PEA RIDGE — Key Dates
March 2012
◊Register for the April 14 national ACT® test date by March 9 to avoid paying a late fee. You can register for this test date until March 23 and pay the late fee.
April 2012
◊The ACT will be administered on April 14.
May 2012
◊The deadline to register for the June 9 national test date is May 4. After that you may register, with a late fee, until May 18.
Time to make your college choice
Spring is on the horizon, and with it comes more than warmer temperatures. It’s time for seniors and juniors to make decisions and prepare for life after high school.
Seniors
For many the time is growing closer to make the important decision of which college to attend. In April, many colleges and universities begin sending offer letters to students who have been accepted for their incoming freshman class and have applied for financial assistance. Offer letters list the cost of tuition and fees plus the amount of financial aid available through the school.
Compare financial aid offers, make a choice and accept the offer that best suits you. A college education, regardless of the school where you earn it, is a valuable investment in your future.
Visit actstudent.org/college/choosing.html for helpful articles on choosing a college.
The National Center for Education Statistics also provides a quick and easy way to research the costs of any given school you might be considering. You can check it out by clicking http://nces.ed.gov/ collegenavigator/.
Be sure to keep the lines of communication open with all of the schools extending offers. Once you decide, let them know of your decision.
Juniors
Juniors should register and take the ACT test in the spring of junior year. Tests are available in April and June.
recommend that students submit test results as part of the admission application process. The ACT is one of two national tests.
Advantages to testing in your junior year:
◊You’ve probably completed the coursework corresponding to the test material.
◊You’ll have your test scores and other information in time to help you plan your senior year. (For example, you may decide to take an additional class in an area in which your test score was low.)
◊Colleges will know of your interests and have your scores in time to contact you during the summer before your senior year, when many of them are sending information about admissions, course placement, scholarships, and special programs to prospective students.
◊You’ll have information about yourself and the schools you’re considering prior to your campus visits, making them more focused.
◊You’ll have the opportunity to retest if you feel your scores don’t accurately reflect your abilities in the areas tested.
The ACT includes multipleresponse tests in four subject areas - English, mathematics, reading, and science. The tests measure students’ current levels of educational development in these subjects. The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skills in planning and writing a short essay. All colleges and universities in the United States accept ACT test scores as part of their application process.
What do admissions officers consider?
When looking at college applicants, admissions officers consider:
◊Courses taken in high school - If you take challenging courses, you will be considered better prepared for college than students who take the easier route through high school.
◊ Grades - Your grade point average and class standing is important to admissions officers.
◊College entrance exam scores - Colleges use your scores to determine your readiness for college academics and which courses you areprepared to take during your freshman year.
◊Extracurricular activities - Are you involved in high school activities, and will you be involved on campus?
Students who are involved in campus activities are more likely to remain in college andthrive on campus.
◊College essay - Some colleges require essays and use them to judge writing skills and to learn more about you as an individual.
◊Interview - If required, it is important for you to present yourself as someonewho is bright, articulate and interested in being involved in the school. Be honest about yourself and let them see the real you.
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Editor’s note: Randi Jo Hutchinson-Kelso is the counselor for Pea Ridge High School.
News, Pages 9 on 03/07/2012