1. Senior Stuff! 2 nd half of the year!!

2. School Counselor Mrs. Karen Blair (810) 794-4911 ext 1282 kblair@acsk12.us www.algonac.k12.mi.us www.algonac.k12.mi.us

3. Use the ACS Website It’s a great resource!! www.algonac.k12.mi.us Use your Student Connect! www.algonac.k12.mi.us

4. Graduating!  If you are planning on graduating on June 8, 2012, you have to know if you are going to have all the graduation requirements met!  Look at your transcript! Find “Total Credits Earned” upper fight hand area of the transcript.  Right now you have to have at least 17.5 total credits.  Next you have to have the “graduation requirements met”.  English – 41 VPAA  Math – 47.5 Electives  Science – 3  Social Studies – 3=23.5  PE/Health - 1

5. Graduation audits will be home only to those students that are in danger of not graduating. If you have questions about your graduation status see me or Mrs. Dusenberry.

6. If you’re on track to graduate, right now your transcript should be showing that you need the following credits still: .5 English .5 Math  Some elective credits That’s it! If you need anything else, you are supposed to be doing it in CR. Get your work in CR DONE!!

7. GPA and Class Rank You will find your cumulative, unweighted grade point average at the top, left of your transcript. We do have an unweighted grade point average. Some schools, primarily highly selective, will do their own recalculation of your grade point average. Usually that means they will remove elective classes and calculate your GPA on core classes only. It is at each higher education institution’s discretion as to whether or not that is done. Class rank is directly correlated to the grade point average. It was left off your transcript because for top ten a different calculation is used.

8. Cum Laude and Top Ten Honors of Distinction: Summma Cum Laude 4.0-3.67 Magna Cum Laude3.66-3.3 Cum Laude3.29-3.0 Graduation Speakers must be in the Summa Cum Laude category. Top Ten is determined by: GPA (overall unweighted) ACT (highest score on file) Corse Rigor

9. FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid! www.fafsa.ed.gov Deadline March 1, 2012

10. College Goal Sunday – Feb 12, 2012 (2-4 PM) Citizens First Michigan Technical Education Center Corner of Erie Street & Glenwood Avenue Financial Aid experts will help you complete your FAFSA!

11. FAFSA Night at AHS Thursday, Feb 23, 2012 6-8 PM Get help completing your FAFSA

12. Financial Aid Basics Scholarships(free money) – does not have to be paid back TWO KINDS Merit Based – based on grades, involvement in school and community, character Need Based – based on parents financial situation (income, assets, debts) Grants (free money) – does not have to be paid back (based on income) FAFSA Loan – must be paid back (may be subsidized (borrower does not pay interest) or unsubsidized (borrower does pay interest)

13. What is the FAFSA? The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the first step in the financial aid process. Use it to apply for federal student financial aid, such as Pell grant, student loans, and college work-study. In addition, most states and schools use FAFSA information to award their financial aid. www.fafsa.ed.gov Begin application January of the graduating year. Priority deadline March 1 st College Goal Sunday @ SC4 – Sunday, Feb 12, 2012 (2-4) Ms. Burns will be helping students w/FAFSA in Core V

14. Other Forms of Financial Aid AHS Local Scholarships AHS Local Scholarships College Websites College Websites Community Foundation of St. Clair County Community Foundation of St. Clair County www.stclairfoundation.org Check out your parent’s affiliations – employers, unions, religious affiliations, etc for scholarships available

15. Tuition Incentive Program - TIP Eligibility based on being on Medicaid. Award letter came to your house. Look for it. From the state of Michigan. If you can’t find it call this number 1-888-447-2687 Pays for an associates degree. Go to SC4 or Macomb! Worth about $6,000! Find out if you are eligible for this!

16. Local Scholarships Local Scholarship Applications for the 2011/12 school year will be available via the web beginning in January 2012. Deadline will be March 2, 2012. Local scholarships are available to AHS seniors only. Merit and need based scholarships Many award students for community service Need two letters of recommendation Over $43,000 in scholarship money given away All are listed at the Student Services portion of the AHS Website.

17. Senior Awards Assembly All seniors and their parents should plan to attend the annual senior awards assembly Friday, June 8, 2012. Begins at 8:00 AM Ends approximately 11:00 AM Local Scholarships are presented as well as many other awards, including those from St. Clair TEC.

18. Timelines for the senior year September 2011 All seniors will attend a presentation in the counseling center. If your student has additional questions, he or she should meet with the counselor. The student should get started on applications right away especially if they plan to apply through an Early Decision or Early Action programs. Deadlines for early applications tend to fall in October or November. Students should start working on college essays. They should write essays that focus on experiences and make them stand out from the crowd. Student should update their "resume" -- list accomplishments, involvements, and work experiences -- with the senior year activities. The resume will help the student complete the applications and essays. Retake the ACT!

19. October 2011 Gather letters of recommendation. Student should ask counselor, teachers, and coaches, or employers for letters of recommendation. Give them plenty of time to meet the deadlines and be sure to give them a list of your activities & accomplishments. Take ACT/SAT tests. If you are applying under an Early Decision or Early Action program, be sure to get all forms in as soon as possible. Applying online might be the right option for you. Look for scholarships – Student Services Website, with search engines like Fast Web, through community and parental involvement.

20. November 2011 Student should submit early decision and early action applications on time. Student should work hard at completing college essays. Proofreading them rigorously for mistakes. Mail applications as early as possible for colleges with "rolling" deadlines (admission decisions are made as applications are received). Take /ACTSAT tests. Make sure your scores are sent to each one of your colleges. Continue to look for and submit applications for scholarships.

21. December 2011 Students should try to wrap up college applications before Christmas break. Make copies of each application before they are sent. Take ACT/SAT tests. Make sure your scores are sent to each one of your colleges. Early Decision and Early Application responses arrive this month. Continue to look for and submit applications for scholarships.

22. January 2012 Early Decision and Early Application responses arrive this month. Some colleges include first-semester grades as part of your application folder. This is called the mid-year grade report. Student should have the counselor send grades to colleges that require them. Complete FAFSA – www.fafsa.ed.gov

23. February/March 2012 Student should contact colleges to confirm that all necessary application materials have been received. Encourage students not to get senioritis! Colleges want to see strong second half grades. Some admissions decisions arrive this month. Read everything carefully, as some of it may require action on the student and parent’s part. Attend FAFSA workshop if you need help completing the FAFSA at SC4 on Sunday, Feb 12, 2012 (2-4 PM)

24. April 2012 Most admissions decisions and financial aid award letters arrive this month Read everything carefully, as some of it may require action on your part. Make a final decision, and mail the enrollment form and deposit check to the school the student selects before May 1 (the enrollment deadline for most schools). Notify each of the schools to which student was accepted that he or she will not be attending in writing so that the spot can be freed up for another student. On the waiting list? Contact the admissions office and let them know of continued interest in the college and update them on spring semester grades and activities.

25. May & June 2012 May 2012 -- Finalize housing plans. Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday – June 4, 5 & 6, 2012 Senior Exams Thursday, June 7, 2012 Graduation Practice (1:00 PM) Friday, June 8, 2012 – Senior Awards Assembly – beginning at 8:00 a.m. AHS Gymnasium Friday, June 8,2012- Graduation 6:00 p.m. Truman Pippel Stadium (weather permitting)