Welcome to Hill Tops Sophomore

1
Welcome to Hill Tops Sophomore Junior Parent
Night 2009

• College Counselors
• Kathleen Hannigan
• Erin Seitz

2
Agenda

• The College Counselors responsibilities
• SAT Registration and Accommodations
• College Planning Process and Timeline
• Questions and Answers

3
What are the college counselors responsibilities?

• Coordinate, prepare, and administer college
  admission testing (PSAT, SAT, ACT)
• Discuss students options in higher education
• Provide information about the college admission
  process to students and parents
• Send transcripts and fill out necessary paperwork
  on students college applications

4
What is the SAT Reasoning Test?

• The SAT measures knowledge of subjects learned in
  the classroom, including reading, writing, and
  math, and how well you can apply that knowledge
  outside of the classroom. The SAT helps colleges
  get to know you better by giving them insight
  into how you think, solve problems, and
  communicate.

5
What are the SAT Subject Tests?

• SAT Subject Tests are a battery of one-hour,
  mostly multiple-choice tests that measure how
  much students know about a particular academic
  subject and how well they can apply that
  knowledge.
• Students must check with schools where they are
  applying and confirm what tests are required for
  admission.

6
How many times should the SAT be taken?

• Students can take the test as many times as they
  want.
• It is recommended that students take it at least
  once in the spring of their junior year and once
  in the fall of their senior year.
• Colleges and universities take the highest scores
  from each section when determining college
  admissions.

7
SAT Registration-2009
8
Where can I register for the SAT and how much
does it cost?

• Online registration is encouraged at
  www.collegeboard.com, or by mailing in a
  registration form. See us if you prefer this
  method.
• Test fee is 45.00.
• SAT Subject test fee is 20.00.
• Late registration is 23.00.

9
Where will I take the test?

• Students will ONLY take the test at Hill Top if
  they are approved for one or more of the
  following accommodations 100 extended time, use
  of a computer, reader, writer, or school based
  testing.
• Students taking the test at Hill Top will be
  tested on the national testing days, which are on
  Saturdays. Testing will begin at 900. Students
  with 100 extended time will take the test
  Saturday and Sunday.
• If students are not approved for the above
  accommodations, they can take the test at a
  testing site in your area.
• Testing sites can be found at www.collegeboard.com
  .

10
Am I eligible to receive accommodations on the
SAT?

• To be eligible the student
• has a disability that necessitates testing
  accommodations.
• has documentation on file at Hill Top that
  supports the need for requested accommodations
  and meets the Guidelines for Documentation.
• receives and uses the requested accommodations,
  due to the disability, for school-based tests.

11
Am I eligible to receive accommodations on the
SAT?

• Students evaluation and diagnostic testing
  should have taken place within 5 years of the
  request for accommodations.
• If any of these requirements are not met,
  students may still be eligible. Students may send
  their disability documentation with the Student
  Eligibility Form to the College Board for review.
• If students are denied accommodations, students
  can work with the college counselors to determine
  why the accommodations were denied. Students and
  their parents can also contact the College Board.
  Keep in mind that more testing may need to be
  completed.
• Students will also need to complete an
  Accommodations Change Request Form if they are
  seeking different or new accommodations. Student,
  parent, and college counselor signatures are
  required on this form.

12
What types of accommodations are provided?

• Presentation-large print reader Braille
  Braille device for written responses visual
  magnification audio amplification
  audiocassette sign/oral presentations
• Responding-verbal/dictated to scribe tape
  recorder computer without grammar/cut paste
  features large block answer sheet
• Timing/scheduling-frequent breaks extended time
  multiple days specified time of day
• Setting-small group setting private room
  special lighting/acoustics adaptive/special
  furniture/tools alternative test site with
  proctor present preferential seating

13
What disabilities make students eligible for
accommodations?

• Blindness/Vision Impairment
• AD/HD (formerly known as A.D.D. /A.D.H.D.)
• Learning Disabilities
• Deafness/Hearing Impairment
• Certain Medical Conditions
• Certain Physical Disabilities
• Certain Psychiatric Conditions

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How do I apply for accommodations?

• Students need to see the college counselors to
  get the Services for Students with Disabilities
  (SSD) form.
• Parents and students are responsible for filling
  out Section I of the form.
• The college counselors are responsible for
  filling out Section II and Section III. We will
  include the appropriate documentation and mail in
  the form.
• Both the student and the school will be informed
  by mail when accommodations have been approved or
  denied.

15
Testing Note

• The College Board makes all decisions regarding
  testing accommodations.
• Disability documentation that has been updated
  within five years is used to determine testing
  accommodations.

16
College Planning Process

• In order to stay on track and organized
  throughout the college planning process, refer to
  the timeline located in the College Planning
  Guide.
• In order to receive any accommodations in
  college, most colleges and universities require
  students cognitive testing to have been updated
  with 2-5 years.
• Students are responsible for contacting colleges
  and universities directly in order to inquire
  about how to obtain accommodations.

17
Student Responsibility

• While college counselors are available to make
  suggestions and provide assistance in choosing
  and applying for college, students are expected
  to take an active and engaged role in the college
  planning process.
• Students are responsible for researching the
  admission requirements for each college and
  university to which they are applying.

18
Student Responsibility

• Students are responsible for setting up meeting
  times with their college counselor when they have
  questions or concerns regarding the planning
  process.
• Students are responsible for obtaining forms and
  other materials needed for admission, including
  those that require the attention of counselors or
  teachers.
• Students are fully responsible for requesting
  personal recommendations from teachers.
• Per Hill Tops policy, teachers and counselors
  will not write a recommendation for a student
  unless he or she has waived their right to see
  the recommendation.

19
Transcripts Recommendations

• Students are responsible for filling out a
  Transcript Request Form in order for transcripts
  to be processed.
• When requesting transcripts and recommendations,
  students must give teachers counselors 10 days
  to process requests.
• If a student has not attended Hill Top for all
  four years of high school, it is their
  responsibility to obtain and send any transcripts
  from previous high schools to colleges where they
  are applying.

20
Questions?

• For any specific questions regarding the college
  planning process, please contact us at (610)
  527-3230.
• Khannigan_at_hilltopprep.org
• Eseitz_at_hilltopprep.org