Senior Presentation COUNSELORS Mrs. Wagner A-DAV Mrs. White DAW-HON Mrs. Marquez HOO-MUN Mrs. Green MUO-SCH Mrs. Clark SCI-Z

Class Rank 4 Class Rank is based on the cumulative grade point average for all high school credit courses. A student’s grade point average is derived by dividing the total number of grade points by the number of semester courses attempted. The first official class rank is determined during the spring semester of the junior year and is updated after each subsequent semester. 4 Fall Senior class ranks will be distributed on Thursday, September 24 during all lunches.

Online Courses Deadline December, 2015 This means students must have completed the course lessons and the final exam by Dec.1, This insures that OTHS will have the course grade by the beginning of 2 nd semester. ALL students who do not complete their correspondence course by the deadline will be placed in the necessary course 2 nd semester. No exceptions!

Honor/High Honor and Top Ten Graduates Calculation for Graduation 4 High Honor Grads = GPA 4.0 and above 4 Honor Grads = GPA of 3.5 to All points attempted and courses attempted for high school courses taken in grades 7-11 and the first five, six-weeks grading periods of the senior year are calculated to obtain the GPA for Honor/High Honor and Top Ten graduates. For purposes of class rank, a tie will be broken in accordance with District policy.

Testing Requirements

S.A.T./A.C.T Tests 4 School Code: Register on-line or by mail ACT Test Dates:Sept 12, Oct 24, Dec 12, Feb 6, April 9, June 11 4 SAT Test Dates : Oct 3, Nov 7, Dec 5, Jan 23, March 5, May 7 4 WATCH DEADLINES AND LATE REGISTRATION FEES 4 Recommendation – Take both ACT and SAT

Test Preparation Products and Services 4 and Books/workbooks 4 Computer programs 4 Review Services –Katy ISD Test Prep Courses (available in the Counselors’ office) –Princeton Review (offered on weekends at Tompkins High School) –Kaplan –Sylvan Learning Centers –Test Masters Educational Services –SCORE Prep

College Selection

A. Factors to consider College Information Work Sheet Student Profile Packets– available online or in the main counselor’s office. Please elaborate! B. Campus Visits C. College “Reps” at Tompkins during lunches D. College Seminars E. Counselors’ Office F.Library G.OTHS Counselor’s Website

OTHS College Visit Procedure 4 Students pick up the form in the attendance office. The absence will initially be coded as Unexcused. 4 Students take form home, complete it, and bring to AP office. Please submit form at least seven school days before you go. 4 AP office verifies and signs off. 4 The student will be responsible for checking with the AP office to pick up form. They should pick it up 2 days prior to visit. It is up to the student to take care of this. 4 The student takes the form to the college and brings it back signed by college personnel. 4 The student takes the form to the Attendance office. At this time, the absence will be excused.

Excused Absences for College Visits - As the parent/guardian of the above-named student or as the adult student, I understand that only those students who meet the following criteria will be allowed to make two (2) college visits during their junior year and two(2) college visits during their senior year: 1. The student must have passed the required parts of the TAKS/STAAR test for the previous year. 2. The student must be on track to graduate on time. 3. The student is classified as a junior or senior based upon credits earned. 4. The student is passing all course work. 5. The student has no truancy or other attendance problems. I understand that: 1. Prior approval is required for an excused absence to be granted and that approval will not be granted when major exams are scheduled. 2. If approval is granted, verification of the visit (Part III of this form) must be returned in order for the absence to be recorded as excused and to not be counted against exam exemptions. 3. If the college visit cannot be made on the date specified above, a new form must be submitted for approval.

GPA Exemption Forms 4 Pick up form from the counseling office 4 Due Friday, September 11, 2015

College Application Process

Assured Admission Sample: Texas Tech Class RankTest Scores* ACTSAT Top 10%No minimum First Quarter (excluding top 10%) Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth QuarterApplication Review You are assured admission if you are graduating from an accredited high school and present the required combination of high school class rank and college entrance test scores indicated below.

College Application Process THINK TURKEY NO PIE UNTIL YOU APPLY!

COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS 1. Obtain Application (from the college or online) Online Preferred For Texas Public - For Most Private Fill it out and SAVE until ready to submit 3.Keep a hard copy of the application. 4. Follow-up with college to confirm status of application.

– Texas Public Schools 3 Features:  Explore - (Research your options – admission info for every Texas University)  Apply - (Online) – Admission and scholarship applications  Repeat - (No need to start from scratch, copy a completed application and use it to apply to another school. It’s fast. It’s easy. It’s free.

College Application Process 1. Be prepared and organized - Download copy of application - Organize information needed in a folder before you start 2. Create a checklist or calendar of registration deadlines, fees, etc. (p. 15) 3. Distribute the appropriate parts of the application to the right people (at least 3 weeks prior to deadline). - Counselor page (if applicable) to counselor - Recommendations (teachers/counselors) - SAT/ACT – sent directly from the testing agency - Transcripts – sent directly from Registrar’s office. 4. Write essay (if applicable) 5. Apply for Housing and Financial Aid

What do you need from OTHS? Counselor’s Checklist College Applications, Recommendations, Scholarships (Applications need to be turned in no less than 21 working days prior to the deadline date. Applications received less than 14 working days cannot be guaranteed they will be received by the institution on time.) _____________________________________________________________________________________ For Office Use Only 4  Fill out application  Transcript 4  Write recommendation letter  Profile 4  Electronic recommendation letter and/or application  Schedule 4  Fill out application and write recommendation letter  Counselor Rec/Evaluation 4  Other ________________________________________________ 4 Please check all that apply to the documentation you are turning in today: 4 Yes 4  1. Is a transcript to be mailed with this form? 4 a. Is the Transcript Release Form and $1.00 enclosed? 4  2. I waive the right to access or see any recommendations submitted on my behalf. Signature (required) _______________________________________________ 4  3. Are any teacher recommendation letters to be included with this documentation? 4 If yes please list teacher: __________________________________  enclosed 4 _________________________________  enclosed  4. Have you included a pre-addressed, stamped envelope? The return address should be: 4 Tompkins High School, 4400 Falcon Landing Blvd, Katy TX To expedite your application, please make sure you do the following: 4  Make sure envelope is correctly addressed and large enough for all documents. 4 Attach at least two (2) first class stamps to your envelope (more depending on weight)….make sure 4 you have ample postage! ð

OTHS Counselor Page

Transcript Release Form 4 Request from the Registrar’s Office 4 Allow 10 days to process transcript requests 4 Cost to send transcript is $2.00 (via mail or electronically) 4 NCAA transcript requests are $2.00 as well. 4 Personal transcript is $1.00 per transcript 4 #10 business envelopes require 1 or 2 stamps, depending on weight 4 9x12 envelopes require at least three first class stamps 4 We can not accept requests for overnight services 4 Please allow 10 school days for transcript processing 4 Attach addressed envelope with postage for each official transcript

SENIOR LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION 1.Profile Packet will be available online on OTHS counseling webpage 2.Give at least 21 school days. This does not include weekends or holidays. Requests for recommendation letters for applications due December 2016 need to be submitted to the counselor before Thanksgiving Should tell or give NEW information. (Many applications do not require recommendations at all, especially for automatic admission). 4.Start thinking of which individuals you will ask for a letter of recommendation. 5.Thank you notes

Financial Aid GRANTS SCHOLARSHIPS WORK STUDY LOANS

4 APPLY EARLY FOR FINANCIAL AID 4 Distributed on a need basis and first come, first serve basis. 4 Watch deadlines.

$ FINANCIAL AID $ 1.Types – Merit based vs. Need based 2.Finding financial aid requires initiative on the part of the student and parent. 3.Scholarships – Posted on the SLHS website, daily bulletin and in Govt./Eco/English classes. Check the file in the Counselors’ Office. 4.College Specific Scholarships – Check for types, deadlines and guidelines. 5. Free Scholarship Search- or *** 6.Research Scholarships on the Internet, library, with your parents’ employers, and with the college to which you are applying. 7.Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) after January 1 st It is available on-line at As a Junior, you can complete a FAFSA4caster. Apply for a personal identification number (PIN) fall semester

F A F S A FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID For help with completing forms College Financial Aid Offices *Must fill out forms every year OTHS will offer FAFSA night –Jan 2016.

TEXAS FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION (TOLL FREE) TEXAS DIRECTORY OF FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES COLLEGE BOARD FINANCIAL AID PROFILE Financial Aid Seminars Additional Resources

OTHS Lunch Representatives 4 Please check the OTHS Counselor Calendar to see which colleges are scheduled during lunches.

Reminders…….. Oct. 7 College Night - Merrill Center 6:00-8:00 p.m. Enroll in our Remind: To: