1. Senior Classroom Lesson

2. NFHS Counseling Department Mrs. Kathy WigleyLead Counselor office # 408 Students with last name A, ESOL Ms. Whitney AdamsCounseloroffice # 418 Students with last names B – Da Mr. Josh OwensCounseloroffice # 417 Students with last names De – Hi Ms. Sarah Kate HamptonCounseloroffice # 412 Students with last names Ho – Mi Mrs. Leigh Ann StricklandCounseloroffice # 419 Students with last names Mo – Sc Mrs. Kim HaynesCounseloroffice #415 Students with last names Se – Z Mrs. Tracy WinklerAssistant Principal of Curriculum Mrs. Kim GroganRegistrar Mrs. Claire NicholsonCounseling Department Secretaryoffice # 402

3. Career Cruising Please log onto the following website. – www.careercruising.com www.careercruising.com Username : FC-StudentID (should be 6 digits) Password : 7 digit alphanumeric number assigned (with NO !) – Raise your hand if you have trouble logging on.

4. Career Cruising Consider your… – Career – Education – Financial Plans – When you have completed this activity please see the counselor in your class so that they can check you off their list.

5. Class of 2016 The Steps to College and the Application Process "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...“ Dr. Seuss

6. Step 1 Finalize list of College/Universities – 4 to 6 (Remember to be selective and to keep in mind a “reality check”) Consider: College Visits (4 excused absences) College College Representative Visits (Listen for announcements when they will be outside our cafeteria for lunch periods) College Search Engines (BigFuture.org, GaCollege411.org...)BigFuture.orgGaCollege411.org

7. Step 2 Visit College/University Website Find the following information from the Freshman Admissions Link: Requirements (HS credits, application, recommendations, fees, tests) Deadlines for Application Deadlines for Scholarships (also on the school’s Financial Aid website)

8. Step 3 Visit NFHS Counseling Website – Senior PageSenior Page Complete Senior Information Sheet Students submitting Early Action Applications must submit Senior Profiles by October 1st. Seniors must complete and submit Senior Profile by November 1 st for all other deadlines Senior Profile will provide counselors with important information that can be used when writing letters of recommendation. Give complete, honest and well-thought out answers to the required questions. Other links on this page include: Forms (Senior Profile, College Visits, Transcript Request, Mid-Year Reports) Information (Scholarships, HOPE Scholarship, SAT/ACT Test Dates, NCAA Website) Post-Secondary Plans Forms Post-Secondary Plans Forms – Be sure to access when College Acceptance start coming in so that we can put your photo and college acceptances on the Senior Board

9. Step 4 Register for SAT/ACT (if you have not taken or need to retake either of these tests) Act quickly! Deadlines for registrations are coming up! SAT/ACT Test Dates Check with colleges for the last test date they will accept for a specific application deadline Send SAT/ACT scores directly from the testing agency. They must arrive by the application deadline.

10. Step 5 Complete and Submit Applications (Prioritize according to deadlines and Review/Edit before Submitting. Pay application fee.) Essays Dedicate time and effort. Be honest, authentic, creative and answer the prompt. Ask teachers/peers to review and make suggestions. Proof Read and Edit, Edit, Edit. Common Applications Create an account. Complete Personal and School Information. Invite your counselor and teacher(s) as recommenders. Deadline Terminology Regular Admissions Deadline: January or February Rolling Admissions : No deadline (apply early to ensure your spot) Early Decision: A binding agreement. October/November Deadline. See counselor before selecting this option. Early Action: Early application that is non-binding with a deadline usually in October/November.

11. Step 6 Submit a Transcript Request (Beginning August 24 th )  Official Transcript & School Profile Forms available in Counseling Office and on the Senior Page of the Counseling Website. Fill out completely for all applications (Common App., In- State/Electronic Copy, Out-of-State/Hard Copy)  Include a $3.00 Fee for each request. Note: If you are completing a Common Application for multiple schools, please list them on one Transcript Request Form and include one $3.00 fee.  Counselor Recommendation (if needed) – Requires 2 week notice  School Report/Counselor Evaluation (print and include with Transcript Request)  Transcript requests for out-of-state schools must include the admissions office address. Please provide a self addressed stamped envelope.

12. Step 7 Request Teacher Recommendation (only if required by the college/university) Please allow teachers ample time (2 to 3 weeks) to write your recommendation. Provide them with a copy of your Senior Profile/ Resume. Let the teacher know whether the Senior Profile will be sent through Common Application, College Website, or mailed. If the recommendation letter needs to be mailed, provide teacher with a stamped envelope, addressed with the corresponding school’s Office of Admission address.

13. Step 8 Review Final Checklist  Completed Senior Profile (by appropriate deadline)  Registered for SAT/ACT (if needed)  Send test scores directly from testing agency to college  Reviewed/edited and submitted Application  Paid College Application Fee  Requested Teacher/Counselor Recommendation (give appropriate 2 week notice)  Submitted Transcript Request with applicable fee, forms (beginning Aug.24 th, allow 3 weeks to process)

14. Step 9 The Waiting Game  Review application status page for each college  Verify all required documents have been submitted Note: If you receive an email from the college stating they are missing something, first, please call the college and confirm they have not received it. If it has been 3 weeks since your request was turned in to Mrs. Nicholson, politely check with her to see when the documents were sent. Colleges have thousand of documents to process, they often have them, but there is a delay in processing them to your account. Don’t panic, everything will get there, but it is your responsibility to follow-up.  Patiently wait for Admission Decisions

15. Step 10 In the Meantime....  Maintain Grades – Mid-Year reports / Final Grades (Both Important).  Be aware of your HOPE GPA  Speak with teacher if you are struggling/getting behind  Search for and apply for Scholarships (Scholarship Link Counseling Website)Scholarship Link Counseling Website  Students playing college athletics must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse.NCAA Clearinghouse  Make an appointment to see your counselor with any questions.  Visit www.gacollege411.org for HOPE scholarship details.www.gacollege411.org  Attend Financial Aid Night at NFHS – October 27 th 6:30 pm  Attend Get Ready to Graduate (Parents too)– September 24 4:30 & 6:30 pm  Finally......ENJOY YOUR SENIOR YEAR!