Byron High School Counseling Office
Study Skills & Test taking Hints
Counseling & Community Assistance
Links with helpful hints
This site offers a $10,000 scholarship twice a year, helpful videos, a scholarship search tool, a college matching tool, a career searching tool, a digital and mobile edition, plus tons more. And…it’s all free!
Click above to access free interactive content and download helpful guides to help navigate the steps in college research and selection (compliments of Consumer Reports).
The Christian Connector provides free Christian college information service as well as a $2,500 Christian college scholarship drawing. Students simply log onto https://christianconnector.com/index.cfm to request information and automatically be entered in the $2,500 scholarship drawing.
Preparing for College
ACT--This is the college entrance exam needed for entry into most four-year colleges and universities. It is also used by some two-year colleges for placement in classes and by some scholarship committees. Below is the 2020/21 schedule for testing. Registration can be completed online at www.actstudent.org. Even though the ACT is no longer be given as part of the Michigan Merit Exam, students may still take the ACT for the purposes of college admissions and scholarship eligibility.
| Test Date |
Regular Deadline ACT only (no writing) $55 ACT Plus Writing $75 |
Late Fee Required (additional $35) |
Photo Upload Deadline |
| Sept. 12, 2020 Sept. 13, 2020 Sept. 19, 2020 |
Aug. 31, 2020 | No late fees | Sept. 4, 2020 |
| Oct. 10, 2020 Oct. 17, 2020 Oct. 24, 2020 Oct. 25, 2020 |
Sept. 25, 2020 | No late fees | Oct. 2, 2020 |
| Dec. 12, 2020 | Nov. 6, 2020 | Nov. 7 - 20, 2020 | Dec. 4, 2020 |
| Feb. 6, 2021 | Jan. 8, 2021 | Jan. 9 - 15, 2021 | Jan. 29, 2021 |
| Apr. 17, 2021 | Mar. 12, 2021 | Mar. 13 - 26, 2021 | Apr. 9, 2021 |
| Jun. 12, 2021 | May 7, 2021 | May 8 - 21, 2021 | Jun. 4, 2021 |
SAT--The SAT is now required of all juniors as part of the Michigan Merit Exam. For students wishing to take the test early for practice or to retake it, registration can completed online at www.collegeboard.com/student. STUDENTS THAT RECEIVE FREE/REDUCED LUNCH ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A FEE WAIVER--see Ms. Smith.
| Test Date |
Regular Deadline (2020/2021 - $52) |
Late Fee Required (additional $30) (*online deadline--mailed registration is earlier) |
| Aug. 28, 2021 | July 30, 2021 | Aug. 17, 2021* |
| Oct. 2, 2021 | Sept. 3, 2021 | Sept. 21, 2021* |
| Nov. 6, 2021 | Oct. 8, 2021 | Oct. 26, 2021* |
| Dec. 4, 2021 | Nov. 4, 2021 | Nov. 23, 2021* |
| Mar.12, 2022 | Feb. 11, 2022 | Mar. 1, 2022* |
| May 7, 2022 | Apr. 8, 2022 | Apr. 26, 2022* |
| Jun. 4, 2022 | May 5, 2022 | May 25, 2022* |
College Planning Workshops for Parents and Students
College Planning with Frank Bernier, Ph.D....Dr. Bernier is a consultant out of Lansing Catholic HS and is highly recommended for his workshops. This workshop is designed to help families (grades 9 - 12) understand and successfully manage all college planning steps including: high school preparation, designing a plan for college, preparing for the ACT, admissions and financial aid, scholarship searches, and the transition to college. Check out his website.
Michigan eLibrary
This is a free service for Michigan residents. There is a lot of great information on this site, but I want to point out that there are tests and tutorials which can be reached by clicking on the "Tests and Tutorials" tab.
You then need to register (it's free!) by providing an email address. Once you get to the Learning Express Library, you will be looking for the "College Prep Center" where there are many practice tests and great information. This all can be found at www.mel.org .
NCAA Clearinghouse
Students interested in participating in Division I or Division II athletics in college need to check out the NCAA Clearinghouse website for detailed requirements. You must meet core course, ACT, and GPA requirements to eligible for sports at those levels. If interested, you need to send in an application after your Junior year grades have been posted.
Information about how to register with the clearinghouse =>
Click here for a registration checklist =>
Applying to Colleges and Universities
Students may apply to colleges using paper applications or on-line. Regardless of your method of application, the Counseling Office must send out official transcripts along with copies of your SAT scores. If you have a paper application, or a printed counselor page from the internet, you need to bring it to Mrs. Smith's office along with the application fee (if needed) in check form made out to the college. Applications will then be mailed out--usually once a week or as needed.
Some schools may have Early Response programs where you will get a decision faster. Check the school that you are interested in for more information.
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University of Michigan--Ann Arbor...Complete your application by October 31 and receive a decision by December 21. Early Response is only available for students applying to LSA, Engineering, Kinesiology, and Nursing.
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Michigan State University...Students are selected for the Early Notification Program based on GPA and test scores. If these seniors submit their online application by October 6, and submit all of the required supporting materials by the same date, MSU will send their admission status by November 6.
eCampusTours.com is a college planning website featuring 360° virtual tours of over 1,200 college campuses. Go inside dorm rooms, check out classrooms and tour libraries. You can also subscribe to Edadvisor, which sends informative articles and timely reminders for students and parents. Register to win one of ten $1,000 scholarships awarded annually.
Transfer Credits
The Michigan Transfer Network is a web site that allows anyone to view transfer course equivalencies between many Michigan colleges and universities.
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50+ participating institutions
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Links to participating institutions home pages and admissions applications
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New equivalencies added daily
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Sponsored by Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers (MACRAO)
Earning College Credit in High School
(from the Michigan Department of Education)
These are the programs available at Byron High School.
| Advanced Placement (AP) | State Approved Career and Technical Education - Tech Prep Articulated Program of Study | Dual Enrollment | |
| Descriptions | There are 35 nationally designed AP courses in 19 different subject areas that provide students with the opportunity to take college level courses at high school that are taught by AP-trained high school teachers. AP courses are also available online. | State-approved CTE programs that provide students with a way to start a specific career field and potentially earn college credit or course waivers while in high school. These programs align with specific Tech Prep programs at the postsecondary level. | High School students may participate in dual enrollment by attending at least one high school course and simultaneously attending a degree-granting postsecondary institution. |
| Qualifications | High schools may require the student to complete a lower level course in the same subject before enrollment in AP courses. | Students must meet specific CTE program criteria to apply. Students usually begin a two-year program in their junior year and continue on to two years of postsecondary education (2 + 2). However, the length of the program may vary and many align to baccalaureate programs (2 + 2 + 2). | Courses for which students are eligible for must not be offered at the high school and must lead toward accreditation, certification, and/or trade licensing. The student must be allowed to dual enroll if they have a qualifying score on the ACT Plan, PSAT, or the Michigan Merit Exam. School districts are required to have an annual announcement regarding this option. This does not prohibit a high school from negotiating dual enrollment options for any student regardless of eligibility. |
| Earning Credits | Courses can count as high school credit and college credit. To earn college credit in an AP course, the student will need to earn a minimum score of 4 (out of 5) on an AP college credit test. Additional qualifications may exist depending on the postsecondary institution's policies. College credit is earned by passing the AP exam with qualifying score of 4 or 5, depending on the assessment. College credit awarded for qualifying test scores is determined by each post-secondary institution departments and/or colleges within the institution. | Many times credits are earned "in escrow" and are posted to the student's transcript upon enrollment in college. Courses may count for high school credit, college credit, or both, depending on the Programs of Study and the Articulation Agreement between partners. | Courses may count for high school credit, and/or college credit, or both depending upon the partnership credit. |
| Course Costs | Costs for these programs may differ from district to district. AP tuition costs are generally covered by districts. However, if the student wishes to take the test for college credit there is usually a cost, except for student who qualify for free and reduced lunch. | Most or all costs at the secondary level are covered by the school district. Additional costs may be specified in the Articulation Agreement. | Payment for dual enrollment is made from a school district's State Aid foundation grant. |
| Instructional Delivery and Course Locations | At high school or online. | Courses may be available at the high school, career center, community college or online. | College campus or online. |
| Student Support | Course assistance through the teacher. | None at the high school and no follow-up at the college. | None. |
| Transportation | At high school or online. | May be provided by the district. | Provided by student. |