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March 03, 2003

Media Contacts: Michael Dabney, (858) 822-3432

UCSD CONDUCTS FREE PRE-COLLEGE TESTS FOR
MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING MARCH

Attention parents of middle school and high school students: Did you know that there are certain steps your child should be taking now to prepare for college? In addition to developing good study and homework skills, staying academically motivated, and participating in extracurricular activities, students – as early as the eighth, ninth and tenth grade -- should take certain pre-college tests, such as the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test), and the ACT (American College Test) Explore.

During the month of March, the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) at the University of California, San Diego will be conducting free PSAT tests for college-bound tenth graders, and free ACT Explore tests for eighth and ninth graders at various locations in San Diego and Imperial Counties. (For a listing of testing sites and dates, see the information at the end of this news release.)

Why are the PSAT and the ACT Explorer important? “They are actually one of the best ways to help prepare young students for key college entrance exams known as the Scholastic Aptitude Tests, (the SAT I and SAT II), and the ACT, which are usually taken in the junior year of high school,” says Nicole Jackson, EAOP assistant director and testing coordinator.

By taking the PSAT (which measures verbal, math and writing skills) and the ACT Explore (which evaluates English, math, reading and science reasoning) early, students have the opportunity to be tested under real college-regulated conditions and to see which specific academic areas they need to improve in order to do well on the actual college entrance exams, says Jackson. She adds that a good score on the SAT’s and the ACT is necessary for entrance into many competitive colleges in the United States.

And, now that new changes to the SAT -- which will include tougher math and English standards - - are due to become effective with the high school classes of 2006 (affecting students who are currently in the ninth grade), “it is more important than ever that students begin preparing for college entrance exams as early as the eighth grade,” Jackson advises.

EAOP advises students to continue taking the PSAT in the 9th, 10th and 11th grades. (Research shows that a majority of students who re-test, score higher the second time around, increasing their chances of admission to the college/university of their choice.)

For more information on the PSAT, and the newly revised SAT, visit: www.collegeboard.com, and for information on the ACT and ACT Explore, go to: www.act.org.

EAOP, a comprehensive college preparatory initiative serving more than 10,000 students at 96 middle schools and high schools in San Diego and Imperial Counties, announces the following testing sites, dates and locations for EAOP students:

ACT Explore Test – Begins at 8 a.m. sharp

(For college-bound 8th and 9th graders with a minimum 2.5 grade point average)

Saturday, March 1:

• Palomar College, 1140 West Mission Road
• North County Community Center, San Pasqual Indian Reservation, Valley Center

Saturday, March 8:

• San Diego City College, 1313 Park Blvd., San Diego

Saturday, March 15:

• Castle Park High School, 1395 Hilltop Drive, Chula Vista
• University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla

Saturday, March 22:

• Southwest High School, 2001 Octotillo Drive, El Centro
• Brawley High School, 480 N. Imperial Avenue, Brawley
• DeAnza Junior High School, 824 Blair Avenue, Calexico

PSAT Test – Begins at 8 a.m. sharp

(For college-bound 10th graders with a minimum 2.5 grade point average)

Saturday, March 1:

• San Marcos Civic Center, 3 Civic Drive, San Marcos
• North County Community Resource Center, San Pasqual Indian Reservation

Saturday, March 8:

• Sherman Heights Center, 2260 Island Avenue, San Diego

Saturday, March 15:

• Eastlake High School, 1120 Eastlake Parkway, Chula Vista
• Southwest High School, 1685 Hollister Street, San Diego
• University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla

Saturday, March 22:

• Southwest High School, 2001 Octotilla Drive, El Centro
• Brawley High School, 480 N. Imperial Ave., Brawley
• De Anza Junior High School, 824 Blair Avenue, Calexico

Students may register for the tests online at http://sea.ucsd.edu/eaop. For more information, please contact EAOP’s Nicole Jackson at (858) 822-3094.