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:: Online Community

1. Official Test Days
2. Subject Requirements
3. Subject Assignments
4. Online Student Manual
5. College Bound
   1. What to do and when
   2. SAT Q & A
   3. SAT Dates
   4. Scholarship Information
6. Links
7. RENWEB (School Administration Website)

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday

English/Literature
Foreign Language
Science
Social Studies
Mathematics

STUDENTS

PARENTS

1. Start now to prepare for your SAT and ACT exams.
   
   1. Get a basic SAT 'prep' book from the library or book store
   2. Enroll in a SAT PREP COURSE Summer is free of other schoolwork and a great time to get a head start for the PSAT also which is used for many scholarship programs and used by colleges to recruit students for their schools.
2. Think seriously about where you would like to spend the 4 years after high school. Make a first list, talk to your mom and dad about college in general.
3. Look at the courses you have taken, your GPA and what you need to do to make sure you have the proper course and requirements for college.

1. Ask your student to make a list of schools (4-5) they might be interested in attending
2. Encourage studying for the SAT and ACT
3. Start educating yourself about the college application process and requirements
4. Ask for a transcript of your student's grades, or better a meeting with a guidance counselor to 'talk college'.

STUDENTS

PARENTS

1. Think seriously about where you would like to spend the 4 years after high school
   
   • Ask 3 teachers you respect about their college experiences
   • Browse through at least 4 college guides
   • Talk to friends who plan to go to college and pay attention to what the seniors are doing
   • Schedule time with your school counselor and with private college counselor, for more personalized help
   • Try to figure out the type of school setting you would like to put yourself [Big city, rural, near a city]
2. Look into an SAT preparation course now, while it is early and there is not a lot of pressure on you! or continue lessons from your summer program
3. REMEMBER THE DEADLINES FOR SAT REGISTRATION
4. Take the PSAT (take the SAT only if you feel very confident about your score)

1. Don't suggest possible schools until your teenager brings up the subject. Consider his/her choices first, then  offer suggestions, not criticism
2. Remind your teen that he/she can take the SAT again in the senior year if his/her scores are low

STUDENTS

PARENTS

1. Take your strong subject ACHIEVEMENT TESTS
2. Take any advanced placement examinations you qualify for

STUDENTS

PARENTS

1. Schedule a meeting with your school guidance counselor and your private college counselor
2. Take the SAT [SAT I or SAT II? Check about what colleges you are interested in want!]
3. WRITE TO COLLEGES you are interested in to request catalogs, applications and financial aid forms
4. Start to gather information for your resume. It will be easier to remember what you have done and the clubs and events you have participated in. Accept your parents help doing this.

1. At the guidance meetings listen and share your thoughts openly.
2. Share the content of the letters with your child, ask them to share the catalogs with you
3. Offer to help remember things your teen did during his/her high school career. Jot them down as you think of them and pass a copy to them to work with.

TAKE YOUR NOTES TO YOUR PRIVATE COLLEGE COUNSELOR WHO WILL WORK UP YOUR RESUME WITH YOU!

STUDENTS

PARENTS

1. Visit colleges during the summer
   
   • Keep notes of your impressions and questions that come to mind
   • Try to schedule some interviews at the school
   • Go back and talk to teachers, counselors and parents with questions
2. Begin to think of teachers who might be potential sources of recommendation letters
3. Meet with your private guidance counselor to work on your resume, essays, and applications ... ASK QUESTIONS!

1. Spend some time on the campus with your teen but let him/her do some exploring of his/her own. Listen to him/her before offering your own impressions
2. Think of community contacts whom you have seen and know your teen, and could write recommendations for him/her

STUDENTS

PARENTS

1. Talk with your counselor about your narrowed-down list of college choices.
   
   • Explain why you are interested in these schools
   • Be open to suggestions from your counselor and parents (they know how other students before you have done at these schools)
2. Provide the guidance department with a final list of schools to which your transcript should be sent
3. Consider taking the SAT again in October, November, or December. Remember to enroll in an SAT preparation course to improve your score
4. If you have no taken ACHIEVEMENT TESTS YOU MUST DO SO IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, OR JANUARY.
   

   * REMEMBER THESE MUST BE TIMED TO BE COMPLETED FOR APPLICATION DEADLINES

5. Visit more colleges if possible
   
   • Arrange on- and off-campus interviews
   • Keep looking back at your list of potential schools for additions or deletions
   • Your list should be narrowed to about 6-10 schools to which you apply
6. Ask 2 or 3 teachers and 2 or 3 community contacts to consider writing recommendations for you.

1. Be patient! Your teen will talk and change his/her mind several times. Don't push your favorites too hard. Listen and ask permission to advice. Talk money with your teen, specially tuition, state verses away schools, cost of coming home for holidays, etc.
2. Talk with teachers and the guidance department about your teen's college expectations. Be open to their suggestions.
3. Talk to your counselor about your teen's choices. Check the list for the "reality" of the schools on the list for economics or academic potential.

STUDENTS

PARENTS

1. Fill out applications. write the essays and follow the schools' procedures for gathering and attaching your recommendations and mailing the applications.
   
   • Show someone your essays after you write them
   • Essays should be proofread three (3) times
   • Stop into the guidance office and verify the schools to which transcripts, test scores and letters are to be sent.
   • Make a photocopy of every page of each completed application and all other materials included in the packet you sent (essays, recommendations if possible, awards, certificates, etc.
2. Mail out your applications early and relax as much as possible
3. Meet with your private counselor to work out the final parts of your applications
4. Take the SAT and ACHIEVEMENT TESTS as needed

1. Ask your teen if he/she would like you to proofread the essays for typos. Help with the essays should be done by a third neutral party.
2. Tension is high at this time. Try to stay "cool". Talk to your teen, reassure him/her and encourage him/her to work at school an relax as much as possible.

The SAT® is a three-hour-and-forty-five-minute test that measures the critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills that students need to do college-level work.

What Is the Test Like?

The test's three sections are divided into nine subsections, including a 25-minute essay, which are timed separately:

There are several breaks between sections, during which your child is welcome to eat or drink any snacks he or she has brought.

How Can My Child Prepare?

SAT Preparation Resources
Find resources to help your child prepare. Choose from our online SAT preparation or SAT preparation books. All include SAT questions, tips, and strategies from the test makers.

collegeboard.com Store
Visit the collegeboard.com store to browse other test preparation and college planning resources.

How Does the Scoring Work?

Each SAT section is scored on a scale of 200-800. The average score on the SAT is about 500 on the critical reading portion, 500 on the math portion, and 500 on the writing portion. Some of the questions are easy, and some are hard, but the majority are of medium difficulty. Medium-difficulty questions are answered correctly by about one-third to two-thirds of students.

The SAT is designed so that a student who answers about half the questions correctly will receive an average score.

How Important Are SAT Scores?

The most important factor for college admission is your child's high school transcript -- judged by grades received and the rigor of the courses. SAT scores are intended to supplement your child's record (and other information, such as extracurricular activities and recommendations).

When Should My Child Take the SAT?

Most students take the SAT at national administrations during their junior or senior year in high school. However, there are no age or grade restrictions for taking the test.

At least half of all students take the SAT twice -- in the spring of junior year and in the fall of senior year. What's more, most students improve their scores the second time around. All scores are reported to colleges, but colleges generally look only at the highest scores.