Hosted by: The Counseling Department at Valley HS

Counselors Contact Info. Magnet A-LChad Gregorius ext Magnet M-ZAmy Addante ext Zoned A-CCorey Gagne ext Zoned D-HNikki Correa ext Zoned I-OAda Massa-Gonzalez ext Zoned P-SAlma Moraga ext Zoned T-Z and Team ActionStacia Ladson ext Special ProgramsWendy Duran ext Counseling SecretaryElsa Brackenridge-Moore ext. 4300

Agenda Graduation/Requirements – Corey Gagne Credit Retrieval – Stacia Ladson College/Financial Aid – Chad Gregorius Scholarships – Amy Addante

Graduation 21 st Century Course of Study Arts/Human1 credit English4 credits Health½ credit Math4 credits One credit must be Algebra II PE2 credits Science3 credits One credit must be in Biology U.S. Hist.1 credit U.S. Gov.1 credit Use of Comp½ credit World Hist.1 credit Electives4 ½ credits Total22 ½ credits Standard Diploma English4 credits Health½ credit Math3 credits PE2 credits Science2 credits World Hist.1 credit U.S. Hist.1 credit U.S. Gov.1 credit Use of Comp½ credit Electives7 ½ credits Total22 ½ credit

Advanced Diploma Awarded to students who complete all CCSD and State of Nevada graduation requirements, maintain a 3.25 unweighted GPA and successfully complete an additional course in math, science and social studies/arts/humanities/occupational education for a total of 24 credits.

Advanced Honors Diploma Students will need to fulfill the Advanced Diploma requirements, satisfy the twelve-credit minimum for Honors course work, and achieve a minimum of a 3.25 unweighted and 3.85 weighted GPA.  English 3 courses  Elective Honors 2 courses  Foreign Language 1 course  Math 2 courses  Science 2 courses  Social Studies 2 courses

Credit Retrieval Concurrent Credit Options Adult Education ($100/semester class & book deposit) Student must be 18 years old. Sunset Programs (i.e. night school, call on Oct. 6) APEX (online classes at Valley) Nevada Learning Academy (Virtual HS and AIS) Online teacher led courses or APEX ($50/semester class) Work Experience If a student works 15 hrs/week or 270 for the semester they can earn an elective credit. Please see Mr. Borin in room 414or call x4007.

Credit Retrieval External Credit Options Community Service (Elective credit only, 60 hours =.5 elective credit, 120 hours = 1 elective credit) PE II Waiver (PE II credit or 1 elective credit) Credit by Exam (Spanish I and II for students who have never taken Spanish, test available October 6-9, cost is $10)

Preparing for College Take the SAT and/or ACT SAT November 8 December 6 January 24 ACT December 13 February 7 If student is on free/reduced lunch, see Mr. Gregorius for a fee waiver at lunch or after school. Fee waivers are also available for students who belong to TRIO or Upward Bound.

Applying to College Pay attention to application deadlines UNR & UNLV scholarship priority deadline February 1, Students must be accepted by February 1. University of California and California State schools November 30, Common App Complete one application to send to several schools Check the website for member schools Get a letter of recommendation packet from your counselor

On-site admissions UNR, UNLV, Nevada State, CSN Students must schedule appointment with Ms. Elsa, the counseling secretary Must complete online application Must request official transcripts and bring to appointment

Requesting Official Transcripts Must put in a request at the front desk. Requests take 5 business days to process. After 5 days, student must go to registrar’s office to pick up transcripts. A photo id is required.

Steps to Federal Student Aid Step 1: Collect free information Step 2: Get a Federal Student Aid PIN Student and 1 parent need a PIN Need social security number to apply Step 3: Collect documents needed to apply W-2 Income Tax returns Go to for complete list Step 4: Complete FAFSA between Jan 1, 2015 and June 30, 2015 Step 5: Review your Student Aid Report (SAR). Make corrections as needed Step 6: Send any additional info requested by college Step 7: Review award letters (April)

Valley Financial Aid Night Will be held in January, date TBA. Computer labs will be open Bring your financial documents and complete the FAFSA Valley counselors, Trio representative, and representatives from local colleges will be present to assist with application.

Financial Aid 4 Types of Aid Scholarships Grants Loans Subsidized (not charged interest until out of college) Unsubsidized (interest accrues immediately) Work Study

Grants Grants usually come in the form of state or federal money determined by the information provided on the FAFSA Grants do not have to be repaid Federal Pell Grant-up to $5,645 per year Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)-up to $4,000 per year Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)-up to $750 first year

Loans and Work Study Subsidized loans are awarded on the basis of financial need. You won't be charged any interest before you begin repaying the loan because the federal government subsidizes the interest during this time. Unsubsidized loans charge interest from the time the money is first disbursed until it is paid in full. The interest is capitalized, meaning that you pay interest on any interest that has already accrued. One way to minimize how much interest accrues is to pay the interest as it accumulates. Various types of loans through the U.S. Government, Banks, Credit Unions and Lending Institutions—Do your homework! Loans MUST be paid back! Work Study- opportunities to work on campus and earn money toward tuition, etc.

Scholarships Based on merit (grades), financial need, hobbies, abilities, religion, community service, and/or ethnicity. Require application and sometimes essay, letters of recommendation, financial information, and/or transcripts. Most scholarship money will be awarded by the school your student will attend. Do not require repayment!

Types of Scholarships Merit/Academic Not all colleges offer merit scholarships. This information can be found on the college’s website. Offered based off of a student’s grades/test scores. Some colleges offer merit scholarships for leadership or diversity as well. Need Based These are awarded based off of a students financial information. Essay Contests Usually open to students of all grade levels. Competing at a national level.

Scholarship Portfolio Community Service Resume Letters of Recommendation Essays Transcripts (Unofficial/Official)

Millennium Scholarship Must be a graduate from a Nevada high school. Must have a 3.25 GPA. Must have passed all Nevada High School Proficiency Examinations Must have been a NV resident for two years of high school. Must have met the 21 st Century Course of Study $10,000 for undergrad work No application is required.

Upcoming Scholarships Wendy’s High School Heisman Students must have a “B” average Students must participate in one-school sponsored sport Apply online WendysHeisman.com by October 2 nd ! Horatio Alger Association Scholarship Program Student must have at least a 2.0 GPA and require financial assistance to attend college. Counselor must complete a certification form online Apply online at horatioalger.org/scholarships Drive for Excellence Students can win a new car or $10,000. Must have a 3.7 weighted GPA through May 3 rd and NO unexcused absences senior year. Event to be held at Wet ‘n Wild in June!

Valley’s College/Scholarship Info – students and parents will receive monthly college/scholarship info via . To sign up, please Bulletin board across from the Dean’s office, in 200 hallway, and in 400 hallway. Facebook – Like us Valley College and Scholarships Announcements – listen for announcements about different scholarship opportunities.

Scholarship Websites moolahspot.com collegeanswer.com fastweb.com collegeboard.org adventuresineducation.com scholarshipexperts.com uncf.org gmsp.org ronbrown.org

Upcoming Events Rebel Preview at UNLV on Sept. 27, RSVP by Friday, Sept. 19 at unlv.edu/event/rebel-preview Fall Preview at UNR on Sept. 30 at Green Valley Ranch or Oct. 1 at Suncoast. College Fair Plus on Oct. 21 st and 22 nd at Cashman Center. National Christian College Fair on Oct. 27 at Faith Lutheran HS.

Upcoming College Visits Sept. 30 – Washington University in St. Louis, CSN Oct. 1 – Northern Arizona University Oct. 7 – UNR, UCLA Oct. 9 – UNLV Oct. 16 – Notre Dame, UNR Oct. 17 – Pepperdine University Oct. 21 – Boston University Oct. 22 – University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Portland

Resources Nevada Partners at Valley High School (Marissa Duke in room 105) Workforce Investment Act for eligible seniors (one of the following roadblocks to success): 2-3 credits deficient Non-proficient Pregnant or parenting Homeless Must have following documentation: Birth Certificate Govt. or School issued ID Social Security Card or Permanent Resident Card Household income verification Services include : Tutoring and credit retrieval assistance Post-secondary training and work experience College application and ACT/SAT fee waivers Cap and gown

Questions?