More than 3 million U.S. students took the PSAT exam this month. The test, which receives less attention than other pre-college assessments such as the SAT, is a step on the path to college. And high scores on the PSAT can lead to scholarships.

Students must take the PSAT during their junior year to qualify for National Merit Scholar recognition and scholarships, but many also take it in their sophomore year for practice, and some as freshman.

Sources: Los Angeles Times, College Board

EXTRA-CURRICULARS

In 2005, some 43 percent of all students in grades K-8 participated in at least one after-school activity. Of these students, 31 percent participated in sports, 20 percent in religious activities, 18 percent in performing or fine arts, 10 percent in scouts programs, 8 percent in community service, 7 percent in academic activities, and 6 percent in clubs, such as a yearbook, debate or book club.

Sources: National Center for Education Statistics/U.S. Department of Education

IN TOUCH WITH BUSINESS

Top college and university entrepreneurship programs are increasingly including hands-on experience, according to recent rankings by Entrepreneur magazine and the Princeton Review. Along with academics, the ranking criteria include work outside the classroom, access to entrepreneurial experts, and relationships with the local business community.

Topping the list of undergraduate schools was Babson College in Massachusetts, followed by the University of Houston, Philadelphia's Drexel University, the University of Arizona, and the University of Dayton in Ohio. The University of Southern California offered the No. 1 graduate program, with Babson College, the University of Arizona, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and DePaul University in Chicago rounding out the top five.

A total of 50 schools out of 900 surveyed made the final list.

Source: Associated Press