Why is Your Senior Year so Important? You are making choices that will affect your academic and occupational careers in the immediate future. Your academic transcripts and ACT/SAT test scores will be sent to all schools to which you apply. Rigid competition for college admission requires you to do your very best and apply early in order to secure the best opportunity to be accepted by the schools to which you apply and earn scholarships. You need to write a resume! You need to obtain substantial information regarding your career interests/ potential academic major areas.

Senior Information Night 2009

Virtual Field Trips

College Recruiter Visits – Auburn University/Fall 2009

College Recruiter Visits – Samford University/Fall 2009

College and Career Resources for Students/Preview Day Information and Special Events/ACT & SAT Test Dates

College Brochures and Viewbooks

Promotional Campus Information

What High School Counseling Services are Available for You? Individual Counseling/Guidance ACT/SAT Test Registration Scheduling/High School Course Requirement Information Career/Occupational Information Referral Services College and University Information (2-year, 4-year, technical) Transcripts/Records Information Group Counseling Peer Tutoring

College Admissions Recruiter Visits to Elkmont High School, University of Alabama (9/1) University of Alabama-Huntsville (9/6) University of North Alabama (9/28) University of Alabama-Birmingham (10/3) Mississippi State University (10/5) Montevallo University (10/13) Samford University (10/27) Calhoun Community College (TBA) Troy University (TBA) Auburn University (TBA) Millsaps College (TBA) University of Mississippi (TBA) University of Mobile (TBA) University of West Alabama (TBA) Jacksonville State University (TBA) Alabama A&M University (TBA) Campus Tour: UAB – Thursday, November 17 Spring Trip Undecided at Present: Top Choices are MTSU, Troy, Jax State

It’s a Competitive World Every nine seconds in America, a student becomes a dropout. Dropouts are substantially more likely to rely on public assistance than those with a high school diploma. In 2002, average earnings by highest level of education were: for those with advanced degrees, $72,824; for bachelor’s degree-holders, $51,194; for high school graduates, $27,280; and for non- graduates, $18,826. This reflects lifetime earnings (40 years in the labor force) of approximately $400,000 more for high school graduates vs. dropouts, and approximately $900,000 more for college graduates v. high school graduates. Nearly 75 percent of state prison inmates and 59 percent of federal inmates are high-school dropouts. High-school dropouts are 3.5 times more likely than graduates to be incarcerated. In 2001, 55 percent of young adult dropouts were employed, compared to 74 percent of high-school graduates and 87 percent of college graduates. Over a working lifetime, a dropout will contribute about $60,000 less in state taxes. If 33 percent of dropouts graduated from high school, the federal government would save $10.8 billion each year in food stamps, housing assistance, and temporary assistance for needy families.

What Can You Do NOW to Prepare for Your Future After High School? Write your resume and attach a recent photograph; you may do this for college applications as well. Be sure you meet both admissions and financial requirements for colleges you are considering. Prepare for, and take, the ACT/SAT. (NOTE: Alabama/Auburn require the ACT+Writing; additionally, fee waivers are available for students who are on free/reduced lunch.) Complete formal application procedures to schools ahead of announced scholarship/admissions deadlines. Ask for recommendation letters from teachers, counselors, employers, volunteer group leaders, ministers, etc. Check the website often for scholarship information and important dates under the Guidance News, Links, and Calendar links. Show academic, personal, financial, and professional maturity/growth. This refers to taking care of your grades, your attitude, your work ethic, your money, and your character.

What Can You Do NOW to Prepare for Your Future After High School? Be involved in leadership activities, both on and off campus. Learn more about schools by visiting their respective websites. Search engines such as Google or Yahoo are excellent starting points! Visit colleges during campus preview days. Never consider attending a college or university that you have visited personally. Also, never consider attending a college or university whose academic programs do not coordinate with your intended academic major or course of study! Local college and university days will be advertised on the Guidance Calendar. Only consider colleges/universities that offer academic majors in which you are interested. Choose academic programs that hold high job placement possibilities and are prominent in projected future job trends. You don’t want to spend four years and $100,000 working for a degree you cannot use! Apply for financial aid and utilize all funding sources (register on scholarship websites, complete FAFSA applications for grants and loans, work-study, personal savings, personal loans, co-op programs at colleges/universities) Strongly consider attending a community college for the first 1-2 years of your college career. You will obtain an outstanding education at a more nominal cost, which can save you thousands upon thousands of dollars. When you earn a degree from a 4-year institution, there is no differentiation between the graduate who stayed on campus for 4 years at a cost of $100,000 OR the graduate who attending Calhoun (for example) for the first 2 years and saved $30,000-$50,000!

Why Should You Utilize Your High School Counseling Department? For ACT/SAT Test Registration Information and Practice Tests (students on free/reduced lunch can take the ACT 2x at no cost) For Career Interest Inventory Information For Help with Arranging Individual/Small Group Campus Tours (seniors are allowed 1 campus visit day per year) To Send Transcripts and Official Test Scores to Colleges/Universities For General Scholarship Information For Application Information (all Colleges/Universities) For Reference Letters To Obtain General Guidance Information To Obtain Dual Enrollment Information (Calhoun, University of Alabama, UAH) To Obtain GPA/Class Rank Information To Speak With College Admissions Representatives During Scheduled Visits to Elkmont High For Information on How to Apply for Financial Aid, Scholarships, etc.