10th Grade Parent Night

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10th Grade Parent Night

• Mill Creek High School

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PSAT/NMSQT

• Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship
  Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)
• More than 3.4 million students take the test each
  year
• Prepare for the SAT
• Qualify for scholarships and/or recognition

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PSAT/NMSQT

• Students received PSAT/NMSQT results last
  Wednesday
• They also heard a presentation on how to
  understand and use their scores
• Parents can view the Powerpoint on the MCHS
  website
• A Parent Tutorial for Understanding 2008
  PSAT/NMSQT Results (handout tonight)
• www.collegeboard.com

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5 Main Parts of the Score Report
4. National Merit Scholarship Programs Information
1. Your Scores
2. Review Your Answers
5. Your Educational Plans
3. Improve Your Skills
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After You Receive Your PSAT/NMSQT Score Report
Your Online Access Code

• Create a free collegeboard.com account to access
  MyCollege QuickStart at www.collegeboard.com/quick
  start.

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At www.collegeboard.com/quickstart

• Free, personalized college and career planning
  kit
• My Online Score Report
• My SAT Study Plan (for high school students)
• My College Matches
• My Major Career Matches

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At www.collegeboard.com/quickstart

• Review your online score report
• Sort questions by difficulty level and question
  type
• View complete answer explanations
• For high school students
• Projected SAT scores what your scores may be on
  the SAT
• State percentiles how you did compared to other
  students in your state

Sort Questions
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At www.collegeboard.com/quickstart

• Free explanations for the answers to every test
  question, including why the correct answer is the
  best choice.

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At www.collegeboard.com/quickstart

• High school students receive additional practice
  for the SAT
• Practice SAT questions
• Practice SAT essay
• Student-written sample SAT essays
• Official SAT practice test
• Middle school students receive instructions to
  sign up for The Official SAT Question of the Day

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At www.collegeboard.com/quickstart

A list of colleges in your state that offer the
major youre interested in. Select additional
search criteria to refine your college list.
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At www.collegeboard.com/quickstart
View profiles of the college major you chose as
well as related majors and careers. Connect to
MyRoad, an interactive college and career
planning website. MyRoad comes complete with
major and career profiles, an online magazine,
self-discovery tools, a planning portfolio, and
more.
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Planning for College

• Whats Next?

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SAT and ACT

• Both are accepted by most colleges
• They cost about the same
• Each takes about 3 ½ hours to complete
• Results of both sent in 3-4 weeks
• MCHS is a testing site for both

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SAT ACT

• SAT is a critical thinking test
• Mandatory writing section
• Scores 200-800 on each section
• Three sections, each taking about 70 minutes to
  complete

• ACT is an achievement test
• Optional writing section
• Scores 0-36 on each section
• Four sections, each taking 30-60 minutes to
  complete
• Optional 30-minute writing section

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SAT ACT

• SAT is well-known in Southeastern states
• Penalty for wrong answers
• Heavier emphasis on math
• Optional subject area tests available

• ACT is well-known in Midwestern states
• No penalty for wrong answers
• Less emphasis on math

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SAT and ACT

• Best preparation for either test is a rigorous
  high school curriculum
• Both have free online prep help
• SAT prep and ACT prep classes

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(No Transcript)
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SAT and ACT

• Register online
• www.collegeboard.com
• www.actstudent.org

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Planning for College

• What Else Do I Need to Know?

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College Planning

• Right now
• Continue taking challenging courses
• Continue making good grades
• Think about your career interests
• Start organizing for future research
• Read your Sophomore Newsletter for websites
  related to college planning

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College Planning

• Junior year
• Take the PSAT in October
• Register for the SAT or the ACT in the spring
• Start college visits/research colleges online
• Meet with your counselor in February
• Read your Junior Newsletter for college planning
  websites

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College Planning

• Meet in February next year with your counselor
• Begin, or add to, your high school resume
• Research online
• Visit The PAD
• Self-assessment tools
• Career resources
• College and scholarship information
• SAT/ACT preparation materials

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10th Grade Parent Night
Mill Creek High School