School Counseling Office News
Winter 2017
SAT vs. ACT: College Readiness Assessments
The SAT contains five reading prompts; one literature passage, one social studies primary source document, one social studies non fiction passage, and two science non fiction passages. The reading section requires students to perform several steps to draw the right conclusion from a text, infer more complex relationships from the text by piecing facts or incidents together, and synthesizing information from a graphic and passage. A score will be provided for Evidence Based Reading and Writing. The maximum score is 800.
The math portion of the SAT is divided into two sections. One section is to be completed with a calculator and one does not allow use of the calcualtor. The math sections have multiple choice and grid-in responses. The grid-in responses require the test taker to answer a question and place the answer in the provided boxes. No answer choices are given. Math questions emphasize multi-step problems that require the use of geometry concepts, statistics, and trigonemetry. The maximum score within the math section is 800. A total maximum score of 1600 is provided to the test taker.
The ACT is comprised of four sections. The English section of the ACT tests grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and rhetorical skills. The reading section contains four passages; one prose fiction, one social studies, one humanities, and one natural sciences passage. The math section consists of multiple choice questions that measure skills from algebra I, algebra II, geometry, and trigonometry. The science portion of the ACT contains multiple choice questions for science based passages presented with graphs, charts, tables, and research summaries. A score between 1 and 36 will be assigned for each section with an overall maximum score of a 36. An additional score will be provided for STEM which accounts for student scores from both the math and science sections.
When Should I Take the Test?
When deciding on when to take the SAT or ACT, think about what the end goal is? If the overall goal is to have scores for the summer prior to senior year, taking the SAT or ACT in the spring of your junior year will provide time to take the tests, prepare for retaking the exam, and provide the most opportunity to learn from the classes you are enrolled in. The SAT will be offered at PTHS, on March 10 and again on May 5. There are other dates available that are offered at different locations. Taking the test in March will provide time to receive scores and preparation time for retesting at PTHS in May if you so choose. The ACT is offered at PTHS on April 14. Other ACT dates are in June and July at other locations. Taking the ACT in April would also allow time to receive scores and preparation time for retesting if you so choose.
Should I Retest?
Should students retest? When answering this question again ask yourself what is your end goal? Many students improve their scores the second time. Some colleges will superscore. Superscoring will allow you to report the best scores of sections from multiple test dates. Keep in mind that some schools will ask for all scores from all test dates. Therefore, taking the test too many times may be hurtful to an application.
There is research available to suggest whether to retest or not. For the class of 2018 at PTHS, students averaged a 32 point gain when taking the SAT twice. Students who took the test three times, averaged a loss of 4 points. Students who took the SAT fourt times, averaged a point gain of 28 points. Utilize the PSAT/NMSQT or an SAT to determing where your strengths and weaknesses are. Connect through Khan Academy to use the free targeted lessons based on the PSAT/NMSQT or SAT or sign up for tutoring from many of the outside tutoring agencies.
How Can I Prepare for the Test?
The Optional SAT Essay
SAT II Subject Tests
What Will You Choose After High School?
The Top 20 High Priority Occupations for Southwest Pennsylvania
2 Year and 4 Year Colleges
Military
Trade/Technical School
Specific skill-based careers may require training from a trade or technical school, also known as a career college. These intstitutions provide specific training for the skill or trade of interest. The length of time can vary but often students complete a continuous training program in 10-18 months. These programs can include but are not limited to culinary arts, paralegal, firefighting, dental hygiene, and computer technology.
Military Stories
CPT. USAR PAUL A. CHENEVERT - Army National Guard
The Army National Guard taught me how to be part of a team. In high school I was the average student who tried out for the sports teams, but didn't feel that I fit in (I went to an all-boy preparatory school where on average 95% of the alumni graduate from college). I was more like a loner who stayed to myself during school and hung out with other loners skateboarding after school. In Army basic training, they stripped that all away and rebuilt me as a member of a greater group - the Army. I saw the reasons behind all the training and exercises. I embraced it. I grew from it. I loved it.
I wanted to stay in the regular army (i.e. full-time) after basic. I enjoyed the pay, the free clothes, the free travel, the free food. All of it was great, but I also understood that I needed to continue on to college. I was accepted into LSU before I graduated high school and I knew that going to college was the right thing to do. Louisiana was proud of their National Guard (both Army and Air Force) soldiers and airmen, and thus voted to cover college tuition for all guardsmen at state sponsored school, which LSU was the largest. When I enlisted into an engineering army unit, I also qualified for a school loan repayment program. The SLRP helped me pay for non-tuition college fees (room and board, etc.) while the tuition was waived. That plus the monthly guard drill paycheck and the Reserves GI Bill check allowed me to pay my college on my own, for which I am very grateful.
The Army National Guard also sent me on missions around the world. Over a 21 year career in the reserves I was able to travel to Belize, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Iraq. I met many wonderful people and made a lifetime of memories along the way.
After graduating from LSU I found a state (Maryland) that had a federally recoginzed Officer Candidate School for their guardsmen. After graduating from OCS I was commissioned as a Infantry Officer and was assigned a rifle platoon. During my career I learned how to be both a good follower and a good leader. As a prior enlisted soldier, they called us mustang officers and my men respected me more for working hard to gain my commission.
Being in the Army National Guard can be hard sometimes. We sacrifice a lot both in regards to family and career advancement to remain in the reserves, but if given the chance to do it over, I would do it all again.
SEAN CHRISTOPHER - PTHS Class of 2003
Are you in active duty?
I'm on active duty
When did you join the military?
13Nov2003
What branch of the military are in?
Navy
What experiences have you gained?
I was a machine gunner on two combat deployments to Iraq. I'm a qualified small arms
marksman instructor and armorer. I've maintained an assortment of gun ranges from multi-
story kill houses, to long distance shooting ranges, to demolition ranges. I currently
manage the ordering, receiving, inventorying, and issuing of explosives and assorted
ordnance for EOD technicians at Training and Evaluation Unit Two.
JUSTIN PUENTE - PTHS Class of 2013
Path after High School:
I decided that I was going to join the military, and in December of 2012 I signed my contract to enlist in the U.S Marines.
How did you decide your path?
It was on the 10th anniversary of the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks. I was watching documentary after documentary many of which where following the men and woman of the armed forces that where plunged in to war soon after that day. After seeing story's of countless service members who gave up so much to help us be in a secure world and I knew that I couldn't just sit around and not do my part. I also wanted to see what i was made of, I wanted to make myself in to the best person possible and I knew that very few places will test and build you to your maximum potential as the military would.
Branch of the Military: United States Marine Corps
What experiences did you gain from the military?
After 4 years of service I gained experience in responsibility, commitment, dedication, leadership, time and resource management, problem solving, and communication. These are just a few skills from the many real life experiences that I can apply to anything I will for the rest of my life. However some of the most valuable experience I gained was that you can push yourself beyond your wildest expectations as long as you don't give up. I also gained lots of experience with other people and walks of life, from being in Japan and Korea experiencing a new culture or the friends from every corner of the United States everyone had there own unique story to tell.
The most stand out experience of this was during a training exercise while deployed in Japan with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. During the exercise one of our vehicles had catastrophically broken down and the decision was made to leave the vehicle on a near by US military base until we had time and the means to fix it and left back to the ship we where deployed on. Once back at the ship we where informed that the 31st MEU Commander has ordered us to do everything possible to fix the vehicle and bring it back to the ship within a 3 day time frame and where flown off the ship that was already out at sea waiting for us. The pressure was on and an entire ship was waiting on my group of 3 Marines to fix and come back with this vehicle. Fighting against time and with virtually zero help from anyone. We spent three 19+ hour days only stoping to eat and sleep enough to continue working managed to fix a vehicle that most would have said was unfixable in the situation we where in. The vehicle made it back to ship and continued strong for the rest of the deployment because of the dedication we had to continue in the face of overwhelming odds.
How did the military help with your goals?
One of the goals I set out for myself was to make myself the best I could be. The Military made me realize there is always room for improvement as long as you keep pushing yourself in the right way you will always be better than the day before and by doing that I have continuously made my self a better person in so many ways. They also established a solid foundation i can grow on and use my experience to set out and achieve any new goals I set.Grief and the Holidays
The PTHS School Counseling Office
Mrs. Wawrzeniak (Dj-Kl) x 5234
Ms. Simmons (Km-M) x 5517
Mrs. Prinsen (N-Sk) x 5220
Mr. Sudol (Sl-Z) x 5238
Mrs. Bennett - Counseling Secretary x 5213
Mrs. Hindman - Counseling Secretary x 5518
Mrs. Steffen - Dean of College & Career Readiness x 5213
Website: http://www.ptsd.k12.pa.us/hsGuidance.aspx
Location: 264 East McMurray Road, Canonsburg, PA, United States
Phone: 724-941-6250
Twitter: @pthscounseling