August 2009 Archives

For more informaiton, click the link below.

Auburn Admissions 2010.pdf

REDUCE YOUR TEST STRESS!!!  

The College and Career Center at Chattahoochee High School & The Princeton Review want to help ease your test anxiety.  

Choose from several options to help you prepare for the PSAT, SAT and ACT. Below are brief descriptions of the courses.

To enroll in any of these classes or view course schedules, please visit www.princetonreview.com (seats are limited in each class)

1. PSAT Clinics - Tuition: $225

The PSAT clinic consists of a full-length practice PSAT and 6 hours of classroom time. 

You'll review concepts and learn proven test-taking techniques to improve your PSAT score.

- PSAT Clinics are offered on Mondays from 4-6pm and Tuesdays from 6-8pm

2. Zero Period and Weekend Classes - Tuition: $375

These courses consist of 18 hours of classroom instruction and 3 practice exams.

- Zero Period Classes are offered all year from 7:15am-8:15am. 18 class sessions and 3 practice exams

- Saturday and Sunday class schedules are also available - 3 hour classes -  6 class sessions and 3 practice exams

 This course is great for students who can study more on their own and don't need as much "face time" with a teacher. There is bit more homework and independent study involved with this class.

3. After School Classes (SAT and ACT) - Tuition: $550

These courses consist of 24 hours of instruction and 3 practice exams.

- After school classes are offered all year from 4-7pm. 8, 3-hour sessions and 3 practice exams

- This course offers more time with the instructor. This is great for students who want more interaction with an instructor. There is a bit less homework involved.

Want to learn more about how you can score big on the SAT? The Princeton Review offers preparation for the SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, AP exams, and academic subjects. To learn more about any of our classroom courses, private tutoring, small group tutoring and online courses, call 800-2Review or visit PrincetonReview.com.

TIME TO THINK ABOUT GETTING IN!

Meet Rob Franek, author of "The Best 371 Colleges!"

The college admissions process can breed anxiety, but it doesn't have to.

You're invited to uncover the secrets of getting accepted to your dream school at our free Getting In workshop taking place August 16, 2009. We'll answer all your burning admissions questions:

·         What does it take to land a spot at the best school for you?

·         When should you start preparing?

·         How can you crack the SAT and ACT?

Getting In: An Admissions Forum

Sunday, August 16, 2009: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

4:00 - 5:00: Meet and Greet with Rob and the TPR Teachers and Tutors

Georgia Tech University

Ferst Center for the Performing Arts

Register now since space is limited!

To register or learn more, visit PrincetonReview.com/GettingIn or call us at 800-2Review (800-273-8439).

Senior Year is a busy and extremely important time in the college admissions process. This is your last chance to get the ACT⁵ and SAT scores you need⁶, and senior year is when you have to narrow down your college options to the handful of schools to which you'll apply. You'll need to get your college essay up to snuff, line up your letters of recommendation, and apply for financial aid. During the application process, you'll need to keep active in extracurricular activities and maintain high grades.

August before Senior Year

·         Register for the September ACT if appropriate (check ACT dates⁷).

·         Come up with a preliminary list of colleges that includes reach⁸, match⁹ and safety¹⁰ schools.

·         Explore the websites of the colleges that interest you to learn about admissions requirements.

·         Check your senior year class schedule to make sure you're taking the English, Math¹¹, Social Science, Science, and Foreign Language¹² classes you'll need for your top-choice colleges.

·         Look over the Common Application¹³ and begin thinking about potential topics for your personal essay¹⁴.

·         Visit campuses¹⁵ and interview¹⁶ with college representatives if appropriate.

September

·         Register for October or November SAT I and SAT II exams (check SAT dates¹⁷).

·         Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss the colleges to which you're thinking of applying.

·         Request letters of recommendation¹⁸, especially if you are applying early.

·         Continue to visit campuses and interview with college admissions representatives.

·         Request applications from all the schools to which you might apply.

·         Create a chart of deadlines. Pay particular attention to early decision, early action, and preferred application deadlines.

·         If appropriate, register for the October ACT exam.

·         Work on your college essays¹⁹.

·         Try to assume a leadership position in an extracurricular activity.

·         Keep your grades up.

October

·         Take the SAT I, SAT II and/or ACT as appropriate.

·         Continue to research schools to narrow your list²⁰ to roughly 6 - 8 schools.

·         Take advantage of college fairs and virtual tours.

·         Complete your applications if you are applying early decision.

·         Research financial aid and scholarships. Do your parents' places of employment offer college scholarships for employee children?

·         Get your college essay in shape. Get feedback on your writing from a guidance counselor

November

·         Register for the December SAT or ACT if appropriate.

·         Take the November SAT if appropriate.

·         Don't let your grades slide. It's easy to be distracted from school work when working on applications. Senior slump can be disastrous for your admissions chances.

·         Make sure you've submitted all components of your applications if you are applying to colleges with November deadlines for early decision or preferred application.

·         Put the final touches on your application essays, and get feedback on your essays from counselors and/or teachers.

·         Continue to research scholarships.

December - January

·         Complete your applications for regular admissions.

·         Make sure you've had your test scores sent to all colleges that require them.

·         Confirm that your letters of recommendation have been sent.

·         Submit the FAFSA²¹ (Free Application for Financial Aid).

·         If you are accepted to a school through early decision, be sure to follow directions carefully. Submit required forms, and notify the other schools to which you applied of your decision.

·         Continue to focus on your grades and extracurricular involvement.

·         Have midyear grades sent to colleges.

·         Continue to keep track of all deadlines and application components.

·         Continue to research scholarships. Apply for scholarships well in advance of deadlines.

***For more information see www.About.com/college admissions****

Junior Year College Preparation Planning

In 11th grade, the college preparation process accelerates and you need to start paying careful attention to looming deadlines and application requirements. Realize that in 11th grade you don't need to choose exactly where to apply yet, but you do need to have a plan mapped out for achieving your broad educational goals.

The 10 items in the list below will help you keep track of what's important for college admissions in your junior year.

1. In October, Take the PSAT

Colleges won't see your PSAT scores, but a good score on the exam can translate into thousands of dollars. Also, the exam will give you a good sense of your preparedness for the SAT. Take a look at some college profiles⁵ and see if your PSAT scores are in line with the SAT ranges listed for the schools you like. If not, you still have plenty of time to improve your test- taking skills. Be sure to read more about why the PSAT matters⁶. Even students who don't plan on taking the SAT should take the PSAT because of the scholarship opportunities it creates.

2. Take Advantage of AP and Other Upper-Level Course Offerings

No piece of your college application carries more weight than your academic record. If you can take AP courses in 11th grade, do so. If you can take a course at a local college, do so. If you can study a subject in greater depth than what's required, do so. Your success in upper- level and college-level courses is a clear indicator that you have the skills to succeed in college.

3. Keep Your Grades Up

11th grade is probably your most important year for earning high grades in challenging courses. If you had a few marginal grades in 9th or 10th grade, improvement in 11th grade shows a college that you've learned how to be a good student. Many of your senior year grades come too late to play a big role on your application, so junior year is essential. A drop in your grades in 11th grade shows a move in the wrong direction, and it will raise red flags for the college admissions folks.

4. Keep Going With a Foreign Language

If you find language study frustrating or difficult, it's tempting to give up on it and shop around for other classes. Don't. Not only will mastery of a language serve you well in your life, but it will also impress the college admissions folks and open up more options for you when you eventually get to college. Be sure to read more about language requirements for college applicants⁷.

5. Assume a Leadership Role in an Extracurricular Activity

Colleges like to see that you're a band section leader, a team captain or an event organizer. Realize that you don't need to be a prodigy to be a leader -- a second-string football player or third-chair trumpet player can be a leader in fundraising or community outreach. Think about ways that you can contribute to your organization or community. Colleges are looking for future leaders, not passive bystanders.

6. In the Spring, take the SAT and/or ACT

Keep track of SAT registration deadlines and test dates⁸ (and ACT dates⁹). While not essential, it's a good idea to take the SAT or ACT in your junior year. If you don't get good scores¹⁰, you can spend some time in the summer building your skills before retaking the exam in the fall. Colleges consider only your highest scores.

7. Visit Colleges and Browse the Web

By the summer of your junior year, you want to begin hammering out the list of colleges to which you'll apply. Take advantage of every opportunity to visit a college campus¹¹. Browse the web to learn more about different types of colleges. Read through the brochures you receive in the spring after taking the PSAT. Try to figure out if your personality is better suited for a small college or large university¹².

8. In the Spring, Meet with Your Counselor and Draft a College List

Once you have some junior year grades and your PSAT scores, you'll be able to start predicting which colleges and universities will be reach schools¹³, match schools¹⁴ and safety schools¹⁵. Look over the college profiles¹⁶ to see average acceptance rates and SAT/ACT score ranges. For now, a list of 15 or 20 schools is a good starting point. You'll want to narrow down the list¹⁷ before you begin applying in senior year. Meet with your guidance counselor to get feedback and suggestions on your list.

9. Take SAT II and AP Exams as Appropriate

If you can take AP exams in your junior year, they can be a huge plus on your college application. Any 4s and 5s you earn show you are truly ready for college. Senior year APs are great for earning college credits, but they come too late to show up on your college application. Also, a lot of the more competitive colleges require a couple SAT II subject tests. Take these soon after your coursework so that the material is fresh in your mind.

10. Make the Most of Your Summer

You'll want to visit colleges¹⁸ in the summer, but don't make that your entire summer plan (for one, it's not something that you can put on your college applications). Whatever your interests and passions, try to do something rewarding that taps into them. A well-spent junior summer can take many forms -- employment, volunteer work, travel, summer programs at colleges, sports or music camp... If your summer plans introduce you to new experiences and make you challenge yourself, you've planned well.

. To view this page in its original form, please visit: http://collegeapps.about.com/od/admissionstimeline/tp/11th-grade-college-preparation.htm

©2009 About.com, Inc., a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.

Attention All Juniors & Seniors ... The 2009 Fall College Probe Fair has been scheduled.  This is a great opportunity to meet admissions representatives from all over the country and pick up information on colleges and universities you are interested in applying to or attending.  Mark your calendars ....