Eighth Grade Scheduling Presentation May 1, 2017

Online Registration Scheduling requests will be entered online at: https://ipassweb.harrisschool.solutions/school/ware/syslogin.html Students must have their requests in by Monday, May 8th. Do not stress! It’s a new and exciting time for you!

Minimum Entrance Requirements to 4-Year Massachusetts State College and University Just because a student meets the “minimum” criteria, does not mean they are automatically accepted to the college or university. The colleges and universities in the state college system receive thousands, if not tens of thousands of applications for a limited number of spots. Admittance is extremely competitive and students from all over the country and even the world are vying for the same seats. Individual colleges or universities may have additional entrance requirements for the institution itself, or majors at the institution.

Minimum Entrance Requirements to 4-Year Massachusetts State College and University English: 4 courses Math: 4 courses (Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, or Trigonometry, or comparable coursework) **Students must also take a math class during their last year of high school Science: 3 courses with a laboratory from Natural and/or Physical Science and/or Technology/Engineering. Continued on next slide

Minimum Entrance Requirements to 4-Year Massachusetts State College and University Social Science: 2 courses, of which one has to be U.S. History Foreign Language: 2 courses, of which both are in the same language Electives: 2 courses from above or from Arts & Humanities and/or Computer Science Resource: http://www.mass.edu/foradmin/admissions/documents/DHEAdmissionsStandardsReferenceGuide%20June%202016.pdf

Minimum Entrance Requirements to 4-Year Massachusetts State College and University Minimum grade point average: 3.0 **Many majors are very competitive and require higher grade point averages than the minimum grade point average above SAT and ACT requirements **See your guidance counselor or contact the college/university directly

Private colleges Many have similar admissions criteria in terms of classes taken during high school as the state colleges and universities do. Some private colleges will have lower grade point average requirements and some will have much higher grade point average requirements. Best to check with each college individually to see what their admission requirements are.

High school to college As ninth graders we all start with a clean slate! Colleges look at student grades starting in the 9th grade! Grades and schedule impact college admission and financial aid! The better a student performs, the more college and financial aid opportunities the student has down the road! Make the most out of your years in high school. Students from all over the world are competing for many of the same spots in colleges.

WHS Graduation Requirements English English 9 or Honors English 9 English 10 or Honors English 10 English 11 or AP English English 12 or AP English Math Students must take 2 math classes in their freshmen and sophomore years Students must take at least 1 math class in their junior and senior years Students must earn at least 4 credits in math to graduate

WHS Graduation Requirements Science Biology: 10th grade year, must pass this class to graduate along with MCAS test Students must earn at least two other credits in science to graduate besides Biology **One of which can be satisfied by passing Environmental Science in 9th grade **Students wanting to attend a four year college should strongly consider taking 3 laboratory sciences in high school and a science class in their junior and senior years

WHS Graduation Requirements History/Social Sciences Students must earn 2 credits in History/Social Science One of those credits must be in US History **Students should strongly consider taking Psychology or Sociology as they will most likely have to take one or both of those courses in college. Additional classes in Government & Civics should be strongly considered as they increase awareness of the political structure and may also be seen again in college.

WHS Graduation Requirements Fine Arts Students must earn 1 credit in Fine Arts to graduate Classes that fulfill the Fine Arts requirement are: Film Performing Arts (Drama) Instrumental (Band) Vocal (Chorus) Art 1

WHS Graduation Requirements Computers/Technology Students must earn 1 credit in a computer or technology course Classes that fulfill this requirement are: Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) Computer Information Systems (CIS) Science and Technology (Sci-Tech) Virtual High School (VHS) Yearbook

WHS Graduation Requirements Physical Education Students must take 4 years of Physical Education and earn at least 2 credits in order to graduate ** Varsity student athletes may use a PE waiver once during their career to take a class in place of PE

Strongly Suggested Courses Students looking at a four year college, should strongly consider taking a foreign language class in their 9th grade year Try to take a Fine Arts and/or Computers/Technology class in freshman year so that you are free to take other electives later on in your career Do not be that senior that cannot take a class they really want to take but they have to take a specific graduation requirement that they could have taken earlier in their high school career Strength of schedule can impact college admittance decisions…continue to challenge yourself.

8th Grade to 9th Grade Course Selections English 9 or Honors English 9 Math Environmental Science Health/PE Writing Skills World History 2 *Elective *Plus three to four alternates (second choices) for electives

9th to 10th Grade Course Selections English 10 or Honors English 10 Math U.S. History Biology PE *Elective *Plus three to four alternates (second choices) for electives

10th to 11th Grade Course Selections English 11 or AP Lit/Composition Math PE *Elective/Strongly urged to take a science class to fulfill graduation requirement *Elective *Elective/Fulfill other graduation requirements *Plus three to four alternates (second choices) for electives

11th to 12th Grade Course Selections English 12 or AP Lit/Composition Math PE *Elective *Elective/Fulfill other graduation requirements *Plus three to four alternates (second choices) for electives

Questions ???????