Junior Class Newsletter

From the LPHS Guidance Office

College & Career Planning Starts Now!
Nine months from now today's juniors will be actively applying for college. Between now and then there is a lot of work to be done, including:
· Researching schools and majors
· Visiting schools
· Take the SAT 1 exam
· Take the ACT
· Consider taking SAT 2 exams
· Guidance counselor conference
· Obtaining and completing
applications
And the most important thing:
· Do well in school. The most important criteria for college admission will be
a) The quality of senior year courses
b) Your junior and senior year grades

1st College Planning Seminar
You are invited to get a head start planning for college by attending the first in a series of 5 planning seminars hosted by Mr. Catania. Students and parents alike are welcome to attend. Topics include :
· research tips
· a checklist of what to do
· facts, lists, advice, etc.
· questions and answers

SAT & ACT Corner
While community colleges do not require applicants to take the SAT, most four year colleges and universities require either the SAT1 or ACT, and some require up to 3 SAT 2 exams. Here are my SAT/ACT recommendations for juniors heading for college:
1- Register for and take the March or May SAT 1, and take from 1 to 3 SAT II exams on the June 1 test date.
2- Take the ACT this June or in the fall of your Senior year. For some students, ACT scores accentuate areas of strength better than SAT scores.
3- Retake the SAT 1 in October or November of your senior year.
4- SAT 2s: For selective colleges and universities, be sure and take the writing, and either the math, chemistry, or physics SAT 2 exams. Consider using score choice.
How important are your SAT/ACT scores? While not the #1 selection criteria strong scores are used:
· for admissions decisions.
· for private scholarships.
· by college & university financial aid offices when offering institutional aid packages and scholarships.
· by students and parents to assess areas of strength and weakness.
Can I improve my scores?
Absolutely. Begin with practice tests (available in the guidance office), study guides, and SAT or ACT preparation software. Some private tutors specialize in SAT preparation. Areas on which to focus include vocabulary, analytical reading, algebra and geometry.

Good Resources
·College Catalogs. There are many good ones, including Barron's, Lovejoy's, Arco's, and The College Board's. Each can be borrowed on a short term basis from the guidance office, or you can find them in bookstores and the public library.
·The Guide to NY State Individual Colleges and Universities. Call 518-436-4781 for a copy.
· Unique Catalogs that offer excellent subjective insight about particular schools inlude the following, and are available in book stores and libraries: The Fiske Guide to Colleges, Insider's Guide to the Colleges,The Best 331 Colleges, and Cool Colleges. The guidance office has one copy of each.
·Individual college catalogs and videos -- We have a large selection on the guidance office shelves. available on loan from us, or obtain one by calling college and university admission offices.
Web sites:

·lpcs.neric.org -- our school website has numerous links to excellent sites on the guidance links page.

·www.collegeboard.org -- Do a college search and a scholarship search, SAT I and II info, SAT question of the day, on-line registration for the SAT and Profile, AP info, etc. **excellent**.

·www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/ -- college searches, school rankings, etc.

·www.collegenet.com -- college searches, applications on-line, scholarship searches.

·www.fastweb.com -- set up your own electronic mailbox for scholarship information that fits your profile. **recommended**.

·www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml -- has a financial aid calculator which uses the real federal and institutional formulas to help you determine how much aid you may qualify for.

·www.college-guide-nys.org -- detailed information on New York colleges and universities.

·www.applyweb.com/aw?suny -- apply to 53 SUNY campuses over the web.

·www.bls.gov/oco/ -- career information through the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Other Exciting Opportunities
· ROTC scholarships -- all-tuition-paid with committment to serve as an officer in the armed forces.
· Any US military academy. 5 yr. commitment, all expenses paid, an excellent education.
· Americorps -- National service experience. call 1-800-942-2677.
· Military Enlistment -- Expanding opportunities, pay, career training. See your recruiter.
· Summer college experiences for Juniors: study Engineering at RPI, Art & Architecture at Pratt, study Marine sciences, Drawing, or Writing at Southampton college; Science & Engineering and Astronomy at Alfred University; summer college at Cornell, Harvard, and Syracuse universities; Biology, Computing, & Math at Villanova university; summer school at Northfield Mount Hermon prep.VISIT THE GUIDANCE OFFICE FOR MORE RESOURCES AND SUMMER OPPORTUNITY INFO.