SENIOR PARENTS Don’t worry YOU CAN DO IT!

#1  Make a Plan!

Options Military Career training or apprenticeship Vocational or Trade school University Community College/ Junior College Work

Degrees you can earn  Associate degree-two years  Bachelors degree (four years)  Masters degree (one-two years plus Bachelors degree)  Doctoral Degrees (four-ten years plus Bachelors or Bachelors and Masters degrees).  Professional Doctoral degree  Certificate- specialization in a specific area of study

Public Vs. Private  funded by state tax money  Easier to be admitted  Tuition is higher for out of state students Supported by tuition, endowment and donations Can be very selective Usually more expensive

Small vs. Large  Athletics  Research  Professional Programs  Student Faculty Ratio  Size of classes/discussion/knowing your teachers  Access to faculty  Leadership opportunities  Anonymous

Visit College Campus  Go this summer  Make an appointment with admissions office  Ask to sit in on a class  If the student is interested in a specific field make an appt. to meet faculty or staff in that area  Take a tour, look at residence halls, eat in the cafeteria  Ask about academic support services

This Summer Make a resume and add to it as the year progresses Make an adult to use for school and work information Not good choice:

Take ACT/SAT tests  ACT - Next test is given June 8, 2013 (deadline is May 3)  SAT – Next test is given June 1, 2013 (deadline to register is May 7)  These scores are one of the MOST important criteria for college scholarships!  PHS code: apply online

Community Service  Have your senior keep a record of where they have volunteered  Number of hours  Contact person

Playing sports in college??  Be sure you are signed up with NCAA and or NCIA websites

Apply  Many schools will accept students early  Most require:  Application- many are online  ACT or SAT score  Official Transcript  Some may require: letters of recommendation, interview, and essays

What Do Colleges Look for??  ACT/SAT score *****  Grades  Types of courses you have taken  Community Service Involvement  Honors and awards  Extracurricular activities/leadership opportunities

What should I do????  Check the Blog regularly  counseling/

Sign up for Remind 101  Text this number:  

Scholarships  Posted on blogs  Put in senior newsletter  Given to Senior English teachers  File in the counseling center with applications  Other applications will be found online  Remind 101

At Registration-July  Sign up to be on the List serve- give them your address  Get your INOW password and use it every week

Important Dates in the Fall  Sept.- senior class shirts sold  Oct. – order graduation announcements  Homecoming  Scholarship deadlines- usually Dec. 1  Be sure you have taken your ACT in time for the score to be used for scholarship consideration  Visit Colleges- Be sure to get a pre-excused absence form signed and turned in 2 weeks prior to the absence.  Visit with admissions representatives in the counseling center  Apply to college(s)

 Require your child to go to school  Failure to graduate is most often due to excessive absences Things to do!!

Things to do:  Continue to apply for scholarships  Turn in all scholarship offers to the counseling center  Check INOW – no zeros  Don’t let them stop working on school work!

Semester 2  Fill out the FAFSA- available to fill out Jan. 1  We will have a financial aid night and work day in (Jan/Feb.)  Order caps and gowns- (January)  Senior Luncheon (April/May)  Prom(April 12)  Awards Night (May 20)  AP Exams (May 5 – 16)  Graduation (May 22)

FAFSA  For any scholarships, work study, financial aid you must fill this out!  Sign up now! (You will need your parents income tax information)  FAFSA4caster- estimates your financial aid amount  Get your pin # and keep it, you will use it throughout college

Scholarships  Counseling Center blog: -counseling/  Kathy Leavers Blog er er  Shelby County Webpage: es/ scholarship.html

Recommendations  I need time!!  2 weeks would be great!

DEADLINES!!!!!!  Emphasize to your child there are deadlines!  If letters of recommendations are needed allow plenty of time for people to write them and get them back to the student

Forms in the student services center Transcript requests: (office or online) - 5 $ per request -If 18 years or older you can sign the transcript form Recommendation Request Packet

College Visit Permission Form  Don’t forget to get a preapproved permission form and bring back documentation from the school you visited!!!

Senior Newsletter  It will be online on the blog.  I will send it out to your parents through the PTO.  I will send it by to your English teachers  College visitation updates, scholarship information, important dates  I will send out a REMIND 101 message when there is a new newsletter and scholarships on the blog!

SENIORITIS

Senioritis  Disease that attacks at the end of first semester of the senior year of high school  Symptoms: procrastination making stupid decisions Missing school- Senior Skip Days- are not a part of the school calendar extreme laziness lack of studying and turning in assignments Apathetic- no care attitude Results: NO GRADUATION

For Help!  We have free tutoring before and after school, many teachers have their own.  List of tutors you can pay  Tutoring for the Alabama High School Graduation Exam-available this summer also  Computer help for the AHSGE also

Alabama High School Exit Exam  March 11 – 15  Prepare for the test!  User name: pelhamhigh  Password: newton15

 Questions???