National Center For College Planning

Top 10 SAT and ACT Test-Taking Tips

2011-03-02T08:24:00.001-08:00

Brought to you by the American School Counselor Association

1. Be Equipped
On the night before the test you should gather everything you'll need: the admission ticket, a valid form of photo identification, several #2 pencils, a calculator with fresh batteries (for the SAT only), a watch, and a high-energy snack.

2. Don't Cram
You've worked hard. The best thing to do the evening before the test is to get a good night's sleep. You've covered the content and you've perfected the skills. Now it's time to get in test mode -- calm, rested, confident, and ready.

3. Dress in Layers
The climate in test centers can vary from sauna-like to frigid. Be prepared for both extremes and everything in-between. You need to be comfortable to do your best.

4. Arrive Early
You may want to scope out your test location before test day to ensure that you know where you're going. Getting to the test should be the least of your concerns.

5. Don't Spend too Much Time on One Question
Each question is worth the same number of points. If a question is confusing or too time-consuming, don't lose your cool. Instead, move on to greener pastures. You can come back to hard questions if you have time at the end of a section.

6. Don't Look for Unscored Questions/Sections
The experimental section on the SAT is well-camouflaged. Sometimes the ACT contains experimental questions that are scattered throughout the sections. Do your best on every question--that way, you're covered.

7. Keep Track of Where You Are in a Section
On the SAT, obvious answer choices early in a set may be correct. Obvious choices near the end of a set are often booby traps.

8. Guess Aggressively
If you don't know an answer, don't leave the question blank or guess randomly. Eliminate the choices you know are wrong, then make an educated guess from the remaining options. Remember, if you can eliminate even one answer choice then it pays to guess on the SAT. On the ACT, students aren't penalized for guessing. Only the correct answers count toward their score, so it is better to guess than leave a blank.

9. Be Careful Filling in the Answer Grid
Make sure you're filling in answers next to the right numbers.

10. Relax
Your attitude and outlook is crucial to your test-day performance. Be confident.

Until next week...

Fall is Here - We Can Help to Make Things Clear!

2010-10-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

Fall has been steadily gaining ground on us. October is here, the leaves are changing, the days are crisper and the nights are getting cooler! It's time to pull out the sweaters from the dresser to keep cozy from the slight chill in the air. School has been in session for a few weeks now. Your child is likely in the full swing of things with academis and activities. Your child may already be immersed in football practice, after-school rehearsals for theatre or any of the various clubs that are available.

There are many tasks that need to be accomplished to order to keep your child on track to getting into college. It can be confusing, tedious and overwhelming at times. In order to bring clarity to the chaos, allow us to help in various ways to make life just a little easier for you.

You'll find this newsletter divided into sections so you can go directly to the area that most relates to where your child is in his/her academic development. If you have more than one child in high school, feel free to look over all the sections that pertain to your children. We know firsthand how much needs to be done in order to reach the goal of college attendance. Please consider us your comprehensive resource for knowledge and guidance through the process. Feel free to ask any questions along the way.

FRESHMAN YEAR

If your child is starting the first year of high school, now is the time to get a head start on all that is needed to be done in the next four years. You will find that the time and effort you put in now will pay dividends in the years to come. As they say, it's never too early to start.

· Begin now to save for college

If you haven't done so already, start planning now on how you would like to set aside the money you want to contribute to your child's college education. This is a discussion you can also have with your child. Have him/her offer insights into ways that s/he can also help to save for college.

· Surf the web or go to the library

One of the easiest ways to find out information on colleges and universities is on the internet. Begin browsing now for colleges that you have heard of through friends or colleagues. You can also go the library and ask for information from the reference librarian.

· Get organized with your child's studies and activities

Make and keep schedules. This is essential when it comes to staying on top of everything you need to do. If you have a schedule and it is updated, your child will not miss activities or appointments that are important towards the goal of getting into college. Use a planner to write down tasks for each day. Encourage your child to do the same.

· If you have already saved money for college, then it's never too early to get your financial plan together

Protect the money you've saved. If you have money saved outside of your company's retirement plan, research strategies to make sure those dollars aren't assessed against you in a negative way.

SOPHOMORE YEAR

If your child is currently in his/her sophomore year, you will want to continue to develop the foundation that was set during freshman year. There is a lot that can be accomplished during sophomore year that will help towards the goal of attending college.

· Encourage your child to participate in extra-curricular activities

This may or may not be an easy task depending on the temperament of your child. You may have a gregarious child who wants to be involved in every choir and every club there is out there. Or, you may have a child who is much more reserved. Finding balance is essential. College admissions officers want to see well-rounded applicants who are involved in varied activities. Find one that is interesting and suitable for your child.

· Keep a record of extra-curricular activities

Make sure you keep a log of all accomplishments related to extra-curricular activities. And, make sure that your child understands that the level of involvement and achievement in that particular activity is most important - not the number of clubs or groups.

· Take the PSAT

The PSAT is administered this month. The PSAT is a preliminary test that provides students with practice for the SAT. Your child can also enroll in the PSAT/NMSQT. This stands for the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It gives students a chance to enter the National Merit Scholarship Corporation scholarship programs.

· Keep an eye out for college fairs

College fairs are offered at different times of the year. Some are only offered in the fall and it's important to find out which ones pertain to your child's particular interests. If there is one in your area in the fall, find out the particulars to see if you would like to attend.

· Protect your money!

You've worked hard for your money. Protect that money by talking with us about keeping those dollars out-of-sight from the financial aid formulas.

JUNIOR YEAR

Junior year is usually marked by confidence and assurance. Your child has already logged in two years of high school and is more than halfway done. Things will begin to get busier, so make sure you are organized and on top of all the activities that lie ahead.

· Take the PSAT

The PSAT is offered this month. It's also important to note that the junior year PSAT scores may qualify your child for the National Merit Scholarship Competition, in addition to the National Achievement and National Hispanic Scholars Programs. These scores are not taken into consideration for college but they are very good practice for the SAT.

· Help your child to stay on track with studying

It's very important for your child to do his/her best in school. Help by making sure that regular time is spent on studying. Be an engaged parent. Ask how each day has been and find out when exams and large projects are due.

· Take challenging elective courses

Encourage your child to take extra math, science or language courses as part of his/her course load.

· Request materials from schools that are of interest to your child

Keep a list of colleges that your child is interested in and contact the schools to get further information. You can usually request online or call to request the materials. Take time to peruse the materials and then make another list of colleges that you think you'd like to visit.

· Get your financial game plan in place!

Guard the money you've worked so hard to put away. You want to protect what you've saved for your child. Perhaps you have money either in mutual funds, bonds, stocks, or CDs. Those funds are typically calculated against you in the financial aid formulas. However, by working with us, there may be ways of protecting those assets so that they won't be held against you.

SENIOR YEAR

Senior year is finally here. It is a big year full of deadlines and paperwork. It is imperative to stay organized throughout the process. This will only make things easier for you down the road. Senior year is also very busy so be sure to take care of yourself and your family in terms of rest and staying healthy.

· Attend a regional college fair

Find out which college fairs are available in your area and make a point to attend. There may be colleges that are on your child's list of Top 10 colleges. This is a great time to further investigate the schools of interest and ask questions of the financial aid and admissions officers.

· Send in applications now for early admission

Now is the time to send in your child's applications if s/he wishes to be considered for early admission or early action. Please remember that if your child is accepted into the school then s/he is expected to enroll in that school and withdraw all other applications. This could have a negative impact on your financial aid offer so just keep that in mind before you apply early decision. Please contact us if you have any questions on how early admission works and the pros/cons of going down this road.

· Double check with the guidance counselor regarding transcripts and test scores

Make certain that your child's transcripts and test scores are in queue to be sent to the colleges on his/her application list.

· Have official test scores sent

Request that the testing agency send your child's official test scores to the colleges on his/her list.

· Register for the December/January SAT Reasoning Test and/or SAT Subject Tests or the December ACT

This is a good idea to register for these tests if the previous test scores were not up to your child's standards. Here's another chance to re-take and do better.

· Keep your money safe from Financial Aid Formulas!

We are here to help protect the money you've worked so hard to put away for this important occasion.

Fall is here and the season reflects a time of change. Changes and transitions are a necessary part of life. Let us help with these changes and transitions as your child prepares to attend college. Our job is to help to lighten your load. Call on us with any questions that come up along the way.

2010-10-11T06:01:00.000-07:00

10 Money Tips for Students

1. Spend less than you earn. Don't earn much? Then don't spend much. If your spending and income are roughly even, you have two choices: earn more or spend less

2. Be an outstanding employee. Good work habits can pay enormous dividends, leading to recommendations and contacts that you can use after you're out of school. Many students turn work-study jobs into launching pads for future careers.

3. Don't get a credit card unless you absolutely need one. Don't be a sucker. Those guys sitting behind the sign-up table are not there to help you. They're there to make money.

4. Avoid non-academic debt. It might seem like a good idea to put that Xbox on a credit card, but it's not. Focus on developing good money skills with cash. Worry about credit later.

5. Save and then splurge. If you decide you must have that Xbox, then save for it. Wait until you can pay cash.

6. Pay your bills on time. Basic advice, but it's surprising how many people lose track of things. If you pay your bills as they arrive, you won't have to worry about forgetting them.

7. Track your spending. Use a notebook, or use Quicken if you have it. Good records will prevent you from getting overdrawn at the bank or charging more than your credit limit. This habit also allows you to detect spending patterns.

8. Make a budget. It doesn't have to be fancy. At the start of the month, estimate how much money you'll receive and decide where needs to go. Remember: you don't need to spend it all.

9. Save your receipts. Put them in a shoebox under your bed if you must, but hold onto them. You'll need to be able to compare them with statements at the end of the month. And some you'll need to keep for several years.

10. Guard your vital stats. Don't give out your social security number or your credit card info except to known and trusted sources.

Want to get paid for doing community service? It's easy!

2010-07-20T14:16:00.000-07:00

Tell your friends (and their parents) about how we help people pay for college without going broke and earn $100 for each family who joins our NCCP family.

We're helping students get into some of the best colleges in the country, saving their parents thousands of dollars every year, and educating hundreds of others on how to have a fighting chance planning for college. All of these are valuable services to the community! And by helping us help more of them, you are performing community service too - and getting some extra cash in the process!

Here are some ways you can help spread the word:

Tell your friends (you do have friends, right?) about your experience as a client of ours - DISCOVER, resume prep, essay critique, interview prep, help with applications and financial aid, etc.

Talk to your counselors, teachers, coaches, and principals and ask them to invite us in to speak to the school staff and the parents during a financial aid night. - It's FREE!

Make sure everybody in the clubs you belong to knows about us. Have them mention your name with they get in touch.
Make up some flyers and post them around campus, at Starbucks, or wherever you hang out - make sure we can tell who to credit for the referral or we won't know it was you!

Chat us up on Facebook, Twitter, etc. Tell them to mention your name when scheduling an appointment with us.
Text your friends and tell them to mention us to their parents the next time they start talking about college - ask them to check out the website www.YourCollegePlanners.com.

Talk to your youth pastor at church and ask him to let us come do a free educational workshop for them on how to make college affordable for everybody.

Of course there are many more way to get the word out, but you're smart - be creative and have some fun with it. There's no limit to what you can earn! You can literally add thousands to your pocket while helping people save a fortune (and becoming their hero in the process!). Can you do that at your job now? No way!

So are you up for the challenge? Let's start a movement and see what can happen!

Take Advantage of Volunteer and Community Service Projects

2010-07-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

One way to "beef up" your resume and to gain insight into possible majors and careers is to work in a volunteer or community service capacity over the summer. Taking up a service project for a few hours, days or weeks will help you to get a feel for what a particular career involves and will also allow you to give back to your community. The two degrees of volunteering are Active and Passive.

Active volunteering is when a student creates and leads a project and carries it through to the end. For example, a student from Minnesota started a non-profit organization that collected used computers and refurbished them. The computers were then donated with internet access to economically disadvantaged families in the community. This experience required hours of investment and energy.

A Passive volunteer experience is donating time to different experiences on a smaller level. An example of this type of volunteering is a walk-a-thon where only a few hours are served or helping in a hospital or summer school program. Although possibly a passive volunteer experience, it will help students to understand the positions offered at these institutions and may influence their decision to pursue these types of careers.

Also, in addition to building character, on-going community service and volunteerism shows a commitment that many colleges value. It could give your application the extra edge over competition that you may need to be admitted to the college of your choice. There are also many scholarships available based on community service.

Finally, if you cannot find a way to volunteer in a setting of your choice, you should commit to spending a few hours chatting with someone in a position you are interested in to gain some valuable extra insight into that field.

Recommendation Letters

2010-07-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

Recommendation letters are often used by students during the college admission and job application processes. Some graduate schools may even require prospective students to have at least two letters of recommendation during their admissions process. Writing a recommendation letter for someone else is a huge responsibility and getting everything just right is important. If you are hoping to get a shining recommendation from a teacher, employer or mentor, here are some tips to guide you in the process.

1) Make sure you choose a person to provide your recommendation that knows your strengths.

2) Give information to the teacher, employer or mentor about who will receive the recommendation and why they are writing it. Few people write outstanding recommendations well, either because they don't know you well enough or because they don't want to be bothered. If you help them by providing answers relating to it, they will feel more comfortable in the process.

3) Make sure you give the recommender plenty of time to write up the recommendation.

4) Lastly, thank the person for the outstanding recommendation.

Hope you found this information helpful.

Marital Status Matters

2010-06-14T05:22:00.000-07:00

How your divorce can affect your child’s financial aid

By Jason Flurry, CFP, president of the National
Center For College Planning

If you’ve never been divorced, chances are you at least
know somebody who is or was. It’s a far too common
situation these days. And we all know how divorce affects
the kids involved, but what most people don’t know is how
it affects your ability to qualify for fi nancial aid during the
college years. It does make a difference, so here’s what you
need to know.

If you are divorced and operating as a single parent, be
careful when you complete fi nancial aid forms, like the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In most cases,
they are “household-only” forms. Although the forms often ask
about other family members in the questions, don’t include
them or their numbers in your answers. Doing so will overstate
your estimated ability to pay for college and reduce your
award package. They must live in the house with you to
make a difference for fi nancial aid purposes.

If you are divorced and remarried, the rules change a bit.
You and your new spouse have to complete the forms with
your combined household info. Even if the child’s other
biological parent is actively involved, do not include him
or her on your form. It can get a little complicated trying to
understand what goes where sometimes with child support,
college savings plans and other resources involved, but keep
only your own household in mind as you go through the
process. It will help keep you focused.

Naturally, there are situations where the non-custodial
parent’s information matters (private colleges are known to
do this more than public universities), and you need to be
aware of how other important pieces of the puzzle factor
in before fi ling for fi nancial aid. It would be a shame to
accidentally disqualify yourself from money you would have
received otherwise and limit your child’s opportunities for
the future in the process. You’ve worked too hard to let that
happen!