Counselor Connects

How to Best Utilize Your Student's PSAT and/or PLAN Results

By Ravenwood High School Counselor Stacie Ballard

In October, many students in eighth through eleventh grades anxiously sat down with pencil and calculator to take either the PSAT or PLAN test.  Both of these assessments measure college readiness and provide students with feedback that will help them better prepare for the SAT and ACT, respectively.  Just recently, each school should have received both score reports for the students.  Depending upon your school, it will vary as to the process of handing out the reports.  Following are some suggestions of how you as a parent can help your student utilize each score report to help them plan for their future.

PSAT

For the majority of students, the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) acts as a practice for the SAT.  Therefore, it is important for your student to review the "Improve Your Skills" section and to register online at www.collegeboard.org/quickstart for his or her free personalized tutorial called My College Quick Start.  Access is available using the access code printed on your child’s paper score report.  The online tutorial includes:

• An enhanced score report that allows students to review each test question, their answers, and the correct answers with answer explanations.
• A customized SAT study plan based on students’ performance, highlighting skills for review and practice.
• A detailed personality test that helps students learn about themselves and discover majors and careers that fit their strengths and interests.
• Extensive information about majors and careers, including insights about what to expect and what courses to take now.
• A starter list of colleges based on students’ home state and indicated choice of major.

If you would like to see a presentation on understanding your student’s report as well as what My College Quick Start has to offer, go to http://www.collegeboard.com/html/demo/

In addition, for juniors, the PSAT also determines who is eligible to enter the National Merit Scholarship Competition.  The selection index found on the score report will determine eligibility.  In April 2012, juniors who have met the criteria and minimal score will be notified for program recognition.  In September 2012, those students will be recognized as either a Commended Scholar or Semifinalist.  In February 2013, those Semifinalists who meet academic and other requirements will be notified of their Finalist standings.  All scholarship winners will be chosen from this group of Finalists.

PLAN

The PLAN is a Pre-ACT assessment and is a powerful predictor of success on the ACT.  At the same time, many schools recognize the importance of PLAN testing for all students, as it focuses attention on both career preparation and improving academic achievement.

The Student Score Report contains a lot of information about your student’s skills, interests, plans and goals.  You can use this information to ensure your student’s remaining high school courses are the best ones possible to prepare for college.  It can also help your student consider options for different types of careers.

The PLAN results can give you an idea of whether your child is ready for college level work if they continue doing what they are doing the rest of the time they are in high school.  If your child is not happy with his or her score results, encourage them to talk with their teacher or school counselor.  On the back of the score report, you’ll see ideas for improving skills and knowledge in different subject areas. These suggestions are based on the scores and can help students do better on the both the ACT and in their academic classes.

Online, you will find a great career/major tool that can help your student understand the World of Work Map that is found on the front side of the score report.  As students are challenged to select an elective focus as their graduation requirement, this tool might be helpful in determining what classes fit best with a certain career interest.  It might also give them an opportunity to try something out while they are still exploring their future.

For more information on PLAN and ACT, please visit www.actstudent.org.

Heading to College

By Fairview High School Counselor Mark Schwartz

Seniors

Hopefully, many of you have already completed the application process for the schools you are considering attending.  Even though some schools’ deadline dates have past for scholarship consideration, not all have, and you should still be able to apply for admission.  Check your school’s deadline dates! 

The next big step is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  You can begin working on the FAFSA on January 1, 2012. The application can be found at www.fafsa.gov.  Not only is this the means for qualifying for Federal Grants, Student Loans and the Work Study program, it is required if you are receiving the Hope Scholarship.  For help, use their toll free number found on the website or see your school counselor.

In addition, don’t miss out on the opportunity to get free on-site help through College Goal Sunday. “College Goal Sunday mobilizes financial aid professionals from Tennessee colleges, universities, career colleges, and technology centers to help families of college-bound students complete the FAFSA form.” (http://www.tn.gov/collegegoalsunday/index.html)  This year, the program will be held on January  29 and February 12 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.  Students and families will need to register online in January.

Juniors and underclassmen

It’s never too early to start planning.  Many free college searches are available to find schools that are a match for you.  You may want to try the search available on College Board’s website, www.collegeboard.org, or another possibility is www.collegeview.com.  Visiting schools’ websites will give you a wealth of information.  Look for the “Future Students” or “Prospective Students” section as a place to start.  By starting now, you may have a list of schools to consider visiting by this summer or next fall when Saturday Open Houses are scheduled.

How to Calculate Semester Grades

The average of the two nine weeks’ grades is 75% of the semester grade and the exam is 25% of the semester grade.  Here is how to calculate:

First, add the two nine weeks’ grades together and divide the sum by two.  Next, multiply the sum by .75 and this is the nine weeks portion of the semester average.  Then, multiply the exam grade by .25 for the exam portion of the average.  Add the nine weeks portion and the exam portion and the total is the semester average.

You can even use the equation to find what grade is needed to pass the class.  Just plug in the quarter grades found in Parent Connection.  Then substitute “x” for the exam grade and use the desired semester grade for the sum of the equation.