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College Admissions

College Admissions

Senior Meeting Information

Counselors will begin meeting with Seniors the first week of September each year. At that meeting, students will be given an unofficial copy of their transcript and discus the student's plan for the future.  

Transcript:  Go online to www.parchment.com and order an official transcript to be sent to the school(s) you are applying to.  (See Transcript tab for more information)

Test Scores:  Go online to www.collegeboard.com (for the SAT) and/or www.actstudent.org (for the ACT) to send your official test scores to the school(s) you are applying to. If you requested to have your scores sent at the time of the test, you do not need to do this again.

Letters of Recommendation

Please check to be sure you need a letter of recommendation  PRIOR to asking a teacher or counselor to write one for you.  If the school you are applying to does not need a letter of recommendation, they may not take the time to read it when making admissions decisions.  

Allow a minimum of 2 WEEKS for the letters to be completed.  Many teachers and counselors will provide you with a sheet they would like filled out prior to completing a recommendation.  It is also recommended that you provide your recommender with a high school resume. THANK YOU notes are greatly appreciated!

College Visits and Scholarships

1) Please read the weekly College and Career Center newsletter and visit the DMHS College and Career page often for updates:  College & Career / College & Career (susd.org)
2) Check the Naviance “College Tab” to sign up for college visits at DMHS. This is your chance to meet with the college representative who will read your application!

Important Documents/Links

NACAC Virtual College Fairs: Events | NACAC Fairs (virtualcollegefairs.org)

College Entrance Exams

Many 4 year colleges and universities require either an ACT or SAT score.

Minimium scores for admission depend on the school, so check their website! Even if a school does not require an entrance exam for admission, they may need ACT or SAT scores in order to be eligible for scholarships. The higher your score, the more money you could be eligible for!

All SUSD Juniors will take the ACT for free in February. If you would like to practice beforehand or improve your score, you can sign up to take the ACT on an available testing day. These tests are not held at Coronado; you will select a different location during registration. Check their websites for more info and dates.

Free online test prep options; here are a few: 

ACT: 

SAT: 

College Testing Timeline

Sophomores

SUSD pays and registers all 10th graders to take the PSAT . Students need to review their scores (see "PSAT Scores" below) and remediate any areas of weakness before their junior year test date. See testing dates linked below. HOW TO ACCESS SCORES: PSAT/NMSQT Score Release Dates – SAT Suite | College Board 

Consider taking a FREE practice length test for the ACT or SAT to determine which test is for you. Princeton Review is a valuable website to use when assessing the difference between the SAT & ACT tests. Similar tests are available through Scottsdale Education Center, Kaplan or Vogel Prep. You may also want to check out SAT/ACT prep books from the library to practice your skills.

Juniors
Register to take the PSAT in August for the opportunity to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Competition.  (NOTE: Registration for the PSAT is done through the DMHS bookstore and there are a limited number of spaces, so please sign up early.)  

SUSD pays and registers all 11th grade students to take the ACT S (see testing dates below) Students can also register to take an ACT and/or SAT in the spring of Junior year/summer going into Senior year. (NOTE: Registration for these tests is not done through DMHS. Registration must be completed through CollegeBoard or ACT.)

Verify whether any colleges you are considering require SAT Subject tests.  For a complete list of schools that require subject tests click here.  Subject tests are offered in 5 subject areas including English, History/Social Studies, Mathematics, Sciences and World Languages. The tests are 1 hour long and cannot be taken on the same date as the SAT.  Plan accordingly to take two of these tests during your junior year.  Many students take the SAT Subject tests to keep their options open. 

Seniors
Consider signing up to take an additional ACT or SAT test in early Fall.  A higher score on a second test may make you eligible for a higher scholarship award or gain you admission to a more selective college. 

Check on the ACT and SAT websites to make sure you have sent your test scores to all colleges where you are applying/send scores through these websites. This step is key for scholarship consideration.  

PSAT Scores
Follow this link for PSAT score access:

Which test should I take? SAT or ACT? click here

Important Documents/Links:
PSAT College Board Practice
PSAT Free Practice Test Search
Understanding PSAT Scores
ACT vs. SAT Comparison
ACT Online Sample Questions
ACT Test Prep Packet (English)
ACT Test Prep Packet (Spanish)
ACT Writing Prep
ACT Free Practice Test Search
College Board SAT Practice
KHAN ACADEMY SAT Prep
SAT Free Practice Test Search
Maricopa Community Colleges Placement Test Prep
Test Prep Tutor List
SCC MEID and ID Retrieval Information

  • See all your scores and if you are on track for college readiness
  • View detailed explanations of skills required to be college ready
  • Send your scores to Khan Academy®for personalized practice recommendations
  • Search for colleges that fit your needs
  • Access your PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index score used for participation in programs conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation
  • Start on your scholarship and college financial aid plan
  • Take a personality test to find majors and careers fit for you
  • Get feedback on your readiness for AP courses