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All boarding, grades 9-12 in Alexandria, Virginia
Academics
College Counseling

Resources

In This Section

Weekly College Counseling Events

List of 2 events.

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The College Counseling Office's library offers extensive resources to assist students in the college research process, including college catalogs, guidebooks, directories, and computer and web resources.

List of 5 items.

  • Test Dates

    2018-19 SAT TEST DATES AND REGISTRATION DEADLINES


    TEST DATEREGISTRATION DEADLINELATE DEADLINE
    August 25, 2018July 27, 2018August 7, 2018
    October 6, 2018September 7, 2018September 18, 2018
    November 3, 2018October 5, 2018October 16, 2018
    December 1, 2018November 2, 2018November 13, 2018
    March 9, 2019February 8, 2019February 19, 2019
    May 4, 2019April 5, 2019April 16, 2019
    June 1, 2019May 3, 2019May 22, 2019

    Register here. Students are required to present registration ticket and photo identification on the day of the test. IDs must not be expired and the name on the ID must exactly match the name on the registration ticket.

    Recommended Test Centers
    T.C. Williams High School, Alexandria (Test Center #47115)
    Wakefield High School, Arlington (Test Center #47140)
    West Potomac High School, Alexandria (Test Center #47105)

    2018-19 ACT TEST DATES AND REGISTRATION DEADLINES


    TEST DATEREGISTRATION DEADLINELATE DEADLINE
    September 8, 2018August 10, 2018August 26, 2018
    October 27, 2018September 28, 2018October 14, 2018
    December 8, 2018November 2, 2018November 19, 2018
    February 9, 2019January 11, 2019January 18, 2019
    April 13, 2019March 8, 2019March 25, 2019
    June 8, 2019May 3, 2019May 20, 2019
    July 13, 2019June 14, 2019June 24, 2019

    Register here. Students are required to present registration ticket and photo identification on the day of the test. IDs must not be expired and the name on the ID must exactly match the name on the registration ticket.

    Recommended Test Centers 
    T.C. Williams High School, Alexandria (Test Center #233860)
    West Potomac High School, Alexandria (Test Center #192590)

    **Students or their parents must register for the tests. College counselors cannot register students for tests.**

    EHS School Code: 470020

  • Test Prep

    SPRING 2019 SAT TEST PREP CLASS (JUNIORS ONLY)

    Capital Educators will again be directing our optional winter SAT/ACT prep course for juniors.

    The EHS SAT/ACT prep course will be offered on campus to EHS juniors this winter prior to the March 9 SAT and the April 13 ACT test dates. The course will meet on Sunday afternoons from 3-6 p.m. with optional extra help sessions on weekday evenings. To form classes, CapEd will use 11th-grade PSAT scores and Practice ACT scores to subdivide students into small seminars according to their scores and strengths. Groups will have no more than 15 students. The course curriculum will provide a foundation for success on both the redesigned SAT and the ACT. Students will receive detailed score reports from the diagnostic SAT and ACT exams that pinpoint areas of relative strength and weakness. They will be asked to do no more than 1 hour of weekly homework, which primarily entails reviewing flashcards that cover foundational math, reading, and writing content.

    The full course schedule and registration information will be available later this fall.

    ONLINE ACT AND SAT TEST PREP

    Students have access to Method Test Prep, an online test prep course found on the main page of Naviance/Family Connection. The program includes test skill-building resources, an online course for each test, and practice tests. It also provides students who complete the course with extensive analysis of strengths and weaknesses in each section of the tests.

    INDIVIDUAL SAT AND ACT PREP TUTORING OPTIONS IN ALEXANDRIA

    The College Counseling Office has a list of recommended list of ACT and SAT tutors and test prep companies.

  • Standardized Testing Philosophy

    STANDARDIZED TESTING PHILOSOPHY AND RECOMMENDED TIMELINE:

    Sophomores and juniors will take the PSAT at EHS in October. They also have an opportunity to take a practice ACT in November. These practice tests do not require any formal preparation, but EHS offers a PSAT overview session the Sunday prior to the PSAT.

    We recommend juniors take the SAT or the ACT (some students opt to take both) in the spring (March, April, May, or June) of their junior year. Students or parents must register for these exams directly on the College Board and ACT websites. Some juniors will take SAT Subject Tests in May or June. This testing timeline is discussed in individual college counseling meetings. Every student is different and testing timelines and strategy will vary. College counselors will advise students and parents individually about the best approach.

    STANDARDIZED TEST PREPARATION:

    Not every student requires or benefits from formal test prep. Many students will be successful studying from an SAT book or using free online resources, including Method Test Prep. This comprehensive online course for both the ACT and SAT is located in your Naviance account.

    Some students feel more confident after taking a course or working with a tutor. While EHS does not recommend any one test prep service, Capital Educators will conduct a course on campus beginning in January. Course details and registration information will be sent out later this fall.

    We recommend that juniors review the results of the PSAT and practice ACT prior to beginning any kind of formal standardized testing preparation. Please contact the College Counseling office with any questions about standardized testing.

  • Parent Questionnaire

    PARENT QUESTIONNAIRE

    As we work with your son or daughter in the college research and selection process, we would like to give you an opportunity to provide additional information that might be helpful in our work with him or her. Please help us by completing this questionnaire.

  • For College Admissions Officers

    Sign up to participate in Episcopal's annual College Fair on Wednesday, October 10! Click here to register your institution and learn about details.

    If you are a college representative and would like to schedule a visit for the fall, please schedule your visit through Counselor Community.

Additional Resources

List of 4 items.

  • Naviance

    Naviance is a comprehensive website for Episcopal students and their parents to use as a resource in the college planning, selection, and application process. Linked with Naviance, the college counselors use Naviance to track and analyze data about college and career plans, providing up-to-date information specific to Episcopal High School.

    Naviance helps students and parents:
    • Research colleges by accessing quick links to college websites and up-to-date college profiles
    • Access quick links to The Common Application, The College Board, ACT, FAFSA and CSS Profile
    • Review scattergrams that present actual historical data of EHS students' acceptances, waitlists, and denials
    • Analyze acceptance history of EHS students during the last four years to help determine a student's likelihood of acceptance
    • Build a resume and manage timelines and deadlines for making decisions about colleges
    We have provided each student with a personal access code and instructions for accessing Naviance EHS parents may also access the Naviance site. Once you access the site, you will be prompted to enter your registration code. Next, the site will ask you to enter your email address and create your own password. Your email address will now be your login name.

    Please note that new information, such as SAT scores, are added to each student's profile in the summer following their junior year.

    If you have questions about Naviance, have trouble accessing the website, or have misplaced your registration code or password, please contact the College Counseling Office at 703-933-4037.

  • Standardized Testing

    Testing requirements vary from college to college. All colleges accept test scores from either the SAT or ACT. A growing number of colleges have become "test optional," which means they do not require applicants to submit standardized test results. Other colleges now accept a variety of subject test scores, AP test scores, graded papers, etc. in lieu of SAT or ACT scores. It is important to be aware of the testing requirements of each college on your list.
    SAT Subject Test requirements vary considerably as well. Many institutions welcome SAT Subject Test results but do not require them. Since a number of colleges add or drop Subject Test requirements from year to year, it is important to research the requirements of each of the colleges to which you will apply. Not meeting testing requirements—especially when applying to highly selective colleges—may weaken your application in relation to other applicants or render it "incomplete."

    If applying Early Decision or Early Action, it is especially important to be aware of testing requirements, especially for Subject Tests. The October, and sometimes November SAT test dates, are early enough for scores to be considered in the early plans of some, but not all, colleges and universities.

    Students who qualify for and plan to take extended time tests must contact Episcopal's Academic Support Center to make arrangements. Both the SAT and ACT programs have very specific and somewhat rigid qualification standards for extended-time testing qualification.

    Registration deadlines are important! Students are required to register for all admission tests ahead of time, and the testing agencies are very strict about registration deadlines, which are well in advance of the testing dates. Testing centers—and especially the one located near EHS—fill up early, so register for the tests as early as possible. The T.C. Williams High School test center in Alexandria (test center #47115), is the closest site to register for standardized tests.

    Please note: Students must send their own scores directly from the test website to each college they apply to.

    Many colleges require students to have all scores sent directly from the SAT and/or ACT website.

    STANDARDIZED TESTS

    There are six types of tests commonly used by colleges and scholarship sponsors to evaluate a candidate’s ability and achievement.

    PSAT/NMSQT
    Taken in October of sophomore and junior years.
    The Preliminary SAT (PSAT) is used primarily as a practice test to prepare students to take the SAT in the junior and senior years.

    National Merit Scholarships and recognition are based on results of the PSAT given in the fall of the student’s junior year (also known as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test or NMSQT).

    You do not get two chances at posting a National Merit score. Students who repeat a year, for example, and take the test officially a second time, will find their scores flagged (with an asterisk) to indicate their ineligibility for National Merit recognition.

    At EHS, the PSAT is taken for practice by sophomores. 

    SAT Reasoning Test
    Taken in winter and/or spring of junior year and fall of senior year

      SAT Subject Tests
      Taken in junior spring and/or November or December of senior year

      These one-hour tests are designed to measure a student’s level of achievement in a particular subject, such as English, foreign language, history, mathematics, or science.

      Up to three Subject Tests can be taken on one test date. Certain Subject Tests are offered only on specific dates, and students need to carefully plan their test schedule.

      We recommend that students take the Subject Tests in May of junior year and/or in November or December of senior year. Students must closely check Subject Test requirements at each college. While many colleges do not require SAT Subject Tests, some require two or three of the tests for admission, and others use them for placement. Failure to meet these requirements can place a student at a minor or even significant disadvantage in the admission process.

      Most institutions do not specify which Subject Tests a student should take, but some do have very specifically defined requirements.

      American College Test (ACT)
      Taken in spring of junior year and/or fall of senior year

      The ACT consists of four sections covering English use, reading, mathematics, and natural sciences reasoning. Since most colleges also require the ACT’s optional writing section, EHS students should plan to take that portion of the test. 

      Most colleges throughout the country accept both the ACT and the SAT. Thus, it is sometimes an advantage to send colleges scores from both tests. Many institutions will base an admission decision on a higher ACT or SAT score when students submit both.

      Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
      Colleges usually require students whose native language is not English to take the TOEFL.

      Because the verbal portion of the SAT does not always provide an accurate measure of the non-native speaker’s fluency in English or verbal abilities, the TOEFL can provide colleges with a more accurate indication of a student’s command of English. Many colleges require international students to submit a TOEFL score, in addition to SAT scores.

      Register early for this test since test centers tend to fill up quickly.

      Most colleges publish the minimum TOEFL score required for admission.

      Advanced Placement (AP) Tests
      Some colleges are starting to accept AP exam scores in place of standardized test scores. Also, when colleges review high school transcripts, they note enrollment in Advanced classes. Higher scores on AP exams earned during junior year can enhance their admission profile.

      AP exams are given in May and cover the equivalent of college-level material in a specific Advanced course. The exams are graded on a scale of 1 to 5. While placement and credit policies vary from college to college, scores of 4 and 5 – and sometimes 3 – can earn students advanced college credit and/or placement. 

      Advanced Placement scores are not on the EHS transcript. When requested, we will report AP scores to colleges on the transcript. Strong sophomore or junior AP scores may enhance your application.

      LEARNING DIFFERENCES AND EXTENDED TIME TESTS

      The SAT and ACT tests are offered in different forms to accommodate students with learning differences or disabilities. Students who qualify for these tests may take them with extended time and in other special needs formats. 

      At many institutions, there are no special tracks or special programs for students with learning disabilities. Other colleges can offer extensive programs and accommodations. Admission committees will consider a student’s academic record at Episcopal to be an important predictor of the student’s success in college.

      Taking Non-Standard Tests
      The Educational Testing Service of the College Board offers non-standard administration of the SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests and the Advanced Placement exams to qualified students. Please note the process for requesting extended time for the SAT (from College Board) is a separate process from requesting it for the ACT.

      Approval for accommodations is separate from, and not guaranteed by, approval for academic accommodations by Episcopal High School.

      For additional information, visit the College Board website.

      The ACT has established policies regarding documentation of an applicant's disability and the process for requesting accommodations. For details, visit www.act.org/aap/disab/policy.html.

      No distinction is made on the score report for students who have taken the SAT or ACT exam with extended time. Scores appear exactly as scores from regular administrations.

      In order to qualify for accommodations on College Board and ACT tests, students must have a complete psycho-educational evaluation. Please contact Episcopal's Academic Support Center for more information on required documentation.

      Please note that the process for requesting extended time from the College Board is a separate process from requesting it for the ACT.

    • Recommended Reading

      A visit to your local library or bookstore may overwhelm you with how much college resource material is available. This list is far from complete; however, it is a good place to start as you begin to do research on colleges and universities.

      Reference Books
      These books are comprehensive and generally objective
          • "Barron's Profiles of American Colleges," Barron's Educational Series, Happauge, N.Y.
          • "The College Handbook," College Board, New York, N.Y.
          • "Comparative Guide to American Colleges," James Cass and Max Birnbaum, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, N.Y.
          • "Lovejoy's College Guide," Lovejoy's Educational Guides, Monarch Press, New York, N.Y.
          • "Peterson's Guide to Four Year Colleges," Peterson's Guides, Princeton, N.J.
          • "Peterson's Competitive Colleges," Peterson's, Princeton, N.J.

      Supplementary Reference Books
          • "College Admissions Index of Majors and Sports," Orchard House, Concord, Mass.
          • "College Cost and Financial Aid Handbook," The College Board, N.Y.
          • "Colleges That Change Lives," Loren Pope, Penguin Books, New York, N.Y.
          • "Cool Colleges for the Hyper-Intelligent, Self-Directed, Late Blooming, and Just Plain Different," Donald Asher, Ten Speed Press
          • "50 College Admissions Directors Speak to Parents," Sandra MacGowan and Sarah McGinty, Harcourt, Brace and Jovanovich
          • "How to Get Into the Top Colleges," Richard Montauk and Krista Klein, Prentice Hall
          • "Index of Majors," College Board, New York, N.Y.
          • "Letting Go: A Parents' Guide to Today's College Experience," Karen Levin Coburn and Madge Lawrence Treeger, Adler and Adler, Bethesda, Md.
          • "Looking Beyond the Ivy League," Loren Pope, Penguin Books, New York, N.Y.
          • "Peterson's Handbook for College Admissions," Thomas C. Hayden, Peterson's, Princeton, N.J.
          • "Peterson's National College Databank," Peterson's Guides, Princeton, N.J.
          • "Scaling the Ivy Wall in the 90's," Howard Greene and Robert Minton, Little, Brown and Company, Boston, Mass.
          • "Scholarship Handbook," The College Board, N.Y.
            "The Best 345 Colleges," Princeton Review
          • "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Into College," O'Neal Turner, Alpha Books, Indianapolis
          • "The Directory of Canadian Universities," The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
          • "The Fiske Guide to College," Edward B. Fiske, Times Books
          • "The National Review College Guide," Charles Sykes and Brad Miner, Wolgemuth and Hyatt
          • "The Yale Insider's Guide to the Colleges," The Yale Daily News, St. Martin's Griffin
          • "Visiting College Campuses," Janet Spencer and Sandra Maleson, The Princeton Review

      SAT Preparation and Guides
          • "10 Real SAT'S," The College Board, New York, N.Y.
          • "Cracking the System: The SAT," Princeton Review, Villard Books, New York, N.Y.
          • "One-on-One with the SAT," College Board, New York, N.Y. (CD-ROM course)
          • "How to Beat Test Anxiety and Score Higher on the SAT," James H. Divine and
          • David W Kylen, Barron's Educational Series, Happauge, N.Y.
          • "How to Take the SAT," Marcia Lawrence, Plume Books, New York, N.Y.

      Focused Guides
          • Books for Students with Specific Backgrounds, interests, and concerns.
          • "African American Student's Guide to College," Marisa Parham, Princeton Review Series
          • "The Black Student's Guide to Colleges," Barry Beckham, New York: Dutton
          • "Guide to Performing Arts Programs," Muriel Topaz and Carole J. Everett, The Princeton Review
          • "Historically Black Colleges and Universities: A Reference Handbook," Cynthia L. Jackson, ABC-CLIO
          • "Is There an Engineer Inside You? A Comprehensive Guide to Career Decisions in Engineering," Celeste Bain
          • "Penguin Guide to American Business Schools," Harold P. Doughty, Penguin USA
          • "Summer Opportunities for Kids and Teenagers," Thomson Petersons

      For Students with Learning Differences
          • "College for Students with Learning Disabilities or ADD," Thomson-Peterson's, Lawrenceville, N.J.
          • "Campus Opportunities for Students with Learning Differences," Judith M. Crooker and Stephen Crooker, Octameron Associates, Alexandria, Va.
          • "College Guide for Students with Learning Disabilities," Annette Joy Sclafani and Michael J. Lynch, SPEDCO Associates, Farmingville, N.Y.

      For College-Bound Student-Athletes
          • "Going the Distance" (formerly The Athlete's Game Plan for College and Career), Stephen Figler and Howard Figler, Peterson's Guides, Princeton, N.J.
          • "College Admissions Index of Majors and Sports," Orchard House, Concord, Mass.
          • "The Winning Edge: A Complete Guide to Intercollegiate Athletic Programs," Frances and James Kilpatrick, Octameron Associates, Alexandria, Va.

      Career Information
        • "The Complete Career Guide," David M. Brownstone and Gene Hawes, Simon and Schuster, New York, N.Y.
        • "What Color is Your Parachute?," Richard Nelson Bolles, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, Calif.

    • Recommended Websites

       COLLEGE SEARCHES AND ADMISSIONS INFORMATION
      ACT
      College Board
      CollegeNET 
      An all-purpose site with a host of useful links and programs.
      Colleges That Change Lives 
      Site based on book by best-selling, highly regarded college advisor Loren Pope. Insights about some wonderful and sometimes overlooked places.
      Fiske Guide Books 
      From the author of the reliable and popular Fiske Guide to Colleges comes a full array of college admission-related resources.
      Mapping Your Future 
      General info site with variety of information includes a sign-up for monthly email reminders and a newsletter.
      The National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC) 
      A good resource for an array of information and websites.
      Peterson's Guide
      COLLEGE SEARCH, TEST PREP, AND SPECIALTY SCHOOLS INFORMATION
      Princeton Review 
      Test prep, college search and other college-related info.
      US News and World Report 
      Be wary of the rankings, but there is much to learn at this site. The "school comparison" feature is great.
      ONLINE APPLICATIONS
      *Online applications are typically found on each college's own website.
      The Common Application 
      Many colleges and universities participate in the common application, which can streamline your college application process.
      The Coalition for College Access 
      FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
      College Board
      FastWeb 
      Financial aid and scholarship search engine. Updated daily.
      FinAid 
      The most comprehensive financial aid site.
      The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
      Sallie Mae 
      Financial planning for college and loan information
      INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
      National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 
      Includes a handbook with information about eligibility in college athletics for the student/athlete.
      ALTERNATIVE AND YEAR-OFF PROGRAMS
      Americorps 
      National service program.
      City Year 
      National youth service organization.
      Dynamy 
      Internship Year program for students who want to learn differently. For an academic year or semester, students participate in an array of real-world activities that increase self-awareness and self-reliance, and lead to a confident transition to higher education.
      Earthwatch Institute 
      A research, conservation, and education organization.
      Eurolingua Institute 
      Language-immersion study abroad programs.
      Gap Year 
      A host of travel and work ideas for students prior to heading off to college.
      Global Routes 
      Cultural exchange and service trips.
      National Outdoor Leadership School 
      Semester-long outdoor courses in skills and leadership.
      Outward Bound 
      Adventure-based environmental program.
      Rustic Pathways 
      Year-round travel programs to Australia, New Zealand, The Fiji Islands, Tanzania, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Vietnam, China, India, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Mongolia, Transylvania, and Mongolia.
      Study Abroad 
      Summer study abroad programs, internships, volunteer abroad programs, intensive language programs, and more.
      Taking Off 
      Resources for gap year programs all over world.
      Time Out 
      Information on options for time off before starting college.
      Where There Be Dragons 
      Learning adventures in the developing world.
      World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms 
      Information for those who would like to volunteer on organic farms internationally.
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