Trade schools

1
Topics

• Trade schools
• 2-year schools
• 4-year schools
• Public vs. Private
• PSAT, SAT, SAT II, ACT
• Courses
• HACC Senior Year
• Grades/GPA
• Applying to College
• Acceptance
• Timetable

2
Trade Schools
Advantages
Disadvantages

• Career Specific Courses
• Gain hands-on experience in your chosen field
• Employers who hire workers with vocational
  credentials expect their need for such employment
  to increase
• Most times a Bachelors degree is not necessary

• Very specific training, less diversity
• In relation to colleges and universities, less
  choices
• Most times a Bachelors degree is not offered
• Can be costly

http//www.wyotech.com/ http//www.pct.edu/
3
2-year Schools
Advantages
Disadvantages

• Several options after 2 years
• Begin work earlier
• Often less stressful environment
• Ability to commute
• Often less strenuous work
• Smaller classes

• Not a bachelors degree
• May not finish with a degree
• Credits may not always transfer
• Less prestigious

4
4-year Schools
Advantages
Disadvantages

• Bachelors degree
• More prestige
• College life
• Ability to change majors
• Ability to enter Graduate School

• Bigger in size
• Moving away from home
• Cost
• 4 years

5
Public vs. Private Schools
Public
Private

• Less Costly
• Name Recognition
• Focused Majors

• More choices
• Often have smaller classes
• More financial aid packages
• Liberal Arts

6
PSAT, SAT, SAT II, ACT

• What exactly are they, and why are they important?

7
PSAT/NMSQT

• Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship
  Qualifying Test
• Measures
• critical reading skills
• math problem-solving skills
• writing skills
• Ideal for college bound juniors or sophomores

www.collegeboard.com
8
SAT

• Newest version beginning March 12th, 2005
• Math, Critical Reading(verbal) and Writing(new)
• Scoring range of 200-800 on all 3 sections
• Most schools require for acceptance (or ACT)
• Start taking as a junior, ideally in the spring
  of junior year

www.collegeboard.com
9
SAT II

• Also known as subject tests
• Math, Biology, Language, Listening, and Writing
• Most often required for specific majors
• Usually required by higher tiered schools

www.collegeboard.com
10
ACT

• Multiple choice test
• Covers English, mathematics, reading, and
  science.
• Optional writing section
• Score range from 1-36
• Most schools require for acceptance (or SAT)
• Start taking as a junior, ideally in the spring
  of junior year

www.act.org
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Course to take at Halifax
Required
Suggested

• 4 years of English, and Social Studies
• 4 years of Math and Science
• 2 credits of humanities

• 4 years of math, AT LEAST Algebra II
• 2 years required of a language, 3 is preferable
  and 4 is optimal
• Electives should include upper level science,
  math and social studies
• Minimum of Academic level in all courses.
• Honors and AP classes if possible

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Your Senior Year at HACC

• Recommendation of superintendent, principal and
  counselor
• 93 gpa or higher
• 1100 or higher on SAT
• 90 attendance rate
• 2 years of a foreign language
• Enroll full time at HACC

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Grades and GPA

• Many colleges have their own conversion chart
  form grades submitted on transcripts. Here is
  our version and is similar to that used by
  colleges and universities

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How to apply to College

• Fill out paper or on-line application for school
  of choice
• Get letters of recommendation from teachers,
  counselors, coaches, etc
• Take all materials to Guidance Office to be sent
  along with transcripts.

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What you can do to increase your chances of being
accepted

• Take challenging courses starting in 9th grade
• Maintain high grades
• Score well on SAT or ACT
• Improve your writing and math skills

• Be involved outside of the classroom
• Sports
• Community service
• Work
• Tutor
• Mentor
• Extra-Curricular activities

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Timetable

• 10th grade PSAT
• PSAT, SAT Prep
• Summer prior to 11th grade
• College visit
• PSAT, SAT Prep
• 11th grade
• PSAT, SAT Prep
• PSAT (fall)
• SAT Spring
• 12th grade
• SAT Prep
• Fall SAT