JUNIO

R/ SENIO

R CURRIC

ULUM

NIGHT

2014-15

MEET THE COUNSELORS

Jakkia Hollingsworth, Dean of College Prep, Academic Counselor (L-Z)

jhollingsworth@uplifteducation.org

Annette Enright, Academic Counselor A-K

aenright@uplifteducation.org

Langston Ross, College Counselor

lross@uplifteducation.org

Sonya Barron, Inspire Counselor

sbarron@upliftEducation.org

MEETING AGENDA

I. Graduation Requirements

II. AP vs. IB

III. GPA/Ranking/ Communication of Rank

IV. Road to College Calendar

V. Junior Year Planning

VI. College Admission Testing

VII.Senior Year Planning

VIII.Conclusion

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTSMath – 4 Credits (Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II, and Advanced Math)English – 4 Credits (English I-IV)Social Studies – 4 Credits(World Geography, World History, US History, 20th Century World Topics)Gov’t/Econ – 1 CreditScience – 4 Credits(Biology, Chemistry, Physics, 4th Science)Foreign Language – 3 Credits of the same language (in Upper School)Fine Arts – 2 Credits of the same fine artPE – 1.5 CreditsProfessional Communications – 1 CreditTechnology – 1 CreditTOK – 1 CreditOther Electives – 2.5 Credits

TOTAL # of Credits = 29 + successful completion of the EOCs and TAKS tests + Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) requirements

** IB Diploma Candidates will have additional requirements based on the program**

I.B. VS. AP- NOT VERY DIFFERENT….ANYMORE

Commonalities• Both challenging

coursework• Both favorable to colleges• Both receive college based

on test scores (an average of 3 or more credit hours per class and contingent upon college requirements)

• Both provide extra weight on scholar GPA

• Both must complete extended essay versus it previously being strictly IB requirement

• All student populations are able to take IB classes

Differences

• A la Carte course selection (AP) vs. cycle of 7 courses for two consecutive years (IB)

• IB -internationally recognized versus AP predominant American affiliation

• Paths diverge between junior and senior year, with all students taking AP coursework during junior year

GPA

GPA Policy: Grading System is as follows: Calculation of weighted GPA:

To weight the GPA, the semester grade in each course is added to the course weight.

All weighted courses are totaled and divided by the total number of courses to get the weighted GPA.

Weightings are based on the following scale: Advanced Placement/IB: 1.0 Honors: 0.5 All other courses: 0.0

Calculation of unweighted GPA: Unweighted GPA is the sum of the unweighted

grade points on a 4.0 scale divided by the total number of semester courses.

Communication on transcript: The student’s transcript will show both

Weighted GPA on a 5.0 scale Unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale

On 100 Scale On 4.0 Scale

A+ 100-97 4.0

A 96-93 4.0

A- 92-90 3.7

B+ 89-87 3.3

B 86-83 3.0

B- 82-80 2.7

C+ 79-77 2.3

C 76-73 2.0

C- 72-70 1.7

F 69 and below 0.0

RANKING

Rank will be calculated using all semester grades and will be based on weighted GPA

Rank is calculated at the end of the first semester of 9th grade. The system will automatically begin to rank students as soon as they

have acquired credit in the 9th grade, and at the end of each semester.

Graduating seniors with the highest and second highest cumulative weighted GPA as determined at the end of the 8th semester grading period and carried out 3 decimal places will be eligible to serve as Valedictorian & Salutatorian

COMMUNICATING RANKInternal Communication of Rank

• Rank will be communicated to students and their families who are in the top 25% at the end of sophomore year, end of junior year, and at the end of every semester senior year.

• For those below 25%, students and their families will be told what quartile they are in during the times listed above.

External Communication of Rank

• We will eliminate the rank field on the transcript

• Communication of ranks will only be shown on counselor reports in the form of a standardized letter/report, secondary school report, mid-year report, or final year report

• For students in the top 25%, counselors will note student as Valedictorian, Salutatorian, ‘Top 10%’ or ‘Top 25%’

• For students not in the top 25%, counselors will note ‘not ranked by Uplift’ if asked to provide rank

GPA & RANKING POLICY UPDATE

Items to Know:

1. College Visits are on the calendar and are being updated daily. Visits are limited to the junior and senior class only and all students must sign up and check- in and receive approval from teachers before attending. To access the college visit calendar go to:

www.northhillsprep.org ---Student Resources --Counselors Corner

2. Uplift College Fair, Thursday, September 11 2014, from 5:30-8 pm at North Hills Preparatory. This event is mandatory for all juniors and seniors. Opt out by email only. Students will remain at NHP, fed and all transportation to and from event is provided. Parents are welcome to meet students at Summit and bring them home. Prior arrangements must be made with the counselors.

ROAD TO COLLEGE CALENDAR

UPLIFT NORTH HILLS PANTHER SUCCESS PLAN (PSP)

• Grades will be checked every 3 weeks

• If you are failing at the 3 week check-your teacher, your parents and an academic counselor will meet to discuss your grades and place you on PSP.

• The requirements for PSP include, but are not limited to:

• You will carry a probation log for daily check-ins.

• Monday Check-Ins with Mrs. Hargrove (morning or lunch)

• Weekly Flex Period Tutorials with Teacher sign-off

• Advisory Teacher sign off on homework hall

• Weekly Check-in with your Academic Counselor

• Your team of supporters will meet again after 3 weeks to review your PSP progress and decide the next step for success!

WHAT IS PSP?• PSP is a tracking tool

that the counseling staff will be using to make sure that we catch struggling students before things go from bad to worse.

• PSP is NOT a punishment, it’s a way for everyone invested in you to work together to make sure you’re successful.

How Does PSP Work?

PLANNIN

G FOR C

OLLEGE*

* I n f o r m a t i o n C o m p i l e d f r o m m a n y s o u r c e s i n c l u d i n g t h e C o l l e g e b o a r d . c o m W e b s i t e

Junior

Year

FALL

Prepare for and take the PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) in October

Begin your college search

Start with you: Make lists of your abilities, preferences and personal qualities.

www.collegeboard.com Plan for College College Search College MatchMaker

Research different colleges to begin developing a list of 8 colleges you are interested in applying to: 2 safety/4 target/2 reach

Take every opportunity to visit colleges! Many colleges host fall and spring open houses. Start here.

Update your resume

WINTER

Register to take the SAT and/or ACT this Spring

Learn more about financial aid

Stay involved with extracurricular activities Colleges look for consistency and depth in the non-academic activities

you pursue. Taking on leadership roles and making a commitment to the same groups are more important than trying out tons of new activities each year.

Continue to fulfill community service hours requirements

ADDITIONAL COLLEGE SEARCH RESOURCES

www.collegeboard.com

www.collegeprowler.com

www.cappex.com

www.bigfuture.com

www.youniversitytv.com

www.number2.com

www.unigo.com

Naviance Family Connection: http://connection.naviance.com/tnhs

COLLEGE CHARACTERISTICS TO CONSIDER

• School Size• Type of School• Urban, Suburban, Small

Town, Rural

• Distance from home• Cost / Scholarships/

Financial Aid

• Student Population• Ethnic Diversity• Religious Affiliation• Campus Atmosphere

• Majors and Requirements

• Faculty• Academic Rigor• Study Abroad and/or

Other Special Programs• Housing• Athletics• Social Activities• Organizations• YOUR GUT FEELING!

COLLEGE A

DMISSIO

NS

TESTI

NG

PSAT/NMSQT- OCTOBER 15, 2014

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)

A program co-sponsored by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

A standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT. As an 11th grader, it gives you the chance to enter NMSC scholarship

programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.

The PSAT/NMSQT measures: Critical Reading Skills Math Problem-Solving Skills Writing Skills

PSAT CONTINUED…

The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are to: Receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills

necessary for college study. You can then focus your preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice.

See how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college.

Enter the competition for scholarships from NMSC Help prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of

questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT. Receive information from colleges when you check ‘yes’ to Student

Search Service.

ACT EXAM- AUGUST 13, 2014

The ACT® college readiness assessment is a curriculum- and standards-based educational and career planning tool that assesses students' academic readiness for college. The ACT (No Writing) consists of four multiple-choice tests: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. The ACT Plus Writing includes the four multiple-choice tests and a Writing Test.

The test uses the same score scale as ACT Explore and ACT Plan, making the system an effective tool to monitor academic progress and student growth. Test scores reflect what students have learned throughout high school and provide colleges and universities with excellent information for recruiting, advising, placement, and retention.

Taking the test often results in increased college enrollment, especially for underrepresented students. To support college and career planning, the ACT career exploration component helps students identify career options.

THE ACT- CONTINUED…

Quick Facts:

• The ACT is accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the United States.

• The ACT is not an aptitude or an IQ test. Instead, the questions on the ACT are directly related to what students have learned in high school courses.

• More than 1.66 million high school students in the graduating class of 2012 took the ACT.

• The ACT is administered in all 50 of the United States and in many other countries.

SAT VS. ACT

Questions SAT ACT

How often is it administered?

7 times per year 6 times per year

What is the test structure? 10-section exam:3 Critical Reading3 Math3 Writing1 ExperimentalThe experimental section is masked to look like a regular section

5-section exam:English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning, and Writing (optional)An experimental test is added to exams on certain dates only and is clearly experimental

What is the test content? Math: up to Geometry & Algebra IIReading: sentence completion, short and long critical reading passages, reading comprehension.Writing: grammar, usage, word choice, and a mandatory essay

Math: up to TrigonometryScience: charts, graphs, data interpretation Reading: 4 reading passages, 1 each of prose fiction, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciencesEnglish: stresses grammarWriting: optional essay

SAT VS. ACT

Questions: SAT ACT

Is there a penalty for wrong answers?

Yes, ¼ of a point for each wrong answer on multiple choice questions

No

How is the test scored? 200-800 for each subject, added together for a combined score of 600-24002-12 for the essay

1-36 for each test, averaged together for a composite score of 1-362-12 for the Writing test

Are all scores sent to schools?

Yes. If a student requests that a score report be sent to specific colleges, then the report includes the scores the student received on every SAT taken.

No. There is a ‘score choice’ option. Students can choose which schools receive their scores AND which scores the schools see.

Are there other uses for the exams?

Scholarship purposesCertain statewide testing programs

Scholarship purposesCertain statewide testing programs

Need more information? Education Testing Service (ETS):(609) 771-7600, ETS.orgThe College Board: collegeboard.com

ACT, Inc.(319) 337-1270ACTstudent.org

*North Hills will host SAT & ACT test prep workshops in the winter for juniors

SAT SUBJECT TESTSSubject Tests are hour-long, content-based tests that allow you to

showcase achievement in specific subject areas where you excel.

These are the only national admission tests where you choose the tests that best showcase your achievements and interests.

There are 20 SAT Subject Tests in five general subject areas: English

Literature History

U.S. History, World History Languages

French, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Chinese, Japanese, Korean Mathematics

Level 1, Level 2 (DO NOT DO MATH 1!!!!!) Science

Biology E/M: Ecological or Molecular, Chemistry, Physics

SENIOR YEAR PLANNING

STEPS

IN T

HE COLL

EGE

PROCESS

Take Entrance Exams Gather Information Narrow Your Choices Get your application

materials in order APPLY FOR ADMISSION Apply for Money Accept Offer of Admission

TAKE ENTRANCE EXAMS

Fall 2014 Testing Dates ACT: 9/13, 10/25, 12/13 SAT: 10/11, 11/8, 12/6

Know what tests your schools require – Are SAT subject tests (or SAT II’s) needed?

Pay attention to school and scholarship deadlines

Some schools, even after being accepted, will allow a better test score for scholarship purposes – research your schools!!

NARROW YOUR CHOICES

Reach (2)- Your 1st choice school!!! This is where you really want to be accepted and will likely attend if you are admitted, but selectivity could limit this possibility.

Target, 50/50 (4)- School you should get into and will be a nice 2nd option for you.

Likely (2)- School with which you are sure you will be admitted. If all else fails, this is where you will attend.

PERSONAL STATEMENT & ESSAYS

Essays are important! Be Authentic! Answer the question / Write to the topic Decide what is essential for the college to know about

you and write about it. This is your opportunity to explain. If a school requests an essay, it is important. What might the essay reveal about you?

Your thought process What you’re passionate about Your individuality and uniqueness Your ability to use language effectively

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Allow a minimum 2 weeks notice

You MUST complete the Student Survey for Recommendation Letters and turn it in to Mr. Ross. Please also indicate which teacher(s) will be writing your letters on the top of the form.

Counselor letters of recommendation These letters will describe you holistically as a person.

Teacher letters of recommendation: These letters will describe you as a learner in the classroom. Highly

selective schools and some scholarships require two teacher recommendations. Ideally, one should come from a junior or senior core academic teacher of your choice, a teacher with whom you have developed rapport.

REQUESTING A TRANSCRIPT

A transcript request form MUST be completed for each transcript requested and signed by the parent or student (if 18 or older) and submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

Please allow 5 business days for requests to be processed

Cost: $5 for the first transcript requested, additional transcripts will not incur a fee.

If you would like the transcript sent certified mail, there is an additional $5 per transcript fee.

APPLY FOR ADMISSION

Non-Binding Early Action

If you apply for Early Action, you are declaring to the university that you have submitted all of your information and forms by the required ‘early’ deadline and that you are seriously considering attending the school. You may apply to more than one school through ‘Early Action,’ and the decision is non-binding. Auburn, TCU, SMU, Emory University, Baylor, Drexel, University of Rochester

Rolling Usually from September on, you can submit your application and approximately 3 to 6 weeks

later the school will send you an admission decision letter. This type of school starts out its admission season with all of this places in the freshman class open. As the schools hands out more and more acceptances as the year proceeds, fewer places are left available and, at some point, all places are filled. It is, therefore, recommended to apply to rolling admissions schools EARLY! UNT, TWU, Texas Tech, Concordia University, U of Tulsa

Regular Decision Regular Decision can be anywhere from Jan 1 to March 15th. The key is there is a deadline date.

You must have your application postmarked no later than the deadline date. All of you information including recommendation letters, transcripts, and test scores need to be in the schools’ offices by the deadline date. Texas A&M, UT – Austin, NYU, Columbia University

APPLY FOR ADMISSION

Non-Binding cont.: Early Action Single Choice

These programs do not allow candidates to apply to other schools during the early-action period only. However, once they receive EA (Early Action) decisions (mid-December), then applicants are free to apply elsewhere, if they so choose. They are not obligated to accept the admissions offer. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Georgetown, Baylor

Binding: Early Decision

Under Early Decision, students are permitted to apply Early Decision to only one college or university. If they are accepted, students are legally bound to attend that school. Typically, Early Decision applications are due November 1. Rice University, Duke University, Brown University, Upenn,

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

APPLY FOR ADMISSION

Common Applicationwww.commonapp.org

ApplyTexaswww.applytexas.org

School’s Form

400+ Colleges and Universities across the

United States

30+ Public Texas Schools Non-Texas Schools

Rice University, Brown University, Columbia

University, University of Pennsylvania, NYU, etc.

Austin College, Texas A&M, Texas State,

University of Texas, Texas Women’s University, etc.

See school’s website for directions

Student Sends ACT and/or SAT Scores(actstudent.org and/or collegeboard.com)

Student Requests Transcript from Registrar’s Office

Counselor sends letter of recommendation, teacher recommendations and teacher evaluation form, school profile, senior schedule, student transcript, and school

report form based on the specific school’s application requirements

APPLY FOR MONEY

Institutional These are funds available from the school that you will be attending.

Some will have separate applications for this money. CSS Profile- http://css-profile.com

Private Many private organizations offer assistance, research this information

online on websites such as www.fastweb.com

State http://www.window.state.tx.us/education/

Federal www.fafsa.ed.gov Fill out the FAFSA on or after January 1st of the student’s senior year for

work study, Pell grants, Stafford loans, etc.

TIPS FOR APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

Search for scholarships a couple of hours a week

Apply, apply, apply – The more you apply for the better your chances of receiving one.

Plan ahead – it takes time to get transcripts and letters of recommendation.

Be organized – Keep your resume up to date and meet deadlines

Follow directions – Correctly fill out the forms!

Proofread your applications and essays

INFORMATION FROM THE COUNSELORS

RTC Office Information

oAll information is made available on the Counselor’s Corner page of the NHP website.

------ Students-------------- Student ResourcesOn left --- Counselor’s Corner

o Appointments can be made by emailing the individual counselor.