Junior Information | oakstoneacademy

Juniors (Class of 2022)

Junior Year - Important Dates:

PSAT - 11th Grade Students

When: Wednesday, October 14th, 2020

Time: 9:00am

Where: Oakstone Academy High School

Who: 11th Grade Oakstone Academy Students

Registration: Oakstone Academy has Registered 11th Grade Students

Cost: FREE (Oakstone Academy Covers the Cost)

11th Grade College Planning Meeting

When: Thursday, November 5th, 2020

Delivery: Vitual - Zoom Recording

Presenter: Kevin Brackman

Who: 11th Grade Oakstone Academy Students

11th Grade State Funded ACT Test

When: Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021

Where: Oakstone Academy High School

Who: 11th Grade Oakstone Academy Students

Junior Year - Testing Information:

PSAT

Oakstone Juniors will have the opportunity to take the PSAT on Wednesday, October 16th, 2019 here at Oakstone Academy. The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test for 11th grade students that provides firsthand practice for the SAT. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools. Oakstone Academy covers the test cost, so there is NO CHARGE to you.

The PSAT/NMSQT measures:

- Critical reading skills

- Math problem-solving skills

- Writing skills

IMPORTANT - The PSAT is recommended to take, but not mandatory. If you feel that this is a test that your son/daughter DOES NOT need to take, then please email me back ASAP, so we can discuss this.

State-Funded ACT

Ohio High Schools are required to administer a state-funded college test to juniors in the spring of 2020. Oakstone Academy selected the state-funded ACT college and career readiness test.

Your 11th grade student will take the ACT test here at Oakstone Academy High School this February. Oakstone registers all students and is FREE OF CHARGE to your family.

Please look below for testing information:

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021 @ Oakstone Academy High School. Testing begins @ 9:00am:

Test 1 - English

Test 2 - Math

Test 3 - Reading

Test 4 - Science

Information will be going home regularly to Juniors about this test. Please contact Mr. Kevin Brackman if you have any questions.

Junior Year Outlook

The defining characteristic of 11th grade is focus – focus on your grades, focus on your entrance exams, focus on your college search, and of course...focus on yourself: the activities you enjoy and the interests you want to pursue.

From registering for college entrance exams to building your initial list of schools, there are real, tangible tasks that you’ll need to complete. And while it’s normal to feel overwhelmed, the best way to ease stress and ensure success is to maintain focus on everything that you’re balancing.

As your responsibilities and to-do lists expand, you’ll realize that organizational skills play a large role in your ability to focus. To help you manage and stay on top of all that you’re juggling, we’ve created a master checklist. Bear with me; it's a long one.

Junior Year College Checklist

Before you even begin your college search, I can help facilitate your journey by helping you understand requirements and ensuring that you are on track to meet your academic obligations. But you'll need to be proactive. It’s up to you to schedule appointments and seek help when you have questions.

You have more resources available to you than you probably realize. Talk to your teachers, school administrators, or coaches – you can even contact admission officers at colleges across the country. All of these people would be happy to help you think about your future; all you have to do is ask!

Meet with me to compile your initial list of colleges.
- There are lots of colleges and universities out there – and numerous ways to learn which ones might be a good fit for you. Start your college search by attending college fairs (link is external) and meeting with college admission officers who visit your high school or community. As you learn about various schools, take note of the ones that appeal to you and why you’re interested in them. Is it because of a particular program or major they offer? Is it because of their size or location?
- Then, do some research and talk to your school counselor to gauge how your grades and exam scores compare to admitted students at those schools. Before you know it, your college list will begin to form.

Study and prepare for the ACT or SAT:
- These standardized college admission exams can help colleges assess your level of preparation for college-level work, though it’s important to remember that they only represent a piece of the college admission puzzle. Most four-year colleges require that you submit an SAT or ACT score. However, the more selective a college is, the more likely it is that you’ll need to submit SAT Subject Test scores as well.

Visit college campuses during the Fall, Winter, or Spring (Whenever it is most convenient for you and your family).
- There is no better way to determine whether a college or university is right for you than visiting in person. During your visit, you’ll want to attend an information session, tour the campus, and sit-in on a class or two (if possible). While visiting, ask yourself if you can envision your future at the school and assess whether you’d be happy to join the campus community.
- College admission officers realize that not everyone has the time or financial resources to make a campus visit. If that’s the case for your family, contact the admission office and let them know that you are interested in visiting but unable to do so. By reaching out in this way, you are alerting admission officers that your interest in them is sincere – and you might even find that the school has funds to help make your visit possible.

Narrow down your initial list of colleges and discuss your list with your school counselor.
- Once you’ve had a chance to research, visit, and/or virtually tour your list of colleges, you’ll likely have a better idea of what you’re looking for in a school. Not to mention, you will probably have received at least your first round of admission exam scores and junior year grades, so you’ll know if your credentials fall within the schools’ ranges of acceptance.

Plan your 12th grade schedule.
- It’s important for college admission officers to see that you’ve challenged yourself. When you meet with your school counselor to plan your senior year schedule, ask about advanced options and honors courses. That said, just because you can take every advanced class available to you doesn’t mean you should. Work with me or your teachers to find the right balance between what will challenge you and what will enable to you to be successful.

Meeting with Mr. Kevin Brackman to Form a Plan:

It is not too early to start your college search! We recommend that you begin researching schools and visiting campuses if you haven’t done so already. See Mr. Kevin Brackman to ensure that you are on track in the college planning process.
Start working on your college list. Once a school is on your list, research it in depth! Does that particular school have what you are looking for?
- Will it meet your needs?
- Some important considerations include: size/location, environment, admission requirements, academic programs, cost, student life and facilities.

You should think about taking the ACT, SAT this Fall or Spring! See Mr. Kevin Brackman to discuss how to register and prepare for these tests.
CHECK OUT Adventures in Education at www.aie.org. This website contains useful information on planning for college. The website also features tools for career exploration such as videos of career profiles.