College & Career

SAT

College entrance exam and study prep information. SAT is an assessment managed by the College Board that has been used as a college admissions test since the mid-1920s. The SAT measures literacy and writing skills and assesses how well a student analyzes and solves problems. Colleges may use SAT scores for admissions and merit-based scholarships.

SAT Resources and Links

• TEA SAT
• Test Prep Toolkit
• SAT Practice on Khan Academy
• SAT Practice Test
• SAT Practice Test Essay
• SAT Practice Answer Sheet
• SAT Practice Test Answers
• SAT Student Guide
• SAT Student Guide Practice Scores
• SAT Registration Test Day Checklist
• SAT Fee Waiver Student Brochure [English] [Spanish]
• SAT Scoring Practice Test
• Understanding SAT Scores [English] [Spanish]
• Understanding your SAT Score Report
• Steps to link College Board and Khan Academy

ACT

College entrance exam and study prep information. The ACT is a standardized achievement test designed to demonstrate how prepared a student is for college by measuring the student’s knowledge and skills in the subjects they have taken in high school.

What is the ACT?

• Subject content includes English, math, reading, science reasoning, and optional essay
• Duration: 2 hours and 55 minutes (3 hours 40 minutes with essay)
• Scored on a scale of 1-36 and score is valid for college admission for five years
• Provides accommodations for students with disabilities and English language supports
• Preparation includes the ASPIRE for grades 3-10 and the Pre-ACT in grade 10 to measure growth

ACT Resources and Links

• TEA ACT
• Official ACT Website
• ACT Test Prep Toolkit
• Disabled Students and English Language Supports

TSIA

Texas exams to determine college readiness. The TSI Assessment (TSIA) is part of the Texas Success Initiative enacted by the Texas State Legislature and designed to determine a student’s readiness for college-level coursework in the general areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. If you are an incoming college student in Texas, you are required to take the TSI Assessment - unless you are already exempt (read below) - to determine your readiness for college-level work. Based on how you perform, you may either be enrolled in a college-level course and/or be placed in the appropriate developmental course or intervention to improve your skills and prepare you for success in college-level courses.

What are passing scores?

Students scoring at or above the cut scores are considered “college ready” and eligible to enroll in any entry level college course (For Example: English Composition, History, Government, or College Algebra). Some college level courses require passing scores in more than one area.

Passing cut scores for TSIA as set by the state:

• Mathematics: a minimum score of 350
• Reading: a minimum score of 351
• Writing: a score of 5 on the essay section or a score of 4 on the essay and a minimum score of 340 on the multiple-choice section

Exemptions for the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA)

A student shall be exempt from taking the TSIA if the student has:

• Scored a 23 or higher on the ACT composite and a minimum of 19 on both the English and math tests;
• SAT administered prior to March 2016: Earned a combined (verbal critical reading + math) SAT score of 1070, with a minimum score of 500 on both sections;
• SAT administered March 2016 and later: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) minimum score of 480, Mathematics minimum score of 530 (no combined score needed);
• TAKS scale score of at least 2200 on the math section and/or 2200 on the English Language Arts section with a writing subsection score of at least 3;
• Veterans, active duty personnel, and a student who is serving as and, for at least 3 years preceding enrollment, has served as a member of a reserve component of the U.S. armed services;
• Transfer from another institution having satisfactorily completed college-level coursework; or
• Enroll in a certificate program of one year or less (Level One certificates) at a public institution.

If you think you may be exempt, please contact an advisor at your college. For a complete list of TSI exemptions, visit www.thecb.state.tx.us/TSI.

TSIA Resources and Links

• TEA TSIA
• College for All Texans
• The Texas Higher Education Coordinator Board
• TSIA Student Information Brochure
• WritePlacer - Guide with Sample Essays
• TSIA Sample Test Questions

FINANCIAL AID

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)- is the form you need to fill out to get any financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college. Each year, over 13 million students who file the FAFSA get more than $120 billion in grants, work-study, and low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Education. Lots of states and colleges also use the FAFSA to determine which students get financial aid—and how much they’ll get. The FAFSA asks for information about you and your family’s finances, including tax returns, so you’ll need your parents’ help to complete it.

Who should fill out the FAFSA?

Anyone planning on going to college in the next academic school year.

Why should I fill out the FAFSA?

• Each year, millions—sometimes billions—of dollars in federal aid is left on the table by students who didn’t file a FAFSA. It’s simple: If you don’t file, you won’t qualify for most financial aid.
• Your family doesn’t have to have a low income to qualify for assistance. Even if your family makes $200,000 a year, you could be eligible for aid.
• You automatically qualify for a low-interest federal loan when you submit a FAFSA. These loans are less expensive to pay back than many private student loans.
• Many work-study programs require the FAFSA.
• Some merit-based scholarships require the FAFSA to help them determine scholarship amounts.

Financial Aid Resources and Links

• Federal Student Aid
• Downloadable Resources for Financial Aid and FAFSA
• How Financial Aid Works
• FAFSA Deadlines
• Do you need money for College or Career School? [English] [Spanish]
• Federal Student Aid at a Glance
• Federal Student Grant Programs [English] [Spanish]
• Federal Student Loan Programs [English] [Spanish]

CAREER RESOURCES

Resources to help parents and students find possible career paths and opportunities to pursue:

• Career Search
• O*Net Interest Profiler
• Careers with Bright Outlook
• Careers in the Green Economy
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics​

COLLEGE RESOURCES

Current ASP website:

• www.aspdallas.org

Resources:

• 9th Grade Checklist
• 10th Grade Checklist
• 11th Grade Checklist and Timeline
• 12th Grade Checklist and Timeline
• College Prep Checklist
• My Future, My Way - First Steps Toward College

ACADEMIC SUCCESS PROGRAM (ASP DALLAS)