Kaplan FREE test events for Juniors & Seniors

Kaplan SAT and ACT Practice Test Registration October 2014

Two events will be an SAT Practice Test and the other is an SAT/ACT Combo Practice Test. Each tests is approximately 4 hours long. 

For the combo, students will take half SAT and half ACT during this event. After the event, students will be emailed a detailed score report that shows exactly how they would perform on the SAT and ACT respectively. Students and families can use this invaluable information to help determine which test is better for you!

ALL EVENTS WILL BE HELD AT The College of Staten Island 2800 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10314

Dates & Tests Available: 

SAT Practice Test on Saturday, October 25th 10AM - 2PM at CSI 

ACT/SAT Combo Practice Test on Sunday, October 26th 9AM - 1PM at CSI 

SAT Practice Test on Saturday, November 1st 9AM - 1PM at CSI 

Cost: None

Note: This practice test is for students to familiarize themselves in preparation for the Official College Board and ACT tests. Scores are not reported to the school or any reporting agency. Results are solely for student's personal use.

Follow this link to register: http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1845790-DWur9MjZPt 

-jmp

Underclass Dates to Remember

McKee High School College & Career Office has teamed up with Princeton Review to help students in every grade with college planning and preparation. Check out some of the dates coming up on next year's calendar.

Oct 1 – Senior Night! – College Admissions workshop-

Applying to college is more sophisticated than ever before. Our 2-hour seminar provides reliable, easy-to-understand explanations and step-by-step instructions. You will understand what you need to do and when you need to do it to take complete control of your college application process.

Topics covered include:

• Positioning yourself for admission
• Navigating the application process
• Understanding your academic credentials
• How selectivity influences admission decisions
• How admissions officers evaluate applicants
• The impact and importance of what you do outside the classroom
• A strategic approach to choosing standardized tests (PSAT, SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests)
• Owning the interview
• Choosing a topic and writing a standout essay
• How to strengthen your application
• Getting organized and keeping on top of deadlines

(This workshop is usually $99 per family! FREE FOR MCKEE FAMILIES!)

Oct 7 & 9, Sophomores & Juniors:

PSAT Scores…Now What?

These free workshops are designed to help students make sense of PSAT scores and jump-start the college admissions process. Topics covered include: how the PSAT correlates to the SAT and ACT, the next steps in the college admissions process and the ideal SAT and/or ACT testing timeline.

Oct 14 – College Application Essay Writing workshop

 Most colleges require students to submit an essay or personal statement as part of the application process. It may sound like a chore, but it's actually a unique opportunity to be an individual and distinguish yourself from other applicants with comparable scores and grades.

After completing our College Essay Writing Workshop, you'll walk away with two (that's right, two!) complete college essays—your Common Application essay and a second supplemental essay.

The Princeton Review College Essay Writing Workshop instructors have been carefully selected from our pool of SAT and ACT instructors because they've shown the unique skills needed to guide (not lecture) students through the creative writing process. Certified through our Admissions Trainings, your instructor knows what colleges want to see and will work to cultivate a writing community where you'll feel free to explore and develop essay topics that are focused and meaningful to you.

No boring lectures here. This is a highly interactive and participatory course, so come prepared to read, share your thoughts and play nicely with others.

Jan 6 – “SAT and ACT: What’s the Difference?” 

The two tests are accepted at all colleges and the main thing that colleges want to see is which of your scores is the highest, without preference for which test you took! So how do you know which test you will get that higher score on? This presentation will go through the two different types of tests and exploring students' strengths and weaknesses and which tests will be better for which students. 

Feb 24 – “Making High School Work For You”

Freshman workshop teaching the importance that each year of high school plays in the college admissions process. A college-bound culture in high school begins in freshman year!

March 19 – Junior Night! – College Admissions workshop

Spring Semester

Hello Seniors!

Welcome back! Many of you had a nice break last week and I hope those of you that went had a great time on the senior trip!

 

Now back to the real world!

 

CUNY

·         If you submitted your CUNY application, you need to see Ms. Eileen in the Guidance office to submit your SAT/ACT scores. You will not get processed until those are submitted!

·         The deadline for the CUNY app for 4-year schools was February 1. The application is still open for the CUNY Community Colleges.

 

ACCEPTANCE LETTERS

·         If you have received ANY acceptance letters, you MUST bring them to me! I need to make and keep a copy of your acceptance letters. It does not matter if it is not your school of choice. If you only received an email, forward it to me!

·         BRING IN YOUR ACCEPTANCE LETTERS ASAP

 

FINANCIAL AID

·         SUNY Financial Aid Days – February 22^nd at the SUNY Recruitment Center – 33 W 42^nd St from 10:00am-2:00pm. Get help filling your FAFSA for free!

·         Deadlines for Financial Aid are quickly passing. Make sure to submit your FAFSA as soon as possible.

 

As always, see me with any questions.

-ms. miller pecora

SAT and ACT information

SAT TEST DATES 2013-14

TEST DATE	DEADLINE	LATE REGISTRATION
October 5	September 6	September 20
November 2	October 3	October 18
December 7	November 8	November 22
January 25	December 27	January 10
March 8	February 7	February 21
May 3	April 4	April 18
June 7	May 9	May 23

 

ACT TEST DATES 2013-14

TEST DATE	DEADLINE	LATE REGISTRATION
September 21	August 23	September 6
October 26	September 27	October 11
December 14	November 8	November 22
February 8*	January 10	January 24
April 12	March 7	March 21
June 14	May 9	May 23

*No test centers in NY on Feb 8

FEES for the SAT

Online registration	$51
Register by phone	$15	Available only if you've registered previously
Change fee	$27.50	Test type, center or date change
Late registration fee	$27.50	For registering after the regular deadline but before the late registration deadline (no fee waiver available)
Waitlist fee	$45	Charged only if you are admitted to the test center on test day.

 

FEES for the ACT

Online registration – ACT (no writing)	$36.50
ACT (plus writing)	$52.50	The $16.00 Writing Test fee is refundable, on written request, if you are absent on test day or switch to the ACT (No Writing) before testing begins.
Register by phone	$14
Late Registration	$23
Test Date Change	$22	For different date only if absent or unable to test on the original test date or if your registration is cancelled for failure to meet ACT's test security requirements.

 

Junior year timeline

Big year coming up, juniors! Take a couple minutes to look over this timeline of things you should be doing throughout this school year.

Junior year is the biggest and most important year of your high school career. When you begin applying to colleges in your senior year, junior year will be the most recent grades they can review, so make this year count!! 

FALL

·         -Take the PSAT in October

·         -Begin researching colleges

·         -Take a campus tour at any college nearby – CSI, St. John’s, Wagner, for example – just to get an idea of what different campuses are like and what type you may be interested in

·         -Make a list and begin narrowing down your ideas for majors and careers you would like to go into

·         -Sign up for scholarship websites – fastweb.com, scholarships.com – and check your email often for updates

·         -If you plan to continue your education in your Career & Technical area that you’re studying at McKee, keep track of your best work and begin to put together a portfolio

WINTER

·         -Review your PSAT score with My College QuickStart on collegeboard.com – find out your strengths and weaknesses based on your specific score in order to get a great SAT score in May

·         -Get involved in extracurricular activities and community service. This will not only look good on your resume for college, but it will give you the opportunity to explore areas you may not have known you were interested in!

·         -Prepare for the SAT

·         -Make a list of colleges you may be interested. Make it a big list (at least 10-15 schools) of different types of schools

SPRING

·         -Register for the May or June SAT and the ACT

·         -Meet with your Counselor to plan your senior year courses that will give you a better chance of getting into a college for your preferred major

·         -Begin to narrow down your list of colleges by going on campus visits and speaking to college representatives at your school

·         -Talk to your coach and Counselor about NCAA requirements if you want to play Division I or II sports in college.

·         -Complete your resume – include high-levels classes you’ve taken, any awards/recognitions you’ve received, activities, volunteer and work experience

SUMMER

·         -Register for the October or November SAT and ACT.

·         -Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center if you want to play in college

·         -Visit colleges on your list

ACT and SAT

Do you know that the SAT is not the only standardized test offered for college admissions? The ACT is also accepted at almost all colleges across the country!

Some ACT facts:

-The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.

-The ACT has up to 5 components: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing Test.

-The SAT has only 3 components: Critical Reasoning, Mathematics, and a required Writing Test.

-The College Board introduced a new version of the SAT in 2005, with a mandatory writing test. ACT continues to offer its well-established test, plus an optional writing test. You take the ACT Writing Test only if required by the college(s) you're applying to.

-The SAT has a correction for guessing. That is, they take off for wrong answers. The ACT is scored based on the number of correct answers with no penalty for guessing.

-The ACT has an Interest Inventory that allows students to evaluate their interests in various career options.

Explore the website www.actstudent.org for some more information on the ACT. I strongly suggest taking it in addition to the SAT! Fee waivers are available!

-Ms. Miller

Kaplan FREE Online Events

Kaplan's events help you prep for the SAT, ACT, or PSAT and the ocllege admissions process. And attending live, online means you can join us anywhere you have an internet connection!

Free SAT, ACT, and PSAT practice tests all year long! View times and enroll at www.kaptest.com/hsevents

May Events
Free Lesson: SAT Classroom Anywhere
Monday, May 13 | 8:30pm

What You Need to Know Before Junior Year
Wednesday, May 15 | 8:30pm

June Events
Free Lesson: SAT Classroom Anywhere
Tuesday, June 11 | 9pm

What You Need to Know Before Junior Year
Saturday, June 15 | 3:30pm

What You Need to Know Before Senior Year
Tuesday, June 18 | 9p

Free Lesson: ACT Classroom Anywhere
Sunday, June 30 | 1:30p

July Events
What You Need to Know Before Senior Year
Saturday, July 6 | 3:30p

Free Lesson: SAT Classroom Anywhere
Sunday, July 7 | 1:30pm

What You Need to Know Before Junior Year
Tuesday, July 9 | 9:00pm

5 Most-Missed SAT Questions & 5 Must-Know Strategies to Raise Your Score
Tuesday, July 16 | 9pm

Free Lesson: ACT Classroom Anywhere
Tuesday, July 23 | 8:30pm

Free Lesson: SAT Classroom Anywhere
Saturday, July 27 | 2:30pm

August Events
What You Need to Know Before Senior Year
Wednesday, August 7 | 8:30pm

What You Need to Know Before Junior Year
Saturday, August 17 | 1:30pm

5 Most-Missed SAT Questions & 5 Must-Know Strategies to Raise Your Score
Wednesday, August 21 | 8:30pm

Free Lesson: SAT Classroom Anywhere
Tuesday, August 27 | 8:30pm

Senior Reminders

SENIOR REMINDERS:

1.      The next available SAT test is on December 1^st. The deadline to register is November 1^st. The late registration deadline is November 16^th.

2.      The following SAT is on January 26^th. The deadline to register is on December 28^th. The late registration deadline is January 11^th. (Most of your applications will need to be in by then!)

3.      McKee’s High School code (CEEB Code): 335375. You will need this when registering for the SAT.

4.      Fee waivers are still available for the SAT!! If you qualify for free lunch, you are automatically eligible for a waiver; if not, please bring in your tax information to see if you qualify. See Ms. Jensen in the Guidance office (room 307) for more information. *Fee waivers cannot be used for late registration.*

5.      Your must send score reports to your colleges! You can send scores to FOUR colleges for FREE, and the rest are an additional $11.00. A few tips to save you money:

a.       The CUNY UAPC (University Application Processing Center) code is 2950. This sends your scores to all CUNY schools.

b.      We are able to send SAT scores free from McKee to a select *few* SUNY schools, and all CUNY schools.

c.       Use your free spots to send scores to your top schools right away. Your college choices will notice that you sent your score in as soon as you could.

d.      Keep your www.collegeboard.com login information handy. You need this if you have to register to take the test over; you need it if you have to send your scores to more schools after registration; you need it to log in and get personalized information about your test scores.

6.      The next available ACT test date is on December 8^th. The deadline to register is on November 2^nd. The late registration deadline is November 16^th. Some information on the ACT test:

a.       The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. It has up to 5 components: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing Test.

b.      All four-year colleges and universities in the US accept either the SAT or the ACT, most will also accept a combination of both scores.

7.      Student athletes who will play a sport in college: Send your scores to the NCAA Eligibility Center by entering the code 9999. Also, you must complete the NCAA Eligibility Center form at www.eligibilitycenter.org. You cannot receive any sports scholarships without registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center.