All year long
Concentrate on doing well in your classes. Determining your academic strengths and taking challenging courses will help you prepare for future education and career plans.
Participate in activities and organizations. Develop leadership skills by looking for opportunities to be involved in leadership activities.
Get involved in community service activities.
Take advantage of extra help from your teachers or tutoring if needed.
Get to know your teachers well. Start thinking about whom you might ask to write letters of recommendation for you.

Fall
Register and prepare to take the PSAT.
Begin to research colleges and careers on the internet.
Talk to your parents about your future plans.
Take PSAT in October.
Attend Futures' Fair at Century II in November.
Decide when you will take the ACT this year college testing

Winter
Research financial aid resources on the internet financial aid.
Attend Financial Aid Seminar in January to learn about types of financial aid and how to apply for financial aid.
Use the internet to search for scholarships.
Register and prepare to take the ACT.

Spring
Enroll in courses for senior year that will assist you in preparing for future career and educational plans.
If planning to attend college, be sure you will have completed the Board of Regents Qualified Admissions Curriculum.
If eligible, take CCCC placement exams if interested in taking courses for dual credit next year.

Summer
Obtain a summer job or volunteer in a position related to your career interests.
Visit colleges, schools you are interested in attending after graduation.
Try to save money for college.

PSAT This optional test is for college-bound juniors who want to compare their verbal, math, and writing skills with other college-bound juniors in the nation. It is an optional test but is recommended for college-bound students. This test is used to select National Merit Scholars, a distinction given to those who score in the top one percent nationwide.

WHAT: The PSAT/NMSQT is a multiple choice test that measures verbal, mathematical reasoning, and writing skill abilities important to doing college work. The test includes:

Two verbal sections with a total of 52 questions
Two math sections with a total of 40 questions
One writing skills section with 39 questions
Each verbal and math section takes 25 minutes.
The writing skills section takes 30 minutes.
The entire test takes 2 hours, 10 minutes.

Assess your verbal and mathematical skills.
Compare your ability to do college work with the ability of other students.
Practice taking a college entrance exam.
Improve test-taking strategies.
Participate in the Students Search Service by having your name sent to colleges and government sponsored scholarship programs that are looking for students like you.
Determine your eligibility to participate in the National Merit Scholarship program--juniors only.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at CSHS

HOW: Sign up to take the PSAT in the Guidance Office.

PREPARE: Read and study the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin that provides test taking tips. Answer the sample questions and take the practice test in the Student Bulletin. Check your answers and look at the questions you missed to see if can learn from your mistakes. Check out PSAT preparation books from the Guidance Office. Study test-taking strategies and sample test questions at www.collegeboard.org

RESULTS: Test results will be available in December. You will receive a verbal, math and writing score. You will also receive a report showing the correct answers and the answers you gave and a copy of the test booklet to check your answers with the questions.

QUESTIONS: Ask Mrs. Ronnau.