Nolan Catholic College Counseling
Class of 2023 - October 1, 2021
Class of 2023 To Do List - October 2021
- Attend the Virtual College Financial Aid Workshop, Sept 28, 2021, 6:30 PM. See below for the zoom link and passcode.
- Prepare to take the PSAT-NMSQT on October 13. More information below.
- Research colleges using Naviance Student!
- Complete a NetPrice Calculator for colleges you may be interested in applying to. See below for more information about how they work.
- Review the list of colleges visiting Nolan Catholic HERE.
- Knights of Columbus Essay Contest is open to 9th – 12th grade. Nolan Catholic will be sending 1 essay from each grade level to represent Nolan Catholic at the Knights of Columbus regional competition. If you are interested in learning more information, please complete this form HERE.
PSAT-NMSQT
- Students do not need to register!
- PSAT Study Guides, which include a practice test, will be distributed to all Juniors on Friday, October 1, 2021.
- Students should arrive at school on time and bring the following items:
- Two # 2 pencils (mechanical pencils are not allowed, even if they are #2)
- Scientific or graphing calculator
- Snacks and drinks (which must be stored under the student’s desk during testing)
Please Note:
- Cellphones, wearable technology, personal computing devices (laptops, etc.), smartwatches, and electronics of any kind (except calculators) must be turned off and given to the teacher.
- Students will take the test in their E period classroom. There are a few exceptions and those students will be informed of their classroom assignment.
- Students are reminded that the best ways to prepare for the PSAT are to get a good night's sleep and eat a good breakfast before coming to school.
Students will be dismissed at 12:00pm. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Longoria at mlongoria@nchstx.org.
What is the PSAT-NMSQT?
- The PSAT/NMSQT is the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
- It is a standardized test that 11th graders across the nation take in October. Like the SAT, it measures knowledge and skills in reading, writing, and math.
- The PSAT is a great primer for the SAT, and even the ACT, but it’s more than just a trial run.
- PSAT scores are used to identify National Merit Scholars and award merit scholarships.
Wednesday, Oct 13, 2021, 07:45 AM
Nolan Catholic High School
PSAT-NMSQT Information
3 Reasons Your PSAT Score Matters
A High PSAT Score Can Lead to a National Merit Scholarship
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation uses PSAT scores to determine which test-takers will become semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Juniors will be competing against students in our state, and recognition as a winner results in a single-payment monetary award of $2,500. Finalists and other outstanding entrants are also eligible for college- and corporate-sponsored merit scholarships. They vary in value but can be substantial, and some are renewable.
- Baylor University, for example, offers the Regents' Gold Scholarship, which covers full tuition for up to eight undergraduate semesters for National Merit finalists who have indicated their desire to attend Baylor.
- Boston University offers a partial-tuition Presidential Scholarship valued at $25,000 per year for four years to National Merit finalists who designate BU as their first-choice college.
College is expensive, and competition for scholarships is often fierce. By achieving a high score on the PSAT, students can take a great deal of stress out of the college admissions and financial aid process.
Your PSAT Score Can Indicate Future SAT Performance
The PSAT is a terrific way to familiarize yourself with the content, format and test-taking processes of the SAT, as well as to get a sense of how you'll perform on the actual exam. Your score can reveal which SAT content areas you may not be particularly strong in, regardless of your grades in related classes. In short, your PSAT scores can suggest how prepared you are to take on the SAT and can allow you to concentrate on studying what you are weakest in to improve your score for the real thing – the SAT. Your PSAT performance can empower you with the information you need to design an SAT study plan that is effective, efficient and helpful in earning your best possible score.
Doing Well on the PSAT Can Give You a Confidence Boost
Test anxiety, as well as general fear of the unknown, can have a negative impact on your SAT score the first time you take it. However, if you have already done well on the PSAT, you will be at a distinct advantage come SAT time.
FINANCIAL AID
Net Price Calculators - How much will a college really cost?
Search for Net Price Calculators on each college's financial aid page or search HERE
What is a Net Price Calculator?
Net price calculators are available on a college or university’s website and allow prospective
students to enter information about themselves to find out what students like them paid to
attend the institution in the previous year, after taking grants and scholarship aid into account.
What does Net Price mean?
Net Price is the amount that a student pays to attend an institution in a single academic year
AFTER subtracting scholarships and grants the student receives. Scholarships and grants are
forms of financial aid that a student does not have to pay back.
Complete a NETPRICE CALCULATOR for each school on your list! Students and parents will
need to work together to provide the required information.
NAVIANCE STUDENT
Naviance Student
Naviance Student is a comprehensive website that students and parents can use to research colleges and careers. Naviance Student is linked with Naviance, a service that we use to track and analyze college and career plans, so it provides up to date information that’s specific to Nolan Catholic. Naviance Student allows you to:
- Get involved in the planning and advising process -- build a resume, complete online surveys, and manage college application timelines and deadlines.
- Research colleges – compare GPA and standardized test scores of Nolan Catholic students who have applied and been admitted in the past.
- Research careers – research hundreds of careers and career clusters, and take career assessments.
Both parents and students can have a login that is synced to the student's Naviance profile.
- Students -- email Mrs. Martin, nmartin@nchstx.org if you need your password reset.
- Parents - email Mrs. Martin to register for an account.
COLLEGE EVENTS
College Visits at Nolan Catholic - October 2021
- Loyola University Chicago
- The University of Texas at Arlington
- University of Notre Damen (virtual)
- US Naval Academy (virtual)
- University of Dallas
See the link below for a complete list of colleges!
To register for a college visit follow these steps:
Log into your Naviance Student account (please send me an email if you do not remember your login information and I will send you an email with a temporary password and instructions to reset your password.)
On the homepage in the What’s New box (bottom right corner) you will see a list of college visits.
Click on more info associated with the college of your choice
Click on Register (the green box at the top of the page)
Print your registration page and show it to your teacher when asking for permission to attend
You must register no later than 24 hours prior to the college visit. Check in the Guidance Office the day of the visit for location.
Contact Nanette Martin in the Guidance Office at nmartin@nchstx.org if you need help registering for the college visit.
National Catholic College Admission Association & Jesuit Colleges - Virtual Events
The National CCAA & JET (Jesuit Excellence Tour) are collaborating to offer virtual events in October.
- Tuesday, October 6: 6x6 Virtual Fair from 5:00 to 7:45 p.m. Central Time
- Tuesday, October 19 & Thursday, October 21: Panel Presentations on College Admission & College Topics from 5:00 to 7:45 p.m. Central Time
Liberal Arts College Fair Series!
Students and families are invited to join 14 prestigious liberal arts colleges for a virtual college fair, where you'll have the opportunity to learn more about each institution. During the virtual fair, you'll connect with admissions representatives, learn about selective college admissions, explore academic and experiential learning programs, and ask specific questions of each institution.
- Claremont McKenna College
- Colorado College
- Denison College
- Grinnell College
- Macalester College
- Pitzer College
- Rhodes College
- Rollins College
- Scripps College
- Sewanee, The University of the South
- Trinity University
- Union College
- University of Richmond
Wednesday, Oct 6, 2021, 06:00 PM
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EUC US, Canada, and Caribbean Fair - Fall 2021
EUC is a group of 8 European universities with programs fully taught in English. To know more about us visit our website or download our brochures (here).
The European Universities Consortium (EUC) is happy to invite you to the EUC US, Canada, and Caribbean Virtual Fair for Fall 2021 which will take place:
- Tuesday, October 5th: 5:00-8:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
- Wednesday, October 6th 5:00-8:00 PM Pacific Standard Time
The event will include live presentations with Q&A and virtual booths to download brochures and message or video chat with university representatives.
Attendance is free and you can register HERE
Stanford University - Virtual Event
Community Conversations are open to students of ALL backgrounds, regardless of how they may identify. We especially encourage participants from historically underrepresented groups, including Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander American, LGBTQ+, and first-generation and/or low-income college students.
To register and find a detailed calendar of Community Conversations and other virtual events, please visit our Virtual Admission Events webpage.
INTERNSHIPS
Many of these may only be applicable to seniors but it's good to plan ahead and be prepared to apply next year.
Scholarship search engines