Applying

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	Applying to College . College planning begins in the ninth grade with the courses you select and only ends when you step foot on your new college campus! Although there is some variation among how colleges evaluate students for admission, there are some general criteria that all colleges consider: • The strength of the student’s high school curriculum • Grade point average• Standardized Test Scores (ACT, SAT, SAT II)• Academic Trend (Did you do as well or better in Junior year as in past years?)• Student personal statement and teacher/counselor recommendations• Extra Curricular Activities • Other information—legacies, special talents, etc. The curriculum of the Frankel Jewish Academy is known for its rigor and diversity. The close, family atmosphere at FJA insures that all students are well known to the teachers and College Counselor, making recommendations personal as well as accurate. Everyone is committed to student success here, and teachers are willing to go above and beyond to give students the help they need to achieve academic success. As a result, our students year after year are welcomed to colleges, and the vast majority are admitted to their first or second choice colleges. Standardized testing is less within the student’s control, and is recognized as a one-day snapshot. That is why it is positioned after the grades and curriculum as a factor in admissions. However, those standardized tests are good predictors of college success and most colleges use them, although an increasing number of colleges are making them optional. The best way to be successful on the ACT or SAT is to be diligent in your studies, taking the most challenging courses possible. No amount of tutoring can make up for a lack of preparation. Since they are primarily tests of reading speed and comprehension, reading a lot, even reading for pleasure can help, too. Some practice is helpful, and both ACT and SAT provide free practice tests with answer keys. But the main thing is to be prepared, rested and focused. Don’t be nervous—your worth is not determined by a one-day test! Practice opportunities are available at FJA. We offer the PLAN test, a practice test for the ACT specifically designed for sophomores at the beginning of the tenth grade year. We also offer to tenth graders an opportunity to practice taking the PSAT. The PSAT, in addition to being a practice test for the SAT, is a high stakes test given in October of the Junior year. This test is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship, and is given one time only nationwide. In March of the Junior year, FJA participates with the State of Michigan in offering the ACT free to all students as part of the Michigan Merit Exam. We also offer Sunday testing for the December, February, April and June ACT exams. Students are encouraged to retake the ACT in June and October for maximum results. Students who wish to take the SAT I can use it as a substitute for or supplement to the ACT. Colleges will consider the best scores of all tests they receive. Often a college will require two SAT II subject tests if the SAT I is taken. Some colleges require SAT II’s with either the ACT or SAT I. College or Common Application websites can give the most up-to-date information about these requirements. In some cases, a college may substitute AP exam scores for SAT II’s for admission. For the most part, AP scores are just used for college placement or advanced credit. Each college has its unique policy, and students should check the college website. Students for whom English is a second language often find the Toefl test to be a better indicator of college readiness than the ACT or SAT. More information about the Toefl or any standardized testing can be found in the College Counseling Office.