Dear Students and Parents,

Planning the next steps after high school can feel overwhelming at times. My job is to work as a member of the Student Services team at Ben Davis High School to provide programming and resources to help you find your way through the maze. Other educators who will help you with the college application process process include your School Counselor, and the Wayne Township College and Career Readiness team. This team includes; Wendy Skibinski, the Wayne Township Director of College & Career Readiness, and Adam Pearish, who is the Administrative Assistant.

I hope you are able to join us on February 28 at 6:30 p.m. for College Planning Night. This event will include 30 minute sessions on topics including; an overview of the application process, financial aid, college admission testing, college visits, and college athletics. In addition, representatives from both private and public colleges will host panel discussions to share an overview of what they look for when evaluating a college application.

Please keep reading for important information about the SAT & ACT, Hoosier Girls State, Hoosier Boys State, and summer opportunities!

I am looking forward to getting to know the Class of 2019!

Mrs. Coyne,

College Admission Coordinator

Most four-year colleges require students to submit a score on either the SAT or the ACT as part of the admission process. It is important that students take both the ACT and SAT during their junior year. Following this timeline enables students to repeat their preferred test early in their senior year of high school.

The document below includes; dates and deadlines for both tests, information about fee waviers, and links to the registration websites for both tests. Let us know if you have any questions or need more help!

The best way to prepare for both the SAT and ACT is to take and work hard in rigorous classes. Specific test preparation is a great way to become comfortable with the content and format of each test and to review key topics.

SAT prep is available online through the Khan academy. This program is free for all students and will use prior tests (including the PSAT) to personalize a program based on the needs of the student.

ACT prep is available online through Kaplan. This program is free for students who pay for the ACT with a fee waiver. Like the Khan Academy, the Kaplan program will use prior test scores to design a personalized program for each student.

Whether you're trying to decide if you have enough interest in a particular subject to pursue a major and career, or you're just hoping to gain an edge on your college applications, pre-college summer programs are a great way for high school students to spend their summer. All oaf the options featured below are free for qualified students!

If you are searching for even more options, check out the list of Summer Enrichment programs in Naviance!

Hoosier Boys state and Hoosier Girls State are summer leadership and citizenship programs sponsored by The American Legion. This program is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government and instruction for high school students. Attendance is free for selected students thanks to a generous scholarship from the American Legion. More information can be found at the following links.

http://hoosierboysstate.org/

https://www.alaforveterans.org/ALA-Girls-State/

The 2018 Balfour Pre-College Academy is scheduled for Sunday, July 8 through Saturday, July 14, 2018. As a rising high school senior participating in the pre-college academy, you'll spend one week living and learning at Indiana University Bloomington. You'll participate in informational sessions and activities to develop your ability to make informed and personalized decisions regarding your collegiate and career paths.

The second week of the academy is available for a portion of the students participating in the first week of BPCA who are interested in the selected subject area each year. In the 2017 BPCA, the second week of the academy was focused on STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

The Balfour Pre-College Academy is for students who are:

• High School Juniors

• African American, Latinx, and/or Native American

• Enrolled in a college preparatory curriculum (Core 40 Diploma or Core 40 with Academic Honors Diploma in Indiana)

• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher

Applications are due 3/31/2018.

Meet Kelley is a pre-college summer program offered through the IU Kelley School of Business. Selected students will live on the campus of Indiana University while learning more about careers in business and making new connections. Transportation to Bloomington is the only cost incurred by participants.

MEET Kelley is for high school students from historically underrepresented groups, namely students who identify as African-American, Latino/Hispanic, American Indian/Native American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or multiracial.

To be considered, applicants must:

• Be a high school student finishing their junior year and

• Have a minimum GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale

If you’re a high-achieving student from a low-income background, the College Prep Scholars Program can give you an early advantage in the admissions process — now, in your junior year. As a College Prep Scholar, you will receive specialized support and opportunities to help you develop a strong college application that shares your unique story. You will receive the preparation you need to not only get into top colleges, but possibly attend for free.

WHY QUESTBRIDGE? Top colleges are actively seeking students who have excelled academically despite financial hardship, and they partner with QuestBridge to find students like you. All of our college partners — including Stanford, Yale, Amherst, and Duke — distinguish College Prep Scholars as being among the nation’s brightest high school juniors.

ELIGIBILITY: The College Prep Scholars Program is open to high school juniors who demonstrate:

• Academic Achievement and Strength in Character
• Primarily A’s in the most challenging courses available
• strong writing ability, and motivation to succeed
• Class rank and test scores are also evaluated, if available.
• Financial Need: Household income of less than $65,000 annually (for a typical family of four), with minimal assets.
  

Rodney Smith, Associate Principal

Sherman Woodard, Director

Anna Coyne, College Admission Coordinator

Mike Horning, School Counselor

Andrea Norcross, School Counselor

Jamika Jones, School Counselor

Kaylen Wanek, School Counselor

Susan Williams, School Counselor

Brian Abney, School Counselor

Sonya Hicks, School Counselor

Wendy Skibinski, Wayne Township Director of College & Career Readiness

Adam Pearish, Administrative Assistant

Email: anna.coyne@wayne.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.wayne.k12.in.us/bdstudentservices/
Location: 1200 North Girls School Road, Indianapolis, IN, United States
Phone: (317)988-77000
Twitter: @bdhcounselors