Early College Awareness 2016

NOW IS THE TIME TO START PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE…

What are your post-high school plans?

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 Most WCA students intend to go to college after graduation (approx. 98%)  Others may go into the military  Others may take a gap year  Others will go straight into the work force

Your Transcript MaIers….. 

 All grades, beginning with those received in the first semester of your freshman year, will be on your transcript. When you apply to colleges and universi<es, the Admission Offices will see all classes and all semester grades for those classes! And this all begins in the FRESHMAN YEAR!

Whatever your plans are, it is important to remember that everything that you do for the next four years will lead you down that path toward your goal!

What else are colleges looking for?

 Extracurricular Activities • Quality not quantity matters most.

• Take a leadership role in an activity that you love.

Ability to be responsible, manage your time and be a person of good character.

Service to the community (many scholarships are available for service)

During the next four years, you will take several standardized tests to help you find your strengths and weaknesses and prepare for the ACT and SAT tests.

Several of these tests also have career planning components that will help you to begin exploring possible career interests.

Testing Schedule ERB

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PLAN, PSAT PSAT, ACT and/ or SAT ACT and/or SAT

We recommend that you start taking the ACT & SAT around December of the junior year. You should take at least one test before the end of your junior year. *PLAN and ACT have career planning components.

National Merit   The PSAT taken during the junior year is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test.  For further information regarding the PSAT and National Merit Scholarships go to: www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html

Writing Tests 

 The SAT has a mandatory Writing component. The Writing portion of the ACT is optional at this point. When you becomes a junior, you will check the entrance requirements of the colleges and universities that you are interested in and take the Writing test if it is required. We recommend that every student take the Writing test at least once. Currently no college or university in the state of Missouri requires the writing test, but this could change at any time.

Where to get more information…

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 ACT website: www.actstudent.org  SAT website: www.collegeboard.com  Use your PLAN and PSAT results to choose classes for your plan of study. Strengthen your strengths and your weaknesses!

How to prepare for standardized tests

  The best way for you to prepare for standardized tests is to do well in your daily classes. Do not let yourself get behind.

You are encouraged to ask the teacher questions in class.

And if you need more personalized help, meet with the teacher before or after school.

Current admission requirements for the University of Missouri:

  If your ACT composite score is 24 or higher, or your SAT Critical Reading and Math sub score total is 1090 or higher, and you have completed MU’s required core curriculum, you will be admitted.  Four units of English, four units of math Algebra 1 and higher, three units of social studies, three units of science, two units of the same foreign language and one unit of fine arts constitutes the core curriculum.

MU Current Admission Requirements

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 ACT 24; SAT 1090 (not including writing) OR  2.8 core GPA (no weight) AND 23 ACT/1050 SAT  2.9 core GPA (no weight) AND 22 ACT/1020 SAT  3.05 core GPA (no weight) AND 21 ACT/980 SAT  3.20 core GPA (no weight) AND 20 ACT/940 SAT  3.35 core GPA (no weight) AND 19 ACT/900 SAT  3.50 core GPA (no weight) AND 18 ACT/860 SAT  3.65 core GPA (no weight) AND 17 ACT/820 SAT

Private colleges and universities look more holistically at the application during the admissions process. That includes: • rigor of classes taken /grades achieved • ACT and SAT scores • • • • •

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Download your book at http://www.wcastl.org/guidance-and-counseling/college-andcareer-counseling/

Your book contains all of the information youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just read about but in greater detail. Please become familiar with the book and its contents and always call if you have any questions.

Your College and Career Counselors are: Mrs. Kindbom (314)997-2900 X6139 A-L Miss Guerra (314)997-2900 X6398 M-Z School Counselors are: Mrs. Powell (Class of 2016 & 2017) X6268 Mr. Walseth (Class of 2018 & 2019) X6122 Mr. Thompson (Class of 2020 &2021) X6420