The Academic Guidance Program at MCA

1. The Academic Guidance Program at MCA An Introduction & Overview for Parents of Sophomores and Juniors Kate Perry: kperry@mckinneychristian.org

2. Preparing for College…Now For admissions, colleges primarily consider: • High school grades (GPA) • Class Rank (primarily TX public universities); MCA does not rank students • Course rigor (AP, Dual Credit & Honors) • College admissions test scores (SAT & ACT) • Activities/Involvement beyond the classroom • Recommendations – teachers, counselor, community

3. Grade Point Average (GPA) *Dual Credit courses taught at MCA receive Honors level GPA weight.

4. Class Rank MCA does not officially rank students. Because MCA has a selective admissions policy, the high overall achievement of the student body, and the consistent and competitive performance of our students, McKinney Christian Academy does not rank its students. Rank neither provides a valid measure of performance nor offers a true distinction between members of a highly talented class. We do offer a variety of other data that should assist in the evaluation of performance. However, since most colleges have a sliding scale for test scores vs. class rank, letters providing class rank or a class profile are available on an individual basis from me, upon request, when it is of benefit to the student. Holistic Review: College admissions departments use a holistic review for non-ranking schools’ students.

5. Class Rank • Class Rank for College Applications: • Determined at the end of the Junior Year. Those students placing in the top 10% will be notified that they can use that information on their applications. • Determined at the end of the First Semester of the Senior Year. Students may notify colleges that they are now in the top 10% if rank improved. If a student falls out of the top 10%, they have already submitted their application and most probably acceptance has been determined. • Determined for Valedictorian and Salutatorian at the end of the third quarter of the Senior year.

6. Course Rigor As a college preparatory school, all classes are taught at the equivalent of pre-AP level or higher.

7. Dual Credit • Taught on our campus by MCA teachers who are also college professors. • Taught at community college level. • College credit is earned by passing the course. First grades on the student’s college transcript. • As in all college courses, a “C” indicates average work. An “A” indicates superior work. • Friday, April 20th 7:45 AMAll new dual credit students need to attend an information session in the Library. Parents invited.

8. Profile of a Successful Dual Credit Student: • Is self-motivated • Works independently • Will study daily without specified assignments • Prepares for exams/speeches; up to 75% of semester grade comes from 3 exams/major assignments. • Parents are not involved in the college application and registration process and FERPA regulations prohibit parents’ access to student records, including homework assignments and grades.

9. Dual Credit • Dual Credit Speech is required for graduation. Must be taken junior or senior year; juniors permitted to take only 1 dual credit class. • May 14th, 10:30 – 12:30, Registration. Collin College will be in MCA’s library to register our students for the college classes. Entire application process must be completed to register. Returning dual credit students will only need the Concurrent Enrollment Permission Form with parent’s signature

10. Advanced Placement (AP) • Course is approved by College Board based on meeting or exceeding a specified set of expectations established by college and university faculty for college-level AP courses. • Taught on our campus by MCA teachers • Taught at university course level • College credit may be earned by achieving an acceptable score on the national exam in May. www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy

11. Profile of a Successful AP Student • Is self-motivated • Works independently • Will study daily without specified assignments • Has good study habits: learning is cumulative for the year requiring long-term retention • Proven college-level reading comprehension • Persistent in solving problems and evaluating data

12. AP Credit Policy AP Examination Minimum Texas A&M Credit Score Courses Hours Biology 4BIOL 111, 112 8 Calculus AB 4*MATH 151 4 English Language and Composition 3ENGL 104 3 4 ENGL 104, 241 6 English Literature and Composition 3 ENGL 104 3 4 ENGL 104, 203 6 Gov’t and Politics: US 3 POLS 206 3 Each college determines the scores for which they will grant credit: www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy

13. AP Awards AP Scholar with Honor Avg. score of 3.25+ on all AP exams taken and scores of 3+ on four or more exams AP Scholar Score 3+ on three or more exams

14. Benefits of Dual Credit & AP • Improve writing skills • Increase critical thinking skills • Improve time-management skills • Potential to increase GPA • Increase ACT or SAT test scores • Potential to gain college credit increasing opportunity to graduate college in 4 years • Increase scholarship opportunities • Prove the student can succeed in college, increasing admissions potential

15. College Admissions Tests Diligent study in MCA coursework is the best preparation for ACT and SAT. Students should take practice tests and possibly additional preparation methods. Scores used for: • Admissions Decisions • Scholarship Determinations • Placement in appropriate level of first-year college courses for some colleges Recommendation: • Take ACT and SAT each by Feb. of junior year • Take your better test one or two more times by end of junior year

16. www.act.org ACT • Offered 5 times/year • Take ACT plus Writing • Recommend taking first ACT in December • Test Information Release (TIR) ~$18; multiple-choice questions, student’s answers, & answer key; only offered Dec, Apr, June. Composite Score National Average: 21 MCA Composite Average: 25 (last 4 years) • PLAN and EXPLORE are preliminary tests • Projected ACT score on PLAN score report

17. www.sat.collegeboard.org SAT • Tests ability to draw inferences, interpret tables, and problem solve using knowledge gained in high school courses. • Offered 7 times/year • Recommend taking first SAT in Nov/Dec • SAT Question & Answer Service ~$18; test questions, student’s answers, correct answers; only offered Oct, Jan, May. • National Average Scores Reading 497; Math 514; Writing 489 MCA Average Scores (last 4 years) Reading 560; Math 568; Writing 550

18. PSATScores from Junior Year Important! • Entry into the National Merit Scholarship Corporation Competition • National Merit Scholar <top 1% in state: $34 Million to ~8300 students • National Merit $2500 Scholarship • Corporate Sponsored Merit Scholarship $2500-$5000, most renewable • College Sponsored Merit Scholarship up to $2000 per year

19. PSATScores from Junior Year Important! Top 1% enter competition for: • National Merit Scholar • National Merit Finalist • National Merit Semi-finalist Top 5% enter competition for: • National Merit Commendation

20. Extracurricular Involvement • Leadership • Sports • Arts • Community Service • Student Government • Mission Trips • Youth Group Involvement • Community Involvement • Employment Colleges value an academically successful student who is well-rounded, committed to an activity, and involved with other people. Do something productive during the summer

21. Holistic Review An example: the University of Texas’ holistic review process: The Personal Achievement Index (PAI) o Scores on two essays o Leadership o Extracurricular Activities o Awards/honors o Work experience o Service to school or community o Special circumstances: 􀂃 Socio‐economic status of family 􀂃 Single parent home 􀂃 Language spoken at home 􀂃 Family responsibilities 􀂃 Socio‐economic status of school attended 􀂃 Average ACT/SAT of school attended in relation to student's own ACT/SAT 􀂃 Race (authorized by the UT Board of Regents in 2003 and implemented in 2005) Each university determines its own review process and factors considered.

22. “Emphasis is placed on the rigor of the academic curriculum attempted by the student, the grades earned in core courses and the results of standardized testing. While most families believe it was the student's test scores that kept the student from being admitted, it is usually the choice of courses a student takes or the grades earned in those courses which are the deciding factors. Intellectual curiosity is the most important factor that our faculty seek in new students. This is often indicated by the student's choice of coursework in high school, relative to what is available in that student's academic environment.” -University of Georgia, Admissions 03/25/2011

23. Student Resume is Critical Gives insight into the student as an individual and outside of class. • Used in Holistic Review • Provide to those writing recommendation letters • Used in scholarship determinations

24. Student Resume Complete your resume prior to your Senior year! • Include full legal name and date of birth • Include anything and everything about your life outside of class • List all awards and accomplishments earned individually or as part of a group (team, choir, etc.) • Include all community service, including MCA’s quarterly community service days • List time given to each activity (5-day mission trip, work 10 hours/week, etc.) May use Resume Builder in Naviance to store info and create resume.

25. The College Search College admission is… a match to be made not a prize to be won. In looking at colleges consider the following: Location, Cost, Size, Facilities Competitiveness, Community Available Majors, Reputation Extracurricular Opportunities • Sophomores: Join us on the college Tour next year! • All High Schoolers & Parents: Use Naviance

26. Exploring Colleges College Fairs • NACAC, Monday, April 9th, Irving >200 colleges http://www.nacacnet.org/college-fairs/students-parents/Spring/Pages/DallasftworthNCF.aspx • Trinity Christian Academy College Fair – Sept • Christian College Fair at Prestonwood – Sept • McKinney ISD College Fair – Fall

27. Exploring Colleges MCA campus visits • College representatives will visit with groups or individual students on campus—Fall and Spring College Information Sessions • Coast to Coast, April 12th, Dallas 5 prestigious schools • Exploring College Options, May 6th, Dallas 5 leading universities • Look for dates on college websites Get on the mailing list for the schools you are considering

28. Evaluating College Options

29. Scholarships & Financial Aid Financial Aid – Submit the FAFSA between January 1st and March 1st of your senior year, (www.fafsa.ed.gov); One form used by all colleges. Scholarships – begin searching for scholarships now. • MCA website: Upper School page • Naviance link – scholarship search engines • College Planning – Financial Aid/Scholarships page with links to search engines and to FAFSA. • Individual colleges’ websites Financial letters from student’s chosen colleges usually arrive in April. That’s when you know your bottom dollar to attend each school.

30. College Applications • Begin applications summer before senior year • Have someone proofread your essays • Submit applications to at least 3 schools • Complete applications by October 1st; application fee • application • transcript • test scores It is not complete without all of these. College checklist may say resume is optional; it is not optional for you! • The admission advantage goes to the earliest applicants

31. Naviance -Student account separate from parent account -Primary college and career research and communication tool See me if you need your account log in information.

32. Colleges tab • College match • Search colleges • Compare colleges • See how you compare • Links to college websites • Find reviews by professionals and students • Take a virtual campus tour • Add colleges to your list • Request transcript sent • Request recommendation letters • Upcoming visits and info sessions • Find enrichment opportunities • Scholarship match • Scholarship search • Links to financial aid resources • Links to ACT, SAT, test prep information • More, More, More

33. Careers tab • Personality type – “Do What You Are” • Career cluster finder • Career interest profiler • Explore careers and career clusters • Mark favorite careers

34. About Me tab • Personal profile: test scores, GPA, etc • All favorites (colleges & careers) • Personality type results • Resume builder • Personal journal – record thoughts; see counselor’s journal notes for you • Game plan, documents, surveys

35. My Planner tab For your personal use • Set personal goals • Make a to-do list • See tasks assigned to you by the counselor

36. MCA Graduation Requirements • 4 Bible (one per year enrolled in MCA) • 4 English • 4 Mathematics (must have math every year) • 4 Social Studies • 4 Science • 2 Foreign Language (Sequential) • ½ Health • ½ Speech • 1 Fine Arts • 1 ½ Physical Education • 1 Technology

37. Honors Diploma Meet graduation requirements plus….. • Honors pre-calculus • Spanish III • Additional elective • Minimum of 3.5 cumulative GPA • 3 core courses in AP or Dual Credit • 40 hours of pre-approved community service during grades 9 – 12.

38. Course Requests • Complete the four-year plan form Make sure you plan for required electives. • Student and parent sign or initial • Return to counselor by April 20th. • Prerequisites will be confirmed before placing in classes. • Enrolled students will be placed in classes on a first-come, first served basis for most classes.

41. Algebra I, 9th grade Algebra I, 8th grade MATH Geometry Algebra II Algebra II, Honors Geometry Pre-calculus, Honors College Algebra Students should plan to take their most advanced math course senior year. See course descriptions for academic prerequisite requirements. AP Calculus AB

42. Basic Science Courses: Biology Chemistry I Physics Environmental Science Honors Science Path: Biology Chemistry I, Honors Chemistry II, Honors or Physics, Honors Physics, Honors or Anatomy & Physiology, Honors or AP Biology See pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements in Course Descriptions. Students may take basic science courses if they no longer want the honors science path.

44. Questions… • MCA Website: Upper School • Weekly Update e-mail • Contact me anytime: Kate Perry kperry@mckinneychristian.org 214-544-2658, ext 4335 • Schedule an individual appointment to discuss your student’s goals and plans