12th grade parent - montgomery blair high school · counseling department information graduation...

12th Grade Parent Meeting

Sponsored By The

Counseling Department Montgomery Blair High School

September 2013

Agenda Welcome & Introductions

Information from the Administration Senior Class Information

Counseling Department Information College Application Process Transcript Request Process

College/Career Center Information Financial Aid & Scholarship Information

12th Grade Administrator Ms. Suzanne Harvey

Information From The Senior Class Sponsors

Donna Franklin Roxanne Fus

Information From Senior Class Sponsors

Parent Volunteers Needed For l September 16 – 18, 10:30 am-12:30 pm

Senior Unity Day distributing of T shirts l October 16, 6:45-9:00 am

College Readiness Day, Senior Breakfast l December TBD, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Distribution of Senior Wear l March TBD 2014, 10:30 am-3:30 pm

Distribution of Claire’s Gourmet Fundraiser l June 4, 5:30-8:00 pm

Cap and Gown Distribution SIGN UP SHEETS IN BACK OF AUDITORIUM

Counseling Department Information

Resource Counselor Marcia Johnson

Counselors

Charlain Bailey Susanne Bray

Alphonso Burwell Roland Hollins Daryl Howard

Evelyn Martinez Emily Putney Kirk Simms

Jennifer S. Taylor LaSchell Wilson

Vilma Nadal (SBEC)


College/Career Information Coordinator Mrs. Phalia West

301-649-2819

Registrar Mrs. Marguerite Berardi

301-649-2822

Secretaries Ms. Dee Shub

Mrs. Fran Conway 301-649-2810


Office Hours 7:00 am to 3:30 pm

Counseling Office Phone

301-649-2810

Email Addresses Go to www.mbhs.edu


Graduation Requirements

Course Credits Ø 22 credits needed to graduate

High School Assessments Ø  The State of Maryland requires students to successfully complete High

School Assessments (H.S.A.) in Algebra, Biology, & English 10. Students must pass each test OR get a combined total of 1208 for all tests

Ø  For more information go to www.mcpshsa.org Student Service Learning Hours Ø  Students must earn a minimum of 75 Community Service Credit Hours. Ø  Those who earn 260 hours or more will receive a purple tassel to wear

at graduation. Ø  For more information please see contact Ms. Lauren Gonzalez at

301-649-2842 or at [email protected]

College Application Process

Post-Secondary Options

Ø 2-Year College Ø 4-Year College/University Ø Trade/Technical School Ø Apprenticeship Ø Military Ø Employment


Types of Admission Options Non-Restrictive Application Plans

Ø  Regular Decision Ø  Rolling Admission Ø  Early Action Ø  Priority Deadline (UMCP-Nov 1)

Restrictive Application Process

Ø  Early Decision Ø  Restrictive Early Action Plan

College Application Process Preparation To Date

Ø  Trailblazer College/Career Planning Information Given Spring of Junior Year Ø  College/Career Workshops In The Spring Ø  Counselor Visits To 12th Grade English Class Ø  College Visits & Tours Ø  College Representatives In The Career Center Ø  College Fairs

College Application Process Trailblazer Documents

Students received a Trailblazer College/Career Planning Information Spring of junior year. Students need to make sure the following items are complete, if they have not already done so….

Ø  Student Self-Evaluation Survey (online) Ø  Resume (online or provide copy of one you

have) Ø  Parent Questionnaire (online) Ø  Authorization to Release Records Form Ø  Blue Teacher Checklists Ø  Four Year Summary of Activities

College Application Process Student Responsibilities

Ø  Apply to Colleges (Common App & Online Preferred)

Ø  Complete College Essays Ø  Request Teacher Recommendations Ø  Request Transcript/Counselor Letter Ø  Continue to get good grades Ø  Take the SAT or ACT exam Ø  Apply for scholarships and financial aid Ø  Visit Career Center


What To Do…. Ø Complete Application (Online or Common App is Preferred) Ø Request Teacher Recommendations Ø Request Transcript/Counselor Letter Ø Complete Essays (if needed) Ø Send SAT or ACT scores to colleges Ø Prepare for interview (if needed)

College Application Process Ø  PSAT-practice test for the SAT-11th grade score used to

determine National Merit Award semi-finalists & finalists Ø  SAT-tests reasoning/critical thinking skills Ø  ACT-tests knowledge you have learned from subjects

studied in high school Ø  SAT Subject Tests-hour long subject tests required by

some colleges in specific subjects. Ø  TOEFL-Test of English as a Foreign Language-

evaluates ability of non-native speakers to use/understand English in academic setting

Ø  Accuplacer–provides information on math, English and reading skills for college course placement (Montgomery College)

Transcript Request Process

Counselor & Registrar Responsibilities Ø  Counselor completes secondary school report &

counselor recommendation letter Ø  Registrar prepares the transcript and school profile to

be sent with the counselor recommendation letter and secondary school report.

Ø  MCPS schools are now able to send transcripts and counselor recommendation letters electronically to many colleges & universities. Teachers can also send letters of recommendation electronically or they can send by mail.

Transcript Request Process Ø  Students MUST complete all of their Trailblazer

documents BEFORE they can submit a transcript request.

Ø  Transcript request must be submitted 30 days prior to deadline

Ø  See the Transcript Request Process handout for more details about requesting a transcript.

Transcript Request Process

Students received a Trailblazer College/Career Planning Information Spring of junior year. Students Must complete these items BEFORE they can submit a transcript request.….

Ø  Student Self-Evaluation Survey (online) Ø  Resume (online or provide copy of one you have) Ø  Parent Questionnaire (online) Ø  Authorization to Release Records Form Ø  Blue Teacher Checklists Ø  Four Year Summary of Activities

College/Career Center Information

Information & Resources In The Career Center Ø  Information on College Fairs, College Tours, & Visits Ø  SAT & ACT Registration & Test Prep Materials Ø  Blair Career Notes Ø  Information Sessions With College Representatives Ø  College/Career Inquiry Software (Bridges, etc) Ø  College/University Brochures & College Guides Ø  Computers for College and Career Searches Ø  Employment & Internship Information Ø  Summer Program Information


Family Connections can help students & parents with…. Ø  Searching for colleges, research careers, & locate

scholarships Ø  Using scattergrams to see how other Blair students fared

at specific colleges Ø  Seeing the list of upcoming college visits in the Career

Center Ø  Getting Career Center Notes with announcements and

important information Ø  Completing a personality inventory


How To Get A Family Connections Account Ø  During Back-To-School Night, stop by the Career Center (Room 121) to sign up

for a Naviance/Family Connections account Ø  Parents can email Ms. West at [email protected] OR call her at 301-649-2819, to get signed up for family connections. Ø  Students can stop by the Career Center to get their Family Connections account activated.

Try Out Naviance/Family Connections With A Guest Account Ø  Go to the www.mbhs.edu Ø  Click on Counseling Ø  Click on Naviance/Family Connections Ø  Click on “I’m a guest” and then type in the password 210965 Ø  Click on COLLEGES and you can view some of the information you will have

access to when you get your own Naviance/Family Connections account.


Upcoming Events Ø College Admissions Panel, September 19 Ø College Readiness Day-Activities For Seniors, Oct 16 Ø Financial Aid Night, December 5 Ø Historically Black College/Univ Fair, Feb 19

Talk with your student’s counselor or the College/Career Information Coordinator for more

information about these events

Financial Aid & Scholarships Sources of Financial Aid

Ø Federal Financial Aid Ø State Financial Aid Ø  Institutional Financial Aid (from the college) Ø Private Sources of Financial Aid

Types of Financial Aid

Ø Scholarships Ø Grants Ø Employment Ø  Loans

Financial Aid & Scholarships

How To Find Out More About Financial Aid Ø  Scholarship Search on Family Connections Ø  Career Notes emails from the College/Career Center Ø  FAFSA (Completed in senior year) Ø  FAFSA4Caster.com Ø  CSS Profile Ø  College and University Scholarships Ø  State of MD Financial Aid: March 1 deadline Ø  Family Connections Scholarship List Ø  Other Sources: religious groups, private organization,

work related


Key Websites Ø  www.collegeboard.com Ø  www.act.org Ø  www.fafsa.ed.gov Ø  www.mhec.state.md.us Ø  www.fastweb.com Ø  www.collegeanswer.com Ø  www.collegeview.com Ø  www.collegesavings.org