Druid Hills High School SENIOR SEMINAR & JUNIOR JARGON 11 th and 12th GRADE MEETING

Rebecca England (A-C)(678) Darryl Robinson (D-Kh)(678) Shelley Staton (Ki-Re)(678) Maura Pannier (Rf-Z)(678) Melissa Perlmutter (Graduation Coach) Susan Buchanan (Secretary)(678) Lillian Frith (Registrar)(678) DHHS Guidance Department

Guidance information that will be covered: Graduation requirements College Planning College Application Procedures HOPE Scholarship College Fair Dates Financial Aid Web sites Druid Hills High School

Select a program of study Successfully complete the required high school coursework Pass the Georgia High School Graduation Tests or EOCTs Satisfy attendance requirements Graduating from High School Students are eager to graduate from high school and move on to the next part of their lives. In order to graduate, students in Georgia must:

Programs of Study for Juniors and Seniors Students may choose from the following programs of study. Type of Program of Study Units College Preparatory (CP) 24 Technology/Career Preparatory (TC) 24 *Honors and Distinction (CP) 24 *Must take three years of the same World Language 3.0 core CPA is required ( All Academic classes and World Language) 3.5 cumulative GPA required

Program of Study

What happens if I dont pass the High School Graduation Tests? Students who do not pass all the tests or at least one of the EOCTs in an academic content area but have met all other graduation requirements may be eligible for a high school certificate of performance. Such students can return to retake the test(s) as often as they wish in order to qualify for a high school diploma.

Checklist for senior planning Early Admission vs. Early Decision Campus Visits Applying to Schools Essay Writing Testing Letter of Recommendations College Planning and College Application Procedures

Senior College Planning September Review graduation requirements and GPA. Finalize the list of colleges/trade schools to which you want to apply. Listen to announcement and check your FirstClass Accounts for college and trade school representatives who will be visiting. Sign up to take the ACT or SAT if you have not done so or if you have not achieved the score you wish. Attend upcoming college fairs if you have not selected a college/trade school. Start preparing for the application process by completing your senior information sheet and requesting catalogs and applications.

Senior College Planning October Attend upcoming college fairs if you have not selected a college/trade school. Request recommendations and give teachers and counselors the forms. File early-action and early-decision applications. If not applying early, file applications for schools with early deadlines. Fill out a request for transcript form in the Guidance office. This requires a parent signature unless the student is 18. If you haven't already visited colleges/trade schools, take advantage of upcoming holidays to do so.

Senior College Planning November Begin to research scholarships. Check the DHHS Website, scholarship notebook, and additional scholarship websites. Write and polish any required essays. December Take the SAT Subject Area Test if its required by your college. Deadline is 12/2/11 for Counseling staff to get applications with January deadlines

College Planning January Begin to work on your financial aid forms after you and your parents compute your respective income tax forms. Be sure that all forms, recommendations, and test scores are on file at the institutions to which you'd like to be considered for admission. Continue to watch for local scholarships.

College Planning February Send mid-year grade reports to college/trade school that have requested them. Keep your grades up. College acceptance is only conditional and based on continued good performance. Make sure that you have submitted the financial aid form that your college requires.

College Planning March-April Will start getting acceptance letters from colleges Review college/trade school acceptance and compare financial aid offers. Decide which school to attend, send in your deposit May Take advantage of the orientation and registration program at the local Community Colleges if you plan to attend Fill out the appropriate form with the Guidance secretary to have your final transcript sent to the college/trade school you plan to attend next fall. Inform all colleges which accepted you whether or not you plan to attend. You may want to transfer to one of the other colleges at a later time.

Early Action vs. Early Decision

Early Decision Early decision plans allow you to apply early (usually in November) and get an admission decision from the college well in advance of the usual notification date.

But there is a catch!!! Early decision plans are "binding," meaning if you apply as an early decision candidate, you agree to attend the college if it accepts you and offers an adequate financial aid package. Although you can apply to only one college for early decision, you may apply to other colleges under regular admission. If you're accepted by your first-choice college early, you must withdraw all other applications. Usually, colleges insist on a nonrefundable deposit well before May 1.

Early Action Early action plans are similar to early decision plans in that you can learn early in the admission cycle (usually in January or February) whether a college has accepted you. But unlike early decision, most early action plans are not binding, meaning you do NOT have to commit to a college to which you've applied for early action. Under these plans, you may apply to other colleges. Usually, you can let the college know of your decision in the late spring or whenever you've decided.

Should I Apply Under One of These Plans?

You should apply under an early decision or action plan only if you are very, very sure of the college you want to attend. These plans make a lot of sense if one college is your clear preference and if your profile closely matches that of the students at that college. Do not apply under an early decision or action plan if you plan to weigh offers and financial aid packages from several colleges later in the spring. Also, you shouldn't apply early if it is to your advantage to have more of your senior year work to show a college. If you plan to woo an admission office with your excellent grades this year, you may want to wait until after the semester ends to apply to colleges.

Dont Rush Your Decision Many colleges expect your final decision by May 1st, so you have about one month to make up your mind. It's understandable if you're tempted to make a snap decision, just to end the uncertainty and get the whole process over with. However, try to keep your options open in case circumstances change (e.g. your parents decide to appeal your financial aid package or you decide to change your intended major). Decide and Reply Once you've made a decision, send in your acceptance letter. Don't forget to inform all of the schools that offered you admission of your final choice. You're holding onto someone else's spot. A simple letter, thanking them for their consideration, but declining their offer, will do.

College Credit Now Programs that allow students to earn both high school and postsecondary credit or advanced placement credit simultaneously while in high school.

To provide GA high school students with the opportunity to earn academic college degree-level credit hours as they simultaneously meet their high school graduation requirements To provide students who have already successfully completed most of the academic coursework available at their high school with additional academic opportunities at a local private or public college/university ACCEL Program- The program allows high school students to take academic college courses to receive both high school credit and postsecondary credit. For more information visit

ACCEL-eligibility Students must… – be a legal resident of Georgia –meet citizenship requirements –meet Selective Service Registration requirements –not owe a refund on a State program –be in compliance with Georgias Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990 –meet the postsecondary admissions requirements ACCEL-length of eligibility for HOPE SCHOLARSHIP Not available during Summer terms. Hours will not be included in HOPE. Juniors in DeKalb County Schools may participate in the ACCEL program but are only allowed to take electives. Forms for the ACCEL Program are found at

Move on When Ready Move on When Ready provides opportunities for high school juniors and seniors to enroll full-time in postsecondary institutions to earn both high school and college credits simultaneously. Students are eligible to participate in Move on When Ready if they are entering 11th or 12th grade, as determined by the system, and spent the prior school year in attendance at a public high school in Georgia. Institutions eligible to participate in Move on When Ready include: a unit of the University System of Georgia, a branch of the Technical College System of Georgia, a private independent nonprofit postsecondary institution eligible for tuition equalization grants, or a private proprietary postsecondary institution eligible for tuition equalization grants. For more information on participation in this program, please contact the Druid Hills High School Counseling Department at

To provide GA high school students with the opportunity to earn technical course credit in a diploma or certificate program as they simultaneously meet their high school graduation requirements To provide GA high school students with the opportunity to participate in college level technical courses not available at the local high school or participate at a higher level than what is offered at the local high school. DUAL ENROLLMENT- is a collaborative effort between GDOE and DTAE (GA Department of Technical and Adult Education) whereby high school students take technical college courses to receive both high school credit and postsecondary credit.

DUAL ENROLLMENT-eligibility Students must … –be a legal resident of Georgia –meet citizenship requirements –meet Selective Service Registration requirements –not owe a refund on a State program –be in compliance with Georgias Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990 –meet the postsecondary admissions requirements

Advanced Placement is administered by College Board as a cooperative endeavor between high schools and colleges/universities. ( ) ADVANCED PLACEMENT-purpose To provide high school students with the opportunity to earn college degree-level credit hours or receive advanced placement at the postsecondary level as they simultaneously meet their high school graduation requirements To assist students who wish to have a more academically challenging program at the high school level ADVANCED PLACEMENT-eligibility College Board advocates an inclusive approach to AP classes which means all students are eligible. ADVANCED PLACEMENT-award Students must meet postsecondary admissions requirements AP exam scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being extremely qualified; a score of 3 will usually qualify a student for credit or advanced standing

Articulated Credit -is a program which allows students who take an eligible career and technical education program to receive credit or advanced placement at the local technical college or other postsecondary institution that has a signed agreement with the local high school. To facilitate the seamless transition of students from secondary to postsecondary education To eliminate duplication of course content in career and technical coursework at the postsecondary level For more information regarding articulated credit contact the Consortium Coordinator for Tech Prep at the local technical college for information.

Testing Information SAT ACT PSAT GHSGT EOCT

SATACT When is it administered?7 times per year6 times per year What is the test Structure? 10 section exam: 3 Reading 3 Math 3 Writing 1 Experimental Section 4 section exam: English Math Reading Science What is the test content? Math- Basic Geometry and Algebra 2 Science- None Reading- sentence completion, short and long critical reading passages, and reading comprehension Writing- an essay, and questions testing grammar, usage, and word choice Math- Up to Trigonometry Science- Charts, experiments Reading- 4 passages, one each of Prose Fiction, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science English- stresses grammar Is there a penalty for wrong answers? YESNO How is the test scored? per section, added together for a combined score is the highest possible score for each subject. A 36 is the highest score. Are all scores sent to schools? Yes. If student requests a score, the report will include the scores the student received on every SAT taken No. There is a Score Choice option. Students can choose which schools will receive their scores AND which scores the schools will see.

SAT Test Dates TestRegistration DeadlineLate Registration October 1, 2011SAT & Subject TestsSeptember 9, 2011September 21, 2011 November 5, 2011SAT and Subject TestsOctober 7, 2011October 21, 2011 December 3, 2011SAT and Subject TestsNovember 8, 2011November 20, 2011 January 28, 2012SAT and Subject TestsDecember 30, 2011January 13, 2012 March 10, 2012SAT onlyFebruary 10, 2012February 24, 2012 May 5, 2012SAT and Subject TestsApril 6, 2012April 20, 2012 June 2, 2012SAT and Subject TestsMay 8, 2012May 22, 2012 SAT Test Dates

ACT Test DatesRegistration Deadline Late Registration Period (Late Fee Required) September 10, 2011August 12, 2011August 13-26, 2011 October 22, 2011September 16, 2011September , 2011 December 10, 2011November 4, 2011November , 2011 February 11, 2012January 13, 2012January , 2012 April 14, 2012March 9, 2012March , 2012 June 9, 2012May 4, 2012May , 2012 ACT Test Dates

PSAT Wednesday, October 12, 2011 Cost: $19.00 Please register and pay for the exam in the Counseling Center with Ms. Buchanan. The deadline for registration is October 7, It will be the only opportunity that 11 th grade students have to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The $19.00 fee includes the exam cost of $14.00 and a $5.00 donation to the counseling department for student recognition programs and/or testing expenditures.

GA High School Gradation Test Make Up GHSGTSeptember (For students who previously failed) Writing TestSeptember 27 Make Up GHSGTNovember 7-11 Make Up Writing TestFeb. 29 or March 1 GHSGTMarch 19-23

EOCT TESTING EOCTWeek of 12/5/10 EOCTWeek of 5/8/11 Math I, Math II, Biology, 9 th Lit, Physical Science, Economics, American Lit, and US History

HOPE Scholarship Changes and Eligibility

HOPE Calucation High School Reports to GSFC…………...A Complete Transcript HOPE Grade Eligibility……………………GSFC Nominal Standard for Eligibility College Prep……………………………….3.0 on a true 4.0 Scale Other Diploma Types……………………..3.2 on a true 4.0 Scale Academic Credits Counted English…………………………………….All Credits Attempted Math………………………………………..All Credits Attempted Science…………………………………….All Credits Attempted Social Studies……………………………..All Credits Attempted Foreign Language………………………...All Credits Attempted Course Weighted………………………….AP and IB Weighting Done By……………………….GSFC Value of Weights………………………….Uniform Across the State(+.5)

To Qualify for HOPE College Preparatory Diploma: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Technical/Career Diploma: Cumulative GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. At private colleges, HOPE awarded $3,600 for the academic year. To determine the HOPE Award Amount, please refer to the chart provided at during the spring of a students senior year. To apply for HOPE a student/parent MUST complete the GSFAPPS and FAFSA form; students are limited on the number of hours they can use HOPE funding For more information contact the Georgia Student Finance Commission

Zell Miller Scholarship Georgia residents enrolling in a degree program at an eligible institution 3.7 GPA 1200 Combined SAT score (critical reading/math) * 26 Composite ACT score * Valedictorian and salutatorian Zell Miller Scholarship will cover tuition at 100% for an academic year. *Test scores must come from a single test sitting.

HOPE Grant Program -The HOPE Grant provides a percentage of the standard tuition charges from the previous year. -No GPA requirement for the HOPE Grant if entering program. GPA of 3.0 required after attending 30 or 60 semester hours. -Students are limited in the number of hours for HOPE Grant funding.

How do I pay for school?

Myths Regarding Financial Aid Only students with highest GPAs get aid College is too expensive for my family Income is too high, so dont bother to apply Theres less aid available than there used to be Sibling didnt qualify, so neither will I I should live at home to cut costs Attend the college that offers the most aid If I apply for a loan, I have to take it Cost is the only way to compare colleges

Financial Aid is… Money given, paid, or loaned to help pay for college Gift Aid Grants and Scholarships (free money) Self-Help Aid Work-Study (job opportunity to earn money) Loans (money borrowed that must be repaid)

Categories of Financial Aid Merit-based (or non-need) –Aid based on your grades, test scores, hobbies and special talents (artistic, athletic, etc.) Need-based –Aid based on your financial situation

Sources of Financial Aid Federal and State Grants Federal Work-Study Federal Loans Institutional Aid Private / Other Government Aid

Other Financial Resources Use free scholarship searches –Fastweb –College Board –Mapping Your Future – Apply for private local scholarships Apply for institutional scholarships – Academic, performance, entitlements scholarships Apply for company scholarships – Some Companies offer scholarships to employees and their families

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Required for federal and state aid Deadlines vary depending on the school Filing methods: –Paper version (forms must be requested by student) –FAFSA on the WEB Application Process For ALL SCHOOLS

Institutional Aid Application CSS PROFILE – Complete your personalized Profile at starting October 1, 2011 Not required by all schools –$ 25 application fee –$16 per report fee Application Process For SOME SCHOOLS

Application Tips (Making Your Efforts Count) 1. Identify application requirements and deadlines 2. Fill out forms completely, accurately, and legibly 3. Keep personal copies of all completed forms 4. Comply with all information requests 5. Meet deadlines (obtain proof of mailing!)

Financial Aid Consultants Things to know Free assistance is available Be wary of any consultant who encourages you to use strategies that seem unethical to you Avoid consultants who encourage you to over-estimate your income Scholarship Searches Warning: As a general rule, if you must pay money to get money, it might be a scam.

Lakeside and Druid Hills Financial Aid Night Where: Lakeside High School When: November 9, 2011 at 6:30pm

PROBE College Fairs 2011 Gwinnett North Fair September 21, 6:00pm – 8:30pm Gwinnett Center Rockdale / South Dekalb Fair September 22, 6pm – 9pm The Mall at Stonecrest Cobb South Fair September 28 th, 6:30pm-8:30 pm Marietta High School Clayton County Fair October 14, 9am-1pm Clayton State University

Great Websites DHHS Dekalb County Schools College Board GSFCwww.GACollege411.orgwww.GACollege411.org

Career Information Websites Links to 11,000 career sites Link to career exploration website Link to an online test which can assist the user in finding an appropriate career path Nationally recognized source on career information which describes what workers typically do in various careers, training/education needed, salaries and future trends Useful information on both topics, including financial aid topics. Many unique articles written by current college students on topics that our students should know about Links to career assessment centers, career training, special links for Hispanic clients, career centers for universities www2.isbe.state.il.us/alps/what%20to%20for.htm Links to career assessment centers, career training, special links for Hispanic students, career centers for universities Links to military sites

College Information Websites Petersons Education Super site - comprehensive site that helps with all aspects of the college process Petersons Education Super site - comprehensive site that helps with all aspects of the college process Career planning, college and university selection, financial aid info search tool (school id # ) Career planning, college and university selection, financial aid info search tool (school id # ) College Board - college information source Information on college searches, admission process, financial aid, athletics and can link to specific colleges College Board - college information source Information on college searches, admission process, financial aid, athletics and can link to specific colleges Testing Information - ACT website which includes important dates and actual online registration for the exam Testing Information - SAT homepage includes information on the complete range of test sponsored by the college board. Online registration for the SAT I exam is available ISAC powered site for parents, counselors and lenders which provides information to search for financial aid, scholarships and general lender information. Peterson's can also be accessed through this site Testing Information - ACT website which includes important dates and actual online registration for the exam Testing Information - SAT homepage includes information on the complete range of test sponsored by the college board. Online registration for the SAT I exam is available ISAC powered site for parents, counselors and lenders which provides information to search for financial aid, scholarships and general lender information. Peterson's can also be accessed through this site.

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