joanna m. graham college admissions: an overview
TRANSCRIPT
Joanna m. graham
College Admissions: an overview
agenda
• Overview of college admissions • Overview of standardized testing & its role in
undergraduate admissions process• How to select a test • Timelines • Resources for parents & students
A LITTLE ABOUT MYSELF…
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS: AN INTRO
• What do colleges look for? • Academic Performance / Grades• Academic Courses (Quality & Rigor)• Standardized Tests (SAT, ACT, SAT II, AP®)• Essays• Extracurricular Activities • Recommendation letters
Academic performance/grades
• Course selection• Did you challenge yourself? (Honors/AP/IB) • Grades: Every year counts! • GPA: • Did you continually improve? • Did you “take a semester off?”
• Class Rank (if applicable)
Extra curriculars & recommendations
• Activities: Quality over quantity! • School: sports, clubs, performing arts • Outside school: volunteering, community
involvement• Part-time work/internships
• Recommendations: • Choose people who know you best
• Interview (if applicable)
ADMISSIONS TESTING 101
SAT• 3 sections: critical reading, math & writing• Length: 3 hours, 45 minutes (including three breaks)• Score range: 200–800 per section, 600–2400 overall• Question types:• Critical Reading — Sentence Completions, Reading
Passages• Mathematics — Algebra, Geometry, Statistics &
Probability • Writing — Essay, Identifying Errors, Improving
Grammar & Usage•Offered 7x/year (October, November, December, January, March, May & June)
ADMISSIONS TESTING 101
SAT SUBJECT TESTS
Why take them? •For admission• Some schools require them as part of admissions process
•For placement• Test out of beginner classes • Fulfill basic requirements (e.g. gen ed)
•Offered 6x/year (October, November, December, January, May & June) But exams vary
ADMISSIONS TESTING 101
SAT SUBJECT TESTS
Content/Knowledge Math I World History Chemistry Math II Literature PhysicsU.S. History Biology
Foreign Language Spanish Chinese
French Japanese German Korean
Hebrew Latin Italian
ADMISSIONS TESTING 101
ACT •5 sections: English, Math, Reading, Science & Writing (optional)• Length:• English (75 questions, 45 min) • Math (60 questions, 60 min) • Reading (40 questions, 35 min) • Science (40 questions, 35 min) • Writing (1 prompt, 30 min)
• Score range: 0 – 36 •Offered 6x/year (September, October, December, February, April, June)
ACT vs sat
ACT SAT Science, Math, Reading, English Critical Reading, Math, Writing Accepted nationally Accepted nationally Curriculum-based Critical Reasoning No penalty for guessing Penalty for wrong answers All multiple choice Grid-ins (math)Cost: $52.50 (incl writing) $36.50 (w/o writing) Cost: $51Score Scale: 0-36 Score scale: 0 - 2400Pre-ACT: PLAN (10th) Pre-SAT: PSAT (11th)
Preparing for the sat & ACT
• READ & WRITE: Practice, practice, practice• USA Today, Washington Post, Economist
• Don’t cram! • Familiarize yourself with question types • Take a practice test: www.sat.collegeboard.org/practice
or www.actstudent.org
• Take PLAN or PSAT/NMSQT® as a sophomore or junior
Preparing for sat subject tests
• When to test? • After completing HS course work • BUT: foreign language,& math literature tests
should be taken after 2+ yrs of study • How to prep? • Review your coursework
College admissions 101
How to pick a school? •FIT, FIT, FIT!!! •Location •Student body: size, diversity •Student life: activities, housing•Academic programs•Graduation and retention rates•Financial aid and scholarships•SCHEDULE A VISIT!!!
PLANNING A VISIT
• Research! • Utilize social media, websites & forums
• Take a tour • Visit the admissions office & speak with an
admission counselor• Attend a class• Ask about financial aid• Talk to students and faculty
Financial aid
• ADD IT UP! • Determine all costs (tuition, housing, books, living
expenses)• Estimate your family’s contribution
• SHOW ME THE MONEY! • Search for scholarships• Explore other options: loans, work-study, grants, etc.• Fill out FAFSA application
Timelines
• If you are in 9th grade: • Create a 4 yr plan : Goals for the next 4 yrs? • What interests you? • Get involved! • Explore summer opportunities • Start saving!
• If you are in 10th grade: • Meet with your high school counselor • Take the PLAN or PSAT/NMSQT• Attend college & career fairs
Timelines
• If you are in 11th grade: • Research & visit schools • Get organized! • Identify resources (family, friends)
• Research financial aid & scholarship options • Meet with your counselor • Take the SAT, SAT Subj, ACT (spring) & AP exams (if
applicable) • Create a resume • Athletes, military, ROTC… start early!
Timelines
• If you are in 12th grade: • Narrow your list of schools• Create a master calendar (tests, deadlines, etc) • Review scholarship and financial aid requirements• Prepare your applications: • Share essay drafts & applications with someone!
• Ask for recommendations EARLY! • Request transcripts & schedule interviews, if needed• Stay healthy: No senioritis!!!!
Sat & ACT resources
• SAT Practice Materials: • www.sat.collegeboard.org/practice
• SAT Fees: • http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/us-services-fees
• SAT Subject Dates:• http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-subject-test-dates
• ACT Practice Materials: • www.actstudent.org/testprep/index.html • www.actstudent.org/sampletest/index/html • www.actstudent.org/writing/sample/index.html
Other resources
• Scholarship Search: • www.collegeboard.com/scholarships
• Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) Calculator: • www.collegeboard.com/payforcollege
