1. Pelion High School Welcome! Class of 2016 Senior Parent Meeting

2. PHS Counseling Staff: Jill Zueger: Director of Counseling and Advisement; Last Names R-Z Jessica Burke: School Counselor Last Names A-G Ann Heywood: School Counselor Last Names H-Q Michael Driggers: Career Development Facilitator Tara Brazell: Interventionist Sandy Curry: Power School Operator Ashley Rogers: Counseling & Advisement Secretary Lisa Shumpert: Special Services Secretary

3. Scholarships, Announcements, and much more! This is our new, improved web page!!! Go to: www.PelionHScounseling.com

4. Stay In the Know! Website: www.PelionHScounseling.com Twitter: @PHSCounseling_1 Instagram: @PHSCounseling_1 Facebook: www.facebook.com/PHSCounseling1 Remind Text Updates: Sign up by texting @PelionHS to 81010 Mrs. Burke (A-G): jburke@lexington1.netjburke@lexington1.net Mrs. Heywood (H-Q): aheywood@lexington1.netaheywood@lexington1.net Mrs. Zueger (R-Z and Director): jzueger@lexington1.netjzueger@lexington1.net Mr. Driggers (Career Facilitator): mdriggers@lexington1.netmdriggers@lexington1.net

5. Sign up for Text Alerts

6. SAVE THE DATE!!! PHS Graduation June 3, 2016 12:00 p.m. (Noon) Colonial Life Arena

7. Dates to Remember Senior IGPs: September 15- October 2 Midlands Technical College (Airport Campus) Tour: October 23. Listen for announcements on when to sign up. EdOp College Fair: October 28 10:10am-10:55am College Application Day: October 28. Listen for announcements on when to sign up. First Semester Exams: December 15-18

8. Dates to Remember 2 nd Semester Begins: January 6, 2016 Graduation Supplies Delivered: March 14, 2016 (See Mrs. McDermet Rm 220 for more information.) Minimum order is cap/gown/diploma cover Jostens website for more info: www.rhodesgraduation.comwww.rhodesgraduation.com Prom: April 30, 2016 (See Mrs. Brazell in the Counseling & Advisement Office for more information.) Senior Awards Night: TBD Graduation Practice: TBD Graduation: June 3, 2016 @ 12noon

9.  Transcript (2 copies)1 White, 1 Purple (keep)  Name Verification SheetYellow paper  Email SetupPink paper  Naviance FlyerWhite paper  Counseling Staff Info. SheetOrange paper  State Scholarship InformationWhite paper Folder Contents

10. Transcript All courses you’ve taken for high school credit GPA Based on 4.0 weighted South Carolina Uniform Grading Policy (SC UGP GPA) Un-weighted 4.0 GPA (not used for lottery scholarships or reported on college applications) Courses you’re taking this year Current class rank

11. Graduation Requirements 4 English 4 Math 3 Science 1 US History ½ Government ½ Economics 1 Social Studies 1 PE or ROTC 1 Computer Science 1 World Language OR CATE Class 7 Electives 24 Total Units

12. Highlighted in the “Work In Progress” section of the transcript. Must earn credit in all classes highlighted to participate in graduation. GPA is printed in the GPA Summary. Most SC Schools use the GPA and Rank from the SC UGP GPA column. Honor Graduate- Final GPA of 4.0 or top 10% of the graduating class. The student will be recognized at graduation. Graduation Requirements

13. Refuse to Fail If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Panther Time After School Tutoring Test Retake Policy

14. Destination- Work or Military Work- secure work site toward the end of the school year Job shadow, Co-Op, Internship 2 nd semester still possible Contact Career Specialist- Mr. Driggers Military- speak with recruiters when available during lunch

15. Destination- Two-Year College Transfer Programs vs. Career Programs Take entrance exam required by the school. IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO PURSUE A HEALTH CAREER AT MTC, YOU NEED TO TAKE THE SAT OR ACT.

16. Destination- Four Year College Additional Four-Year College course requirements Take a college Entrance Exam (For most colleges) ACT or SAT Register for the early fall administration Fee waivers are available for students who qualify.

17. Which College is right for me? Research Possible Colleges Internet Searches- Naviance College Guide College Visits SENIORS get 2 days Excused for Official College Visits (1 per semester). Simply get something signed and dated from the College and submit to attendance office. NO PRE-APPROVAL NEEDED. Call the University/College to set-up parking, best times, etc…

18. College Application Day Wednesday, October 28, 2015 Announcements will be made telling you when you can sign up.

19. How to Apply to College Use the AT&T Method: A pplication Apply through the college website. T est Score Send your test score to the college. T ranscript Send your transcript to the college.

20. On-Line applications are preferred by colleges Apply to at least three colleges Don’t let cost keep you from applying, check for waivers Apply NOW- even if you plan to take/retake an entrance exam A pplication Apply through the college website

21. Deadlines!!! Watch for deadlines- each school/scholarship sets their own Allow 7 working days for PHS to process applications/requests Set a personal deadline of October 31. A pplication Apply through the college website

22. Recommendation Forms  Some colleges (and many scholarships) will ask for letters of recommendation.  Contact your references early- allow them at least two weeks to write your letter.  Carefully select references- someone who can comment on your positive characteristics.  Request a recommendation from a teacher through Naviance. A pplication Apply through the college website

23. How to Apply to College Use the AT&T Method: A pplication Apply through the college website. T est Score Send your test score to the college. T ranscript Send your transcript to the college.

24. SAT SAT Reasoning Test Critical Reading, Writing, and Math Register on-line at www.sat.collegeboard.org www.sat.collegeboard.org Score reports can be sent to 4 colleges without charge- take advantage of this Great Web Site! SAT Question of the Day Practice SAT tests College Search Amend SAT registration information Scholarship Search T est Score Send your test score to the college.

26. Redesigned SAT- What does it mean for Seniors??? Odds are- you will not take it Redesigned SAT starts in March Old/Redesigned SAT scores cannot be combined for super scoring Test scores will be delayed for the March administration

27. SAT Test Dates

28. ACT One composite score: 1-36 Most colleges require WRITING section Register on-line at: www.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org Score reports can be sent to 4 colleges without charge- take advantage of this Great Web Site! Test prep, college planning, career planning, amend registration T est Score Send your test score to the college.

29. How to create your ACT account for students who took the ACT at school as juniors: Go to www.actstudent.org and choose sign up/Log-in.www.actstudent.org Select Create Account. Answer Yes to both questions concerning if you have taken the ACT test before. Complete the Name, email, etc page. Enter your ACT ID. This can be found on the student individual score report or the student can call ACT and they will give the student that information. 1-319-337-1270

31. ACT Test Dates

32. How to Apply to College Use the AT&T Method: A pplication Apply through the college website. T est Score Send your test score to the college. T ranscript Send your transcript to the college.

33. Build a resume, complete online surveys, and manage timelines and deadlines for making decisions about colleges and careers Research colleges – Compare GPA, standardized test scores, and other statistics to actual historical data from our school for students who have applied and been admitted in the past Research careers – Research hundreds of careers and career clusters, and take career assessments Create plans for the future – Create goals and to-dos, and complete tasks assigned by the school to better prepare your student for future college and career goals

34. PowerSchool Parent Portal https://powerschool.lexington1.net/public

35. Parent Portal

36. Naviance http://connection.naviance.com/pelionhs Enter your Lexington 1 School Username and Password

37. Naviance (Con’t)

40. Add Colleges that you have applied to.

41. Naviance (Con’t) Choose Look Up and search the college of your choice.

44. Naviance Requesting Transcripts

46. Naviance (Con’t)

47. Naviance Teacher Recommendations

48. Naviance (Con’t)

50. Transcript Request All college application transcript requests must be done through Naviance. If you have trouble or can’t find your college though Naviance, please see your counselor.

51. TRANSCRIPTS for SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarship transcript request Only needed if scholarship dictates needing an Official Transcript then student needs to request and submit yellow form. FREE transcripts for scholarships If student “wins/earns” any scholarship, please give us a copy of award letter- even if you don’t plan to use it!

52. College Athletes If you are planning to participate in college level athletics, you MUST register with the NCAA clearinghouse. Registration is on-line at: www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.com Register NOW. Registration requires submitting your transcript. (Naviance) You ALSO need to request your final transcript to be sent to the Clearinghouse- so that you will be cleared to play. (Naviance)

53. Majors Do not have to earn a major to graduate High school major does NOT have to match your intended college major Recognized at Graduation!

54. Majors Templates are in the District Course Guide pages 9-46 And on our website!!

55. Financial Aid vs. Scholarships Financial Aid- Awarded on need Standard Application Pell Grant Campus-based Programs Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Federal Work Study Program Perkins Loan Program Stafford Loan PLUS Loans (Parents) Scholarships- Awarded on Merit Different Applications Academic Athletic Talent Other areas

56. Financial Aid Night Late February Prepare to do your taxes early. To complete FAFSA you’ll need a Federal Aid ID You can apply for your Federal Aid ID today! https://fsaid.ed.gov/

57. Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Academic Criteria: Must meet ALL criteria – Score 1200 SAT (Critical Reading & Math) or 27 ACT composite Earn a 3.5 minimum GPA at the end of the Junior year** Rank in the top 6% at the end of the sophomore, junior, or senior year OR  Score 1400 on SAT (Critical Reading & Math) or 32 ACT  Earn a 4.0 GPA at the end of the Junior year**  Early Awards are December 15. The last test date to qualify will be the November Test. Final Awards are June 15. The June test will be the final test you can take to qualify for the Final Decision. Award Amount: $6,700 Freshman year (sophomores, juniors & seniors may earn up to $7,500/yr) **GPA requirement at the end of the Senior year for Final Awards deadline Mrs. Zueger will notify eligible applicants when information is available (typically Nov)

58. Life Scholarship 4-Year College Academic Criteria: Must meet 2 of the 3 criteria:  Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the end of the senior year  Rank in the top 30% of the graduating class*  Score at least 1100 on the SAT (CR & M only) or 24 on the ACT 2-Year College Academic Criteria: Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the end of the senior year Award Amount: $5,000 or up to the cost of tuition *Students graduating Mid-Year or in Summer School do not get ranked back in their class so can only qualify with the test score and GPA criteria for 4-year institution eligibility. NO APPLICATION required. The COLLEGE will notify eligible students.

59. Hope Scholarship & Lottery Tuition Assistance HOPE Scholarship – 4-year College One-year merit-based for 1 st time entering freshmen Only available at four-year schools 3.0 Final GPA (but not eligible to receive LIFE) NO APPLICATION required. College will notify eligible students Award Amount: $2,800 toward cost of tuition Lottery Tuition Assistance Program – 2-year College Only available at two-year schools Must be degree seeking student taking at least six credit hours Must complete the FAFSA Award Amount: Varies by funds available

60. SC Needs Based Grant Provides additional financial assistance to South Carolina’s neediest students Must complete the FAFSA each academic year Must be enrolled a minimum of six credit hours (part-time) or twelve credit hours (full-time) for the term Award Amount: Up to $2,500/year for full-time students and up to $1,250/year for part-time May receive funds up to eight full-time equivalent terms of funding Foster care youth may receive the maximum award in addition to Need-based Grant funds specifically for foster care youth. These youth must self-identify by May 1 st.

61. Scholarships Naviance is the 1 st place to start looking for scholarships. All Scholarships sent to PHS will be posted in Naviance Other scholarship search engines: FastWeb.com Scholarships.com BigFuture All College/Universities will have their own scholarships posted on their financial aid sites. DEADLINES are there for a reason. DO NOT miss a DEADLINE!

62. Local Scholarships Listed on Naviance Emailed to Seniors’ Lexington 1 email Listed on Counseling & Advisement Website

63. Institutional Scholarships: Contact your school’s Financial Aid Office/Website Many are automatically considered Community Scholarships: Church Work Clubs PHS Local Scholarships will come out in the late spring. Local Scholarships

64. Scholarships- continued Websites Scholarship Scams If the scholarship or service asks for money- beware!! PLEASE submit a copy of any award letter to the Counseling Department. We will use this award letter to tally the scholarship money for the Class of 2016! Students will be recognized on Awards Night and in the graduation program.

65. National Web Sites Local Scholarships Institutional Scholarships Where you want to be!! Other Scholarships

66. Return 1 signed copy of the transcript as you leave the theater. Return the Name Verification Page Sign up in the lobby for an individual IGP meeting if more information is desired. Next Steps

67. Senior IGP Meetings September 15-October 2 Sign up for an appointment If you can’t make an appointment, we will meet with your student individually and send him/her with a packet of information.

68. Questions? Thank you for coming!