1. College Prep for Freshmen

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 Sophomore Year Schedule
Fall semester
Spring semester
Core
Foreign language or elective
Healthful Living
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 sophomore
Minimum 5 earned course credits with one being English I
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. 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!

8. BigFuture.org

9. What should I be doing this year and over the summer?
Now that you’re in 9th grade, it’s time to get serious about your post-secondary plans
Don’t neglect your study habits!
If you don’t have any, create some!
Talk to Ms. McGarry, teachers, family members or trusted adults about your plans for college
Find out about college entrance requirements for the school you’re interested in
Find out about AP and other honors-level courses
Continue to get involved in campus and community activities
Think about how you want to spend your summer
Volunteering and educational programs can help give you a better idea about what kind of training or career would be right for you

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

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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!

15. 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