1. Planning for Life After High School
May 28, 2017 ~ then what?
Planning for Life After
High School

2. Counseling department staff
Counselors
Paula Wilson A B C E F G
Melissa Good H I J L M N
Kim Elder O-V
Katie Baskerville D K W X Y Z
Other Department Staff
Kathryn Sosa Gifted Education Coordinator
Paula Long Fox Lifeways Advisor
Marcia Geyer Registrar
Jenni Dragoo Records Secretary
Brenda Sinclair Secretary

3. Handouts Credit check & transcript (blue and white)
Junior/Senior Checklist (orange)
Senior Planning (white)
Transcript Request Form (yellow)
Scholarship Websites (white)
Senior Sketch and Questionnaire (green)
Post High Planning Day Information (booklet and yellow sheet)

4. transcript
Your transcript is a record of all your high school classes with FINAL grades and credits earned.
Review your transcript RIGHT NOW. We need them back at the end of the presentation.
What you see on your transcript today is what will be sent when a transcript is requested.

5. transcript GPA and class rank are at the bottom of page 2.
Write your GPA and class rank on your Senior Questionnaire.
If you have questions about your transcript, see Jenni Dragoo.

6. Test outs
2 Options:
Leave it as PAS or TST, which indicates a test out, or
Request a letter grade. The letter grade will not impact the GPA.
Make this request with Jenni Dragoo in the Counseling Office.
Be aware: Some scholarships require letter grades.

7. Grade replacements
If you have re-taken a class for a better grade, you must complete a Grade Replacement Form to have the lower grade removed from your GPA.
Some restrictions apply.
Grade Replacement forms are in the Counseling Office.

8. Credit checks Review your credit check RIGHT NOW.
YOU are responsible for meeting graduation requirements.
High school graduation requirements may differ from college admission requirements.
Waiving a Math or Science course? See your counselor about this if you have questions.

9. Credit checks
Taking an off-campus or online class? Tell your counselor.
*These classes have early May deadlines.
Planning to graduate at semester? Tell Jenni Dragoo & your counselor.
You will need to fill out a form at the end of the semester.
Questions? Make an appointment with your counselor.

10. PERSONAL LEARNING PLAN (PLP)
The state requires that you must complete your (PLP) through SDMyLife in order to graduate.
A completed PLP has 22 credits & includes all required courses.
Update your PLP and verify its completion.
Marcia Geyer & Brenda Sinclair have logins and passwords.

11. What do I want to do with my life? How do I get there?

12. Options *Continue your education Join the military
Volunteer (Americorps, Peace Corps, church mission, etc.)
Work
*Most of our presentation will focus on this, but come see us for more info about the other options

13. Step 1: career exploration
Career Information Sites
ASVAB– October 5, 2016 and March 1, 2017 at SHS during early release Wednesdays.
Make sure you attend the interpretation sessions the week after the ASVAB.
#1 on orange handout

14. Step 2: Academic Preparation
Challenge yourself
Do your best- ALL YEAR
Consider Dual Enrollment
Prepare for and take college entrance exams:
*ACT
**SAT
ACCUPLACER
*The ACT has a writing component not all colleges require; check the admissions requirements of your college(s)
**The SAT has subject tests your college may require you to take
#2 on orange handout

15. Step 3: Set goals
The 3 most important goals to consider when looking at schools:
EDUCATIONAL
Career
Major
Program
PERSONAL
Location
Extracurricular
Family
FINANCIAL
How much do you want to spend?
#3 on orange handout

16. Step 4: Develop a list of Colleges
Gather information about colleges
Websites, sdmylife.com, college rep visits, talk with counselor and family/friends
Narrow your choices
Clear Admit/Probable Admit/Reach Admit
Visit schools, if possible
Finalize your list
#4 on orange handout

17. Step 5: Apply Online vs. Paper Applications
SD Common Application
Send EDU
National Common Application
Individual Colleges
Find out what you need to apply
Letters of recommendation (next slide will cover this in detail)
Essays
Payment
Transcripts/Test Scores
CHECK DEADLINES (find these on college websites)
Early Decision (binding)
Early Action (early response to application, no commitment)
Regular Admission
Scholarships
#5 on orange handout

18. Letters of recommendation
Social Media
What you put on these sites could impact a person’s willingness to write you a letter.
Many employers/colleges/scholarship boards ask for access to social media sites.
Request letters two weeks in advance.
Be specific: Who is it for? When do you need it?
Provide your autobiographical sketch.
Thank anyone who writes you a letter.

19. Step 6: Look for financial Aid
FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Apply after October 1 of your senior year.
National websites (see handout)
Stevens Scholarship Listserv (see orange & white handouts)
Freshman scholarships (academics/athletics/major)
Research these on school websites
Work
Your employer/your parents’ employer
Private loans
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
Reciprocity with Minnesota
Military
SD Opportunity Scholarship (white handout)
Dakota Corps Scholarship (white handout)
Build Dakota Scholarship
#6 on orange handout

20. Step 7: DECIDE FAFSA award letters are sent to colleges in the spring
You may not make your final decision until you see the financial packages offered by the schools you applied to.
Consider ALL your goals (educational, personal, financial) when making your final decision
Notify the college you plan to attend
#7 on orange handout

21. NCAA/NAIA – prospective College athletes
Register online with NAIA or NCAA
Be aware of your academic eligibility requirements to be a college athlete (both GPA and curriculum).
Technical Writing & Informal Geometry don’t count toward eligibility.
Links to NAIA and NCAA can be found at
Click on college athletics on the left side.

22. counseling department events
College and Military Visits: In the Link
Announcements
Calendar on Counseling Office door
Early Release Wednesday Events
ASVAB- October 5, 2016 and March 1, 2017
ASVAB Interpretation: October 19, 2016 and March 15, 2017
FAFSA Completion Day- October 5, 2016
Dual Enrollment Event: November 16, 2016
Post High Planning Days – October 29, 2016

23. Post-High Planning Day September 29, 2016 @ the Civic Center
Over 50 in-state and out-of-state post-secondary schools will be in attendance.
Juniors and Seniors will be excused from 1st and 2nd period to attend.
Please arrive by 8:00am
Students must be back to Stevens by the start of 3rd periods (10:05)
“Blue Sheet” must be completed and returned before you leave the Civic Center (for attendance)

24. Register for Post High planning day
Register at:
Print off bar code AND bring that sheet to Post High Planning Day program.

25. Educational opportunities in SD
Page Subject
SD Post-Secondary School Info
24 Military Services Education Benefits
School Search by Degree Program
State and Federal Financial Aid
Scholarship Information
38 Out of State College Information
39 Visiting a Post-Secondary School guide
40 Planning Questions

26. We want to help you! See your counselor if you have any questions.
Paula Wilson – A B C E F G
Melissa Good – H I J L M N
Kim Elder – O through V
Katie Baskerville – D K W X Y Z
Kathryn Sosa – A through Z Gifted Education
See ONLY your counselor for any schedule adjustments/issues.
Keep your handouts.
THANK YOU- Have a great year!