September FOR FAMILIES OF 10th GRADE STUDENTS
Earn College Credit While Still In High School
Tenth grade is an important year! Teens might be learning how to drive a car or even getting a first job. It’s also an important year for their academic career. Encourage your teens to set themselves up for success by preparing for the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) or ACT Aspire, taking more challenging classes like dual- credit courses, and pursuing leadership opportunities in school or the community.
Challenging classes like dual-credit courses in high school:
-Give students opportunities for college-level learning.
-Prepare students for college.
-Allow students to earn college credit that may be applied toward a degree.
Plus, earning college credits in high school can save students time and money when they get to college. Visit the dual-credit lookup tool to find out how their AP, IB, or Cambridge test scores might count for college credit.
Ask your child’s guidance counselor about what dual credit options are available. For example, your school might offer:
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- University of Cambridge International Examinations
- Running Start
- Tech Prep
- College in the High School
- Gateway to College
- Career Link—South Seattle Community College Career Link Program
- Technical College Direct Funded Enrollment Programs
Source: OSPI Dual Credit Opportunities ReadySetGrad.org
Washington’s economy is rooted in science, engineering, and technology. Washington ranks 4th in the country for technology-based corporations, but 46th for participation in science and engineering graduate programs. We need to close the growing gap between the skills people have in our state and the skills our economy requires.
Source: Washington STEM
MYTH: If my child does poorly on an AP or IB exam, his or her GPA will go down.
REALITY: AP and IB exams are separate from your child’s classroom grade.
They do not affect your GPA. There is no risk to taking the exam. If your teen scores low, he or she does not have to share the score with the college.
Preparing for and taking these exams are a good way to get practice taking college exams too.
Participation in dual enrollment can help students be successful in higher education by giving them a realistic idea of what college requires and giving them a head start on college-level work.
Source: ReadySetGo
Student Checklist
Consider taking a practice (PSAT/NMSQT) or ACT Aspire.
Keep your options open—take the most challenging courses you can. Meet with your school counselor to talk about AP, IB, Running Start, and College in the High School and sign up for the classes you need to graduate and to get into college.
Continue extracurricular activities.
Family Checklist
Make sure your child meets with the school counselor. Your sophomore should schedule a meeting to talk about college and career options and to make sure he or she is taking the most appropriate classes.
Encourage your child to set goals for the school year.
Make a plan to check in regularly about schoolwork. To find out about your child’s grades, assignments, and attendance, you can use the school’s online system, like Skyward. Check this free, online system at least weekly to keep up with your child’s progress.
Talk about extracurricular activities.
Help your 10th grader get ready to take preliminary exams. Taking the PSAT/NMSQT or the ACT Aspire this fall can help your child prepare for college admission tests.
Sophomores can also use their score reports to figure out which academic areas they need to work on. Learn more about the PSAT/NMSQT.
Sources: Federal Student Aid, BigFuture, ReadySetGrad
October FOR FAMILIES OF 10th GRADE STUDENTS
Good Study Habits Test Prep
It’s worth your teen’s time to develop good study skills because having them will help your child get the best possible grades. Those skills will also help your sophomore be better prepared to succeed after high school.
Tips to improve study skills:
• Encourage making a “to do” list and stick to it.
• Recommend setting personal goals.
• Remind your teen to prioritize! A test tomorrow is more important than an assignment due next week.
• Encourage good notetaking and review.
• Help determine where and when they work best - alone or in a group, bright or dim lighting, quiet or noisy. Help your sophomores figure out what kind of environment works best for them, and then encourage them to study that way.
• Encourage reading and writing frequently in and outside of class.
Your teen might take the PSAT and/or ACT Aspire this fall. The best way to prepare is to take challenging or rigorous courses, read widely, write frequently, and develop problem-solving skills both in the classroom and through extracurricular activities. These are the same habits that prepare students for the SAT/ACT and AP exams as well as for college and career.
Students can try PSAT sample questions and practice tests to become familiar with the redesigned assessments, or head to KhanAcademy.org for Official SAT Practice.
Sources: Mapping Your Future.org, College Board
Taking the PSAT/NMSQT again in 11th grade gives students a fresh skills assessment and a measure of their progress, as well as the chance to compete for scholarships. Research shows that students who take the PSAT/NMSQT in both 10th and 11th grades score higher on the SAT than students who do not.
Source: College Board
MYTH: A low score on an admissions test will keep my teen out of college.
REALITY: Admissions test scores are just one factor colleges consider, along with grades and classes. While most four-year colleges require tests, the emphasis on the test scores varies by college.
In addition, most two-year colleges—including community colleges,
open-enrollment colleges, and specialty schools don't require tests.
The range of test scores at many colleges is very broad. Remember, test scores are just one part of an application.
But if students don’t take an admissions test, they will their college choices, as most colleges require test scores. Think of taking the test as opening doors, not closing them.
Source: BigFuture
November FOR FAMILIES OF 10th GRADE STUDENTS
College & Career Pathways
After high school, different paths lead to different types of credentials. Your sophomore may need one (or several) of these credentials depending on his or her career interests.
Source: Career Guidance WA
If your teen is currently a foster youth, he or she may be eligible for the Passport to College Scholarship program or the College Bound Scholarship.
Learn more at www.readysetgrad.org
MYTH: My Smarter Balanced test scores only matter in high school.
REALITY: 11th grade Smarter Balanced test scores help you decide which courses to take to be ready for college, and they tell colleges whether or not you’re ready for college- level courses.
If you score a three or four, many colleges won’t require remedial courses or additional tests before you enroll in college-level math or English.
Check with the colleges you are interested in to find out if they have additional requirements.
All 34 of Washington's public community and technical colleges, all six public baccalaureate institutions, and nine private independent colleges have agreed to consider Smarter Balanced test scores when deciding whether or not students need to take pre-college (remedial) courses.
Source: Washington Student Achievement Council
December FOR FAMILIES OF 10th GRADE STUDENTS
Career Exploration
Choosing a career is one of life’s big decisions. Will a future career be exciting and fulfilling? Will it pay enough to support a family? Will there be opportunities to grow? Deciding on a career to pursue is exciting. But because there are so many career paths, it can be hard to choose.
Help your teen by encouraging him or her to explore options now.
1. Ask your child to think about his or her interests. Need help? Have your child try a career quiz at www.careerbridge.wa.gov.
2. Consider how to get there. It’s good to know what skills, classes and degrees different jobs require. To get information about education requirements for different jobs, use Major and Career Search.
3. Try it out. Help your teen choose some of these ideas or come up with his or her own:
- Volunteer where you’re likely to meet someone who has one of the jobs you’re interested in.
- Look into a paid or unpaid internship.
- Job-shadow for a day.
- Conduct research at the library or online.
- Find a mentor who can give you perspective and advice.
- Talk to family members and friends who work in those careers or know others who do.
Teens might feel pressured to plan their whole lives before they even begin to apply to colleges. That’s not necessarily the best approach. Though some people have well-focused career goals early in life, other’s don’t — and they still find their way to the right job. Staying flexible can be helpful when it comes to thinking about the future.
Source: BigFuture Career Bridge
According to a recent Gallup Lumina poll, 84 percent of business leaders said the amount of knowledge of potential hires is very important, 28 percent said a candidate's college major is important, and 9 percent said the college where the candidate received a degree is very important.
Source: Gallup, See more at: US News
MYTH: Your child should be roommates with a friend from high school.
REALITY: If your teen goes to college with a high school friend, it can be tempting to forgo the random roommate selection process.
They might claim to know everything about each other, so why risk living with a complete stranger, right?
Your child will soon find out that living with a friend is very different than hanging out with him for a few hours a day. Sharing a small space, means your teen will learn so much about their friend, which often includes nasty habits and mood swings.
Encourage your teen to take a chance and get a random roommate; even if he or she doesn't end up being a best friend, it's a learning experience nonetheless.
Source: Huffington Post
Student Checklist
o Review PSAT/NMSQT or Aspire results with your family. If you took the PSAT/NMSQT, log in to My College QuickStart to get personalized feedback based on your PSAT/NMSQT score report.
o Start thinking about ways to pay for college. Read 7 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid to learn more.
o Discuss next year’s classes with your family and guidance counselor. Learn more about the high school classes that colleges look for.
Family Checklist
o Review PSAT/NMSQT or Aspire results together. Your child’s score report indicates his or her academic strengths and weaknesses. Review the report together and talk about ways to improve in areas that need attention. If your child took the PSAT/NMSQT, help him or her log in to My College QuickStart to get personalized feedback based on his or her PSAT/NMSQT score report.
o Start thinking about ways to pay for college. Most families get help paying for college costs. Read 7 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid to learn more.
o Discuss next year’s classes. Make sure your child will be challenging him- or herself and taking the courses college admission officers expect to see.
Sources: Federal Student Aid, BigFuture, ReadySetGrad
January FOR FAMILIES OF 10th GRADE STUDENTS
Paying for College
Whether your teen hopes to go to a private college across the country or to the community college in your neighborhood, college can be expensive.
Don’t worry if you don’t have enough money because theWashBoard.org can help your teen find scholarships. This website is a free, web-based scholarship matching service for Washington students. It is supported by the Washington Scholarship Coalition, a public/private partnership of foundations, non-profit organizations, and state agencies. This website makes it easy to find and apply for scholarships. Plus, it is spam free.
1. Help your child create a “seeker” profile. To search for scholarships, you must first register as a scholarship seeker. Go to www.theWashBoard.org.
2. Then, have your child create a profile. They will need to answer questions about their interests and plans. Complete as much of the profile as possible. Your child can always come back at any time to edit or add to the profile.
3. Next, make sure your child selects all of the colleges he or she is considering.
4. Finally, FIND MATCHES! After they have completed a profile, click on “My Matches.” You will go to a screen that shows you a list of scholarship opportunities that could be good matches for your child.
5. Start applying! There are scholarships that don’t require students to be high school seniors or citizens. Explore what options are available.
Source: Career Guidance WA
Your child may qualify for need-based financial aid to help pay for college. To apply, your child will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA for eligible non-citizens) in October of his or her senior year in high school (www.fafsa.ed.gov or www.readysetgrad.org/wasfa).
MYTH: All financial aid is based on financial need.
REALITY: Not all aid is based on financial need. Some aid is considered merit-based aid.
Merit-based grants and scholarships may come with conditions (for instance, a study may get an athletic scholarship only if he or she plays on the college team). Merit-based aid does not need to be repaid if students successfully complete their coursework.