Planning for Life After High School

 Learn important steps to take when planning for life after high school  Understand how the guidance department staff can support you as you transition away from SHS

Counselors  Paula WilsonA B C E F G  Melissa Good H I J L M N  Kim ElderO-V  Katie Baskerville D K W X Y Z Others  Kathryn Sosa – Gifted Education Coordinator  Luke Wenker- Lifeways Advisor  Marcia Geyer – Registrar  Jenni Dragoo – Records Secretary  Brenda Sinclair - Secretary

 Credit check & transcript (blue and white)  Junior/Senior Checklist (orange)  Senior Planning (white)  Transcript Request Form (yellow)  Scholarship Websites (white)

 Your transcript is a record of all your high school classes with FINAL grades and credits earned.  Review your transcript RIGHT NOW. We need them back at the end of the presentation.  What you see on your transcript today is what will be sent when a transcript is requested.

 GPA and class rank are on page 2.  Write your GPA and class rank on your Senior Questionnaire.  If you have questions about your transcript, see Jenni Dragoo.

 2 Options:  Leave it as PAS or TST, which indicates a test out, or  Request a letter grade. The letter grade will not impact the GPA.  Make this request with Jenni Dragoo in the Guidance Office.  Be aware: Some colleges and scholarships require letter grades.

 If you have re-taken a class for a better grade, you must complete a Grade Replacement Form to have the lower grade removed from your GPA.  Some restrictions apply.  Grade Replacement forms are in the Guidance Office.

 Review your credit check RIGHT NOW.  YOU are responsible for meeting graduation requirements.  High school graduation requirements may differ from college admission requirements.  Waiving a Math or Science course? See your counselor about this if you have questions.

 Taking an off-campus or online class? Tell your counselor.  These classes have early May deadlines.  Planning to graduate at semester? Tell Jenni Dragoo & your counselor.  You will need to fill out a form at the end of the semester.  Questions? Make an appointment with your counselor.

 The state requires that you must complete your (PLP) through SDMyLife in order to graduate.  A completed PLP has 22 credits & includes all required courses.  Update your PLP and verify its completion.  Marcia Geyer has logins and passwords.

 *Continue your education  Join the military  Volunteer (Americorps, Peace Corps, church mission, etc.)  Work *Most of our presentation will focus on this, but come see us for more info about the other options.

Career Information Sites     ASVAB– October 7, 2015 and March 2, 2016 at SHS during early release Wednesdays.

 Challenge yourself  Do your best- ALL YEAR  Consider Dual Enrollment  Prepare for and take college entrance exams:  *ACT  **SAT  ACCUPLACER ( & at SHS) *The ACT has a writing component not all colleges require; check the admissions requirements of your college(s). **The SAT has subject tests your college may require you to take.

The 3 most important goals to consider when looking at schools: EDUCATIONAL  Career  Major  Program PERSONAL  Location  Extracurricular  Family FINANCIAL  How much do you want to spend?

 Gather information about colleges  Websites, sdmylife.com, Post High Planning Day ( ), college rep visits, talk with counselor and family/friends.  Narrow your choices  Clear Admit/Probable Admit/Reach Admit  Visit schools, if possible  Finalize your list

 Online vs. Paper Applications  SD Common Application  Send EDU  National Common Application  Individual Colleges  Find out what you need to apply  Letters of recommendation (next slide will cover this in detail)  Essays  Application fees  Transcripts/Test Scores (official vs. unofficial)  CHECK DEADLINES (find these on college websites)  Early Decision (binding)  Early Action (early response to application, no commitment)  Regular Admission  Rolling Admission  Scholarships

o Social Media  What you put on these sites could impact a person’s willingness to write you a letter.  Many employers/colleges/scholarship boards ask for access to social media sites. o Request letters two weeks in advance.  Who is it for/when do you need it?  Provide your autobiographical sketch. o Thank anyone who writes you a letter.

 FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  Apply Jan-Feb of your senior year.  January 7, 2016-Financial Aid Night  FAFSA Completion Date: February 3, 2016  National websites (see handout)  Stevens Scholarship Listserv (see orange & white handouts)  Freshman scholarships  Research these on school websites  Work  Your employer/your parents’ employer  Private loans  Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)  Reciprocity with Minnesota  Military  SD Opportunity Scholarship (white handout)  Dakota Corp Scholarship (white handout)

 FAFSA award letters are sent to colleges in the spring  You may not make your final decision until you see the financial packages offered by the schools you applied to.  Consider ALL your goals (educational, personal, financial) when making your final decision  Notify the college you plan to attend

 Register online with NAIA or NCAA  Be aware of your academic eligibility requirements to be a college athlete (both GPA and curriculum).  Technical Writing & Informal Geometry don’t count toward eligibility.  Links to NAIA and NCAA can be found at Click on college athletics on the left side.

 College and Military Visits  Announcements  Calendar on Guidance Office door  Early Release Wednesday Events  ACT test prep ( )  ASVAB ( & )  FAFSA Completion Day (2-3-16)  Accuplacer ( & )  Post High Planning Day – October 22, 2015  Financial Aid Night – January 7, 2016

 See your counselor if you have any questions.  Paula Wilson – A B C E F G  Melissa Good – H I J L M N  Kim Elder – O through V  Katie Baskerville – D K W X Y Z  Kathryn Sosa – A through Z Gifted Education  See ONLY your counselor for any schedule adjustments/issues.  Keep your handouts.  THANK YOU- Have a great year!