11th Grade Planning

September 8, 2016

Dear Parents of the Class of 2018:

Welcome to the 2016-2017 School year. Last year, you and your sophomore had a “sophomore meeting” with your student’s counselor where we discussed several topics, including curriculum and college entrance testing. This year, we will continue that conversation, and your student will likely start to seriously consider their post high school plans, which for many will include college. The information in this mailing will help you and your student navigate this process.

PSAT

The PSAT will be given at HHS on Wednesday, October 19th. Students should register with Alison Rose, receptionist in the guidance office, between September 6th-October 3rd. Registration will continue until October 6th on a space available basis.. The cost is $20, please have exact cash or make checks payable to Hanover High School. Students who cannot afford the fee should see their Guidance Counselor.

The PSAT is a practice test for the SAT. It also identifies students who will be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship competition. When a student receives their PSAT results, they can use those results to determine what further preparation they might need for the spring SAT/ACT.

SAT

The SAT is a test of scholastic aptitude that measures writing, verbal and mathematical skills. It is given on seven different Saturday mornings throughout the academic year (see SAT information sheet). Registration is online at www.collegeboard.org.

SAT IIs (subject tests) are hour-long tests in specific subject areas (English, French, Physics, Math, etc.) that are required for admission by some of the more selective colleges. Except for the March date, SAT IIs are given on all the same Saturdays as the SAT. Up to three SAT IIs can be taken on a given test date. (A student cannot take both the SAT and the SAT IIs on the same day). Registration is online at www.collegeboard.org.

ACT

The ACT is a battery of short achievement tests and can be used instead of the SAT I. Many colleges now allow this test to also take the place of the SAT II. Test dates are on the ACT information sheet. Registration is online at www.act.org.

Q: WHEN DO JUNIORS TAKE THESE TESTS?

The SAT is now the 11th grade State of New Hampshire Assessment. All juniors will take the SAT at HHS on April 5th, 2017. Juniors may also choose to take the SAT or ACT on the March, April, May, or June test dates. The SAT II (if required) is usually taken on the May or June test dates. Students planning to apply early decision to a college should try to take all required tests before the end of their junior year.

Q: HOW DO STUDENTS REGISTER TO TAKE THESE TESTS?

A: Students can register for the SAT online at www.collegeboard.org or for the ACT online at www.act.org . Students should register at least five weeks prior to the test date.

Q: WHAT ARE THE ADMISSIONS TESTS USED BY COLLEGES?

Not all colleges require admissions tests. What is required by each college can be found on the college’s individual website or on Naviance. If a college does require admission testing, they will accept either the SAT or the ACT.

Our goal is to provide you with an overview of the roles that you, your child, and we can play in the process, and to suggest a timetable for its implementation. We welcome contacts from you whenever you wish to discuss this further. We hope that you will feel free to call the Guidance Office at (603) 643-3431 ext. 2106 if you have further questions.

College Fairs

There are a number of NEACAC (New England Association for College Admissions Counseling) College Fairs throughout the fall and spring. For a listing please go to www.neacac.org . Two upcoming area fairs are:

Southern New Hampshire University

Athletic Complex, Manchester, NH

Monday, September 19, 2016 - 6:00pm-8:00pm & Tuesday, September 20, 2015 - 9:00am-11:00am

St Michael’s College

Tarrant Recreation Center

Wednesday, September 21, 2015 - 6:30pm-8:30pm & Thursday, September 22, 2015 - 9:00am-11:00am

Sincerely,

Andrea Johnstone

Director of Counseling

Joseph Stallsmith

School Counselor

Elizabeth Keene

School Counselor

Laurie Harrington

School Counselor

Tom Eberhardt

School Counselor

PLANNING CALENDAR

FOR JUNIORS AND THEIR PARENTS/GUARDIANS

JUNIOR YEAR

SEPTEMBER

• • PSAT: Register between September 6th and October 6th in the Counseling office. Please have $20 cash or check payable to HHS.

  • College Visits: Approximately 130 colleges visit the Guidance office in the Fall. Sign up through Naviance or pop into the Guidance office to visit with a college representative. (You must get preapproval from your teacher to miss a class to attend a college visit.)

  • Naviance: Check the “Upcoming College Visits” under the colleges tab, and sign up to meet with a college representative (or just show up).

OCTOBER

• • PSAT: All Juniors will take the PSAT at HHS on Weds, October 19th.

NOVEMBER

• • Naviance: Begin to build your “Colleges I’m Thinking About” list. Think about the type of college, location, available majors, and social and cultural environments that you’re interested in.

DECEMBER

• • College Board: Students should create an account to receive their PSAT scores at collegeboard.org

  • PSAT: Scores will become available this month. Your guidance counselor will meet with you during an activity period to return and discuss your scores.

  • Naviance: PSAT results will be posted to your account. Use this information to further develop your list of colleges.

  • Parents & Students: Plan when you will visit college campuses in the coming months.

JANUARY

• • Naviance: Continue to gather information and refine your college list.

FEBRUARY

• • Parents & Students: Attend “Family Kick Off College Night” February 6th at 6:30 in the HHS Auditorium.

  • College Board: Check the SAT registration deadlines. Visit the College Board website and Khan Academy for test-taking tips for the SAT & SAT II.

  • ACT: Visit ACT.org. Talk to your counselor about whether the ACT is right for you.

  • Counselor Meeting: Schedule a meeting with your guidance counselor to discuss refining your college list. Gather information from your teachers, parents, and friends that will help you further refine your college list.

  • Naviance/College websites: Check the testing requirements of the colleges on your list.

  • Guidance Counselors: Counselors will discuss the college process with juniors in social studies classes.

MARCH

• • State Testing: Juniors will be taking the SAT for the state test on April 5th. Students will sign up during activity period at HHS. More information will be posted around HHS and in the Principal’s Weekly.

  • Naviance: Try to refine your college list to ten semifinalists. These colleges should be colleges you will actively pursue by visiting the campus and/or scheduling an interview. Your list should include schools of varying selectivity.

  • College Board/ACT: Check registration deadlines for the May/June SAT I or II/ACT. If you plan to apply Early Decision or Early Action, you should take all tests required in March, May or June.

APRIL

• • Students: Take the SAT state test on April 5th.

  • Counselor Meeting: Discuss your Naviance “Colleges I’m Thinking About” list. Ask your counselor any questions you have about the college application process and Naviance, testing, and Common App. Ask about how the teacher recommendation process works.

  • College Board/ACT: Check deadlines and register for the May/June SAT I or SAT II/ACT. If you plan to apply Early Decision or Early Action, you should take all tests required in March, May or June.

MAY

• • Recommendations: Identify the teachers whom you will ask to write a recommendation for you.

  • Naviance: Next year you will use Naviance to electronically invite your teachers to upload their recommendation letter to your account. You must have a face to face conversation before this electronic invite can happen.

  • College Board/ACT: Check your college list for each college's test requirements. Take SAT/ACT in May and/or register for the June SAT or SAT II/ACT. Check deadlines.

JUNE, JULY and AUGUST

• • College Board/ACT: Take June SAT or SAT II and/or ACT, if applicable. The College Board will be offering an SAT date in August 2017. Tentative date is August 26th.

  • College Selection: Continue to show interest. Visit campuses and schedule interviews if available. Try an overnight stay in a dorm, visit classes, and eat a meal in the dining hall.

  • Common Application: Create an account at www.commonapp.org. Students MUST remember their username and password, the Guidance office does not have access to these accounts.

  • Recommendations: If your counselor offers a “recommendation survey”, complete this over the summer.