1. Post-High School Planning Liberty High School Class of 2014

2. Options after High School
Four-year college
Two-year college
Trade/Technical school
Hands on experience
Job placement
Military
Free education (college and technical)
Employment
4-yr college.
2-yr college. SAT not required, unless transferring before completion
Trade schools. Think about union apprenticeships (steam fitters, ABC,)
Military: contact the academies, recruiters, websites

3. Double Check Your Graduation Requirements!
Total of twenty-five (25) credits
Including 4 credits senior year
Four years of attendance after grade 8
Seventy five (75) service learning hours
55 hours by the end of this year
Pass all of the HSA’s
Algebra, English, Biology
Check the letter you receive in June!
You have a possibility of earning 32 credits during your 4 years of high school.
In addition to passing your classes, there are other requirements needed to graduate.

4. Specific Graduation Requirements
Academic Area Credits
Fine Arts
Technology Education
Physical Education
Health ½
World Language (AND Algebra II) OR
Advanced Technology (AND Algebra II)
Completer Program – 9
Financial Literacy ½
Academic Area Credits
English
Social Studies
Govt., U.S. Hist., World Hist.
Science
Physics, Chemistry, Biology
Mathematics
Algebra, Intermediate Alg,
Geometry, Algebra II
(unless you did a completer program- then you need 2 credits of Algebra and 1 credit of Geometry)
These are the Big Four: English, Social Studies, Science, and Math

5. To Do During Your Junior Year
Review your senior year course selections to ensure rigor.
Keep your grades up. This semester is the last to factor into your cumulative GPA.
Use websites to explore colleges, majors, and careers.
Register with NCAA Clearinghouse and Service Academies
(if applicable).
Think about application essays and who to ask for letters of recommendation.
Take the tests!
SAT, ACT, ASVAB, AP

6. Starting Your College Search- Know your GPA and SAT scores
Average GPA
SAT range
(math and reading only)
ACT range
Applied/ Accepted
Frostburg
3.24
18-22
3951/ 2340
James Madison
3.5
23-27
22,648/ 14,392
McDaniel
3.48
1114
20-27
3738/ 2379
Salisbury
3.59
22-26
8866/ 4676
St. Mary’s of MD
3.8
25-30
2398/ 1479
Stevenson
3.39
19-24
5739/ 3267
Towson
3.61
22-25
18,128/ 9462
UMBC
3.71
1223
24-29
8514/ 5132
UMD- College Park
3.75
28-32
26,000/ 10,806
West Virginia
3.36
21-26
16, 521/ 14,060

7. How To Get More Information About Colleges
Online Searches
Use your PSAT code for My College Quickstart
(password protected, access from School Counseling section of LHS website or your Blue Handbook)
Site ID: ; Password: lhslions
College Visits & Open Houses (excused absence for 3 days with pre-approval)
College Information Sessions at LHS during PAWS- sign up in counseling office
College Fairs- county college fair in October

8. Things to Consider When Looking at Colleges
Size
Small: under 3,000
Medium: 3, ,000
Large: 10, ,000
Largest: over 20,000
Location (city, state, distance from home)
Public or Private
Cost
Majors offered
Academic and Social Atmosphere
Teacher to Student ratio
Campus Setting
Urban, Suburb, Rural
Location: Far away enough that your parents won’t be dropping in every weekend and close enough so you can make it home every now and then to get your laundry done and get a nice home cooked meal.
Academic atmosphere: libraries, research facilities, honors programs,
Social atmosphere: clubs, student center, intramural sports,

9. What Colleges are Looking For
Academic Record: GPA, class rank, consistency, improvement, difficulty of classes
Testing: SAT, SAT II, ACT, AP
Extracurricular Activities: Sports, clubs, leadership roles
Letters of Recommendation: At least one person who has background knowledge of your academic ability
Honors and Awards: Special recognition for skill or talent
Essay/Personal Statement: How are you unique?
Interview: Personal presentation, questions to demonstrate knowledge of the college

10. Is Community College Right for Me?
Provides time to explore options and improve your GPA
Offers significant cost savings
Simple application process
Begin a bachelor’s and prepare to transfer credits or earn certification training (non-credit) through Career Here
If your GPA is competitive, consider the Hill Scholar’s program at Carroll.

11. Employment? Look for training opportunities
Apprenticeships
On the job training
Career Programs
Career Here ( and other non credit training programs)
BERC (Business Employment Resource Center)
DORS(resource for students with IEPs and 504s)
May include tuition reimbursement
Volunteer Work (Peace Corps and / or Americorps)

12. Joining the Military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard )
Earn money
Expenses, from housing and food to health care and life insurance are paid
Help pay for college
ROTC programs in college
Partial or full scholarships
Upon graduation, students are military officers
Serve on active duty, Army Reserves, or the National Guard.
Take the ASVAB
Contact recruiters
Decide if the military is the right career path for you

13. Your Senior Year
Keep your grades up. Colleges will still review quarter one and mid year grades.
Internships – see Ms. Linfield this year (you must be working on a completer or career major to do an internship)
Concurrent Enrollment – see your counselor the semester before you’d like to enroll

14. Senior Year Timeline Summer Fall Visit Colleges Narrow your choices
Finish your college essay/personal statement
Look at applications and deadlines
Schedule senior meeting with your counselor
Fall
Take SAT and/or ACT one last time
Start sending out your applications (early deadlines begin in October)
Request transcripts from School Counseling Office
Ask for Teacher/Counselor recommendations

15. Questions?
Counselors will be meeting individually with all juniors to discuss senior year and post secondary plans.
Please come prepared to ask questions!
Visit the LHS School
Counseling Website

16. Need More Information? Upcoming Paws Sessions
College search resources
Career search resources
Testing information : SAT v. ACT, SAT II, AP
College Application Process
Please sign up!
During your senior year, we would like to you important information, such as upcoming college visits and college deadlines. Please provide your or your parents’ address if you would like this information.