2. Class of 2018

3. KNOW YOUR COUNSELOR – WE ARE HERE FOR YOU! Shana Greenwood – Last Names A-E Irene Myers – Last Names F-M Rebecca Kelley – Last Names N-Z

4. WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DOING YOUR SOPHOMORE YEAR? Make school count. Pledge to work hard now. Hard work and success go hand in hand. Take challenging courses. Keep your grades up. Do your best on the PSAT. Continue with Naviance. Dedicate time to extra-curricular activities. Start your college search. Research careers and majors. Begin financial planning.

5. STAY ON TRACK WITH YOUR COURSES Continue to meet with your counselor. Your counselor can help you plan a schedule and choose sufficiently challenging classes. Ask for help with school work. If you are needing additional academic support, attend Eagle time on a regular basis. Research high school courses by utilizing the NISD High School Course Selection Guide. Assure you are taking electives that are supporting your endorsement and you are accurately planning your course of study. Find out what courses colleges expect students to take as well as what courses interest you.

6. TAKE CHALLENGING COURSES When reviewing your application, colleges take into consideration both your GPA and the amount of effort required to earn it. Take a balance of On Level, Pre-AP, Dual Credit (cost for these classes) and AP level courses. If you are not currently placed in higher level classes and you are interested in taking one, talk to your counselor about your options.

7. CONSIDER YOUR CLASSES CAREFULLY Think, Think, Think!!!!!!

8. UNDERSTAND GPA AND CLASS RANK GPA - Calculation of grade point average grades earned in ALL classes. Un-weighted GPA is on a 4.0 scale. The un-weighted GPA is considered the student’s GPA and is reported as such. Weighted GPA is on a 7.0 scale. The weighted GPA is only used in the determination of class rank. Class Rank – NISD District shall include in the calculation of class rank only grades earned for high school credit in the following subjects and electives under the subject areas: English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Economics, and Languages other than English. Class Rank DOES matter! Students who graduate in the top 10% of their class may be eligible for automatic admission into public universities in Texas. The University of Texas is currently the top 8%.

9. ADVANTAGES OF TAKING PAP, DUAL CREDIT, AND AP Demonstrate to colleges and universities an ability to succeed in rigorous academics Gain an edge: College admissions officers look favorably on students who take challenging courses Challenging yourself in more demanding classes Improve writing skills and sharpen problem-solving techniques Develop study habits necessary for tackling rigorous course work Study subjects in greater depth and detail Take classes with others who want to achieve and learn Based upon your performance, a certain amount of grade points can be added to your final grade in the subjects of English, Social Studies, Math, Science, Economics, and Languages Other Than English) Possibly earn credit or advanced placement for college

10. BE ACADEMICALLY SUCCESSFUL Complete all your work. Attend tutorials. Check your grades on-line. Communicate with your teachers. Ask questions if you do not understand something. Turn in work that you can be proud of.

11. SCHEDULE CHANGES All Schedule Change Requests must be turned in to the counseling office (paper copy or online) no later than September 8 th to be considered for the “First 10 Day” Deadline. All other core class requests after the September 8 th deadline will be considered. If approved, they will not go into effect until after the end of the 1 st six weeks. A Schedule Change Request Form for Core classes only can be picked up in the counseling department beginning October 2 nd. The LAST DAY to turn in any request for a PAP/AP schedule change is Tuesday, October 6 th. After the 1 st six weeks, no schedule change requests will be considered until the end of the 1 st semester.

12. DEDICATE TIME TO EXTRA- CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Colleges love to hear about your life outside of the classroom. Colleges like to see well rounded students. They want a student that is academically successful as well as involved in activities in the school setting and the community. Begin to earn community service hours. Colleges want to hear about activities that you have participated in that have positively impacted someone’s life, including your own. Begin taking leadership roles.

13. LEARN ABOUT HONOR CORDS Green Cord – Community Service Award Program Apply for enrollment by October 15 th on the Eaton Counseling website. Pick up a Green Cord community service log in the counseling office or download the form from the website. Hours can be earned from June 1 – April 14 th. Hours must be turned in by April 15 th of each academic year. The program is a way to encourage students in grades 9-12 to contribute at least 100 hours of approved community service per school year. Students can be recognized for all four years. During your senior year, graduates will have the option to purchase a “Green Cord” for each year of achievement to proudly wear during the high school graduation ceremony.

14. GET READY. GET SET. GO!

15. START YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH Speak with friends and family about their college experiences. Ask them about the pros and cons related to the school they attended. Attend the NISD District College and Career Fair on October 28 th from 6 pm to 8 pm. In your Junior and Senior year you will be allowed two college visits per school year. Visit the college’s websites that you are interested in. Look at student requirements and find high school classes that will fulfill them.

16. BEGIN FINANCIAL PLANNING College may seem like a financial burden, however it does not have to be. Start conversation on realistic financial support and financial aid expectations. Check college websites to get an estimate of tuition costs as well as housing, living expenses, books and fees. Plan to attend financial aid informational meetings. Call the financial aid offices of the schools you are interested in. Visit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aide) website. Begin searching for scholarships. You cannot apply for scholarships until the end of your junior year; however, you can begin researching them to find out what is available.

17. IMPORTANT DATES, WEBSITES AND INFORMATION

18. NATIONAL NORM TESTING For the first time, all scores from the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 will be on a common score scale. All NISD 10 th graders will take the redesigned PSAT on October 14 th. The benefits of the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10: Provide opportunities to check in on student progress and pinpoint areas for development Early indicator of college readiness Detailed performance feedback Early access to career and college planning tools Sharing scores will enhance test practice through Khan Academy at no cost to you. To learn more, visit https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat-sutie- assessment/benefits/personalized-study-khan-academy.https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat-sutie- assessment/benefits/personalized-study-khan-academy Connection to scholarships and recognition programs Connection to colleges and universities Assessess potential for 20+AP courses

20. Reminder 101: You can sign up to get reminder texts from the Eaton counselors. They will include reminders about upcoming events and deadlines.

21. CONTINUE TO VISIT THE EATON COUNSELING WEBPAGE Naviance, how to utilize it to help you search for colleges, careers, scholarships and much much more!  Username: First.Last name  Password: ID number Graduation requirements. Guide to understand GPA, weighted and unweighted and the difference between the two. Counselor contact information. Check your school email. A counselor newsletter is sent out on a regular basis with important upcoming events.

22. You are not in this alone. We are here to help you! Your future is big and bright. Each and everyone of you have the potential to do great things!!! Make School Count, the possibilities are endless!!!