Senior Parent Information Night LHS COUNSELING DEPARTMENT FALL

Senior Parent Information Night LHS COUNSELING DEPARTMENT FALL 2017

FAFSA/Financial Aid Information FAFSA opens on Sunday, Oct. 1!

WJCC Graduation Requirements (28 credits required for both diploma types) Standard Diploma Advanced Diploma 4 English 4 Social Studies 3 Math 4 Math 3 Science 4 Science 2 Health/PE 1 Fine Art 1 World Language 3 World Language or 2 years of 2 1 Econ/Personal Finance 1 CTE 8 Electives 4 Electives 6 SOLs 9 SOLs

Lafayette High School Counseling Page Lots of information posted on our website, including transcript requests, how to make an appointment to see your counselor, and the counselor recommendation form. Visit www. wjccschools. org/lhs/counseling for more details!

Post-Secondary Options Work-force Military Community College (2 X 2) Ex: TNCC for 2 years, transfer to 4 -year university; see www. tncc. edu/transfer for more details. 4 -year University

College Visits All juniors and seniors are invited to attend our college visits. Click on the slide on the LHS homepage to sign up for a visit – we will send you a pass during class. Get your name out there – the more these schools know you, the more invested they think you are!

College Applications – What do schools look for? According to NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling), schools look for these things first: Grade/GPA Strength of schedule/high school curriculum Test scores (SAT/ACT) Next, they look for this: Essay Student's intended major/interest Counselor/teacher recommendations Extracurricular activities Class rank

SAT vs. ACT SAT ACT Reading, Writing & Language, Math, Essay (optional) English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning, Essay (optional) 3 hours (without essay); 3 hours, 50 minutes (with essay) 2 hours, 55 minutes (without essay); 3 hours, 40 minutes (with essay) 5 Reading Passages 4 Reading Passages Arithmetic, Algebra I & II, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Data Analysis 1 Science section testing your critical thinking skills Scored on a scale of 400 -1600 Arithmetic, Algebra I & II, Geometry, and Trigonometry Scored on a scale of 1 -36

Make sure you know if your school has Regular Decision, Rolling Admissions, Early Action, Early Decision, or Restrictive Early Action

Step One: Apply Students will complete and submit their application – this is usually done online. Several schools use the Common Application (www. commonapp. org), but many will want you to apply directly through their websites (for example, JMU and VA Tech are NOT on the Common App). Payment by credit card or fee waiver are required at the time of submission. See your school counselor if you qualify for a fee waiver.

Step Two: Submitting Official Test Scores It is the student's responsibility to submit ACT or SAT scores. ACT: http: //www. actstudent. org/students/scores SAT: http: //sat. collegeboard. org/scores/send-sat-scores Four free scores go to colleges of your choice when you register for the SAT test. If you decide to send scores later, there may be an additional fee and it may take longer for your school to receive your scores. Note: some colleges will not review your application until your scores have been sent. If you are applying to a test-optional school, make sure you meet the other requirements laid out by the college.

Step Three: Transcripts Students must complete the online Transcript Request Form – this must be done for each school (ex: if you are applying to five schools, you must fill out this form five times, one for each school). Here is the link: https: //forms. office. com/Pages/Response. Page. aspx? id=Ka. Bjthio. Uka 9 Bdp. P 0 b. A 5 Ci 2 O 3 Xu. Pq Bp. Pn. Sz. DCMLBWGJUOUh. IWEE 1 SUl. HN 04 z. QVNMM 0 NXWj. I 5 Uk. VBMi 4 u Transcript requests must be submitted at least 10 working days before the application deadline. Students can obtain an unofficial transcript from Mrs. Lightfoot or their counselor. Please see Mrs. Lightfoot in the Counseling Office if you have any questions. She can also be reached at yuris. lightfoot@wjccschools. org. OPT-OUT form – Virginia requires that all SAT/ACT scores be posted on the student's transcript. If you wish to opt-out of this requirement, please see Mrs. Lightfoot or your child's counselor for the opt-out form. We will also post a copy to the LHS Counseling website. See the following website for more details: http: //www. doe. virginia. gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2009/101 -09 a. pdf.

Step Four: Secondary School Report Most schools require your counselors to submit a Secondary School Report. Schools that do not use Common App will have their own Secondary School Report or Counselor Report that your counselor is required to submit. Students may need to print and deliver the Secondary School Report to their counselor. Common App has its own School Report that the student will complete and sign electronically FERPA waiver: you may choose to waive your right to view documents submitted by counselors and teachers. Students must invite their counselor and teacher recommenders to their Common App so their recommendation letters can be uploaded.

Step Five: Letters of Recommendation Counselor Letter The student must complete the Counselor Recommendation Form. This can be found in the Counseling Office or online at https: //wjccschools. org/lhs/wpcontent/uploads/sites/20/2014/09/Student-Recommendation-Form. pdf Your counselor will use this information to write a positive, insightful letter of recommendation. Please give your counselor at least two weeks' notice that you will need a recommendation letter. For the Common App, you will need your counselor's email address: Mrs. Pottle: leigh. pottle@wjccschools. org Mr. Marrow: quincy. marrow@wjccschools. org Mrs. Hart: suzanne. hart@wjccschools. org Mr. Moore: patrick. moore@wjccschools. org

Step Five: Letters of Recommendation Teacher Letters Students speak personally with teacher(s) to request a letter of recommendation. Teachers write letters in addition to their many responsibilities – please give them at least two weeks notice to write your letter. Common App – you will need to know the teacher's email address so you can invite them to upload your recommendation letter electronically.

The College Application Essay Shapes the admission committee's impression of the candidate Allows them to see more than the GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities Most committees are looking for honest insight into a real person in order to find out what is special about him/her. These essays are SHORT – not your typical 5 paragraph essay. Hook your reader early – dive in rather than ease the reader in slowly with an introductory paragraph. Essays should be in-depth, make the student stand out, and show the student's passion. There is no "bad" topic. . . only "bad" approaches to the topic.

The College Application Essay Tips to Remember DO: Start early, leaving plenty of time for revisions Read the directions carefully Tell the truth about yourself Focus on an aspect that will showcase your best side Feel comfortable in expressing anxieties Tie yourself to a college Speak positively Write about your greatest assets and achievements

The College Application Essay DON'T: Repeat information found elsewhere in your application Write on general, impersonal topics Use the personal statement to excuse your shortcomings Use clichés Go to extremes (too witty, too opinionated, too humorous, etc. ) REMEMBER, write a serious essay, from the bottom of your heart, in the most mature manner possible.

Scholarships All available scholarships received by the Counseling Office will be posted on the Scholarship bulletin board in the Upper Commons. Scholarships can also be found on the Counseling website: https: //wjccschools. org/lhs/counseling/scholarship-opportunities/ Scholarship opportunities may also be posted on the Counseling Twitter page: @LHSCounselors. VA Counselors will also meet with students individually about scholarships that may be of interest to them.

Upcoming Events Parent Conference Night: Tuesday, October 17 – all counselors will be available to assist with college and scholarship applications. College & Career Fair: Thursday, October 26, 5: 30 p. m. – 8: 30 p. m. at Warhill High School ASVAB: November 3

Questions? IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR CHILD'S SENIOR MEETING, PLEASE SEE YOUR CHILD'S COUNSELOR.