Are you Readyfor Senior Year?11th grade Information Session

Overview

● Graduation Requirements & Expectations● Communication● Timeline● College Information

o College Choiceo Application o Paying for… (Scholarships & Financial Aid)

● Barriers to Success ● Extended Session on Paying For College

Questions

● Feel free to ask questions along the way pertaining to that section of the presentation

● General questions at the end of the program.

Graduation Requirements

28 CreditsEnglish (4)= 1, 2, 3 & 4 Math (4)= 1, 2, 3 & Advanced MathScience (3)= Earth, Biology & PhysicalSocial Studies (4)= World, American History (2 credits) and CivicsPE/Health=1 credit Cluster (related courses)= 4 Specified Elective (Arts, World Language,CTE)= 2

**All requirements must be completed for students to participate in graduation ceremony

Graduation Expectations

Goal=Every senior graduates!! ● Mid-Year-Students choosing to complete all of their

requirements,including earning 28 credits, by January & not returning for spring semester (consider CCP). No ceremony or diploma issued in Jan.

● June Graduation--Students completing the full year. Ceremony & Diploma issued.

● Summer Graduation-- Students finish after completing summer school in July. Ceremony and Diploma awarded in July.

Communication

● Senior Folder--Google● Advisory--twice a month● Senior Timeline Updates-Senior Folder & Guidance Website● Weekly Scholarship Newsletter● PTSO Weekly Newsletter--great information ● Guidance Website--Senior Corner● Senior Parent letter● Regular emails including events, workshops & opportunities● Graduation Plan sent to student & advisor in August● Principal weekly call● Time for parents & students to communicate--expectations, choices,

finances, plans of action, etc.

College Information

● Applying to College○ Where to apply? (personal choice)

■ Choose between 3-5 colleges ● more selective the colleges the more applications

■ Include a “safe” college● Freshman Profile (GPA, exam scores, major, etc.)● www.cfnc.org “Planning for College” under college Admission’s tab

❏ 2.5 minimum GPA for NC Public Universities ■ Know the entrance requirements (coursework) ■ Parent: assist the student to consider & compare--location, cost of attendance,

program of study, extra-curricular activities

○ How to apply? Deadlines (personal choice)■ Early Action/Notification or Early Decision■ Regular or Rolling ■ Parent: Discuss these options with the student

College Info Cont.

● Where to find the application?○ NC Colleges-- www.cfnc.org○ Common Applications

■ For participating colleges--https://www.commonapp.org■ For participating HBCU colleges--http://www.eduinconline.com/

○ College specific portal (prospective students)

● What is included in the application?○ Applications are different--important to know in the beginning what

“your” college requires○ More selective the college--usually more information is required to

help admissions make decisions

College Application Cont.

● Demographic Section○ Name, address, contact information (use personal email), high school,

parent information, etc. (complete this early as it usually doesn’t change)

○ Information relating to when you plan to attend (fall 2016), how (part

time/full time), major, list colleges you have attended (students in videography

are enrolled in ACC as well as CCP students), etc.○ Reporting OSS & ISS--Discipline report

● Student Activities ○ List extra-curricular activities (resume) from high school only

■ Clubs, sports, work experience, community service, church, etc.

College Application--These two items assist in bringing the student to life

● Personal Statement or Essays○ May be required or optional--encourage student to complete○ Offers students an opportunity to address an issue not addressed in

other parts of the application (illness/attendance, course conflicts, highlight an incident or opportunity)

○ Offers students an opportunity to show their personality and give their application a “voice” (passion, interest, stance--know your audience)

○ Parent: Offer suggestions/brainstorm--Proofread only.● Letters of Recommendation

○ Choose someone who knows you best--can speak to your strengths, growth, leadership, work ethic, cont. (follow any specifics)

○ Always ask in person--allow 2 weeks for completion

Application Cont.--Sending Items

● Sending Exam Scores (ACT, SAT, or SAT 2)○ These scores must come directly from the organization (not CRHS),

students must request their scores to be sent from each organization if they didn’t include the colleges when the registered originally

○ Colleges--may apply scores differently (ask!), Super Score, best, etc.○ New SAT--will not apply to you--begins March 2016

● Sending Transcripts○ Transcripts will not change until Jan 2016 (final grades only)○ Electronically-- NC Colleges through CFNC, Common App= counselor

upload ○ Mail--only colleges outside of NC (2 week processing time)

■ Completed request form (including parent signature) w/ $5.00

Transcript Example--Endorsement & Activities

Endorsements Activities

Application Cont.

● Secondary School Report or Counselor Section○ This section must be given to your counselor (or email entered in

application sending counselor message)○ This section includes:

■ Confirmation of GPA, Class rank, SAT/ACT scores, etc.■ Confirmation of senior year courses and curriculum difficulty■ Confirmation of disciplinary actions/felony■ Ratings--character, service, work ethic, overall recommendation

○ Students should meet with their counselor to review information■ including any issues he/she would like counselor to address/

highlight (something they may not have had an opportunity in the application)

Barriers to successful application

● Not meeting deadlines ○ Know what they are and plan ahead (you don’t have to wait until the last minute to submit) ○ All student sections must be submitted by the deadline (teacher, recommenders, etc. may

be a few days later)

● Incomplete application--not submitting all sections (missing items)○ Students must complete the application for review. College will send students an alert by

email or students can check the status of their application online■ Common App--students can check all sections (including recommender, transcript,

secondary school report)

● Fear of hitting the “Submit” button○ Students become anxious about submitting--

■ wanting to wait--higher GPA or better exam scores (remember it won’t change until Jan. & 4 courses aren’t going to make much of a difference)

■ Students may send additional info after they submit--9 week grades, exam scores

College Related Costs

● College Application Fees (range)○ fee waivers available (4) if students used SAT waiver

● Housing Deposit (usually upon acceptance)○ not included with Financial aid (range)

● Tuition/ Room & Board (cost of attendance) ○ Financial Aid (January 1st) (based on need & family income)○ Scholarships--need & merit based (athletics, grades,art...) ○ Application process--more competitive begins early

Plan for making a final decision

● Make a list & rank the important “must haves” (personal) ○ Program of Study○ Housing choices/dining choices○ Cost of attendance○ Location- if far away--plan for coming home○ Extra-curricular activities

● As acceptance decisions arrive--refer back to the list to assist you in making that final decision ○ Be careful of

■ current boyfriend/girlfriend or friends attending■ other factors making the decision instead of referring to the list

Senior Timeline--Senior Folder & Guidance Site/Advisory/ Grade 12

● Summer--it all begins○ Senior picture sitting ○ Visiting colleges & narrowing/ broadening choice○ Family decisions

● Fall--focus on everything○ Preparing College Applications, re-taking SAT/ACT, writing essays

■ CFNC College App Week --Mid-November ○ Searching & applying for scholarships○ Cap & Gown orders ($50), senior fees ($35), yearbook orders○ Homecoming--SPIRIT Week (senior focus) ○ Tackling more challenging coursework

Senior Timeline Cont.

● Winter--wait & be patient○ College acceptance decisions○ waiting for senior activities (Prom, Awards, Graduation, etc.) ○ Completing Financial Aid Forms (Jan 1st) ○ Beginning the last semester of high school ○ Questions of on-track for graduation

● Spring--everything happens○ College decisions by students ○ Cost of college comes to the forefront○ Scholarship competition ○ AP and IB Exams

Senior Timeline

● Senior Activities○ Senior Prom○ Senior Awards Program○ Graduation Practice--the day before graduation○ GRADUATION CEREMONY

■ Typically the last day of school at the Dean Smith Center■ 7:30 Graduation time■ Students be dressed appropriately to participate--cap, gown,

tassel, Class of 2016 stole (all purchased through Herff Jones in November delivered in April)

Barriers to Senior Success

● Disengaged with coursework○ Students not considering all course options (online or CCP--College & Career Promise--

CTE or College transfer)○ Old habits hinder progress--procrastination and other bad habits get in the way of

academic success with the additional level of rigor

● Employment○ Students begin earning money thru jobs & shift priorities to more hours (less attention to

classwork)

● Loss of motivation○ Students post-secondary plans--student no longer see the value in working hard in the

classroom■ Getting in is one thing--staying in means strong preparation■ Plans change--Begin option B

Barriers to Senior Success Cont.

● Home related issues (independence)○ Parent-”child” struggle of independence--rules & expectations○ Independence becomes the focus & priority

● Health concerns ○ Mental Health

■ A time of genetic onset of some illnesses--be aware of family history & student behavioral/attitude changes

■ Seek assistance sooner rather than later○ Substance Use

■ With independence comes decision-making and focus■ Using/socializing becomes more important than school

CRHS Success

Graduation Rate 89% (typical)

4-year college rate=76%❖ Trend of more students beginning at Community

college because of finances

Most students have a successful senior year!!

General Questions?

Thanks for coming….We hope you are excited

about the senior year.

Resources to follow--posted

Next..additional info about Paying for Collegeafter a 5 minute break...

Paying for College

● Cost of Attendance vs. Family Income○ Log in to Financial Aid Calculator tools (using 2014 taxes) to estimate your EFC

(estimated family contribution--or the amount the government “feels” you should be able to pay based on your income)

■ Financial Aid amount= difference between the Cost of Attendance and your EFC (can be combination of grants, loans & work study

● Items to consider to reduce costs ○ Scholarships--need-based or merit (weekly newsletter)

■ Need-based--usually based off the Financial Aid results or tax-related information■ Merit--based off a talent or skill (academics, arts, leadership, service, athletics)

● Athletes-- NCAA Clearinghouse (includes GPA and Exam Score) ○ Private College Option vs. Public

■ Many time the private universities have additional funding for students (don’t rule out if they meet the other criteria you have established)

○ Community College Options (including College & Career Promise) ○ Work with your Financial Planner for savings options

Scholarship Searching

❏ North Carolina--www.cfnc.org “Pay” for College❏ Lists of state supported scholarships and grants

❏ National❏ College Board--Big Future https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

❏ Peterson’s Tool--www.petersons.com/college-search/scholarship-search.aspx

❏ Fast Web--www.fastweb.com

❏ CollegeNet--http://collegenet.com/elect/app/app

❏ College Express--www.collegexpress.com/scholarships/search

❏ Local❏ CRHS newsletter and email (check regularly)

Barriers to Scholarship Awards

❏ Get frustrated in the search process--takes time❏ Students don’t meet the criteria (leadership, service,

etc.) & give up looking ❏ Students don’t want to take the time to complete the

application--too much work (writing an essay)

Recommendation--have a current resume, have an essay written (tweak per scholarship), have transcripts in hand (request in advance), have letters of recommendation on hand or an arrangement with recommender for a quick turnaround. BE PATIENT!!

College Resources

➢ College Foundation of North Carolina--www.cfnc.org○ Plan, Apply and Pay for college (North Carolina only)

➢ College Board--www.collegeboard.org ○ SAT 1 and SAT 2 registration, college information & scholarship

information➢ ACT--www.actstudent.org

○ ACT registration, college information, scholarship & financial aid info➢ Chegg (formerly Zinch)--www.chegg.com

○ College Search, Financial Aid, Scholarships and webinars about essay writing, completing applications, college myths, etc.

➢ In Like Me--http://inlikeme.com/○ College admission & information for students/parents through the

process

College Resources continued

➢ College Express-- http://www.collegexpress.com/○ Search and planning information

➢ College View--http://www.collegeview.com/collegesearch/index.jsp○ College Search, application process, & financial aid

➢ US News--www.usnews.com/rankings○ College Ranking information