Class of 2018

Topics for Discussion Today Important Dates for Senior Year Graduation Requirements A timeline for all post high-school plans Options for after graduation and how you get there Sending applications, letters of recommendation & transcripts Financial Aid

Graduation Requirements Total of 23 credits 4 credits of English 4 credits of Math 4 credits of Science 3 credits of Social Studies .5 credits of Physical Education & .5 credits of Health 3 credits of CTAE or Modern Language or Fine Arts 4 credits of electives

IMPORTANT DATES FOR SENIOR YEAR Apply to College Day – November 8, 2017 Financial Aid Information Night – See UWG for date Senior Breakfast – May 18, 2018 Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal – May 15-18 Baccalaureate – See individual Churches Graduation – May 18th, 7pm UWG

Ordering Cap and Gown Meet with Balfour about graduation announcements and cap and gown – November 8th at 10am. Order & pay deposit for cap and gown – March 30th, 2018 Distribution of graduation orders – May 7, 2018 during lunch

Overall Timeline as a Senior Apply to take ACT &/or SAT Attend college fair Apply to colleges, send transcripts, and letters of recommendation Schedule campus tours for fall of 2017 if you have not visited your top schools Apply for financial aid at www.fafsa.ed.gov beginning October 1st Make final decisions by May 1st & send in deposit Attend on-campus registration in the summer of 2018 Keep your grades up!

For more information on apprenticeships, go to http://www. doleta

Do you have a connection at a company? Do you have skills that employers are looking for? Where do you start? The Workforce Development Center at the Dept. of Labor at 275 Northside Drive, Carrollton, GA is a great place for resources.

Recruiters are available for every branch of the armed services Schedule of lunch hour visits will be posted on school website Individual meetings can be set up to take place in the Guidance Office or at your home

Be sure to watch for program deadlines Applications can be submitted anytime Application costs: see website

College Admissions Tests Take the ACT at www.actstudent.org Registration Deadline is Nov. 3rd for the December 9th test. Take the SAT at sat.collegeboard.org/register Registration Deadline is Oct 5th for the November 4th test.

PRIVATE AND OUT OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES Check out financial aid for help with tuition Consider programs that provide a good fit for the student Consider programs that offer opportunities to participate in research in many disciplines

Application Checklist Online applications are preferred by most schools! Check that all work is done neatly and spelling and grammar are correct. Letters of recommendation (request 2-3 weeks in advance). Include application fee or pay online. Preferred deadline for applications - January 15, 2018. Please submit all materials at least one week before admission deadlines!

How do you afford college? Apply for financial aid through the federal government starting on October 1st, 2017 Scholarships can help! Keep watch on the Guidance Office tab of the school webpage for updates on available scholarships Look on the individual college financial aid page for scholarships Use a general scholarship search engine like www.FastWeb.com Average Costs Per Year Technical College: $4,000 Two Year College: $5,000 4 year Public university: $18,000 4 year Private university: $35,000

Financial Aid Night Listen to announcements UWG hosts one each year on their campus. Guest Speaker will outline: FAFSA form (www.fafsa.ed.gov) Scholarships, grants, and loans Working with the college financial aid office Answer parent/student questions

Put your hands on some money for college!!! The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form every students needs to complete if they plan to attend college in the fall of 2018. It opens the door to potential cash for college. Complete the FAFSA form in about an hour, our help will eliminate any possible confusion. University of West GA and West GA Technical College have hands on sessions to help you complete this form. Watch the Guidance link on the school website for information about these sessions (usually in February – March). Bring - identification, SS security #, 2016 complete federal income tax returns, 2016 W-2 forms and other tax material.

Where do I find Scholarships? Scholarships can be found on the school website under the Guidance Office link. Click on the Scholarships heading. Scholarship opportunities are updated frequently throughout the year. Check the site often. Most colleges have scholarship opportunities available on their websites. Fastweb.com is a free scholarship matching tool that many students find useful.

Scholarship Application Process Ask teacher, coach, or counselor for letter of recommendation, if required. Give at least 3 weeks notice before the deadline. Provide a copy of transcript and ACT or SAT scores if needed. You are responsible for mailing all applications and letters of recommendation. SCHOLARSHIP DEALINES ARE FINAL!

What do I need to focus on in order to meet all of the deadlines and be prepared for all of the important events of my senior year?