PCS College Planning

The 4-year plan Getting in: Questions and Answers Family Connection

Course Requirements for UC?

4 years of English3 years of math2 years of science, with lab2 years of history2 years of one foreign language1 year of visual and performing arts1 year of college prep electives

The strongest candidates from PCS have an exceptional Portfolio/Audition

4 years of English 4 years of Art or Music 3 years of math 3 years of science, with lab 3 years of history/social science 3 years of one foreign language

Visual & Performing Arts

A four-year preparatory program(Most Completive Schools)

The strongest candidates choose honors/AP courses. 4 years of math4 years of English4 years of science, with lab4 years of history/social science4 years of one foreign languageConsistency in the Arts

Transcript GPA Standardized Test Scores: SAT 1,

ACT, SAT Subject, AP Exams Resume – Extracurricular, Awards,

Leadership, Clubs, Sports, Community Service…

Letters of Recommendation – Teacher/Counselor

Personal Statement and College Essays

College Admission Criteria

Princeton University

“…Admissions decisions often reflect the effort on the part of an admissions committee to ‘build in’ diversity, and that sometimes results in some students with better ‘numbers’ (i.e. SAT scores or class ranks) being denied in favor of students who can bring a special talent or geographic, cultural, ethnic background to campus...”

Stanford University

“The primary criterion for admission is academic excellence, and the most important single credential is the transcript. Our ablest candidates have mostly “A”s in their courses, but we do find that some students with lower grade averages may show more real promise for strong college level course work than some students with high averages.

Harvard University

“In each of the past few years Harvard has received more than 500 applications with double 800 scores and has accepted just under half of them.”

The following is advice from a Legendary Guidance Counselor named Gwyeth Smith Jr. also known as “Smitty”.

Getting In – Q & A

Q: Is it better to get lower grades in more challenging courses than straight A’s in easier classes?

A: The most competitive colleges want it all, but they are especially keen on students who take challenging courses and do well. However, if the AP curriculum is too difficult, go for the lower-level class and make the most of it.

Challenge yourself, but don’t overload or shoot too high.

A: Admissions offices like AP exams because the A average at one high school is a B at another, while AP tests scores are easy to compare.

So yes, take AP courses, delve into them, and study for and take the exams.

Q: Do colleges give preference to students who take advance placement exams?

Q: What is an average SAT/ACT overall score in the USA?

A: Around ACT 25 and SAT 1511 (505) Competitive scores: Total possible 36, 800

ACT = 33 SAT = 2100 (700+) Data shows that retaking tests render

varied results: SAT scores rise and decrease around 40 points each sitting. ACT reports that 55% improve, 23% decrease, 22% stay the same.

Preparation does help

SAT Results for PCS Students

(Class of) 2010 2009

Averages Critical Reading: 680

645 Math: 663 626 Writing: 671 634 Combined 2014 1905

Q: How many times should a student take the SAT/ACT?

Answer : no more than 3 times Take the PSAT 10th grade, see where you

need work. Do some test preparation. Retake the PSAT 11th in Oct. and then take the PCS test prep course in Feb and then your final SAT in March.

Do some self-assessment. If the scores are consistent, retesting probably won’t boost them significantly.

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Home: Welcome Sophomores!

Sophomore Year Calendar Take challenging classes and keep your grades up.� This is one of the

most important years. Continue using the 'test preparation' on this site. Try the PSAT test

early for practice and to see how you do. Use it to project your SAT scores and determine what areas you need to improve

Under "Careers" take the "Personality Type" test, and the "Interest Inventory".� Try to find careers that are good fits for both your personality and interests. See if you can find what college majors will lead to those careers

Keep up extracurricular activities Try to develop a passion when it comes to extracurricular activities, community service, and/or a paid job.�

Start to develop a preliminary list of target schools that you might consider

Plan a challenging junior curriculum. Can you take one or more AP classes Should you take any SAT Subject Tests this year? (Are you taking any AP

Exams (AP World or Foreign Language) or Pre-Calculus (Math 2)? Then sign up for the June, SAT II: Subject Tests (you can sit for two on one day.)�

Begin to develop a resume so you can identify where there might be some weaknesses

Plan a productive summer that will shore up some aspect of your future applications.

Careers

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Careers: what are my interests?

career interest profiler – Holland’s Interest Inventory (RIASEC)

The six personality and work environment types described by Holland are as follows:

Realistic - practical, physical, hands-on, tool-oriented

Investigative - analytical, intellectual, scientific, explorative

Artistic - creative, original, independent, chaotic Social - cooperative, supporting, helping,

healing/nurturing Enterprising - competitive environments, leadership,

persuading Conventional - detail-oriented, organizing, clerical

Careers: Personality Types ( Myers-Briggs Jung’s 16 typology)

Protectors (SJ) ESTJ - Overseer ESFJ - Supporter ISTJ - Examiner ISFJ - Defender Creators (SP) ESTP - Persuader ESFP - Entertainer ISTP - Craftsman ISFP - Artist

Intellectuals (NT) ENTJ - Chief ENTP - Originator INTJ - Strategist INTP - Engineer Visionaries (NF) ENFJ - Mentor ENFP - Advocate INFJ - Confidant INFP - Dreamer

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Resources

Newsweek Spring 2010 Ivy Climbing Presentation Naviance Family Connection