1. Family Connection Click on the icon for Family Connection Under the Counselor tab, Click on Counseling Resources

2. Class of 2016 A-BHeather Holmes C-JRosalyn Greer K-QKatie Puente R-ZJason Wooden

3. College Fair At Independence High School Wednesday, September 23, from 6-8 pm To pre-register, go to http://www.gotocollegefairs.com http://www.gotocollegefairs.com

4. Fall 2015 SAT/ACT Dates TestTest DateRegistration Deadline Photo Upload Deadline ACT Sept 12 August 7 Sept 4 SAT Oct 3 Sept 3 NA ACT Oct 24 Sept 18 Oct 16 SAT Nov 7 Oct 9 NA SAT Dec 5 Nov 5 NA ACT Dec 12 Nov 6 Dec 4 Pick up handout on your way out if interested in Princeton Review class to prepare for testing.

5. October 14 th, PSAT DAY Seniors will not have classes the morning of October 14 th You will report to 3 rd and 4 th period classes

6. Financial Aid Night Mark your calendar for Financial Aid Night set for November 11 th at 6:30 at Centennial High School Bring your parents!

7. Frisco Education Foundation Scholarship Application available online @ 10:00 a.m. on November 30 th ▫www.friscoeducationfoundation.orgwww.friscoeducationfoundation.org Deadline to submit application is 4:00 p.m. on December 18 th Late or incomplete applications will not be considered!

8. Armed Services Test - ASVAB ASVAB offered at CTEC on October 20 th 5:00 p.m. ▫An aptitude test that measures strengths and weaknesses for future college, career, and military plans ▫The Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) is part of the ASVAB requirement for entrance into the military You will get an email when it is time to sign up!

9. Top 10% Rule A student is eligible for automatic admission to a public college or university as an undergraduate student if the applicant earned a GPA in the top 10 percent of the student's high school graduating class, or the top 8 percent this year for admission to the University of Texas at Austin. Your application and all required paperwork must be submitted on time to qualify! 12 th Grade Enrollment Currently is 318 seniors

10. Two free fee waivers for the SAT Test (11-12) Two free fee waivers for the SAT Subject Test (11-12) Four SAT score report credits to send scores to colleges (11-12) Two free fee waivers for either the ACT or the ACT Plus (11-12) Four free Request for Waiver of College Application fees (12) Reduced fees for AP testing (9-12) Free application fee for the NCAA Eligibility Center Free Collin College tuition for all dual credit courses taken (12) Students who qualify for Free or Reduced Meals can receive the following:

11. Texas Rule (HB 3826) You must remain on the Recommended or Distinguished Achievement Plan in order to gain admission to most Texas Public Universities as a freshman. Students on Minimum Plan will begin college at the community college level and transfer later to the university level.

12. The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a program designed to determine if a student is ready for college-level course work in the general areas of reading, writing and mathematics. This program will also help determine what type of course or intervention will best meet the student's needs and to assist in becoming better prepared for college-level course work. Required for ALL new college students unless exempt Exemptions A student is exempt on the basis of SAT I scores (less than 5 years old) with a minimum qualifying combined score of 1070, utilizing Reading and Math only, with at least 500 Reading and at least 500 Math. A student is exempt on the basis of the ACT (less than 5 years old) with a minimum qualifying score of 23 composite, with at least 19 English and at least 19 Math.

13. Community Service Reminder Students with 100 hours of documented community service by April 1 of senior year are recognized at graduation Create an account at https://www.myx2vol.com/login.html to submit hours https://www.myx2vol.com/login.html See community service attachment on the Counseling Connection page to see examples of service which will be approved Verifications will go out in March!

14. How do I request my transcript? Official transcripts- request online at Parchment.com Unofficial transcripts- print off of HAC

15. Requesting Transcripts in

16. Parchment.com

20. Senior Handouts Steps to College Admission (half-sheet) College Application Components Senior Timeline - Put the important dates in your phone, plus check IHS website for senior activities! Optional handouts: Counselor Letter of Recommendation Checklist (most school do not require letter; Common App. Schools always require letter plus School Report). Princeton Review class schedule

21. College Application Components- explains what is needed for admission Application- Apply Texas vs. Common Application Application Fee Test Scores (not needed by two-year schools) Transcript The following MAY be needed: Essays Teacher Letter of Recommendation/Written Eval Counselor Letter of Recommendation/Written Eval Secondary School Report Use Steps for College Admission to start applying. ( Four-year and two-year schools have different requirements.)

22. How do I find scholarships this year? College tab in Family Connection (large list of scholarships that will continually by updated all year from FISD counselors) Local scholarships- Will be continually sent by email to senior students and parents, then posted in Family Connection University-specific scholarships- check college webpages-scholarship and financial aid pages to see how college awards freshman scholarships Online resources- Fastweb, Schoolsoup, Scholly, Scholarship Monkey

23. Links, Email, and More Helpful Links Add the APP to your phone Email Inbox Document Library Link to Parchment Register for College Fair Here!

24. Managing College Applications Click on this link and add the colleges where you are applying College Searches DO THIS TODAY! Click on the “Scholarship” link to view scholarships for seniors!!

25. Common Application Matching- Must link Family Connection account to Common App. Five Step Process ▫1. Go to www.commonapp.orgwww.commonapp.org ▫2. Register for the Common App ▫3. Complete initial Common App Tasks  Complete the Education section  Add at least one college to My Colleges  Sign the FERPA Release Authorization ▫4. Complete the Account Matching process on Family Connection (top blue box under the “Colleges I’m Applying to” link). ▫5. Manage your Colleges I’m Applying To List in Family Connection

26. About Who? Click on About Me Click on Profile and update Email Address Personality Quiz, Resume, Game Plan Survey for Letter of REc. Updated GPA and Rank will be posted this week under Profile! Be watching for an email from the Counseling Office!

27. Family Connection Assignments Log in: Student ID; Password: MM/DD/YYYY Verify Email Address under Profile Update College Application List Register for College Fair Register with FastWeb.com for Scholarships Complete Letter of Recommendation Survey (if you will need a counselor letter of rec.)