 – 15, 2010April 10, 2010 March 5, 2010 March 6 –19,2010 April 10, 2010 March 5, 2010 March 6 –19,2010 June 12, 2010 May 7, 2010 May 8 – 21, 2010June 12, 2010 May 7, 2010 May 8 – 21, 2010

Do I need the writing portion Do I need the writing portion of the ACT?of the ACT? Some colleges require it and Some colleges require it and

some don’tsome don’t Check for the requirements of Check for the requirements of

the college to which you are the college to which you are applyingapplying

$47 for the ACT with the $47 for the ACT with the writing partwriting part

SATSAT

Cost is $45.00Cost is $45.00 Measures:Measures:

Writing (200-800)Writing (200-800) Multiple Choice question and EssayMultiple Choice question and Essay

Math (200-800)Math (200-800) Critical Reading (200-800Critical Reading (200-800

www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com SAT Quick LinksSAT Quick Links

Register for the SATRegister for the SAT SAT Test Preparation SAT Test Preparation SAT Test DatesSAT Test Dates Test Center/Code Search Test Center/Code Search Get & Send Scores Get & Send Scores SAT Question of the DaySAT Question of the Day

Dates for the SAT 2009-2010Dates for the SAT 2009-2010

Test DayTest Day RegularRegularOct.10, 09Oct.10, 09 Sept.9, 2009Sept.9, 2009Nov.7, 09 Oct. 1, 2009Nov.7, 09 Oct. 1, 2009Dec. 5, 09 Oct. 30, 2009Dec. 5, 09 Oct. 30, 2009Jan. 23, 2010 Dec. 15, 2009Jan. 23, 2010 Dec. 15, 2009Mar.13, 2010 Feb. 4, 2010Mar.13, 2010 Feb. 4, 2010May 1, 2010 March 25, 2010May 1, 2010 March 25, 2010June 5, 2010 April 29, 2010June 5, 2010 April 29, 2010

AP ExamsAP Exams

Required to take AP Exams if Required to take AP Exams if you are enrolled in an AP classyou are enrolled in an AP class

Exams are in MayExams are in May Last year they cost $86, amount Last year they cost $86, amount

is not posted for this year yetis not posted for this year yet If you make a 3 or higher on an If you make a 3 or higher on an

AP test in science, English, or AP test in science, English, or math, you will receive $100 math, you will receive $100

NCAA ClearinghouseNCAA Clearinghouse

If you are planning on playing If you are planning on playing sports in college, you need to sports in college, you need to applyapply

https://web1.ncaa.org/https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/eligibilitycenter/common/

Start an accountStart an account Need 16 core classes for Need 16 core classes for

Division 1; 14 core classes for Division 1; 14 core classes for Division 2Division 2

Required courses for NCAARequired courses for NCAA

44 years of English years of English 33 years of math (Alg 1 or higher) years of math (Alg 1 or higher) 2 yrs of natural/physical science2 yrs of natural/physical science 11 yr of additional English, math, or yr of additional English, math, or

sciencescience 2 years of social science2 years of social science 44 years of additional courses from years of additional courses from

any area above or foreign languageany area above or foreign language

Make Sure You Have TakenMake Sure You Have Taken

1 year (1 credit) of PE1 year (1 credit) of PE Marching Band, Sports, JROTCMarching Band, Sports, JROTC

.5 credit of Fine Arts.5 credit of Fine Arts Art Class, Drama, Any Music Art Class, Drama, Any Music

Class, ChorusClass, Chorus .5 credit of Computer .5 credit of Computer

Application Application BTEBTE

.5 credit of Health.5 credit of Health

What should I be doing this What should I be doing this year?year?

Recommended courses for Recommended courses for college (per ACT site):college (per ACT site): 4 English4 English 3 or more math3 or more math 3 or more natural sciences3 or more natural sciences 3 or more social sciences3 or more social sciences Additional academic coursesAdditional academic courses

Use testing informationUse testing information Establish goals for this school yearEstablish goals for this school year Take a college entrance exam this Take a college entrance exam this

yearyear Visit college campusesVisit college campuses Sign up for the PSATSign up for the PSAT Get involved with extracurricular Get involved with extracurricular

activitiesactivities

Go to college fairsGo to college fairs Investigate financial aidInvestigate financial aid List the college characteristics that List the college characteristics that

are important to youare important to you Look for summer opportunitiesLook for summer opportunities Make a resume of your Make a resume of your

accomplishments, activities, and accomplishments, activities, and work experiencework experience

Explore college majorsExplore college majors

Try to narrow your list of college to Try to narrow your list of college to five or eight by the beginning of you five or eight by the beginning of you senior year.senior year.

Prepare a list of questions to ask on Prepare a list of questions to ask on campus visitscampus visits

Investigate scholarship opportunitiesInvestigate scholarship opportunities Volunteer for activities or clubsVolunteer for activities or clubs Get a part-time job, apprenticeship, Get a part-time job, apprenticeship,

or internshipor internship

What about GPA?What about GPA?

GPA is not the only thing GPA is not the only thing admission offices look atadmission offices look at

They also look at how They also look at how challenging the courses are that challenging the courses are that you are takingyou are taking

Why higher education?Why higher education?Average Income, 2004Average Income, 2004

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19 K 28K 51K 75K

No High SchoolDiploma

High SchoolDiploma

BachelorsDegree

AdvancedDegree

Money Magazine, May 2005, Getting Rich in America, 98-104

Registration 2010Registration 2010

Make sure your transcript is correctMake sure your transcript is correct Meet with Ms. WolfeMeet with Ms. Wolfe

Set up an appointment before Set up an appointment before registration to make sure you are on registration to make sure you are on target for graduationtarget for graduation

Make sure your have all of your Make sure your have all of your required credits so far:required credits so far: 4 of each core subject (science, math, 4 of each core subject (science, math,

English, history)English, history) Required electives (discussed earlier)Required electives (discussed earlier) 2 consecutive years of a foreign 2 consecutive years of a foreign

language (for Advanced Diploma)language (for Advanced Diploma)

HandoutsHandouts

Junior Year InformationJunior Year Information