WHAT’S NEXT? Planning for Life After High School Stevens High School Guidance Department Fall 2011

LEARNING TARGETS Seniors will have a better understanding of the ways their counselor and the guidance office can support them in their senior year and in planning for life after high school Seniors will understand academic rules and requirements for graduation, specific scholarships, and activity eligibility both in high school and college Seniors will further understand college entrance exam planning, and the process of applying for college

Guidance Staff Counselors Paula WilsonA B C E F G Kerri StoverH I J L M N Kim ElderO-V Shirley AndrewsD K W X Y Z Others Kathryn Sosa - Gifted Ed. Coordinator David Herrick - Lifeways Advisor Marcia Geyer - Registrar Jenni Dragoo -Records Secretary Brenda Sinclair - Secretary/Receptionist

High School Transcripts Look over your transcript. When you pursue: College admission Military enlistment Employment you will likely be asked to submit your high school transcript. Most of you will need to apply for college before winter break, so what you see today is what will be sent with your application.

High School Transcripts - continued TRANSCRIPT - a record of all your high school classes with your grade and credit earned. Is your transcript is correct? GPA and class rank – at the bottom of the transcript. Colleges require this information. Please write your GPA and class rank on your Senior Questionnaire.

TEST OUTS / Transcripts Students who tested out of a class have two options for recording it on their transcript: 1) You can leave it as “PAS”, which indicates a test out, OR… 2) you can request that the test out grade (an A or B) be listed on the transcript. Decide by the end of 1 st semester which way you want a test out recorded. The SD Opportunity Scholarship does not recognize PASS/FAIL or TEST OUT in a required core course. You must have a letter grade.

Senior Credit Checks  You are responsible for making sure you meet graduation requirements.  Your counselor helps by providing you with a completed credit check.  This credit check is for high school graduation requirements only, NOT college admission requirements. There is a difference.

Senior Credit Checks – Continued Review your credit check – you will need 22 credits or more to graduate. Make sure your Pathway is marked correctly at the top of your credit check. The required classes are listed on the left side of your credit check; electives on the right.

Senior Credit Checks- continued Pathways for the Class of 2012  2012 graduates are required by the state to declare a Pathway for graduation.  Your counselor will assume you are on the Advanced Pathway unless you or your course selection tells her otherwise.  If you are on the Standard Pathway and have not yet signed the Standard Pathway agreement, your parent must make an appointment with your counselor as soon as possible.  If you are considering the Distinguished Pathway, make sure you are enrolled in the appropriate classes. See your counselor with any questions.

Senior Credit Checks – continued All RCAS graduates must have passed the Gates MacGinitie reading test. If you are not in a reading class, you have probably passed this test. Check with Jenni, our Records Secretary, if you are in doubt. New/transfer students should have been given the reading test upon enrollment.

Senior Credit Checks – continued If there are questions regarding your credit check, please see your counselor to clarify. No one likes surprises at graduation time. If you are taking an online or off-campus class, please write that down on your credit check; see your counselor to ensure these courses count toward graduation.

Senior Credit Checks – continued If you make a correction on your credit check form, please see your counselor to be sure graduation is still on track. Initial and date the upper right hand corner of your credit check form Return your credit check & transcript to your counselor.

Guidance Office Appointments We recommend you see us sometime this semester (not during class time). We want to be aware of your future plans and help you, if necessary. Appointments are made by our secretary, Brenda Sinclair. Appointment times are from 7:45 – 3:00 each day classes are in session (no in-service days). Mrs. Andrews is here Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Friday afternoons.

Senior Schedule Changes Seniors, see your counselor (not the Registrar) regarding any schedule changes so we can document those changes on your credit check.

Transcript Requests Jenni Dragoo, the Records Secretary, handles all transcript requests. There is a Transcript Request Form (in the Guidance Office) that must be completed to send an official transcript to a college or other organization. It must be signed by you AND a parent if you are not yet 18 years old. A new Transcript Request Form must be completed for each place you’d like your records sent.

College Application Procedures  Complete your application either online or on paper.  Request letters of recommendation*, if needed.  Complete a transcript release form.  If you complete a paper application, staple your check for the application fee to the application.  If you complete an application online, you will be asked to pay the fee with a credit or debit card. *More info on later slide

College Application Procedures - continued  Submit all items to our office (put in the Requested Transcripts basket).  Jenni will gather all requested items on the transcript release form, address an envelope and give the application packet to your counselor or Mrs. Sosa.  Your counselor/Mrs. Sosa will complete the counselor evaluation part of the application, attach any letters of recommendation, and mail your college application in one package.

College Application Procedures - continued  Colleges appreciate receiving all application materials in one package.  We document the date that the application leaves our school.  Be aware of deadlines. We need at least 5 school days to process and complete transcript requests.  December 1 and January 1 deadlines often fall close to holidays, so plan ahead. Our office is closed during all school year breaks.

*Letters of Recommendation  Watch what you say via text and social networks; any cruel words or negativity could impact someone’s willingness to write you a letter. Also, employers, colleges, & scholarship committees are starting to look at Facebook pages.  Be kind and request letters two weeks in advance.  Be clear – who is the letter to and when do you need it?  Provide your autobiographical sketch.  Request additional copies of letters written on your behalf.  Send a thank you.

College Admission Exams  Seniors planning to attend college are required to take a college entrance exam: ACT or SAT (4 year schools), or the COMPASS (2 year schools).  The ACT test is more widely accepted by colleges than the SAT test.  The COMPASS test is offered at WDT frequently. You need not plan to attend WDT to take the COMPASS exam there.

ACT You can register online at: September 16 (tomorrow) is the next regular deadline date to register for the October 22 ACT test.SAT You can register online at: October 7 is the regular deadline date for the November 5 SAT test.

ACT/SAT Preparation (Learning Express)  Online, free, accessible from home (with library card) or school.  Online, free, part of your Career Cruising program, accessible from home or school. Ask your counselor for instructions on how to use any of these programs.

SDHSAA Eligibility To participate in SDHSAA sports and activities (including fine arts) you must have passed 4 classes in your previous semester, and be enrolled in 4 classes in the current semester. What you do this semester will affect 2 nd semester participation. See Mr. Vasquez with questions.

NCAA and NAIA - Prospective College Athletes Athletes wishing to compete at the college level must register with the NCAA or NAIA. Links to the NCAA and NAIA websites can be found at You can check your eligibility requirements at these websites and learn which classes you will need to have before high school graduation. Online classes may not be accepted by NCAA. See your counselor with questions.

Community Service Credit, Learn & Serve, and W.I.S.E. Lori Storm handles both the Community Volunteer credit and the Learn & Serve credit. Nancy May handles the W.I.S.E. internships/credit. For more information, contact Mrs. Storm in room S203, and listen to the announcements for information about W.I.S.E.

Stevens Seminar The Stevens Seminar offers presentations to students and their parents on various topics including student growth and development, career exploration, searching for scholarships, and post-high school planning. Dinner is provided. The evening is free of charge. Hundreds of people come every year! Don’t miss this very informative evening! Date -- December 1, 2011

Post-High Planning Day Post-High Planning Day will be at the Civic Center on Thursday, October 20, Over fifty in-state and out-of-state post- secondary schools will be represented at this event. More information will be handed out to you in your US Government classes. Parents are encouraged to attend!

Post-High Planning Day Registration (new) Go to choose your planning day site (Rapid City), and register. Print your admittance pass with bar code and bring it with you to post high day. The bar code will automatically enter you in a $500 scholarship drawing, and make requesting info from colleges much easier (they’ll scan your code so you don’t have to complete numerous request cards)

College/Military Recruiters Students are encouraged to visit with the college and military recruiters who schedule visits to our school. Listen to the announcements or check in the guidance office for visit dates, times, and locations.

College/Career Center In the Guidance Office you will find:  Computers for use in college planning, scholarship searches, ACT/SAT test registration, career research, etc.  College Handbooks, Two Year Schools  Scholarship Board & File  Financial Aid materials (Information Night in January)  Majors & Minors Resource Book  Career Resource Books  Test Preparation Books  School catalogs from all across the nation and abroad - filed by state or region.  Career Cruising username and password (See Marcia Geyer, Registrar)

Scholarship Information For scholarship information, please check the following: The scholarship board and file located in the guidance office AND on the SHS website The Stevens High School Scholarship Listserv -- sign up at: Join this list and receive announcements of scholarships as they are received by us. **Please Note: Scholarships are not included in the daily announcements.

Financial Aid Night 83% of SD college students receive financial assistance to pay for college. Your counselors will host a *FAFSA/Financial Aid Information Night for you and your parents on January 5, *Free Application for Federal Student Aid

South Dakota Board of Regents Scholar Curriculum 4 English 4 math (Algebra 1 and higher) 4 science (including biology and chemistry or physics) 3 social studies 2 of the same foreign language 1 fine art ½ computer 3.0 GPA *½ PE (must earn a letter grade, not Pass/Fail) *½ personal finance or economics *Not required for Regents, but required for graduation and the SD Opportunity Scholarship

SD Opportunity Scholarship Follow Distinguished Pathway curriculum Earn a 24 ACT, or a combined math & verbal SAT of No Pass/Fail or Test Out on the transcript in any required core classes No core class below a C 3.0 GPA (unweighted) Attend a SD college/university/tech school $5000 Scholarship over 4 years

Dakota Corps Scholarship Graduate of an accredited SD high school GPA of 2.8 or higher ACT of 24 or higher Agree in writing to work in a critical need occupation in the state of SD after graduation (limited time) Competitive; scholarship covers full tuition and fees at a participating SD college February 1 deadline Learn more at:

Senior Questionnaire and Autobiographical Sketch Information about you is consistently requested of us when completing college applications. To best help you, we need to know about you! Please complete the Senior Questionnaire and Autobiographical Sketch assignment as directed by your English teacher or counselor. Please keep a copy of your final answers for yourself so you can share it with those you ask to write letters of recommendation.

The End! When in doubt about planning for life after high school, make an appointment to see your counselor/advisor. We want to help! Paula Wilson – A B C E F G Kerri Stover – H I J L M N Kim Elder – O – V Shirley Andrews – D K W X Y Z Kathryn Sosa – A – Z (Gifted Ed)