1. Juniors 2015

2. Your Counseling Staff  9 th Grade—Mrs. Holman  10 th and 11 th Grade—Mrs. Roberson  12 th Grade—Mrs. Franklin  Other contacts:  Mrs. Edmonds—IB Program Director and Academic Counselor  Mrs. Haskins—Academy Specialist (EPIC)  Mrs. Mary Claire Wright—Athletic Eligibility/ NCAA  Dr. Cleveland—Assistant Principal in charge of Curriculum  Mr. Holland—a jack of all trades and a wealth of knowledge

3. Graduation Requirements for 2016 Cohort  Regular diploma—28 credits  4 math (Algebra, Geometry, Algebraic Connections, Algebra 2)  4 English  4 Science  4 Social Studies  ½ fine art, ½ health, ½ computer app, 1 credit PE  No Foreign Language Required  Advanced Academic Endorsement—28 credits  4 math (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2/Trig, math elective)  4 English  4 Science  4 Social Studies  ½ fine art, ½ health, ½ computer app, 1 credit PE  2 years of same foreign language

4. Graduation Requirements Cont.  Advanced with Honors Diploma  30 Credits  3.5 weighted GPA by the end of 1 st semester of Senior year  4 English (honors, AP, or IB)  4 Math (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2/Trig, Precal)  4 Science (honors, AP, IB) Must take physics  4 Social Studies (honors, AP, IB)  ½ fine art, ½ health, ½ computer app, 1 PE  2 years of same foreign language

5. College and Career Ready Initiative  All seniors are responsible for creating an online Career Exploration Portfolio (3 requirements)  Resume  Cover Letter  Evidence of Career Exploration

6. College and Career Ready Initiative (Continued)  All Seniors must meet one of five College and Career Readiness Standards  Qualifying Score on April ACT  English 18  Math 22  Reading 22  Science 23  Qualifying Score on AP or IB Exams  Benchmark level on ACT WorkKeys  Approved Industry Credential  All Bryant Career Tech courses offer an industry credential  Accounting  Other on-campus opportunities

7. Pre-Registration for Senior Year  Within the next two weeks, your child will be bringing home a course selection sheet and instructions for choosing classes. The sheet has a place for a student and parent signature.  The student will return the completed form to guidance at which time the counselor will meet individually with the student to review his/her transcript and course selection. Recommendations will be made regarding class placement. If our recommendation does not line up with your choice for your child, you may be asked to sign an override form.  Our master schedule and hiring of teachers is based on this course selection sheet; therefore, very few schedules will be changed once school starts.  Our goal is for every student to take rigorous, college preparatory classes; however, we also want what is best for the students GPA and chance for graduation.

8. Advanced Placement  AP Courses  AP World History  AP US History  AP English 11 and AP English 12  AP Government/AP Economics  AP Biology  AP Chemistry  AP Environmental Science  AP Psychology  AP Computer Science Principles  AP Physics/AP Calculus  http://www.usouthal.edu/departments/admissions/collegecredit.html http://www.usouthal.edu/departments/admissions/collegecredit.html

9. Technical Dual Enrollment  Aviation Technology  Automotive Technology  Information Technology http://www.bishop.edu/technical/workforce-development/technical-dual- enrollment.html Bishop State Technical Programs Open House:  Tuesday, March 24 th  · Location: Bishop State Southwest Campus at 925 Dauphin Island Parkway, Mobile, Alabama 36605  · Times: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  · Contact Person: Daphne Stamps by email at dstamps@bishop.edu or by telephone at 665-4124dstamps@bishop.edu

10. Early College UA Early College http://uaearlycollege.ua.edu/ ACEP (University of South Alabama http://www.southalabama.edu/departments /admissions/acceleratedcollege.html

11. When do I start applying for college?  August!  1 st, check the admissions requirements for the schools you are interested in.  Do you have the minimum GPA and ACT score?  Have you taken the courses needed to get into the college of your choice?  Do you have the ability to pay the application fee?  2 nd, if you meet the requirements, just get started!  Fill out the application COMPLETELY  Have someone proofread your essays before you submit  Don’t be afraid to hit the submit button!  Fill out a transcript request form with Ms. Franklin  Transcripts are mailed on Thursdays---plan accordingly

12. College Application Procedures  Early Decision/Early Action Pros and Cons  http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/applications/early http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/applications/early  All colleges have online applications! Some are easier to navigate than others  http://www.usm.edu/ http://www.usm.edu/  Common App  https://www.commonapp.org/Login#!PublicPages/ApplicationRequire ments https://www.commonapp.org/Login#!PublicPages/ApplicationRequire ments  Academic Common Market  http://www.sreb.org/page/1304/academic_common_market.html http://www.sreb.org/page/1304/academic_common_market.html

13. Do My Senior Year Grades Count?  YES!  Although I submit you 6 th semester transcript initially, some schools require a mid-year transcript and all schools require a final transcript. Your admission status can change if your grades tank! I have seen it happen!  Many schools also require a copy of your senior schedule to make sure you are enrolled in the correct classes to meet admissions requirements.

14. What Colleges Look For  University of South Alabama  Changes to the Admissions Requirements have just been announced  Regular Admission 19 ACT 2.5 GPA  Duke University  31,750 applicants for 1,750 slots  Emory University  Average ACT 30-34  Average Unweighted GPA 3.69-3.78

15. How do I apply for scholarships?  Colleges and Universities offer a variety of scholarships  Merit based scholarships---based on GPA and ACT/SAT  Departmental scholarships---based on major  Privately funded scholarships---endowed scholarships  Need-based grants---for elite schools who do not offer merit based scholarships  Outside Scholarships  Remind App  Google—DO YOUR OWN SEARCH  Scholarships.com  Fastweb.com

16. April ACT  The test will be given April 28 th  This is the ACT with writing. It is free of charge and it does count!  ACT Prep Workshop  MasteryPrep--$49.99  Sign up online  Postcards will be sent out within the next two weeks. ACT national testing date April 18 th and June 13 th

17. Fee Waivers Fee Waivers are available for ACT, SAT and College Applications Who qualifies?  Currently enrolled in the 11 th or 12 th grade  Economic Need  Enrolled in a federal free or reduced-price lunch program at school  Enrolled in a program for the economically disadvantaged such as Upward Bound  Resides in a foster home, is a ward of the state, or is homeless  Family receives low-income public assistance or lives in federally subsidized public housing  Family’s total annual income is at or below the USDA levels below Number in Household including student Total Annual Income before taxes (in last calendar year) 1234512345 $21,590 $29,101 $36,612 $44,123 $51, 634

18. Financial Aid  The road to financial aid begins in January, 2016  WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV  Financial Aid Workshop and College Night January 21 st 5:30 pm. at Davidson

19. Join Remind Now To Receive Scholarship Updates and Important Summer Information

20. Contact Information  251-221-3084  lfrankl@mcpss.com lfrankl@mcpss.com