EMAIL DETAILS

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Dear Sophomores, Juniors and Parents:</div>
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Welcome back and we hope your school year is off to a smooth start. This letter is to serve as a reminder about the upcoming PSAT exam and also some additional reminders regarding the college search process.</div>
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October is PSAT month. Sidwell Friends will be administering the PSAT exam on campus on <span style="background-color:#ffff00;">Wednesday, October 14.</span> All sophomores and juniors will be taking the exam on this day and have been pre-registered for the exam; classes will not be held on October 14. On the morning of the exam, all students should proceed directly to the Athletic Center; the PSAT begins promptly at 8:00 am and finishes at approximately 11:15 am. Sophomores and juniors will then have some free time, eat lunch, and participate in various Upper School activities during the afternoon of October 14. </div>
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The PSAT/NMSQT is the Preliminary SAT and the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It is preliminary, in that the scores received are strictly for your purposes. Colleges do not see these scores. The importance of taking the exam is to practice and to gain familiarity with standardized tests. For juniors who do well, they may be invited to participate in the National Merit Scholarship competition. The importance of the exam is for practice and to gain familiarity with standardized tests.</div>
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Each student will receive the <em>2015 Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT</em> at an upcoming class meeting. We encourage all sophomores and juniors to review this bulletin. A practice test is included in the student guide, as well as test taking tips and other useful information. Also, in early October, sophomores and juniors will attend an assembly devoted to better understanding standardized testing. </div>
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The PSAT measures reading, writing and language, and math skills developed over several years. Students will not be required to recall facts from literature, history, or science or to complete math formulas as the PSAT examines reasoning and critical thinking skills. The PSAT will not include a student-generated essay.</div>
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Aside from the PSAT exam, we wish to share some upcoming opportunities which are great introductions to the college process in general and specifically.</div>
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<u>Upcoming SFS college programs this year include:</u></div>
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October 7, 7:00pm: Financial Aid Night (all Upper School parents invited)</div>
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October 8, 7:00pm: 10th grade Parent College Counseling Meeting</div>
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October 19, 6:30pm: The Admissions Game (Junior families only)</div>
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November 9, 8:00am: 11th Grade Parent Conversation with College Counseling</div>
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January 4-14: Individual 10th Grade Parent Meetings with College Counseling </div>
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January 6, 8:00am: College Athletics Conversation (all Upper School parents invited)</div>
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January 20, 7:00pm: 11th Grade Student and Parent College Night #2 (Junior families only)</div>
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April 13, 8:00am: Parent Q&A with Admissions Representatives (all Upper School parents invited)</div>
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<u>Upcoming local events for students and parents include: </u></div>
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National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) College Fairs, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, http://www.nacacnet.org/college-fairs/</div>
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Oct 18, 1:00-3:30 pm: Performing and Visual Arts</div>
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Oct. 27, 6:00-8:00 pm: General Fair</div>
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If you have questions or concerns at any time, please feel free to contact us. </div>
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We look forward to a great year ahead.</div>
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The College Counseling Team</div>
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Laurén Carter, Jane Alexander, and Cory Zimmerman</div>
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<p>Lauren B. Carter<br>Director of College Counseling<br>Sidwell Friends School<br>3825 Wisconsin Ave, NW<br>Washington, DC 20016<br>202.537.8166<br> </p>