This document provides information for students in their junior year of high school about the college application process. It discusses important tests to take such as the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. It also covers other application components like transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, extracurricular activities, and financial aid. The document emphasizes the importance of academics, research, testing preparation, and summer enrichment programs during the junior year to facilitate a successful application.

1. Welcome to
College Night

2. Junior Year
n Academics Academics Academics
n PSAT October
n November - Language SAT Subject Test
n December or January - SAT 1
n May - AP Tests / Subject Test
n June - SAT 1 / ACT
n Spring: College Research & Student/Parent
Meetings
★ End of February - May 17th.
★ Senior Retreat Part 1

3. Application Options
n Early Options
n Rolling
n State/Public Schools
n Regular Decision

4. Components of the
Application
n Courses & Grades
n Testing (SAT, ACT, TOEFL, etc.)
n Essays
n Letters of Recommendation
n Extra-Curricular Activities
n Interview
n Personal Data
n Financial Documents
n School Report & Profile

5. The Transcript
The most important part of the application process!

6. Testing

7. Testing
When to take the ACT/SAT?
What SAT Subject Tests should I take?
Do our students need to take the TOEFL?

8. SAT 1
n 1st SAT 1 - December or January (OR June)
✦ ACT: April
n 2nd SAT 1 - June (OR Senior Year)
✦ ACT: October (senior year)
n Senior Testing
n October, November, December, January
n Depends on the student.

9. SAT 2 (Subject Test)
n Students take according to their strengths &
interests
n Two - Four Subject Tests
n Generally, students should take after the AP test
n Options: English Lit., US/World History,
Math1/2, Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics,
Languages: Chinese, German, French, Spanish,
Italian, Latin, Japanese, Korean, Hebrew.
n Website: http://sat.collegeboard.com/practice/sat-
subject-test-preparation

10. ACT
Curriculum Based Test!
Science, Math, English & Writing

11. TOEFL
n If the student scores below 580/600 (for highly
selective schools: 650) on the SAT Critical
Reading, he/she should take the TOEFL.
n Citizenship from an English speaking country does
not matter.
n Growing up in an English speaking school helps,
but does not exempt the student.

12. Please Allow Me to be
Candid With You

13. Recommendations
n Letters of Recommendation come from Junior/
Senior Teachers
n “If you want me to write a rec. for you - talk!
Share your ideas! And listen to your peers!”
n A correlation between the student’s vocal
participation and the strength of the letter.

14. Essays
n Arguably the most grueling task of the
application, but the most rewarding!
n Self-Reflection & Self-Advocacy!
n Can the student write on the collegiate
level?

15. Activities
n Is your son/daughter involved?
n Is he/she involved in what they were last year?
n Is he/she involved in what they like?
n Will your son/daughter continue this activity?
n Questions:
n Why is he/she involved in this activity?
n What will he/she learn from it?

16. Senior Year Courses
n IB Students continue with IB Diploma.
n Choose electives based on interest & major
n Some students take up to 5 AP courses. Should
they? NO!
n Do some students do it anyway, YES!
n This is not our recommendation
n We will discuss individual cases in Parent/Student
meetings.

17. Summer 2013
n Important!!!
n College Visits
n College Essays
n Working opportunities (internships)
n Community Service Trips
n Summer Camps

18. Summer Enrichment
TASP: http://www.tellurideassociation.org/
PROMYS: http://www.promys.org/
Cornell Nanobiotechnology Internship: http://
www.nbtc.cornell.edu/mainstre...nternship.html
SSP (Summer Science Program): http://
www.summerscience.org/home/index.php
HSHSP: http://www.msu.edu/~hshsp/
CCIS: http://ccis.stanford.edu/intern_program.html
COSMOS: http://www.ucop.edu/cosmos/
MITES: http://web.mit.edu/mites/www/
YSP (Young Scholars Program): http://ysp.ucdavis.edu/
RSI: http://www.cee.org/rsi/
And there are many more out there...

19. The College Search
n Start thinking now!
n Consider:
n Location
n Size
n Academic Life/Curriculum
n Diversity
n Facilities/Resources
n Cost $$
n Reputation
http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/efc_welcome.jsp
“College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.”

20. Naviance

21. Two Questions
1. Will this student succeed academically?
2. What will this student bring to our community?
In these two questions are three dimensions:
*Student’s academic ability
*Student’s character
*Extracurricular involvement, leadership potential & what
he/she will bring from their country.

22. Student Centered Process
n Student: The center of everything! Coordinates
communication among the parents, counselor,
teachers and, in some circumstances, universities.
n Parents, counselors and teachers take a supporting
role!