By Maya Kostov
Around late September and early October, every high schooler at Tempe Prep has to a complete an assignment to further their future plans. As many high schoolers know, and seniors know best, that assignment is the Naviance assignment. This packet helps provide 9th, 10th, and 11th graders with a steady plan following high school, and helps with preparing for the PSAT/NMSQT, which is an 11th grader’s biggest opportunity for scholarships. Naviance is an amazing website where you can take personality tests to see what your strengths are, career quizzes to see what career might be best for you, and even make an online list of colleges you wish to apply to.
Naviance also notifies you when a college is planning to visit Tempe Prep. That way, you can sign up in advance on Naviance and let colleges know you’re interested!
On Oct. 18, Tempe Prep hosted its annual College Day. All students in grades 10-12 were invited to attend Tempe Prep’s event, with 23 sessions throughout the day to help students get a better glimpse of schools they would like to apply to. From East Coast to West Coast, many college representatives are all at TPA available for you to ask them all sorts of questions, ranging from what the mid-range ACT and SAT scores are to what student life is like on campus. Not only are there college visits, but there are also informational sessions on study abroad programs, financial aid sessions, and various scholarship opportunities.
Senior Anah Hargrove stresses her appreciation for College Day by saying, “In my junior year I was able to meet my dream school that I would end up getting accepted to in the beginning of my senior year. I was also able to meet many other ambassadors from excellent colleges. College Day is like going on a college tour while staying at TPA. Each ambassador took time to answer my questions and made sure I had all the much-needed information. Besides, I got some cool gifts from each table!”
Also, senior Tykiera Jordan had some positive remarks about College Day, saying, “As a first generation student, having no background knowledge about college, college day was extremely beneficial. I learned all the requirements for college and what the best options for me were as well as programs that other kids like me have applied to. It really is an eye opener!”
College Day really creates a good foundation for what a student is looking for in a college!
A big thing all colleges will look for on your applications are your SAT and PSAT scores. For students in 9th and 10th grade, PSAT scores can be used to apply for many summer program scholarships. Taking the exam seriously in 9th and 10th grade will help you prepare for 11th grade when you can qualify for many merit scholarships.
For 11th grade students, the PSAT is the biggest opportunity, because it qualifies students to become National Merit Scholars, National Hispanic Scholars, and Achievement Scholars, and then be eligible for the largest merit scholarships. Khan Academy is a great source for getting in those hours you already outlined on Naviance.
Your future is in your hands, so why not utilize what Tempe Prep has to offer!