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Hey High Schoolers!

As you read this, you are looking at 10th or 11th grade this
fall. This booklet and your Central Washington
University visit will give you information you need to
finalize your plans for postsecondary education after
graduation.
In this booklet, youll learn what youll have to do as a
high school senior to complete a college application, or
apply for an apprenticeship or military service.
WAIT! you may be saying. Im not a high school senior yet!
We know. But do you know any high school seniors who are right now
completing an application for college? Most are completely freaked out
because they have so much to do, and its all unknown and scary!
Well, were not going to let that happen to you! Were providing you
and your parents a preview of your senior year, so youll have time to get
ready. Look at the section on the SAT and youll see why you want to do
studying hard language arts and why you want to take algebra and maybe
calculus whether youre thinking college or the military. Read about
personal statements and start thinking now what makes YOU unique.
Share the information on FAFSA with your parents so they will understand
how to help you apply for federal and state financial aid. Youve got time,
but its time to start! Most important: build a support team to help you
negotiate the hurdles to postsecondary education. The right team will get
you there; the wrong team could lead you astray!
Read through and youll see whats ahead!

When youre a high school senior, youll be the

picture of cool when you apply to the
postsecondary training of your choice.

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Postsecondary options open to you include Apprenticeships, Military training programs,

Community and Technical Colleges for both 1-year certificate programs and 2-year
transfer degrees, and Four-year Colleges and Universities.
Apprenticeship (Washington State Department of Labor and Industries:
www.LNI.WA.GOV.)
An apprenticeship student gets a minimum of 2000 hours on-the-job training (OJT)
learning manual, mechanical or technical skills supervised by a journey-level craft
person or trade professional, and an additional 144 hours minimum classroom
instruction to learn practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation.
An apprenticeship might be good option if
you are a hands-on learner
you learn better from application than from book learning
youd like to boost your earning power to pay for college
you respect people who earn money in the trades.
The Military (Department of Defense. http://www.defenselink.mil/sites/)
There are more than 4,100 different officer and enlisted jobs offered by the US
Military for both full-time and part-time duty. The US Department of Defense has
developed the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (www.asvabprogram.com) to help
students identify and explore potentially satisfying occupations and to develop
effectives strategies to realize their career goals.
The military might be a good option for you if..
you like or need a structured work environment to get things done
you would like to earn money for a college you cant yet afford
you are motivated by the opportunity to serve your country
you seek adventure and opportunities for leadership
Community and Technical Colleges
Washington State has an excellent system of 33 community and technical
colleges providing a broad array of technical degrees including 1-year
certificate programs, 2-year non-transfer Associate of Applied Science
Degrees, and 2-year general education or professional degree transfer
programs.
A Community or Technical college might be a good option for you if.
you want to complete general education courses before transferring to a 4-year school
you need to bring up your grades, or save more money, before you transfer
you need specific technical training available at a CTCs for your chosen career
Four-Year Colleges and Universities
There are six public and many private four-year universities and colleges in Washington State,
as well as myriad institutions offering quality four-year degrees across the nation.
A four-year degree program option might be a good option for
you if.
you have a strong academic record and test scores
you need a four-year degree to pursue your chosen career
you want the breadth of training a four-year education can provide
you are pursuing a profession that requires training beyond the BA
you are still unclear about a specific career but want to get a strong
educational foundation as you decide on your major field of study
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CWU MOSAIC2 GEAR UP

All students will complete five tasks high school seniors need to
complete to make application to university, colleges, or the
military. These materials are color coded in the booklet as they
are displayed below:
1. Experience a COLLEGE
APPLICATION: Students will
review a paper form of a CWU
Freshman application.

2. PERSONAL STATEMENT - Students will review

Personal Statements from students who were accepted to
Central Washington University, University of Washington
and Harvard. Students will write a draft of a personal
statement.

3. PRACTICE SAT Questions: Students will review sample SAT items

released in 2014 to see what kinds of questions are asked on this test.

4. FAFSA: Students will work to complete a

mocked-up free application for federal student aid
(FAFSA), using examples of actual forms. Students
will also see a copy of a CWU financial aid award letter.

5. SCHOLARSHIP & JOB OPPORTUNITES:

Students will consider how to find $$ for college
through scholarships or part time jobs in high
school and/or college.
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MOCK COLLEGE APPLICATION: These days, students

applying to CWU or other institutions will usually complete an
online application. So that you can see what information you
will be asked to provide, we have gone back to a prior year
when CWU still had print applications to show you what kinds
of information you will be asked to provide should you
choose to seek admittance to Central Washington University.

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PERSONAL STATEMENT - Following are

Personal Statements from students who were
accepted for admission to Central Washington
University, University of Washington or Harvard.
Students will complete a draft of their own
personal statements using prompt from a former
Central Washington University application.

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PERSONAL STATEMENT
College Essay
Colleges and universities put a high premium on students applications,
including grades, test scores, course selection, to make sure students they
admit are academically prepared for the expectations awaiting them in
higher education. Faced with candidates with similar grades, admissions
officers look deeper into a candidates application to find ways to
differentiate the students they should admit. They often look to a Personal
Statement students write as part of the college application. The personal
statement does several things: 1. conveys the
student's unique character 2. demonstrates
the student's writing skills 3. demonstrates the
student's ability to organize thoughts
coherently and 4. indicates how the student
interacts with others.
Information you provide in the personal
statement help the admissions staff learn
important facts about YOU things that
indicate if you will be a good fit for their
campus. Most statements are no more than
two typewritten pages.
Following is an example of prompts asked by Central Washington
University in the personal statement in a prior year. NOTE: These prompts
may change yearly, so there is no guarantee that these are the prompts you
will answer as a senior, but they give you a good idea of the questions you
might be asked at that time:
How have your past experiences influenced your academic record?
What are you presently doing to ensure your academic success?
What are your academic goals and how will CWU help you accomplish these
goals?
You are encouraged to include your involvement and leadership contributions, in
your home, school or community in your essay.
Following are examples of personal statements for students who enrolled in
the postsecondary institutions to which they applied.
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Central Washington University FRESHMAN STUDENT

For some, smarts come easily, naturally, while others have to work hard and
go the extra mile to achieve academic goals. I have always chosen to work hard and
take that extra step that in the end is going to pay off. When I was in second grade I
had a reading problem, and needed to be placed in a special reading group. I
struggled for the next few years, but never gave up. Finally in seventh grade
something just clicked, and since then reading has been one of my strongest
subjects. All of this just goes to show that you are capable of achieving anything as
long as you stick with it and keep your best foot forward.
I am a very determined person. I want to make something of my life, and be
remembered for actually doing something in life, not just sitting on my bottom
letting life pass me by. I am the driver in my life, not the passenger. I am involved
with school activities such as Honor Society, National Honor Society, Key Club, Link
Crew and DECA. I am the secretary for our chapter of DECA, and have competed in
competitions for the past two years. I have a passion for marketing, and DECA has
really allowed me to gain a stronger grasp on the fundamentals of marketing, in all
aspects. For the past year, Ive had the opportunity to serve on the Macys
Corporate High School board, which has given me a great foundation into the fashion
industry. Through the board, I have been exposed to all the behind-the-scenes of
the industry and I have gained much knowledge, to help me further my education at
Central Washington University. I am also an employee at American Eagle Outfitters.
This job has allowed me to acquired skills in the retail industry, and gain plenty of
experience in the workplace.
Another important part of my life is in the community, as I get much
satisfaction knowing that I was able to make an impact on someones life. I enjoy
working with people, and especially kids. This year I had the fantastic experience of
being a leader at Camp Waskowitz for a week, with Emerald Park Elementary.
During this week, I was an outdoor educational leader and planned activities, taught
classes, and supervised kids. It really provided me with a good grasp on
dependability, and just how much you can make a difference. All in all, each one of
my experiences has added to my character and defines the person I am today. I am
like a sponge, ready to absorb life. Just the fact of knowing I am capable of
accomplishing my goals in life motivates me to achieve success in all aspects.
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UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON RURAL STUDENT

Think of a specific incident you remember that was important in making you the unique
individual you are. What was the experience? When did it happen? Who was involved?
Where did it occur?
With my arm forced into a sheep all the way up to my armpit, I struggled to help deliver
three new lambs. Ten minutes later, I washed up and changed my soiled jeans and t-shirt for
a freshly pressed white tux and bow tie. The lambs were off to a good start with their
mother, and now I would be able to depart for my next gig, playing with the Washington
Coast Lab Band. My music performances are scheduled in advance, but my ewe didnt check
my calendar before she decided to lamb. Experiencing the birth of triplets is uncommon,
but for me, days filled with 4-H projects and music are not. Im willing to accept a hectic
schedule because of the positive impact my animals and music has had on my life.

How did it affect you or change you?

Ive raised sheep for nine years, and it is a decidedly unprofitable business. Due to low
market prices, for every lamb I sell I lose about $50. Raising sheep, however, has taught me
about record keeping and responsibility. There is no instant gratification when it comes to
sheep. You have to start planning in September for an animal to sell in an auction the
following August. Ive also learned to deliver lambs and in at least a few cases, both the ewe
and the lambs would have died without my assistance. Even if I am available during the
lambing time, there is no guarantee that everything will go as planned. I like to be control of
things and if I could, Id make things perfect. Natures unpredictable nature has forced me
to be more flexible and find alternative ways to reach my goals.

Why is this important to making you who YOU are, both now and in the future?

One goal of mine would be to play perfectly at the District Solo & Ensemble Contest, though
that is probably not possible. A major endeavor I undertake each year is to prepare a solo
piece for the contest. I should say we undertake the endeavor, as without my teachers
help, I wouldnt be able to perform a solo of the same caliber. For the past five years, Ive
taken private trumpet lessons from a local musician. By local, I mean he lives here now.
Before that he played trumpet for 40 years with the Les Brown Band, performing around the
world including tours with Bob Hope. My teacher, Mr. Utal, has taught me more than just
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technique on the trumpet; Ive learned to appreciate and acknowledge the small
accomplishments of the less proficient musicians I help.

How will this experience make you a good student at the college you will attend? What
did you learn from that experience that will help you in college and in life?

By modeling Mr. Utal, I try to critique without being too critical. Our work together each
year culminates with the district contest, which is also the qualifying contest for the regional
level. For my first two years of tryouts, I have been first alternate for state, while my duet
partner was chosen to attend the state contest. Coming in second, even to a friend has
been frustrating. My friend graduated last year, and since then, I have qualified and won the
district and state solo contests. This year, I could have chosen a simpler piece to make sure I
won, but as this was one of my last chances to take advantage of my teachers expertise, I
selected a difficult trumpet concerto. I find I am most satisfied when I set high standards for
myself and strive to achieve them.

Give a summary to what youve said in your essay.

I look forward to being at home for one more lambing season and the potential challenges it
will bring. I also anticipate performing my concerto as a solo at the state performance (I
recently discovered I won the contest). Of course, in reckoning my calendar, I see my ewes
are likely to lamb on the day of the solo performance.

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MIGRANT GIRL -- UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Think of a specific incident that you remember that has been important in making you the unique
individual you are. What was the experience? When did it happen? Who was involved? Where did it
occur?

During the summer when I was about ten, I remember looking around the cherry
orchard and all I saw were Mexican families with lines from stress on their faces as they
tried hard to take advantage of the day. I recall asking my father, Dad, where are all
the other people? Do they work in the fields too? , the rest of the families have
parents with an education so they have higher positions and do not need to work in the
field. I was quiet the rest of the day My dad looked down from his ladder, paused, and
smiled. Finally he told me, Mija and full in thought. My father had a third grade
education and my mother never went to school. They did not speak English very well
but in my eyes, my parents were the wisest. My father was the one who showed us the
difference between a life with education and a life without education. It was then our
choice to choose the right path to venture into.

It was then that I learned the

importance of not only a high school education but a college education as well.

How did it (working in the fields) affect you or change you?

Every summer my sister and I being the only girls would wake up at 2:30 in the morning,
along with my mother.

We were the women in the household who prepared the

lonche for a long day of hard labor and brought tears to my eyes and blood to my
nostrils from the hot summer heat. We would work from 3:00 in the morning till about
4:00 in the evening depending on the heat. We would then return home to find the
house alone and quiet. However it would all change once we stepped inside. My
family always kept a positive attitude in life even if we were poked fun of for being a
non-wealthy family. To us, life was the best we had each others support, a roof over
our heads, and comida, thats all we needed. My summer vacations consisted of farm
labor, housework, and resting. My friends always bragged about their familys wealth
and how they just have to have the last Air Jordans or how they had spent three
weeks at the beach in California. All I ever had to talk about was how heavy and cold
the ladder was against my right shoulder in the mornings and how working in the fields
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since the age of five had stunted my growth. This never struck me as a bad thing. I was
still a happy child.

Why is this important to making you who YOU are, both now and in the future?

My family consists of seven children, I being the second youngest. Coming from a large
family of nine, I can fully understand the meaning of hard work. My parents came from
Mexico in 1971. Ever since then, both my father and mother have served long, hot,
backbreaking days in the fields. We all know the story of the poor Mexican who came
over (referring to the United States) to earn a better living. My father always told us
that without an education, there wasnt a better living.

How will this experience make you a good student at the college you will attend? What did you
learn from that experience that will help you in college and in life?

I have been witness to the value of education. My brothers and sisters have graduated
high school and college and are currently climbing the ladder to their success. Now with
their education, my siblings do not spend their summers in the hot heat. They have done
their part and learned how education is the key to success in life. Seeing their success has
helped me be patient to get a good education so that I too can look to a better future. I
have learned from my family how to work hard to seek the things that are important in
life.

Give a summary to what youve said in your essay.

Being a part of my family, having worked beside them, having their support, and having
been raised to value education has been a life-long incredible experience that has built
certain characteristics in my inner self. I am anxiously waiting for my turn to pursue my
education at the University and to study law to make a difference not only in my life but
in the lives of Hispanics as well. The education I hunger for is not a challenge or a
priority anymore. It is my life, my future.

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Personal Statement Harvard University

It only took half an hour, and I was hooked. We were sitting in a circle, reading aloud
from Shakespeares Merchant of Venice. It was the first day of rehearsal, and I was new to
Shakespeare. Wed introduced ourselves, and now we were getting down to the business of
casting the play. I felt isolated and insecure. I only knew one of the other ten people in the
room, and I didnt even like him.
We had just been reading through the play, and I made a wonderful realization. I knew
what this meant! All my life people had told me that Shakespeare was unintelligible. Everyone I
had talked to said he was great, but they also said that his work practically had to be translated
to be understood.

So I was shell-shocked as we read the play and I found myself

understanding every single word. Not just understanding, but really feeling the words in my
mouth, in my ears, in my mind.
In particular I was hooked by one part that of Shylock, the Jewish usurer. I felt a
kinship with him that went far beyond the fact that I too am Jewish.

His long, unsteady

ramblings juxtaposed with short, staccato sound-bites struck me as a perfect example of life a
measure of hot madness mixed with a dollop of cold sanity.
As the weeks went on, I found myself more and more in love with Shakespeares
language. It was so rich, so vibrant. It rolled off the tongue. And as I connected to the text, I
also connected to my fellow actors. At first I had felt cold and distant. As the rehearsal period
wore on I grew closer and closer to them. As I realized in the play which other characters
Shylock could relate to, I became aware in the real world which fellow actors I could relate to.
Yet I was still missing something, both with the text and with the people.
My epiphany came the day we opened. I walked through the doors of my stage house
and saw the audience. I began to speak in Shylocks nervous, short rhythm, and I saw them
respond. I saw my fellow actors and myself warm to the audience as they warmed to us. I saw
us act bigger, better, bolder than wed ever done in rehearsal. And I realized why I acted, why I
loved Shakespeare. Acting out his four-hundred-year-old words allowed me to tap into my
contemporary feelings. His words might be archaic, but his feelings are timeless. Through
Shakespeare I could, and can, improve my understanding of my life, my place in the world.
Acting Shakespeare is the most uplifting experience I have ever had. And it still comes back to
me every time I do it.
(By Philip Goldfarb, Seattle. This was part of Phillips application to Harvard. He was granted early
acceptance. Philip has been in several youth productions with the Seattle Shakespeare Company in
Seattle. )

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College Application
PERSONAL STATEMENT WORKSHEET
Following are the questions that CWU has used in the past in its on-line application.

How have your past experiences influenced your academic record?

What are you presently doing to ensure your academic success?

What are your academic goals and how will CWU help you accomplish
these goals?

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Few of us like writing about ourselves. The following chart can help you
collect ideas that you could include in a personal statement youll write in
the future. In each column, list personal traits that pertain to you.

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

i.e., good at math,

strong vocabulary; a
natural leader,
someone people
look up to. (These
are skills or attributes
you want to keep
and strengthen).

i.e., disorganized, late

or absent a lot to
school, afraid of
public speaking, dont
work well in teams.
These are things you
can work on over
time, to turn them
from weaknesses to
strengths.

EDUCATION

grades that are

notable: Regularly
get As on writing
assignments, good
grade in honors
English; OR D in
Algebra. You want
to sustain the As
and bring up the
Ds.

ATTITUDES
OR
APTITUDES

TALENTS

Are you a cheerful,

optimistic person?
Angry, impatient?
Are you good with
your hands can fix
cars, or computers or
appliances? You
could be a budding
engineer.

Are you good a

soccer, basketball,
the flute, drawing
and painting, drama,
robotics? These are
things that show a
different side of you,
things for which
there might be
scholarships.

If youre stuck writing your personal statement, spend time filling in the boxes above.
Its easier to write when you have something to say.

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SAT Practice Test

https://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/satpractice-test
PRACTICE SAT/ACT TESTS: On the following pages
is information on what is tested on the SAT. This test
is important to letting students know if they are ready
for the rigors of postsecondary study. This is just a
sample this is not everything required on the test!!
It is possible (and we recommend it) to take a practice
test on-line a stress-free and FREE way to find your
strengths and weaknesses on the SAT. You can do it
online, or print it out.
The 2014-15 Official SAT Practice Test is now available. To
score the 2014-15 Practice Test, download the 2014-15
Scoring Guide.
While you dont need the scores yet, taking the test early
and seeing your scores will help you know what you should
be studying up on, so that when you take the test for REAL
you will be ready.

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SAT Reading
For Example:

Passage-Based Reading

Read the passage carefully and decide on the best answer to each question.
PASSAGE:

I experienced a shock when I saw

a curtain go up for the first time. My
mother had taken me to see a play at
the Schubert Theater on Lenox

Line 5

Avenue in Harlem in New York

City. Here were living people
talking to one another inside a large
ship whose deck actually heaved
up and down with the swells of the

Line 10

sea. By this time I had been going to

the movies every Saturday afternoon
Charlie Chaplin's little comedies,
adventure serials, Westerns. Yet
once you knew how they worked,

Line 15

movies, unlike the stage, left the

mind's grasp of reality intact since
the happenings were not in the
theater where you sat. But to see the
deck of the ship in the theater

Line 20

moving up and down, and people

appearing at the top of a ladder
or disappearing through a door
where did they come from and
where did they go? Obviously into

Line 25

and out of the real world of Lenox

Avenue. This was alarming.
And so I learned that there were
two kinds of reality, but that the
stage was far more real. As the

Line 30

play's melodramatic story

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developed, I began to feel anxious,

for there was a villain on board who
had a bomb and intended to blow
everybody up. All over the stage
Line 35

people were looking for him but he

appeared, furtive and silent, only
when the searchers were facing the
other way. They looked for him
behind posts and boxes and on top

Line 40

of beams, even after the audience

had seen him jump into a barrel and
pull the lid over him. People were
yelling, "He's in the barrel," but the
passengers were deaf. What

Line 45

anguish! The bomb would go off

any minute, and I kept clawing at
my mother's arm, at the same time
glancing at the theater's walls to
make sure that the whole thing

Line 50

was not really real. The villain was

finally caught, and we happily
walked out onto sunny Lenox
Avenue, saved again.

Some questions assess your comprehension of information directly stated in a passage:

The "happenings" mentioned in line 17 refer to the

(A) work undertaken to produce a movie

(B) events occurring in the street outside the theater
(C) fantasies imagined by a child
(D) activity captured on the movie screen
(E) story unfolding on the stage

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For Example:
Sentence Completion
Read the sentence and choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the
sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Hoping to ------ the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be----- to both labor and management.
(A) enforce..useful
(B) end..divisive
(C) overcome..unattractive
(D) extend..satisfactory
(E) resolve..acceptable
There is no doubt that Larry is a genuine ------- : he excels at telling stories that
fascinate his listeners.
(A) braggart
(B) dilettante
(C) pilferer
(D) prevaricator
(E) raconteur
The novel's protagonist, a pearl diver, navely expects that the buyers will compete
among themselves to pay him the best price for his pearl, but instead they ------- to ------ him.

(A) venture . . reward

(B) pretend . . praise
(C) conspire . . reimburse
(D) refuse . . cheat
(E) collude . . swindle
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SAT- Writing
Covered in this area are:

Improving Sentences and Paragraphs

Identifying Sentence Errors
The Essay

For Example:

Identifying Sentence Errors

Read the entire sentence carefully but quickly, paying attention to underlined choices (A)
through (D) then select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make
the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

The students (A) have discovered that (B) they can address issues more effectively (C)
through letter-writing campaigns (D) and not through public demonstrations. (E) No
error

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(E)

The board (A) reviewing the courses offered by the college ( B) found that the quality of
academic programs (C) were generally good but (D)somewhat uneven. (E) No error

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(E)

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The SAT essay measures your ability to:

develop a point of view on an issue presented in an excerpt
support your point of view using reasoning and examples from your reading, studies,
experience, or observations
follow the conventions of standard written English
The essay gives you an opportunity to show how effectively you can develop and
express ideas. You should, therefore, take care to develop your point of view, present
your ideas logically and clearly, and use language precisely.
Your essay must be written on the lines provided on your answer sheet you will
receive no other paper on which to write. You will have enough space if you write on
every line, avoid wide margins, and keep your handwriting to a reasonable size.
Remember that people who are not familiar with your handwriting will read what you
write. Try to write or print so that what you are writing is legible to those readers.

A pencil is required for the essay. An essay written in ink will receive a score of zero.

Do not write your essay in your test book. You will receive credit only for what you
write on your answer sheet.

An off-topic essay will receive a score of zero.

If your essay does not reflect your original and individual work, your test scores may
be canceled.

For Example:

Directions from a real SAT Essay

You have twenty-five minutes to write an essay on the topic assigned below.
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the
assignment below.
Many persons believe that to move up the ladder of success and achievement,
they must forget the past, repress it, and relinquish it. But others have just the
opposite view. They see old memories as a chance to reckon with the past and
integrate past and present.
Adapted from Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, I've Known Rivers: Lives of Loss
and Liberation

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SAT ESSAY Assignment: Do memories hinder or help people in their effort to

learn from the past and succeed in the present? Plan and write an essay in
which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position
with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or
observations.

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SAT - Math
Number and Operations: The following concepts are
covered:

Arithmetic word problems (including percent, ratio, and proportion)

Properties of integers (even, odd, prime numbers, divisibility, etc.)
Rational numbers
Sets (union, intersection, elements)
Counting techniques
Sequences and series (including exponential growth)
Elementary number theory

For Example:
Percent means hundredths, or number out of 100. For example, 40 percent means

.
Problem 1: If the sales tax on a $30.00 item is $1.80, what is the sales tax rate?
Solution:

Percent Increase/Decrease
Problem 2: If the price of a computer was decreased from $1,000 to $750, by what percent
was the price decreased?
Solution: The price decrease is $250. The percent decrease is the value of n in the
equation
Note:

. The value of n is 25, so the price was decreased by 25%.

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Average Speed: An Example

Problem: Jos traveled for 2 hours at a rate of 70 kilometers per hour and for 5
hours at a rate of 60 kilometers per hour. What was his average speed for the 7-hour
period?
Solution: In this situation, the average speed is
.
The total distance was
.
The total time was 7 hours. Thus, the average speed
was

Note: In this example, the average speed over the 7-hour period is not the average
of the two given speeds, which would be 65 kilometers per hour.

Sequences
Two common types of sequences that appear on the SAT are arithmetic and geometric.
An arithmetic sequence is a sequence in which successive terms differ by the same
constant amount.
For example: 3, 5, 7, 9, . . . is an arithmetic sequence.
A geometric sequence is a sequence in which the ratio of successive terms is a constant.
For example: 2, 4, 8, 16, . . . is a geometric sequence.
A sequence may also be defined using previously defined terms. For example, the first
term of a sequence is 2, and each successive term is 1 less than twice the preceding term.
This sequence would be 2, 3, 5, 9, 17, . . .
On the SAT, explicit rules are given for each sequence. For example, in the sequence
above, you would not be expected to know that the 6th term is 33 without being given
the fact that each term is 1 less than twice the preceding term. For sequences on the SAT,
the first term is never referred to as the zeroth term.
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ALGEBRA & Functions: The following concepts will be tested:

Substitution and simplifying algebraic expressions

Properties of exponents
Algebraic word problems
Solutions of linear equations and inequalities
Systems of equations and inequalities
Quadratic equations
Rational and radical equations
Equations of lines
Absolute value
Direct and inverse variation
Concepts of algebraic functions
Newly defined symbols based on commonly used operations

For Example:
Factoring

You may need to apply these types of factoring:

x2 + 2x = x (x + 2)
x2 1 = (x + 1) (x 1)
x2 + 2x + 1 = (x + 1) (x + 1) = (x + 1)2
2x2 + 5x 3 = (2x 1) (x + 3)
Functions
A function is a relation in which each element of the domain is paired
with exactly one element of the range. On the SAT, unless otherwise specified, the
domain of any function is assumed to be the set of all real numbers x for which (x)
is a real number.
For example, if (x) =

, the domain of is all real numbers greater than or

equal to 2. For this function, 14 is paired with 4, since (14) =

4.
Note: the
example,

symbol represents the positive, or principal, square root. For

= 4, not 4.

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GEOMETRY - The following concepts are covered on the test:

Area and perimeter of a polygon

Area and circumference of a circle
Volume of a box, cube, and cylinder
Pythagorean Theorem and special properties of isosceles, equilateral, and
right triangles
Properties of parallel and perpendicular lines
Coordinate geometry
Geometric visualization
Slope
Similarity
Transformations

For Example:
Geometric Figures

Figures that accompany problems are intended to provide information useful

in solving the problems. They are drawn as accurately as possible EXCEPT
when it is stated in a particular problem that the figure is not drawn to scale. In
general, even when figures are not drawn to scale, the relative positions of
points and angles may be assumed to be in the order shown. Also, line segments that
extend through points and appear to lie on the same line may be assumed to be on
the same line. A point that appears to lie on a line or curve may be assumed to lie on
the line or curve.
The text "Note: Figure not drawn to scale" is included with the figure when degree
measures may not be accurately shown and specific lengths may not be drawn
proportionally. The following examples illustrate what information can and cannot
be assumed from figures.

Example 1

and
are line segments, angles ACB and DCE are vertical angles.
Since
Therefore, you can conclude that x = y. Even though the figure is drawn to scale, you
should NOT make any other assumptions without additional information. For
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example, you should NOT assume that AC = CD or that the angle at vertex E is a
right angle even though they might look that way in the figure.

Properties of Parallel Lines

1.If two parallel lines are cut by a third line, the alternate interior angles are
congruent. In the figure above,
c = x and w = d
2. If two parallel lines are cut by a third line, the corresponding angles are congruent.
In the figure,
a = w, b = x, c = y, and d = z
3. If two parallel lines are cut by a third line, the sum of the measures of the interior
angles on the same side of the transversal is 180. In the figure,
c + w = 180 and d + x = 180

Coordinate Geometry

1. In questions that involve the x- and y-axes, x-values to the right of the y-axis are positive and xvalues to the left of the y-axis are negative. Similarly, y-values above the x-axis are positive and yvalues below the x-axis are negative. In an ordered pair (x, y), the x-coordinate is written first.
Point P in the figure above appears to lie at the intersection of gridlines. From the figure, you can
conclude that the x-coordinate of P is 2 and the y-coordinate of P is 3. Therefore, the coordinates of
point P are (2, 3). Similarly, you can conclude that the line shown in the figure passes through the
point with coordinates (2, 1) and the point (2, 2).
2. Slope of a line =

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A line that slopes upward as you go from left to right has a positive slope. A line that slopes
downward as you go from left to right has a negative slope. A horizontal line has a slope of zero. The
slope of a vertical line is undefined.
Parallel lines have the same slope. The product of the slopes of two perpendicular lines is 1, provided
the slope of each of the lines is defined. For example, any line perpendicular to line
slope of

above has a

The equation of a line can be expressed as y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.
is
, the equation of line
can be expressed as
Since the slope of line
the point (2, 1) is on the line, x = 2 and y = 1 must satisfy the equation.

, since

so
and the equation of
line is
.
Hence,
3. A quadratic function can be expressed as y = a (x h) + k, where the vertex of the parabola is at
the point (h, k) and a 0. If a > 0, the parabola opens upward; and if a < 0, the parabola opens
downward.
2

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The parabola above has its vertex at (2, 4). Therefore, h = 2 and k = 4. The
equation can be represented by y = a (x + 2) + 4. Since the parabola opens
downward, we know that a < 0. To find the value of a, we also need to know
another point on the parabola. Since we know the parabola passes through the point
(1, 1), x = 1 and y = 1 must satisfy the equation.
Hence, 1 = a(1 + 2) + 4,
2

so

Therefore, an equation for the parabola is

Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability

Data interpretation (tables and graphs)
Descriptive statistics (mean, median, and mode)
Probability

For Example:

Probability

Probability refers to the chance that a specific outcome can occur. When outcomes
are equally likely, probability can be found by using the following definition:

For example, if a jar contains 13 red marbles and 7 green marbles, the probability
that a marble selected from the jar at random will be green is

If a particular outcome can never occur, its probability is 0. If an outcome is certain

to occur, its probability is 1. In general, if p is the probability that a specific outcome
will occur, values of p fall in the range 0 p 1. Probability may be expressed as
either a decimal, a fraction, or a ratio.

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FAFSA, pronounced FAF-SA, stands for Free Application for

Federal Student Aid. Students will complete an application
for federal financial aid, using examples of actual forms.
Following is a hard copy of the July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015
Application. These forms may change a bit year to year, but
you and your parents can use this one to see what questions
are asked, and what documents you will need, so that you
can come to understand what is involved in completing the
FAFSA.
Following the FAFSA are samples of documents that will be
needed to complete the FAFSA. These are SAMPLE
documents provided only to help students and their parents
to understand how to complete the FAFSA.
Following these materials is a copy of a SAMPLE CWU
Financial Aid Award Notice. How much you will be
eligible for, and how much your family will be required to
contribute to college costs is derived from information you
provide in the FAFSA, which is why it is so important that you
complete it accurately and completely.
The award letter also shows 2014 costs for tuition and fees,
housing, books, transportation and miscellaneous. AGAIN, this
form was designed for a specific student. Your letter will be
different but will include the same basic information. This is a
sample only.

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37

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38

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39
37

40

38

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39

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STUDENT INFORMATION: STUDENT S. SAMPLE

We have developed some SAMPLE documents like the ones you would need to complete the
FAFSA. This is a fictional student, and this information is provided just to help you see how to
complete the FAFSA.
Student S. Sample lives with his mother (Nevaeh) and father (Jamien) and his sister (Synthia), in
Wapato. Students parents both work for Yakima School District. Students mother works in the
office, and Students father is a teacher of Computer Science and Washington State History.
Student has a part time job working at a Warehouse in Yakima during the summer where Student
earns $9.50 hour for approximately 400 hours each summer.
Student wants to attend the Central Washington University and is possibly interested in becoming
a teacher. Student has been in Yakima for 8 years. Students parents received citizenship in 1992.
Students Social Security Number is 123-45-6789. Students Washington State Drivers License
Number is SAMPLSS123AB. Samples address is 1234 Ivy Street, Wapato, Washington, 98951.
Students birth date is 4-14-88.

IDENTIFICATION CARD

SOCIAL SECURITY CARD

PPERMANENT
ERMANENT RESIDENT
RESIDENTCARD
CARD
NAME: SAMPLE, STUDENT S.
INS A# 123-456-789
Birthdate: Category

Sex

Country of Birth:
Outside of USA
CARD EXPIRES:
11/24/2005

C1USA1789397LINO1087348713<<<<
45861MEXL;AKJDFLAKJDFKJSD>>>>>>>LAD>>>>ALKD
FJALKSDJFLASDJFLASKD>>>>>>LKJALKJFD

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45
43

46
44

47
45

48
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Below is a SAMPLE CWU Financial Aid Award letter from

CWU. Yours will vary from this, but this gives you the idea!

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NOTE: Your actual award would be dependent on

information you provide on your FAFSA. This is an example
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only.

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SCHOLARSHIP & JOB OPPORTUNITIES: You can

find funding for school through scholarships, family
savings and by earning money in high school and/or
college.

What scholarships will help me

pay for college?
Finding Scholarships
1. Check with your school counselor. There are
scholarships for those with special talents in
athletics, the arts, or academic areas.
2. Contact local organizations. Many community organizations
(Rotary, Lions Club, religious or ethnic organizations, youth
organizations, fraternities and sororities, and alumni groups) offer
scholarships. Also the local chamber of commerce might know of
local businesses who offer awards. Contact professional
organizations related to your career interests (i.e. lawyer, physician,
nurse).
3. Ask employers and labor unions. Many companies and labor
unions offer scholarships to employees, members, or their children.

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50

How could you EARN money in high school or college

to help you pay for postsecondary costs?

Answer phones in an office

Do Landscaping

Pick crops.

Sew or Mend

Wash
Windows

Help with a garden

Babysit
Paint houses
or rooms

Play music at weddings.

Fix computers or build

websites.

Jobs I could do (List 2 jobs you can do to earn money):

1.____________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________

Are there books you should read or training you should get?
What equipment would you need?
1.____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

2.

__________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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How can YOU find the money you need to attend the
college of your choice?
Who could GIVE you money to go to college?
Who would LOAN you money to go college?
Parents?
Ewl

Aunts or Uncles?
Older Brother or Sister ?

Lets seeI could

save 40% of my
babysitting wages
and put that
toward college.

How much money could you SAVE in

month/year?

$25?
More????

$50?

$75?

$100?

I could ask my parents, uncles and

aunts to give me savings bonds
instead of birthday or Christmas
presents Id save that towards
college.

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Your child is in a GEAR UP program in

school helping him or her develop a
plan to complete high school and be
prepared to enroll and succeed in
postsecondary education after high
school graduation.
High school is a critical four years for
your child. Help your child take
advantage
of
all
available
opportunities. Talk to the principal,
counselor, or GEAR UP director to learn more about postsecondary
options for your child. Research shows that more than 80% of
high school students surveyed say they want their parents involved
in their education, even if they dont show it to you. Stay involved.
This booklet gives you some common issues to discuss how to
find money for school, how to build test-taking skills or write a
personal statement all tasks needed to be ready for postsecondary
opportunities whether college, the military, or an apprenticeship.
You know a lot about your child. Listen to their newly formed
plans, and provide counsel and advice.
Parents are the most powerful motivators for childrens ambitious
academic plans for the future. Keep talking with your child through
high school. Help your child develop a plan that is right him or
her.

Together you make a great

team!

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G.E.A.R. U.P.
G.E.A.R. U.P.
Gaining Early Awareness
Gaining
Early Afor
wareness
Readiness
ReadinessPfor
Undergraduate
rograms
Undergraduate Programs

Yes We Can! - S Se
Puede!
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