1. What’s NEXT After High School? Exploring the Postsecondary Options… Nicole Hairston, Graduation Coach

2. TOPICS COVERED 1.Postsecondary options 2.Student Profiles 3.Financial Aid 4.Transcripts 5.College Application Week

3. What are your child’s plans following high school? No matter the goal, they must start planning now No matter the goal, they must start planning now Better planning now = better opportunities Better planning now = better opportunities Poor planning now = limited opportunities Poor planning now = limited opportunities No idea where to start? Totally lost? You’re in the right place! No idea where to start? Totally lost? You’re in the right place! Counselors are here to walk with you through this process! Counselors are here to walk with you through this process!

4. WORLD OF WORK Most jobs require additional training within the first year Most jobs require additional training within the first year Students should prepare a resume NOW Students should prepare a resume NOW Begin looking for jobs and talking with people in that job to get a better idea of what it will be like Begin looking for jobs and talking with people in that job to get a better idea of what it will be like Consider completing an internship this year to gain practical experience Consider completing an internship this year to gain practical experience

5. JOINING THE MILITARY US Military ArmyNavyAir Force Marine Corps Coast Guard National Guard Air National Guard Talk with recruiters NOW Talk with recruiters NOW Ask about: Ask about: Different jobs they can offer when your child enlists Different jobs they can offer when your child enlists Educational opportunities and funding they can provide Educational opportunities and funding they can provide Taking the ASVAB – determines whether your child is qualified to enlist & is a career inventory tool Taking the ASVAB – determines whether your child is qualified to enlist & is a career inventory tool 10 th & 12 th students will take on March 5 th 10 th & 12 th students will take on March 5 th

6. TRADE/TECHNICAL SCHOOLS Offer certifications or licensure in specialized programs (generally taking 2 years or less) Offer certifications or licensure in specialized programs (generally taking 2 years or less) Professions such as plumbing, auto mechanics, electrician, hair styling, culinary arts Professions such as plumbing, auto mechanics, electrician, hair styling, culinary arts Research schools now: campus tour, costs, job placement rate Research schools now: campus tour, costs, job placement rate Consider an internship this year, job shadowing, interviewing someone already in the profession Consider an internship this year, job shadowing, interviewing someone already in the profession (i.e. The Art Institutes, Kaplan, ITT Tech, Southeastern, ECPI, DeVry, Capella)

7. COMMUNITY COLLEGES/2-YEAR INSTITUTIONS Generally accept all students with a high school diploma or equivalent Generally accept all students with a high school diploma or equivalent Cost is often significantly lower than 4-year institutions Cost is often significantly lower than 4-year institutions Earn an Associate’s degree after two years or prepare to transfer to a 4-year university Earn an Associate’s degree after two years or prepare to transfer to a 4-year university “College Transfer” program “College Transfer” program Applying to CPCC Applying to CPCC

8. Central Piedmont Community College Key Dates 2.6 unweighted GPA= no accuplacer test April 2014– Accuplacer given @ MCHS April 2014– CPCC on campus to pick classes for Fall 2014

9. 4-YEAR UNIVERSITIES Find out about the admissions process at each school and deadlines Find out about the admissions process at each school and deadlines Colleges may not have flexible deadlines – encourage your child get in everything days or weeks before it is due Colleges may not have flexible deadlines – encourage your child get in everything days or weeks before it is due If needed, your child should already be registered for the November or December SAT/ACT If needed, your child should already be registered for the November or December SAT/ACT Visit CFNC.org to apply to several schools at once Visit CFNC.org to apply to several schools at once

10. FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE Don’t give up when you see the price tag! Don’t give up when you see the price tag! Research which scholarships are available to you: Research which scholarships are available to you: – MCHS Scholarship Newsletter – www.scholarshipplus.com/charmeck/ www.scholarshipplus.com/charmeck/ MCHS Financial Aid Night January 30 th @ 6:00pm in Auditorium

11. FINANCIAL AID continued… Beware of scams! We recommend you: Beware of scams! We recommend you: – Never pay an application fee for a scholarship – Never respond to emails requesting for your or your child’s social security number – Never pay anyone to help your child obtain scholarships

12. TRANSCRIPTS Students must request transcripts from Guidance (see Ms. Hunsucker) Students must request transcripts from Guidance (see Ms. Hunsucker) Turnaround time is a few days (same day service is not available) Turnaround time is a few days (same day service is not available) 1 st transcript is free, each additional is $3.00 1 st transcript is free, each additional is $3.00 Payment due at time request is turned in Payment due at time request is turned in CPCC only requires Final transcript CPCC only requires Final transcript

13. COLLEGE APPLICATION WEEK Some schools waive the application fee for ALL students during the week of Nov. 18-22, 2013 Some schools waive the application fee for ALL students during the week of Nov. 18-22, 2013 Sign up to apply at MCHS on Nov. 20th Sign up to apply at MCHS on Nov. 20th Some students may be eligible for fee waivers at other times – see Ms. Hunsucker in guidance Some students may be eligible for fee waivers at other times – see Ms. Hunsucker in guidance

14. Questions? Planning for after high school can be exciting, frustrating, and scary for students and parents! Planning for after high school can be exciting, frustrating, and scary for students and parents! Ask lots of questions and seek help from the MCHS counselors! Ask lots of questions and seek help from the MCHS counselors! Guidance Office: 980-343-0085 MCHS Main Office: 980-343-1341