INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this handbook is to provide you with information to guide you through the college admission process. This process requires planning and decision-making. The uncertainty you may feel is normal. Still, you should take specific steps in order to build confidence and to reach your goal. As part of your sophomore, junior and senior years, allow time to plan, explore and execute your options. Use this guide as an aid. We hope you will find the college admission process to be a time of discovery, and remember: we are always here, ready to help. Turning dreams into reality is not luck. Your motivation and hard work are the most important elements in reaching your goals.
What To Expect of the College Guidance Office We will be accessible to parents and students. We will be there to guide, counsel, and advise students every step of the way. We will write a comprehensive, honest, and positive counselor’s profile for each student to the colleges on behalf of North Shore Hebrew Academy High School, collecting information from teachers, advisors, coaches, parents, students and personal observation. We will help students to present themselves in the best possible way to promote them to the appropriate colleges. Nevertheless, it is the student’s academic record that usually determines admission to college. The College Guidance Office will transmit a comprehensive admissions packet to the colleges. The packet typically includes: ●
Transcript of courses and grades
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Counselor recommendation/profile
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Teacher recommendations
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Fall term grades (if available)
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North Shore Hebrew Academy High School Profile
The College Planning Timetable Sophomore Year Fall ● Resolve to make the most of your academic and extracurricular experiences. ● Pursue a new club, hobby or extracurricular activity that truly interests you. ● Begin looking for summer programs and opportunities. Spring ● Attend Sophomore College Night. ● Consider standardized testing options. ● Take the AP exams in May (if applicable). ● Follow up on summer plans. Summer ● Explore new interests, pursue a talent, or develop a passion! ● READ! Junior Year Fall ● Continue to develop your academic potential. ● Begin to take leadership roles within your activities. ● Take the PSAT in October. This test serves as the basis for National Merit Scholarship recognition. ● Decide on standardized testing options and begin test prep for the SAT/ACT. ● Attend Junior College Night. ● Begin looking for summer programs and opportunities. Winter ● Take SAT/ACT practice tests. It is important to familiarize yourself with these tests – PRACTICE HELPS! ● Students take personal inventory of interests, accomplishments, talents, and return completed questionnaire to college guidance counselor. ● Begin family meetings with your college guidance counselor. ● Follow up on summer plans. Spring ● Continue meeting with college guidance counselor. ● Visit colleges. ● Take the SAT/ACT. ● Take the AP exams in May (if applicable). ● Ask teachers to write letters of recommendation on your behalf. ● Begin to write personal essays. Summer ● Once again explore a passion that could be in a job, internship, summer academic coursework, sports camp, or travel. ● Finish your initial visits to college campuses, keeping in mind the campus community and environment may be quite different during the summer. ● Begin working on college applications.
Standardized Testing at NSHAHS Throughout the course of your academic career at NSHAHS, you will encounter several different standardized tests. In an effort to diffuse some of the confusion about what the tests are about and when they should be taken, we have put together the following information: PSAT The PSAT is administered at NSHAHS to juniors in October each year. The PSAT enables juniors to practice for the SAT and is also used to determine whether a student will qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation will notify Semifinalists in September of senior year. The PSAT covers evidence-based reading and writing; and math. Scores will be reported on a shared common score scale with the SAT. The scale ranges are 160-760 for each of the two section scores and 320-1520 for the total score. Colleges do not receive PSAT scores. All juniors are automatically enrolled for the PSAT. SAT The SAT is an adaptive test that is 2 hours long and is composed of two sections: Reading and Writing; and Math. Each section is scored on a scale from 200 to 800 with a total score range of 400 to 1600. ACT The ACT is a curriculum-based test that includes English, mathematics, reading and science subject areas. The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and utilizes composite scores from 11-36. Test Registration All colleges accept both the SAT and/or the ACT. Students are advised to take the SAT or ACT in the spring of Junior year. Students are responsible for registering for the exams themselves. Registration for the Sunday ACT is available online at actstudent.org. Students must visit the College Guidance Office for information regarding SAT Sunday testing registration.
SAT Content (Digital) Time
Questions
Reading and Writing Reading Craft and Structure -
Words in Context
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Text Structure and Purpose
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Cross Text Connections
13-16
Info and Ideas -
Central Ideas and Details
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Command of Evidence (textual or quantitative)
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Inferences
12-16
Writing Standard English Conventions
11-16
Expression of Ideas
8-13
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Rhetorical Synthesis
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Transitions
Reading and Writing Total
64 minutes
54
Mathematics Algebra
13-15
Advanced Math
13-15
Problem Solving and Data Analysis
5-7
Time Geometry and Trigonometry Mathematics Total SAT 2 hours 14 minutes
5-7 70 minutes
98 questions
Questions
44
ACT Content Time
Questions
English Conventions of Standard English (grammar, punctuation, usage)
40
Production of Writing (development and organization)
23
Knowledge of Language (effective language use)
12
English Total
45 minutes
75
Mathematics Pre-Algebra (terminology, number theory, fractions, decimals)
14
Elementary Algebra (linear equations, ratios, percent, averages)
10
Intermediate Algebra (exponents, roots, quadratic equations)
9
Coordinate Geometry (slope, distance, midpoint, graphing)
9
Plane Geometry (angles, lengths, circles, perimeter, volume)
14
Trigonometry (sine, cosine, tangent functions)
4
Mathematics Total
60 minutes
60
Reading Literary Narrative or Prose Fiction
10
Humanities
10
Social Sciences
10
Natural Sciences
10
Reading Total
35 minutes
40
Science* Data Representation (charts, graphs, tables, diagrams)
12-16
Research Summaries (design and interpretation of results of experiments)
18-22
Conflicting Viewpoints (understanding, analysis and comparison of alternative viewpoints or hypotheses)
6-8
Science Total
35 minutes
40
ACT 2 hours 55 minutes 215 questions *Science passages are drawn from biology, chemistry, Earth/space sciences, and physics.
Self-Assessment Questionnaire As you begin the college search process, it is important to define your unique interests and needs. The questions below will help you begin this process. This is important to finding colleges that are good matches for you. Be honest when you examine your strengths and your weaknesses, your likes and dislikes. Identify your own abilities and limitations, goals and career aspirations. GOALS AND VALUES ●
What aspects of NSHAHS have you enjoyed most? In class? Co-curricular?
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What values are most important to you? What do you care about most? What concerns occupy most of your energy, effort, and thoughts?
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How do you define success? Are you satisfied with your accomplishments to date? What do you want to accomplish in the years ahead?
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Which events, people or experiences have shaped your growth and thinking?
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What types of jobs or careers appeal to you? What types of jobs don’t appeal to you?
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What do you see as your academic and personal strengths and your weaknesses?
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What adjectives would your closest friends use to describe you?
ACADEMICS ●
What are your academic interests? Which courses have you enjoyed most? Which courses have been the most difficult for you?
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How do you learn best? Do you prefer lecture or discussions? What challenges you the most?
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What would you preserve or change about NSHAHS if you had the power to do so?
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Do you want to continue the same level of challenge in college?
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What has been your most stimulating intellectual experience?
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Have you worked to your potential thus far in high school? What do you consider the best measures of your potential for college work?
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Are there any outside circumstances that have affected your academic performance? For example, such factors as: after school job, home responsibilities or difficulties, illness or emotional stress.
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Is it important to you to have close interaction and attention from your teachers? Or do you prefer anonymity?
ACTIVITIES, INTERESTS AND HOBBIES ●
What co-curricular activities do you most enjoy?
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Which ones do you want to continue in college?
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Do you enjoy being a leader? In which activities have you held or do you hope to hold leadership roles?
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Have you been recognized in particular activities with awards or honors?
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Are there new activities that you might like to explore in college?
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What do you consider your most significant contribution to NSHAHS? What are you most proud of?
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After a long, hard day, what do you enjoy doing the most?