Registration Reminder

Remember, today is the registration deadline for the October 26th ACT.

 

Advertisements

You Need To Be Organized

You’re going to have a lot to keep track of this fall! You’ll be registering and preparing for standardized tests, researching schools, planning campus visits and scheduling interviews, working on college applications and writing essays. Get organized now and stay ahead of the game. Organization will be the best tool to help you submit successful applications and present your best self to Admissions. Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed; set up an organizing system now that works for you.

Get started by using checklists and charts to keep track of all the different deadlines. You don’t want to miss out on any opportunities by losing track of due dates for test registration, applications, special programs and scholarships. Use worksheets to gather the user names and passwords required to sign in to all your application related accounts. Save yourself lots of valuable time as you work on your applications by having easy access to essential information such as your social security number and student ID numbers that each school will assign to you. Also, jot down the SAT and ACT codes for your high school that the testing services will request and contact information for your guidance counselor, so you won’t have to look this info up repeatedly.

Once you begin your applications you’ll want to be prepared and ready for the barrage of requirements and deadlines. Get organized from the start and you’ll be more in control and avoid unnecessary mistakes and stress.

 

 

There’s Still Time

Seniors, if you haven’t completed all of your standardized testing or would like the opportunity to try again and improve your score(s), you still have time to do so. These are the test dates remaining for 2019 and the respective late registration deadlines:

• October 5th SAT and SAT Subject Tests by September 24th
• October 26th ACT by October 4th
• November 2nd SATs by October 22nd
• December 14th ACT by November 22nd

Although Early Decision applications are due early to mid-November, many schools will hold off on processing your application until the September, October and possibly November test scores are released.  Check with individual school Admissions to confirm score submission deadlines for Early Decision applications. For Regular Decision applications, also please consult the school website or call Admissions to verify the last test date that will be accepted in order to meet the deadlines.

 

Registration Reminder

Remember, today is the registration deadline for the October 1st SAT and SAT Subject Tests.

It’s A New School Year

Welcome back! Junior and Seniors, now that the new school year has begun, it’s time to move forward with your college process.

You’re going to have many demands on your time this year, so don’t put things off. Here are a few things you can do now:

• Begin by scheduling a meeting with your guidance or college counselor. Seniors, plan to talk about any additional standardized tests you want to schedule, go through the schools you’re considering and finalize your list with your counselor. Juniors, this fall is the perfect time to meet with your guidance counselor to get better acquainted and map out a college plan.
•  Use a separate email account exclusively for your college search and application process. Choose an email address that is straight forward, appropriate and easy to read, as this is the account you’ll be using to communicate with admissions and financial aid officers.
• Get into the habit of saving your application work, as well as important school assignments and papers by using a back-up device, such as a USB or online storage.
• Get organized. Use charts or lists to keep track of all the user names and passwords you set up throughout the college process. Jot down your social security number too. Once you begin registering for standardized tests, keep track of dates, registration deadlines and locations you schedule. You will need to create another list to keep track of your scores. Have all these lists in one place for safe keeping and easy access.

Check in with us weekly to read about next steps in the process, to stay up to date with college admissions news and to receive test registration deadlines and reminders.

 

Get A Headstart

Rising Seniors, writing your essays without the pressure of schoolwork is a great way to get your college applications underway. Come Fall, you’ll be able to focus on school visits, finalizing your list of schools and completing applications while also focusing on your school work.

Here’s how to get started:

• Begin by opening your Common App account, if you don’t already have one. Then read the essay prompts so you can begin thinking about what you’d like to write about.
• Some schools require their own supplemental essays in addition to the Common App essays. Look through the websites for schools you’re considering to confirm their essay requirements.
•  You want to give admissions reps a reason to remember who you are and an incentive to advocate for your candidacy so, write an essay that reveals a side of yourself that isn’t evident in your transcript or test scores.
• A topic that’s ordinary and everyday can help tell your own particular unique story if you do it in a thoughtful way. It’s not the topic, but how you relate that topic to your life circumstances that’s important.
• Your essay should be well written and convey your own voice. It’s okay to seek out help from a proof reader, but make sure your essay is in your own words. Admissions officers want to hear what you have to say, not your parent or teacher or mentor.

Fire Up Your Summer With Test Prep

Once school is out for summer and your time is freed up from classroom and extracurricular commitments, put together a test prep plan to prepare for the ACT, SAT or SAT IIs, if you’re planning to take one or more.

Begin by choosing the test that’s best for you.  There are differences between the SAT and the ACT, including the format, material being tested and scoring. Students often find one test is more or less challenging than the other.

To get your best score possible, develop a personal test taking strategy. The best way to do this is to get comfortable with the test format and learn how to pace yourself and manage your timing. Take as many practice tests as you can in a quiet place without distractions, and with a timer set, to simulate the real test conditions.

Regardless of how you plan to prepare — on your own, in a group class or with a tutor, be sure to take advantage of the many free tests available through the resources listed below.

SAT

• College Board offers free official online SAT practice tests. Your answers will be scored at the end of your test, and there’s a timer to help keep you on track.
• College Boards also offers free paper practice tests which you can download and print. These tests give you the chance to get comfortable filing in the grids as you will under real test conditions.
• Use College Board’s daily practice app which has daily practice questions.
• Test prep companies, including Kaplan, The Princeton Review and Peterson’s offer free practice tests, both online and at their test centers. You’ll be required to register and provide your contact information to have access to the tests.

ACT

• ACT Academy is a free online test practice program
• Sample ACT practice questions in English, Math, Reading, Science and Writing.
• Sign up for The ACT Question of the Day.
• Register for free online and onsite practice tests with Kaplan, The Princeton Review and Peterson’s.
• Check out McGraw Hill’s interactive online ACT test prep center which offers two complete practice tests with explanations. Prep videos and other resources are also available on this site.