Knowsys helps prepare your student for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. However, a great test score alone does not ensure admission to the college of your choice.

When your student applies to college, remember that colleges admissions officers look at all of the following:

1) SAT and/or ACT scores
2) high school GPA
3) level of high school course work
4) recommendation letters
5) extracurricular activities

Knowsys recommends

Parents of high school students keep an eye on the following:

• Test Scores:
  
  PSAT: Have your student take the PSAT in October of their sophomore and junior years.
  
  Even though the PSAT only counts toward the National Merit Scholarship Program in the fall of the Junior year, most schools allow students to take the PSAT in their sophomore year too.
  
  Knowsys recommends that students take the PSAT both times. The test is excellent practice and gives you and your student an idea of where he or she is relative to his or her college goals.
  
  If your student has National Merit Scholar potential, contact Knowsys for PSAT Private Tutoring or get them involved in a PSAT Course.
  
  Contact Knowsys to prepare for the SAT and ACT. Sign your student up for a Knowsys course or private tutoring sessions to give your student the extra advantage on this very important dimension of their admissions package.
  
  Have your student take both the SAT and the ACT. We recommend students take both to see which they perform better on.
  
  Students should plan to take the SAT and ACT during January or February of their Junior year. If need be, students should retake the exams before the end of the semester.
  
  The goal is for the student to wrap up his or her Junior year with the score needed for his or her top-choice school.
  
  
• GPA:
  
  Keep an eye on your student's homework and grades and encourage your student to stay on top of this.
  
  Grades are a very important part of the student's college admissions application, and this is one part of the overall package that the student has day-to-day control over.
  
  Stay in touch with your student's teachers and counselors. Keep up with your student's progress and any areas that might need attention.
  
  
• Course work:
  
  Make sure your student is taking challenging courses that include grammar and composition, math, and laboratory sciences.
  
  Remember: In most cases, it is better to have a well-earned B than an easy A. Universities are looking for quality and level of coursework in conjunction with the grades.
  
  
• Extracurricular activities:
  
  Make sure your student is performing some form of community service work and keeping track of it, as well as of extracurricular activities, honors, and awards.
  
  
• Recommendation letters:
  
  Stay in contact with the teachers who will be writing your student's letters of recommendation.
  
  
• College selection:
  
  Help your student research a wide variety of universities. Focus on the university's course work, degree plans, location, student culture, reputation, and, of course, admissions requirements.
  
  Encourage your student to make as many college visits as possible before the final selection is made.
  
  
• College applications:
  
  Find out the deadlines for taking standardized tests and submitting admissions and financial aid applications.
  
  Teens can be forgetful. Create a College Admissions Calendar specifically for your student's deadlines for quick and easy reference.
  
  Contact Knowsys for College Admissions Consulting. We'll help you and your student work through the entire application process -- from essays to interviewing -- to get the best possible results.
  
  
• Financial Aid:

Fill out the FAFSA Application even if you do not think you will apply for Federal Financial Aid, many universities use the FAFSA information for locating State and University scholarships. Click here for more information on the FAFSA.