1. Georgetown High School Guidance and Counseling Ready, Set, Grow into Adults

2. Georgetown Guidance Counselors for 2012-2013 CounselorAssignmentPhone (512) 943-5100 E-mail Tom Peters Lead Counselor and Testing Coordinator ext 7548 peterst@georgetownisd.org Steven Schoelman A-E ext 7198 schoelmanst@georgetownisd.org Karen French F-L ext 7111 frenchk@georgetownisd.org Calvin Phillips M-R ext 7510 phillipsc@georgetownisd.org Laura Ottun S-Z ext 7508 ottunl@georgetownisd.org

3. Agenda Post-secondary options Testing and other requirements Application procedures Scholarships and financial aid Individual meetings

4. WHY BOTHER? CAREER PLANNING IS ONE OF LIFE’S MAJOR DECISIONS CAREER PLANNING IS ONE OF LIFE’S MAJOR DECISIONS KNOWING HOW TO MAKE DECISION IS IMPORTANT KNOWING HOW TO MAKE DECISION IS IMPORTANT Clearly state a goal Clearly state a goal Make a commitment of time Make a commitment of time Generate alternative Generate alternative Collect information Collect information Estimate consequences Estimate consequences Re-evaluate Re-evaluate Make a tentative decision Make a tentative decision Leave some options open Leave some options open

5. A DECISION THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU Planning gets you in the right “ballpark”. Planning gets you in the right “ballpark”. Later decisions get you into the right “seat and section” Later decisions get you into the right “seat and section” Planning gives purpose Planning gives purpose

6. Factors to Consider: INTEREST Measurable--transitory--based on exposure (actual or vicarious). Measurable--transitory--based on exposure (actual or vicarious). ABILITIES/APTITUDE ABILITIES/APTITUDE Measurable--can be enhanced with training. Measurable--can be enhanced with training. HIGH SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT HIGH SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT Not an absolute, but does show types of courses attempted and pattern of achievement. Not an absolute, but does show types of courses attempted and pattern of achievement. MOTIVATION MOTIVATION Intangible--deciding factor. Intangible--deciding factor.

7. Pretend you are 25. School is over and you are getting up and going to work. What would be cool to be doing?

8. Let’s Define Post-Secondary Education Certificate/License programs Certificate/License programs Apprenticeship/ OJT Apprenticeship/ OJT Military Military Technical/Trade Schools Technical/Trade Schools 2 year college 2 year college 4 year college or University 4 year college or University

9. How Do I Find Investigate www.careercruising.com Select an assessment from the options below Career Matchmaker Career Matchmaker Answer questions about your likes and dislikes to find careers that match up with your interests. My Skills My Skills Rate your level of skill in 45 key areas to see how your skills match up with the careers that you are interested in. Ability Profiler Ability Profiler Learn more about your abilities and see how your abilities compare to those used in careers that interest you. Learning Styles Inventory Learning Styles Inventory Discover how you learn and retain information and find tips on how to improve your study habits to suit your learning style.

10. AFTER GRADUATION------- WHAT????? THE COLLEGE WHY:  If your career plans call for it.  If you want to enlarge your intellectual growth.  If you want the status that goes with being a college graduate.  College is not for everyone.  Only about 25% of all jobs require a college degree.  College is more demanding than high school.  You are more on your own.  You need good study habits.  Entrance exams are required for most.

11. How is a student supposed to know what a college requires to gain entrance? Glad you asked! www.careercruising.com www.careercruising.com www.careercruising.com User Name: Georgetown User Name: Georgetown Password: Careers Password: Careers Click on Schools Click on Schools Click on Search for Schools Click on Search for Schools

13. College Testing Requirements Criteria for exempting College Readiness Exams (Asset, Compass, THEA) Criteria for exempting College Readiness Exams (Asset, Compass, THEA) ACT ACT Composite score of 23 with at least a 19 on English and Math Composite score of 23 with at least a 19 on English and Math SAT SAT Critical Reading and Math Combined score of 1070 with a 500 on each section. Critical Reading and Math Combined score of 1070 with a 500 on each section. TAKS (Current 12 th Graders) TAKS (Current 12 th Graders) ELA – 2200 and a 3 on the writing sample ELA – 2200 and a 3 on the writing sample Math – 2200 Math – 2200

14. Entrance Exams SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST (SAT I) SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST (SAT I) Widely used by the more selective schools. Widely used by the more selective schools. Divided into VERBAL and MATH parts. Divided into VERBAL and MATH parts. Approximately 4 hours. Approximately 4 hours. Annual test dates will normally occur on Saturdays in October, November, December, January, April, May and June. Annual test dates will normally occur on Saturdays in October, November, December, January, April, May and June. Register at www.collegeboard.com Register at www.collegeboard.com AMERICAN COLLEGE TESTING PROGRAM (ACT) AMERICAN COLLEGE TESTING PROGRAM (ACT) Widely used by junior colleges as well as universities. Widely used by junior colleges as well as universities. Divided into English, math, natural sciences, and reading. Divided into English, math, natural sciences, and reading. Approximately 4 hours. Approximately 4 hours. Annual test dates will normally occur on Saturdays in October, December, February, March and June. Annual test dates will normally occur on Saturdays in October, December, February, March and June. Note: Test dates do not conflict with SAT. Note: Test dates do not conflict with SAT. Register at www.actstudent.com Register at www.actstudent.com

15. Other Possible Testing SAT II ACHIEVEMENT TESTS SAT II ACHIEVEMENT TESTS College Board College Board Same test dates as SAT Same test dates as SAT Used for course placement or credit Used for course placement or credit APTITUDE TESTS APTITUDE TESTS Used for assessment of vocational or trade/technical skills Used for assessment of vocational or trade/technical skills

16. APPLICATION  Student must file a formal application.  Be aware of deadlines.  Be aware of application fees.  Have high school transcript sent to the college at the appropriate time.  How do I find out about deadlines and scholarships and other stuff?  www.careercruising.com

17. APPLY ONLINE Texas public and selected private four year and two year schools: Texas public and selected private four year and two year schools: www.applytexas.org Private colleges and universities: Private colleges and universities: www.commonapp.org

18. PARTS OF THE APPLICATION: Personal Information Personal Information Directory information Directory information What you have studied and are currently studying in high school What you have studied and are currently studying in high school Resume Resume Extracurricular Extracurricular Service Service Work Work Essay Essay

19. COLLEGES USE TWO SCORES TO DETERMINE ADMISSION Academic score: Academic score: Rank Rank GPA GPA Quality of preparation Quality of preparation Test Scores Test Scores Personal Score Personal Score Resume Resume Essay Essay Letters of recommendation Letters of recommendation

20. THE RESUME  Many college use the resume as 60%-70% of a student’s personal score  All activities besides sitting like a lump on the couch watching TV should be on your resume.  This includes such things as being responsible for younger siblings or an older relative, trips in the summer with your family, tutoring, babysitting, or anything else that is productive, educational, and contributes to who you are and your determination.  Especially include activities that further your goals and build leadership and character.

21. THE ESSAY Once a person determining college admissions, admission to a particular program, scholarship recipients, or hiring for a job has reached the essay, it becomes the most important part of the application! It should be:  100% technically correct  Interesting  Giving information not somewhere else on your application  Not another list of activities

22. HOUSING Advance Application for housing is not the same as application for admission. Advance Application for housing is not the same as application for admission. File a housing application. File a housing application. File the required deposit. File the required deposit. Be aware of refund policies. Be aware of refund policies. Understand whether or not on-campus housing is required of freshmen. Understand whether or not on-campus housing is required of freshmen. Where can I find this stuff: Where can I find this stuff: www.careercruising.com www.careercruising.com

23. PAYING! COLLEGE IS EXPENSIVE COLLEGE IS EXPENSIVE KINDS OF FINANCIAL AID: KINDS OF FINANCIAL AID:ScholarshipsGrantsLoans Work Study

24. FINDING SCHOLARSHIPS #1 SOURCE OF SCHOLARSHIP MONEY IS THE SCHOOL YOU ARE ATTENDING:  Fill out all scholarship supplements on applications for admission  Go to the school website to check for others. #2 check the counselor page on GHS website #3 check with employers, organizations, financing and insurance companies of yourself and your parents (even sometimes grandparents) #4 National Scholarship searches (Fastweb, Zinch, Career Cruising)

25. Summary Post-secondary options Testing and other requirements Application procedures Scholarships and financial aid Individual meetings

26. REMEMBER… We are confident your parents don’t want to feed you forever. More importantly, More importantly, WE HOPE YOU DON’T WANT THAT EITHER! WE HOPE YOU DON’T WANT THAT EITHER!