Western Center Academy College Night

Western Center Academy College Night Principal: Mr. Bailey Assistant Principal: Mr. Horton Counselor: Ms. Muizelaar

What will be covered? • Graduation Requirements • WCA Exceeding the A-G Requirements • Advanced Placement • College Admissions Portfolio • ACT/SAT Testing • Scholarships/Financial Aid • WCA • College Night #2 in March

Graduation Requirements • World History 1 year (10 Credits) • U.S. History 1 year (10 Credits) • U. S. GOV/Econ 1 year (10 Credits) • English 4 years(40 Credits) • Math 3 years (30 Credits) • Science 2 years (20 Credits) • Visual & Performing Arts 1 year (10 Credits) or Foreign Language • Physical Education 2 years(20 Credits) • General Electives 70 Credits Total=220 *Students must pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) in English and Math and must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA grade 9-12.

A-G Requirements • A – History/Social Studies 2 years • B – English 4 years • C – Math 3 years (4 recommended) • D – Lab Sciences 2 years (3 recommended) • E – Foreign Language 2 years (3 recommended) • F – Visual Performing Arts 1 year • G – College Prep Elective 1 year All classes must be passed with a C- or higher at the semester.

WCA exceeds the a-g requirements

A-G additional information • Must pass classes with a C- or higher • CSU/UC will only give the extra 5.0 bump on the student’s grade for AP/dual enrollment courses if the grade is a “C” or higher, not for a “D” or “F.” • Students need to consider other extracurricular activities to boost their academic portfolio. Colleges do not just look at grades.

AP (Advanced placement) • Homework • Grades/credits • Study habits/skills • Multi-tasking/distractions • Scheduled breaks Mrs. Noizumi Mrs. Kemmis

College admission portfolio • Mr. Horton’s PPT is uploaded seperately

Testing • PSAT 8th-11thGrade October 18, 2014 at 7:45am • SAT 10th-12th Grade WVHS, HHS, THS* • ACT 10th-12th Grade WVHS, HHS, THS* *WCA is in the process of being accepted as a SAT and ACT testing site.

Testing: PSAT • The PSAT Measures: Critical reading skills Math problem-solving skills Writing skills

Common Reasons to Take the PSAT • To receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study. • To see how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college. • To help prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT. • To receive information from colleges when you check "yes" to Student Search Service. • To enter the competition for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (grade 11). • Determines student’s AP Potential.

Testing: PSAT 11th Grade PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test. It also gives you a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) scholarship programs.

Testing: SAT Reasoning • The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors but at WCA our sophomores will be prepared and ready to take the SAT. • Each one of the test's three sections is scored using the familiar scale of 200-800. • It is administered seven times a year and is offered at our local high schools. • WCA is in the process of being able to offer the SAT on our campus.

Testing: SAT reasoning • COST $52.50 Late fee $28 • Dates: All Saturdays from 8:00-1:00 • October 11th • November 8th • December 6th • January 24th • March 14th • May 2nd • June 5th

Testing: sat subject tests • Most colleges are not requiring students to take the SAT subject test, however, some colleges and certain majors do require it. Although colleges may not require it, it is still good for the following reasons. • Can show mastery in a subject area • Stand out to colleges • Can get a head start (just like earning a passing score on an AP exam, SAT subject test can earn students credit for taking a specific course depending on the student’s score and/or college) To conduct a college search to see if the colleges your student might attend, you can go to Collegeboard.org for more information.

Testing: ACT plus writing • The ACT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors but at WCA our sophomores will be prepared and ready to take the ACT. • The ACT is scored on a composite scoring system with 36 being the highest score.

Testing: aCT Plus writing • COST $54.50Late fee $24 • Dates: All Saturdays from 8:00-1:00 • September 13th • October 25th • December 13th • February 7th • April 18th • June 13th

Scholarships • Students can sign up for free scholarship searches now. fastweb.com scholarships.com Twitter: @rimsavid @college_experts @scholarshipguru @scholarshipcntr

Financial aid • All students will sign up for Financial Aid in their senior year regardless if they decide to attend a community college, 4 year college, or a vocational school. • The financial aid application is due around the first of March of the student’s senior year. • WCA will provide financial aid workshops for students and parents to attend to provide help with the student’s financial aid application.

What WCA has to offer • College Dual Enrollment • PSAT (149 students grades 8-10 signed up) • Will offer ACT Plan (practice ACT) next semester • Will offer SAT/ACT and AP exams • Have highly qualified credentialed teachers • STEM Studio • Small, personalized school community • Hands-on curriculum • College Tours (one 9th grade, two 10th grade). We will be going to UCLA with both the 9th and 10th graders in November.

Next semester • There will be another College Night in March to discuss the following in more depth: 1. Community College 2. CSU 3. UC 4. Private Colleges

THANK YOU Go Mammoths! Ms. Muizelaar’s email tmuizelaar@hemetusd.org

Western Center Academy College Night