SENIOR NIGHT Post Secondary Plans

AGENDA Mrs. Dunn – Welcome Mrs. Dunn– Senior Year Requirements Mr. Roache – GA College 411 Ms. Fagan – Scholarships & Financial Aid Mrs. Sanford – NCAA & Military Academies Natasha Powell – Georgia Student Finance Commission Mrs. Dunn - Conclusion

GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT Janet Fagan - A-Di Vivian Dunn - Do-J Barnetta Sanford - K-P Michael Roache - Q-Z - Lead Counselor Stephanie Hauke - Guidance Secretary

23 total units required for all students: 4 units of English Language Arts required for all students 4 units of Mathematics required for all students 4 units of Science required for all students (the 4th science unit may be used to meet both the science and elective requirements) 3 units of Social Studies required for all students, all courses are specifically identified 1 unit of Health and Physical Education required for all students; 3 units of JROTC may be used to meet the requirement A total of 3 units required from: CTAE and/or Foreign Language and/or Fine Arts for all students (students planning to enter or transfer into a University System of Georgia institution must take two units of the same foreign language). 4 additional elective units for all students. High School Graduation Rule from GA Department of Education for students entering 9th grade in or later:

SENIOR TIMELINE August- September -Meet with your Counselor for graduation purposes. - Attend the PROBE Fair September 16, 2015 at SCHS 6-8pm. -Visit the three to five colleges that interest you the most. -Study and Register for the ACT and/or SAT. -Meet with college representatives visiting your school. October-November -Study/ Take the SAT or ACT exams if necessary. -Work on admissions applications essays. -Visit your top school choices. -Continue to seek and apply for scholarship awards. -Complete your college applications. December-January -Start gathering the info needed for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available at fafsa.ed.gov. -Submit your completed FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible. It’s helpful if your parents complete their income tax returns early. -Request Mid-year transcripts March- April -Watch the mail for acceptance letters and financial aid award letters. -Choose a school and send in a deposit by the deadline. Notify other schools that you will not be attending them. May -Take AP examination -Celebrate your high school graduation

SENIOR EVALUATIONS Each student will receive an appointment time to meet with their counselor starting September We will discuss ……………………. Student’s transcript Standardized testing Scholarship information (websites) Future plans Brag Sheet GAcollege411.org Practice Application ** Each Senior will receive an Unofficial Transcript**

Helps students….. Plan for college, military, or work Apply for college Attend college HOPE eligibility….. HOPE requirements Check HOPE GPA Complete FAFSA application Send Transcripts to Georgia Schools More Resources….. Career Inventory SAT and ACT Prep Financial Aid Scholarships

WHICH COLLEGE/TECHNICAL SCHOOL IS RIGHT FOR ME? Considerations Size of student body Location Academic programs Campus life Diversity Retention/graduation rates Public vs. Private Cost (Cost of attendance, not just tuition) Safety

WHICH COLLEGE/TECHNICAL SCHOOL IS RIGHT FOR ME? Put together a list of colleges you’re interested in attending Visit local college campuses. Take a tour, talk with students and admissions reps about the school. Continue to make good grades! - HOPE Scholarship Visit GAcollege411 for Program current information Become familiar with admissions requirements

COLLEGE VISITS As a senior you receive 2 official college visitation days per year. In order for the 2 visits to count as an excused field trip, you must do the following: 1. Make an appointment with the College Admission Office 2. Obtain a College Visitation form from Attendance 3. Have the form signed by your teachers and parents 4. Have the form signed by a college official 5. Return the signed form to the Attendance office. **Failure to follow the instructions on the form can result in an unexcused absence and will count against your exam exemptions.**

COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES AT SCHS Small grouped sessions are held in Guidance on the appointed day at 10:30 a.m. Students must sign up in order to attend these small group sessions. A sign-in log will be available in the Student Information Center, located in the back of Guidance. Passes will be placed in your first period teacher's box, to be distributed the morning of the visit. Georgia State University - Atlanta, Georgia- September 1 Alcorn State University-Lorman, Mississippi - September 2 Georgia College- Milledgeville, Georgia - September 22 Mercer University- Macon, GA- October 28

HOW TO APPLY TO COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES 1.Choose 3-5 schools and visit their websites 2. Check admissions requirements 3.Apply online, if possible 4.Have a transcript, a copy of SAT/ACT scores, extracurricular activities and community service hours 5.Have someone proofread application before submitting 6. Request recommendations, only if, school requires them 7. Submit application, send transcripts and test scores 8. Print copy for your records

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS Transcripts to most Georgia Colleges can be requested online at at NO cost. For all other transcripts: Complete a “Request for Transcript” form in Guidance Give the form and pay a $3.00 fee for each transcript to Mrs. Hauke Transcripts are ready for pick every Friday after lunch. **Picking up and mailing of transcript is the student’s responsibility ** *Opening of the envelope invalidates the transcript*

RECOMMENDATION LETTERS Complete a “Senior Brag Sheet” and return to Guidance Allow 2 weeks for completion of recommendation (m ost colleges do not require a counselor recommendation) Recommendation letters are returned to the student in a sealed envelope (Do Not Open). Requested transcript will be enclosed with the recommendation. *Students are responsible for mailing.*

FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS Don’t waste your money on fee-based scholarship matching services. You won’t get any better information than you can get from the free services online. Here are a FEW………………… (Guidance webpage)

GEORGIA’S HOPE PROGRAM HOPE Scholarship – GPA of 3.0 Core Credits (all attempts)- Calculated by the GSFC Tuition is paid a percentage amount, which will vary yearly. Zell Miller Scholarship - GPA of 3.7 AND 1200 SAT (Math and Verbal) or 26 ACT 100% Tuition paid HOPE Grant Scholarship – for students seeking a technical certificate or diploma, regardless of the student's high school grade point average or graduation date.

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY Students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2016, must receive at least three credits in courses from the following categories, prior to graduating from high school: Advanced math, such as Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, Math III, or an equivalent or higher course; Advanced science, such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology II, or an equivalent or higher course; Advanced Placement courses in core subjects (English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language); International Baccalaureate courses in core subjects (English, math, science, social studies and foreign language); Courses taken at a unit of the University System of Georgia in core subjects (English, math, science, social studies and foreign language) where such courses are not remedial and developmental courses; or Advanced foreign language courses. Students may earn one or more credits in each category; provided, however, that an earned course credit may only be counted one time toward the credit requirement.

NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER College-bound student-athletes preparing to enroll in a Division I or Division II school need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to ensure they have met eligibility standards.register with the NCAA Eligibility Center To participate in college athletics and receive athletically-based financial aid, you must do the following: Register online with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse and meet eligibility standards (SS# and fee required) Complete the amateurism certification questionnaire Submit transcript release form to SCHS Guidance Department

MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES Students interested in attending one of the military service academies should go to the academy website and familiarize themselves with the application process. Except for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, students must apply for a nomination to a service academy. The service academy website will list the nomination types for which students can apply. See Mr. Roache in the guidance office if you need assistance. Academy websites: U.S. Naval Academy U.S. Military Academy U.S. Air Force Academy U.S. Merchant Marine Academy U.S. Coast Guard Academy -

CREDIT RECOVERY This opportunity is available to help students regain lost credit required for graduation. The Georgia Virtual School credit recovery opportunity facts: After School Opportunity -- students attend a supervised after-school credit recovery session held in a computer lab. Seats are available on first-come, first-served basis Monday through Friday from 4:00-4:45 in Lab 211 during the semester. There is no access on weekends or holidays ALL PRE-AND POST-TESTS MUST BE SUPERVISED IN THE LAB. Each course costs $75 CASH ONLY

IMPORTANT DATES PROBE Fair - September 16, pm-8pm at Sandy Creek High School Senior Pictures - Make-up day is on October 1, 2015, here at SCHS. Please make all appointments with Ms. Munford, room 220. Senior Dues - Senior Dues are paid through Balfour. Please visit click Student Resources, click on the Senior page, scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see the link to pay your dues. SAT Test Dates – ACT Test Dates –