1. What is Success?

3. Self Management Skills
Self awareness
Emotion management
Self-confidence
Stress management
Resilience
Skills to forgive and forget
Persistence and Perseverance
Patience

4. Influence / persuasion skills Team work skills Leadership skills
People Skills
Communication skills
Presentation skills
Influence / persuasion skills
Team work skills
Leadership skills
Skills in dealing with difficult personalities and difficult situations
Ability to think / communicate on your feet (under pressure
Interpersonal relationship skills
Organizing skills

5. High School Success Regular attendance
Take advantage of extra opportunities
Attentive in class
Talk directly to their teachers about grades and work with them during tutorials
Turn in all assignments
Take pride in work

6. High School Success Participating in fine arts and athletics
Taking challenging classes
Finding a great group of friends
Working with a clear set of goals for college, career, and beyond
Participating in extracurricular activities

8. Community Service and Extracurricular Activities
Community service and extracurricular activities play an important role with colleges and scholarship committees.
Become involved in school and community activities now – don’t wait until your senior year
Seek activities and opportunities relative to your future career plans
Visit the Northwest High School Counseling website for volunteer and community service activities
Start an activities record including all school and community activities, leadership positions, honors, awards, uniques educational experiences, employment, and volunteer work.
THE BIG EVENT! April 5, 2014
Be sure to update this record at least once a year.

9. To Do List for College Admissions 9th Grade
Study: grades are reported on your permanent transcript
Select challenges classes
Explore extracurricular interests and volunteer work
Start an activities record listing honors, awards, and activities
Take the PSAT
Start a college savings account
Visit college websites and campuses
Research college information
Visit the NHS Counseling website for helpful resources

10. Common Mistakes
My 9th grade year doesn’t count; I have plenty of time to make it up.
I chose this class because my friend is taking it.
I skipped 4th period because it won’t hurt to miss one day of that class.
I don’t feel like doing my homework, so I’ll just do well on the test.
I don’t have time to join school clubs because I have to spend my free time studying.
Everyone else understood the teacher’s explanation but me; I am too embarrassed to ask the teacher for more help.
I am afraid to tell the teacher about the problems I am having with this class.
I want to take blow off classes during my senior year.

11. Graduation Programs The Recommended Program: 26 Credits 4 English
4 Math
4 Science
4 Social Studies
2 World Languages (same language)
Spanish, French, or German
1 Physical Education
1 Fine Art
Art, Choir, Dance, Theatre Arts, and more
½ Credit of Communication Applications (Speech)
5 ½ Elective

12. Graduation Programs, cont.
The Distinguished Program:
Designed for students who want to achieve beyond the state recommended graduation requirements
Criteria for the Distinguished Achievement Program
Meet all requirements of the Recommended Graduation Program
Requires 3 credits of a World Language
Obtain a combination of 4 of the following advanced measures or through independent research project
AP classes with scores of 3 or higher on the AP Exam
National Merit Commendation (PSAT)
College courses must earn a B or higher

13. Tips for choosing classes
4 years to take 2-3 years of foreign language
12 elective spots—Fine Arts, PE, 1 semester of speech
The courses you take now give you more room!!
Being PreAP ready—look at strengths, choose 2(discuss balance with 3-4)

14. Mapping Out the Next 4 Years
Counselors from your high school will come in the spring
Look at ALL 4 YEARS—make sure you have room
Fun vs. balance vs. rigor