HANDBOOK FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS - Immaculate Heart ...

COLLEGE APPLICANTS:
Please enter the school code
number on your application
forms for SAT, PSAT or
ACT examinations.
School Code Number:
051625
In addition to completion of required courses, students must achieve an eligibility index number
based on grades earned after the ninth grade combined with SAT or ACT scores. The index is
different for each system; the University of California uses grades from classes in the prescribed
course of studies only, while the California State University uses grades from all classes in the 10th
and 11th grades except physical education.
In recent years, the growing number of applications to the University of California has resulted in
increased competition for admission, particularly to the most popular campuses. Students must be
more than minimally eligible in order to be admitted to most University of California campuses. In
the CSU system, the most popular majors are also more competitive; students must have stronger
preparation, grades and test scores if they wish to be admitted to the more selective programs. It is
important that both students and parents understand that “eligibility ” no longer means automatic
“admissibility” in the public sector.
THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
The California Community College system provides two-year programs for transfer students,
those seeking terminal associate of arts degrees, and others seeking vocational or certification
programs. The community colleges are located throughout the state, in over 120 communities;
they are accessible to students who are either 18 years of age or high school graduates. There are
no entrance requirements.
PRIVATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
The private colleges and universities throughout the country admit students based on a review of
their program of studies, grades, test scores and personal qualifications. Most private institutions
require that students submit an essay with their applications and that recommendations be
supplied by teachers and/or counselors
TESTING PROGRAM OF THE SCHOOL
The entrance and placement examination administered to all applicants to Immaculate Heart
measures the student’s level of achievement in verbal and quantitative reasoning and in the basic
skills of reading, mathematics and language.
PRELIMINARY SAT/NATIONAL MERIT
SCHOLARSHIP QUALIFYING TEST (PSAT/NMSQT)
The PSAT/NMSQT is offered in October by the Education Testing Service (ETS) on behalf of
the College Entrance Examination Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The
Preliminary SAT is a two-hour version of the College Board SAT. It measures verbal and
mathematical abilities important in college study.
All sophomores and juniors are required to take the Preliminary SAT. Juniors may receive
recognition and financial awards through scholarship programs administered by NMSC.
SAT I
This test is administered by the College Entrance Examination Board and is required for admission
by over 800 colleges and universities. Students may take the test one or more times. The test is a
three-hour objective exam designed to measure how well the student has developed the verbal
and mathematical skills which are considered necessary for success in college. It is recommended
that the students complete their testing by December of their senior year.
SAT II
These one-hour tests, administered by the College Entrance Examination Board, are given on the
same days as the Scholastic Aptitude Tests. They are designed to measure the level of achievement
in the following subjects: American history, European history, biology, chemistry, physics,
mathematics (Level I and Level II), English, French, Spanish and Latin, etc. Students may take
from one to three tests at each sitting.
AMERICAN COLLEGE TEST (ACT)
About 950 colleges, universities and scholarship programs require or recommend that their
prospective applicants take the ACT battery of tests. The first part of the exam is the student
profile section, a series of questions about the student’s academic and vocational fields of interest,
type of housing expected in college, extracurricular plans, anticipated financial needs in college,
and types of part-time work preferred. The second portion consists of four tests—English,
mathematics, social studies and natural sciences, averaging 45 minutes each. An overall average
of the scores achieved provides an estimate of the student’s ability to succeed in college.
SSD TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS
Any student who requires classroom or testing accommodations due to a diagnosed learning
disability must submit an educational assessment report from an educational psychologist,
completed within the last five years, to her counselor. A specific recommendation for extended
testing time must be included within that report for a student to receive extra time on
examinations or standardized tests. Also a separate application for eligibility must be submitted
by IHHS to Educational Testing Services/College Board for any sudent to receive accommodations
on college entrance exams.
IHHS follows ETS/College Board criteria and guidleines for such accommodations, and students
must be in compliance with those requirements to receive extended time testing on any PSAT,
SAT, AP or ACT exams, as well as on IHHS exams. Appropriate accomodations may not be
made without proper documentation. Further information on this policy is available at
www.collegeboard.com or www.ets.org (click on “Test Takers with Disabilities”) or from
the IH test coordinator and the counselors.
MAJOR SCHOLASTIC AWARDS AND HONORS
Each year at Graduation, Immaculate Heart High School presents five major awards to
outstanding seniors.
THE MOTHER EUCHARIA AWARD
The Mother Eucharia Award is given in the name of the late, beloved Mother
Eucharia Harney, who served as Mother General of the Immaculate Heart
Community, President of Immaculate Heart College and, for fifteen years,
Principal of Immaculate Heart High School. It is awarded by the faculty to the
senior who best demonstrates excellence in scholarship, effective leadership,
commitment to service to the school community, and womanly refinement.
THE MOTHER REGINA AWARD
The Mother Regina Award is given to an outstanding senior, selected by her
classmates, whose enthusiastic commitment to the school’s academic and
extra curricular programs, whose positive leadership and whose genuine
concern for the welfare of others have been most influential in unifying her
class and helping each member to enjoy the fullness of the Immaculate
Heart experience.
THE RUTH ANNE MURRAY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP
The Ruth Anne Murray Leadership Award recognizes outstanding seniors who
have consistently demonstrated their ability to exercise positive leadership and,
in doing so, have worked for the good of the school and of the community.
THE DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR AWARD
The Distinguished Scholar Award is the highest award for academic
excellence given at IHHS. The recipient of this award is the student who has
achieved the highest grade-point average (based on academic course work )
during her four years at Immaculate Heart High School.
THE IHHS ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION SERVICE AWARD
The IHHS Alumnae Association Service Award honors the student who has
consistently and generously given of her time and talents to Immaculate Heart.
Through her commitment to service, she exemplifies the spirit of community
which distinguishes the Immaculate Heart woman.
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