Interpreting your PSAT results

1
INTERLAKE HIGH SCHOOL Junior Guidance

• Interpreting your PSAT results
• Transcript and Graduation Requirements
• SAT/ACT registration
• Washington State College Options-public and
  independent.
• Finding the right fitsearch tips
• College Fairs
• Complete Junior Blitz form
• Small group meetings with your counselor

2
How to read your PSAT results

• Remember, this is just one piece of your academic
  record.
• YOUR SCORES Scoring for each section of the PSAT
  is 20-80 and for the SAT 200-800.
• REVIEW YOUR ANSWERS You now have your answers,
  the right answers and your test booklet.
• IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS This section gives you
  specific information to improve your scores based
  on your individual test responses/results.
• PSAT/NMSQT section
• You can improve your scores with hard work.

3
ACT/SAT

• Review your PLAN and PSAT scores to determine
  what test to takeOR TAKE BOTH!
• Register for SAT/ACT now for a spring test date.
• Select universities require SAT Subject tests.
  Register now for US History, Literature and/or
  Physics.
• See Mrs. Patterson for fee waivers if you are on
  F/R lunch. ?
• ACT www.actstudent.org
• Fee 44.50 with writing section
• Test date
• April 12th (register by March 7th)
• June 14th (register by May 9th)
• SAT (Reasoning Test) www.collegeboard.com
• Fee 43.00
• Test date
• March 1st (register by January 29th)
• May 3rd (register by April 1st)
• June 7th (register by May 6th)

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Check your transcript!

• Does it look correct?
• Do you want middle school grades/credit to be
  added? If so, see Mr. Brown, the registrar.
• Have you replaced grades?
• What is your GPA?
• How many total credits do you have?
• Please make corrections/notes to your transcript
  and bring it to your
• counselor.

5
Graduation RequirementsAre you on track?

• How are your community service hours? You need 40
  turned in.
• GPA needs to be above 2.0.
• 23.5 credits totaldo you need summer school? Do
  you need credit retrieval for second semester?
• Pass the WASL?

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WASL

• Reminder, you must pass reading, writing and
  math. For math there are options beyond passing
  the test to meet this requirementthis includes
  passing your current math class and next years
  math class.
• If you havent passed the WASL, you are
  automatically signed up to take it again this
  spring!
• See your counselor for an ACT/SAT fee waiver.
• You will receive a note from Mr. Patterson
  reminding you of what sections you havent
  passed.
• WASL remediation plans are in the works for after
  school and evening classes. Mr. Patterson will
  have more details soon.

7
College Basics

• 2 year vs. 4 year, technical vs. community
  college, what is a major, etc.
• Visit colleges/universities this spring and
  summer!
• Many colleges have summer programs for high
  school students. Participation may help you be
  admitted later on.
• You should all apply to 3-6 different 4-year
  universities next fall.

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Best Fit school should have a

• Program/major to meet your academic needs and
  goals.
• Level of rigor that meets your level.
• Learning environment that suites how you learn.
• Feeling when you are on campus that feels like
  home size, location, focus.
• Value system that supports your strengths.

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10 Tips for a successful college search
(www.petersons.com)

• Know yourself.
• Cast your net broadly
• Treat guidebooks as
• guides, not gospel.
• Visit college campuses.
• Talk with recent graduates about their
  experiences.

• Examine outcomes.
• Take an honest look at affordability.
• Resist the temptation to buy on impulse.
• Take note of how you are treated.
• Make sure you own the process!

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STATE UNIVERISTIES

• Central Washington, Ellensburg
• 64 admitted have a 3.0 or higher
• SAT CR 500 and M 510
• Eastern Washington, Cheney
• 74 admitted have a 3.0 or higher
• SAT CR 479 and M 485
• The Evergreen State College, Olympia
• 58 admitted have a 3.0 or higher
• SAT CR and M combined 1154

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• University of Washington, Seattle
• 98 admitted have a 3.0 or higher
• SAT CR 524-670 and M 580-690
• University of Washington, Bothell and Tacoma
• These schools are a less selective than Seattle.
  Different applications and you may not transfer
  back and forth to Seattle.
• Washington State University, Pullman
• 89 admitted have a 3.0 or higher
• SAT CR 500 and M 510
• Western Washington University, Bellingham
• 96 of admitted freshmen have 3.0 or higher
• SAT CR 510-620 and M 520-620

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Consider WA Independent Colleges

• Gonzaga University, Spokane
• (95 have 3.0 or higher)
• Heritage University, Toppenish
• (60 applicants admitted)
• Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma
• (91 have 3.0 or higher)
• St. Martins University, Lacey
• (65 have 3.0 or higher)
• Seattle Pacific University, Seattle
• (93 have 3.0 or higher)

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WA Independent Colleges cont

• Seattle University, Seattle
• (93 have 3.0 or higher)
• The University of Puget Sound, Tacoma
• (94 have 3.0 or higher)
• Walla Walla College, College Place
• (63 of applicants admitted)
• Whitman College, Walla Walla
• (99 have 3.0 or higher)
• Whitworth University, Spokane
• (94 have 3.0 or higher)

14
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

• Through WUE, students in western states may
  enroll in many two-year and four-year college
  programs at a reduced tuition level 150 percent
  of the institution's regular resident tuition.
  WUE tuition is considerably less than
  nonresident tuition. http//wue.wiche.edu/
• Participating states include Alaska, Arizona,
  California (4), Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho,
  Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota,
  Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

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What are colleges looking for?

• Rigorous course work
• Are you selecting challenging classes for
  senior year?
• Intelligence/Intellectual Curiosity Are you
  eager to learn or here just because?
• Are you using the intelligence you have to
  learn or are you sitting back waiting?
• GPA / Class rankDoes your GPA reflect your
  abilities or your study habits?
• Involved students who make a difference in the
  school and community.
• What do you bring to Interlake that adds to
  our community? For example, sense of humor,
  contributions to athletics/academics/clubs?
• How is your community service connected with
  your passions or future goals?
• Diversity what makes you unique? Do you value
  the diversity around you?
• Do you know yourself well? What things are you
  good at and passionate about that shape who are
  and who you are becoming?

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Personal Statement

• Leadership/ group contributions
• Knowledge or creativity in a field
• Dealing with adversity
• Community Service
• Handling systemic change
• Goals/task commitment

17
Financial Aid

• Attending college is an investment in your
  future.
• Finances are a piece of your college search
  process, but should not be the only
  consideration.
• Most likely, you will apply for financial aid
  with the government, the FAFSA, and with the
  university.
• Scholarships, grants and loans are available.
• Apply to the schools that interest you. After
  you are accepted you will determine the financial
  details of acceptance for each school and decide
  what makes the most sense for fit and finances.

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Helpful Websites

• College Search
• www.collegeboard.com College Quick Finder and
  College Matchmaker tools.
• www.princetonreview.com Extensive college
  search to find good match colleges.
• www.nacacnet.org National Association for
  College Admission Counseling and includes links.
• Financial Aid/Scholarships
• www.fastweb.com Free scholarship search service.
• www.finaid.org Source for grants, loans, and
  scholarships.
• www.fafsa.ed.gov Web version of the Free
  Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• College Testing/Test Preparation
• www.collegeboard.com/testing/
• www.actstudent.org

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College Fairs

• Washington College Fair at BCC
• Thursday, March 27th
• Permission slip is due to Mr. Marcum by March
  24th! Turn it in now to be ahead of the game!

• Seattle National
• College Fair
• Fall 2008
• Sunday, Sept. 28
• 1200 p.m. -- 400 p.m.
• Monday, Sept. 29
• 900 a.m. -- 1200 p.m.

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RESOURCES

• Your counselors!
• College Corps in the Career Center Monday,
  Tuesday, and Thursday from 230 400
• Mrs. Pass in the career center
• Current seniors!!

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TASKS TO COMPLETE

• Complete Junior Checklist!
• Register for SAT/ACT
• Schedule a visit to college/university of
  interest for this spring
• Complete Post-High School Plan and bring it when
  you meet with your counselor at assigned time.
• Do your best in school and engage in life
  passions.