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Sophomore Future Planning

Seminar

Churchville-Chili SHS 2025-26

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Learning Objectives:

PSAT Info
Schoolinks Surveys
Future Planning

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All about the PSATs

Understanding the PSAT

PSATs-October

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What is it? The PSAT (Preliminary SAT) is a practice version of the SAT, specifically designed for juniors.
The Format: It covers Reading & Writing and Math.
Digital Era: The test is now fully digital and adaptive—just like the SAT they will take in the spring of Junior year.
The Goal: It’s a "low-stakes" way to see where you stand before the scores count for college admissions.

PSAT: Your First Step Toward College Readiness

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Why Take It in 11th Grade?

Practice Makes Progress:

Test Familiarity: Get used to the digital testing platform (Bluebook) and the timing of the questions without the pressure of college applications.
Identify Your Strengths: Your score report will show exactly which skills you’ve mastered and which ones need more work.
Free Personalized Practice: By linking PSAT scores to Khan Academy, you get a custom study plan tailored to your specific results.

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The "Bonus" Benefits

More Than Just a Practice Score

AP Potential: The College Board uses your scores to suggest which Advanced Placement (AP) courses you might excel in next year.
College Discovery: By opting into the "Student Search Service," colleges can reach out to you with information about their programs and scholarships.
The "Junior Year Preview": While 10th-grade scores don't qualify for the National Merit Scholarship, this is the perfect "dress rehearsal" for the PSAT/NMSQT in 11th grade.
The National Merit Scholarship: Opportunity to qualify and win scholarship funds

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Next Steps & Resources

How to Prepare Without Stressing Out

Don't Over-Study: The best way to prepare is to keep up with your current English and Math classes.
Try a Practice Test: Log into the Bluebook app to try a few sample questions and see how the tools (like the built-in graphing calculator) work.
Key Dates: October 2027
Questions? Visit your counselors office or check out our SchooLinks portal for more resources.

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Schoolinks

Surveys

Understanding the PSAT

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What can

Schoolinks do for me?

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2

3

Career Planning

Find your path
Career plan survey
Would you rather…
Resume Building

College Planning

College Search
Acceptance History
College Major Exploration
Scholarship/Financial Aid Resources

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Learning Style Assessment

Improved learning outcomes
Identify strengths and weaknesses
Identify learning strategies that best suit you

Learning Styles

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Log In

SchooLinks.com

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Post-Secondary

Planning

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Four-Year Colleges and Universities:

These institutions offer bachelor's degrees and often graduate programs.

Two-Year Community Colleges:

These colleges provide associate degrees and certificate programs, often serving as a stepping stone to four-year institutions.

Vocational-Technical Schools:

These schools focus on specific trades and careers, offering certificate and diploma programs.

Military:

Branches–Army, Airforce, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard & Military Academies

Straight to work/On the Job training:

Apprenticeships, Internships, Mentoring, Shadowing

Post-secondary Planning

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The importance of career

planning now…

Informed Decision-Making

Interview people already in the field
Job shadow

Strategic Skill Acuisition

Choose the right courses
Build your resume

Financial Optimization

Avoid wasting tuition
Scholarship opportunities

Reduce Stress and Increase Confidence

Self-awareness
Safety Nets

1. Informed Decision-Making

Early planning allows you to move past stereotypes of certain jobs and discover what they actually entail. Instead of picking a major or a trade based on a TV show or a high salary figure, you have the time to:

Conduct informational interviews with people already in the field.
Shadow professionals for a day to see the "unfiltered" version of the job.
Identify core values, such as whether you prefer collaborative environments or independent technical work.

2. Strategic Skill Acquisition

Many high-paying or specialized roles require specific prerequisites that take years to build. Starting early lets you:

Select the right courses: You can tailor your high school or early college electives (like AP classes or CTE certifications) to match your path.
Build a "Stackable" Resume: You can seek out part-time jobs or volunteer work that specifically builds the "soft skills" (leadership, communication) and "hard skills" (coding, machinery) relevant to your goal.

3. Financial Optimization

One of the biggest risks of late career planning is the "Change of Major" tax. Switching paths halfway through college or after finishing a training program is incredibly expensive.

Avoid Wasted Tuition: Knowing your path early helps you avoid taking classes that don't transfer or apply to your ultimate degree.
Scholarship Hunting: Many specialized scholarships require specific extracurricular backgrounds or early application windows that you’ll miss if you start looking too late.

4. Reduced Stress and Increased Confidence

The "senior year panic" is real. When you have a roadmap in place, the transition from school to the workforce becomes a series of small, manageable steps rather than one giant, terrifying leap.

Self-Awareness: You’ll enter the workforce knowing your strengths, which makes you more confident in interviews.
Safety Nets: Early planning gives you time to develop a "Plan B." If you discover you actually hate your first choice, you still have the time and resources to pivot without feeling like you’ve "failed."

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CCCSD College &

Career Center

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What percentage of 10th graders here at Churchville want to go to college?

QUESTION

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ANSWER

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Who can tell me one of the top 8 career areas your class is interested in?

QUESTION

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Registered nurse

Medicine

Education

Entrepreneur

Business Management

Engineering

Psychology

Architecture

ANSWER

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What can you get from the college & career center?

QUESTION

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Working papers
Help finding a job
Internships
Meet with college reps
Get help with college searches and applications
Military information

ANSWER

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Do you have any questions

for me before we go?

Thank you!