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Shirley Lindauer, Counselor
2010-11 CALENDAR DATES: The following highlighted institutions will be sending admission representatives to visit with Ed-Co's juniors and seniors regarding their future educational plans.
Sept. 10 Drake University, Des Moines, IA– 11:00 Sept. 11 ACT Test Date Sept. 13 Senior Visitation Day – College of Engineering – ISU Sept. 15 Parent/Teacher Conferences – Grades 7-12 – 3:00-7:00 Sept. 20 College Fair @ Upper Iowa University, Fayette, IA – 10:30- 11:30 AM Sept. 23 La´James College, Mason City, IA – 10:00 Sept. 30 Upper Iowa University, Fayette, IA – 10:45 Sept. 30 University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA – 1:00 Oct. 7 Senior Visit Day @ Indian Hills Community College – 10:00-1:00 Oct. 25 Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, IA – 8:30
Iowa State University The College of Engineering has a day planned for high school seniors as part of their annual Engineers Week (E-Week) celebration. E-Week will be held Monday, September 13, 2010. This is a day designed for high school seniors interested in pursuing an engineering degree at Iowa State. The day will be spent touring the campus, learning about engineering programs, and meeting faculty and students. E-Week is organized and planned entirely by students in the College of Engineering. Parents are welcome to attend. Students must register by September 3. Students may view the schedule and register at www.engineering.iastate.edu/srvis
Program for Women
in Science and Engineering “Taking the Road Less Traveled: A Career Conference for Girls” The conferences’ goal is to expose girls, sixth through twelfth grades, to career paths within science, technology, engineering and math. More than 2,500 individuals participate in this program each year. In the morning participants hear from professional women; in the afternoon they participate in hands-on activities or tours. Please note that the cost per participant (students and adults) is $8, and conferences often fill before the deadline. The dates for the conference are: October 14 (High School = Grades 9-12) October 21 (Middle School = Grades 6-9) October 28 (Middle School = Grades 6-9) If interested in how to register, contact Mrs. Lindauer.
ACT ASSESSMENT 2010-2011
As the new fall term opens, Ed-Co's juniors and seniors should give thought to taking the ACT Assessment. Students can choose between two test options - the ACT Assessment or the ACT Assessment Plus Writing. The student can check on-line, at www.actstudent.org/writing, to see if the colleges of their choice require the plus writing section.
Most students take the ACT Assessment during the junior year or early in the senior year, so their results will be available for use in planning for postsecondary education and careers.
The ACT assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college work. The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay. It takes about three hours to complete the four ACT examinations and an additional 30-minutes if the student selects to do the Writing Test. The Assessment also includes a two-part questionnaire that students complete at home when they register. It focuses on interests, academic and nonacademic accomplishments, and vocational and educational plans.
Colleges use information from the ACT Assessment for academic advising, admissions counseling, course sectioning and placement, student services, and institutional research. ACT Assessment reports are sent to students, their high school, and the institutions and agencies the student specifies.
The ACT Assessment is a major service of the American College Testing Program, which has national headquarters in Iowa City, Iowa.
For 2010-2011, ACT has established this test date schedule:
Test Dates Registration Late Registration Deadlines Deadlines
Sept. 11, 2010 Aug. 6, 2010 Aug. 7-20, 2010 Oct. 23, 2010 Sept. 17, 2010 Sept. 18-Oct. 1, 2010 Dec. 11, 2010 Nov. 5, 2010 Nov. 6-19, 2010 Feb. 12, 2011 Jan. 7, 2011 Jan. 8-21, 2011 April 9, 2011 March 4, 2011 March 5-18, 2011 June 11, 2011 May 6, 2011 May 7-20, 2011
The basic registration fee for the ACT Assessment is $33.00 and $48.00 for the ACT Assessment Plus Writing. Late registration will be accepted for an additional $21.00 late handling fee.
The guidance office has the information and forms students need to register for the ACT. Assessment. ACT also provides free copies of the booklet, Preparing for the ACT Assessment, which contains information about getting ready for the examination, plus a complete practice test. Students may also register on-line at www.actstudent.org The Ed-Co High School code is 161-420. This number is needed when registering for the ACT Assessment.
For more information about the ACT Assessment, see Mrs. Lindauer.
Start the School Year Right A Few Simple Steps Help High School Students Prepare for Future
The beginning of a new school year brings with it familiar emotions for most high schoolers — excitement to get reacquainted with friends, dread of early mornings, anxiety about new teachers and challenging classes. Those planning for the first years after high school can add a comfortable feeling of preparedness with a few simple steps, say experts from the Iowa College Access Network® (ICAN).
“Being prepared gives you a feeling of confidence,” said Lupe Hernandez, senior outreach representative at ICAN. “If you have plans for college or a career but aren’t sure what you need to do, taking those first steps helps you get more comfortable with the process and realize it’s really not that hard.”
Meet with the school counselor. Although most students have had some input on their class schedule, it’s good to meet with the school counselor at the beginning of the year, said Hernandez. “It’s important to share or even define your academic goals. Then you can see how close you are to meeting those and what you need to do this year and during the rest of high school.”
Hernandez suggested that students create a list of questions for the school counselor, including the courses they need to take to graduate and the classes they need for any college or career plans.
Get involved outside the classroom. Being active in extracurricular activities, like sports, clubs, volunteering or part-time jobs, helps students in a variety of ways. Sports and clubs can provide leadership skills and improve self-esteem as students become more comfortable working as part of a group and taking on new roles. Volunteering and jobs can offer real-life work experience as students see how well they like working in different fields.
Extracurricular involvement also helps build a solid activities portfolio that students can use for scholarship and college admission applications. “As long as you find something you like to do, not necessarily what all your friends are doing, the benefits of involvement can help you throughout your life,” said Hernandez.
Organize and manage. Some of the most beneficial skills students can learn in high school are time management and organization, Hernandez said. “Every employer wants people who can prioritize, work efficiently and meet goals. The keys to those are good time management and being organized.”
Hernandez recommended a planner or electronic organizer to keep track of assignments, activities and important dates and deadlines for the school year. The planner will help students set and stick to a schedule so they aren’t scrambling at the last minute to complete a project or study for a major test. # # # About ICAN ICAN is the College Access Network for Iowa, as designated by the National College Access Network (NCAN). The ICAN locations in West Des Moines and Cedar Rapids provide information and support to students and their families as they plan their postsecondary education and apply for financial aid. Major funding for ICAN is provided by Iowa Student Loan®. For more information about ICAN, call (877) 272-4692 or visit www.ICANsucceed.org.
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