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Three Main Things Colleges Use in Determining Acceptance
GPA
SAT/ACT Scores
Application/extracurricular activities
GPA
GPA (Grade Point Average) is very important junior year.
Usually students apply to college in September and October so colleges will not see senior grades until the end of senior year.
It is crucial that students take challenging classes as a junior and make good grades. Continue this next year too. Colleges look for class RIGOR even senior year.
All colleges ask to see a copy of the final transcript.
The UNC colleges require a Minimum GPA of 2.5.
Even if a student does not have the minimum GPA requirement they can still go to a community college and then transfer to a four year college.
GPA Reminders
Students’ GPA will be calculated at the end of each semester. Remember that Cabarrus County uses a graduated scale:
A=93-100 B=85-92 C=77-84 D=70-76 F=0-69
96-100%=4.0
91%=3.375 86%=2.750 81%=2.125
76%=1.500
95%=3.875 90%=3.250 85%=2.625 80%=2.000
75%=1.375
94%=3.75 89%=3.125 84%=2.500 79%=1.875
74%=1.250
93%=3.625 88%=3.000 83%=2.375 78%=1.750
73%=1.125
92%=3.500 87%=2.875 82%=2.250 77%=1.625
70-72%=1.000<69%=0
Ways to Improve a GPA
Make all A’s!!!
Remember that Honors classes have 1 quality point. So if a student makes a 95 in Honors English III that translates to a 4.750.
AP Classes have 2 quality points. So if a student makes a 95 in AP English Language that will be calculated as 5.750 in the GPA.
Remember that below 70 is still a 0 even if it is an honors or AP class.
NC GPA scale is changing for next year!
Next year, our students will be on a new grading scale.
It is changing from a 7 point scale to a 10 point.
90-100 A 4.0 GPA
80-89 B 3.0 GPA
70-79 C 2.0 GPA
60-69 D 1.0 GPA
Below 60 F 0
A transcript is a four-year report card that includes EVERY final course grade for EVERY class a student takes in high school
It also contains…. transcript Student Information Credit History Grade History GPA (it is cumulative and is the average of quality points
earned)
Class Rank (a number that tells the student where he/she stands in relation to his/her peers in the grade level)
EOC scores Attendance
Transcript….
Should Students take the SAT or ACT?
Students must register online to take either test.
SAT: www.collegeboard.org
ACT: www.actstudent.org
Colleges in this area accept the SAT and the ACT.
Which test is right for your child? (see handout)
SAT has stronger emphasis on vocabulary
ACT has a science section. SAT does not
ACT tests more advanced math concepts
SAT
Register online at www.collegeboard.org
January of Junior year is a good time to take the first SAT. We are hosting the June one as well.
Includes a verbal, math, and writing section
Math section tests up to geometry and algebra II
Guess only when a student can eliminate at least one answer choice. Points are deducted for wrong answers.
Tests your reasoning ability
800 is the highest score on each section
SAT Subject Tests
SAT subject tests are not required at the majority of colleges and universities in the United States.
But some colleges will require an SAT Subject Test or two (even if you send in ACT scores)
As you develop your college list, be sure to check out each school’s website to see if they require an SAT subject test.
http://collegeapps.about.com/od/sat/a/sat-subject-test-required.htm
ACT
All Juniors are going to take the ACT March 3rd during school hours for free. Students can use the score for college admissions. They do NOT need to sign up for this one.
Be sure your student lists the colleges they may apply to on the ACT form that day so the scores will be sent to the college for free! If they wait, they will have to pay about $11 per college.
Students can take the test again if needed on a Saturday by registering online at www.actstudent.org
Includes a science, math, verbal, and an optional writing section.
Math section tests up to trigonometry
Composite Score: 1-36
Points are not deducted for guessing
Curriculum based test
Extracurricular Activities and college applications
Extracurricular activities set a student aside from others so make sure they are actively involved. This is a section on most college applications.
Students can use www.cfnc.org to help organize their activities. Under their profile is a place to save all of their activities, honors, sports, etc. This will then transfer to their college applications if they use cfnc.org to apply to a North Carolina college.
Student Athletes
If your child would like to play sports in college they must be considered “eligible” through NCAA.
All athletes need to register at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net by the end of junior year. This includes sending a transcript which they can get from our registrar in the guidance department. There is a fee for this service and students on F/R lunch can ask their counselor for a fee waiver.
Be careful about flexing classes next year. Make sure your student athlete is taking at least three classes per semester and if he/she chooses to flex a class they must pass all three classes that they are taking.
Also check out the HRHS student athlete webpage for more information.
Researching Colleges
Junior year should be spent not only researching colleges, but also visiting perspective colleges.
www.cfnc.org has some great ways to research colleges
www.collegeboard.org does too
What do you look for in your search?
College admissions – What GPA do they typically accept? What SAT/ACT scores do they typically want?
What major is your child considering? Do they have it?
How far away is the college? What is the surrounding city/town like?
Planning for college
www.cfnc.org is a great tool to help students research colleges
Should your child pick a major?
The “college matching assistant” on www.cfnc.org can help students find colleges with the major that they would like to study.
They can also look at school size and location on it.
But should your child pick a major or apply to college as “undecided”?
As you tour colleges, this is a good question to ask.
We have had students get deferred from some colleges because they couldn’t get into the major they selected, but they probably would have been accepted if they had gone in “undecided.”
Consider your senior year classes as you think about your major (Ex: applying for an engineering major without taking a math or science in senior year)
Other ways to get ready for College
County wide College Fair- they will be able to meet college representatives and learn more about a variety of different colleges. The College fair is typically held at the Cabarrus Arena in September
Financial aid nights- we also have county wide financial aid nights to help you prepare for paying for college (typically in November and January of senior year)
A glimpse of some colleges
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
16 of our seniors went to Carolina last year
Student
GPA Class Rank
ACT Score
1 4.82 7th out of 332 28
2 4.43 35th out of 332 25
Colleges (Continued) University of North Carolina at Charlotte
48 of our seniors went to UNCC
Student
GPA Class Rank ACT Score
1 3.15 195th out of 332 26
2 3.41 168th out of 332 22
3 3.53 148th out of 332 18
Colleges (Continued)
Western Carolina
8 of our seniors went to Western
Student
GPA Class Rank ACT Score
1 3.7 120 19
2 2.98 215 16
Get Ready for a Busy Summer
Students can find a summer job or participate in a summer program. This will help get them ready for college.
Visit potential colleges. This is the best way to see if they are a good fit for your student. Visit the dorms, cafeteria, library and classrooms. See if they can sit in on a class.
Make a calendar of open houses.
Get on colleges’ mailing lists. Some colleges might email scholarship and other important information.
What about a two year Community College?
Have you considered a two-year community college for your child?
Community Colleges are traditionally cheaper than four year Universities
Students can get a 2 year Associate’s Degree or consider the Transfer Program
Research all the degrees and opportunities available at our local community colleges:
www.rccc.edu
www.cpcc.edu
www.stanly.edu
Joining the Military
This is a great option too. If your child is thinking about this option, start talking to a recruiter. A few recruiters visit during lunch. This is a great time to ask them questions and learn more about the process.
Beginning of 12th grade
Counselors will meet with the seniors in a group setting to explain the college application process.
How to apply to college, send a transcript, request a letter of recommendation, send SAT/ACT scores, apply for financial aid and scholarships, etc.
We will ask for an email address from each senior so we can send senior notes every month. Senior notes will contain local and national scholarships as well as graduation and other senior year information. If you want your email address to be included, please have your student submit it to us at that time.
Each senior will then meet with their counselor individually to go over the process again and address any concerns.