CAREER PLANNING

1. CAREER/HUMAN RESOURCE CONSULTANT
Career development services, including aptitude assessment, learning style assessment, and workshops.
Vicki Fry
2532 NW 60th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
(405) 848-4758

2. ASVAB (Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery)
The following information is taken from the website: http://www.todaysmilitary.com/explore_asvab.shtml#asvab

Q. What is the ASVAB Career Exploration Program?
A. The ASVAB Career Exploration Program is a tool to help your son or daughter make better school and career decisions. This program helps students decide whether they should go on to college, choose a private vocational-technical school, enter the world of work, join today's military, or take yet another road.

Q. Who should take the ASVAB?
A. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school may take the ASVAB. The more your son or daughter knows about his/her abilities, the better he or she will be able to make realistic plans. The ASVAB Career Exploration Program provides a person with information to help in thinking about different career possibilities.

Q. Where can you take it?
A. The ASVAB is given in over 14,000 high schools across the country. The schools determine when and where the ASVAB will be given. If your local school does not participate in the program, ask the guidance counselor if he or she can request the ASVAB or direct you to a nearby school to take it. You may also ask a local military recruiter to give your son or daughter the ASVAB (although you can't complete the full Career Exploration Program through a recruiter).


COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTS

PSAT/NMSQT - Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

This test measures verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities. Traditionally it is the practice test for the SAT as they contain the same kinds of questions and it will estimate your potential SAT score. This test is co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) and is given once per year in October for students who are juniors in high school. (Sophomores may consider taking the PSAT/NMSQT for additional practice.) Eligible juniors will automatically be entered into the Merit Scholarship Program. Awards will be given to approximately 7000 - 8000 students based on their scores.

Q. How can I take the PSAT/NMSQT if I'm taught at home?
A. Contact a principal or counselor at a local public or independent high school to make arrangements to take the PSAT/NMSQT at their school. Be sure to do so well in advance of the mid-October test dates, preferably during the previous June.

Q. Where are my scores sent if I'm homeschooled?
A. If you're a homeschooled student, your PSAT/NMSQT score report is sent directly to your home address. On the test day, when completing the basic information on the answer sheet, be sure to enter the home school code in the "school code" section. The code is 993-799.

For more information:

PSAT/NMSQT
P.O. Box 6720
Princeton, NJ 08541-6720
(609) 771-7070, (609) 882-4118 TTY
www.collegeboard.com (has sample test questions)


Colleges and universities generally require an entrance test as one of their qualifications. Some colleges also require SAT subject tests. Check with the colleges that your child is interested in attending for specific requirements. Oklahoma public colleges and universities accept scores from either the ACT Assessment or the SAT.


SAT - Scholastic Aptitude Test
Most SAT information is the same for homeschooled students as it is for traditional students.

SAT I: Reasoning Test
The SAT I measures verbal and math reasoning abilities that develop over time. SAT I scores can help colleges better understand how you compare with other college-bound students. It's a three-hour test made up of seven sections: three Verbal, three Math, and one "equating section" (the latter doesn't count towards your score).

SAT II: Subject Tests
As a homeschooler, you should consider taking one or more subject tests. These are one-hour, primarily multiple-choice tests in specific subjects, such as writing. By taking subject tests, you can demonstrate your academic strengths to colleges. Plus, some colleges require homeschoolers to take one or more subject tests for admission or placement.

Q. How do I register for the SAT?
A. You can register for SAT tests on your own. Unlike the PSAT/NMSQT, you do not need to go through a local high school. You can register online, by mail, or by telephone (if previously registered for an SAT test).
Request a free Registration Bulletin from your local high school guidance office or call (609) 771-7600 to have one mailed to you. Also request a copy of "Taking the SAT I: Reasoning Test" or "Taking the SAT II: Subject Test."

Q. As a homeschooled student what should I enter for my "High School Name"?
A. If registering online, complete the high school search by entering the city and state, and the search results list will automatically contain "970000 Schooled at Home." Highlight and select this code.

Q. Where do I take the SAT?
A. The SAT Program tests are administered on specific dates at test centers across the country, many of which are high schools.

Q. Where will my scores be sent?
A. Score reports are mailed about three weeks after the test to the address provided on the registration form and to requested colleges and scholarship programs.

For more information:

College Board SAT Program
P.O. Box 6200
Princeton, NJ 08541
1-800-728-7267
www.collegeboard.com


ACT
The ACT Assessment, or A-C-T as it is commonly called, is a national college admission examination that consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning. ACT results are accepted by virtually all U.S. colleges and universities. The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete with breaks.

Q. How do I register for the ACT?
A. There are five national ACT test dates. The test is given at a number of different locations, usually colleges and high schools. The ACT Assessment student registration packet is available through your local high school guidance counselor or register online at www.act.org.

Q. As a homeschooled student what do I use for the school code?
A. Homeschooled students should use 969-999.

For more information:

ACT Registration Department
P.O. Box 414
Iowa City, IA 52243-0414
(319) 337-1270
www.act.org
(also has educational and career planning information)


TESTS THAT EARN COLLEGE CREDIT

AP - Advanced Placement Exam

The AP program offered by the College Board gives high school students the opportunity to receive college credit for what they have learned in high school or on their own. Tests are only given in May (register before April) by participating high schools.

For free brochures on this program, write:

Advanced Placement Program
P.O. Box 6670
Princeton, NJ 08541-6670

For names of schools near you that administer the exams write:

AP Services
P.O. Box 6671
Princeton, NJ 08541-6671
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com


CLEP - College Level Examination Program

CLEP offers credit by examination in a wide range of subjects commonly required for college undergraduates. Taking and passing a few of these tests can save a lot of time and money. Write for the free CLEP Colleges booklet:

CLEP
P.O. Box 6601
Princeton, NJ 08541-6601
www.collegeboard.com/clep