A Note From Sam
Featured Article
Upcoming Events and Deadlines
Class Specific Monthly Focus
College Spotlight
Test Prep Opportunities
Internship, Job and Volunteer Opportunities
Summer Programs
In Other News
Helpful Resources
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Happy New Year!
As we kick off 2019 it's a great time to take a moment to reflect on the last twelve months and to look forward to the excitement that comes with starting a new year. In the College and Career Center we are shifting from the busy fall of college applications to the upcoming season of standardized testing. Juniors are in the process of prepping for the ACT or SAT and sophomores are likely starting to think about which exam might be the best fit. Questions around what exam to take and how to decide are answered in the featured article this month.
Since it is the season of testing we have added a new section to the Newsletter this month that will continue through the spring. Test Prep Opportunities will be filled with important information about various test options, testing dates and resources to prepare for the exams. Be sure to check it out each month.
As always, I am available to you and your students whenever you need to please feel free to reach out. I look forward to a great 2019!
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Samantha Stuber
College and Career Center Advisor
925-280-3935
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ACT vs SAT
How to decide which is best
Should I take the ACT or the SAT? How do I know know which one is better? Do schools favor one over the other? For juniors, and some sophomores, these questions are likely circulating around in your head. The answer to all is "It really just depends." Let me explain.
Determining which test to take really becomes an individual decision. Since all colleges within the US accept either one the choice truly becomes yours. The first step in sorting through your personal answer is to take a practice test for both. Although you may have already taken the PSAT, the recommendation is to still take a full length practice SAT. Once you receive scores for both practice tests there may be an obvious choice, however, it's possible it still remains unclear. If you find yourself in that position here are some questions to consider:
- Did you prefer the format of one over the other?
- When looking deeper into the subcategories of the tests, what stands out?
- Which math did you prefer? The ACT has a heavier focus on Geometry, tends to go broader and not as deep and allows calculators on all sections. The SAT has a stronger focus on Algebra and data analysis and only allows calculators on certain sections.
- Does taking the science section help my application because of my field of interest?
- Do the schools I'm considering superscore both tests? Superscoring is taking the highest section score across all test dates to give you the highest possible combined score. Not all colleges superscore both tests so check their websites.
Once you decide which test is the best fit for you, make sure you take time to prepare. The more practice you have the more comfortable you will be, resulting in a higher score. Thankfully there are various prep options out there ranging from group settings to one-on-one to online self-paced. Here are some resources to consider with many of the them offering multiple prep options:
Tried and True,
Compass Prep, and
PrepScholar. Also see our newly added Test Prep Opportunities section below for more information related to testing.
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Upcoming Events and Deadlines
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Class Specific Monthly Focus
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Even though college applications are submitted the process may not be complete. It is important to keep grades up!
Mid-year transcripts
The majority of application deadlines have passed but many of the colleges still require mid-year transcripts to complete the application file. The time to order transcripts is between January 7 - January 31. To order transcripts please click
here. As a reminder UC's and CSU's do not require a mid-year transcript.
Mock Interviews
For students wishing to practice interview skills there will be an opportunity to
sign up for Mock Interviews during Academy period on January 23.
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Naviance & Preparing for College
During the last week of January, students will be coming into the College and Career Center during their History class to learn about Naviance and the college admissions process. There will also be a parent presentation on January 31. Topics covered include:
- An overview of Naviance
- How students use Naviance during the college admission process
- How faculty, counseling and the College and Career Center use Naviance
Mock Combo ACT/SAT exam
Tried & True is partnering with AUHSD to offer a mock combo ACT/SAT exam. This exam is unique because it includes questions from both the ACT and the SAT and compares the results. The test is approximately 4 hours long and includes 4 sections from the ACT and 4 sections from the SAT. The essay portion is excluded. To register for the exam on January 26 please click
here.
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January is a good time to start thinking about summer plans. Many of the summer enrichment programs are beginning to open up their applications this month. A good place to start the search is with
Teen Life. The website is populated with many opportunities popular among Miramonte students.
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Combo Mock Exam - Saturday, January 26th from 9:00 AM -1:00 PM
The Combo Mock Exam is a diagnostic exam, proctored under real testing conditions. Perfect for Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors, the Combo Mock Exam is a great opportunity to find out which college entrance exam, SAT or ACT, is right for you.
SAT Comprehensive Course
- Miramonte High School - March 5th- April 30th on Tuesdays from 3:45 PM – 5:45 PM, 8-Weeks, 16-Hours of In-Person Instruction, 8-Hours of Online Testing. $499
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University of New Mexico is located in Albuquerque at the southern tip of the Rocky Mountains. It is a public institution with an undergraduate enrollment of 17,321 students.
The university is a member of the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE). WUE
is a regional tuition-discount agreement that enables students to enroll as nonresidents and pay 150 percent (or less) of the in-state resident tuition. There are
16 states and territories
and 160+
participating colleges and universities in the exchange.
In addition, there is a guaranteed graduation rate of four years and the last semester of tuition is FREE. Aside from the savings, University of New Mexico offers many exciting opportunities. It is ranked 5th in the nation for Photography. It is also ranked 18th in US Patents and has 100% job placement in engineering. Other interesting highlights include: Division 1 athletics, no essay or letters of recommendation are required and admissions are done on a rolling basis.
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Internship, Job and Volunteer Opportunities
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The East Bay Regional Park District
is hosting two Youth Job Fairs for youth ages 15-24 for upcoming summer (and beyond) job opportunities. The event details can be found below or on their
website
.
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On Thursday, December 20th, the College and Career Center held our first mid-year celebration! Students who submitted volunteer hours for the current award period got to enjoy light snacks and holidays treats. It was a hit! Students appreciated the treats before the break and encouraged other students to take interest in volunteering. We are thankful this year to have Jeanette Chang as Chair of the MHS Volunteer Program to help award and appreciate the students for the amazing service they do. Thank you to all the parents who encourage your students to do community service and help embody these important values in your student.
We appreciate you!
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Opportunities:
- Wagner Ranch Nature Area Monthly Cleanup and Activities: 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Roll up your sleeves and work with nature for a couple of hours every second Sunday of the month (the next cleanup will be held on January 13, 2019). Join Toris and the team to learn about nature and how to take care of it. Sign up here.
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Boys and Girls State
Applications are now open for juniors for the American Legion Boys and the American Legion Girls State. One male and one female will be selected to represent Miramonte this summer. This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in current events and important local, state and national issues. Please look at
Girls State
and
Boys State
for more information. If interested in applying, the
Girls State application
and the
Boys State application
can be found by clicking on the links. Students must submit application to Ms. Stuber by January 18 to be considered.
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How to Survive the College Admission Madness
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Rejection is hard. But, not getting into a 'reach' school or what some call 'elite' schools can be the best thing that happens to a student. Read this article by Frank Bruni to find out why.
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How to Handle a Deferral: A Step-By-Step Guide
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When you apply to colleges, you tend to expect one of two answers: acceptance or rejection. Deferred is the limbo of college admissions - you are not accepted, but you aren’t rejected either. Find out the best ways to handle deferrals in this article.
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Miramonte College and Career Center
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