What It Means to Be a Good Student Lesson 2

Introduction  The typical high school is a friendly place, but it is sometimes a competitive place.  The education you receive here and the attitudes you develop will guide you for the rest of your life.  Your grades will be especially important in getting into college or landing your first job.

Be a Good Student… You Can Do It!  To be a successful student requires certain skills, but these are skills that can be learned !  You have to be willing to put forth the effort— even as a senior!

Basics of Being a Student  Prioritize your life: Doing well in school should be your top priority right now!  Study: There is no substitute.  Always attend class.  Do all of the homework and assigned reading.  Develop self-discipline.  Manage your time wisely.

Prioritize Your Life  Get a calendar or planner and start writing down all assignments, projects, etc.  Put your tasks in priority order. What’s most important? Do it first!  Start working early. Don’t wait til the last minute! You never know what might happen to keep you from working at the last minute.

Study! Why?  There is no substitute for studying.  Read through your notes each night to keep them fresh in your mind.  If the teacher tells you to read, do it!

Attendance is Important  Be in class every day!  Pay attention while you are there!  Participate in class discussions!  The habits you form now will carry over into college and/or your job!

Just Do It!  Just do the WORK!  If you have homework, JUST DO IT!  If you need to read, JUST DO IT!  If you need to study, JUST DO IT!

How Motivated Are You?  Develop a routine.  Make yourself focus on your schoolwork.  Later, you will be glad you did!

Time Flies…  Manage your time.  Use your calendar or planner.  Stick to your plans!

I’m a Senior… Why Does It Matter?  Your school sends a mid- year transcript with your application to college and also sends one to the college of your choice at the end of the year.  Colleges have been known to revoke your admission because of grades on your final transcript!  Do your best until the END!

Graduation Requirements You will earn 1 unit for each class you take in high school! You must earn a MINIMUM of 23 units to graduate. Twenty-eight units are BEST!!!! (4 years x 7 units = 28 units) Your core classes are REQUIRED units! RHSC (Required High School Curriculum or RHSC courses) NO one is “placed” in a grade because of age, # of absences, etc. You earn your way through by passing your classes!

Four-Year Plan of Study

Four Year Plan of Study Look at your four year Plan of Study. It is a great tool for keeping you on course in your classes! IN PENCIL, let’s check off what you’ve already taken and your current courses so you can see the steps you have taken to reach your goal of graduation! See the progress you have made!

What is a freshman index?  It is a number calculated by combining the high school grade point average (GPA) with the highest earned SAT or ACT scores. It is used when admitting freshmen into some post-secondary schools. Your GPA RHSCYou GPA is calculated from the grades earned in the 17 Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) courses.

Average First time “Freshmen Indexes” for some schools you might recognize …(2008) UGA 3104 Savannah State 2234 GCSU2810 Fort Valley State2267 GA Tech3229 Valdosta State2528

freshman index Calculating a freshman index… Freshman index = (500 x your GPA) + SAT Critical Reading + SAT MathOr Freshman index= (500 x your GPA) + (ACT composite score x 42) + 88

Freshman index = (500 x your GPA) + SAT Critical Reading + SAT Math Calculate the freshmen index for the following students:Bobby SAT Reading: 480 SAT Math 420 GPA: 2.5Raven SAT Reading: 600 SAT Math 300 GPA: 3.5 Could these students become a Georgia Bulldog with the freshman index you calculated for each one?

Answers: Bobby’s FI is NOT He would NOT be considered at UGA but could get into a smaller university such as Fort Valley or Valdosta. His FI is on the low end for these schools!

Raven’s FI is She is below the average FI for freshman at UGA but she is above the minimum FI of BULLDOG She will have A LOT of competition for getting one of those freshman BULLDOG slots! Answers:

What about YOU???  Later in the year, we will calculate your freshman index…  Will you get in the school of your choice?

Let’s Have a Great Year!