Post-Secondary Options

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WHEELER HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

SPRING 2023

Agenda

• Senior year scheduling options
• Dual Enrollment
• College eligibility requirements
• Georgia’s HOPE Program
• Financial Aid Overview
• FAFSA vs CSS Profile
• Scholarship Calendar
• Annual Scholarship Programs
• College Admissions Exams
• Annual Senior Counseling Events + Workshops

Dual Enrollment (DE)

• DE is a state funded program that allows high school students to take college classes while completing their high school diploma.
• Students are awarded high school credit for their college classes
• DE pays for 100% tuition, mandatory fees, and required textbooks up to a maximum cap of 30 hours
• Learn more at https://sites.google.com/view/wheelercounseling/academics/dual-enrollment
• Summer/Fall deadline for Wheeler is April 1

Life After �High School

Post-secondary options

Let’s go over the packet…

Junior Advisement Packet 2023

Going straight to work? What are Employers looking for?

• High School Diploma or GED (minimum)
• Clear understanding of long-term career goals
• Resume
• List of references
• Confidence in an interview

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Trade examples

Electrician

Contractor/Construction Manager

Plumber

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technician

Certified Cook

Firefighter

Automotive/Aviation Technician

Licensed Practical Nurse

Garden and Landscape Designer/Agriculture

Welder

Legal Assistant

TRADES & APPRENTICESHIPS

• Occupations such as skilled construction work are considered trades or crafts.

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• The completion of an apprenticeship is generally associated with skilled labor. Training lasts 1 - 5 years, and provide on-the-job training, often paid. These kinds of programs can lead to secure and well-paying jobs. Additional education and training can provide high levels of advancement and increased salaries.

Military and Military Academies

• Speak with a recruiter to learn about opportunities available in the military
• Excellent scholarships are available for students who pursue ROTC in college
• Take the ASVAB for career placement and branch eligibility
• Military academy appointments are highly competitive and students accepted attend completely FREE

What is the Military looking for?

• High School Diploma
• U.S. Citizen or Legal Resident
• Pass physical medical exam
• Take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) to determine military job
• Sign with branch of choice

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What are Technical Colleges looking for?

• High School Diploma or GED
• Take the SAT, ACT, or ACCUPLACER Test
• The HOPE Grant can be used for certificate and diploma programs – No GPA requirement
• The HOPE Career Grant covers tuition in 17 high demand programs of study such as programming, early childhood, transportation, nursing, and welding

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What are two-year colleges looking for?

• High School Diploma
• 2.0 GPA in core/academic coursework
• Complete 4 Math units through Algebra II
• Many two-year colleges will accept students without World Language from high school, but to transfer to a four-year college may require 1 - 2 world language courses in the two-year institution.
• SAT/ACT may or may not be required.
• Students may be able to take the ACCUPLACER placement test at a two-year institution.

What are four-year colleges looking for?

• Most University System of Georgia institutions require a minimum 2.5 core GPA
• GPA Requirements and calculations differ by individual institution
• Math beyond Algebra II (ex. Stat Reasoning or Pre-Calculus)
• At least two years of the same World Language
• Minimum SAT/ACT scores (may be waived)
• Specific states (i.e. California, South Carolina, Tennessee institutions) may require a Fine Arts credit

What are selective four-year colleges looking for?

• Rigor of courses taken (mostly honors and AP)
• At least two or more years of same Foreign Language
• High GPA (average over 4.0 for UGA & GA Tech)
• Strong ACT/SAT scores
• Community Involvement
• Essays to show writing skill & personality of applicant
• Letters of Recommendations from teachers and/or counselor
• Allow Two weeks notice for letter of recommendation requests

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FACTORS FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

Standardized Testing

ACT

www.actstudent.org

• 5 sections (math, English, science, reading and writing)
• No penalty for guessing
• 36 maximum score
• Achievement test

SAT

www.collegeboard.org

• 2 sections (math and reading with optional writing)
• No penalty for guessing
• 1600 maximum score
• Aptitude test

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• Colleges will accept either test and many students choose to take both.
• Students who receive free or reduced lunch are eligible to receive two (2) SAT and four (4) ACT waivers.

• Is “test optional” really optional? (YES!)
• Why you might still test:
• Scores are good for 5 years if you may transfer colleges
• Can be required to qualify for scholarships… so take the test!!

�WHY TAKE SAT SUBJECT TESTS?�

Some colleges may require Subject Testing

Stand out in college admissions

Show colleges your interests

Fulfill requirements or receive credit

Show what you have learned outside of the classroom

Play to your strengths

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COURSE RIGOR

Not only important for college acceptance but also for satisfying HOPE Rigor requirements. Students need 4 from this list to qualify!

Not only important for college acceptance but also for satisfying HOPE Rigor requirements. Students need 4 to qualify! We have listed a few examples below!

College Research Resources

Although there are many websites designed to help you research colleges, Naviance can be your major research tool

• Mid 50%
• Acceptance rate
• Scattergrams

When creating a short list of schools….balance is important

• College Short List Template in Naviance under ‘Docs for Juniors’

Create A List of Potential Schools

Reach or Dream Schools – A dream school is a college where your academic credentials fall in the lower end, or even below, the school's average range.

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Target or Match Schools – Academic credentials fall well within the school's average range.

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Safety Schools - A safety school is one where your academic credentials exceed the school's range for the average first-year student.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

Types of Deadlines

• *Check individual College’s website.

COMPLETE Class of 2024 Brag Sheet for Recommendations

Must be completed if you need a counselor letter or school report. You can start and save as you go! Consider starting now or this summer.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

HOPE Scholarship Program

HOPE Scholarship Qualifications

• 3.0 High School CORE GPA
• Includes English, math, science, social studies, world language courses only
• Covers partial tuition for colleges in Georgia only
• Student must maintain a 3.0 in college

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Zell Miller Scholarship Qualifications

• 3.7 high school CORE GPA
• Covers 100% tuition for public colleges in Georgia only
• 1200 SAT or 26 ACT in one test sitting
• Student must maintain a 3.3 in college
• Drop to regular HOPE as long as 3.0 is maintained

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Students must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

resident of Georgia one year prior to be eligible.

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HOPE Grant Program

HOPE Grant Qualifications

• No initial GPA requirement
• Technical certificate or diploma
• Must have a high school diploma or GED
• Covers a percentage of tuition

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Zell Miller Grant Qualifications

• Requires 3.5 College GPA for grant eligibility
• No test score requirement
• Pays for certificate, diploma or two-year degree
• Covers full tuition (retroactively covers previous semester once 3.5 GPA is earned)

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Students must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

resident of Georgia one year prior to be eligible.

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HOPE Scholarship Program

• Georgia Student Finance Commission recalculates based on core courses only (English, math, science, social studies, world language)
• Courses taken in high school only (middle school grades not included)  
• GPA is reweighted
• Honors coursework is NOT weighted
• AP/DE courses receive .5 extra quality points up to 4.0
• Must have taken 4 “rigorous” courses from list on GAfutures (examples include Algebra II, Chemistry, Physics, World Language Level 2, AP core courses, etc.)
• Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident of Georgia one year prior to starting college classes
• Check your current HOPE GPA at GAFutures.org
• You may not be able to view your HOPE GPA if you are a new student or we do not have your SSN on file

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Financial Aid

• FAFSA
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Opens December 1^st
• Complete during 12^th grade
• CSS Profile
• Institutional student aid
• GAfutures.org for additional info
• Grants, Scholarships, Loans, Work-study programs

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Where to find info

• Wheeler Counseling Website:
• Employers
• College Financial Aid Office
• Community organizations

Annual Scholarship Calendar

Questions about �scholarships and financial aid?

Annual Senior Counseling Events + Workshops