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November 2012
ACT provides this monthly newsletter to inform students and their parents about college and career planning. ACT is a not-for-profit organization that serves millions of people in schools, colleges, professional associations, businesses and government agencies with programs and services that help people achieve their education and career goals. Visit for more information and services.

Key Dates

November
  • The deadline to register for the Dec. 8 ACT® Test date has been extended to Nov. 9 to provide additional time for students affected by Superstorm Sandy (the original deadline was Nov. 2). The late registration deadline will remain Nov. 16.
  • Make sure you're aware of important application deadlines for any colleges you're considering.
December
  • Submissions for the ACT Video Contest can be made until Dec. 4. To learn more, go to: actstudent.org/videocontest.
  • The ACT Test is administered nationally on Dec. 8.
  • The ACT Poster Contest starts Dec. 10. The winning entries will be rewarded with thousands of dollars in scholarship money. Submissions must be made online. To learn more go to actstudent.org/postercontest.
  • The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form can be submitted starting Jan. 1. Visit to get a head start on the process.
January 2013
  • Submit the FAFSA as soon as possible.
  • The registration deadline for the Feb. 9 ACT test date is Jan. 11. (No test centers are scheduled in New York for the February test date.)

Developing good homework/study skills

Homework is an extremely valuable part of learning. Although you probably think homework is a pain, it really does help you develop key study skills and habits that will be useful in college and career while cementing lessons taught in class. Your workload will likely grow significantly in college, so going that extra mile now will definitely pay off later on.
Here are some helpful tips:
  • Assume that you will have homework every night. Even if you've completed your assignments, take time to review them. It's easier to catch errors the second time around.
  • Establish a routine. Find a place and set a consistent time for doing homework and studying. It's often said that it takes three weeks to develop a habit. Be consistent with your routine, and it should become second nature before long.
  • Don't be intimidated by homework. It's part of the learning process. If you're having problems with an assignment, check with your teacher or look for free homework help that might be available online or in your area. Many public libraries offer either a live or online homework service. Tutors are another option.
  • Ask questions. If a concept doesn't make sense to you, ask someone to explain it. Talk with a teacher or even a classmate who gets it. Ask questions until you feel you have a grasp on the topic.
  • Don't put off long-term assignments like research papers or science projects. Start planning ahead.
  • Utilize the time given to you at school to work on homework. This will help you develop solid study habits through better time management and self-discipline, and it will also leave you more time in the evening to do what you like. Completing homework in timely fashion is an important study skill. While homework focuses on a specific assignment, studying goes beyond that to enhance understanding of the concepts and topics taught in class.
How parents can help
Parents can help students establish good homework skills. Tell your parent or guardian about the homework motivation ideas provided for parents at: act.org/path/parent/motivate/homework.html.

College Application Words of Wisdom

Filling out college applications can definitely be overwhelming, but paying close attention to every detail is very important. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Avoid misspellings and grammatical errors—Errors in spelling and grammar are big pet peeves of admissions people. If you make a mistake on something as important as your college application, it suggests that either you don't pay attention to details or you simply don't care. Avoid these errors by doing a spell check, reviewing your work, and having someone else proofread your application.
Include extracurricular activities—Knowing that you are active and well-rounded is valuable to many colleges. You should mention activities such as sports, the arts, formal organizations, and volunteer work. Talking on the phone and hanging out with friends, however, shouldn't make the cut. Make sure your activity information is accurate. Colleges may check with your high school.
Get confirmation if applying online—If you apply online, you should receive confirmation that the college or university received it. Confirmation could be an e-mail message, a Web page response, or a credit card receipt. Follow through and make sure that your application has been submitted.
Don't forget your signature—If you're applying on paper, make sure you sign and date the form. Students sometimes overlook the signature if it's on the back of the form. With all applications, check that all required sections are completed.
As you decide the schools to which you'll apply, be sure to make use of your ACT score information. Ask your high school guidance counselor to show you how the information can match students to colleges that might fit them well academically.

Writing your college essay

Some colleges require that you submit an essay with your application. Like your ACT scores, the essay is just one component of your college application. An essay can say a lot—or a little—about who you are. Typically, your essay will help admissions officers get to know you better and understand why—and if—you belong at their school.
Here are some quick pointers to help create a memorable essay.
  1. Plan. Plan your essay before you start to write it. You may want to create an outline first, and then write a rough draft. The most important things to consider are what you want to say and how you want to order your content. Also, make sure you know the application deadlines and plan ahead, so you don't have to rush.
  2. Stand out. Admissions officials review hundreds of applications, and those that grab their interest most tend to be unique. Be creative, and try to set yourself apart from the crowd.
  3. Be real. Be honest about everything you write, and don't write what you think others want to read. Show personality and individuality. Be yourself. Make sure your essay says something special about you.
  4. Stay on topic. Review the essay question, develop a few ideas and then settle on one. Follow that theme throughout the essay. Stay focused on your topic.
  5. Be clear and concise. Make sure your writing is easily understood, and don't use more words than necessary. Your essay isn't meant to be an autobiography. Showing that you can convey your thoughts clearly is more important than showing off your big vocabulary to college admissions officers.

College planning tips for high school students

Planning for college and a career doesn't happen overnight. It's a process, filled with research and exploration. ACT encourages high school students to do some planning work each year. You can find a college planning checklist for each year of high school at actstudent.org/college/checklist.
Many high school freshmen and sophomores aren't sure what careers interest them, let alone what colleges they want to attend or what courses they want to study. Use the scores from your ACT Explore® and ACT Plan® tests to help in these areas. Talk with your counselor about what those scores mean, and visit the World-of-Work Map online to match your interests with potential career fields. You can find out more about careers and their requirements on ACT's website, actstudent.org.
As a high school junior, you can do more career exploration by talking to someone who is actually working in the field you are considering. See if you can spend a day with a professional to learn what the job really entails. Also, you should look at dates to register for the ACT Test. The ACT Test measures what you have learned in school, and spring of your junior year is a good time to take the exam. This will give you time to make any necessary adjustments to your course schedule and studies to improve your college and career readiness before you graduate. Free ACT practice tests and lots of test prep information are available on ACT's website for students.
Many high school seniors haven't yet settled on a particular career, but a good number have narrowed to an occupational area of focus. As you complete college applications, be sure the schools meet your needs. And remember that you shouldn't slack off, even after your last application has been submitted. College admissions officers are increasingly putting more weight on a student's performance during his or her last semester to evaluate student ability to perform consistently.

Still time to enter the ACT Video Contest

Do you have any ideas about what you If you create and submit a compelling video that encourages people to take the ACT Test and attend college, you can win up to $1,000 in scholarship money. ACT is accepting submissions for its ACT Video Contest from now through Dec. 4.
Videos must be no longer than 2 minutes and should address one of five topics: (1) test-day tips, (2) photo IDs, (3) cheating is wrong, (4) the ACT English Test, or (5) ACT Test myths.
A panel of judges will select a group of finalists in each category based on creativity (25%), visual appeal (25%), and overall content (50%). The winners from those finalists will be determined by online voting from visitors to ACT's website. The videos will be linked there.
A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to the student who submits the winning video in each of the five categories. The second place winner in each category will receive a $500 scholarship.
To participate in the video contest, you must be a student in 11th or 12th grade, a U.S. resident, and planning to attend a two- or four-year college in the next two years. For more details and official rules, please visit actstudent.org/videocontest.

ACT Poster Contest kicks off

ACT kicks off its annual high school student poster design contest starting Monday, Dec. 10. Students who submit winning entries will receive thousands of dollars in scholarship money.
Participants are asked to create an original poster answering the question, “Why Take the ACT?,” promoting the theme of attending college and taking the ACT Test as the college entry exam of choice. To enter, you must be a U.S. high school 11th- or 12th-grade student who plans to attend a two- or four-year college in the next two years.
The student with the winning design will receive a $5,000 scholarship to the college of his or her choice. In addition, the winning design will be used on the poster that will display ACT test dates during the 2012–2013 school year and distributed to high schools nationwide. Second- and third-place winners will receive $2,500 and $1,000 scholarships, respectively.
Winners will be selected based on creativity (25%), visual appeal (25%), and overall content (50%). Entries must be in electronic format and submitted between Dec. 10, 2012, and Jan. 21, 2013. Winners will be announced in February. Contest details will become available at the end of the month at actstudent.org/postercontest.

Test date reminder

The next national ACT test date is Dec. 8, 2012. The registration deadline (originally Nov. 2) has been extended to Nov. 9 to accommodate students who were impacted by Superstorm Sandy. Late registration, with an additional fee of $22, is available through Nov. 16. Register online today at actstudent.org.
Other test dates during the 2012-13 school year are: February 9, April 13, and June 8. Registration deadlines for these tests are about five weeks before the test date.
You can find complete practice tests, test-day tips, a list of what to bring and approved calculators for use on the math test on the website, too. An optional writing test is available in addition to the multiple-choice achievement test. Go to actstudent.org/writing to learn more about the Writing Test, including the colleges that require it. For all your questions about the ACT Test, visit actstudent.org. .
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