WELCOME TO SOPHOMORE CONFERENCES

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WELCOME TO SOPHOMORE CONFERENCES

• Carol Niemann last names A-C
  College/Career Center
• Carol Ross last names D-Hp
  Chaps Room (250)
• Carolyn Brooks last names Hr-Me
  Chaps Room (250)
• Bence Brown last names Mi-Sc
  College/Career Center
• Debbie Hicks last names Se-Z
  Counseling Conf. Room

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WELCOME TO SOPHOMORE CONFERENCES

• Welcome, Introductions and Overview
• Part I - Rank and GPA
• Transcripts / GPA / Rank Calculations/Graduation
  Plans
• Part II - Standardized Testing
• PLAN / PSAT /
• SAT / SAT Subject Tests/ ACT / THEA / AP /
• SDS / Choices Planner / Do What You Are
• Part III - Post High School Planning
• ACC Dual Enrollment / Visiting Schools /
  Websites
• A copy of this presentation is available at
  www.whschaps.com under Downloads/Forms.

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Westlake High School Counseling OfficeOffice
732-9200 / HS Counseling 732-9283 ex. 3/ NGC
Counseling 732-9260

• Linda Rawlings, Principal
• Harvey Mayton, 10th Grade Assistant Principal
• Jeff Pilchiek, Director of Guidance and Career
  Counseling
• Julie Matthews, College and Career Center
  Administrative Assistant
• Carol Niemann, Counselor A-C, 10th-12th grades
• Carol Ross, Counselor D-Hp , 10th-12th grades
• Carolyn Brooks, Counselor Hr-Me , 10th-12th
  grades
• Bence Brown, Counselor Mi-Sc , 10th-12th grades
• Debbie Hicks, Counselor Se-Z,10th-12th grades
• Mary Smith , Counselor L Z 9th grade
• Frank Smith, Counselor A K 9th grade
• Karen Allen, Counseling Office Administrative
  Assistant
• Jamie Richardson, Director of Records
• Betsy Bixby, Registrars Assistant

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DAILY SCHEDULE

• Westlake offers periods 1-8.
• Each period is 50 minutes in length.
• Juniors must have at least 6 classes.
• Seniors must have at least 5 classes.
• Juniors and seniors are encouraged to take a full
  schedule of classes to be most competitive in the
  college admission process.

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New for the Class of 2011

• All courses taken during the regular school year
  at WHS will be figured into class rank.
• The GPA that appears on your transcript is
  weighted

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When Will I Know My Rank?

• Rank and GPA are calculated for the first time
  for Sophomore Conferences and every semester
  thereafter.

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Check Your Transcript!

• This is the first time to see your transcript and
  class-rank. Ranks will likely change
  dramatically in the junior year as more students
  take AP level coursework.
• Especially notice
• Credits from middle school
• Credits from summer school
• For new students, credits from other schools
• If you find a discrepancy, see your counselor
  ASAP!

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Academic Class Rank

• Your class rank includes all courses taken during
  the regular school year.
• Semester grades in regular level courses receive
  a 1.0 multiplier
• Semester grades in Pre-AP courses receive a 1.1
  multiplier
• Semester grades in AP / advanced courses receive
  a 1.2 multiplier

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Computing Weighted GPA
700.8 divided by 7 100.114 Weighted GPA
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Calculating Your Weighted GPA

• GPA NEVER includes courses taken in
• Middle school - J
• Correspondence courses - C
• Credit-by-exam - T or E
• Summer school - R
• ACC Dual Enrollment - D

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Whats Different About AP Courses?

• AP courses provide COLLEGE-LEVEL curriculum.
• Require 1-2 hours of homework per night.
• Every student at every school takes the same
  3-hour AP exam at the same specified time in May.
• Scores range from 1-5 on an AP exam.
• Students making a score of 3, 4, or 5 may be
  eligible for college credit based on their high
  school AP exam score.

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Should I Sign Up for Regular, Pre-AP, or AP in a
Subject?

• If you dont know which level of a course to
  take, ask your teacher in that subject. They
  know your abilities and study habits best.
• For example, if you are deciding between English
  3 and English 3 AP, ask your current English
  teacher which is most appropriate for you at this
  time.

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Graduation Plans

• Recommended Graduation Plan 26
  credits
• Includes 2 years of a Language Other Than
  
• English (LOTE)
• Distinguished Achievement Plan (DAP) 26 credits
  
• Includes 3 years of a Language Other Than
• English (LOTE)
• Includes 4 advanced measures

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DAP Advanced Measures

• A score of B or higher in a dual enrollment
  course at ACC (Austin Community College) (P.
  11-12)
• A score of 3 or higher on an AP exam
• A score of B or higher in an articulated course
  (P. 9)
• Independent Study / Academic Decathalon
• Participation in the mentorship program (ISM)
• Named National Merit Commended Scholar or
  Semifinalist based on your junior PSAT scores

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ACC Dual Enrollment

• Dual Enrollment is taking college classes at ACC
  to receive both high school and college credit
  simultaneously.
• Students are eligible to take ACC classes when
  classified as a junior or senior (starting the
  summer after the sophomore year).
• Students may take up to two ACC courses per
  semester at a cost of 40 per course.
• Students may have one less course in their WHS
  semester schedule when they bring their counselor
  proof of ACC enrollment.

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ACC Dual Enrollment

• Complete the ACC web application at
  www.austincc.edu/apply and print out and complete
  a residency form.
• Complete and print out ACC 101 Advising
  Checklist at www.austincc.edu/acc101.
• Meet with your high school counselor to get
• Application for a COMPASS Fee Waiver
• Official transcript
• ESC Form Co-enrollment Approval and Tuition
  Voucher
• Make an appointment and take the COMPASS college
  entrance exam.
• Make an appointment to with an ACC counselor for
  advising.
• Register for classes by phone or internet
• Step by step directions available on p. 10 of the
  handbook

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INTERPRETING YOUR PSAT SCORE
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PSAT - The Practice SAT

• Scores range from 20-80 in 3 areas
• Critical Reading / Math / Writing Skills
• Perfect score 80 x 3 sections 240
• Convert score to estimated SAT score by
  multiplying score by 10
• Example Critical Reading 50 SAT 500
• Math 52 SAT 520
• Writing Skills 44 SAT 440
• Section Index 146 SAT 1460

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PSAT - The Practice SATHow to Interpret Your
Scores Using the Score Report

• Gives the correct answer to each question
• Gives the students answer to each question
• Tells you whether this was an easy, medium or
  hard question (e, m or h)
• For math, it gives the type tested (algebra,
  geometry, arithmetic, data)
• Look for patterns! What types of questions did
  you repeatedly miss?
• Look online at www.collegeboard.com/quickstart
  for other information. Your password/code is
  located in several spots on your profile.

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PSAT - The Practice SATWhy Take It?

• Research shows that familiarity with the test is
  what changes scores.
• Identify patterns and practice what you missed.
• For juniors, the PSAT identifies National Merit
  Semifinalists, the top 1/2 of 1 of testers in
  each state.
• In Texas last year the NMSQT cutoff score was 215
  for semifinalists and 200 for commended scholars.

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Compare 2008 WHS National Average PSAT Scores
for Sophomores

• 2008 WHS PSAT Average Scores
• for WHS Sophomores
• Critical Reading 53.7
• Math 58.8
• Writing 54.9
• 2008 National PSAT Average Scores
• for Sophomores
• Critical Reading 41.9
• Math 44.3
• Writing 41.3

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INTERPRETING YOUR PLAN SCORE
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PLAN - The Practice ACT(Given to all Sophomores
October 24, 2008)

• English - 30 minutes /50 questions
• Usage/ Mechanics - 30 questions
• Rhetorical Skills - 20 questions
• Mathematics - 40 minutes /40 questions
• Pre-Algebra / Algebra - 22 questions
• Geometry - 18 questions
• Reading - 20 minutes /25 questions
• Prose/ Humanities/ Social Sciences
• Science - 25 minutes /30 questions
• Content Earth/ Space Sciences/ Chemistry/
  Physics
• Format Data Representation - 10 questions
• Research Summaries - 14
• Conflicting Viewpoints - 6

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How to Interpret Your PLAN Scores

• Given to all 10th graders, only practice ACT test
• Score ranges from 1 - 32
• Composite Score is the overall total average
• College Bound 10th gives your percentage rank
  compared to all PLAN test takers nationally
• Estimated ACT Composite Score Range
• PLAN tops out at 32 (ACT scores range 1-36)

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The PLANCollege Readiness Benchmark Scores

• The benchmarks show whether a student is on
  target to be ready for college.
• English PLAN score of 15
• Math PLAN score of 19
• Reading PLAN score of 17
• Science PLAN score of 21

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How to Interpret Your PLAN Profile

• Gives the correct answer to each question
• Gives the students answer to each question
• Gives the type of skill tested
• Tells you student-specific skills to practice
  based on the types of questions missed

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Compare WHS National PLAN Average
Scores

• 2008 WHS Average 2008 National Average
• 22.0 - Composite 17.5 - Composite
• 21.1 - English 16.9 - English
• 23.3 - Mathematics 17.4 - Mathematics
• 21.0 - Reading 16.9 - Reading
• 22.1 - Science 18.2 - Science

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PLAN - World of Work Map How to Interpret Your
Scores

• Students answered an extensive interest inventory
  about themselves
• Use John Hollands World-of-Work Map to identify
  areas of career interest
• 26 career areas
• Purple highlights indicate the students highest
  interest career areas
• Region 99 indicates wide interests

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John Hollands World of Work Map

• Theory Concepts
• People like working with
• Things (machines)
• Ideas
• People
• Data (numbers, records)

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John Hollands World of Work MapTheory Concepts
(p. 14-15)

• Six Distinct Types with 26 Career Areas
• R - Realistic - Technical (things)
• (Career Areas H - M / Map Areas 6 7)
• I - Investigative - Science Technology (ideas
  things)
• Career Areas O - Q / Map Areas 8 9)
• A - Artistic (ideas people)
• (Career Areas R - V / Map Areas 10 11)
• S - Social - Social Services (people)
• (Career Areas W - Z / Map Areas 1 12)
• E - Enterprising - Administration Sales
  (people data)
• (Career Areas A - D / Map Areas 2 3)
• C - Conventional - Business Operations (data
  things)
• (Career Areas E - G / Map Areas 4 5)

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SDS - Self Directed Search

• Given to 9th graders during TAKS testing
• Test developed by John Holland
• Also uses the World-of-Work theory map

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Choices Planner www.bridges.com
(p. 16)

• Site ID 0104495
• Password westlhs
• Has an online interest inventory using John
  Hollands World-of-Work
• Ties the interest information to possible majors
  colleges that offer those majors
• Lots of information about careers colleges

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Do What You Are Personality Type
Inventorywww.bridges.com Site ID 0104495
Password westlhs

• Similar to the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
  
• from the work of Carl Jung
• Theory Basics - Based on preferences on four
  separate scales, people can be subdivided into 16
  psychological type descriptions.
• Four Scales Include
• Extraversion OR Intraversion
• Sensing (Concrete) OR Intuition (Abstract)
• Thinking (Logical) OR Feeling (Emotional)
• Judging (Like structure) OR Perceiving (Like
  spontaneity)

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NAVIANCE

• WorkspaceK12 is a Web-based planning and advising
  system for schools with resources for
  counselors, teachers, administrators, students
  and parents.
• Family Connection http//connection.Naviance.com
  /whstx
• More information on p. 21 of handbook

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KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE TARGET!
Athletics/ Sports Participation
Clubs School Activities
ACADEMICS Rigorous Courses/ Great Grades
Awards/ Honors
Work/ Summer Experiences
Community Service
Leadership Opportunities
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Course Selection for Junior Year

• Course Selection Guide is available on-line now.
  www.whschaps.com (click on Coursebook 2009-2010
  under resources on the front page of our website)
• Deadline for registering on-line is Friday, March
  13

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COURSE SELECTION

• Class of 2011 2012 Parent Meeting
• Tuesday, March 10
• Chaps Court
• 630pm 800pm

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JUNIOR YEAR IS CRITICAL!

• Choose your courses wisely
• Read Course Catalog carefully
• Be sure you understand pre-requisites before you
  enroll in a class
• For example
• Students must have concurrently enrolled in
  Pre-Calculus in order to enroll in AP Physics I

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JUNIOR YEAR IS CRITICAL!

• Colleges will get their first impression of you
  when they see your 6th semester transcript
• Parents, be sure and check what your child has
  signed up for
• On-Line registration for classes overrides the
  paper choice sheet

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More Important Dates

• Course Selection Fair
  Wednesday, Feb. 18 530 7pm in
  the Chaps Court
• Course Selection Workshop for Sophomores
  Monday Tuesday, Feb. 23 24
• AP Test Registration Begins
  Wednesday, Feb. 25
• (AP Late Registration Begins Thursday, March
  5)
• Deadline for On-Line Course Selection
  Friday, Mar. 13

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Eanes ISD Summer School

• 1st Semester-June 8-26, 2009
• 2nd Semester-July 6-24, 2009
• Hours are 8 AM -1PM, with earlier release on
  Fridays
• Specific courses offered will not be available
  until late March/ early April
• Information available at www.eanesisd.net
  through COMMUNITY EDUCATION