Reasons High School Students Should Take the PSAT

Most high school students know that they should expect to take either the Standard Aptitude Test (SAT) or the ACT prior to graduation, since many colleges require one or the other for admission. Few, however, realize that the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) may be just as important. For the most part, the PSAT is taken by high school juniors in October each year, though freshmen and sophomores often participate as well. There are a total of five short sections (two for reading, two for math, one for writing), taking in general a total of 2 hours and 10 minutes to complete. Although it is not a requirement for college acceptance, there are some very compelling reasons why students should consider taking the PSAT.

Reason #1- Great practice for the SAT
The College Board provides each student with a customized study plan based on their PSAT performance, allowing each student to focus on those areas which need the most help. Studies have shown that students who take the exam more than once often score higher on subsequent tests, so students should consider taking the PSAT as early as freshman year. Those who have the opportunity to take the exam several times may also find they are more confident and relaxed when moving on to the SAT or ACT.

Reason #2- Helps connect to colleges
Students who take the PSAT can opt-in to the College Board’s free Student Search Service. This service allows colleges to identify students based on several factors including intended major, grade point average and state residency. Many colleges participate in the Student Search Service, giving students the opportunity to connect with colleges that they may be unfamiliar with or had not previously considered. Students typically receive brochures and other marketing materials, as well as information on campus tours and other upcoming events from the colleges.

Reason #3- Gain access to scholarships!
Perhaps the best thing about the PSAT is the opportunity to earn free money for college. Students who take the test during their junior year may be selected to participate in one of the scholarship or recognition programs directly linked to the exam.

Although students are not required to take the PSAT, the exam does help many prepare for the more rigorous SAT. It is a good measurement of how well a student may score on the SAT and can help them target areas for improvement prior to taking the exam. Students who wish to prepare for the PSAT can find several free practice tests and reading assessments online. 

Pros and Cons of Taking a Gap Year

A gap year is exactly as it sounds – postponing university or college for a year and spending that time doing something else. Some students simply live at home and work during the year, but others use the time for all kinds of adventures at home and abroad such as teaching, volunteer work, outdoor adventures or eco travel. But, is taking a gap year the right choice for you? Here are some advantages and disadvantages to help you decide what is best for you in terms of postponing university and taking a year off.

Advantages
Taking a year off may give you a chance to mature before entering university; in secondary school, you probably leaned a fair bit about how to be a good student, but on the other hand, you likely learned very little about life experience. It gives you an opportunity to regroup--secondary school can be a very stressful time for students, and between preparing for university academically and searching for the right post-secondary institution, many students feel pretty beaten up by the time they graduate. Changing course and doing something besides school for a while can be a much-needed break mentally.    
It can also give you a chance to figure out what you want. If you are not sure yet what university is exactly right for you or whether you’re intent in going at all, a year off can help you think about and sort things out. Taking a year off can also help if you have money Issues. It’s no secret how expensive funding a university education can be and depending on what you do during your year off, you might be able to save money.

Disadvantages
For many students, the biggest disadvantage is losing momentum. It takes you away from the classroom experience, so you might be a bit rusty when you return. You will also have to remember that you will be a year behind your friends and a gap year will put you further back on what can be a long educational process. Some gap year experiences also don’t require money, like working for a year, or are inexpensive like teaching abroad for a year, but others can be quite pricey and can be an added expense to an already costly university education.

Taking a gap year is not for everyone, but neither is going directly into university following secondary school. The bottom line is that the decision is ultimately up to you. If you decide to go ahead with it, think long and hard about how you are going to spend your time. 

How to Pick the Right Courses for Your Future

The main reason you're in school is to earn your degree, so picking the right courses at the right time and in the right order, is critical to your success.

To help you choose your courses, talk to your adviser. No matter how big or small your school is; you should have an adviser who helps make sure you are on track to earning your degree. Check in with them, no matter how sure you are about your choices. Not only does your adviser most likely need to sign off on your selections, but they can also help alert you to things you may not even have considered.

Make sure to balance your schedule and try not to set yourself up for failure by thinking you can handle more courses than you usually take. Make sure your schedule has varying levels of difficulty. If possible, vary subject matters so that you aren't using one part of your brain all day and choose courses with varying due dates for major projects and exams. When you choose courses, think about your learning style. If, for example, you learn better in the morning, you may want to schedule your more difficult courses for earlier and save electives for the afternoon or evening. See what options you have within a department or course section and pick something that matches best with your learning style.

Do you know of a professor in your department that you have heard has a great teaching style? See if you can take a course with them this semester, or if it would be better to wait until a later time. If you've found a professor with whom you intellectually click, taking another class with them can help you get to know them better and may lead to other things like research opportunities and letters of recommendation. If you're unfamiliar with professors on campus but know that you learn best from a professor’s particular teaching style, such as one who engages a class instead of one who only lectures, ask around and see what experience other students have had with various professors and their teaching styles.

Finally, when choosing classes, consider your work schedule and other commitments. If you know that you will need to have an on-campus job or need to do an internship for your major consider taking a class in the evenings. Planning around your commitments can help to reduce your stress level once the semester is well underway.

Going Away to School vs. Staying at Home

Should I go or should I stay? The dilemma on whether to go away for college or whether to stay locally can be a tough one for some. It’s a big decision that can determine the rest of your life, so here are the benefits of both to help you make the decision just a bit easier (or harder!).

STAYING HOME
One of the biggest benefits of staying home is the convenience--it can be helpful to be able to continue to live at home, rent-free and to not worry about moving your entire life to a dormitory in a new city.  This is quite beneficial if you’re looking to save some money.

Another bonus of staying home is that you get to stay close to friends (at least the ones that also chose to stay) and family.  You already know the area, and if you have friends who haven't gone to college, it's also easier to keep in touch with them.

One of the downfalls of living at home, however, is the possibility of missing out on the “campus experience”. Most colleges have societies and other events going on, and if you're going home every day, it takes a lot more conscious effort on your part to get involved with them. Also depending on how far away the college is from where you live, you can spend a lot of time and money travelling to and from college every day.

GOING AWAY
Leaving home and starting over in a new city is an adventure—new city, new place to live, new friends, new people! Starting over makes you gain a greater sense of independence and is great practice for when you finish college and want to move out. Your friends and family will still be around, and are most often just a phone call or email away, but going away to college helps you test your own ability to make it in the world.

If you go away to college, you will also have a lot of experiences that you probably won't have if you stay at home. There is generally a real feeling of community at colleges, because you're all in the same situation together. It's a great opportunity to try out hobbies and join clubs that you've always wanted to try. No matter how excited you are about going away to college, you will get homesick--everyone does. It may not be in the first week, it may not be in the first month, but there will always be a point when you want to see your family or friends. It is important to know that there will always be someone feeling the same way, and there will always be someone who can listen to you and help you.

The final decision is ultimately yours, and whatever decision you choose, it is important to make the best of it and have fun--after all, these are the best years of your life.

Freshman Year in High School - Start College Planning Now

If you walk up to most 9th graders early in their freshman year and ask them about their college preparation plans, you are likely to get a blank stare. Teenagers have so many things on their mind at that age, and college usually isn't one of them. This is perfectly natural, of course, but this is why these kids need guidance to start planning for their future.

Parents and the high school guidance counselor can help students design a preliminary four year academic plan to make sure they are on the right track for college. For instance, if you plan on taking AP courses in hopes of earning college credit in high school, you must be on the right track academically so you'll have all the required pre-requisites out of the way.

Grades are very important in maintaining a college acceptable GPA, and your GPA plays a big part in applying for certain scholarships as well. Don't assume that only your senior year GPA is all that matters. Being serious about your grades indicates a maturity level of someone who is college material.

How you accept the academic challenges of high school reflects how you will deal with even more difficult challenges in college. Teachers expect high school students to act responsibly and aren't as quick to remind students when reports, papers, and homework are due.

By applying yourself to doing more than the minimum required, you build study skills that will help you succeed in college. If there is a particular concept in a class that you don't fully grasp, work extra problems to help in clarification. If the difficulty continues, ask for assistance from the teacher or a tutor before the problem gets worse.

Be sure to join clubs that interest you and participate in club meetings and activities. Colleges look favorably on college applicants with good grades and a history of club participation.

Beginning your college preparation in your high school freshman year is important, but don't forget to enjoy your high school years as well because they go by in a hurry. After graduation, all your friends will scatter to the four winds, so enjoy your times together while you can including sports activities, fund raisers, dances, proms, and so forth.