1. College Prep for Sophomores

2. Graduation Requirements vs. College Subject Requirements
FLA
WCU
UNCW
Selective Colleges
English
4 credits
Math
Social Studies
1 credit
2 credits
3-4 credits
Science
3 credits
Foreign Language PE
Elective
Freshman Seminar

3. Required Graduation Credits
Year you entered high school
and beyond
Number of possible credits 32 30 28
Number of credits required to graduate 27 26

4. Typical Junior Year Schedule
Fall semester
Spring semester
Core
Foreign language or elective
Fine art/ elective/ sport
It is required to take a full load every year!
Must pass English every year to meet promotion requirements

5. Classification as a junior
Minimum 11 earned course credits with two being English I and English II
Satisfactory performances on all PBL project content and presentations
Not more than 15 unexcused absences in any yearlong course and 8 unexcused absences in a semester course
Note: More than 15 unexcused absences in any high school course = loss of credit

6. Grading scale and quality points (for unofficial/ official transcript)
Regular courses:
Honors courses:
AP/ VGCC courses:
90-100= 4.0
90-100= 4.5
90-100= 5.0
80-89= 3.0
80-89= 3.5
80-89= 4.0
70-79= 2.0
70-79= 2.5
70-79= 3.0
60-69= 1.0
60-69= 1.5
60-69= 2.0
<59= 0.0
<59= 0.5
<59= 1.0

7. What to do your 10th grade year
Keep your grades up!
Find out about AP and honors-level classes to take your junior year
Consider taking classes at VGCC next year
Can find more information on VGCC’s website: Become a student High School CCP Pathways
Take the PreACT in the fall
Continue extracurricular activities
Remember, many admissions officers look for well-rounded students who participate in the world around them

8. What to do your 10th grade year
Talk to your parents about financial aid options
Scholarships!
Start connecting what your passionate about with possible careers
This will help you decide a major, program and college
Look into participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts and sciences
Continue to update your resume
If you have not made one, create one!
It’s not too early to start studying for standardized tests like the ACT and SAT

9. Tools for Exploration CollegeBoard’s Big Future Search CFNC.org
College and career fairs
Family input
It is really important to understand your priorities for characteristics before exploring!

10. BigFuture.org

11. Test Prep Testive (SAT & ACT) *partially free
PrepFactory (SAT & ACT) *free
Kaplan (SAT & ACT)
Khan Academy (SAT) *free
Events listed on EventBrite
Princeton Review (SAT & ACT)
Mindspire Tutoring & Test Prep (Durham)
Aplus Test Prep and Academic Services (Durham)

12. College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won!

13. How to build a college list
Consider the following when building your college list:
Essay(s) required
Tests needed: SAT/ ACT, SAT Subject
Average test scores of accepted students
Average GPA of accepted students
Classes required for admission
Scholarships available
Location
Majors
Campus life

14. Letters of Recommendation
You will need letters of recommendation for colleges, scholarships and other programs
You can access the LOR Request form on the FLA website
Student Info High School
It is good practice and polite to ask a teacher to write your LOR at least 3 weeks before the deadline or date needed for submission
Always attach a resume with your request form
Meet with your teachers! It is not uncommon for a teacher to want to meet with you to learn more about your career and college goals before writing your LOR

15. Teacher Letters of Recommendation
Purpose: Spotlight accomplishments within the scope of the classroom
Preferably from junior year or a teacher you’ve known for multiple years
Your PAA is a great person to ask!
A teacher you had one time in 7th grade will not look very good unless you’ve maintained a professional relationship with this teacher
E.g. club advisor or coach
Ask your teacher IN PERSON to write your LOR

16. Counselor Letter of Recommendation
Purpose: To provide an overall picture of the student and their accomplishments throughout high school
All my letters of recommendation are personalized
Meet with me!!!
For college letters of rec: Complete “Student LOR Questionnaire” on at least 2 weeks prior to submission deadline
Can also be found on the FLA website: Student Info High School

17. Transcript Requests
Transcript Request link:
There are two types of transcripts you can request: official and unofficial
Official transcripts are typically what admissions counselors will need to process your college application
An unofficial transcript is the student's academic record without signature, seal, date, or sealed envelope
Only request what is required!!!
Allow ample time for processing

18. Next Year
Keep in mind that colleges put a lot of weight on your grades for your junior year
You’ll want to take challenging courses
Make sure you are meeting requirements for honors, AP or VGCC classes
This is the time when you’ll be finalizing your top schools and touring them
It’s recommended you take the SAT and ACT in the spring of your junior year and again the fall of your senior year
You can begin scheduling interviews with admissions counselors in October
Maintain your commitments with clubs, sports and other extra curricular activities

19. Creating a resume Think about what the employer wants
Tailor your resume to fit the type of job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a job in retail, highlight any experience you have working customer service or helping others
Use a resume summary statement
A resume summary statement is a brief list of a couple sentences that summarize your qualifications for the job. You can list some of your strengths and skills that are most relevant to the job. A resume summary statement is a great way to quickly show the employer why you are a strong candidate.
Highlight academic accomplishments
As a student, a lot of your experiences are in the classroom. Emphasize achievements like a high GPA or any academic awards. If you have taken courses related to the job you’re applying for, list those as well.

20. Include extracurricular activities.
Because you likely have limited work experience, emphasize any non-work activities. These might include clubs, sports, babysitting, volunteer work, or community service. All of these activities can show your skills and abilities.
Note any leadership experience.
Have you held a position in a club, or been a captain on a sports team? Be sure to list this experience, as it shows your ability to lead a team.
Use action words.
When describing your achievements, use action words. Words like led, researched, tutored, and created to portray your experiences in an energetic way. Check out a list of action words for useful examples.
Edit, edit, edit.
Proofread your resume carefully before submitting it. A clean, error-free resume will make you look professional. Ask a friend or family member to read the resume for you as well.
Use a resume example.
Use a resume example or template to guide your own writing. A resume example can help you decide what kind of content to include, as well as how to format your resume. However, be sure to tailor a resume example to fit your own experiences, and the job you are applying for.

21. Activity
Review each resume individually (these are based on real resumes, submitted by real people)
Talk with the person next to you or in small groups about each resume
Come up with 3-5 reasons for why each resume is not professional
Would you hire this person?
Review the template for a well done resume
Begin making your own!

22. How to Contact Me!
Please be advised, I typically do not look at or respond to s over the weekend—plan ahead!
Office hours: 8:00-8:45 and 4:15-4:45
Schedule appointments with me during Smart lunch