What you DO after high school is a HUGE decision. List 3 things stopping you from applying to college or voc/tech school. Circle the biggest reason. OR List 3 hurdles you had to conquer to get to this point in applying to college. Circle the hardest.

Principal J. Ivey Dean of Accountability & Instruction M. Caffey Dean of PINNACLE Early College High School Dr. C. Kirkland Assistant Principals B. Hurst, T. Sikes Counselors 9 th, 11 th K. AllenC th, 12 th T. GriffinC210 PINNACLEV. TangumaP410 Registrar Caryn Wilbanks Front office AHS ADMINISTRATION

AHS Counseling Services Credits and graduation Credits and graduation Career Planning Career Planning College Admission College Admission Financial Aid Financial Aid Testing registration, administration, interpretation Testing registration, administration, interpretation Scholarship preparation, selection and communication Scholarship preparation, selection and communication Forms and documents Forms and documents Personal & academic guidance Personal & academic guidance

Graduation Plans-4x4 Graduation Plans-4x4 Recommended Plan Recommended Plan – 26 state credits Distinguished Achievement Plan Distinguished Achievement Plan – 26 state credits plus 4 advanced measures

26 Credits 26 Credits Foundation High School Program Foundation High School Program with commitment to 1 of 5 career endorsements with commitment to 1 of 5 career endorsements House Bill 5 begins with freshmen entering high school 2014

HB5 Distinguished Level of Achievement Distinguished Level of Achievement 26 credits 26 credits Required for Top 10% college admission consideration Required for Top 10% college admission consideration Opportunity of earning up to 5 Performance Acknowledgement(s) Opportunity of earning up to 5 Performance Acknowledgement(s) PSAT/PLAN PSAT/PLAN ACT/SAT ACT/SAT Dual Credit success Dual Credit success Certification(s) or license(s) Certification(s) or license(s) AP exam scores AP exam scores Bilingualism Bilingualism

District Graduation Policy! Graduates must complete all required coursework and pass all 5 EOCs of the STAAR in order to participate in the graduation ceremony. Graduates must complete all required coursework and pass all 5 EOCs of the STAAR in order to participate in the graduation ceremony. English 1 English 1 English 2STAAR/EOC Test dates: English 2STAAR/EOC Test dates: Algebra 1 December 7-11 Algebra 1 December 7-11 Biology Biology US History US History

Senior Credit Check Choice of graduation Plan Choice of graduation Plan Graduation plan credit requirements Graduation plan credit requirements Transcript Transcript GPA GPA Rank Rank Credits earned Credits earned Senior Schedule Senior Schedule Verified credit status Verified credit status Addressed any concerns Addressed any concerns Confirmed graduation status Confirmed graduation status

Off to college….where to go? what to do? Apply to 3 – 5 colleges. Apply to 3 – 5 colleges. Select a “dream” school that may be a stretch. Select a “dream” school that may be a stretch. Select at least one “sure thing”. Select at least one “sure thing”. Select 2 – 3 schools in between. Select 2 – 3 schools in between. A college should fit YOU A college should fit YOU academically academically personally personally socially socially

College Admission Terms  Early Decision – a binding commitment to attend the college if you are accepted  Early Action/Notification – simply applying early so you will receive acceptance notification early – no commitment to attend  Rolling Admission – apply and usually receive an admission decision within four to six weeks

College Application Process College Application Process Every college requires : An application sent electronically or by mail An application sent electronically or by mail An official transcript sent by high school An official transcript sent by high school Most colleges require : SAT or ACT scores ( sent by testing agency ) SAT or ACT scores ( sent by testing agency ) Many colleges & scholarships require : Letters of recommendation, essay(s), resume, Letters of recommendation, essay(s), resume, counselor report counselor report

What Influences the Admission Decision? Top 10% Top 10% Class rank/G.P.A. Class rank/G.P.A. SAT or ACT scores SAT or ACT scores Choice of courses Choice of courses Recommendation letters Recommendation letters Application essay Application essay Extra-curricular activities Extra-curricular activities Leadership experiences Leadership experiences Special interests/talents Special interests/talents Community involvement Community involvement Service to the school Service to the school Special circumstances Special circumstances Interviews Interviews Completion of “optional” Completion of “optional”

Application Tips  Follow instructions carefully (many applicants do not!)!!  Pay attention to deadlines. Don’t meet the deadline; beat the deadline!  Don’t be humble! Include and describe all of your accomplishments (no acronyms).

Apply Texas Application Used by all Texas public four-year colleges and most community colleges Used by all Texas public four-year colleges and most community colleges On-line applications can be submitted beginning August 1 st On-line applications can be submitted beginning August 1 st

Top Ten Percent Bill Students ranking in the top 10% of their class are automatically admitted to any public university in Texas Exception: 2016 UT Austin-Top 8% Exception: 2016 UT Austin-Top 8% Complete application requirements Complete application requirements by the university’s deadline Enroll in college no more than two years after graduating from high school Enroll in college no more than two years after graduating from high school

Surprise!!!! Non-Top Ten Percenters Can Get In! At UT Austin, 70% of Texas residents admitted for Fall 2015 ranked in the top ten percent. At UT Austin, 70% of Texas residents admitted for Fall 2015 ranked in the top ten percent. At Texas A&M, 35.4% of students admitted for Fall 2015 ranked in the top ten percent. At Texas A&M, 35.4% of students admitted for Fall 2015 ranked in the top ten percent.

Demonstrate interest in colleges Visit the university (not just for football games!) Attend an orientation session. Visit the university (not just for football games!) Attend an orientation session. Meet with representatives at school Meet with representatives at school Contact admissions representatives Contact admissions representatives Use websites to compare schools Use websites to compare schools

Important Websites  -SAT  ACT  - TSI  Texas applications  national applications  athletic scholarships

Show me the Money! Tips on Financial Aid Apply for your PIN number early: Apply for your PIN number early: Complete the FAFSA (or TASFA) form on-line after January 1st during your senior year Complete the FAFSA (or TASFA) form on-line after January 1st during your senior year Visit the following websites for more information: Visit the following websites for more information:

Types of Financial Aid Money that does NOT have to be repaid Money that does NOT have to be repaid Scholarships – award based on merit Scholarships – award based on merit  Senior newsletter Beyond the Buzz  Search the internet  Free scholarship search websites  Beat the deadline Grant – award based on financial need Grant – award based on financial need Money that DOES have to be repaid Money that DOES have to be repaid Loan Loan

Texas Grant Program Requirements High school diploma High school diploma Enrollment within 16 months of graduation and 3/4 time Enrollment within 16 months of graduation and 3/4 time Completion of Recommended or Distinguished Achievement high school curriculum Completion of Recommended or Distinguished Achievement high school curriculum Financial need determined by FAFSA Financial need determined by FAFSA Texas resident Texas resident No conviction of a felony or crime involving a controlled substance No conviction of a felony or crime involving a controlled substance

TSI Assessment Texas Success Initiative Required by all Texas public colleges unless exempt Required by all Texas public colleges unless exempt * SAT: combined score of 1070 with 500 on math and verbal sections * ACT: a composite score of 23 with a 19 on the math and English sections * ACT: a composite score of 23 with a 19 on the math and English sections

TSI Assessment Texas Success Initiative Details Details Computer based Computer based 3 areas: reading, writing, math 3 areas: reading, writing, math 2 parts 2 parts PAA-Pre-Assessment Activity PAA-Pre-Assessment Activity TSI Assessment TSI Assessment Takes up to 4 hours Takes up to 4 hours Student will receive a score sheet Student will receive a score sheet Study Helps Study Helps Free sample questions Free sample questions Essay samples Essay samples The Official Accuplacer Study App The Official Accuplacer Study App

How and Where to Take the TSI Offered at AHS Offered at AHS Cost Cost First time – free First time – free Retakes - $5.00 Retakes - $5.00 Offered 1 evening a week Offered 1 evening a week 3-6; AHS library 3-6; AHS library Sign up prior to test day-info in main office Sign up prior to test day-info in main office Offered at TVCC, Offered at TVCC, 1 st Monday of most months 1 st Monday of most months $35.00 each time $35.00 each time Contact testing link for more info Contact testing link for more infowww.tvcc.edu

Important Notes! Only 1 final transcript will be sent to the college of your choice after May 1 Only 1 final transcript will be sent to the college of your choice after May 1 AHS cannot release an official transcript to a parent or student. It can be mailed. AHS cannot release an official transcript to a parent or student. It can be mailed.

Ways of Communication Want to visit with a counselor? Want to visit with a counselor? Sign up in library Sign up in library Open visits 4:30-7 p.m. Open visits 4:30-7 p.m. “A hall” monthly calendar “A hall” monthly calendar “C hall” full scholarship calendar “C hall” full scholarship calendarAnd…

Remind 101 to to 81010Or

Beyond the Buzz Newsletter

Athens High School-College & Career Center Facebook Page

AHS Senior 2016 Motto No until Apps are Complete! Complete 5 new college applications Complete 5 new college applications Waivers are available for application fees if you qualify for free or reduced lunch Waivers are available for application fees if you qualify for free or reduced lunch Request up to 5 by signing up in the AHS library Request up to 5 by signing up in the AHS library The AHS Senior class of 2016 will beat all deadlines. The AHS Senior class of 2016 will beat all deadlines.

The REAL Obstacle Stopping You…

Is…