Presented by: Your Friendly Husky Counseling Office

 Check Senior Checklist in Family Connections to make sure you are staying on top of everything!  Visit Mr. Newkirk in the Career Center and your School Counselor to get any questions answered.  Complete Game Plan in Naviance/Family Connections.  Your counselor will be calling you in to discuss your post-secondary plan.  Complete Self-Assessment and Parent Response Form and return to your Counselor.

 Apprenticeship Programs –April 5, 2016 HHS  Community Colleges  Technical Training  Credit Transfers to a 4 year College  Usually SAT/ACT not required  NOVA PATHWAYS TO THE BACCULAUREATE  Four Year Colleges  Full-Time Employment  Military  Academies  Enlistment  Reserves, VA National Guard  Vocational Schools  Auto Diesel Institute  Culinary School  Art Institute  ITT Tech, etc.

 Ideally, students should begin their senior year with 3 -5 colleges in mind  Consider what you are looking for in a college  Location  Setting  Size  Majors  Sports/extracurricular activities  Social Opportunities  Unique Opportunities  Internships/Co-ops  Tuition/Fees

 Traditional Advice- Pick Three to Six Colleges:  “Dream” School  “Good Chance” School  “Safe” Schools  Balancing “Going For it” with “Being Realistic”  Apply to Colleges that are a good fit  Look at GPA’s, test scores, high school courses, admission rates  Go to College Representative Visit at THS  Sign up for Visits through Family Connections!  There is no substitute for a campus visit as a way to assess a school.  LCPS College Fair-Sunday, September 27 at RRHS  4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

 Students can now use Family Connection to request transcripts for colleges.  THS has purchased an electronic college application tool that allows high schools to prepare and send college application documentation electronically to more than 3,000 electronic destinations including all Common Application destinations.  Additional features for requesting Teacher Letter of Recommendations and NCAA Eligibility Center transcript requests will launch in the future.

HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH TEACHERS NOW!!  Please give teachers three weeks notice before the recommendation is due!  Where indicated please provide a stamped envelope addressed to each college to which you want the teacher to mail your Letter of Recommendation (LOR).  James Madison University requires that only one LOR be submitted with each transcript. You must request that the teacher deliver your LOR for JMU to your counselor for it to be submitted with your transcript.

 Early Decision : Earlier application deadline. If you are accepted, constitutes a legally binding agreement that you will attend that school. You may only apply to one school Early Decision.  Early Action : Earlier Application deadline that is non- binding.  Deferred Admission : Depending on the college, this definition varies. Please check with the college’s Admissions Office for their policy. If you have questions please see your school counselor.  Deny : Not Admitted.  Accepted : Accepted to the college – You should only give an answer and deposit ONLY if you are going to attend that school.  Waitlisted : College may offer a spot if space available after regular admissions.

 Your semester transcript, which includes GPA and Class Rank, will be sent to all colleges you have applied to in the middle of February. Final transcripts are only sent to the college or university that you select in your Senior Survey.  Colleges will see the mid-year grades and take into consideration any grades that have fallen substantially!  Acceptance is conditional and may be revoked.  SAT Subject Tests - Check with colleges to which you have applied to see if these are required and crucial for placement.  AP Tests - Make sure you pay early for all tests you plan to take. The payment due date is February 20, Take these tests seriously and prepare! You may be able to waive a semester course and save money. Check with individual colleges. Cost $83

 Seniors are responsible for determining the tests needed for the college they are applying to:  SAT Reasoning Test (typically for determining admissions)  ACT (typically for determining admissions)  SAT Subject Tests (typically used for placement)  Seniors are responsible for having their test scores sent to the colleges to which they apply.  Requests to have scores sent are made directly through the College Board or ACT. Seniors can also request scores be sent when they take their test.

 Utilize all resources that are provided to you through Tuscarora to achieve your future goals.  Make sure you are checking your on Naviance/Family Connections.  Stay Tuned for upcoming information on THS’s Financial Aid Night. Tuesday, December 15, 2015  Have Fun Senior Year! …….but  Don’t forget to complete Senior Survey --Sept. 24 Fall College Planning Night 7:00 p.m. --Sept. 27 LCPS College Fair Rock Ridge HS --Sept. 28 College Application Process 6:00 p.m.