Set... Pursue... Reach... BHS Class of 2014

Sometimes taking the next step can may you feel like this... But no need to fear, your counselors are here to help you set, pursue, and reach your goals!

Agenda  Senior Review  Graduation requirements  Planning for life after Brookwood HS  Senior checklist

You must schedule a Senior Review  Who? – Anyone who is planning on graduating in December 2013, Spring or Summer 2014  When? – You need to schedule an appointment with your counselor between September 3—October 1.  How? – Contact Mrs. Smith in A1  Why? – To complete graduation application and start planning for college and life after high school.

Find your counselor by your last name  A - CMs. Medlin  D - HDr. Benton  I - MoDr. Benjamin  Mp - ShDr. Dehnke  Si - ZMrs. Kennedy  9 th GradeDr. Ricks  InterventionsMrs. Byrd Office Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., M-F

Graduation Requirements

You must have 23 credits Those credits must generally include the following: 4 Language Arts 4 Math 4 Science 1 Health/PE 3 Social Studies (U.S. History and World History, Economics and Political Systems) 3 Electives (Fine Art/Technology/Foreign Language) 4 additional electives

Application for Graduation  Meet with your counselor (Senior Review)  Review requirements for graduation participation  Discuss your future plans  Complete and submit a student brag form if you need a letter of recommendation  Review your test scores and learn more about retest options, if needed  Provide your Social Security number

If you have failed a required class, it is your responsibility to: Check on grades Contact a counselor to determine options Review School Plus options  Phoenix  Community Schools  Credit Recovery* Review online options like * Brookwood Community School’s Credit Recovery Program for Fall 2013 is offering 10 th grade Language Arts, second semester; Biology, second semester; Chemistry, second semester; and Algebra I CC, second semester. The cost is $100 and students must have made a previous grade of for the course in order to be eligible. The registration deadline is September 13 th.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL course requirements must be completed in order to participate in the graduation ceremony!

SENIOR CLASS SPONSORS  Mrs. Dee Anna Bean (Room B27)  Mrs. Susan Lockwood (Room B29) Please see them about graduation events, such as: Senior Picnic Graduation announcements, robes, and accessories Graduation Ceremony

Life after Brookwood High School Do you know what you want to do? If the answer is no, please talk with a counselor to learn more about your options. If the answer is yes, please let your counselor know during your senior review.

FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES  Bachelor’s Degrees  Public Colleges/Universities  Private Colleges/Universities  Admissions Requirements SAT and/or ACT for entrance exam May require letters of recommendation

Admissions statistics from three largest research universities in Georgia from Middle 50% Core GPA: SAT (CR+M+W ): ACT: AP/IB: 4-6 Middle 50% Core GPA: SAT(CR+M): ACT: Middle 50% Core GPA: SAT: ACT: AP/IB: 6-11

TWO-YEAR COLLEGES  Associate Degrees  Public  Private  Entrance Exams Vary Compass ACT or SAT  Transfer to a four-year college TAG Program

Two-year colleges BHS students most frequently apply to are: University of North Georgia, Cumming, Gainesville, and Oconee  Public, liberal arts college/university  Two-year programs at the above- mentioned locations. At the completion of the associate program, a student may transition into a bachelor’s degree program within the University of North Georgia.  Rolling Admissions, Selection based on SAT/ACT scores and high school performance  Enrollment: 8,000 (for two-year programs) *Now requires two years of the same F.L. Colleges may work with you on a case-by-case basis regarding the F.L. requirements. Contact the college admissions office for further questions. Georgia Perimeter College*  Public, liberal arts college  Rolling Admissions, 2.0 or higher and SAT/ACT/Compass  Enrollment: 23,000  As a GPC student and Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program, a student can complete their core courses or earn an associate degree and transfer to their choice of more than 36 four-year schools in Georgia and beyond— guaranteed. *Now requires two years of the same F.L.

TECHNICAL COLLEGES Programs Degree Certificate or Diploma  Compass Exam for Degree Program  No SAT/ACT Gwinnett Technical College offers more than 50 programs of study that a student can finish in two years or less.

MILITARY  Opportunities Training Education Travel  Policies/Expectations/Commitment  Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)—September 12 or Spring 2014, sign up in A1.  Scholarships  Must be a high school graduate, no GED

ENTERING THE WORK FORCE IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL CAREER INFORMATION    College and Career Room DVD Library Books Dictionary of Occupational Titles Occupational Outlook Handbook

College Planning

The College Application Process  The Application  Application Fees  Transcripts  Letter of Recommendation  College Visits  Financial Planning

HOW MANY?  “Dream School”  Likely—a pretty good chance of getting in  Safety—a sure thing for admission and cost  1 to 2 schools in each category

THE APPLICATION  Sources College Admissions Office College web site BHS College and Career Room  When “the early bird….?” Deadlines

Applying Early? Early decision and early action plans allow you to apply early (usually by October or November) and get an admissions decision December or January. Early Decision versus Early Action  Early decision plans are binding. A student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college.  Early action plans are similar but are not binding, which means students receive an early response but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1.  Please check the policies of the individual colleges/universities you are applying to if you are applying early.

College and Career Specialist  Mrs. Donna Varzaly Transcripts Provides requests for recommendations to counselors Great resource for scholarships – Check the Senior Bulletin Fee waivers -(SAT/ACT/ college application, if qualified)

“OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT”  OUT OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES Request “paper” transcript from Counseling Office – College and Career Room $5.00 cost Student must stamp, address, and mail sealed envelope.  GEORGIA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ONLY FREE Online through Mid-Year and Final Will send paper copy for Final Transcript ($5.00) To learn how to request and request your transcript via GAcollege411, go to

COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS/TESTS  S.A.T. I (reasoning tests)  A.C.T.  S.A.T. II (subject area tests)  T.O.E.F.L.  ASSET/COMPASS Most public two-year colleges and technical schools in Georgia (UNG requires SAT/ACT)  Armed Services Vocational Battery Aptitude (ASVAB)

TEST PREP RESOURCES   Core classes at Brookwood High School  Brookwood Community School  Commercial organizations  Tutor list  Media Center  College and Career Room  Free online resources

Letters of Recommendation  Letters of recommendation are written only when requested  Find the Student/Parent Brag forms online at  Complete the forms and bring them to Mrs. Varzaly in the College and Career Room.  Plan ahead – Allow two weeks for your counselor to complete your letter of recommendation  Your part of the application is expected to be completed beforehand.  Please be polite when requesting a letter of recommendation

College Visits  Visit during regular session  Pre-arranged absences  Better in the fall (exam exemptions)  List of questions to ask  Contact the college to set up

THE LETTER OR ARRIVES....  ACCEPTED! (Hooray) Send deposits  May 1, 2014 deadline Celebrate  Wait-listed Don’t panic Evaluate back-up plan  Denied— It’ll be okay Go to back-up plan

FINANCIAL PLANNING  College Financial Aid Office  Georgia Student Finance Commission  Forms F.A.F.S.A. GA. Tuition Equalization Grant GSFAppS (HOPE)

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID  Scholarships Academic Special talents Special circumstances  Grants Generally don’t require repayment Based on financial need  Federal Pell Grant Program  Loans Subsidized, unsubsidized, and private

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (F.A.F.S.A.)  English and Español version  First Step in Financial Planning Need parent(s) tax returns (Form 1040)  The parent/guardian that claims the student as a dependent.  The F.A.F.S.A. determines a student’s eligibility for grants and loans

ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS  Register with  Send a transcript  S.A.T./A.C.T. scores must be sent directly from the testing service  Calculate core average according to NCAA requirements  Please review NCAA policies and procedures

Hope Scholarship and Zell Miller Scholars To qualify for the HOPE Scholarship, a student must:  Earn a minimum of 3.0 cumulative grade point average in all academic classes (e.g., Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Foreign Language)  Must meet Georgia residency requirements and be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen To qualify for the Zell Miller scholarship, a student must:  Meet all of the requirements above  Must be their high school’s valedictorian or salutatorian, OR earn a 3.7 high school GPA or higher and post, in one sitting, an SAT combined score of 1200 or higher in math and reading or an ACT score of 26 or higher.

HOPE CALCULATIONS  A = 4.0  B = 3.0  C = 2.0  D = 1.0 Advanced Placement Classes  10 pts. Subtracted .5 added The Georgia Student Finance Commission calculates HOPE averages based on transcript information. GCPS does not calculate HOPE averages and does no have access to the state’s calculations. Please check GAcollege411 for your “HOPE” GPA.

HOPE GRANT  No minimum average required  Applicable at technical colleges for diploma and certificate programs

Ready, Set, Go! 1.Schedule your Senior Review (counselor and student) 2.Complete an application for graduation with your counselor 3.Refresh your accountwww.gacollege411.org 4.Complete and submit brag forms to Mrs. Varzaly in the College and Career Room, if letter of recommendation is needed 5.Make sure you understand and have reviewed the application requirements for college/military 6.Know application deadlines

Ready, Set, Go!, continued 7.Schedule tests (e.g., SAT/Subject/ACT/Compass/ASVAB) 8.Research scholarships and track scholarship opportunities (some scholarships can be found in your bi-weekly Senior Bulletin) 9.Fill out FAFSA (anytime after your parents have tax information) 10.Attend Financial Aid Night, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. 11.Request your final transcript

HELPFUL WEB SITES  Brookwood HS Counseling Department  Brookwood High School  College Board/S.A.T.  A.C.T.  Commons Application:

HELPFUL WEB SITES, CONT’D  Online applications for colleges in Georgia and much more  Georgia Student Finance Commission (H.O.P.E.)  Free application for Federal Student Aid

Sources of Information from BHS Counseling Department  BHS Counseling Dept. website at  Senior Bulletin BHS Counseling Dept. on Facebook  The Tack Room Subscribe at school website -> “Bronco eNews” -> “Join Our Mailing List”

SET, PURSUE, and REACH YOUR GOALS!