ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, September 3, 1996 TAG: 9609030031
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Class Notes
SOURCE: HALE SHEIKERZ
School may just have started, but already juniors and seniors are being reminded of some important dates, such as the SATs, PSATs and college application deadlines. Counselors at area high schools are offering a variety of assistance to students, such as SAT-prep courses, college workshops and information sessions about financial aid and scholarship, career planning and after high school job search.
Many area school counselors provide juniors and seniors with handbooks, bulletins and timelines to help them with the process of getting ready for college, post-secondary school or a career. Counselors also do workshops regularly throughout the year. Students are encouraged to attend information sessions and ask questions.
Following is information that college-bound high school seniors, as well as juniors and parents, need to be familiar with.
College entrance exams: What are they?
College entrance exams, such as the SATs, are standardized tests that colleges and universities consider as part of the admissions process. Colleges use test scores from students across the country as comparative data when they evaluate students from different high schools.
ACT - American College Testing Program: A three-hour test measuring understanding and ability in English usage, mathematical usage, reading comprehension and science reasoning. ACT is offered in the spring and fall.
SAT I: Reasoning Tests - A three-hour test measuring student's verbal and mathematical abilities. Testing is usually done the spring of the junior year and repeated in the fall of the senior year.
SAT II: Subject Tests - These are one-hour subject matter tests, formerly called the Achievement Tests. These tests also are taken in the junior and senior years. Students who are considering applying early decision to colleges and universities may need to complete these tests in their junior year. The SAT II is required by selective colleges.
For example, at Virginia Tech the SAT II is used for placement purposes only. Students applying to the University of Virginia are required to take the SAT II writing, mathematics and another subject as part of the admissions process. At the College of William and Mary, students are required to take SAT II writing.
PSAT/NMSQT - This a preliminary SAT test that also measures students' verbal and mathematical abilities. Students take this test in the fall of their junior year, giving them experience with the types of questions they will face on the SAT. Scores from the PSAT are not reported to colleges, however, the PSAT scores gives students the opportunity to qualify for National Merit Scholarship competition consideration.
Test dates
SAT I and SAT II: Oct. 12, Nov. 2, Dec. 7, Jan. 25, May 3, June 7
SAT I: March 15
PSAT: Oct. 15 or Oct. 19 (each school selects one date; check with your school for the date)
College Day at NRCC
High school students from Radford and Montgomery, Floyd, Pulaski and Giles counties are invited to attend College Day at New River Valley Community College Sept. 16 from 9 to 11 a.m. Representatives from 60 colleges and universities in Virginia, as well as Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky and Florida, will attend. Students should check with their schools for details regarding attendance. The program is sponsored by the Virginia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
NRCC offers SAT prep course
New River Community College is offering a six-week review course for the SAT. The course will provide helpful hints, tips and short cuts to help students cover all SAT material. Topics on the test will be explained and reviewed.
The course will be offered in Godbey Hall on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The course starts Sept. 21 and ends Oct. 26, one week before the Nov. 2 test date. Course fee is $70. For information, call 292 at any of the following numbers: 674-3600, 382-4595, 921-4595 or 745-4595.
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