Cambridge High School Junior Parent Night A Guide

Cambridge High School Junior Parent Night A Guide to the Next Step… Presented by the Cambridge High School Counseling Department

Overview Welcome & Introductions Understanding Admission Factors College Admission Testing Exploring College Options Developing a Financial Plan Junior Advisement Meetings

Counseling Department Students are assigned to counselors based on the first letter of their last name: Counselor Student Caseload Leigh Popp A–E Bonnie Schechter F – Lal Gwen Danner Lam – Ri Samiah Garcia Rj – Z Chip Flemmer Graduation Coach Nancy Sheridan Records Coordinator Tammy Speer Counseling Secretary

Understanding Admission Factors Andrew Morrison Georgia Regional Recruiter The University of Alabama Jordan Stevenson Assistant Director of Admissions Georgia State University

What are colleges looking for in my application?

When is the best time to apply?

How is my GPA calculated?

How important are my SAT/ACT scores?

Do colleges care about. . . ? • • • Extracurricular activities Essays Letters of recommendation Demonstrated Interest Class rank

How do I research and apply for scholarships at a college?

What is an Honors Program and how do I apply?

College Admission Testing Leigh Popp Counselor Cambridge High School

College Entrance Exams SAT College admission test that measures students’ mathematical ability, critical reading knowledge, and writing skills. SAT Subject Tests One-hour tests offered in subjects such as English, foreign language, science, history, and mathematics. Some colleges require the SAT II test(s) & students should check with each college to determine whether it is necessary to take the SAT II(s). American College Testing Program (ACT) College admission test which measures aptitude and skill in English, math, reading, natural sciences, and writing. Test Registration SAT ACT High School Code www. collegeboard. org www. act. org 112 -129 It is recommended students take the SAT and/or ACT at least twice during junior year and once at the beginning of their senior year

SAT Versus ACT SAT ACT Test of critical thinking and problem solving Type of Test Content-based test Test Dates October 5 November 2 December 7 January 25 March 8 May 3 June 7 Score 600 to 2400 1 to 36 Penalty for wrong answers Yes No Structure Critical Reading Math (through Algebra 2) Writing October 26 December 14 February 8 April 12 June 14 English Math (through trigonometry) Reading Science Writing (Optional)

Getting Ready for the SAT/ACT Read widely and write extensively, both in and out of school Take advantage of the PSAT/NMSQT score report (PSAT – October 16 th) Become familiar with the SAT/ACT question types, format, and directions (SAT Question of the Day) Register for the PRA (this Saturday!) 9: 00 am Sign up for a prep course at www. princetonreview. com

Exploring College Options Samiah Garcia Counselor Cambridge High School

Self Assessment Strengths & Weaknesses Interests, Passions, & Values Academic Goals Career Goals Where will your student be the most happy and successful?

Georgia Career Information System (GCIS) www. gcic. peachnet. edu User Name: s (student id number) OR cambridgehs Password: fulton 1 OR gcis 7516

Factors to Consider Geographic Location Academic Programs Student Life Graduation and Retention Rates Cost of Attendance Campus Size

Do your research. Knowledge is power. Use the internet www. gcic. peachnet. edu www. collegeboard. org www. gacollege 411. org Visit college websites to review requirements and deadlines (make a chart) Attend college visits at CHS (register online at www. cambridgeguidance. com) Visit college campuses (request up to 6 days of pre-approved absences through the Attendance Office) Use the COMPASS Center to research colleges and scholarships Attend college fairs NACAC College Fair – March 16 @ Ga World Congress Center Cambridge HS College Fair – March 19 (6 -8 pm)

Focus Your List Narrow your list of colleges – balance is key View the school profiles, and compare the admissions data to your own academic record and test scores. - Dream/Reach school (less than 30% chance of admission) – Pick 1 or 2 - Your Academic Record/Test scores are below average - For highly selective schools, your scores may meet or be above avg - Good Fit/Target school (30%-60% chance of admission) – Pick 2 - 4 - Your Academic Record/Test Scores are in line with average - Safety school (greater than 60% chance of admission) – Pick 1 or 2 - Your Academic Record/Test Scores are above average - Highly selective school should never be considered safety Apply to schools that are a good match for your personality, interests, and career goals

Freshman Profile UGA Middle 50% GPA: 3. 77 -4. 05 SAT: 1790 – 2060 (CR/M/W) ACT : 27 -32 Average # AP courses: 4 -6 GA State Average GPA: 3. 4 Average SAT: 1106 (CR/M) Average ACT: 24 Ga Southern Average GPA: 3. 21 Average SAT: CR 556, M 559, W 531 Average ACT: 23 Gwinnett Technical College Graduate from High School Submit SAT/ACT scores or take Compass test GA Tech Mid-50% GPA: 3. 85 – 4. 11 Middle 50% SAT: 2000 -2210 (CR/M/W) Middle 50% ACT: 29 -33 Average # AP courses: 6 -11 GCSU Middle 50% GPA: 3. 21 -3. 74 Middle 50% SAT: 1100 -1240 (CR/M) Kennesaw State Minimum Academic GPA: 2. 5 Minimum SAT: 950 (CR/M) Georgia Perimeter College High School recalculated GPA of 2. 0 on College Prep Course work Submit SAT/ACT scores or take Compass Test

Develop a Financial Plan Leigh Popp Counselor Cambridge High School

Add it Up COA – Cost of Attendance - EFC – Expected Family Contribution = FINANCIAL NEED ♦COA – College web sites Use Net Price Calculators ♦EFC Calculator College. Board. org, Finaid. org, GAcollege 411. org

Scholarships/Financial Aid • All scholarships that we become aware of will be posted to the CHS Counseling website. Students should check this resource frequently. • Research scholarships on the internet www. scholarships. com www. fastweb. com www. gacollege 411. org www. gsfc. com www. gcic. peachnet. edu • Contact colleges directly about financial aid and scholarship opportunities. Colleges award many renewable scholarships. Ask about criteria, procedures and deadlines. • A great site to learn about types of Financial Aid, who is eligible, FAFSA and more is: http: //studentaid. ed. gov/

Sources of College Scholarships & Grants

Georgia’s HOPE Program HOPE – Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally – is Georgia’s unique scholarships and grant program that rewards students with financial assistance in degree, diploma, and certificate programs at eligible Georgia public and private colleges and universities, and public technical colleges Qualifications: § Be a U. S. citizen and legal resident of Georgia § Be a graduate of an eligible high school § Be registered with Selective Service (males)

Academic Requirements HOPE SCHOLARSHIP Earn a 3. 0 GPA in high school (calculated by GA Student Finance Commission) Recipients must have 3. 0 GPA at checkpoints to maintain ZELL MILLER SCHOLARSHIP Graduate valedictorian or salutatorian OR Earn a 3. 7 GPA in high school AND earn a 1200 combined score of reading and math on a single administration of the SAT or a 26 composite score on a single administration of the ACT by your graduation date Recipients must have 3. 3 GPA at checkpoints to maintain.

Award Amounts HOPE SCHOLARSHIP ZELL MILLER SCHOLARSHIP Public Institutions: Students attending public colleges or universities receive a HOPE award amount, up to a maximum of 15 hours, based upon a per hour rate at the institution he or she is attending. (see chart on GACollege 411. org) Public Institutions: Pays current academic year standard undergraduate tuition for number of hours enrolled (public) Private Institutions ◦ Full-time student $1, 854 per semester ◦ Half-time student $927 per semester Private Institutions: Full-time student $2, 000 per semester Half-time student $1, 000 per semester *Check award amounts on www. gacollege 411. org*

HOPE GPA Calculation A 3. 0 GPA is required by averaging core coursework, including failing grades, on a 4. 0 scale Core Courses English Math Science Social Science World Language Conversion A 90 to 100 4. 0 Points 80 to 89 3. 0 Points C 70 to 79 2. 0 Points F 0 to 69 0 Points B Honors points are removed and a 0. 50 weighting is added back in for AP and College courses only, not to exceed 4. 0 Middle school credit is not calculated in the HOPE GPA All calculations are done by the Georgia Student Finance Commission Counselors are not responsible for calculating the HOPE GPA A 2. 99 GPA does NOT qualify you for HOPE

HOPE Grant • • • Available to students seeking a technical certification or diploma regardless of high school grade point average or graduation date Covers a percentage amount of the standard tuition charges from the previous year Must earn cumulative GPA of 2. 0 at 30 semester hours/60 semester hours to maintain

Program changes are available on the www. gacollege 411. org website

Financial Aid Applications • • Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) * Available January 1 of senior year * Must complete FAFSA each year Complete the GSFAPPS (Georgia Student Financial Aid Application System) * You do not need to reapply each year

Financial Aid Night at Cambridge High School November 21, 2013 at 6: 30 pm Learn more about the FAFSA & HOPE Hosted by the Georgia Student Finance Commission and Joni Towles of Towles Educational Consulting

Junior Advisement Meetings Samiah Garcia Counselor Cambridge High School

Junior Advisement Meetings… Coming Soon! Students meet individually with their counselor to discuss: • Graduation Status • 12 th grade classes • Post Secondary Plans • SAT/ACT • Dual Enrollment Opportunities Please do not be concerned if your student does not receive an appointment letter until the latter part of this timeframe - the process takes time and is planned so each student will have a quality meeting prior to the end of February. Parent attendance is optional and the majority of the information we discuss will focus on the information presented here. November 2013 – February 2014 Leigh Popp A-E Bonnie Schechter F-Lal Gwen Danner Lam-Ri Samiah Garcia Rj-Z

Junior Advisement Meeting- Students Bring… Whether you are attending college, technical school, military, or work, please come to the junior advisement meeting prepared to discuss your senior year and your post-secondary plans. Student must bring to meeting: 1) List of colleges of interest 2) Questions to ask your counselor pertaining to the information presented here * Students will receive a letter with a pre-determined appointment time in late-October. *

A Review of the Credit Requirements Credits Language Arts 4 Mathematics 4 Social Studies 3 Science 4 Health/Personal Fitness 1 W Lang and/or Fine Art and/or CTAE 3 Electives 4 Students planning to enter/transfer into a 4 year college/university must take a minimum of two units of the same world language.

Testing Requirements End of Course Tests (EOCT) • EOCTs count 20% of the final grade in the classes listed below. • After it is averaged in, the grade must be 70 or above to receive credit for the course. MATH Algebra 1 Geometry SOCIAL STUDIES U. S. History Economics ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS Ninth Grade Literature and Composition American Literature and Composition SCIENCE Biology Physical Science Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSWT) • All students must pass the GHSWT. • February 26 - Writing Make-Up Test

Credits and Honor Points Credits How many credits are required to be in the 12 th grade? • 17 credits earned by the start of the 2014/2015 school year • If a student does not have 17 credits then the student is placed in an 11 th grade homeroom and cannot attend any senior activities. • Student can be promoted to 12 th grade when proper credit is earned. Honor Points Which courses receive honor points? • 7 additional points are added at the end of each semester to passing grades in honors, AP, and joint enrollment / college courses.

Cumulative Numeric Average Fulton County calculates numeric averages by adding up all grades in classes and dividing by the total number of classes taken. The numeric average is on a 100 point scale i. e. 87 out of 100 All grades included in this calculation – failed grades, summer grades, online grades…

Sample Senior Schedule • Students should take 4 -5 academic courses per semester • Research classes carefully • Discuss course selections with current teachers Semester English Math Science Economics Personal Fitness World Language or another elective Elective

Special Programs Night February 2014 INFORMATIONAL MEETING FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN: AP CLASSES DUAL ENROLLMENT CAREER TECHNOLOGY PATHWAYS FINE ARTS PROGRAMS

Move on When Ready Dual Enrollment Opportunities – MOWR/ACCEL An opportunity for students to attend a postsecondary institution full-time (MOWR or ACCEL) or part-time (ACCEL) during their junior and/or senior year of high school Students will receive high school credit and college credit simultaneously while attending college classes on the college campus. • Tuition is paid through local system funds • Students can live on campus or commute but are responsible for these expenses • All high school End of Course Tests and the Georgia High School Writing Test requirements must be satisfied • Any student interested must notify their counselor early in Spring Semester. * Deadline for applications to be submitted to college and for CHS paperwork to be completed with counselor is March 30 th, regardless of college deadline. * Deadline for dual enrollment application and supplemental documents to be submitted to the college is May 1 st.

NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse • If you are planning on participating in intercollegiate athletics at an NCAA Division I or II institution, you must register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. • Access the registration materials by visiting the NCAA website www. ncaaclearinghouse. net • When taking the SAT/ACT, enter 9999 for scores to be sent to NCAA • Students and parents are responsible for determining NCAA eligibility to Division I and Division II schools • Counselor’s are neither responsible nor allowed to determine eligibility Be aware that the NCAA may or may not approve courses taken through a non-traditional format such as online, distance learning, correspondence, credit recovery, etc. Counselors are not responsible for researching or advising NCAA policies. It is up to the student and family to investigate NCAA regulations as they pertain to non-traditional courses

The COMPASS Center IS OPEN! This is a resource for ALL Students and Parents! The Compass Center will provide many services including but not limited to: The Compass Center is located in room #2503. *Students must request a Pass from Study Hall or lunch Cafeteria (3 rd, 4 th, 5 th periods) or during PAWS (Tues/Thurs) Ø Ø Ø Ø COLLEGE & CAREER SEARCH RESOURCES CAREER EXPLORATION & INTEREST PROFILE TOOLS MOCK INTERVIEW PRACTICE RESUME ASSISTANCE ESSAY WRITING RESOURCES SCHOLARSHIP & FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE CEO PROGRAM (Career Exploration/Job Shadow) ACT & SAT PREP RESOURCES NCAA ELIGIBILTIY RESOURCES ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES & INTERNSHIPS THE CAMBRIDGE GUIDANCE HANDBOOK-A CHSSPECIFIC, PDF-DOCU-BOOK ON THE CHS WEBSITE WILL BE THE GUIDE UTILIZED AS A STARTING POINT PARENT INFORMATION WORKSHOPS COLLEGE RECRUITER VISITS & “COLLEGE VISIT MINUTES” COLLEGE FAIR AT CHS & AWARENESS OF EVENTS IN COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS THAT NEED ACCOMMODATIONS RESOURCES & CONTACTS FOR EDUCATIONAL & CAREER OPTIONS WITH SELECTIVE SERVICE RECRUITMENT

The COMPASS CENTER at Cambridge HS is proud to announce a new service for students: Cambridge CEO Program (Career Exploration Opportunities) Discover interests, learn about careers, experience careers before going to college The CEO program is a Career & Job shadowing program for Cambridge High School students to explore careers in a variety of professions and businesses. Through these experiences, students gain the knowledge and confidence needed for making future career decisions. The program encompasses many different aspects, all designed to educate the students on career directions and choices. PREREQUISITES: Student must be in good standing. This means student has maintained grades of "C" and above in all academic course work, is not on probation nor has there been a pattern of being on and off probation. Student has demonstrated good attendance, no excessive absences. Student has demonstrated a level of responsibility. Getting Started: Stop by the COMPASS CENTER (Room 2503) forms or print copies by accessing our link on the Guidance website. ü ü STEP ONE: Complete a Career Interest Profile –This tool (obtained via COMPASS CENTER) helps students identify areas best suited to them as individuals. STEP TWO: Submit a completed Cambridge CEO Application. STEP THREE: Submit a Teacher “CEO Recommendation” form. STEP FOUR: Submit a Resume & participate in one Mock Interview Session at the Compass Center. After all prerequisites are met & four steps above are complete, the student will be contacted to set up a personal appointment to be matched with a career professional!

Cambridge CEO Program (CONTINUED) Discover interests, learn about careers, experience careers before going to college Career Professions available for Job Shadows: Different professions will be added as available. If you do not see a particular area of interest on the list, please discuss this during your appointment. Physician (various fields) Biologist Physical Therapist Political service Biomedical Engineer Law enforcement Marketing Executive Actuary Mechanical Engineer Ophthalmologist Financial Analyst Food Scientist Executive Chef Apparel Marketing Speech Therapist Technology Sales Executive Veterinary Medicine Architect Chiropractor Advertising Executive Physical Therapist Psychology Nursing Interior Design Public Relations Social Worker Investment Banking Broadcasting Management Software Engineer Athletic Trainer Stock Analyst Nutrition/Dietitian Lawyer /Justice Computer Science Occupational Therapist Film/Production Dentistry Many more. . ATTENTION BUSINESS PARTNERS/PROFESSIONALS: If you are interested in participating as one of our professional mentors for our career shadowing or internship opportunities, PLEASE contact us at Cambridge. Compass. CEO@gmail. com

Cambridge HS Counseling Website www. cambridgeguidance. com Ø Junior Advisement Power. Point Presentation Ø Upcoming Events Ø College/Career Counseling Ø Academic Counseling Ø College Visit Registration Ø Scholarships and Summer Programs Ø SAT/ACT Prep Class Information Ø Much more!!

Communication You should have received text alerts for this meeting Remind 101 registration information located online at www. cambridgeguidance. com

Q&A § Please complete the Survey and hand it back to a counselor before leaving It is the policy of the Fulton County School System not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability in any employment practice, educational program, or any other program, activity or service.