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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I missed the PSAT in October. Can I still take the test?
If you did not take the test because of illness, an emergency, or other
extenuating circumstances, you may still be able to enter the NMSC
competition. Write to: National Merit Scholarship Corporation, 1560
Sherman Avenue, Suite 200, Evanston, IL 60201-4897 as soon as
possible but no later than March 1. Telephone: 847-866-5100.
What is the Difference between the SAT and ACT?
The SAT is divided into three sections: critical reading, math and writing
The ACT has four parts: English, math, reading and science. An optional
writing section also has been added The SAT is 3 hours and 45 minutes
and the ACT is 2 hours and 55 minutes plus a 30-minute optional writing
test.
Should I take the SAT or ACT?
The SAT is often taken on the East and West coasts. The ACT is popular
in the South and Mid-West. It can't hurt to take both tests. The ACT covers
science and trigonometry. The SAT stresses vocabulary more than the
ACT. Try a sample test and see which one works best for you. Go to: www.
collegeboard.com or www.actstudent.org
Will most colleges accept an SAT or ACT score?
Yes.
What is the difference between the SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject
Tests?
The SAT reasoning test included critical reading, math and writing.
The SAT Subject Tests include tests in a variety of subject areas. (math,
history, science, foreign language, etc.) Not all colleges require the SAT
Subject Tests. More selective colleges often require the SAT Subject
Tests.
Are there any four year colleges that do not require the SATs?
Yes. The following colleges offer a test-optional alternative:
Bard, Bates, Bowdoin, Denison, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Lewis
and Clark College, Mount Holyoke, Saint John's College, Sarah Lawrence
and Union College and many others.
Some colleges are test optional if you have a certain GPA or class rank.
Additional information is available at: www.fairtest.org
If I want to play Division 1 or Division 2 sports in college, what do I need
to do?
Check the NCAA website for information. www.ncaa.org
When should I take the PSAT?
Juniors interested in attending a four year college should take the PSAT in
October of the junior year. Many sophomores like to take the test as well.
The test is only offered in October at your high school. National merit
scholars will be selected from the PSAT test scores of juniors, not
sophomores.
How do students become National Merit Semi-finalists?
Students need to take the PSAT in the junior year and receive a high score
on the test. (99%) Your high school will notify you if you are a national
merit semi-finalist or a commended student. Semi-finalists may compete
for National Merit scholarships. See the National Merit Scholarship
section on this web site for more information.
How do I appeal a college decision?
Check the college web site for information. You need to write a letter
giving your reasons for appealing the decision. New information should
be provided. See the Appealing a Decision page for more information.
Is it better to get an "A" in a regular course or a "B" in an AP course?
It's best to get an "A" in an AP course. Selective colleges want you to
challenge yourself and take AP courses. The student who has all "A's"
without any AP courses will not be competitive. If your high school does
not offer many APs, you could take a course at a local community college
or check into an online course.
How many colleges should I apply to?
It depends. If you are realistic and your Guidance Counselor is
comfortable with your choices and you have done some research, you
may not need to apply to more than a few colleges. However, if you are
looking at selective colleges, you must apply to a variety of colleges. If
Harvard, Yale and Stanford are your top choices and you have a 4.6 GPA
and very high SAT scores, you will not be guaranteed a spot. Use a
current edition of a good college guide (College Handbook, Fiske Guide
to Colleges) to check on the middle SAT scores for each college.
Remember, no colleges wants to fill the freshman class only with 4.00
students. They like a balanced class and your talent, interests and
passions will be considered. Today, many students apply to eight or ten
colleges or many more.
What is a College Profile?
Colleges provide a profile of their students background, academics, rank,
SAT and ACT scores, acceptance rate, and other statistics. This
information is often sent to the high school Guidance Office. Some
colleges make it available for students. Ask for it. It's very helpful to see
the profile.
Can I request an interview?
Some private colleges provide interviews with alumni. If the college offers
interviews, you will be contacted after you complete your application.
Students who mail their applications early will have the best chance for an
interview.
How early can I apply to college?
Many colleges make their applications available online during summer.
Check the website frequently. Colleges vary on the time they release the
application. Make sure you are filling out a current application and not one
from the previous year.
Which factors are the most important in the admission decisions?
Grades in college prep courses, admission test scores, grades in all
subjects, class rank, essay or writing sample, teacher recommendation,
counselor recommendation, interview, work/extracurricular activities.
(Listed in order)
How do I know which colleges offer majors in various fields?
The College Board Book of Majors lists all the majors on college
campuses in the United States.
Where can I find accurate information on various colleges?
The College Handbook by College Board provides information on every
two and four-year college in the United States. Most colleges also have a
web site.
Are there any books that indicate what the college atmosphere is really
like?
The Fiske Guide to Colleges provides information on over 300 colleges.
Princeton Review’s The Best 371 Colleges is also helpful.
The Insider's Guide To The Colleges provides comments from students.
Do any colleges have programs for students with learning disabilities?
Yes. Many colleges have programs for students with disabilities. The
K&W Guide To Colleges For Students With Learning Disabilities or
Attention Deficit Disorder by Kravets and Wax provides information on
these programs. See the Colleges for Learning Disabled Student's
section on this website.
Where can I get information on college sports programs?
The NCAA website provides information for high school athletes. www.
ncaa.org
How do I calculate my grade point average?
In order to calculate your academic grade point average for college, you
need to know which courses are college prep courses. Your transcript
should indicate this information.
Academic courses in grades 10 and 11 are used to compute the
academic GPA. An A= 4 points, B=3 points, C=2 points and a D=1 point.
Then count the semester courses and add the total grade points. Also
add an extra point for each honors or AP course. Take the total points and
divide by the total courses. Example: A's = 10 x4 = 40; B's = 12x3= 36. 22
total courses (10+12) and 76 grade points (40+36) + 2 AP courses= 78
divided by 22 equals 3.5 GPA.
What is a Midyear Report?
Private colleges and universities usually want a Midyear Report. After the
end of the first semester or second trimester of the senior year, colleges
want the Guidance Counselor to submit a report which includes the
student's grades from the first semester of the senior year. The Guidance
Counselor also has an opportunity to submit additional information if
there have been any substantial additions or changes in the student's
academic or extracurricular record. A copy of the MidYear Report is
available on the Common Application at www.commonapp.org
Can the teacher send in a Letter of Recommendation before I send the
application?
Yes. Papers arrive at different times and everything will be kept in your file.
If the file is incomplete, the college will contact you as well as your high
school guidance counselor.
If I take the SAT in December, will the colleges receive it in time?
It depends. You need to check the college website to determine the last
date to take the SAT. If you plan to apply Early Decision or Early Action,
you need to complete your testing by the October date.
What is CLEP?
It is a College-Level Examination Program in undergraduate courses.
Students have an opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement. It
is sponsored by College Board. www.collegeboard.com
Is there a Common Application for Black Colleges?
Yes. Students may apply to 33 Black Colleges with one application. The
onetime fee is $35 which allows you to apply to all the member
institutions. www.eduinconline.com
I am an International Student and I would like to study in the United
States. Where do I begin?
The College Board book: International Student Handbook is very helpful.
U.S. Network for Educational Information www.ed.gov/NLE/USNEI
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Dept. Of State
www.educationusa.state.gov
I missed the PSAT in October. Can I still take the test?
If you did not take the test because of illness, an emergency, or other
extenuating circumstances, you may still be able to enter the NMSC
competition. Write to: National Merit Scholarship Corporation, 1560
Sherman Avenue, Suite 200, Evanston, IL 60201-4897 as soon as
possible but no later than March 1. Telephone: 847-866-5100.
What is the Difference between the SAT and ACT?
The SAT is divided into three sections: critical reading, math and writing
The ACT has four parts: English, math, reading and science. An optional
writing section also has been added The SAT is 3 hours and 45 minutes
and the ACT is 2 hours and 55 minutes plus a 30-minute optional writing
test.
Should I take the SAT or ACT?
The SAT is often taken on the East and West coasts. The ACT is popular
in the South and Mid-West. It can't hurt to take both tests. The ACT covers
science and trigonometry. The SAT stresses vocabulary more than the
ACT. Try a sample test and see which one works best for you. Go to: www.
collegeboard.com or www.actstudent.org
Will most colleges accept an SAT or ACT score?
Yes.
What is the difference between the SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject
Tests?
The SAT reasoning test included critical reading, math and writing.
The SAT Subject Tests include tests in a variety of subject areas. (math,
history, science, foreign language, etc.) Not all colleges require the SAT
Subject Tests. More selective colleges often require the SAT Subject
Tests.
Are there any four year colleges that do not require the SATs?
Yes. The following colleges offer a test-optional alternative:
Bard, Bates, Bowdoin, Denison, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Lewis
and Clark College, Mount Holyoke, Saint John's College, Sarah Lawrence
and Union College and many others.
Some colleges are test optional if you have a certain GPA or class rank.
Additional information is available at: www.fairtest.org
If I want to play Division 1 or Division 2 sports in college, what do I need
to do?
Check the NCAA website for information. www.ncaa.org
When should I take the PSAT?
Juniors interested in attending a four year college should take the PSAT in
October of the junior year. Many sophomores like to take the test as well.
The test is only offered in October at your high school. National merit
scholars will be selected from the PSAT test scores of juniors, not
sophomores.
How do students become National Merit Semi-finalists?
Students need to take the PSAT in the junior year and receive a high score
on the test. (99%) Your high school will notify you if you are a national
merit semi-finalist or a commended student. Semi-finalists may compete
for National Merit scholarships. See the National Merit Scholarship
section on this web site for more information.
How do I appeal a college decision?
Check the college web site for information. You need to write a letter
giving your reasons for appealing the decision. New information should
be provided. See the Appealing a Decision page for more information.
Is it better to get an "A" in a regular course or a "B" in an AP course?
It's best to get an "A" in an AP course. Selective colleges want you to
challenge yourself and take AP courses. The student who has all "A's"
without any AP courses will not be competitive. If your high school does
not offer many APs, you could take a course at a local community college
or check into an online course.
How many colleges should I apply to?
It depends. If you are realistic and your Guidance Counselor is
comfortable with your choices and you have done some research, you
may not need to apply to more than a few colleges. However, if you are
looking at selective colleges, you must apply to a variety of colleges. If
Harvard, Yale and Stanford are your top choices and you have a 4.6 GPA
and very high SAT scores, you will not be guaranteed a spot. Use a
current edition of a good college guide (College Handbook, Fiske Guide
to Colleges) to check on the middle SAT scores for each college.
Remember, no colleges wants to fill the freshman class only with 4.00
students. They like a balanced class and your talent, interests and
passions will be considered. Today, many students apply to eight or ten
colleges or many more.
What is a College Profile?
Colleges provide a profile of their students background, academics, rank,
SAT and ACT scores, acceptance rate, and other statistics. This
information is often sent to the high school Guidance Office. Some
colleges make it available for students. Ask for it. It's very helpful to see
the profile.
Can I request an interview?
Some private colleges provide interviews with alumni. If the college offers
interviews, you will be contacted after you complete your application.
Students who mail their applications early will have the best chance for an
interview.
How early can I apply to college?
Many colleges make their applications available online during summer.
Check the website frequently. Colleges vary on the time they release the
application. Make sure you are filling out a current application and not one
from the previous year.
Which factors are the most important in the admission decisions?
Grades in college prep courses, admission test scores, grades in all
subjects, class rank, essay or writing sample, teacher recommendation,
counselor recommendation, interview, work/extracurricular activities.
(Listed in order)
How do I know which colleges offer majors in various fields?
The College Board Book of Majors lists all the majors on college
campuses in the United States.
Where can I find accurate information on various colleges?
The College Handbook by College Board provides information on every
two and four-year college in the United States. Most colleges also have a
web site.
Are there any books that indicate what the college atmosphere is really
like?
The Fiske Guide to Colleges provides information on over 300 colleges.
Princeton Review’s The Best 371 Colleges is also helpful.
The Insider's Guide To The Colleges provides comments from students.
Do any colleges have programs for students with learning disabilities?
Yes. Many colleges have programs for students with disabilities. The
K&W Guide To Colleges For Students With Learning Disabilities or
Attention Deficit Disorder by Kravets and Wax provides information on
these programs. See the Colleges for Learning Disabled Student's
section on this website.
Where can I get information on college sports programs?
The NCAA website provides information for high school athletes. www.
ncaa.org
How do I calculate my grade point average?
In order to calculate your academic grade point average for college, you
need to know which courses are college prep courses. Your transcript
should indicate this information.
Academic courses in grades 10 and 11 are used to compute the
academic GPA. An A= 4 points, B=3 points, C=2 points and a D=1 point.
Then count the semester courses and add the total grade points. Also
add an extra point for each honors or AP course. Take the total points and
divide by the total courses. Example: A's = 10 x4 = 40; B's = 12x3= 36. 22
total courses (10+12) and 76 grade points (40+36) + 2 AP courses= 78
divided by 22 equals 3.5 GPA.
What is a Midyear Report?
Private colleges and universities usually want a Midyear Report. After the
end of the first semester or second trimester of the senior year, colleges
want the Guidance Counselor to submit a report which includes the
student's grades from the first semester of the senior year. The Guidance
Counselor also has an opportunity to submit additional information if
there have been any substantial additions or changes in the student's
academic or extracurricular record. A copy of the MidYear Report is
available on the Common Application at www.commonapp.org
Can the teacher send in a Letter of Recommendation before I send the
application?
Yes. Papers arrive at different times and everything will be kept in your file.
If the file is incomplete, the college will contact you as well as your high
school guidance counselor.
If I take the SAT in December, will the colleges receive it in time?
It depends. You need to check the college website to determine the last
date to take the SAT. If you plan to apply Early Decision or Early Action,
you need to complete your testing by the October date.
What is CLEP?
It is a College-Level Examination Program in undergraduate courses.
Students have an opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement. It
is sponsored by College Board. www.collegeboard.com
Is there a Common Application for Black Colleges?
Yes. Students may apply to 33 Black Colleges with one application. The
onetime fee is $35 which allows you to apply to all the member
institutions. www.eduinconline.com
I am an International Student and I would like to study in the United
States. Where do I begin?
The College Board book: International Student Handbook is very helpful.
U.S. Network for Educational Information www.ed.gov/NLE/USNEI
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Dept. Of State
www.educationusa.state.gov
Frequently Asked College Planning Questions