Jump Start Your Senior Jump Start Your Senior YearYearHuron High SchoolAugust 28 & September 4, 5

Get OrganizedGet OrganizedFirst QuarterFirst Quarter• SEPTEMBER

• 12 – Registration deadline for Oct. SAT• 13 – ACT Test• 16---College Fair @ Firelands College• 19--Registration Deadline for Oct. ACT• 20—Homecoming Dance• 24---Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences

OCTOBER1---Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences9—Registration Deadline for Nov. SAT11– SAT Test17—No School (Teacher In-Service)24---End of first quarter25---ACT Test

Get OrganizedGet OrganizedFirst QuarterFirst Quarter

To Do’s:◦ Register for and take college entrance tests

Be sure to do some preparation for these tests◦ Revise your student resume

See Mrs. Henning or Mrs. Franks for examples if needed◦ Ask at least 3 appropriate community leaders for letters of

recommendation (do not wait until last minute) Give them a copy of your resume

◦ Register with the NCAA if you are planning to play at a Division I or II college

◦ Attend College Fair at Firelands College on SEPTEMBER 16◦ Complete your college application list and become aware

of their application deadlines◦ Visit Colleges

Submit appropriate forms to office before your visit◦ Continue scholarship search◦ Finish your community service and turn in forms to the

guidance office◦ Keep working hard on your courses to boost your first

semester gpa

College ConsiderationsCollege ConsiderationsAdmission RequirementsSize of classesCampus Life and ActivitiesGeographic LocationStrength & variety of programsCostFaculty/student ratioHousing

NCAA ClearinghouseNCAA Clearinghouse Need to register if you plan to play at Division I or

II level www.ncaaclearinghouse.net or

www.eligibilitycenter.org Register on-line and then notify Guidance Office

because we have to send a preliminary transcript You must send your ACT/SAT scores to them $75 Do not “clear” until you graduate Need to obtain specific ACT/SAT scores

depending on cumulative core GPA Need to take specific # of courses

TestingTesting

• ACT or SAT• Testing deadlines• Make sure to take ACT

Writing• Send scores directly to

colleges• BE SURE TO PREPARE!!

• Princetonreview.com, kaplan.com, actstudent.org, collegeboard.com

• REGISTER ONLINE:• Actstudent.org• Sat.org/register

Sending Test Scores to Sending Test Scores to CollegesColleges

• MOST schools want scores sent directly from the testing company

• Can list schools each time you test because colleges look for your best score

• If you wait until after you have finished testing:• SAT will send all of your scores• ACT will send only the scores you request

• Not sending your scores could delay your admission

• Must send scores to NCAA (9999)

Application ProcessApplication Process• How to get

applications•College Fair•Email college•On-line•Common

Application• How many

applications•Variety of sizes•Dream schools,

realistic choices•Variety of costs

(private vrs. public)

Application ProcessApplication Process When to apply

Check all deadlines Best to be done Nov. 1 Need to complete “College & Scholarship Tracking

Form” after you have applied online or attach to your paper application

Available in guidance office or at guidance website

Special Reminders Best to apply online

Can work on & save Print out any special attachment forms to be mailed in

with transcript Resume, College Prep form, Teacher/Counselor

Recommendation forms Neatness, correct spelling—count Meet all deadlines Give yourself time with the essays

Teachers will proofread with advance notice

Letters of Letters of RecommendationRecommendation

• Gather early• Best to get at least 3

•Core teachers, coaches, employers, church personnel

• Provide copy of resume• Allow two weeks to be completed• Send a thank you• Store in a secure location (your file

box) so you can copy and attach as needed

Campus VisitsCampus Visits Two allowed days to visit Student should schedule the visit Parents should go with student Visit request forms submitted a week in

advance Check college web site for specific tour

dates or call for a visit Research the school on your own Be sure to walk campus, ask questions,

take the tour, request specific meetings (financial aid, coaches, professors in discipline of interest), check out dorms, student union, rec center, career center, financial aid office, safety, transportation

Record your impressions

Get OrganizedGet OrganizedSecond QuarterSecond Quarter

OCTOBER 25—ACT Test 27-31—Make-up OGT Testing for Juniors/Seniors

NOVEMBER 6—Registration Deadline for Dec. SAT 8—Registration Deadline for Dec. ACT 8—SAT Test 26—Thanksgiving Break begins

DECEMBER 6—SAT Test 13—ACT Test 17—Feast of Carols 20—Winter Break begins 29—Registration deadline for January SAT Test JANUARY TBA—Financial Aid Evening @ Firelands College 9—Registration deadline for February ACT Test 14-16—FINAL Final Exams 16—Last day to hand in community service 16—End of first semester

Get OrganizedGet OrganizedSecond QuarterSecond Quarter

To Do’s:◦ Complete college applications

Be aware of college application deadlines Make a copy of your application for your records Notify the Guidance Office that you have done an online application

by completing the “College & Scholarship Tracking Form”. Attach your resume and any other parts of your application to this

◦ Make sure you have contacted 3 people and asked them to write letters of recommendation for you Give them a copy of your resume

◦ Continue your scholarship search◦ Finish your college visits◦ Make sure you have turned in all community service

hours to Guidance before January 16 if you are planning on the Diploma of Distinction

◦ Attend Financial Aid Evening◦ Submit your FAFSA◦ Prepare for last set of semester exams to help your

cumulative gpa

Common ApplicationCommon Application• Over 525 colleges use this form• Has many pieces and parts to it • Complete it once and you can copy

it and use it again for all other schools that accept this form

• In-state: Baldwin Wallace, Case Western, Wooster, Denison, Hiram, John Carroll, Kenyon, Marietta, Miami, Oberlin, OSU, Otterbein, Cincinnati, Dayton, Findlay, Wittenberg, Xavier

Application ProcessApplication ProcessParents Role

◦ Don’t be a helicopter parent!◦ Advise, visit with them, process information, support,

LET STUDENT DO THE WORK—YOU PROOF IT◦ Empower your student to become RESPONSIBLE and

learn to function INDEPENDENT of youGuidance Office

◦ Attaches transcript, school profile, student senior schedule,

◦ Pays the postage◦ Records the date file leaves our office

Student Role◦ Does the application, attaches student resume, letters

of recommendation, College Prep form, Counselor Form and completes a College Tracking Form

Application MistakesApplication MistakesBe sure to make a copy of all

applicationsUse an appropriate email addressDo all sections neatlyBe aware of deadlinesObey word limits on sections/essays-

follow directions to a “T”Proof read for spelling, grammatical

and factual errorsDon’t treat application like a

Facebook page or text messageBe sure to put your best self forward

College EssaysCollege Essays• Do not procrastinate• College personnel DO READ THESE!• Distinguish yourself• Have someone else proofread• Consider your audience• Common mistakes

•Misspellings •run on sentences

Additional ConsiderationsAdditional Considerations• Early Action (non-binding) and Early Decision (binding-

only one) plans should be used with discretion. • If a student has any reservations about attending that school,

or if their application profile is not complete, they should wait to apply regular decision.• The applicant pool for early decisions is extremely

discriminating. If your students record is not superior in every way, he/she should devote their energies to strengthening it and applying to regular decision instead.

• In addition, many early decision/early action schools who deny a student early admission may not allow them to apply for regular decision.

• Early admissions programs can be very advantageous. A high school student who is sure of what school they want to go to and whose profile is superb can benefit from early admissions.

• Students who have any questions at all are not encouraged to apply early, as they are then required to forgo all other options and commit to spending four years and thousands of dollars at a particular institution..

Get OrganizedGet OrganizedThird QuarterThird Quarter

Jan. 24—SAT Test Jan. 29—Local Scholarship

Application packets distributedFeb. 7–- ACT TestFeb. 22 -– College Goal SundayFeb. 27—Special Diploma List PostedMarch 10—Local Scholarship

Application deadlineMarch 14—SAT TestMarch 16-20—OGT TestingMarch 20—End of third quarterMarch 23—Last day to verify

diploma list

Get OrganizedGet OrganizedThird QuarterThird Quarter

To Do’sAttend Financial Aid Evening to learn about the

FAFSA, College Loans, Work Study, Scholarships Submit your FAFSA

Different colleges have different deadlinesAttend College Goal Sunday if you need assistance

completing your FAFSANeed to register in advance and is held at Firelands College

Complete and turn in your local scholarshipsBe sure to have all pieces and parts together for

submission by due date at the latestNo copying pieces and parts at school the day it is due

Check Diploma list to make sure you will graduate with the diploma you are qualified to receive.

Notify the college you will be attendingSend in housing deposit

Types of DiplomasTypes of DiplomasLists posted Feb. 27—

students notify of problems by March 23◦Standard Diploma

21 Credits, pass all sections of OGT, at least a 1.6 cum GPA

◦Diploma of Distinction 50 hours of community

service, 23 credits, 2.6 cum GPA, pass all sections of OGT

◦Diploma of Honors Meet 7 of 8 criteria

Financial AidFinancial Aid

Financial Aid Night is the beginning of January

Get in touch with Financial Aid Office at college where student will be attending

Loans, Grants, Scholarships, Merit Scholarships, Work Study Program

FAFSAFAFSA

Federal Student Aid, a part of the U.S. Department of Education, is the largest provider of student financial aid in the nation. At the office of Federal Student Aid, our 1,200 employees help make college education possible for every dedicated mind by providing more than $150 billion in federal grants, loans, and work-study funds each year to more than 15 million students paying for college or career school. We are proud to sponsor millions of American minds pursuing their educational dreams.

FAFSA4casterUse FAFSA4caster to see how federal student aid can help you pay for college!

www.fafsa.ed.gov

College Goal SundayCollege Goal Sunday

Held at Firelands College on Sunday, February 22

Concerned about completing your FAFSA

Register for this event at by calling Firelands College

National ScholarshipsNational Scholarships• Books available at library• Listing in the Senior Handbook and

Scholarship Guide• Check out the HHS Guidance

website• Various search engines such as:

• Fastaid.com• Studentaid.gov• Collegenet.com• College-scholarships.com• Scholarships.com• Wiredscholar.com• Free-4u.com• Studentservices.com• Srnexpress.com

ScholarshipsScholarships• Merit Scholarships

• Can be worth $500 to a full ride• Be sure to meet all deadlines

• Honors Programs included in this alert!• Check out the college web site or view book

for information• Be very neat in all applications

• ROTC Scholarships• Generally include tuition, room & board,

books and a monthly stipend• Obligations

• Weekly/monthly special meetings• Military service

Local ScholarshipsLocal Scholarships

Check with your place of employmentCheck with groups you belong toLists posted in several locationsOn daily announcements which also go to

EHOVE and are postedCheck file cabinet in Guidance OfficeCheck at guidance site at

www.huronhs.comSpecial packet of local scholarships will

become available on January 29 and be due by March 10

Applications available online

Get OrganizedGet OrganizedFourth QuarterFourth Quarter

May 5—AP Calculus Test in AMMay 6—AP English Literature &

Composition Test in AMMay 14—AP Macroeconomics Test

in AmMay 18—Senior Recognition

EveningMay 29--Graduation

Get OrganizedGet OrganizedFourth QuarterFourth Quarter

To Do’s:Finish strong in your high school and college

classesNotify the guidance office of your college plansNotify the guidance office of any scholarships you

receiveDo some job shadowing to get some career ideas

See Mrs. Henning for forms to do this or ideas of where to go

Attend Scholarship Evening if invitedAnyone who gets a scholarship from their college, a local one or one they have secured outside of our local list is invited

Be sure to turn in all graduation forms as requested

Job ShadowingJob ShadowingTake a survey onlineFind a career you might considerCall someone working that jobSee Mrs. Henning for a field trip

form

College MajorsCollege Majors

Books◦ Local library◦ Look on Amazon.com

 Hot Jobs of the Future◦ Understand where the jobs will be when you

graduate◦ Google search “hot jobs in the future”

Web Sites◦ Mymajors.com◦ Collegeboard.com, actstudent.org

Scholarship EveningScholarship EveningMay 21 in the Cedar Point Center at

Firelands CollegeAny student is receiving any type of

scholarship is invited along with their family

Local scholarship winners are announced by the scholarship donors

StatisticsStatistics

• Nearly half of all freshmen will either drop out before obtaining degree or complete degree elsewhere

• 10 Reasons students leave or drop out• Too much fun at expense of classes & grades• Sense of not belonging, isolation, homesickness• Academically unprepared• Financial constraints• Personal family issues• Academic climate/fit• Major not offered• Lack of advising• Demands from part or full time job• Move to different geographic location