HIGH SCHOOL & COLLEGE 101

Presented By:

Seckman High School School Counselors

High School Graduation

• Credit = Unit awarded to a student when he/she passes a semester of class

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• 24.5 credits for graduation

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• 17.5 credits to be a senior

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• 11 credits to be a junior

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• 5.5 credits to be a sophomore

Access Course Description Guides on the SHS Guidance tab on each school’s website

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Graduation Requirements

4 credits of Language Arts

3 credits of Social Studies

3 credits of Math

3 credits of Science

1 credit of a Practical Art

1 credit of a Fine Art

1 credit of Physical Education

.5 credit of Health

.5 credit of Personal Finance

7.5 credits of Electives

24.5 total credits

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Challenge Yourself

1. Pre AP/AP Course
2. Advanced Classes
3. Dual Credit Courses

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Try to take at least ONE in high school

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Our Roles in the Process

1. STUDENT- take challenging classes; give 100% effort; take the lead & be active in the process; plan for the future; retain information for ACT; review for ACT; complete ALL homework/assignments.
2. PARENT- stay involved in the process; give support to child academically/emotionally; bring child to college visits; help student with organization.
3. COUNSELOR- give advice, help guide the process; offer college suggestions; organize evening programs; answer student questions.

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Colleges Look For

1. Difficulty of high school classes
2. Grades earned in classes
3. Class rank
4. ACT
5. Extra Curricular Activities
6. Leadership

College Admissions Tests

ACT

English

Math

Science Reasoning

Reading

Optional-Writing

SAT

PSAT-practice SAT

National Merit

Junior Year in October

Practice Soph Year Oct

ACT

SAT

• SAT - 3 tests + Optional Essay
• 3 hours + 50 min optional essay
• 154 questions, offered 7 times a year, no penalty for guessing
• Accepted in ALL US Colleges
• Composite scores 400-1600
• Registration: www.collegeboard.com $46.00 or $60.00 with Essay

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• ACT - 4 tests + Optional Writing
• 2 hours & 55 minutes + 40 min optional essay
• 215 questions, offered 6 times a year, no penalty for guessing
• Accepted in ALMOST all US Colleges.
• Midwest schools accept the ACT
• 99% of our students only take the ACT
• Composite scores 1-36
• Registration: www.actstudent.org $46.00 or $62.50 with Essay

9th & 10th Grade Year

STUDENTS

• Take challenging classes in core academic subjects
• Get involved in school or community based activities & volunteer
• Start researching careers that interest you
• Make a list of awards, honors, volunteer work, extracurricular activities that can be updated throughout high school
• Sign up for the A+ Program

PARENTS

• TALK to your students about college plans (2yr vs 4yr) In state vs out of state
• Keep an eye on your student's grades, GPA & sign up for Parents Club
• Encourage your child to take challenging classes appropriate to their academic ability
• Look ahead at standardized testing that will be coming Junior/Senior years (PSAT/ACT/EOC/AP exams)

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11th Grade Year

STUDENTS

• Sign up for College Rep visits at your high school
• Attend College Fairs
• Sign up for College Bus Tours
• Go on an official college visit(s)
• Take ACT/PSAT/ASVAB & AP exams
• Narrow down college lists
• Create College Resume

PARENTS

• Attend a FAFSA workshop, fill out the FAFSA4caster, become aware of your financial situation when looking at colleges
• Take your child on a college campus visit
• Attend college fairs with your child
• Encourage them to take 2 ACT tests and to take AP classes/exams

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Senior Year

1^st Semester

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• Apply to colleges by 10/31
• Continue visits
• Create & send college resume
• Search for scholarships
• Retake ACT Oct. or Dec.
• Attend College Fairs
• Meet with college reps @ SHS
• Work hard in the classroom
• NCAA/NAIA
• Fill out FAFSA starting 10/1

2^nd Semester

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• Continue applying for scholarships
• Last college visits
• Keep up grades
• Send in housing deposit & academic deposit to first choice school
• Follow all email requests on financial aid
• Make your final decision by May 1
• Complete all loan paperwork on line

Admissions Requirements

Open Enrollment- high school graduates - Harris Stowe & Comm College

Moderate- 2.5 GPA & 21 ACT - MO State & SEMO

Difficult- 3.7 GPA & 27 ACT - Truman & MO S&T

Very Difficult- “A average” & 28-31 ACT - Georgetown U

Most Difficult- 32-34 ACT with 5.8% to 18% acceptance rates - Washington Univ, Univ of Chicago, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Stanford

Various Admission Policies

• Rolling Admissions- colleges look at your application and let you know in 4-6 weeks if you are accepted.

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• Early Decision- apply by college’s deadline (Nov.1 or 15) and they let you know by Dec. 15^th if you are accepted. If accepted you MUST attend and tell all other colleges to remove your files.

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• Early Action- apply by Nov. 1 or 15^th, find out by Dec 15^th, do not have to say yes or no until May 1^st.

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• Early Action- Single Choice- you can only apply EA to ONE school, still find out in Dec, do not have to say yes/no until May 1^st.

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• Regular Decision- may not say yes/no until April 1^st. Schools like Washington University and Harvard.

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Applications

1.Online = Faster = Less errors & Privates may waive fee

2.Must send high school transcript

3.Pay application fee or send a fee waiver with your transcript

4.Some require an essay

5.Some require teacher/counselor letter of recommendation

6.Under “Admissions” on the college website; some will apply on the Common Application

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College Visits

• If it is financially possible to visit the schools of your choice, make a campus visit!
• No better way to find out the “fit”
• Students have unique personalities as do colleges; try to make the best “match”
• Your son/daughter will be living here for 4 or more years!
• If a student transfers colleges, scholarships are much harder to acquire as a transfer than a freshman
• Students are allowed up to 3 college visits each year, they may also sign up for the College Bus Tours in the guidance office.
• Students should talk to their counselors about attending local college fairs in the area & visiting with College Admission Reps that come to school.

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• Gov’t form, must be filled out EVERY YEAR if you want financial help. Completing the FAFSA is required for students using A+.
• Fill out beginning October1 ^{(try to complete by Feb 15th if possible)}
• DO NOT GOOGLE IT: go directly to www.fafsa.gov (google will bring you to a fafsa.com that charges you; this is FREE)
• The form uses information from your taxes; both parents/students
• You will get a Student Aid Report (SAR) on line shortly after filing the FAFSA; look it over and make any corrections IMMEDIATELY
• Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will determine how much you will have to pay; doesn’t count loans
• Between Dec-April receive financial aid packages from each school you listed on the FAFSA. This tells you how much money will be in loans (student & parent), grants, scholarships, and how much money you still need.
• Students receive the aid award via their college email address. Check it daily.
• www.fafsa4caster.gov-practice fafsa-do it now!

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October 17, 2017 6:00 P.M. - 7:30 P.M. - Seckman High School

SHS Speaker Series - College 101 (part II) FAFSA

This is for parents of seniors and senior students only. Kaysie Dudley and Tammy Patterson of Jefferson College will show parents and students how to navigate through the process and make the most of your FAFSA. The presentation will conclude with an optional FAFSA workshop where parents can begin the FAFSA application process. Parents who choose to participate in this workshop must bring the following records for both parent and student: social security numbers, 2016 Federal Income Tax returns/W-2s (any other records of money earned), and bank statements/records of investments and/or untaxed income. These documents will be beneficial as Kaysie and Tammy guide you through the process. It is also recommended that your senior student attend with you if possible.

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November 2, 2017 6:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. - Rickman Auditorium

District Speaker Series - FAFSA (Parents and grade 12 Students)

FAFSA the Free Application for Federal Student Aid that can be prepared annually by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid. Filling out the FAFSA can be overwhelming for new college students, as well as, parents. We will help you answer the following questions: How is the FAFSA schedule changing? What is prior-prior? What do I need to file a FAFSA? Is FAFSA a loan or grant?

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SCHOLARSHIPS

AUTOMATIC/MERIT BASED - based on SAT/ACT scores, as well as qualifiers like GPA or class rank. No extra application information needed, but you may have to apply by certain deadlines to receive the scholarship (awarded through college or university).

DEPARTMENTAL- awarded by individual college departments. Funds come from gifts to the college made by individuals, groups, or companies. Awarded based on a varying criteria: college major, academic achievement, leadership, or financial need.

PRIVATE/LOCAL - scholarship examples of this type would be - Fox Parents Club, Arnold/Fenton Chamber of Commerce, Vantage Credit Union, places of employment, etc.

Listing of ALL scholarships available for our students in district on Naviance and Twitter

Meet with high school counselors for additional information

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SPORTS

NCAA- National Collegiate Athletic Association (Division I, II or III)

Ncaaeligibilitycenter.org Cost: $80

NAIA- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

http://www.playnaia.org Cost: $80

NJCAA- National Junior College Athletic Association

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Kelly Bingel - SHS counselor/athletic coaches

Great Websites

www.collegeboard.com- College Searches

www.collegeresults.org 4/5/6 year graduation stats; by ethnicity; Pell Grant % on campus

http://colleges.niche.com/ Students rank their college by food, housing, professors, etc

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/ Read past questions of students applying to colleges; also post a question

https://succeed.naviance.com Comprehensive college and career readiness solution that helps align student strengths and interests to postsecondary goals

www.dhe.mo.gov Missouri Department of Higher Education provides info for planning and paying for college

www.gotocollegefairs.com - Regional College Fair information in STL

www.stlouisgraduates.org - Scholarship website

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Naviance

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Have Questions or Need More Info?

Seckman High School Guidance Office

Nicole Stoffey (Students A-E)

Angela Oransky (Students F-K)

Paula Hilderbrand (Students L-R)

Kelly Bingel (Students S-Z)