College STEPS: Paying for College Resources from Wells Fargo

Dear Parents and Students,

If you’ve got questions about planning, preparing, and paying for college, I encourage you to check out CollegeSTEPS®  for answers. This site, developed by Wells Fargo, is loaded with the following resources and tools for you:

Get College Ready ℠ Tracker. An interactive guide and ’to-do‘ list to help students stay on track as they get financially ready for college.

5-Step Guide to Paying for College. A simple guide to learn the basics of paying for college so you’ll know what to expect. Also available in Spanish.

College Planning Webinar Series. Free, on-demand webinars on a wide variety of college planning and funding topics.

TFS Scholarships. Access to over 7 million scholarships and more than $41 billion in funding for higher education.

Go College! Now. An online community committed to providing access to resources for students who are the first in their families to attend college.

I hope you find the CollegeSTEPS  resources helpful as you and your family get ready for college.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Mitchell

College Steps

More Choices for the ACT September 2020

Introducing: ACT Section Retesting, ACT Superscoring, and Faster Results with ACT Online Testing on National Test Dates

Beginning with the September 2020 national test date, you will have more choices and greater confidence that your ACT test scores best reflect your hard work, overall academic achievement, and potential for success throughout your life.

Single Section Retesting

That’s right, once you have taken the full ACT, you will be able to retake just one (or two or three) section(s) at a time! This will allow you to showcase the skills and accomplishments gained over time, not only your test-taking abilities on one particular day. 

Report Your Superscore

Superscoring is the process of averaging your four best individual subject scores from all ACT test attempts to find a new score… a superscore. If you have taken the full ACT more than once or participated in section retests, you can directly submit your ACT superscore to colleges and universities, which will better reflect your knowledge and achievements.

Faster Results with Online Testing

You will be able to choose between online testing and traditional paper testing on national test days in test centers across the country. In addition, if you choose online testing, you will get scores back in as soon as two days, which means you will be able to make more informed decisions about your future, faster. 

Learn More About Your ACT Choices

Watch Video 

Benefit of Retaking the ACT

News from a recent ACT meeting that I attended:

"The national average score for a junior taking the ACT the first time is 17.6. Retaking raises scores to 22.9 with the second attempt. That's 5.3 points from the first attempt to second."

We need to take into account that at least one half of a school year has added to the students' depth of knowledge but this data leads us to conclude that college-bound students should seriously consider at least 2 attempts at taking the ACT. 

Free eBooks from ACT

Free eBooks

Transitioning from high school to college can be difficult for students. ACT has developed several eBooks to help students along the way. You can find these eBooks and download them for free from

www.act.org/ccrw-toolkit.

1. Planning for Your Future: 6 Easy Ways to Start Preparing for What’s Next
Students can take what they know about their interests, goals, and skills, and pair it with their GPA
and ACT test scores to make informed decisions about their future.

2. 5 Questions Students Must Ask While College and Career Planning: Junior Year Edition
Useful tips, advice, and strategies are presented for Juniors to start planning a path to college and
career.

3. Avoiding the “Senior Slide”: How to Finish Strong During Your Last Year of High School
From enrolling in challenging classes to choose a college, students can finish strong during their
last year of high school.

4. Financial Aid: Paying for College and University
This eBook covers the basics of financial aid, where to find it, how to apply for it, and methods for
accurately comparing the costs.

5. The Ultimate Guide to Conquering Campus Visits
Identify the importance of college and university visits and how they have a major impact on a
student’s final decision.

6. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize: How to Prepare for the Future During Your Sophomore Year
Identify which classes should be a top priority, why extracurricular activities matter, and what steps
sophomore students should take to plan for the future.

7. Before, During, & After: 3 Stages of Taking a College Entrance Exam
Students learn how to successfully plan, analyze, and prepare for a college readiness assessment.