GHS senior parent night 2016-2017

Senior information sheets Senior sponsor: Gladys Birts Gladys.birts@mcssga.org senior dues Caps, gowns, and more Herff-Jones’ orders Senior Trip Dates to remember (handout & posted on website)

yearbooks Mr. thomas martin/Ms. Briggetta Holloway, yearbook sponsors thomas.martin@mcssga.org briggetta.holloway@mcssga.org Senior pictures (retakes scheduled for november 30, 2016) Cost- $165 (includes yearbook & 1 full page), if paid by december 18th

Senior year College visits & fairs Applying to college (online) SAT/ACT registration which test to take? Sending transcripts Gather/organize personal information (resume) Letters of Recommendation

College visits and fairs Probe fair- Lagrange college – October 3rd Lunchroom visits Virtual visits Campus visits- schedule online

College application process Review admission requirements and check deadlines Gather academic/personal info, such as your ss number, transcript, class schedule, high school info (address, phone number, ceeb code, counselor email, etc...) and special achievements---Resume if not done so already, register for the act/sat. go to actstudent.org or collegeboard.com. Be sure to designate which colleges to send your score reports to. The scores must come from the testing agency. 4. Ask teachers/counselors for letter of recommendation if required. Provide recommenders with resume/brag sheet and stamped envelope ( if they need to mailed) 5. Complete application online to colleges of your choice. Print out copies of application 6. Request official transcripts from counselor. Instructions are in counselor’s office. A transcript must be sent to each college. 7. Check application status online.

Create college data sheet GPA SAT/ACT ESSAY RECS DEADLINE

EARLY ADMISSION OPTIONS EARLY DECISION: APPLYING EARLY TO ONLY ONE COLLEGE—binding; IF ACCEPTED, MUST WITHDRAW other applications Early action/notification: apply early to more than one early action college—non- binding Single-choice early action: apply early to only One college; can still apply to others regular admissions

Who should apply to early decision? Certain about which college you want to attend Financial aid is not a factor You are completely satisfied with your transcript up through junior year Test scores are where you want them

Register for act/sat/asvab/accuplacer Act: actstudent.org Sat: collegeboard.org Cost: 2 waivers for each test are given to students (no cost) Act: administered at GMHS Tuesday, September 27, 2016 during school hours ; cost $45 Asvab: administered at Gmhs Thursday, November 28, 2016, Sign-up with Mr. Jeter may contact Military Recruiter also for testing (no cost) accuplacer: november 2, 2016 or Register @ WGTC Greenville Site (no cost)

About the test Act and sat: accepted by virtually all colleges & universities Sat: collegeboard.com—critical reading, math, and writing, penalized for wrong answers; highest score=1600; national adv.=993 (New test as of march 2016) Act: actstudnet.org—4 sections: reading, math , English, and science, plus optional writing, no penalty for wrong answers; highest score=36; national adv.=21 Prepare by practicing online, tutoring, books, prep material available in media center

High school transcript Student can send transcripts electronically to in-state college through gafuture.org(formerly GACollege411) or request transcript to be sent from the counselor’s office Correct spelling of name Correct social security number Correct grades/all courses

hope Basics -Requirement: 3.0 in academic courses including foreign language and academic electives Calculation: a=4 b=3 c=2 d=1 f=0 -add up all academic courses and divide by the total number -ap and Move on when ready academic courses are weighed

Hope cont. Hope scholarship: covers 80-90% of tuition to a public university Pays approx. $4000/year for 15 hours to private institution Must be a ga resident for a min. of 24 months Zell miller scholarship: min. of a 3.7 gpa & and a min. score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the sat or a 26 composite score on the act in a single test administration; pays Standard tuition to a public college/university up to 15 hrs; pays Standard tuition up to 12 hrs to a private college/university After graduation final transcripts are transmitted to GA student finance commission for eligibility determination (GHS does not make determination; made by georgia student finance commission)

Hope rigor requirements Took effect the 2014-2015 school year To meet hope eligibility students in the class of 2017 must pass a minimum of 4 rigor courses to the meet rigor requirements (Handout/Posted on website) Courses are not per subject area, but total

Hope grant Available for technical school programs No gpa minimum requirement Only valid for certificate or diploma programs not transferable course work

Gafuture.org (formerlyGacollege411) Career surveys & information How to pay for college Free scholarship search Applying to ga colleges & universities Sending electronic transcripts Hope View online – create an account Apply with gsfapps (ga scholarship & grant application) and/or fafsa- starting october 1, 2016

Scholarships, honors, & awards Searching for scholarships Local scholarships Honors and awards night (May 11, 2017)

Admissions lingo Early action- application submitted before regular deadline, non-binding Early decision- application submitted before regular deadline to first school of choice; binding Admission test- act/sat Placement test- compass Rolling admissions- applications considered as received Open admission- acceptance of all high school graduates Need-blind admission- admissions decisions made without consideration of financial circumstances Undergraduate- college student working towards bachelor’s degree Wait list- list of applicants that may be admitted as space becomes available Weighted gpa- gpa calculated using a system that assigns a higher point value to more difficult classes

To do list Research colleges to find good matches Take physical and/or virtual tour of campuses Make note of admission requirements and deadlines Narrow college list Register for standardized tests Check transcript Create Account wthe gafuture.org and/or Georgia career information center (gcic) - – www.gcic.peachnet.edu Clean up internet image

Important dates Act testing: visit actstudnet.org Sat testing: visit collegeboard.com Probe fair at lagrange college – October 3, 2016 Asvab: Monday, november 28, 2016 Parent Expo night: Thursday, january 12, 2017

contacts Counselor: Gladys birts Gladys.birts@mcssga.org Principal: Thaddeus Jackson Thaddeus.Jackson@mcssga.org Asst. principal: russell jeter, iii russell.jeter@mcssga.org Parent Involvement Coordinator: tabatha ford tabatha.ford@mcssga.org Ghs: telephone (706)672-4930 fax (706)672-1424

Thank you ghs