Counselor Newsletter
January 2020
Upcoming Dates
February ACT® Test Date — February 8, 2020
- On-Time Registration deadline: January 10, 2020
- Late registration deadline: January 17, 2020
ACT State Organization Events
- 2020 Texas ACT Summit—January 10, 2020
- 2020 Nevada ACT Conference—January 27, 2020
- 2020 Ohio ACT State Organization Conference—January 28–29, 2020
- 2020 Arkansas ACT Summit—March 2-3, 2020
- 2020 Oklahoma ACT Conference—March 5, 2020
- 2020 Louisiana ACT Conference—March 11, 2020
- 2020 Iowa ACT Conference—March 11, 2020
- 2020 Wisconsin ACT Conference—March 23-24, 2020
This Month
- ACT, Boys & Girls Clubs of America Team Up to Offer ACT Test Fee Waivers
- Inform Your Students About ACT Fee Waivers
- How to Calculate Your Superscore
- 6 Things to Do After Receiving a College Acceptance Letter
- How to Choose Your College Major
- 6 Steps to Crafting a Stellar College Admissions Essay
- Understanding Your Financial Aid Package
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ACT, Boys & Girls Clubs of America Team Up to Offer ACT Test Fee Waivers
ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning and Boys & Girls Clubs of America will help students from underserved populations by providing fee waivers for the ACT® test to eligible students. This initiative is designed to help more students have a fair chance to achieve success in education and the workplace.
Boys & Girls Clubs in California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Tennessee, and Texas will seek to reach 2,000 underserved students with two fee waivers, which include free score reports and free online test prep. Additionally, ACT will provide webinar support to the Clubs in reaching students eligible for the waivers.
Inform Your Students About ACT Fee Waivers
Many eligible students don’t take advantage of ACT test fee waivers. Information about the eligibility requirements and how to request a fee waiver is sent each summer to high schools. Students should work with counselors to determine their eligibility.
Students must meet all the following requirements:
- Currently enrolled in high school in the 11th or 12th grade.
- Be testing in the US, US territories, or Puerto Rico.
- Meet one or more indicators of economic need listed on the ACT Fee Waiver form.
Eligible students may use a maximum of two separate fee waivers total (this will be increased to four fee waivers beginning with the September 2020 national test date).
In Case You Missed It: Most Popular ACT Student Blog Articles from 2019
How to Calculate Your Superscore
Superscoring is the process of averaging your four best subject scores from all of your ACT test attempts. Have you taken the ACT more than once? Here’s how to find your superscore:
Step 1: Gather all of your ACT score reports.
Step 2: Fill out a table with your test dates and corresponding scores from all your ACT tests so you can easily compare subject scores.
Click below for an example and a link to an interactive ACT superscore calculator.
How to Choose Your College Major
It’s important to pick a major that matches your interests. There are a lot of different factors that go into choosing a job, and your major helps you prepare for your career. ACT research tells us a lot about the connection between what interests you and your chosen major. We’ve found that when you choose a major that matches your measured interests, you are more likely to:
- Remain in your major
- Stay in college
- Complete your degree in a timely manner
Click below to find out about 10 steps to take in determining your path in college.
6 Steps to Crafting a Stellar College Admissions Essay
College application essays can be an effective way for you to communicate your uniqueness to admissions officials. Some colleges will have specific prompts they want you to answer. Others will ask for you to describe your life story. Here are some tips to follow when you sit down to write.
Understanding Your Financial Aid Package
After you’ve submitted your ACT® test scores and completed your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the financial aid office at each of the colleges you have been accepted to will send you an award letter (either paper or electronically) outlining the financial assistance they can provide you. This package may include grants, scholarships, loans, and/or work study programs from state and federal government, school, and private sources. You do not have to accept all the items included in a financial aid package.
Click below for five things to look for in your financial aid package, along with a link to a free eBook on financial aid.