Welcome to Sophomore Parent Night

1. Brighton High School Counseling Department Welcome to Sophomore Parent Night

2. - Learning about oneself • Academic goals • GPA - Possible career goals - Identify abilities and interests - Getting involved in and out of school • Being open to new ideas and exploration for post high school options - Junior Parent night in January What is Sophomore Year all about?

3. Naviance • Web based program that will assist students in planning their future beyond Brighton High School • Naviance accounts are being established for sophomores now and will be used for: • Exploring career inventories • Personality profiles • Student learning style • Creating a resume • This is a comprehensive program that will be used for college and career planning throughout high school • Parents are encouraged to log into Naviance using student accounts, so they are able to access all tools available as well as view student’s progress

4. 22 Credits Required to Graduate *There are required NYS Regents exams for each diploma.

5. Regents Exams Required

6. Program Planning • LATE JANUARY • Program of Studies books distributed in homeroom for review • Review expectations, elective interests & prerequisites with parents. • FEBRUARY • Review core course recommendations with teachers • MARCH -APRIL • Students meet in seminars with counselors to review courses. • Families receive a letter/verification of courses. • Deadlines for changes announced in the letter. Students are to contact counselors by that deadline for desired changes or if an error appears in recommendation. • Any courses changes received past the deadline can NOT be guaranteed. • JUNE • Teachers may make changes in recommendation based on final grades (Students are to be notified by teacher if there is a need.) • Schedule requests are finalized

7. Students interested in playing a sport at the collegiate level (Division 1 or 2) will have to qualify through the NCAA Clearinghouse (Junior/Senior year) • Sliding scale of required GPA and SAT/ACT scores • NCAA requirements are DIFFERENT than NYS Graduation requirements • NOT ALL BHS CLASSES ARE NCAA APPROVED! Students should be sure to check that they are taking the right courses for NCAA approval in the future NCAA Eligibility Center

8. Why take the PSAT? • Receive feedback on student strengths and weaknesses and on skills necessary for college study. You can then focus your preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice. • See how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college. • Help prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT. • Receive information from colleges when you check "yes" to Student Search Service. • Practice SAT • Fall of Junior Year • Offered 3rd Saturday ONLY in October (alt. date for religious reasons only) • National Merit Scholarship Qualifier • Register at BHS ($20) PSAT

9. SAT • Accepted by virtually all colleges, required for admission to most 4 year college • Administered generally in the spring for Juniors and the following fall for Seniors • Length: 3 ¾ hour testing time • Critical Reading, Math & Writing • Cost: $51 – price includes scores sent home, BHS & up to 4 colleges • Scored out of 800 (each section) • www.collegeboard.org

10. ACT • Accepted by virtually all, required for most 4 year colleges • Administered generally in the spring and fall      • Length: 3 1/2 hour long test • English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Optional Writing • Cost: $52.50 (w/Writing) includes scores sent home, BHS & up to 4 colleges • Score out of 36 • No penalty for guessing • The ACT meets the “subject test” requirements for some highly selective schools) • www.act.org

11. SAT Subject Tests • Required only at some highly selective schools • Typically administration recommended after completion of an AP course (Spring of Sophomore or Junior year) • www.collegeboard.org

12. ? Questions ? “Comments” ! Concerns!