Career & College Readiness
College Applications
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) provides a guiding framework for the delivery of our services to all students and we strive to follow this model in all that we do. When students enter Lower Merion High School, they are assigned to one school counselor throughout all four years of high school until graduation. Students, counselors and families begin to connect and to form relationship from the start of a student's freshman year. Students can expect to work with their counselor primarily in 1:1 meetings, in occasional small group sessions and can also expect to have access to other school counselors through classroom presentations.
Formal college counseling is offered in two major ways through our delivery system as defined by ASCA: School Guidance Curriculum and Individual Student Planning.
College Application Process
- LMHS College Application Evening Program
- HHS College Application Evening Program
- Questions to ask College Reps
Links to Other Internet Resources:
The Common Application - https://www.commonapp.org/
Peterson's Guide to College Information - http://www.petersons.com/
CAMPUS TOURS: http://www.campustours.com/
Save money on airfare and take a virtual campus tour. Site features include webcam footage. 360 degree panoramic photos, interactive maps, campus movies and old fashion still pictures.
COLLEGE BOARD ONLINE: http://collegeboard.org/
Permits you to use the award winning college search software ExPan online and for free.
COLLEGE IS POSSIBLE: (New Link Coming)
Is the thought of college tuition keeping you awake at night? This not-for-profit resource is for parents, students and education professionals who want to learn more about planning and paying for college.
IMAGINE AMERICA: http://www.imagine-america.org/
Choosing your career is an important, often difficult, decision. But with the right information - and the right education - you can find the career that is right for you and get trained to succeed in it. Imagine America's Scholarship Program is here to help fund your education. We're also here to help you make the big decisions that will affect your future success as a working professional.
SAT/ACT
Registration for SAT, SAT Subject, & ACT Tests
Please click on the links below to reach the College Board and ACT websites. Students can register online for the SAT, SAT Subject Test, & ACT. Paper copies of the registration forms are available in the guidance office.
How many SAT Subject Tests do I have to take?
Check individual college websites as different colleges and even different departments within colleges have different requirements/recommendations.
What subject tests are available?
English
- Literature
History and Social Studies
- U.S. History (formerly American History and Social Studies)
- World History
Mathematics
- Mathematics Level 1 (formerly Mathematics IC)
- Mathematics Level 2 (formerly Mathematics IIC)
Science
- Biology E/M
- Chemistry
- Physics
Languages
- Chinese with Listening
- French
- French with Listening
- German
- German with Listening
- Spanish
- Spanish with Listening
- Modern Hebrew
- Italian
- Latin
- Japanese with Listening
- Korean with Listening
How long is each test?
Each test is an hour, and you may take up to three in one sitting. You cannot take the SAT I Reasoning test and SAT Subject tests at the same administration.
When should I take the SAT Subject Tests?
Many students take the math exam in June of their junior year. Subject tests should be taken in June of the year you finish those courses or January if you use block scheduling. For instance, if you wanted to take the chemistry exam, you would take it in June right as you are finishing up the class even if that is your sophomore year. This way the material is fresh in your mind. If you choose to take a test at another time, be prepared to spend additional time preparing.
Which math exam should I take?
If you have finished only up to Algebra II or basic trigonometry, then you should take the Math Level 1. Math Level 1 requires a perfect raw score (50) to attain a scaled score of 800. This test has easier content, but needs a higher level of accuracy.
If you have finished pre-calculus and are comfortable with the material, then you should take Math Level 2, which tests higher level math skills and will look better on your transcript. Also, it is easier to get a perfect score on this test than on the Level 1 test because your raw score only needs to be a 43 out of 50 to attain a scaled score of 800.
How do I decide what my other tests should be?
You should choose subjects in which you excel and which you have recently finished. You should avoid language tests unless you are a native speaker or they are requested by the programs you are considering. Most native speakers choose a language test because they can score well, and this pushes the average score up so high that it becomes difficult for non-native speakers to score well.
Some engineering or science programs suggest or require specific Subject tests such as Chemistry or Physics.
University of Pennsylvania encourages students looking at the School of Arts and Sciences to take a language test.
Don't wait to start. Do you like Biology? Take the Biology test after 9th grade. Do you like World History? Take World History after 10th grade. World History is not the same as Western Civilizations. Make sure your curriculum matches up before you choose this test.
Since the SAT Writing Subject Test is now part of the SAT, there is now only one English Subject Test (Literature). Some students find this is a good choice, but it requires strong literature skills in American and British literature, past and present. Try a sample set of questions before assuming this is the right test for you.
Is the scoring the same as on the SAT?
Yes, you get one point for every correct answer, and a fraction of a point is deducted for each incorrect answer.
Are there any basic strategies?
Yes! Some strategies are specific to individual tests, but there are some basic tips. If you are starting with a good bit of time before test day, start out with your weakest areas. The closer to test date, the more you should focus on being absolutely confident in your strong areas.
Make sure you are familiar with the question types before test day. Do you know how to approach the Relationship Analysis Questions on the Chemistry test? Try sample test-like questions. Look for sample test questions from the College Board or pick up a Kaplan study guide at your local bookstore.
Don't necessarily rush through the easy questions so you have a lot of time to spend on harder questions. An easy question and a hard question are both worth the same amount. Don't risk making careless errors.
Strategic guessing is a great choice. Random guessing is not. Don't forget there is a ¼ point wrong answer penalty. Use those answer choices to help you narrow things down. Are two answers saying pretty much the same thing? Is a number just way too big to be logical?
Literature Test:
About 60 questions based on 6 - 8 reading passages
Questions on meaning (theme, argument, connotations of words), form (genre, structure, organization), tone (diction, syntax, emphasis), figurative language, narrative voice, and characterization
Math Level 1:
Tests algebra, geometry, basic trigonometry, algebraic functions, elementary statistics
Similar to the math found on the SAT
Calculators allowed
Math Level 2:
Tests algebra, geometry, advanced trigonometry and functions, statistics, limits
Calculators allowed and encouraged
Biology E/M:
60 core questions on topics such as cellular and molecular biology, ecology, evolution, classical genetics, and organismal biology
20 additional questions in either ecology or molecular biology
Students may not take both the ecology and the molecular biology specializations on the same day
Language and Language Listening:
The Language Listening Tests are only offered in November
For Listening Tests, students must bring their own cassette players
Physics:
75 questions covering a variety of topics including Mechanics, Electricity, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Modern Physics. Check your course curriculum and be prepared for extra study if you do not cover all of these areas.
Calculators NOT allowed
Financial Aid
Financial Aid is any grant or scholarship, loan, or paid employment offered to help a student meet his/her college expenses. Such aid is provided by various sources such as Federal and State agencies, colleges, high schools, foundations, and corporations. The amount of financial aid that a student receives is determined through Federal, State and institutional guidelines. Grants include aid the student receives that need not be repaid or loans must be repaid. Interest rates and repayment terms vary by program. Employment is aid based on an hourly rate for work performed and colleges may offer work study either through their institution or through the Federal government.
Frequently Asked Questions on Financial Aid
Financial Aid Resources and Descriptions
THE COLLEGE BOARD:
http://www.collegeboard.org/
This site offers in-depth information about all aspects of college costs and financial aid. It lets you search a data base of over 3,000 scholarship programs, use interactive worksheets for estimating your expected family contribution towards college costs; complete a CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE application; find out about loans; and more.
FASTWEB:
http://www.fastweb.com/
A data base of scholarships, grants, fellowships, and loans in private sector funding for college students living in the United States, plus extensive information about Federal government financial aid. This is a great resource for students to earn scholarship money.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT:
The largest provider of financial aid, the Federal government has a great deal of information on student financial aid on its website. https://www.ed.gov/
THE FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION PAGE:
http://www.finaid.org/
This is another site that provides excellent links to Internet sources of information about student financial aid.
FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID:
http://www.fafsa.gov
This site is for filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Web. It is fast, free, secure and the only way for students and parents to apply for Federal aid. It is available each year on October 1st.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT FINANCIAL AID ADMINISTRATORS:
http://www.nasfaa.org/
Basic and in depth financial aid advice for parents and students from the leading association of college financial aid officers.
SALLIE MAE:
http://www.salliemae.com/
Sallie Mae is the nation's largest secondary loan provider. This site provides several financial aid calculators and a lot of advice for parents and students.
PENNSYLVANIA HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE AGENCY:
http://www.pheaa.org/
Students of all ages and educational pursuits are moving on to higher education with the assistance of a wide variety of state and Federal grant and loan programs administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.
Scholarships
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are awards of financial aid for a student to further their education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria, which usually reflect the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award. Scholarship money is not required to be repaid.
Students and parents should visit their Naviance Family Connection homepage to view scholarship information:
The most common scholarships may be classified as:
- Merit-based: These awards are based on a student's
- Academic
- Artistic
- Athletic
- Other extracurricular activities and community service record
- Need-based: In the United States, these awards are based on the student and family's financial record and require applicants to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and/or the CSS Profile
- Student-specific: These are scholarships where applicants must initially qualify by gender, race, religion, family and medical history, or many other student-specific factors.
- Career-specific: These are scholarships a college or university awards to students who plan to pursue a specific field of study.
- College-specific: College-specific scholarships are offered by individual colleges and universities to highly qualified applicants.
Local scholarships
It is typical for persons to find scholarships in their home region. Information on these can be found by asking local institutions and organizations.
- School counselors and Teachers
- Non-profits and charitable trusts
- Community foundations
- Foundations
- Labor/trade unions
- Houses of worship
- Chamber of commerce
- Other volunteer organizations
Lower Merion Township Scholarship Fund
LMTSF awards grants on a financial need basis to graduates of Lower Merion and Harriton high schools for post high school education. This includes funds for colleges, universities, vocational/technical, or business schools for up to four years or eight semesters. Applications are due in January of the senior year. For more information, visit the LMTSF website at https://lmtsf.org.
For Specialized Schools/Scholarships
http://www.ncaa.com/ for athletes
http://www.cbsa.com/ for athletes
http://www.scoutusa.com/ for athletes
http://www.naacp.org/ for African American students
http://www.uncf.org/ for scholarships for African American students
http://www.hacu.org/ for Hispanic students
http://www.hillel.org/ for Jewish students
http://www.ccu.org/ for Christian students
http://www.catholiccollegesonline.org/ for Catholic students
http://www.ncld.org/ for students with learning differences
*Naviance is good for searching for colleges, careers, scholarship information and test prep.