2018/2019 NSCHS Counseling Staff

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1 1 P age COLLEGE & POST-SECONDARY OPTIONS PLANNING PACKET Welcome to the College & Post-Secondary Planning Process! In this packet, you will find a number of resources designed to help you stay on track and be prepared throughout the college application process. Parent and students: Please read this packet in its entirety prior to attending your conference and bring with you any questions you may have about this information. Please know that we are here to assist you with this process and we are always happy to answer questions/clarify information. We look forward to working with you and your family during this exciting time! Inside This Packet: College Planning Timelines for Juniors College Admissions Testing: SAT/ACT Dates The SAT vs. The ACT Key Differences Math/Reading/Writing/English SAT/ACT NSCHS SAT/ACT Prep Course Comparing your SAT/ACT Scores Say Yes to the Right Test Grade Point Averages (GPA) Quick Reference Sheet Calculating the Academic GPA Parchment (Transcripts) FastWeb Key Essentials for College College Credit Now: AP and Dual Enrollment Information Getting the Most out of a College Visit College Planning Timeline for Seniors Quick Guide to Application Types/Plans GSFC Paying for College NCAA Eligibility Center 2018/2019 NSCHS Counseling Staff Dr. Genoulia Johnson, Head Counselor, A-Gak Mark Ellis, Counselor, 9 th Grade Ava Butler, Counselor, Gal - New Stacey Foney, Counselor, Nex-Z johnsong3@fultonschools.org ellisg@fultonschools.org butlera1@fultonschools.org foneys@fultonschools.org Kimberly Daniel, College & Career Center Advisor Andrea Rocha, Counseling Dept. Secretary Gail Ritchie, Graduation Coach Lori Bryan, Registrar/Records Coordinator James Landreau, Magnet Program Coordinator Maia Smith, School Social Worker Melanie Blinder, School Psychologist Brenda Roquemore, Attendance danielkw@fultonschools.org rochaa@fultonschools.org ritchieg@fultonschools.org bryanl@fultonschools.org landreauj@fultonschools.org smithmp@fultonschools.org blindermb@fultonschools.org rocquemorebe@fultonschools.org Order Transcripts: Visit Many of your questions will be answered prior to coming in by looking over the information in this packet.

2 2 P age COLLEGE and POST-SECONDARY OPTIONS PLANNING PACKET College Planning Timeline for Juniors FALL/WINTER Attend your Junior Conference with your family Finalize a testing plan for the SAT, ACT, and SAT subject Tests. Refer to testing dates in this packet and on the testing websites SPRING Visit schools that you are interested in. Take a tour, go to an informational meeting, sit in on a class and try to get a feel for what it would be like to go to that school. If you visit a school you are extremely interested in, consider making an appointment for on on-campus interview, if available. Send a thank you note after your visit. Start thinking about teachers that you would like to ask to write you a recommendation. SUMMER If you know the essay prompt for any of your applications, start working on a draft of your college essay. Compile your resume, audition portfolio or other evidence of your talents for college admissions or scholarship applications. Continue to visit schools. Narrow your list of potential college choices. Begin to research scholarship opportunities. Make a Common Application account on commonapp.org and fill it out. The applications should be available early August. Determine if you are going to take the SAT/ACT in Fall of Senior year and register for the test. USEFUL LINKS LOOKING AHEAD o o o o o o o o o o o (Common Application) (SAT) (ACT) (GA Career Information Center) (College/Career Planning; HOPE information; Dual Enrollment information) (Scholarship database) (Scholarship database) (Colleges That Change Lives) (Financial Aid) (College Athletes) (College Planning) o o o Make sure you are aware of all requirements and deadlines for the colleges/scholarships you are interested in so you don t miss out on any opportunities. Many colleges have Early Decision/Early Action deadlines on November 1 st, November 15 th, and December 1 st. UGA s Early Action deadline is October 15 th. Many colleges have Regular Decision deadlines on January 1 st, January 15 th, and February 1 st. Students can apply for financial aid by filling out the FAFSA form beginning October 1 st of Senior year. Financial Aid for the School Year will be based on 2017 Tax Information

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4 4 P age College Admissions Testing: SAT/ACT Dates SAT Test Dates Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline October 6, 2018 September 7 September 26 November 3, 2018 October 5 October 24 December 1, 2018 November 2 November 20 March 9, 2019 February 8 February 27 May 4, 2019 April 5 April 24 June 1, 2019 May 3 May 22 ACT Test Dates Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline October 27, 2018 September 28 October 14 December 8, 2018 November 2 November 19 February 9, 2019 January 11 January 18 April 13, 2019 March 8 March 25 June 8, 2019 May 3 May 20 July 13, 2019 June 14 June 24 Please refer to the following website for additional SAT/ACT information and test registration: SAT: ACT: North Springs Charter High School CEEB Code: Fee waivers are available for students who receive free/reduced lunch. See Coach Daniel in the College and Career Center RM E107. Fee waivers are for junior/senior students receiving Free/Reduced lunch and may be requested during 5th period only.

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9 NSCHS SAT/ACT Prep Course 9 P age

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12 12 P age Grade Point Average (GPA) Quick Reference Sheet There are MANY different definitions of GPA. It is best to refer to each individual college/scholarship organization in order to understand how they calculate GPA. Here are a few definitions: Cumulative Numeric Average (CNA): Fulton County calculates cumulative numeric averages for students by adding up all grades in all classes and dividing by the total number of classes taken. This numeric average is on a 100 point scale. Remember, failed grades, summer school grades, and online grades are all included all courses listed on the transcript are averaged together. Please remember that Fulton County adds 7 points to the final passing grade for each Honors, AP, IB, and college course taken; therefore, the CAN is a weighted average. Academic (Core) GPA: Fulton County does NOT calculate GPAs on a 4.0 scale. The best place to start is to contact each college to find out how they calculate GPAs. Some will include all courses taken, others will include academic courses only. Some will use your weighted grades, others will remove the honors points before calculating GPA. To calculate GPA, most school use the following conversion scale: A = 4.0; B = 3.0; C = 2.0; and F = 0. For academic GPA, assign a 4, 3, 2, or 0 for each academic course (courses in Math, science, Language Arts, Social Studies, and World Language), add them together and divide by the total number of academic courses (each semester of a class counts as one course. This produces and estimated academic GPA. Fulton County counselors cannot calculate GPAs for you. HOPE Scholarship GPA: the GPA for the HOPE Scholarship is calculated by averaging all academic courses (Math, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, and World Language) taken in high school, including failed courses. Be aware that non-academic IB and AP elective courses are not included in HOPE calculations (i.e. AP Art, IB Business, IB Theatre). Grades from high school classes taken in middle school are not calculated in HOPE GPA. All courses are averaged together and students need to earn a 3.0 GPA to be eligible. Please be aware the all honors points are removed before the calculation and.5 weighting is added back in for AP, IB, and college courses (not honors classes). A = 4.0; B = 3.0; C = 2.0; and F = 0. If it is an honors, AP, IB, or college course, remove the 7 points before converting to the 4.0 scale and then add back.5 (e.g. an 85 in an AP class is an unweighted 78 = 2.0. Because it is an AP class, it becomes a 2.5; the max is a 4.0). Please note: a 2.99 GPA does not qualify the student for HOPE, and students are not eligible for HOPE until the day they graduate, as second semester senior grades are included. Official HOPE calculations are done by the GA Student Finance Commission.

13 Calculating the Academic GPA 13 P age CALCULATING THE ACADEMIC GPA Fulton County does NOT calculate averages on a 4.0 scale. First, contact the college to find out how they calculate GPA s. Most will use this scale: A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0 and F = 0. Looking at your academic courses (Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, And World Language) assign a Quality Point of 4.0, 3.0, 2.0 or 0.0 for each course, add them together and divide by the total number of academic courses. This will be an estimated academic GPA. If the college gives extra points for Honors, AP and Joint Enrollment, please add the points before calculating. If the college takes off the additional 7 points added for Honors, AP and Joint Enrollment, do that first before assigning the 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, etc. Each college calculates GPA s differently. PLEASE NOTE: Contact the College Admissions office to find out how they calculate the GPA. COURSE (Academic English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and World Language) GRADE QUALITY POINT A = = 4.0 B = = 3.0 C = = 2.0 F = 0-69 = 0.0 GRADE without the 7 Honors Points if applicable QUALITY POINT A = = 4.0 B = = 3.0 C = = 2.0 F = 0-69 = 0.0 Ex. 9 th Grade Lit/Comp H Semester Ex. 9 th Grade Lit/Comp Semester Weighted GPA Unweighted GPA

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16 16 P age HOPE Scholarship Information Georgia s HOPE Scholarship is available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship provides money to assist student with their educational costs of attending a HOPE eligible college in Georgia. Eligibility: To receive HOPE Scholarship funding, students must: Graduate from a HOPE-eligible high school with a 3.0 GPA in CORE courses (Math, English, Science, Social Studies, World Language) Earn a 3.0 GPA at the college level on degree coursework after attempting 30, 60, or 90 semester hours or 45, 90, or 135 quarter hours, regardless of high school graduation status. Meet academic achievement standards Meet HOPE s U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements Meet HOPE s Georgia residency requirements Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at an eligible public or private college or university or technical college in Georgia. A list of HOPE-eligible colleges and universities can be found at Register with the Selective Service (if applicable) Be in good standing on all student loans or other financial aid programs Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990 Meet academic rigor requirements Award Amounts: The money provided to HOPE Scholars varies: The HOPE Scholarship award varies and depends on the type of institution you are attending and your specific hours of enrollment. To determine you HOPE award amount, review the information found here: Applications Procedure: As long as you are HOPE-eligible upon graduation, and complete the FAFSA or GSFAPPS Form, you will receive HOPE funds. Zell Miller Scholarship Program Students must meet all requirements for the HOPE Scholarship PLUS: Graduate from an eligible high school with at least a 3.7 GPA in core subjects (as calculated by the GSFC) AND receive a score of at least 1200 combined critical reading and math score on a single administration of the SAT or an ACT composite score of 26 o OR: Graduate from eligible high school as the valedictorian or salutatorian; maintain at least a 3.3 GPA in college to remain eligible for the Zell Miller Scholar Program. For more details, please go to:

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18 26 P age COLLEGE PLANNING PACKET College Credit Now: AP and Dual Enrollment Information There are a number of ways in which students may earn college credit while still in high school: Advanced Placement (AP) Courses: Advanced Placement courses allows students to take college-level courses and potentially earn college credit and/or achieve advanced placement in college. AP courses better prepare students for college as they become accustomed to the demands of university level work. Students are enrolled in AP courses throughout the year, and AP Exams are taken during the first two weeks of May (at NSCHS). AP Exams are scored on a 1-5 scale; individual colleges determine the score needed to earn credit in specific courses, but most schools give students credit if they earn a four or a five (some also give credit for a score of three). Currently, NSCHS offers the following AP Courses: AP Human Geography AP World History AP US History AP Art History AP 3D Design AP 2D Design AP Drawing Portfolio AP Language AP Biology AP Physics I AP Government AP Music Theory AP Spanish AP Statistics AP Computer Science A AP Computer Science Principles AP Environmental Science AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Chemistry AP Literature AP Psychology AP Physics II AP Macroeconomics AP French AP Latin Dual Enrollment: Through the Dual Enrollment program, 9 th, 10 th, 11 th, and 12 th grade students may take approved college classes, allowing them to get an early start to their college careers. Dual Enrollment students earn concurrent credit toward both their high school diploma and college degree. **Make sure you check the colleges your student is interested in applying to in order to see how they view Dual Enrollment classes and how they grant credit. For information on Dual Enrollment, go to: Gwinnett Technical College Dual Enrollment

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21 29 P age Getting the Most out of a College Visit Being on a college campus, even for a short time, can tell you a lot about the school and how well you might fit in there. Below are some tips for how to get the most out of visiting college campuses. Things to Consider Before You Visit: Try to visit a range of colleges so you can really get a feel for what you like/don t like Good time to visit: Any school breaks during 11 th and 12 th grades Summer before 12 th grade You can miss up to three days during each of 11 th and 12 th grades for college visits. Make sure to complete a college visitation form (in the College & Career Center) before you visit. Check out the admissions office website to see what opportunities are available for prospective students prior to your visit. Things to Do During Your Visit: Go on a campus tour and participate in an information session Visit a class! Many colleges invite prospective students to sit in on a class or two. Sometimes this needs to be pre-arranged. Contact the admissions office or check the website for specific info. Overnight Visits Many colleges arrange for prospective students to stay on campus with a student host. You can eat in the dining hall, visit classes, and spend the night in a dorm. Meeting with an Academic Department or Professor If you have specific questions about a major, try to meet with someone in the department. Make sure to arrange this in advance. Meeting with a Financial Aid Counselor Ask about grants, scholarships, and student loans. On-Campus Interviews If you are visiting a school that offers interviews, and you are very interested in the school, make an appointment ahead of time for an interview. Sell yourself and come prepared with strong questions. Send a thank you not following your interview. Making the Most of Your Visit: Don t get too emotionally involved with your tour guide These students love their college and are trained by the admission office to be honest, but to say positive things about the school. Their views may not be the most objective. Pay close attention and ask questions of the tour guide Why did you choose this school? What do you like best? What do you like leas? What courses have you enjoyed the most/least and why? What are the big issues on campus right now? Things to consider and observe while you are on tour: What are students doing in between classes? Do students look happy? Are people friendly? Read a student newspaper check out flyers promoting meetings and events look at the dorms and classrooms eat the food! Talk to people! If there is something you want to see that was not on the official tour, ask!

22 30 P age COLLEGE PLANNING PACKET Campus Visit Checklist To help you determine the right college for you, fill this sheet out for every school you visit/research. College Name: City: State: Size: Tuition Amount: Room/Board Amount: Application Types/Deadlines: Financial Aid Options: To Do Checklist: Talk to professors Visit the library Talk to students Visit dorms Rate It! On a scale of 1-5 (5 being the best), rate the following: Tour Campus Read bulletin boards People Sit in on a class Check out recreational facilities Social Life Eat at a cafeteria Check out student activities Classes Dorms Talk to admissions office Tour the city/area around campus Town Read the college newspaper Eat off-campus (where students go!) Campus Food Check out computer labs Picture yourself living there Total: Ask a Student: What is the best part about this school? What is the worst part? What is a typical day/week life? What do students do on weekends? How are classes structured? Why did you choose this school? The best thing about this school: The worst thing about this school:

23 31 P age COLLEGE PLANNING PACKET College Planning Timeline for Seniors August/September Use a planner/spreadsheet to keep track of college-related dates Finalize the list of colleges you are applying to As teachers to write letters of recommendation. Provide needed materials and due dates Review list of college reps visiting North Springs (College and Career Center website, posted outside counseling office) and sign up to attend sessions with colleges you are interested in Visit college campus if possible; tour online Register for the SAT/ACT if you would like to retest this fall or if you have not tested yet Begin to fill out admissions applications Set up a Parchment Account if you don t already have one (for transcript submission) Work on/complete applications essays October/November Continue to visit potential colleges, if possible Continue meeting with college reps at North Springs. Consider attending a college fair Prepare final drafts of applications essay(s) Take the SAT or ACT, if applicable Check all application deadlines and submit materials on time. Stay organized! If applying to UGA Early Action, deadline is October 15th Request transcripts on Parchment, and counselor recommendations, at least 10 school days prior to deadline Follow-up to make sure all early action or early decision application materials have been received Remind teachers of early deadlines for recommendations December Take the SAT or ACT, if applicable Request transcripts (through Parchment) and counselor recommendations for any regular decision applications. For January 1st deadlines, requests must be made by December 1st January/February Continue to submit materials to meet application deadlines Request mid-year reports (if applicable) Confirm that all of your application materials have been received by each school to which you applied Write thank you notes to teachers who wrote recommendations on your behalf April Maintain organized files of all admissions correspondence you receive Make sure you accept an offer of admission before May 1st (or school s deadline) and send in any required deposits and paperwork May Take AP exams (if applicable) and request your scores are sent to the college that you will be attending Request your finals transcript, through Parchment, for your selected school Graduate and celebrate your accomplishments!!!

24 32 P age COLLEGE PLANNING PACKET Quick Guide to Application Types/Plans There are a number of different admissions plans that colleges and universities offer to students: Rolling Admissions Schools that use a Rolling Admissions plan generally begin accepting applications in the fall, and they make admissions decisions on an ongoing ( rolling ) basis. Students can improve their chances of acceptance by getting applications in as early as possible. Since these schools fill their incoming spots over the course of a couple of months, the longer you wait to submit your application the less pace they have available and admissions standards may increase. Regular ( Deadline ) Admissions Many schools set a specific deadline for applications to be submitted. Common deadlines are January 1 st and January 15 th (but this varies from school to school, so make sure you are aware of each school s actual deadline!). All application materials must be received by the admissions office before the set deadline. No decisions will be made regarding applicants until after the deadline has passed and the admissions office has had the chance to review all applications. Therefore, the timing of you applications submission does not impact your admissions decision as long as it is submitted prior to the deadline. Early Decision (ED) Schools that offer an Early Decision option require that these applications are submitted very early - usually November 1 st of November 15 th. Students can only submit an ED application to one school. The benefit of applying ED is that you will receive an admissions decision in mid-december or early January. ED applications are binding students are agreeing in advance that if the school accepts them, they will withdraw applications from any other schools and attend their ED school. Students are required (as part of the ED applications) to submit an ED agreement form (contract). Because these applications are binding, it is important that students only apply Ed if they are 100% sure that this is the right school for them. Early Action (EA) Some schools offer an Early Action option, which provides the same benefits as ED applications (early submission date, early notification of admissions decision) without a binding contract. Students have no obligation to attend an EA school and may submit multiple EA applications. **Make sure you carefully review the information regarding application plans/deadline for each school you are applying to in order to make the best decision about when and how to submit your application.

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32 40 P age NCAA Eligibility In order to play sports in college, students must be cleared through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Please visit For a quick snapshot and registration checklist please visit this link:

Juniors Spring Presentation

Juniors Spring Presentation First of all. Congratulations on all your hard work junior year! Now everyone take a deep breath And get ready for what s next: 1. Finish strong over these last 5 weeks 2. Make