The Cost of the ACT Is $36.50 Plus $52.50 for the Optional Writing Test

JUNIOR PLANNING GUIDE

2013-2014

2013-2014 Test Dates

School Code: 060443

ACT

To register, visit

The cost of the ACT is $36.50 plus $52.50 for the optional writing test.

The late fee is $23.

SAT and SAT Subject Tests

To register, visit

The cost of the SAT is $51 and the late fee is $27.50.

Subject tests are $24.50 for basic subject tests, $24 for language tests, and $13 for all other subject tests.

Advanced Placement Tests

Cost $95 per test, fees are due to the DSA treasurer.

Junior ACT Class – 13/14

Juniors and Junior Parents

Denver School of the Arts is committed to helping our students succeed in college readiness. As part of this process, the DSA administration is committed to assisting our students in achieving admission to the college of their choice. As part of this process we are determined to help DSA juniors be prepared for success on their college entrance exams. These exams are designed to help colleges judge students’ potential to perform academically at the college level. Lack of preparation, or introduction to the style and types of questions these exams ask of student, often sets students at a disadvantage.

Part of this preparation is taking the ACT. As part of this help, all juniors are required to be part of an ACT course. This course will be worth 5 credits on the 2nd semester of their junior transcript. This is a pass/fail class. If the course is passed, a “P” will appear on the transcript. It will not impact a student’s GPA. If the course is failed, an “F” will appear on the transcript. This will compute on the transcript as a 5 credit F on a 4.0 scale – negatively impacting the student’s GPA. The class will be in 2nd semester IC under an “ALT” section. It will not be part of the daily 8 period schedule.

The Course Requirements

1) three assignments first semester
2) three assignments second semester
3) all assignments will be given a due date
4) Late assignments will not be accepted and cannot be excused by parents. No exceptions.
5) Students must complete 5 of 6 assignments to “pass” the class
6) One of the assignments will be the ACT Practice exam on Tuesday, September 24, 2013. There is no fee for this test
7) One of the assignments will be the PSAT test on Wednesday, October 16, 2013. Make sure to pay the $18 fee at August registration
8) One of the assignments can be waived with proof of payment and attendance of an ACT prep class
9) One of the assignments can be waived by taking a national ACT test before the April 2014 Colorado test. The student is responsible for making sure that DSA receives scores for this test. This waiver may only be used once for this DSA class. Make sure DSA’s ACT code is added to any ACT test you take throughout the year: 060443
10) All students will receive a Barron’s ACT Study Guide purchased by DSA. This guide will be distributed in August and be part of the assignments the student will complete throughout the year.
11) All assignments will be given to Assistant Principal Miranda Odom – who will log the completion into Infinite Campus.
12) Assignments will not be given out all at once. They will be given throughout the school year.
13) All communication about the class will be done through IC messenger. If the parent/student’s email address does not appear in Infinite Campus, he/she will not receive the assignment information. Both student and parent will see all communications. Make sure both parents and students have their emails in Infinite Campus.

Ranking Colleges

Money Magazine’s CollegeGuide US News and World Report

Test Preparation Programs

Denver Public Schools does not endorse the test preparation programs listed below. It is important to know that research shows that there is no substantial change in test scores from the effects of such "prep" programs. However, since the Counseling Office receives numerous requests for information, we are providing the following list of test preparation services.

ACADEMIC RESOURCES CORP.Call for an appointment

Suite 339, Writers Center One Private sessions available, $50/session

1777 South Bellaire Street

Denver, CO 80222 (303-759-8371)

ARAPAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGEStudy Skills, How to Master Test Taking

5900 South Santa Fe Drive Spring ACT/SAT classes; SAT/ACT workshop

Littleton, CO 80120 (303-797-5723) COST: $45 - $65

COLLEGE DIRECTION, INC. Review sessions, 3 1/2 hours, $75

1720 South Bellaire Street, Suite 100 Individual tutoring for ACT or SAT, $37/hour

Denver, Colorado 80222 (303-692-1918) (Partial scholarships available)

COLLEGE INSIGHTSCall for information

1722 14th Street, Suite 210

Boulder, CO 80302 (303-541-0821)

KAPLANCall for dates

720 South Colorado Boulevard, Suite 140ACOST: ACT - $699

Denver, CO (1-800-527-8378) COST: SAT - $899

LEARNING EDGE2 hours/week, 9 weeks-- $28/hour for customized instruction

10143 West Chatfield Avenue Group and individualized sessions available

Littleton, CO 80127 (303-973-9946) COST: discount for groups of 3 or more

LEARNING EDGE(Second location) Group and individualized sessions available

7200 East Dry Creek

Englewood, CO 80111 (303-770-0029)

PREP ASSOCIATES, INC. ACT/SAT 7-week courses(Individual tutoring available, $40/hour)

709 West Littleton Boulevard Workshops available; alternate locations

Littleton, CO (303-424-8072) COST: 10 hours: $165 (SAT & ACT)

(Second Location) I-70 and Kipling 8 hours: $135 (SAT & ACT)

PRINCETON REVIEWCall for dates -- 30 hrs. of instruction, software and all materials

COLLEGE IN COLORADOFree on-line service to help students prepare and practice

the ACT and SAT.

NCAA Regulations

Student athletes who want to participate in NCAA Division I or II athletics should start the certification process early--by the end of their junior year or early in their senior year in high school. Students may obtain a copy of Making Sure You Are Eligible to Participate in College Sports and a Student Release Form (SRF) free of charge from their high school counselor.

All potential Division I and II student-athletes must register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse.

It is your responsibility as a student-athlete to be sure you have enrolled in the following high school core classes for Division 1 Athletics:

4 years English

3 years Math (Algebra 1 or higher)

2 years Social Studies

2 years of Science (1 year of lab science)

1 year Elective (English, Math, Science)

4 years Electives(World Language, Philosophy, etc)

16 total courses

Grade point average must be at least 2.5

with SAT score of 820 or better, or ACT sub-score total of 68 or better.

Recruitment

If you wish to be recruited by a particular college or coach you should follow these steps:

1. Write a personal letter to the coach.

2. Follow up your letter with a phone call to the coach

3. Initiate a visit to the campus on your own.

4. Send a thank you note reminding the coach of your visit to the campus and your continued interest in the program.

5. Send a video, only if the coach asks for one.

6. Return all phone calls.

7. Participate in summer athletic camps in your area whenever possible. Most college coaches scout talent at these programs.

Reminder

If you wish to participate in athletics at the Division I or II level, you must register online with the NCAA Clearinghouse as a senior. An official transcript can be obtained from Mrs. Vliet in the Counseling Office.

When you register for the SAT I and/or the ACT tests, you will have the opportunity to indicate four locations for your scores to be sent. Your test scores must be sent to the NCAA Clearinghouse. To do this, indicate "9999" as the school code for your first choice on the registration form.

Concurrent Enrollment for 2013-2014 and Beyond

Would you like to earn college credits while you are still in high school and have DPS pay for it? If YES, the read more about how you can be a Concurrent Enrollment student:

• You must be in 10th through 12th grades, college ready and on track to graduate with enough graduation credits.

• See your counselor for an invitation to attend the next Concurrent Enrollment Information Meeting.

• Talk with your parents, teachers, and counselor to see if this is the path for you!

Yes!! I am interested in taking a class off campus this spring or next year.

OR

I am currently taking a class off campus

I will turn in this form to my counselor by March 1, 2014.

Print first and last name______ID#______

1) Are you currently taking any college courses off campus?

Yes No

2) If yes, then please name the courses you are taking and where you are attending school for those classes.

Name of School ______

Class I am taking ______

3) Would you be interested in taking an off campus college course 2nd semester or next year?

Yes No

Financial aid is a means whereby students can, upon application and qualification, receive assistance through grants, loans, or work-study funds, as well-as not need-based programs to help defray the cost of higher education.

Types of Financial Assistance:

• Need based

• Grants are a form of financial aid that does not need to be re-paid. The amount of the grantdepends upon a variety of factors, including your level of need, period of enrollment, credit loadand government authorization of funds.

• Loans are a form of financial aid that must be repaid. The interest rate is low, and you beginpaying back the loan six months after you graduate – or if you stop taking at least six (6) creditseach semester.

• Work Study offers part-time employment, usually on campus, with the work scheduled aroundyour classes. This program, funded by the federal government and the state, is designed toprovide jobs to students who, without these earnings, could not attend a college or university.

• Non-need based

• Loans of up to $3000 are available to qualified parents & self-supporting students at an interestrate determined by the government.

• Merit Work Study is similar to need-based work-study described above, except that you mustfind a job on campus or at an approved off-campus agency that relates to your academic or careergoals.

• Scholarships are the most desirable type of financial aid since they do not need to be repaid.

TIPS:

• Apply early – FAFSA opens their website on January 1st. You will need both you and your parents’ 2013taxes. Do the Forecaster NOW. (See websites)
• Financial Aid comes in a ‘package’ form. You will receive a student aid report (SAR) from the federal government, and then a financial aid package from the school. This will be discussed at the FAFSANIGHT.
• Investing time & energy pays off. There are thousands of dollars that go unclaimed every year in scholarships – you need to do the research! It’s like a part-time job!
• LOOK EVERYWHERE! Target, Comfort Dental, your church, your parents’ place of employment, etc.
• Private colleges are often more generous in awarding scholarships.
• Contact your school’s financial aid office, as well as the department in which you plan to major, and other departments of interest.
• Utilize the web!

11th Grade: College Planning Timeline

Information taken from Peterson’s College Planning Timeline.

For more information, visit:

This is a key year! You’ll be taking standardized tests, narrowing down your college choices, researching more scholarship possibilities, and learning more about financial aid. In addition, you’ll also need to stay very involved in your high school courses and activities!

Fall Focus: Take the PSAT; start a list of colleges!

Stay on track with your classes and grades.

Meet with your counselor to see what you still need to take. Check on your class rank and your GPA. Even if your grades haven’t been that good so far, it’s never too late to improve. Colleges like to see an upward trend.

Take the PSAT.

Taking the test qualifies you for the National Merit Scholarship program, which means you could earn money for college. In addition, it’s a good way to practice for the SAT.

Evaluate your education options.

Now is the time to follow a more specific path. Decide whether you want to pursue full-time employment, further education or training (such as a vocational-technical school, career college, or two-year or four-year college), or a military career. If you’re interested in attending a military academy, the application process now (talk to your counselor).

Make a college list.

Your list of colleges should include schools that meet your most important criteria (for example, size, location, cost, academic majors, or special programs). Weigh each of the factors according to their importance to you and develop a preliminary ranking of the schools on your list.

Continue gathering college information.

Go to college fairs, attend college nights, and speak with college representatives who visit your high school; use an online college finder and search top college lists. You may be able to narrow your choices or add a school to your list.

Organize a testing plan.

Figure out when you’ll be taking important tests like the SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, and AP exams, and mark the dates on your calendar. You’ll want to have plenty of time to prepare.

Make sure you’re meeting any special requirements.

If you want to play Division I or II sports in college, start the certification process and check with your counselor to make sure you’re taking a core curriculum that meets NCAA requirements.

Winter Focus: Stay involved; organize college lists; prepare for standardized tests!

Stay involved with extracurricular activities.

Colleges look for consistency and depth in non-academic activities you pursue. Taking on leadership roles and making a commitment to the same groups are more important than trying out tons of new activities each year.

Organize your college information.

Set up a filing system with individual folders for each college’s correspondence and printed materials. This will make it easier to locate the specific information you’re looking for.

Begin narrowing down your college choices.

Make sure you have information you need about colleges you’re interested in (entrance requirements, tuition, room and board, course offerings, activities, financial aid, etc.). Rank your choices by comparing your most important factors.

Prepare for standardized tests.

Find out if the colleges you are interested in require the SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests. Register to take the tests you need; most juniors take them the winter or spring (again the fall of senior year if you’re unhappy with your scores.

Talk to your family.

Have a discussion about the colleges you’re interested in. Your family can learn about what you want to pursue and you can hear any concerns or suggestions they might have.

Learn more about financial aid.

Examine your family’s financial resources and gather information about financial aid from schools you’re interested in. High school sponsored financial aid nights, college financial aid counselors, and advice articles are all good resources.

Spring Focus: Search for scholarships; gather recommendations!

Prepare a challenging schedule for senior year.

Meet with your counselor to determine what classes you’ll take next year and to make sure you’re on track for graduation. When you pick your classes, don’t load up on easy electives. Colleges do consider your senior year courses and grades, so stick with a schedule that challenges you.

Start a scholarship search.

There are lots of scholarships out there; you just need to spend a little bit of time and effort to find them. Check with your guidance office for scholarships from local organizations and use online scholarship search tools to find a wider range of options. The sooner you start looking for scholarships, the easier it will be to select some to apply to in your senior year.

Contact your recommendation writers.

Teachers and guidance counselors are often asked to write recommendations for lots of students. Consider whom you want to ask now and let them know so they’ll have time to prepare before getting tons of requests in the fall. Ask teachers who know you well and who will have positive things to say. Letters of recommendation from a coach, activity leader, or adult who knows you well outside of school are also valuable.

Apply for a summer job or internship.

Summer employment and internships in fields you’re interested in will look appealing on a college application or resume. The money you earn can also be used to help pay application and testing fees in the fall.

Set up appointments at your top college choices.

You’ll often have to plan ahead when visiting colleges. Call the admissions office to set up a personal interview, tour, and a meeting with a professor or coach if you’re interested. You can also ask them to send you an application.

Summer Focus: Visit colleges; work on application essays!

Visit colleges.

Visit the campuses of your top five college choices. Take a tour and speak with the admissions and financial aid staff. You may also be able to talk to students if some classes are in session. If you have an interview, be sure to send a thank-you letter to the interviewer once you return home.

Get advice from other college students.

If you have friends or relatives in college, talk to them about what college life is like, especially if they attend a school you’re interested in. Although it’s important to hear what the admissions staff has to say about a school, it’s also important to get the students’ perspective.

Organize your financial aid information.

Develop a plan that includes a list of the aid sources, requirements for each application, and a timetable for meeting the filing deadlines. Getting organized will make the process of applying a lot easier because you’ll know where to find important information.

Start working on your application essays.

Compose rough drafts of the essays you’ll need for your college applications. Have a teacher read and discuss them with you so you can see what to work on. Make any revisions to your application essays and prepare final drafts. Don’t forget to proofread your final essays a few times.