College Planning and Preparation
Test Opportunities
Plan Test
This test is given to all LSHS 10th graders in the fall. There is no cost to students. As a "pre-ACT" test, PLAN is a powerful predictor of success on the ACT. At the same time, many schools recognize the improtance of PLAN testing for all students, as it focuses attention on both career preparation and improving academic achievement. Results will be given to the students approximately 6 weeks folloowing the date of the test.
More information including sample PLAN test questins, tips for test taking, how to interpre score results annd career infomation can be found at:
http://www.act.org/plan/index.html
PSAT
This test is given voluntarily to LSHS 10th and 11th graders in October each year. There is a nominal cost and students who wish to take the test must register, along with payment, in the Counseling Center.
The Prelimanary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a co-sponsored program by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).
PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It's a standarized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test. It also gives juniors a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) scholarship programs.
More information including practice questions, interpreting your score report, and Scholarship and Recoginition Programs can be found at:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html
ASVAB
The Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery is offered to all 10th-12th graders in March. There is no cost to students and it is administered by the military along with the school counselors.
The ASVAB Test is part of a broader Career Exploration Program that helps student learn more about themselves, explore careers, and plan for their future. The ASVAB was originally designed to predict futre academic and occapational success in military occapations. Since its tintroduction in 1968, the ASVAB has been the subject of extensivfe research. Numerous validatin studies indicat the ASVAB assesses academic ability and predicts success in a wide variety of occapations.
More information including descriptions of the 8 subtest,k preactice questions, sxcore interpretations and information for parents can be found at:
ACT
The ACT (American College Test) is taken at KC area-wide sites and must be registered for ahead of time. The Counseling Center can provide ACT student packets (whick includes a sample test) and registration information, but the student is responsible for registering with the ACT Corporatin.
LSHS code is 261-900.
The ACT is America's most widely accepted college entrance exam. It assesses high school students' general educational developement and their ability to complete college-level work. Colleges/Universityes use
the ACT scores as one factore in the admissions preocess. A student can retake the test many times to improve the scores.-The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, Mathematices, Reading, and Science.
- The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay.
More informaiton including test dates and deadlines, registration, test preparation, sending your scores to colleges and a college search engine can be found at:
http://www.act.org/aap/index.html
The SAT Test is taken at KC area-wide test
sites and must be registered for ahead of time. The
The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the
critical thinking skills you'll need for academic success in college. The SAT
assesses how well you analyze and solve problems-skills you learned in school
that you'll need in college. Subject Tests (formerly SAT II: Subject Tests)
are designed to measure your knowledge and skills in particular subject
areas, as well as your ability to apply that knowledge. Some colleges specify
the Subject Tests they require for admission or placement; others allow
applicants to choose which tests to take. Check with the college where you
are applying.
The SAT score is used by some colleges/universities as one factor in the addmissions process. A student can retake the test many times to improve the scores.
More information including test dates and deadlines, registration, test preparation, score reports, career and college search engines can be found at:http://www.collegeboard.com/?student
College Preparation Checklist
Planning for college requires student and parents to stay informed about academic preparation in high school, taking college tests, choosing, applying and paying for college, and career exploration. There are many good websites to help you plan year by year for college. Here are just a few:
- The U.S. Department of Education has a lot of great information about planning your future including planning for college.
http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/collprep.pdf - The ACT website has a good section titled "Helping Your Teen Plan For College" which includes checklists for 9th-12th grades.
http://www.act.org/path/parent/college/index.html - The College Board website, which sponsors the SAT Test, has specific college preparation lists for each year of high school.
http://www.collegeboard.com/parents/plan/getting_ready/ - The Missouri Department of Higher Education's website contains information pertinent to Missouri but it also contains checklists to help students to stay on track throughout high school.
http://www.dhe.mo.gov/hspreparing.shtml
Resources
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|
Overview of financial aid for college |
| Information about the ACT test and choosing a career | |
| College planning and information about the SAT test | |
| NCAA guide for college-bound student athletes | |
| Preparing for, choosing and paying for college | |
| Directory of colleges and universities and their costs | |
| Using credit card efficiently | |
| Education information for students with disabilities | |
| College planning and financial assistance information for students and parents | |
| Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid online | |
| Federal Student Financial Assistance Information | |
| Federal jobs for students |
NCAA Clearinghouse for Student Athletes
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a voluntary organization through which the nation's colleges and universities govern their athletics programs. It comprises more than 1,250 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals committed to the best interests, education and athletes participation of student-athletes.
All high-school athletes wishing to compete in college must register with the Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse maintains and processes all of the initial eligibility certifications. Information about the Clearinghouse can be found in the Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete. http://www.ncaa.org/library/general/cbsa/2004-05/2004-05_cbsa.pdf.
From the NCAA Clearinghouse website, http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/ncaa/ncaa/general/index_general.html prospective student-athletes are able to access information needed to understand the Division I and Division II eligibility requirements, register with thte Clearinghouse and access individual Clearinghouse records.
It is extremely important that prospective college student athletes and their parents plan a high school academic course of study that meets all of the NCAA Clearinghouse Eligibility Standards. This includes a certain number and type of core courses, a certain GPA in the core areas, and a minimum ACT score. Meet with your high school counselor, coach, and/or the Activities Director in order to make sure you are on track to play sports in a NCAA Div I, or Div II or Div III school.
Military Career/ College Link
The United States Military offers young men and women the opportunity for not only education but also a choice of 4,100 enlisted and officer jobs. Find out about each of the branches of the military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and each related reserves. Discover how the militry might help you with college expenses too. Since most military jobs have similar civilian jobs, this site also provides good career exploration information.
http://www.todaysmilitary.com/index.php
