Putting the Pieces Together to Maximize your
Student’s Scholarship Eligibility
Parent-Student Meeting – 9th, 10th and 11th Grade Families
The Five Key Steps to Success in High School (broken
down by grade level)
Meeting Topics
Campus Resources, Questions and Contact Information
Freshman Recap, Sophomore Recap and Junior Recap
1
2
3
• Mr. Rios and Mrs. Johnson work together to create and maintain a college-bound culture.
• We offer assistance on college, scholarship and financial aid applications for seniors and their families.
• We also provide guidance to 9th, 10th and 11th
grade students and families on preparation for the application process in the senior year.
College Prep at Rider HS
Mr. Rios’ office is
located in the
Technology
Wing upstairs!
Mrs. Johnson’s
office is located
in the Guidance
Office!
The 5 Key Steps to Success in High
School
Five Key Steps to Success in High
School
Challenging Course Selection (Pre-AP and AP courses)
Good work and study habits
Building your G.P.A.
SAT and ACT scores
Being involved in your community
• What does this look like? Does it have to be 5 or 6 or can it even be 2?
• This is going to be different for many people.
• It is not just about accepting the challenge but it is also about how well your student is able to respondto that challenge.
• A benefit of taking these courses is that it maximizes your student’s GPA. The more of them that your student takes, the higher their GPA will be during senior year.
Challenging Course Selection
• Students should always try their hardest in
their classes while being healthy. Have them
take advantage of tutorials and extra help
when it is needed.
• No waiting until the last minute to get your
work done! This can translate to stress for
some students!
• It’s not just about earning that GPA but also
about the work, the rigorous curriculum and
the effort that you put in to earn that GPA.
• If they have not already, have them begin
to set goals and time management skills and
build their work ethic that can allow them to
become strong and dedicated people.
Good Work and Study Habits
The GPA (10th and 11th Grades)
Your student’s semester grades in the courses are what count
toward your child’s GPA. But, keep in mind that their six-week
grades influence that semester grade. These six-week grades
are influenced by test grades and homework grades. It all adds
up!
Pre-AP/AP Courses Dual Credit
11th Grade 10th Grade
Regular/Academic
A (90-100) = 5.0 A = 4.0 A = 4.5 A = 4.0
B (80-89) = 4.0 B = 3.0 B = 3.5 B = 3.0
C (75-79) = 3.0 C = 2.0 C = 2.5 C = 2.0
D (70-74) = 2.0 D = 1.0 D = 1.5 D = 1.0
F (≤69) = 0.0 F = 0.0 F = 0.0 F = 0.0
100-95 94-90 89-85 84-80 79-77 76-75 74-72 71-70 ≤69
Letter Grade A+ A- B+ B- C+ C- D+ D- F
Advanced 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 0
Dual Credit 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1.25 0
Regular 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 1 0
Modified 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 1 0 0 0
The GPA (9th Grade)
The same concept applies: Students should put in
their best efforts at all times. While semester grades
affect GPA, remember that every homework
assignment, quiz and test affects it!
oColleges want to see students who excel in the classroom but make a difference outside of the classroom.
oCommunity service opportunities with churches, community/local organizations and other school groups. Mentoring and being a leader to others are valuable experiences for an academic résumé.
oExtracurricular Activities and/or Athletic Teams (Fine Arts, Music, Spanish Club, Student Council, Class Officers, Sport Teams and Volunteering)
Getting Involved
o Why should we take this test?
• Earning a high score on this test in the junior year can increase
their chances of becoming a National Merit Scholar, which can
turn into serious money for your student and their college
education.
• Taking the PSAT 8/9 as a freshman and/or the PSAT 10 as a
sophomore helps them get acquainted with the test for junior
year when it counts!
• This should be the test of focus for 9th, 10th and 11th grade
students. After the PSAT, juniors should study for the rest of the
fall semester and continue into the spring semester, with plans
to take their first SAT and ACT in the spring. Juniors should not
wait until senior year to begin taking the SAT/ACT exams.
o Taking the PSAT test also prepares you for the SAT exam
The PSAT Test
• The Redesigned SAT….
• Will be the permanent replacement of the current SAT beginning in March
2016
• Should have a generally easier Critical Reading section (No more difficult
vocab words!)
• May have a more difficult Math Section. Divided into Calculator and Non-
Calculator section. (Expect calculator section to be more difficult)
• Essay is optional! (Colleges will likely use it for college/developmental
English placement, however!)
• Start practicing!
• Your student can begin practicing for it at
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat or Khan Academy at
www.khanacademy.org.
What You Need to Know
Redesigned SAT
THE SAT TEST
oMore information at
www.collegeboard.org
o Freshmen students
should aim to score at
least a cumulative score
of 900 (300 in Math, 300
in Critical Reading and
300 in Writing)
oMore information at
www.actstudent.org
o Freshmen students
should aim to score at
least a cumulative score
of 12 on the test
THE ACT TEST
Preparing for the SAT and ACT
The SAT test is best for people who work well with
logical problems but not so well with
timing
The ACT test is better for people
who manage their testing time well and can pace
themselves well
THE SAT TEST
o Sophomores should work
to get a cumulative
score of 1200 (earning
400 points each in the
three sections)
o Sophomores should aim
to score a cumulative
score of 16 on this test
THE ACT TEST
Preparing for the SAT and ACT
THE SAT TEST
o Juniors should work to
score a cumulative
score of 1500 (500 points
in each of the three
sections)
o Juniors should aim to
score a cumulative
score of 21 on this test
THE ACT TEST
Preparing for the SAT and ACT
Junior students can prepare for these exams during SAT/ACT Cram
Sessions, held on select weeks in the Fall and Spring semesters after
school from 3:15-4 in Room 136. The first ACT Cram Session is next
Wednesday, November 11th (ACT English/Writing). The remaining
dates are November 18th (ACT Math), December 2nd (ACT Reading)
and December 9th (ACT Science).
o Start getting involved with school clubs and extracurricular activities, even athletic teams.
o Start making A LIST of your DREAM SCHOOLS and finding out what their requirements are. You can do by researching on websites or through BigFuture at https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/.
o Take the PSAT 8/9 in October
o SAT Projected Score: 900 (300 per section)
oACT Projected Score: 12 composite
Freshman Recap – Getting Started
What are your
resources?
o Begin comparing the requirements of your “Dream Schools”
to what you are doing now. Are you on the right path?
o Begin exploring the concept of leadership if you haven’t
already. Do you have any leadership positions in your
activities or teams? Keep being involved! Leadership can
include leadership positions where you provide help or
support to others.
o Take the PSAT 10 in March
o SAT Projected Score: 1200 (400 per section)
o ACT Projected Score: 16 composite
Sophomore Recap – Moving Along
oEnsuring that you are well on your way to meeting your requirements for your dream schools
o Leadership roles taken?
o This is the year your PSAT/NMSQT score counts! Try your best to do well and qualify for National Merit. After October, focus on studying for SAT/ACT exams and taking them in the spring.
o SAT Projected Score: 1500 (500 per section)
oACT Projected Score: 21 composite
Junior Recap – Halfway There
oBeing college-bound is not dependent on how much money you make or how “smart” you are.
o It comes down to how hard you work and your drive to be successful.
oWhat is success for your students? Happiness? Financial stability? Encourage your students to define what success means to them.
Preparing for College
oStart building your case to scholarship committees NOW: why should they be offering you awards?
o If you invest time and effort into your high school education, universities are more likely to invest money into your college education.
Scholarship Eligibility
Scholarship offers are a
school’s way of placing a bet
on you. Make yourself a safe
bet!
oYou should consider what is best for your interests, mental health, and pocketbook.
o But don’t count schools out based on the price tag…
oA 4-year degree should take you four years (or less)
to complete!
Best-Fit Schools
• It should not be a
locked secret!
• Getting Involved with
extracurricular activities
and community service
is a key ingredient to
earn scholarship
money!
• However, another piece
to the puzzle is the
academic side of it all.
• Don’t forget to encourage
your student to work hard
in classes and on the
PSAT/SAT/ACT exams. This
is another important factor
in earning that serious
scholarship money!
• Following these five key
steps can solve the
puzzle in how your
students can embrace
themselves for earning
scholarship money
during their senior year!
High School Transition to CollegePutting the Pieces Together for the Future
• Mr. Rios and Mrs. Johnson are here to help your students:
• Register and outline resources for studying for the SAT and ACT exams
• Develop an academic resume to prepare for college admissions and
scholarship organizations
• Research your student’s colleges that match their academic profiles
and career interests
• Understand the importance of the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT
exams
• Facilitate opportunities to connect your students with college
representatives
• Provide expertise on your child’s progress in the college preparation
progress in accordance with their goals and grade levels
Campus Resources
• Ms. Kevy Bass
• Room 245
• (940) 235-1077 ext. 31076
Campus Resources
Parents must provide a signed consent form for their student to receive
CIS services!!!
Points of Contact
Carlos C. Rios
ASP College Advisor
Ext. 31033
Julie B. Johnson
College & Career
Counselor
Ext. 31074
Brittany Bailey
Counselor A – D
Ext. 31012
Wendy Risner
Counselor E – Le
Ext. 31011
Stephanie Schelter
Counselor Li – Ri
Ext. 31016
Jill Lauck
Counselor Ro – Z
Ext. 31015
Any Questions???