1. Sophomore Parent/Student Meeting Thursday, August 28, 2014

2. Academic Basics : A Review Graduation Requirements – 22 credits –4 English – 1 each year –4 Math – 1 each year –3 Science – freshman, sophomore, junior years –3 Social Studies – sophomore, junior, senior years –1 Fine Arts – any year –½ Health – freshman year –½ Physical Education – freshman year –6 Electives – all years

3. Academic Basics : A Review Pre-College Curriculum –Graduation Requirements –2+ years of same foreign language Highlands High School Advanced Curriculum –Pre-College Curriculum –10 Advanced Level Courses (these can be Advanced or AP) minimum –2 AP Courses minimum –Minimum GPA of 3.75

4. Academic Basics : A Review Major of Intensive Study –Pre-College Curriculum –Four courses in the intended area of study with a minimum grade of B/85 –Completion of Senior Seminar Course AP Capstone –Pre-College Curriculum –Complete the AP Seminar/English II Course –Complete the AP Seminar/Senior Seminar Course –Four or more additional AP courses

5. Academic Basics : A Review Credits for Promotion –Freshman  Sophomore Year = 5 cumulative credits earned –Sophomore  Junior Year = 10 cumulative credits earned –Junior  Senior Year = 16 cumulative credits earned –Senior  Graduation = 22 credits

6. Academic Basics : A Review The Transcript –Grades and credits earned through each year of high school –Semester grades for each course taken –Attendance Record Test Scores – Plan, PSAT, ACT, SAT, AP –Test scores are not on the transcript –Must be sent to colleges and scholarships from the testing agency

7. Schedule Planning Core Courses –All students have to take a base of core courses –Levels will vary by student Electives –All student have to take a variety of elective courses –Choose courses where there is an interest (not necessarily your future career) Appropriate Level –Can’t OR Won’t?

8. Schedule Planning Vocational School –Grades 11 & 12 only –Need to start thinking about early (have you had your fine arts?) –Sign up at end of sophomore year - when scheduling –3 courses at Highlands/ 3 courses at McCormick –MUST take Fine Arts elective as freshman or sophomore –MUST be diligent about passing courses Areas of study: Autobody Repair, Automotive Technology, Carpentry, Electrical Technology, Health Sciences, Masonry, Welding

9. College Planning Where Do I Begin???

10. College Fairs National College Fair –Sunday, Sept. 14 –1:00-4:00pm –Duke Energy Center Regional College Fair –Tuesday, Sept. 23 –6:00-8:00pm –NKU Visual and Performing Arts College Fair –Monday, Oct. 13 –7:00-9:00pm –Xavier University

11. Websites to Help the Search Naviance –Students have a log in –Parents have a log in www.collegeboard.com www.actstudent.org www.kheaa.com

12. Testing Plan Test –Thursday, September 18 –No cost PSAT –Wednesday, October 15 –$14 (payable to HHS) On Demand – KPrep –Late May End of Course Assessments – EOC –English II – all sophomores –Biology – all sophomores –Algebra II – some sophomores –US History – all juniors –Late May ACT –Possibly in the Spring if you choose –Register at www.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org –$38 – without writing –$54.50 – with writing

13. Benchmarks What is a “benchmark” and why do my kids keep talking about them? The Benchmarks are scores on the ACT subject-area tests that represent the level of achievement required for students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in corresponding credit-bearing first-year college courses.

14. Benchmarks College Course ACT Subject- Area Test ACT Explore ® Benchmark Grade 8 ACT Plan ® Benchmark The ACT ® Benchmark English Composition English131518 College Algebra Mathematics171922 Social Sciences Reading161822 BiologyScience182023

15. What Should I Be Doing Now? ACADEMICALLY Refine your route: Look ahead to which 11th and 12th grade courses you might be interested in taking and plan to work on any prerequisites. Challenge yourself, but wisely: Create a balanced schedule. You want to strive for the best possible grades, but overtaxing yourself is bound to be counterproductive. Stressed-out brains don't work well. The Junior Year Transcript is what gets you admitted to college.

16. What Should I Be Doing Now? OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES Participate in clubs, sports, activities, community service, jobs. It’s quality and not necessarily quantity. –“It's better to be involved in fewer activities wholeheartedly over time, rather than 9 or 10 superficially." Put together a resume: Note your hobbies, jobs and extracurricular activities. For now, it's just a way to keep track. USE NAVIANCE!

17. What Should I Be Doing Now? PERSONALLY What Do You Like? What Are You Good At? –Complete some interest inventories online –Naviance –CollegeBoard –ACT

18. What Should I Be Doing Now? College Visits Summer Programs –Governor’s School for the Arts –Check Guidance Website and College Websites for programs Enrichment Activities College Research – complete a college match (Naviance & CollegeBoard) –Where? –Size? –Academics –Activities/Athletics

19. What are colleges looking for in an applicant? Challenging Schedule Grades Standardized Test Scores Extracurricular Activities Application Essay Letters of Recommendation Other Factors – majors, auditions, socio-economic, etc.

20. What’s the “general” process? The short answer: –Submit application –Submit test scores –Submit transcript –Submit additional materials –Essay –Letters of Recommendation All schools are different so follow their instructions and ask lots of questions.

21. How Am I Going to Pay for This? KEES $$ –www.kheaa.comwww.kheaa.com –Academic Common Market Scholarships –Unfortunately there is no “one place” for all scholarship information –Naviance for local scholarships –University based scholarships –National scholarships Loans

22. What it Boils Down To… Get Good Grades Take Academically Appropriate and Rigorous Courses Take College Admissions Tests – Prep if Needed Research, Research, Research Participate Enjoy Your High School Experience!

23. Reminders Stay in contact with the Guidance Department : –Guidance Website –www.fortthomas.kyschools.us  Highlands High School  Quick Links  Guidance Departmentwww.fortthomas.kyschools.us –Naviance –www.fortthomas.kyschools.us  Highlands High School  Quick Links  HHS Naviancewww.fortthomas.kyschools.us –Twitter –@hhs_go –Remind Text Messages –Text @08617 to (616) 723-9589

24. Questions? Trinity Walsh trinity.walsh@fortthomas.kyschools.us 859.815.2605 trinity.walsh@fortthomas.kyschools.us Laura Schnitzler laura.Schnitzler@fortthomas.kyschools.us 859.815.2622 laura.Schnitzler@fortthomas.kyschools.us *email will likely get you a quicker response.