Planning for College 

     Planning for College requires time and patience..  It requires that you research career options and college options for yourself, that you take the ACT or SAT assessments, that you interact with people whom you trust [parents, relatives, peers, friends, counselors, and perhaps teachers and graduates of St. Pius X)  Here are some important ideas to ponder:

     The information provided and the links on the bottom all have to do with the entire college planning process.  Many of your initial questions can be answered in the "Ask Murph or Mariza" FAQ section.

     Most college entrance criteria is the same:  schools want an aspiring student to have a solid core curriculum (4 English, at least 3 math and preferably 4, 4 social studies, at least 3 lab science courses, and preferably 2 foreign language credits).  SPX graduation requirements exceed what is listed.  Some require 4 math and 2 foreign language, such as the University of Missouri system.  If a student is considering an out-of-state school, then meeting the requirements of the state's core curriculum and perhaps a certain ACT/SAT score will suffice.  An appropriate cumulative GPA is an expectation; 3.00 is a good barometer.

     ***The "Campus Visit" link is a good one to visit prior to setting up a campus visit.  I would suggest an individual visit rather than a "Junior Day" or a day that has thousands of students attending.  If you are considering a particular area of study, requesting a meeting with that department is a good idea on your visit day.  Most visits nowadays can be arranged online.

     This resource https://collegesofdistinction.com/  provides much more than an avenue to prestigious schools throughout the United States.  Check it out.

     ***The College Planning Manual takes you through many steps and options to consider as a prospective student or parent of a prospective student.                                                                                                   

The "BIG FUTURE" College Planning Element is a good place to start for a student who is undecided about a college major and a college choice.  It is sponsored by the College Board.  [Entitled on the left as"another College Exploration Site."]
 

ACT and SAT TESTING:

     The ACT and SAT testing dates alternate by month. Registration deadlines are usually about five weeks before the actual test.

ACT testing dates for 2021 - 2022are available at the ACT website:
     http://www.actstudent.org/regist/currentdates.html

     SAT testing dates for 2021 - 2022 are available at the College Board website:
     http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees.html

     If a traditional 4 year school is your primary option, designate 3-5 schools to which you will apply. You might visit their campus summer of sophomore year or during junior year while it is in session. Of these 5, one is your “dream school.” Three are realistic options for you. One is a safety valve type of school that you would be select due to some unforeseen event (unexpected change in finances; parent(s) job loss; natural disaster; serious illness in family; inability to gain acceptance to schools applied, etc.)

     As part of your college application process, depending on where you choose to apply, you may be asked to write one or more essays that are called, for the sake of this discussion, “Personal Essays” or “Personal Statements.” These allow the school’s admissions committee to gain further insights about you that a typical paper résumé does not provide. Many schools consider this ‘personal statement’ to be one, if not the most important part, of your application.  Here are some likely topics:

• Write about how your academic record accurately reflect your potential as a                 student
• Write about the most influential person in your life
• Write about why you think you deserve a scholarship
• Discuss a contemporary controversial social issue and how you would design          a resolution to the issue (if you apply to a Catholic college, you may be              asked to write about a controversial or important religious issue)
• Write a personal statement (this type of essay in intended to give an admissions  or scholarship review committee additional insights about you).            Personal statements can entail:
             - your career goals
             - special talents
             - unique interests
             - your cultural or socioeconomic background
             - a book that impacted your life
             - a significant experience that shaped your life or values or personality

     
Richard Murphy
Director of Counseling