January Academies Meeting

College Application Process

Get Involved with the presentation!
Go to Todays Meet Site
https://todaysmeet.com/JanMeeting
Ask Questions & Post Comments!

College Now Courses

Student take high school course on high school campus and
receives both high school and college credit
Courses offered at HHS
English IV
US Government
Offered during spring semester only
Must take CN English IV in Fall Semester

If student thinks that AP course will be too strenuous and

regular will be too easy this is a great medium
Looks just as good as AP on college application
FBISD does not give honors credit for College Now courses

College Now Courses

How to Register

Select appropriate course during course selection process

Complete Apply Texas application for Houston Community College
Register and pay for course (if you do live in HCC tax area)
Guaranteed college credit for course (need to make above C)
Credit guaranteed to transfer to any public Texas university as the
course it is (must be on the core academics list--- about 30 course
available)
If the student thinks that the AP course will be too strenuous and
regular will be too easy this is a great medium
Looks just as good as AP on college application
FBISD does not give honors credit for College Now courses

College Admissions Testing

PLAN (Aspire)

Pre ACT assessment (Assesses how you could do on the ACT)

Career Interest Inventory
Freshman year of HS

PSAT

Pre SAT assessment (Assesses how you could do on the SAT)

Sophomore year of HS (strictly practice)
Junior year of HS (National Merit Scholarship Corporation Semifinalist
opportunity; could earn you upwards of $125,000 in academic scholarships)

SAT (College Board)

Predicts what a student could know

ACT

Curriculum based assessment that tests you on what you have learned while
in high school

TSI Assessment

Texas based curriculum assessment

Required for all students wanting to take college credit bearing courses.

College Admissions Testing

Which one is right for me?
Colleges do not care which test you take!
Colleges only care about which test you score best on!
It is important to take both once then compare your scores
Once you know which one you are better at, focus on that one
(extra prep) and retake only that one
No recommended to test more than three times

Does not hurt your application but your scores usually do not improve
much after this point

ALWAYS automatically send your scores for FREE

Select colleges to have scores sent to when your register for

assessment

College Admissions Testing

Which one is right for me? SAT or ACT
Colleges do not care which test you take!
Colleges only care about which test you score best on!
It is important to take both once then compare your scores
Once you know which one you are better at, focus on that one (extra
prep) and retake only that one
No recommended to test more than three times

Does not hurt your application but your scores usually do not improve
much after this point

ALWAYS automatically send your scores for FREE

Select colleges to have scores sent to when your register for assessment

Superscore

When the college takes your best score from each section and combines
to create a new super score.

College Board
www.collegeboard.org
PSAT/NMSQT
Free for FBISD Sophomores & Juniors
Taken at HHS on National Testing Day (mid October)
Types of awards

National Merit Semifinalist (all juniors who meet score standard)

National Merit Achievement (only junior African American students)
National Hispanic Recognition Program (only junior Latino/Hispanic
students)

The PSAT/NMSQT assesses the critical reading, mathematics, and writing

skills students need for college and beyond. Find out what the test is like
and try practice questions.
Whats On the PSAT/NMSQT
Promoting College Readiness
The PSAT/NMSQT helps students become college ready. It provides
detailed feedback on skills, access to scholarships and personalized online
tools, and excellent practice for the SAT.
Benefits of the PSAT/NMSQT

College Board
www.collegeboard.org
SAT
Measures Verbal Reasoning, Critical Reading, and Math
Problem Solving skills.
Determines how students use these skills in and out of school.
Predicts first year college grades.
200-800 point scale (3 sections)
2400 Max or 1600 (most TX schools do not use writing)
Cost of test: $52.50
Fee waivers available if on free or reduced lunch
See your academic counselor
2 fee waivers per year
http://sat.collegeboard.org/home

College Board
www.collegeboard.org
SAT= SIT on questions you do not know- DO NOT guess
Section

DMA

Med
Sci

HHS

Critical Reading

488

542

479

476

Math

485

568

496

Writing

465

549

1438/
2400

1659/
2400

Total

TAMU

UT
Aus

Rice

497

610

649

745

495

513

610

649

760

477

461

487

NA

649

745

1452/
2400

1432/
2400

1497/
2400

1220/
1600

1947/
2400

2250/
2400

Texas National

FBISD offers an SAT prep course

KHAN Academy will begin FREE SAT prep in March 2015

ACT
www.actstudent.org
Test covers Math, Reading, English and Science Reasoning
(Writing is optional).
Determines students ability to complete college level work.
Most widely accepted college entrance exam
Score composite ranging from 1-36
Cost: $38
Cost for writing portion: $54.50
Always take with writing section!

Fee waivers available if on free or reduced lunch

See your academic counselor
2 fee waivers per year

http://www.act.org/

ACT
www.actstudent.org
ACT on all questions- If you do not know answer GUESS
Section

HHS

Texas National

English

19

19.8

20.3

Math

21

21.4

20.9

Reading

21

21.1

21.3

Science

20

21

20.8

20.25

20.9

21

Composite

TAMU

UT Aus

Rice

27

30

33.5

FREE study material located on ACT website

See Ms. Hidalgo for additional resources

TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE

What is TSI

A college placement exam that ALL students attending a public university in

Texas must take
Students can be exempt from the TSI Assessment if they meet certain
standards on their OR ACT test OR SAT test

ACT Exemption Standards

Composite: 23
English: 19 (minimum)
Math: 19 (minimum)

SAT Exemption Standards

Combined Critical Reading & Math: 1070

Critical Reading: 500 (minimum)
Math: 500(minimum)

PSAT Exemption Standards for College Now Only

Combine Critical Reading & Math: 107
Critical Reading: 50 (minimum)
Math: 50(minimum)

TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE

Who Must Take the TSI

Students who do not meet one of the exemption requirements

Sections: Math, Reading, and Writing

You may be exempt from one or more sections or required to take the entire
exam
You may take each section at a separate time or all at once (not timed)
$29.00 fee every time you take the exam no matter how many section
attempted
If do not meet minimum standards on TSI assessment student must take
remedial (non-credit bearing) courses in that subject in college before she/he
can take the credit bearing course
TSI Benchmarks:
Math- 350
Reading- 351
Writing- 5
Or
Writing- 4 with a 363 on Reading

TSI Study Guide by College Board

TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE

From College Board Website
A new TSI assessment, aligned to the Texas College and Career Readiness
Standards, which offers both placement testing as well as detailed
diagnostic profiles of students college readiness and/or adult basic
education levels.
TSI Informative Brochure
TSI Interpreting Your Score
TSI Sample Questions
TSI Launch Flyer
TSI Test Content
TSI WritePlacer Sample Essays
Source: https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/students/prepare-for-accuplacer

SUMMER ACTIVITIES
FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS
Colleges Want to see that you are continuing to challenge
yourself
Full-time Employment
FortBendJobs.com
Sugar Land Magazine Employment Postings
http://www.sugarlandmagazine.com/blog/sugarlandtexas/sugar-land-jobs

Internship
Job Shadowing

SUMMER ACTIVITIES
FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS
University Summer Programs for High School Students
Most colleges have academic programs during the summer for
high school students- known as Pre-College Programs
Look WONDERFUL on a students resume
Often are academic and career based to student is getting
exposure to both
Summer Discovery- www.summerdiscovery.com
AIFS Summer Advantage- www.AIFSsummeradvantage.com
Visit the universitys website to see what types of programs they
offer
Texas Tech University- Camp L.E.A.D
Savannah College of Art and Design- Rising Star
Texas A&M Galveston- Ocean Careers Awareness
United States Naval Academy Summer STEM Program

JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE

Fall Semester of Junior Year
September

Challenge yourself (inside and outside of the classroom)

Maintain As & Bs in all classes (C stands for C your
Teacher/Counselor!)
Attend FBISD College Fairs- Dates and Locations TBA
About 150 colleges in attendance
Take at least one career interest inventory
See Helpful Recourses at end of presentation

Spend 2 hours a week in SAT and ACT (FREE)

Research college programs based on career interest
inventory

JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE

Fall Semester of Junior Year
October

Challenge yourself (inside and outside of the

classroom)
Maintain As & Bs in all classes (C stands for C your
Teacher/Counselor!)
Take PSAT (paid for by FBISD for all sophomores
and juniors)
Spend 2 hours a week in SAT and ACT (FREE)
Research college programs based on career
interest inventory

JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE

Fall Semester of Junior Year
November
Challenge yourself (inside and outside of the classroom)
Maintain As & Bs in all classes (C stands for C your
Teacher/Counselor!)
Go on first college tour
Students receive two (2) excused absences during junior year and
two during senior year (one (1) fall/ one (1) spring for college visit)
Return documentation to Attendance Office within two (2) days

Spend 2 hours a week in SAT and ACT (FREE)

Research college programs based on career interest inventory
Write a draft resume

JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE

Fall Semester of Junior Year
December
Challenge yourself (inside and outside of the classroom)
Maintain As & Bs in all classes (C stands for C your
Teacher/Counselor!)
Take SAT and ACT for first time in December or January
Spend 2 hours a week in SAT and ACT (FREE)
Research college programs based on career interest inventory
Write a draft resume
Visit college during winter break (ANY COLLEGE!)

JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE

Spring Semester of Junior Year
January
Challenge yourself (inside and outside of the classroom)
Maintain As & Bs in all classes (C stands for C your
Teacher/Counselor!)
If you have a question regarding scheduling please see your students
guidance counselor

Take SAT and ACT for first time (if not done in December)
Spend 2 hours a week in SAT and ACT (FREE)
Take one career interest inventory
CCR Center Website under College & Career Planning
Naviance

Research college programs based on career interest inventory

Complete a draft resume

JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE

Spring Semester of Junior Year
February
Challenge yourself (inside and outside of the classroom)
Maintain As & Bs in all classes (C stands for C your Teacher/Counselor!)
Once you have received your test scores back compare them using a
comparison chart (http://www.act.org/aap/concordance/pdf/reference.pdf)
Begin extra prep for the exam you did better on (this is the one your
should retake)
You can take each test up to 12 times, we recommend no more than three (3)
times

Take one career interest inventory

CCR Center Website under College & Career Planning
Naviance (more information to come)

Research college programs based on career interest inventory

JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE

Spring Semester of Junior Year
March
Challenge yourself (inside and outside of the classroom)
Maintain As & Bs in all classes (C stands for C your
Teacher/Counselor!)
Continue extra prep for SAT or ACT, not both
Go on college tour during spring break (this way it does not
count against your attendance and you still have one more in
the spring)
Start narrowing down your college list
Identify the factors in a college that are most important to you
location, cost, programs, public, private, religious affiliation, social
environment, etc.

JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE

Spring Semester of Junior Year
April
Challenge yourself (inside and outside of the classroom)
Maintain As & Bs in all classes (C stands for C your
Teacher/Counselor!)
Continue extra prep for SAT or ACT, not both
Go on college tour
Remember to always set up these tours through the admissions
office

Start talking to the teachers you will be requesting letters of

recommendations from
Take US History EOC

JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE

Spring Semester of Junior Year
May
Challenge yourself (inside and outside of the classroom)
Maintain As & Bs in all classes (C stands for C your
Teacher/Counselor!)
Continue extra prep for SAT or ACT, not both
Check registration deadline for June SAT/ACT
Start talking to the teachers you will be requesting letters of
recommendations from
Take AP Exams (colleges want to see that if you are taking the
AP class that you are taking the AP exam)
Research college programs based on career interest inventory

JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE

Spring Semester of Junior Year
June
Challenge yourself (inside and outside of the classroom)
Maintain As & Bs in all classes (C stands for C your
Teacher/Counselor!)
Take FBISD Final Exams
Retake either SAT or ACT
Start talking to the teachers you will be requesting letters of
recommendations from
Research college programs based on career interest inventory
See Summer Activity for All Grade Levels

SUMMER BEFORE SENIOR YEAR

July & August
Narrow down your college list (to about 8 schools)

Safe Schools (3): Schools you are automatically admitted to

Target Schools (3): Schools you meet the average admissions range based
on SAT/ACT and GPA
These school do not have an auto- admit policy

Reach School (2): Any university with a low admissions rate or a school
where you are below the average admissions range based on SAT/ACT
and/or GPA- This is your DREAM SCHOOL

It does not matter if you are in the top 10% or top 100%, if the admission
rate is less the 20% it should be considered a reach school
For reach schools, if it says recommended then that means required

Continue to build (add to) your resume.

Should be 100% by August 1

SUMMER BEFORE SENIOR YEAR

July & August
Begin outlining Apply Texas essays
https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/includes_v2/essay_prompts_2013.pdf
Ms. Nilsen will proof read essays

Create www.ApplyTexas.org account

Most Texas university applications open August 1

Submit application for all safe and target schools by August 31st
It is a good idea to always consider a recommended document as a
required document- this will help with scholarship money

Create Common Application (www.commonapp.org) for out-of-state

and most private universities
Email resume and list of colleges to teachers who you are asking to
write you a letter of recommendation- give at least a two (2) week
notice

SENIOR YEAR TIMELINE

Fall Semester of Senior Year
September
Complete ALL Apply Texas and Common Application essays and submit
mentor/teacher/parent/friend to review
Submit transcript requests through Naviance for all submitted ApplyTX
Applications.
Turn in Common Application Counselor Packet to Cousnelors Office
Understand the difference between Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular
Decision

Early Decision- legally binding contract- meaning if you are accepted then no matter
what that is where you are going to college

Can only apply to one school using early decision

For schools with an over all low admissions rate the ED admissions rate is usually a little
higher

Early Action- not legally binding; shows college that they are one of your top picks

Generally speaking it is always best to apply early!!!

For schools with an over all low admissions rate the EA admissions rate is usually a little
higher

Regular Decision- date that all applications are due by- no special privileges

SENIOR YEAR TIMELINE

Fall Semester of Senior Year
October
If still need to retake SAT or ACT try to take by October date
Begin scholarship application process

Visit the CCR Center Financial Aid and Scholarship page and Naviance
Scholarship page for available opportunities

If a scholarship asks for an essay- unless it is a very specific prompt

use one of your application essays (may need to tweak it some)
There are scholarships out there for students of ALL grade levels (K12)
If applying to University of Texas or Texas A&M have your application
submitted no later than October 1st.

You cannot put down a housing deposit until you are admitted but there
are privately owned dorms just like the ones owned by the university that
you are able to put down a deposit at-- Housing was closed for Texas A&M by February 1, 2014. Most students did
not find out until February 28, 2014 their admissions decision.

SENIOR YEAR TIMELINE

Fall Semester of Senior Year
November & December
Remember most large state and many private colleges
have a December 1st deadline

Go on fall semester college visit

Continue working on all forms of scholarship
applications (university scholarships and third
party scholarships)
Complete CSS/Profile if applying to private schools
(http://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aidprofile)
Start thinking about financial aid- be ready to fill
FAFSA on January 1st.

THINGS TO REMEMBER
Get to know Ms. Hidalgo, College & Career Readiness Advisor
Colleges visit the CCR Center each week
Register through Naviance

Most colleges track student interest

If a student is even a little interested in college it is a good idea
for student to attend visit in CCR Center- does not count against
attendance
When visiting a college campus be use to go through the Office
of Admissions so that the visit is official

THINGS TO REMEMBER

The earlier you submit your application, the better

When it says Recommended it really means required!
Most Texas public schools have automations policies
LOTS of WONDERFUL colleges in Texas
If you are okay with private then are you okay with out-of-state
First look at program then look at university
If no idea what to major in that is OKAY!!! Then look at the
colleges brand

HELPFUL WEBSITES

http://www.canenationccr.weebly.com/
https://connection.naviance.com/hightowerhs
http://www.cappex.com/
http://www.aie.org/
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
http://www.collegeweeklive.com/

Student Volunteers Needed

Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays
In Office P-2 or with ACA Teachers
Complete Student Volunteer Form @
www.hhsacademies.weebly.com