 Academic Record

 Standardized Testing

 Extra Curricular Activities/Community Community College • Associate’s Degree • Transition to a four year college Vocational School Military Workforce The average amount $21,000 a college graduate earns over those with only a MORE PER YEAR high school diploma.

Resource: 2013 college board publication  GPA  Class rank (___of 299 students)  Course rigor  Admissions counselors take into consideration a holistic view of the total student package but give primary emphasis to his/her academic record noted on the high school transcript and student’s standardized test scores.  Curriculum • The scope, sequence and rigor of each course taken • The relevance of the courses to the applicant’s intended undergraduate major. • Academic performance • Grading patterns • Recommendations • Self-Presentation 1) personal essay 2)personal attributes 3) admissions interview • Activities 1)in school 2) in the community 3) summer experiences 4)leadership experiences 5)special talents 6)volunteer experiences • Group affiliations • Sports • School clubs • Musical and Artistic Involvement • Community Service  Honors courses are designed to provide more academic rigor and will therefore demonstrate to college admissions officers your willingness to challenge yourself. Their increased rigor will also prepare you for the courses you will encounter in a college setting.  Advanced Placement Advanced courses also provide more academic rigor and can demonstrate to college admissions officers not only your ability to handle college-level courses but also your willingness to take on a challenge. PSAT, ACT, SAT, and Subject Tests  There are several types of institutions to consider which include: • Public • Private • Ivy League  A public college/university is an institution that is predominantly funded by public means through the Federal, State or City government.  Federal • West Point  State • Montclair State, William Paterson, SUNY  City • Hunter College - CUNY  Private colleges/universities are institutions not operated by governments, although many receive tax breaks, public student loans, and grants.

• These include Fairleigh Dickenson, Dominican, Columbia, NYU, Princeton, St. Thomas Aquinas, Syracuse, New England College.  The Ivy League is an athletic conference composed of sports teams from eight private institutions of higher education in the north east. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group.

• Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. Personal Preferences Personal Preferences Cont. Cost Housing Location Research Major Study Abroad School Size Internships/Co-ops Athletics/NCAA Classification Reputation Selectivity Name Recognition Type of School Fit of School  There are three categories to keep in mind when deciding on which colleges to apply to. (Based on academic record and SAT/ACT scores). Reach

Target/possible Safe  Reach schools are schools that students apply to where they do not meet at least one of the admissions criteria; SAT/ACT score, GPA.  Unrealistic Reach (Less than 15% acceptance rate)  Realistic Reach  Schools that students apply to in which they meet all of the admissions requirements.

Please note: If applying to specialized programs such as medicine, engineering, architecture, nursing, PT, OT, Speech Pathology, etc, - The requirements may supersede the regular admissions requirements for a given school.  Schools that students apply to in which they far exceed the minimum admissions requirements.  Regular Admission  Rolling Admission  Early Action  Early Decision  BHS Guidance Department Deadline – Dec. 1st

 This will be discussed in detail during Junior Parent Conferences and at Senior Parent Night next school year.  INSTITUTIONAL PRIORITIES  TRANSCRIPT – Do you challenge yourself?  SAT’s / SAT Subject Tests / ACT  Leadership  PASSION  1ST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS  DIVERSE SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS  WOMEN IN RESEARCH  INDEPENDENT THINKING  PROACTIVE STUDENTS  UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS  UNPOPULAR MAJORS  Extra-curricular activities and community service

TYPES OF STANDARDIZED TESTS PSAT SAT SAT II SUBJECTS TESTS ACT What is the PSAT?

-It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT -Juniors have taken PSAT this past October -Serves as an entry point to National Merit Scholarships -Good predictor for future SAT test score without any preparation. -Indicates strengths and weaknesses to help prepare for SAT. How Do I Read the PSAT Scores?

‐The PSAT measures your child’s abilities in three areas: critical reading, math and writing ‐Scores range from 20 to 80 points for each section ‐PSAT scores are meant to serve as a rough predictor for scores on the SAT Let’s look at John’s PSAT Scores Critical Reading Math Writing Total 35 40 38 113

Quick way to estimate a comparable SAT score is to add a zero to the end of a PSAT score.

John’s estimate SAT score: Critical Reading Math Writing Total 350 400 380 1130

Benchmark is 500 for each section or 1500 total: ready for college  The SAT is a test that most colleges require for admission  The SAT is a reasoning test  It measures basic knowledge of critical reading, math and writing  3 hours and 45 minutes  Scores range from 200 to 800 points for each section  Most students take it for the 1st time in the their junior year and the 2nd time in their senior year  Students take the SAT Subjects Tests to demonstrate to college their mastery of specific subjects such as English, history, mathematics, science, and foreign language. The content of each test is not based on any one approach or curriculum but rather evolves to reflect current trends in high school course work.  This test is optional for most colleges, but some more selective colleges required it for admission consideration. (check college’s website)  Students can take one, two, or three test on a single test date. Colleges that require test usually request student to choose 2 subject tests.  Each subject test takes one hour.  Subject tests are offered six times a year.  All subjects tests consist of multiple-choice questions, but some have unique features or formats. To register log onto www.sat.collegeboard.org

Test Date SAT Subject Registration Late Tests Available Dateline Registration February 26, 2014 No February 12, 2014 March 8, 2014 N0 February 7, 2014 Feb. 24, 2014 May 3, 2014 Yes April 4, 2014 April 21, 2014 June 7, 2014 Yes May 9, 2014 May 28, 2014

*BHS administers FEBRUARY 26 and MAY 3 Registration Fee $51 Late Fee $27.50  The ACT is a content-based test  The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science  3 hours and 30 minutes  Scores range from 1-36 for each section  The Writing Test which is optional, measures skills in planning and writing a short essay To register log onto www.actstudent.org

Test Date Registration Dateline Late Registration April 12, 2014 @ BHS March 7, 2014 March 8-21 2014 June 8, 2014 May 9, 2014 May 10-23, 2014

Registration Fees ACT (No Writing) $36.50 ACT Plus Writing $52.50 Late Fee $23  Test fee waiver is available for students on the Federal Free or Reduce Lunch Program or other government subsidized program.  Students that have an IEP are eligible for test modifications (contact child’s case manager).  Student are required to send their standardized test score directly from their SAT and/or ACT account to the colleges they are applying to.  High School student athletes who want to continue to participate in competitive athletics at the college level must satisfy the NCAA Eligibility rules for Division I and II institutions as a freshmen.  The NCAA Eligibility Center certifies the Academic and amateur credentials of all students who want to play sports at an NCAA Division I or II institution as a freshmen. In order to practice, play and receive an athletic scholarship, students need to meet certain academic benchmarks. An additional certification process exists to make sure the student is still an amateur, which is necessary in order to compete.

Academic Credentials + Amateurism Status = College Eligible ACADEMIC INITIAL-ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENT MUST BE MET IN ORDER FOR STUDENT TO BE ABLE TO PRACTICE, PLAY AND RECEIVE A POSSIBLE SCHOLARSHIP AT AN NCAA DIVISION I OR II COLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.

DIVISION I - Graduate from high school; -Complete a minimum of 16 core courses; -Present the required GPA and a qualifying test score on either the SAT or ACT ( see sliding scale on www.eligibilitycenter.org) -Complete the amateurism questionaire and request final amateurism certification. DIVISION II - Graduate from high school; -Complete a minimum of 16 core courses; -Present a minimum 2.00 core-course-GPA score -Present a minimum 820 SAT score(CR and MATH only) or 68 sum ACT score qualifying test score on either SAT or ACT: -Complete the amateurism questionaire and request final amateurism certification.  Student athlete should register starting at the end of junior year by visiting www.eligibilitycenter.org  Once student is registered, student should request from his/her counselor to send their transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center  In addition, student must send their SAT and/or ACT score directly from their college board or ACT student account to the NCAA Eligibility Center. JUNIOR CONFERENCE

Beginning at the end of February each school counselor will schedule a junior conference with each of their counselee and parent. During the middle of February, a letter will be mailed to each parent with the date and time of their child’s conference. All parents are strongly encouraged to attend this conference as important information will be discussed such as course selections for next school year along with career and college planning. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE BHS JUNIOR PARENT HIGHT

ANY GENERAL QUESTIONS?