C/O 2019
Senior
Parent/Student
Workshop
Presented by the WHS Counseling Department
★Graduation Requirements
★College Majors
★Selecting “Best Fit” Schools
★Life After High School Tips for Parents
★Important Upcoming Dates
★Breakout Session Info
Something to think about…★ All Seniors must earn a minimum of 215 credits
★ All students must complete academic requirements
★ To be eligible for the “cap & gown” commencement ceremony on June 6, 2019, seniors must complete all requirements by Monday, June 3, 2019 (Last day for Senior finals).
Minimum
Graduation
Requirements
❑ 40 credits English ❑ 20 credits Math (10 credits must be Math
1)❑ 20 credits Science❑ 10 credits World History❑ 10 credits US History❑ 10 credits Political Science/Economics❑ 10 credits Wrld Lang. or VPA or CTE❑ 20 credits PE❑ 5 credits of Health❑ Additional elective courses to total 215
credits
A Memo about transcripts…
★ Students received a senior grad check letter/transcript over the summer in the mail
★ Please review this one more time as there have been several schedule changes since the beginning of the school year
★ If your student is not on track to graduate or “at-risk” of earning a diploma, we will be meeting with you and your student
★ WHS Counseling will complete a spring semester grad check after fall grades have been posted. Updated transcripts will be mailed.
Connecting
to Careers
Facts about Majors…
★ A subject or field of study chosen by a student to represent his or her principal interest.
★ Nearly 33% of first-year college students choose a major and then change it at least once within a 3-yr time period. More specifically, federal data shows students who choose a major pertaining to math and science are more likely to switch fields than those in other fields of study. .(https://studybreaks.com/college/students-change-majors/)
★ Only 27 percent of college grads have a job related to their major. (The Washington Post (2013) based on 2012 US census information)
★ Together, two complementary majors can provide an
edge, especially in an interdisciplinary field.
★ If you would like to pursue a career in political
journalism, a student might choose to double major in
political science and journalism.
★ Consider benefit vs. time to complete the degree(s).
★ A secondary field of study often related to a chosen major.
Examples:
○ Business majors + minor in economics
○ Education majors + teaching field as their minor
★ Minor = an area a student is passionate about but does not
pertain to the field in which they seek employment.
★ An interesting minor can also be a good way to make a student
stand out in the job market or when applying to grad school.
Major Timeline...
★ Students typically must declare a major by the end of their
sophomore year.
★ This timeline allows students to take classes in a variety of
disciplines along with some major classes for the first 2 years
of their college experience and then focus more on their major
in the last 2 years prior to graduation.
★ This timeline varies from college to college and within academic
programs.
★ If you are undecided about your major, be sure to check with
your intended university about any impacted majors that may
be difficult (or impossible) to transfer into.
Results from the Cluster
Finder completed last
year are available on Naviance
Family Connection
Take a Closer Look★ If you’ve already decided on a major,
look at what that major involves on the website for the college campus you are considering.
★ Do you know what your intended major really involves?
★ Have you met high school course prerequisite requirements or recommendations?
8 College MaJors With
Promising Job Outlooks (US
News and World Report)...1. Mechatronics Engineering:
● An interdisciplinary field● Learn how to build and control
mechanical devices like motors and robots
● Learn how to take sensor data and turn it into commands
2. Business:● Courses in accounting, finance,
marketing, business law and management
● Work on team projects involving real-world case studies
● Participate in internships or hands-on experiences,
● One of the most popular majors!
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2018-09-11/8-college-majors-with-great-job-prospects
3. Computer Science● Create cutting-edge educational
tools● Driverless vehicles● Data mining in healthcare● Advances in cybersecurity● Robotics● Artificial intelligence
4. Data Science: At the forefront of predictive analytics.
● Help companies like Google and Yahoo improve their search engine functionality
● Give doctors and clinicians tools to customize medical treatment to individual patients based on specific data points.
● Play an important role in risk assessment within the credit card industry
● Assists with allocation and optimization of resources in environmental science and public policy.
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2018-09-11/8-college-majors-with-great-job-prospects
5. Nursing● One of the few occupations not decreasing due to technological innovation● Courses in pharmacology, biostatistics, pathophysiology, chronic health
assessment and health promotion.● Participate in clinical rotations working with real patients alongside
physicians and other health professionals,● Simulation Labs-offer a safe environment for students to practice hands-on
skills and procedures
6. Pharmaceutical Sciences● Undergrad programs prepare for technical positions in the development,
production or sales divisions of drug companies● career as a pharmacist or pharmaceutical researcher.● With a B.S. in pharmaceutical sciences, you can work as a pharmacy
assistant or technician or in sales for drug companies.● Foundation of courses in math and science as well as advanced coursework in
drug design, mechanisms of drug action, toxicology, quality assurance, regulatory compliance and other issues.
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2018-09-11/8-college-majors-with-great-job-prospects
7. Cognitive Science ● Relatively new interdisciplinary field ● Blends elements of psychology, computer science, philosophy, neuroscience
and linguistics. ○ Studies the mind, its processes and the nature of intelligence.
● Emphasis on how to think critically and engage in constructive problem-solving.
● Work in health care settings, such as in hospital administration or as research coordinators in labs; neuropsychological testing centers; business-related careers such as marketing; and the technology sector
● The major can also be good training for medical school, law school and business school
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2018-09-11/8-college-majors-with-great-job-prospects
8. Human Resources● Handle hiring, training and other employee relations tasks for companies or
organizations.● Two important trends in HR:
○ Increasing use of people analytics to drive HR decisions○ Expansion of the scope of employee assistance programs offered by
employers● Usually under the umbrella of a business program● Coursework in organizational behavior, applied social psychology, talent
management, labor relations and employment law, plus business fundamentals.
● The power of this major is its utility across industries, sectors and locations.
● Any organization that employs people needs HR majors to help recruit, retain and engage its employees.
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2018-09-11/8-college-majors-with-great-job-prospects
- Adapted from Capistrano USD
★ Not recommended to apply to schools just for the name, ranking, or “to see if I get in”
★ Consider distance from home, weather, size of classes, type of learner, and majors
★ Visit different campuses and meet their reps
★ Is it a Safety, Target, Reach School?
- Adapted from Capistrano USD
Name Application Fee Transcript Cost
Boston University $80 $5
Stanford $90 $5
USC $80 $5
Chapman $65 $5
Pepperdine $65 $5
UC Schools (5x$70) $350 $0 ($5 if school requests 7th semester)
CSU Schools (5x$55) $275 $0 ($5 if school requests 7th semester)
TOTAL Costs (excluding SAT/ACT score reports)
$1,005 $25
Consider the Cost To
Apply $$
It’s time to transition from the driver’s seat to the back seat.
Colleges will provide the landing pad for “helicopter parents.” Your child will soon have the controls!
★ Increased independence★ Ability to demonstrate capabilities★ Self advocacy★ Appropriate social, emotional and academic
development★ Ownership of behavior/actions
1. Research Colleges (attend orientations, know the resources)
2. Set Communication Guidelines (how often do you want to communicate and through what means)
3. Create a Financial Plan (budgeting, students loans, who’s responsible for what, part time job expectations, pocket money etc)
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/10-things-parents-of-college-bound-students-need-to-do
4. Talk About Safety (Don’t just lecture on the dangers of drugs/alcohol etc.-discuss strategies on how to handle compromising situations)
5. Let Your Child Lead (allow independent problem solving, time management, maintaining own schedules/deadlines/responsibilities)
6. Keep Your Anxiety in Check (It’s normal to worry about paying for college, handling rejection, and dealing with separation anxiety but be mindful to not pass that stress on to your teen)
7. Encourage Your Kids (Check-in, discuss how you manage your own concerns and demands)
8. Teach Practical Life Skills (from navigating paying a bill, to scheduling a Dr. appt, laundry, and cooking a meal)
9. Prepare for an Empty Nest (you may feel a sense of grief/loss, minimize doing anything extreme i.e renovating the house or large purchases, familiar surroundings can help you and your teen adjust to change)
10. Create a Plan B (rejection with admissions is hard but common, be optimistic/affectionate, review 2nd best options)
Upcoming Dates…
★ Deadline to Drop a Class w/o Penalty: 10/5★ SAT: 10/6, 11/3, 12/1★ ACT: 10/27, 12/8★ FAFSA Line by Line Workshop: 10/10 (6:00-8:00pm @
WHS Media Center)★ How to Get a Seasonal Job Workshop: 11/8 (Lunch @
WHS Media Center)★ CSU & UC Applications Due: 11/30★ Letter of Rec Workshops: Every Tuesday through
11/27 (Tutorial, Counseling Office)
Breakout Sessions…Location Session 1:
8:05-8:35 a.m.Session 2:
8:40-9:10 a.m.Session 3:
9:15-9:45 a.m.
Theatre Applying to the CSU
Applying to the UC
Applying to the UC
Staff Lounge Mental Health Matters
(Importance of mental health resources in
college)
Applying to CSU
Media Center Common Application Overview
Applying to the Community College
Applying to Private/Out of State Colleges