Frequently Asked Questions

During the school day, students may not always find the time to stop by the College and Career Center. To assist Carondelet students and parents, we have included some of the most frequently asked questions and answers to those questions. The questions and answers are organized in three sections:

1. GENERAL QUESTIONS
2. GENERAL QUESTIONS STANDARDIZED TESTING (ACT, SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, & PLAN)
3. THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

I. GENERAL QUESTIONS

A. When is the College and Career Center (CCC) open, and do students need an appointment?

• The CCC is open to all students before school, during break, at lunch, at period 7, and for twenty minutes after school. Students do not need an appointment to visit the CCC.
• In the fall, seniors will be encouraged to schedule individual college counseling appointments with their assigned college counselor.
• In the spring, juniors will be encouraged to schedule individual college counseling appointments with their assigned college counselor.

B. I got a “D” as a semester grade in one of my classes, what should I do?

• If a student receives a “D” or an “F” as a semester grade, it should be a red flag to ask some questions. For college, she should ask one of the college counselors how such a grade could affect her college eligibility and what she should do to remediate the grade. Questions about grades in relation to Carondelet graduation requirements should be directed to her academic advisor.

 C. I received an official looking letter inviting me to join the National Honor Roll. Is this something I should do because it would look good on my application to college?

• Each year students ask us about honors that they receive in the mail. Should they join the organization or purchase the book? The letterhead and invitations are fancy and seemingly important. Students believe colleges will be impressed. They won’t be, so there is no point in joining. If students have questions about other invitations or programs, we suggest that they bring the information to the CCC.

D. I’m thinking of playing sports in college, how and when do I register with the NCAA?

The first step for students considering sports in college is to come to the College and Career Center to pick up a Carondelet High School Guide for Prospective Student-Athletes. The next step for students who wish to be considered for NCAA Division I or II sports in college is to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at www.eligibilitycenter.org . You may also want to download an NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete. Typically, the online registration is begun in the junior year. In order to evaluate a student’s certification status for purposes of NCAA initial athletic eligibility, students must follow this procedure:

• Complete the online NCAA Transcript Release Form.
  Submit the online Fee Payment.
• Submit standardized test scores directly from the testing agency, ACT or SAT, by coding in NCAA (9999) as a recipient and paying the appropriate fee.
• Follow directions for printing a copy of the Transcript Release Form to give to Mrs. Missaggia, our Registrar.
• At the conclusion of the junior year, Mrs. Missaggia will submit official transcripts to the NCAA for students who have given her a copy of their completed NCAA Transcript Release Form.
• Mrs. Missaggia will also submit a final transcript upon request by the student.

Come to the College and Career Center to pick up a Guide for Prospective Student-Athletes.

E. Do I need to take AP or honors classes?

Students should take the most challenging courses that they are capable of and prepared for. However, many CHS students do not take AP/Honors classes, yet they are admitted to schools with fine reputations.

The University of California, the California State University, and many independent schools will automatically award an extra grade point for AP classes and for UC/CSU-certified honors courses at the junior and senior levels. Please note: the UCs will assign extra grade points for up to eight semester units of UC/CSU-certified honors level or Advanced Placement courses usually taken in the last two years of high school. Each semester course equals five units.

F. It’s summer, and I forgot my password to Naviance, what do I do?

If you have forgotten your password during the summer, you will not be able to access your Naviance account. It is important for students to keep their password in a safe place. If you know your password and want to change it, you can by selecting the About Me tab.

G. My email address, which is my username for Naviance, has changed. What do I do?

If your email address has changed, please come to the College and Career Center for your account to be updated.

H. What college counseling is available to Carondelet students and parents?

Individual drop-in assistance is available for all students, and at each grade level, students receive college counseling.

In the freshmen year, students complete a Meyers-Briggs type personality assessment under the direction of the College Counselors. This assessment provides not only Personality Type information, but also points to careers, college majors, learning styles, and communication preferences that are individually specific.

In the sophomore year, students receive college and career counseling when their PLAN results are returned to them. (Refer to additional information in section II/Standardized Testing/PLAN Testing.)

Beginning in the winter of the junior year and continuing into the senior year, the College Counselors will present a series of four presentations to inform and to prepare students for the college application process. Students and parents are strongly encouraged to attend all four sessions.

The series begins in January of the junior year when the results of the PSAT/NMSQT are returned to students and their parents. The college application process officially begins with this comprehensive program explaining the results of the PSAT/NMSQT and providing an overview of steps in the college application process. In spring of the junior year, students and parents are invited to a College Preview program, the second in the series. Juniors will also be seen in groups and schedule individual college counseling appointments.

The third presentation in the series is scheduled in the fall of senior year when parents are invited to a program presenting a step by step process of the senior year at CHS and the college application process. The fourth presentation, scheduled in December of the senior year, covers the financial aid process.

In September of the senior year, seniors are seen in small groups through their 4th period classes, given a comprehensive college binder, and offered workshops, and individual assistance. Throughout the year, seniors will be encouraged to schedule individual appointments with their assigned College Counselor.

Students are also provided with access to Naviance, a secure, online college counseling resource with information on over 3,600 colleges as well as helpful information and exercises useful for educational planning.

Dissemination of College and Career information is also provided on the CHS website and in the monthly CHS newsletter, and through class meetings in the junior and senior years. Each year over sixty college representatives visit Carondelet and De La Salle, and their presentations are open to juniors and seniors who have signed up for the presentations and who have permission from their teachers to attend.

II. STANDARDIZED TESTING

A. ACT and SAT Testing

1. How do I know if I need to take ACT or SAT?

 The vast majority of colleges require students to submit results from standardized college entrance examinations, either the ACT or SAT. Although the ACT and SAT are different and are offered by different test companies, virtually all colleges will accept either the ACT or SAT. Access each college’s website through Naviance to ascertain which tests are required or recommended. Please note that the University of California campuses require all applicants to take the SAT Reasoning Test, which includes a writing component, or the ACT with writing option. The University of California also requires students to submit results from two different SAT Subject Tests. Mathematics Level 1 is not accepted by the University of California as one of the Subject Tests.

2. I have never heard of the ACT. Will colleges accept it instead of the SAT?

Although the ACT is more commonly taken in the Midwest and South, it is accepted by 99% of the colleges and universities in the United States. Many of our students will ultimately submit an ACT score when they are applying to colleges.

3. What are the differences between the ACT, SAT Reasoning Test, and SAT Subject Tests?

The ACT consists of four subtests: math, English, reading comprehension, and science reasoning. The writing section is optional. The SAT Reasoning Test consists of math, verbal, and writing tests. The writing section is not optional. The SAT Subject Tests are one-hour tests, assessing the student’s knowledge in single subjects.

4. When should I sign up to take the ACT and SAT?

ACT and SAT tests are best taken at the end of the junior year and the beginning of the senior year. Both tests ask questions based on material learned beyond the sophomore year. Most of our students begin taking ACT and SAT tests in the winter or spring of the junior year, after they have completed a PLAN (10th grade version of the ACT) and a PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT). Results from these two standardized tests will help students  prepare for their college entrance examinations. Most of our students take the SAT Reasoning Test in March (or April), May, or June and the ACT offered in February, April, or June.

5. How do I sign up for the ACT and SAT?

The preferred method of registration is online. ACT registration is available at http://www.act.org/ . SAT registration is available at http://www.collegeboard.com/ . To register for tests, students complete online questionnaires, enter personal information, select testing date and location, submit the required fees, and code in Carondelet High School 056-656.

6. Should I take an ACT or SAT prep class?

It is recommended that students prepare for ACT and SAT testing by becoming familiar with the test formats and directions. To help Carondelet students prepare for college entrance examinations, CHS has purchased a subscription through Naviance to Method Test Prep, which is available to students for online test prep for both the ACT Assessment and the SAT Reasoning Test. Students have unlimited access from any computer with internet capabilities. Students may link to Method Test Prep through Naviance by clicking on "Test Preparation" in the left column.

 Although there is much in the media and in the rumor mill that makes students believe they must take test prep classes, classes can cost up to $1,500.00 and require much of their time. There is never a guarantee that taking such a class will raise the students’ scores or raise them enough to justify the cost of taking such a class. The College and Career Center provides test prep booklets, sample test books, and other test prep information. Additionally, both the ACT and the College Board have test preparation exercises on their websites.

7. Can I sign up for SAT Reasoning Tests and SAT Subject Tests on the same day?

No, the tests are offered at the same time, so students must indicate whether they are taking the SAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subject Test(s).

8. Is there a fee to send ACT and SAT score reports to college?

At the time of ACT or SAT registration, a student can indicate up to four colleges, scholarship organizations, or institutions to receive score reports for no additional charge. After testing, students must pay additional fees to send score reports.

9. If I enter my ACT and SAT scores on my college application, do I still have to pay to send the score reports?

Yes. Colleges require students to send official score reports from the test companies.

10. How do I know if I should take SAT Subject Tests?

For the class of 2011* SAT Subject Tests are required by the University of California.  Subject Tests must come from two different subject areas and Mathematics Level 1 is not accepted as one of the two Subject Tests.

A small number of very selective colleges do require or recommend that applicants submit SAT Subject Tests.  Each college will indicate on its website or application which tests are required. As entrance requirements can change, students need to refer to individual college websites for the most up-to-date information.  The Common Application website (select Download Forms) contains a .PDF spreadsheet which includes all Common Application colleges with Deadlines and Requirement.

*Beginning with the class of 2012 and beyond, The University of California will no longer require students to submit Subject Tests. However, students may take the tests and submit them with their applications. Competitive majors such as engineering may require specific tests. It is best to check by major and by campus.

 11. Is it true that I won’t get into any college unless I get high ACT or SAT scores?

According to a recent online article written by the National Association of College Admission Counselors, “test scores are important. But they are not nearly as important as many students think. Different colleges use test scores differently, but no colleges make admissions decisions based solely on test scores. In fact—your academic record—the courses you’ve taken and the grades you’ve earned—is looked at much more closely than your test scores.”

12. I have a documented learning disability, how do I apply for extended time on standardized tests (PSAT, SAT, ACT, or AP)?

Please contact the Resource Specialist for procedures regarding applying for extended time and refer to the Educational Resource webpage.

B. PSAT/NMSQT Testing

1. What is the PSAT/NMSQT test?

The PSAT/NMSQT test is the Preliminary SAT designed for high school juniors. The PSAT/NMSQT follows the same format as the SAT Reasoning Test without the 25-minute writing sample. The test consists of verbal and math sections, as well as a multiple choice writing skills section. It is meant to be taken as a practice test. The PSAT/NMSQT is also the instrument used to identify students who will enter the National Merit Scholarship Program.

2. Who takes the PSAT/NMSQT test?

At Carondelet, all juniors are automatically registered to take the PSAT/NMSQT at school on October 13, 2010. The PSAT/NMSQT test begins promptly at 8:15 a.m. and usually finishes by noon.

3. How should I prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT test that all CHS juniors take?

Students can prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT by using the SAT section of Method Test Prep. Students can access Method Test Prep through their Naviance accounts by clicking on "Test Preparation" in the left column.

In addition, on Wednesday, September 29, all juniors will have an 8:15 a.m. start to receive printed PSAT/NMSQT information in a test prep session.

4. When do I get the results of the PSAT/NMSQT?

In January we will have two sessions when we will interpret the PSAT/NMSQT and give students and their parents an overview of the college application process. Parents and students may choose to attend either the Thursday, January 13 evening session or the Saturday, January 14 morning session. We recommend that students use their PSAT/NMSQT results to prepare for spring SAT testing.

5. Should juniors register for ACT and SAT tests in the fall?

It makes more sense to take these tests towards the end of the junior year and after students have received their results from the PSAT/NMSQT. Thus, we recommend you take these tests during February, March, April, May, and June. Most of our students find that taking SAT Subject Tests in May or June as they complete the course is the best option. Of course you may retake these tests in your senior year, too.

C. PLAN TESTING

1. Who takes the PLAN test?

All sophomores will take the PLAN, the 10th grade version of the ACT, at Carondelet on Wednesday, October 13. The PLAN, like the ACT, is comprised of four subsections: math, English, reading comprehension, and science reasoning.

2. How do I register for PLAN?

All sophomores are registered by Carondelet to take the PLAN test at school. The PLAN test begins promptly at 8:15 a.m. and usually finishes by noon.

3. How should sophomores prepare for the PLAN test?

To prepare for the PLAN test and to receive test prep materials, all sophomores will have an 8:15 a.m. start on Wednesday, September 29.

4. When do I get the results of the PLAN?

In the winter, sophomores will be seen through their English classes when PLAN results will be distributed to them as well as the results of the PLAN’s interest inventory. All sophomores will complete a college and career project, using their responses to the inventory section of the PLAN. As part of the project, students will research career options and will use Naviance, a licensed website with helpful information on over 3,600 colleges.

Students will also conduct a first-person interview with someone working in a career that may interest them. The goal of the college and career project and the interview is to encourage students to learn about different professions, career paths, and the education and training that are part of preparing for the future.

5. I am taking Biology Honors, should I register for the SAT Subject Test in Biology?

Sophomores taking Biology Honors may want to consider taking the SAT Biology Subject Test E/M test in June. It is best to take the Biology Subject Test at the conclusion of the course at the end of the sophomore year. Registering online for the June SAT Biology Subject Test at http://www.collegeboard.com/  is the easiest method.

 Beginning with the class of 2012, the University of California system will no longer require that students submit scores from SAT Subject Tests as a part of the application process. However, students may submit such scores to UCs or other selective colleges which recommend or require them. 

For the most part, our students begin taking SAT Reasoning Tests, ACT Assessments, and SAT Subject Tests in the spring of their junior year.

III. THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

Students and parents should also refer to the “Preparing for the Future” section of the Carondelet Course Catalog for more detailed information on college entrance requirements.

1. How do I begin preparing for college?

The actual preparation begins with the student taking her high school academic preparation seriously. Because learning is cumulative, students who establish a solid foundation in high school help to ensure their future success in college and beyond. During the high school years, students also have many opportunities to learn about themselves, their goals, their values, and the world around them. Academic and personal development in high school are essential components of the maturation process and most helpful in approaching the college application process, thus making a smoother transition to college.

2. How do I begin the college application process?

The formal application process should begin with families discussing post high school plans and goals and taking advantage of the series of four college information presentations offered at the junior and senior level by the College and Career Counselors. Students are asked to complete the self-assessment profile, questionnaires, a résumé, and college search exercises in the About Me section on Naviance to identify potential colleges and prospective majors. The next step is to visit colleges that match the student’s interests.

3. Don’t I have my whole senior year to apply to colleges?

For the CSU system, priority filing takes place during the months of October and November. Most CSUs will close the application process on November 30th. Students must apply to UC campuses during the month of November. Each independent school could have a different application deadline. It is important that seniors know the deadlines and apply in a timely fashion. When students enter potential colleges on Naviance, application deadlines are also added.

4. I am applying to six independent colleges, all of which require letters of recommendation. Do I need to ask six teachers to write those letters? I also plan on applying for scholarships.

Most independent colleges and universities require 2 to 3 letters. A letter of recommendation is often a part of scholarship applications. We recommend that seniors ask the same 1 to 2 teachers to complete all forms for all colleges. If a counselor recommendation is required, similarly, the student should go back to the counselor who has agreed to write the letter to complete all of the forms. Teachers and counselors are advised to save letters of recommendations electronically, so then they may reprint and revise those letters as often as asked. Recommendations from Carondelet are submitted electronically through Naviance. Early in the senior year, students will receive instructions and a template to follow when requesting letters of recommendation.

5. How do I apply for financial aid for college?

All students applying for financial aid for college must complete and submit the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA). Each college sets its own deadlines and may require additional forms. From Naviance, students may access individual college websites to ascertain financial aid deadlines. Cal Grant Verification forms will be filed by Carondelet for all seniors who have signed and submitted a permission form to Mrs. Missaggia, CHS Registrar.

Seniors and their parents may access Tuition Coach on Naviance which provides additional information on financial aid, links to forms, video clips, and a financial aid calculator.

Carondelet and De La Salle jointly sponsor a Financial Aid Evening presentation in December for parents and students. A Financial Aid Officer from a Bay Area college will be a guest presenter and walk families through the financial aid process.

6. How important is the senior year in the college application process?

The senior year is extremely important, and performance in the senior year is directly linked to being successful in college. The student who does not take her senior year seriously may be very disappointed to learn that she could have her acceptance letter revoked by colleges because her grades fell significantly in her senior year, she dropped planned courses, or she did not notify the colleges of changes in her senior year course of study. Each year, the University of California, the California State University, and independent colleges cancel offers of admission due to poor performance in the senior year. For students who fall below the admitted-student index or who do not adhere to guidelines, offers of admission may be rescinded. Clearly, seniors cannot afford to slumber through their senior year.

7. I am going to a community college, does it matter how I perform academically in high school?

The harder you study in high school, the better you may perform in college and the further along you will be in your studies. Furthermore, if you perform well on the community college math and English assessment tests, which come from studying diligently, the higher the level of math and/or English classes you may be placed in. Thus, you may shorten your time at the community college.