1. Set Pursue Reach . . .
BHS Class of 2019

2. Sometimes taking the next step can make you feel like this . . .
But no need to fear, your counselors are here to help you set, pursue, and reach your goals!

3. Agenda Senior Reviews Graduation requirements
Planning for life after Brookwood HS
Senior checklist

4. Senior Review
Who? – Anyone who is planning on graduating in December 2018, Spring or Summer 2019
When? – During Guided Study
How? – During Guided Study, Counselors will review your course history and credits needed to graduate
Why? – To complete the graduation application and start planning for college and life after high school.

5. Find your counselor by your last name
A - Co Ms. Medlin
Cr - He Dr. Benton
Hi - Me Dr. Benjamin
Mi - Sa Mrs. Linderman
Sb - Z Mr. Blair
9th Grade, A - O Mrs. Settles
9th Grade, P-Z Dr. Ricks ESOL students see Mrs. Settles

6. Graduation Requirements

7. Those credits must include the following:
You must have 23 credits
Those credits must include the following:
4 Language Arts
4 Math
4 Science
.5 Health/.5 Lifetime Fitness
3 Social Studies (U.S. History and World History, Economics and Political Systems)
3 Electives (Fine Art/Technology/Foreign Language)
4 General electives
Important! Promotion requirements have changed. Some of you may be considered a senior because you have 17 total credits, but do NOT have the specific credits to graduate. If you failed a course in high school and have not retaken (and passed), you need to meet with your counselor ASAP.

8. Application for Graduation
Complete a Senior Review during Guided Study
Review requirements for graduation
Discuss your future plans
Complete and submit a student brag form if you need a letter of recommendation
Review your test scores and learn more about retest options, if needed
Provide your Social Security number

9. If you have failed a required course at any point in high school, it is your responsibility to:
Check on grades
Contact a counselor to determine options
Review options
BHS Credit Recovery
Phoenix
Community Schools
Credit Recovery*
Review online options like

10. PLEASE NOTE:
ALL course requirements must be completed in order to participate in the graduation ceremony!

11. Please see them about graduation events, such as:
SENIOR CLASS SPONSORS
Mrs. Erin Thompson (Room B31)
Mrs. Susan Lockwood
(Room B29)
Please see them about graduation events, such as:
Senior Picnic
Graduation announcements, robes, and accessories
Graduation Ceremony

12. Life after Brookwood High School
Do you know what you want to do?
If the answer is no, please talk with a counselor to learn more about your options.
If the answer is yes, please let your counselor know during your senior review in Guided Study.

13. FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
Bachelor’s Degrees
Public Colleges/Universities
Private Colleges/Universities
Admissions Requirements
SAT and/or ACT for entrance exam
May require letters of recommendation

14. Admissions statistics from three largest research universities in Georgia from
Middle 50%
Core GPA: SAT(CR+M+W): ACT:
AP/IB: Early Action: Oct 15;
Regular Deadline: Jan 1
Middle 50%
Core GPA:
SAT(CR+M): 1110
ACT: Priority Deadline: Nov 15; Regular Deadline: March 1
Middle 50%
Core GPA: 3.9 (“A” avg.) SAT:
ACT:
AP/IB:
Early Action: Oct 15;
Regular: Jan 1

15. TWO-YEAR COLLEGES Associate Degrees Public Private Entrance Exams Vary
AccuPlacer
ACT or SAT
Transfer to a four-year college

16. Two-year colleges BHS students most frequently apply to are:
Georgia State University Perimeter College*
University of North Georgia, Blue Ridge Cumming, Gainesville, and Oconee
Public, liberal arts college/university
Two-year programs at the above-mentioned locations. At the completion of the associate program, a student may transition into a bachelor’s degree program within the University of North Georgia.
Rolling Admissions, Selection based on SAT/ACT scores and high school performance
Enrollment: 8,000 (for two-year programs)
Public, liberal arts college
Rolling Admissions, 2.0 or higher and SAT/ACT/AccuPlacer
Enrollment: 23,000
**Requires two years of the same F.L.
These 2 year schools may work with you even if you do not have 2 units of a FL. Please contact the college if you have further questions.

17. TECHNICAL COLLEGES Programs Degree Certificate or Diploma
AccuPlacer Exam for Degree Program
No SAT/ACT
Gwinnett Technical College offers more than 50 programs of study that a student can finish in two years or less.

18. MILITARY Opportunities Training Education Travel
Policies/Expectations/Commitment
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)— September 12th sign up in A1.
Scholarships
Must be a high school graduate,
no GED

19. ENTERING THE WORK FORCE IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
CAREER INFORMATION
College and Career Room
DVD Library
Books
Dictionary of Occupational Titles
Occupational Outlook Handbook

20. College Planning

21. The College Application Process
The Application
Application Fees
Transcripts
Letter of Recommendation
College Visits
Financial Planning

22. HOW MANY? “Dream School” Likely—a pretty good chance of getting in
Safety—a sure thing for admission and cost
1 to 2 schools in each category

23. THE APPLICATION Sources College Admissions Office College web site
BHS College and Career Room
When
“The early bird….?”
Deadlines

24. Early Decision versus Early Action
Applying Early?
Early decision and early action plans allow you to apply early (usually by October or November) and get an admissions decision December or January.
Early Decision versus Early Action
Early decision plans are binding. A student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college.
Early action plans are similar but are not binding, which means students receive an early response but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1.
Please check the policies of the individual colleges/universities you are applying to if you are applying early.

25. College and Career Specialist
Mrs. Donna Varzaly
Transcripts
Provides requests for recommendations to counselors
Great resource for scholarships – Check the Senior Bulletin
Fee waivers -(SAT/ACT/ college application, if qualified)

26. “OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT”
OUT OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Request “paper” transcript from Counseling Office – College and Career Room
$5.00 cost
Student must stamp, address, and mail sealed envelope.
GEORGIA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ONLY
FREE Online through
Mid-Year and Final
Will send paper copy for Final Transcript ($5.00)

27. COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS/TESTS
S.A.T. I (reasoning tests)
A.C.T.
S.A.T. II (subject area tests)
T.O.E.F.L.
ASSET/COMPASS
Most public two-year colleges and technical schools in Georgia (UNG requires SAT/ACT)
Armed Services Vocational Battery Aptitude (ASVAB)

28. TEST PREP RESOURCES www.gafutures.org
Core classes at Brookwood High School
Brookwood Community School
Commercial organizations
Tutor list
Media Center
College and Career Room
Free online resources

29. Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are written only when requested
Find the Student/Parent Brag forms online at
Complete the forms online on the brookwoodcounseling.com website.
Plan ahead – Allow two weeks for your counselor to complete your letter of recommendation
Your part of the application is expected to be completed beforehand.
Please be polite when requesting a letter of recommendation

30. College Visits Visit during regular session Pre-arranged absences
Better in the fall (exam exemptions)
List of questions to ask
Contact the college to set up

31. THE LETTER OR EMAIL ARRIVES. . . .
ACCEPTED! (Hooray)
Send deposits
Celebrate
Wait-listed
Don’t panic
Evaluate back-up plan
Denied—
It’ll be okay
Go to back-up plan

32. FINANCIAL PLANNING College Financial Aid Office
Georgia Student Finance Commission
College Board – College Scholarship Search
Forms
F.A.F.S.A.
GA. Tuition Equalization Grant
GSFAppS (HOPE)

33. TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID Scholarships Academic Special talents
Special circumstances
Grants
Generally don’t require repayment
Based on financial need
Federal Pell Grant Program
Loans
Subsidized, unsubsidized, and private

34. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (F.A.F.S.A.)
English and Español version
First Step in Financial Planning
Need parent(s) tax returns (Form 1040)
The parent/guardian that claims the student as a dependent.
The F.A.F.S.A. determines a student’s eligibility for grants and loans

35. ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS
Register with
Send a transcript
S.A.T./A.C.T. scores must be sent directly from the testing service
Calculate core average according to NCAA requirements
Important! Please review NCAA policies and
procedures on eligibility!

36. Hope Scholarship and Zell Miller Scholars
To qualify for the HOPE Scholarship, a student must:
Earn a minimum of 3.0 cumulative grade point average in all academic classes (e.g., Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Foreign Language)
Must meet Georgia residency requirements and be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
To qualify for the Zell Miller scholarship, a student must:
Meet all of the requirements above
Must be their high school’s valedictorian or salutatorian, OR earn a 3.7 high school GPA or higher and post, in one sitting, an SAT combined score of 1200 or higher in math and reading or an ACT score of 26 or higher.

37. HOPE CALCULATIONS A = 4.0 B = 3.0 C = 2.0 D = 1.0
Advanced Placement Classes
10 pts. Subtracted
.5 added
The Georgia Student Finance Commission calculates HOPE averages based on transcript information. GCPS does not calculate HOPE averages and does no have access to the state’s calculations. Please check GAcollege411 for your “HOPE” GPA.

38. HOPE GRANT No minimum average required
Applicable at technical colleges for diploma and certificate programs

39. Ready, Set, Go!
Complete an application for graduation (Senior Review) in Guided Study
Refresh your account
Complete and submit brag forms online at , if letter of recommendation is needed.
Make sure you understand and have reviewed the application requirements for college/military
Know application deadlines

40. Ready, Set, Go!, continued
Schedule tests (e.g., SAT/Subject/ACT/AccuPlacer/ASVAB)
Research scholarships and track scholarship opportunities (some scholarships can be found in your bi-weekly Senior Bulletin)
Fill out FAFSA (Application opens October 1, 2018)
Attend Financial Aid Night, September 20th, BHS Commons
Request your final transcript

41. HELPFUL WEB SITES Brookwood HS Counseling Department
Brookwood High School
College Board/S.A.T.
A.C.T.
Commons Application:

42. HELPFUL WEB SITES, CONT’D
Online applications for colleges in Georgia and much more
Georgia Student Finance Commission (H.O.P.E.)
Free application for Federal Student Aid

43. Sources of Information from BHS Counseling Department
BHS Counseling Dept. website at
Senior Bulletin
BHS Counseling Dept. on Facebook
The Tack Room
Subscribe at school website -> “Bronco eNews” -> “Join Our Mailing List”

44. Stay Connected-SR Class Remind