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Kathleen Nethery LTHS Lead Guidance Counselor February 11, 2013. College Planning. AGENDA. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS & PLANS ACC DUAL CREDIT CLASSES CAREER CRUISING – COURSE REGISTRATION & 4 YEAR PLANS COLLEGE PREPARATION & APPLICATIONS GPA & RANK CAVS IN SERVICE TX CONNECT
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Kathleen Nethery LTHS Lead Guidance Counselor February 11, 2013 College Planning
AGENDA • GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS & PLANS • ACC DUAL CREDIT CLASSES • CAREER CRUISING – COURSE REGISTRATION & 4 YEAR PLANS • COLLEGE PREPARATION & APPLICATIONS • GPA & RANK • CAVS IN SERVICE • TX CONNECT • COLLEGE ADMISSION EXAMS – PSAT/SAT/ACT
Graduation Requirements • 26 credits to meet graduation requirements • 4x4 academic core classes • English • Math • Science • Social Studies • Select a graduation plan • State of Texas Graduation Exams - Exit TAKS or STAAR (End Of Course - EOC)
Combination of any4 *** IPC cannot be counted for DAP or LT Scholar Graduation Program
ACC Dual Credit NEW!!! ACC courses during the school day All or none – can’t split up ACC courses – ENGL 1301 & ENGL 1302 ECON 2301 & GOVT 2305 *If taken at ACC campus or distance learning, student must add ENGL 2322
College Preparation • Narrow down choices – Junior year • Make campus visits – Junior year & summer • Check on requirements – Junior year & summer • APPLY – summer prior to senior year!!!
College Applications 1.In State Public Universities www.applytexas.org 2.Out of State Public Universities School website 3.Private Universities School website or www.commonapp.org
College Admissions • Application - Fee $$$ • Essays – Do all and tell that school why you are a ‘GOOD’ fit for them! BRAG!!! • Extracurricular/Work/Community Service Awards/Talents –Prioritize!!! • SAT/ACT/AP Scores – send them from the test center agency • Transcript – Registrar - Courses (AP/PAP/Honors) Rank, GPA, Grades • Letters of Recommendation – 1 school‘significant’ subject/teacher/coach & 1 from outside school (employer, youth minister, scout leader, etc…) SUBMIT WAY BEFORE DEADLINE!!!
Grade Point Average (GPA) & Class Rank GPA’s are averages of semester grades of courses taken in high school. A student’s cumulative GPA begins at the end of the first semester of the freshman year and is recalculated at the end of each semester.
GPA does not include: • Driver Education • Middle school • Correspondence courses • Credit-by-exam • Summer school • ACC Dual Enrollment • Physical Education or PE substitute
College Admissions TestingWhat You Need to Know To improve your scores
What is the PSAT? • Practice version of the SAT • For many students, the first exposure to college admissions testing • PSAT is also a part of the National Merit Scholarship Program • Most importantly : a chance to figure out areas of strength and weakness before the “real” tests!
Going from the PSAT to the SAT • Length is the single most important difference – 4 hours + for the SAT! • Essay section is added on the SAT • A handful of new Algebra 2 topics on the Math
The SAT Reasoning Test • The SAT has three sub-sections : Math, Critical Reading, and Writing • Each sub-section is scaled from 200 - 800 • The national average for each section is roughly 500
The SAT Reasoning Test Critical Reading 1 25 minutes Math 3 20 minutes Critical Reading 3 20 minutes Math 1 25 minutes Writing 2 10 minutes Experimental Section 25 minutes Essay 25 minutes Writing 1 25 minutes Critical Reading 2 25 minutes Math 2 25 minutes Total Time: 3 hours, 45 minutes
SAT Math • Math Topics on the SAT • Basic math concepts through Algebra II • There is no difficult math on the SAT, but the test itself can be difficult • Important Tips • Never leave an easy question blank • Hard problems have hard answers! • Accuracy is more important than speed
SAT Writing • Multiple-Choice Grammar (~70% of score) • Improving Sentences questions test ability to correct sentences with mistakes • Error Identification questions test ability to identify common grammatical errors • Improving Paragraphs questions test understanding of proper diction, usage, organization, and grammar • Essay (~30% of score) • Looks for strong opinion and good organization • State your position, then back it up with relevant examples
SAT Critical Reading • Passage-based Reading • Long and dense passages • Best way to improve skill is through repeated practice with an active reading strategy • Sentence Completions • Process of elimination is key!
The ACT • The ACT has four sections : English, Reading, Math, and Science. • Each section is scored on a scale from 1 to 36 • The national average for each section is roughly 21
The ACT Science 35 minutes English 45 minutes Reading 35 minutes Math 60 minutes Total Time: 2 hours, 55 minutes Or 3 hours, 25 minutes with optional essay
ACT Math • Mathematics skills typically acquired through 11th grade: • Pre-Algebra • Elementary Algebra • Intermediate Algebra • Coordinate Geometry • Plane Geometry • Trigonometry
ACT English Usage/Mechanics • Long prose passages • Punctuation • Grammar & usage (standard written English) • Sentence structure & formation Rhetorical Skills • Writing Strategy • Organization • Style
ACT Reading • Reading Comprehension • Direct statements & statements with implied meaning • Determining main ideas • Making comparisons • Understanding sequence of events • Drawing generalizations • Analyzing author’s/narrator’s voice and method • Passage Types • Prose Fiction • Humanities • Social Studies • Natural Sciences
ACT Science • Science Reasoning • Three passage formats: • Data Representation (graphs & tables) • Research Summaries (descriptions of related experiments) • Conflicting Viewpoints (expressions of related hypotheses or inconsistent viewpoints) • Passages cover the following content areas: biology, chemistry, physics and earth/space sciences • Basic knowledge of scientific terms and concepts needed
ACT Essay • Writing composition skills: • Well-developed point of view • Consideration of counter argument • Use of specific examples • Sentence structure • Strong conclusion
Testing Timeline Sophomore Year Junior Year Senior Year
Websites • ACT www.act.org • SAT and College Search www.collegeboard.com • Scholarships and Financial Aid www.ltisdschools.org www.fafsa.ed.gov www.fastweb.com